The G.A.S. Pump (Sept 23)
September 23rd, 2007 Posted in College Cross Country, College Soccer, Youth Football, Fishing and Hunting, Disc Golf, Kentucky, Alabama, South Carolina, High School Volleyball, High School Softball, Georgia, High School Cross Country, College Football, High School FootballTime to fill ‘er up at The Georgia Amateur Sports (G.A.S.) Pump, brought to you by LocalReplay.com. Enjoy our daily look at amateur sports headlines from around the State of Georgia.
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High School Football
North Georgia winning state’s football Civil War
“Metro Atlanta’s domination of Georgia high school sports has become so profound that it nearly escaped notice during the 2006-07 academic year that all 20 state champions in the highest classification were from Cobb, Cherokee, Gwinnett or Fulton counties. The sweep was unprecedented. Not coincidentally, every champion was among the 22 largest schools in Georgia. Only two schools outside metro Atlanta — Lowndes and Camden County — make that list.” Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Fortson commits to Auburn; Update on Tucker’s Lipscomb
“Carver, Columbus receiver Jarmon Fortson has committed to Auburn…Major offers for Tucker’s Lipscomb…Painter still considering UGA…Tech offers Lovejoy junior tackle” Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Southside wins battle of the winless
“One thing was certain when Druid Hills played Southside on Saturday at Grady Stadium: The loser was going to be the best thing that’s happened to the winner this season. Neither had won a game until Southside survived a late rally for a 29-24 win…Mays 14, Stone Mountain 7…Griffin 42, Forest Park 17…Monroe 35, Hancock Central 12″ Atlanta Journal-Constitution
“Norcross is on the brink of becoming Class AAAAA’s No. 1-ranked team, and its head coach’s family is on the brink of a milestone. If Keith Maloof’s Blue Devils can beat Peachtree Ridge on Friday before brother Kevin Maloof’s Dacula Falcons polish off Jackson County, it will represent the 400th coaching victory in the family.” Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Evans shuts down cross county rival
“Camera phones poured out of pockets, purses and belt clips after Friday’s Columbia County showdown between Greenbrier and Evans. It seemed every Evans fan wanted to snap a photo of the big scoreboard that stood beyond the south end zone. It read: Evans 28, Greenbrier 7. “We had one goal,” Evans coach Marty Jackson said. “Our goal was to win. It didn’t matter who scored, who carried the ball or who played. We just wanted to win.”" Augusta Chronicle
Warriors get glimpse of Gamecocks’ game
“Through four games, Screven County finds itself in the same position it was in last season…After suffering some early-season struggles getting their passing off the ground, Strom Thurmond didn’t go to the air much Friday night…Evans’ 28-7 victory over region rival Greenbrier was convincing from any angle. But it could have been even bigger…It’s been an interesting first six weeks of the season for South Aiken” Augusta Chronicle
“At the time, players from Aquinas and Laney didn’t think much about the significance of their historic contest. To Wildcats quarterback Donald Caldwell and Irish center Chris Henry, it was just another game on the schedule, as the old cliche goes. The game turned out to be anything but. Forty years ago today, Aquinas and Laney faced each other on the gridiron. It marked the first integrated game in the state of Georgia. “That game against Aquinas was the eye-opener for sports in Georgia,” former Laney coach David Dupree said.” Augusta Chronicle
Adairsville comes back from deficit
“For the first 23 minutes of Friday night’s football game between the Adairsville Tigers and Temple Tigers, Temple imposed its will on the visitors. However, a late touchdown to end the first half gave Adairsville the momentum it needed going into halftime as they scored 49 unanswered points to defeat Temple 56-27 in a Region 7-AA game. “This win shows the character of our team,” said Adairsville head coach Mark Arthur, who has the Tigers at 3-1 for the first time since 2004. “They kept us off-balance in the first half and we had some alignment problems.” The Daily Tribune News
“When it comes to building a winning football program, Woodland head coach Steve Hamilton is an expert. That’s why even after his team showed flashes of its potential during the Wildcats’ first two games, he didn’t let himself get too high. Now, after his team was dismantled, 46-7, by Sequoyah Friday night at Skip Pope Stadium in a Region 5-AAAA game, Hamilton tried not to let himself get too low.” The Daily Tribune News
The Citizen Sports Blitz - Saturday, Sept. 22
“Mike and Kevin talk about Friday night’s football games.” The Citizen
Mercy picks up first win of season, beats Towns County 35-26
“Our Lady of Mercy got three touchdowns from Christian Willis, one from Jarrell Bankhead and one from David Goemare on Friday to earn their first win of the 2007 season. The Bobcats allowed a lot of points to Towns County, which had only averaged six points a game in their previous three games, but the Mercy offense was too hard to stop.” The Citizen
Fayette County tops Woodward Academy, 21-7
“The Fayette County Tigers are 4-0 and sit by themselves atop the region 2-AAAA standings. Fayette County stayed perfect with a 21-7 win over Woodward Academy. Brandon Boykin scored two touchdowns and Matt Daniels added one as the Tiger defense once again did a tremendous job of keeping the opposing offense in check.” The Citizen
Demons pick up confidence, win
“The Warner Robins Demons aren’t going to be mistaken for the team that won the 2004 state championship or even the team that advanced to the Georgia Dome a year ago. But they began to move back in the right direction with a commanding 47-6 win over Beach on Saturday at McConnell-Talbert Stadium. “One win doesn’t make us a good team,” Warner Robins head coach Bryan Way said. “We have a long ways to go. But we played well (Saturday). And we really needed some confidence.”" The Telegraph
Northeast QB puts on smart show with feet
“As Mary Persons held a usually productive Northeast passing attack to just 51 yards on 23 attempts Friday night, in the second half, the Raiders decided their primary adjustment would come in the area of the ground game. Part of the reason Northeast quarterback Michael Palmer was held to no passing touchdowns and three interceptions is because of the containment the Bulldogs held on Raiders receiver Javaris Brown…Northside head coach Conrad Nix said senior receiver Nick Bass might miss one game because of a leg injury suffered in Thursday’s 49-0 win over Jones County…Bleckley County head coach Sam Barrs decided to hold running back Cody Shiver out of Friday’s 17-6 win over Twiggs County…When the Baldwin Braves take the field this week, they’ll hope there will be no rust…Westside head coach Robert Davis expressed much delight in the play of place-kicker Max Garcia following the Seminoles’ 31-0 win over Upson-Lee…While top-ranked Northside again looked impressive with a win over Jones County, the Eagles won’t be able to just stroll to another state Class AAAA championship…Houston County is desperately looking for points. In the four games this season, the Bears have only 17 points” The Telegraph
High school football, Sunday Morning Quarterback
“Game Balls…Stock Rising…Looking Ahead” The Telegraph
Great hands: Former Central star wideout now accomplished surgeon
“So many events and experiences that shaped Kip Ruark’s life spiral back to Lawrenceville, more specifically to Central Gwinnett High School. All the spirals he caught on the football field from record-setting quarterback Robert Hill got Ruark the most attention, but they don’t compare to the revelation he had in a Central classroom back in the late 1970s. It was the day he decided to be a doctor.” Gwinnett Daily Post
Cougars impress with big offensive show
“Newnan’s 52 points Friday night ranks 13th on the all-time list of most points scored by a Cougar/Tiger team. The record is 73 points scored by the 1949 Tigers at Tallapoosa. The most ever scored at Drake Stadium came in 1999 when Newnan put 69 on the scoreboard against Stockbridge. The old record at Pickett Field was 60 against Douglas County in 1954.” The Times-Herald
“Habersham Central (2-1) rolled up 442 total yards and 24 first downs on its way to recording a 41-8 victory over the Bulldogs (0-4). Senior wide receiver Tavarres King did the lion’s share of the damage for the Red Raiders. King, who has already verbally committed to the University of Georgia, scored the game’s first two touchdowns. His first score came on a 7-yard run off a reverse at 2:30 of the first quarter. On his second touchdown, he got a lucky bounce as quarterback Bo Hatchett’s pass deflected off the hands of a Rockdale defender right to King for a 25-yard touchdown reception with 11:15 left in the second quarter.” Rockdale Citizen/Newton Citizen
Alcovy falls to Apalachee in shootout
“The Alcovy Tigers found themselves in a shootout with the Apalachee Wildcats as the two teams combined for 35 points at halftime Friday at the R. Harold Harrison Sports Complex. But at the end, the Tigers (1-3) found themselves at the low end of the score, dropping the game to Apalachee (2-2) 29-22. The Tigers moved the ball well on the ground as well as in the air. In the air, Ryan Ledford, who was 12 of 19 for 203 yards, completed nine of his 13 attempts in the first half for 167 yards.” Rockdale Citizen/Newton Citizen
Area High School standouts at next level Rockdale Citizen/Newton Citizen
“Swainsboro 48, Southeast Bulloch 7…Hiram 42, Savannah 13…Screven Co. 34, Westside Augusta 7…Schley Co. 14, Jenkins Co. 7…Mount de Sales 47, RTCA 19″ Savannah Morning News
Prep football roundup: Bowdon back at .500
“The Bowdon defense came up big Friday night as the Red Devils got back to .500 with a 14-13 victory at Greenville…Villa Rica wins kicking game…Tigers honor fallen soldier…Blue Devils continue to roll…Step in the right direction for Mt. Zion” Times-Georgian
High School Softball
“For most of the season, the Cass High softball team has been strong defensively and in the circle, but the Lady Colonels’ bats have been a bit lacking. However, the Lady Colonels’ bats came alive over the weekend and helped Cass advance to the championship game of the Cass Diamond Classic at Hamilton Crossing Park. Cass went 4-1 to advance to the championship game late Saturday night against No. 4 Blessed Trinity. The championship game was still in progress at press time.” The Daily Tribune News
“Grayson wins Gold Bracket…North sweeps day…Mill Creek goes 2-1…Collins Hill goes 2-1…Dacula 7, Cherokee 0…GAC wins Diamond Bracket” Gwinnett Daily Post
High School Volleyball
Prep Roundup: Wolves, Spartans sweep through volleyball playday at Wesleyan
“Wesleyan and Greater Atlanta Christian did not meet in the AAAA-AA playday at Wesleyan on Saturday, but each team swept through its six games without dropping a game.” Gwinnett Daily Post
High School Cross Country
Shaw boys, Brookstone girls win
“The Shaw boys and the Brookstone girls won races at a meet at LaGrange, Ga., on Saturday. Shaw’s Stephen Waynick won the boys race with a time of 16 minutes, 49.54 seconds. Brookstone’s Paige Janke won the girls race in 20:32.96.” Ledger-Enquirer
Newnan’s Gresham, Pike shine Saturday
“Newnan’s William Pike and Elizabeth Gresham showed once again on Saturday why they are the county’s brighest stars of the 2007 cross country season. Pike turned in a blistering 17:06 to win the 2007 Sandy Creek Fall Classic at Sandy Creek High school. The Cougar freshman was more than 19 seconds clear of runner-up Mac Fidler (17:25) of Decatur City. It wasn’t Pike’s best time of the season, but he didn’t have much company on hand to push him. “He was out there alone, really not challenged. That can change how fast you think you need to be going,” explained Newnan coach Ben Tarleton.” The Times-Herald
Northgate boys 8th in Bulldog Stampede
“The Northgate boys cross country team overcame muggy Saturday morning conditions at the UGA Golf Course and finished a respectful eighth in the difficult 22-team Bulldog Stampede. Luke Francis led the Vikings, completing the double loop layout in 17:38. Francis came in 31st position. The remainder of Northgate’s top five finished within 47 seconds of Francis. The deficit would have been tighter if Michael Cavanah (18:25) had not been knocked off the course while battling for position.” The Times-Herald
College Football
Wofford upsets Appalachian State
“The upset specialists were upset. Appalachian State, three weeks removed from winning at Michigan, had its 17-game winning streak snapped by Southern Conference rival Wofford, 42-31 Saturday. Wofford’s Jeremy Marshall scored on a reverse and a halfback pass. The Terriers (3-1) took it to the Mountaineers from the start the conference opener for both teams. Wofford got three turnovers and held Appalachian State’s powerful running game to 98 yards through the first three quarters.” Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Ga. Southern falls to Chattanooga, 45-38
“Antonio Miller threw three touchdown passes, including a 25-yarder to Thomas Hinton in overtime, to lead Chattanooga to a 45-38 win over Georgia Southern Saturday night. It was a single game career high for Miller, who was returning to the starting lineup after suffering a knee injury in the Mocs season opening loss to Carson-Newman. Miller finished with 12 completions in 26 attempts for 151 yards to lead Chattanooga (1-2, 1-0) to its first win of the season.” Augusta Chronicle
Neighborhood watch Augusta Chronicle
Former Central star gets touchdown for Stillman
“Stillman junior Brandon Long, a former Central-Phenix City standout, scored a touchdown in the third quarter against Albany State to bring the Tigers within four points of the Rams, 21-17, but it wasn’t enough. The Rams won 24-17 on Sept. 15. In other games, Troy got big performances from two local players in a 41-23 upset of Oklahoma State on Sept. 14. Former Shaw standout Terence Moore had six solo tackles and one pass breakup, while former Kendrick star Courtland Fuller had three solo tackles and assisted on another.” Ledger-Enquirer
Notebook: Familiar faces for Tuskegee
“Former Northside star Ricardo Reed can be found helping the running backs and special teams as an assistant coach for the Tuskegee Tigers. This is Reed’s second season at Tuskegee after being named the head men’s and women’s tennis coach in 2006. He led the women’s squad to an NCAA Division II South Regional tournament bid in 2007…Fort Valley State suffered two big losses in their lineup Saturday…Tuskegee hosts NAIA program Concordia-Selma at 1 p.m. Saturday while Fort Valley State hosts Savannah State at 5 p.m.” The Telegraph
Eagles shocked in overtime by Mocs
“Chattanooga is no longer Georgia Southern’s personal whipping boy. The Mocs took advantage of four Georgia Southern turnovers and scored on the second play of overtime to hand the Eagles a 45-38 loss Saturday night before 18,758 shocked Paulson Stadium fans. It was the Southern Conference opener for both teams. Although the Eagles (2-1, 0-1) maintain an 18-3 advantage in the series it marked Chattanooga’s second straight win over Georgia Southern and its first ever at Paulson.” The Telegraph
“Four turnovers turned around a great start of the 2007 football season for Georgia Southern on Saturday night. Chattanooga took advantage of three fumbles and an interception to set up three touchdowns and surprise the Eagles 45-38 in overtime before 18,785 disbelieving fans at Paulson Stadium. It was the Southern Conference opener for both teams.” Savannah Morning News
Multi-threat Andrews has big day for GSU
“Swainsboro native Raja Andrews did a little bit of everything for Georgia Southern despite the Eagles’ 45-38 overtime loss to Chattanooga on Saturday night. The junior wide receiver caught seven passes, just two shy of the school single-game record of nine set by Jayson Foster last season and Robert Baker in 1984. Along with being a threat as a wide receiver, Andrews played well on special teams. He returned two punts for 46 yards and three kickoffs for 105 yards.” Savannah Morning News
“Chattanooga delivered a message Saturday night in Statesboro: Last season was no fluke. A year after pulling off a last-second, one-point victory at home, the Mocs stunned Georgia Southern again, this time with a hard-fought, back-and-forth affair. UTC junior Thomas Hinton made the most of his first career touchdown reception, reeling in a 25-yard pass from Antonio Miller in overtime to put Chattanooga on top for good, 45-38, before 18,785 fans at Paulson Stadium.” Statesboro Herald
College roundup Savannah Morning News
No. 11 Newberry runs all over UWG, 64-9
“The University of West Georgia football team kept it close for the first quarter, but No. 11 Newberry College eventually overpowered the Wolves on the ground for a 64-9 victory Saturday night at Setzler Field in South Carolina. Newberry (4-0) rushed for 287 yards, which is less than the 321 it averaged entering the game that ranked second among Division II teams in the nation.” Times-Georgian
Blazers dodge Arkansas Tech’s upset bid
“The Valdosta State Blazers went on the road and came from behind to defeat an unbeaten team in Gulf South Conference play Saturday. VSU (3-0), ranked No. 4 in Division II, won its first conference game of the season in dramatic fashion, defeating Arkansas Tech (3-1), 28-27. Arkansas Tech jumped out to a 14-0 lead in the first half, and stuck around the whole game, testing the Blazers’ mettle.” The Valdosta Daily Times
“Antonio Miller threw three touchdown passes, including a 25-yarder to Thomas Hinton in overtime, to lead Chattanooga to a 45-38 win over Georgia Southern Saturday night. It was a single game career high for Miller, who was returning to the starting lineup after suffering a knee injury in the Mocs season opening loss to Carson-Newman. Miller finished with 12 completions in 26 attempts for 151 yards to lead Chattanooga (1-2, 1-0) to its first win of the season.” AccessNorthGa.com
Valdosta State tops Arkansas Tech
“Willie Copeland passed for 252 yards and scored two touchdowns to lead Valdosta State to a 28-to-27 win over Arkansas Tech today. The Blazers (3-0, 1-0) remained scoreless through the first half of the game at Buerkle Field until Copeland scored twice in the third quarter on 9-yard and 1-yard runs. The Wonder Boys (3-1, 1-1) scored no points in the fourth quarter.” AccessNorthGa.com
Shorter runs over Campbellsville
“A.J. Cooley ran for 95 yards and Pierre Toran added a couple rushing scores to help Shorter to a 28-7 win over Campbellsville on Saturday. Raymone Nesbitt led the Hawks with 106 yards rushing on 11 carries, as Shorter compiled for 366 yards on the ground.” AccessNorthGa.com
Tuskegee routs Fort Valley State
“Jacary Atkinson threw for 156 yards and three touchdowns Saturday in leading Tuskegee to a 34-3 victory over Fort Valley State. Tuskegee (3-0, 3-0 Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference) jumped ahead early, with Jason English scoring on a 57-yard pass from Atkinson at the 8:37 mark.” AccessNorthGa.com
“Christian Sterling threw for 201 yards and a touchdown and Morehouse used a couple big plays to beat Concordia 42-16 on Saturday night. The Maroon Tigers (4-1) took a 14-6 lead in the second quarter on an 80-yard kickoff return by Brandon Morgan. In the third, Sterling connected with Quincy Green for a 7-yard touchdown then Christian Green added a 21-yard rushing score. Concordia cut the lead to 28-16 on Demario Kilow’s 35-yard touchdown run in the third. But Morehouse put the game away in the next quarter when DeJuan Payne returned a fumble 67 yard for a score then Myeric Thompson scored on a 2-yard run.” AccessNorthGa.com
College Soccer
CSU women take 3-0 win against UNC-Pembroke
“Columbus State got on the board near the end of the first half and went on to a 3-0 victory over Peach Belt Conference foe UNC-Pembroke on Saturday at the CSU Soccer Complex. Senior Megan Honig broke the scoreless tie as she headed the ball on a corner kick from Jill Walthall past UNC-Pembroke’s Whitney Beverly. CSU (7-3, 3-0) added a pair of goals in the second half.” Ledger-Enquirer
Area High School standouts at next level Rockdale Citizen/Newton Citizen
College roundup Savannah Morning News
College Cross Country
“Both Columbus State cross country teams won at the Jaguar Invitational on Saturday in Augusta, Ga. The same course will host the Peach Belt Conference meet later this year.” Ledger-Enquirer
College roundup Savannah Morning News
VSU men’s cross country takes fourth
“The Valdosta State cross country teams competed in the Embry-Riddle Classic Saturday. The men’s team finished fourth out of 13 teams, while the women compiled a sixth-place showing out of 12 teams. The men’s team tallied 151 points. Embry-Riddle finished with 21 to win the event.” The Valdosta Daily Times
Youth Football
Jamboree opens Boys Club’s fall football season
“The Valdosta Boys and Girls Club opened its 2007 football season this week with a weekend jamboree. The nine teams in the 9-10 year-old age group and the four teams in the 11-12 age group got together for a series of two-quarter scrimmages. “It was a chance for the kids to get out and get used to football games,” said athletic director Jonathon Dickey. “It went off great. Everyone seemed to love it.”” The Valdosta Daily Times
Miscellaneous
Family survives night with gators
“If you’re lucky enough to win the lottery for one of Georgia’s coveted alligator tags, you’d better keep the good news to yourself. Or at least, don’t tell your wife. I failed to exercise such discretion, acknowledging - almost gleefully - that I was drawn for the 2007 season.” Augusta Chronicle
Peppiatt inducted into horse show hall
“E. “Pep” Peppiatt Jr. had a speech ready for his induction into the World’s Championship Horse Show Hall of Fame. But just before the Aug. 25 ceremony, Peppiatt scrapped it and decided he would go from the heart to talk about his illustrious career. Recalling the days of riding horses since age 5 or 6 and training them by age 11, Peppiatt started his career by driving muck wagons.” The Brunswick News
Disc golf offers challenges, frustrations of other version
“Baxter Frost lined up his 10-foot putt knowing that if he uses too much oomph, he’s in the woods. If Frost leaves it short, he will regret missing a makeable, seemingly automatic shot at this level of competition. Bang! Frost’s shot clangs in off the pole, through the chains and into the basket as his tournament playing partners echo each other with, “Nice putt!” So developed one snapshot of the first “Mosquito Madness” disc golf tournament Saturday at Tom Triplett Community Park in Pooler. Organized by the Savannah Disc Golf Club, the tournament drew 50 amateur and pro competitors of various levels for two rounds Saturday and two scheduled for today.” Savannah Morning News
North Carolina crew wins Savannah Kingfish Classic
“The Calabash-N.C.-based Fishmeister crew dominated the inaugural Savannah Kingfish Classic competition Saturday, bringing in a 50.04-pound king mackerel. The captain of the boat, Dean Spatholt, said he traveled more than 200 miles from where he caught the monster mackerel to the weigh-in on River Street. First-place prizes included a new 2007 GMC Sierra pickup and $20,000 in cash.” Savannah Morning News
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