The G.A.S. Pump (Oct 19)
October 19th, 2007 Posted in Georgia, High School Volleyball, High School Softball, 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. Click on the following links to find:
High School Football
Athens/Augusta Area
Knights gelling thanks to leaders | augustachronicle.com
Evans coach Marty Jackson can thank the written word for a 6-0 start. The Knights likely wouldn’t be going for 7-0 tonight at Brunswick without the prose of Billy Donovan, Sir Thomas Malory and Urban Meyer. Jackson was an avid reader before the season. He found nuggets of leadership in books written by both championship coaches from the University of Florida.
Player of the Week: Jonathan Nicely | augustachronicle.com
Nicely hauled in what might be the biggest catch in Evans team history in the past 20 years. His 17-yard reception of a Kevin Millward pass with 1:23 left to play provided the difference in a 10-7 win over Statesboro last Friday. It marked the first time the Knights had beaten the Blue Devils in 10 tries. He finished the game with seven catches for 111 yards and one touchdown. It was his second consecutive 100-yard receiving game.
Wilkins becomes winningest coach in Jaguars’ history | onlineathens.com
Roger Edmonds admits he’s superstitious. That’s why the Cedar Shoals athletic director didn’t utter a word to Scott Wilkins when the football coach was nearing a milestone. Last Friday’s 27-20 victory over Eastside lifted Wilkins to his 103rd victory, making him the winningest football coach in Cedar Shoals’ history. He surpassed John Waters, Cedar Shoals’ first coach, who had collected 102 victories in his 13 seasons.
Dual threat: Clarke Central (5-1-1) at Habersham Central (5-1) | onlineathens.com
Beau Evans rolled out of the pocket on a designed quarterback scramble. Then, he felt his ankle roll out from underneath him. The Clarke Central quarterback suffered his third injury of the season in the second half against Dacula on Oct. 5. But as he limped off the field, the thought of backup Marques Coleman taking his place eased Evans’ pain.
Close losses taking a toll on Devils | waltontribune.com
Loganville’s football team has lost four games this season. Three of those setbacks have come by a total of eight points. The Red Devils travel to Jackson County tonight as they attempt to bounce back from last Friday’s 15-14 loss to Madison County. “Our kids are playing as well as they’ve played since I’ve been here,” said LHS coach Eric Godfree, who is in his fourth season at the helm.
South Gwinnett hosts Brookwood | waltontribune.com
Last Friday’s 36-29 triumph for South Gwinnett over Central Gwinnett is a bit misleading. The Black Knights did most of their damage in the first two quarters but were held to only nine points in the second half. Central piled up 575 yards in total offense, a number which might alarm most coaches. However, South’s John Small adheres to the philosophy that statistics are for losers.
Rams on the road at Central | waltontribune.com
Don’t look now, but the Grayson Rams have become serious contenders to win the Region 8-AAAAA — and maybe much, much more. Coach Mickey Conn’s team registered its second consecutive victory over perennial state power Parkview last week. The 19-0 shutout on the Panther’s home field was as impressive a win as Grayson has had since the school started playing football in 2000. It lifted the Rams to 5-1 overall and 3-0 in the region. Grayson is tied with Brookwood for the league lead.
Atlanta Area
Football Notes: OLM’s McDermott a good catch | ajc.com
Quarterback Michael Tamburo, who has led North Gwinnett to a 7-0 start and Class AAAAA’s No. 2 ranking, likely will miss Friday’s home game against South Forsyth after suffering a concussion against Peachtree Ridge. The junior was hurt on a 19-yard keeper early in the fourth quarter. Senior Patrick Thompson replaced Tamburo and completed both his passes for 41 yards in the Bulldogs’ 31-19 victory. North Gwinnett coach Bob Sphire said he expects to start Thompson Friday.
Mays coach should return - pronto | ajc.com
Mays has had a long line of head football coaches in a short time — since 2001. And now, the aforementioned Jesse William Solomon is wondering if the players of whom he is so fond, the players for whom he has gone the extra mile and then some, will have yet another football coach. That depends on Atlanta Public Schools.
Senior Superlatives: How the Super 11 are faring | ajc.com
The Atlanta Journal Constitution’s Super 11 players have had mixed success this season, but the teams involved have made up for any shortcomings. None of the 11 teams is below .500, and they have a combined record of 50-16. There have been ups and downs for the top players in the state through Week 7, but several are living up to their Super 11 status:
ELCA’s Carter repeats as Player of Week | ajc.com
ELCA’s Wes Carter is used to big repeat performances and he’s come through once again in the AJC Player of the Week voting, taking the title for the second week in a row. Carter racked up a whopping 61% of the vote, with more than 1800 online ballots. Carter ran for 196 yards and passed for 217 to carry Eagle’s Landing Christian Academy to a victory against Our Lady of Mercy in the Region 5-A opener.
Trend alert: Run-and-shoot has taken flight | ajc.com
Football in the state of Georgia used to be all about running backs. From Herschel Walker to Garrison Hearst, from Robert Toomer to Caleb King, Georgia’s high school hallways have been loaded with running backs that kept Georgia, Georgia Tech and the border schools fully stocked. But just as college offenses have evolved from toss sweep right and toss sweep left, so have the high school programs in the state.
Key matchups: Metro teams to watch | ajc.com
7:30 p.m. today, Northcutt Stadium, Marietta. Can Etowah’s powerful offensive and defensive lines control the speedy Blue Devils? 2. Etowah’s running attack against the wide-open attack of Marietta. 3. The winner maintains its hopes of capturing the region title.
State Best Bet: Fitzgerald-Early Co. | ajc.com
Talk of Class AA football begins and ends with top-ranked Buford and No. 2 Charlton County because the two have won or tied for the past five AA championships. But trophies are not given out based on history or rankings. So a couple of under-the-radar teams, including No. 3 Fitzgerald and No. 4 Early County, offer hope for those who appreciate underdogs.
Metro Best Bet: Northview-Chattahoochee | ajc.com
Chattahoochee coach Terry Crowder said he is not going to complain about his team being left out of the Class AAAAA rankings. The Cougars are 5-1, with road victories against two teams that were ranked at the time, Camden County and defending Class AAAAA co-champion Roswell. “Getting ranked is something that can be a positive for the community,” Crowder said. “I’m sure the 10 teams that are ranked, they are very deserving as well.
Adairsville hosts Calhoun | dailytribune.com
Mark Arthur is in his first season as head coach of the Adairsville Tigers, but he’s well aware of the reputation that precedes the fifth-ranked Calhoun Yellow Jackets. “We’re facing a really good football team,” said Arthur, whose team hosts Calhoun tonight at 7:30 p.m. “They’re very talented and definitely are well-coached. Their offense is balanced and if you try to slow down (running back Adam Urbano), their passing game can beat you. People who load up to stop (Urbano) will get burned in other ways.”
Warriors hunt for lucky No. 7 | cherokeetribune.com
The undefeated Cherokee Warriors will enter Friday night’s road matchup with the Douglas County Tigers riding high as they look to tighten their grasp on Region 5AAAA. Fourth-ranked Cherokee (6-0, 5-0) is coming off a tight, 17-6 home win over upstart Lithia Springs in a game in which the Lions led 6-3 at halftime. The Warriors pulled away late, but struggled to get their rush-happy offense in gear early on.
Salem, Rockdale to rumble at Reid | rockdalecitizen.com
One team is 5-1, the other is 1-5. Salem and Rockdale have taken very different paths to tonight’s game. Now, both teams are looking for the same result — a win. For Salem, a win would move the Seminoles to 6-1 overall, and more importantly 3-0 in 8-AAAA South. For Rockdale, a win would mean a Conyers Cup Championship and new life in the race for the postseason. With so much at stake, both Salem coach Chad Estes and Rockdale coach William Johnson are taking every precaution in preparing for tonight’s matchup.
Eagles, Patriots both seek first subregion win | rockdalecitizen.com
It’s hard to look at two teams as talented as Eastside and Heritage and believe that both squads have 0-2 records in Region 8-AAAA South.
What’s even harder to imagine is that one of those teams will be 0-3 in the subregion after tonight. Two high-octane offenses will hit the field tonight in one of the newer rivalries in region 8-AAAA. Both teams also possess equally lethal defensive units. The Eagles haven’t been shut out this season. Eastside’s offense is averaging 22.7 points per game, and the defense is allowing just 12.7 points per game.
Impressive credentials | timesherald.com
Newnan carries those impressive numbers to East Point tonight to take on the winless Tri-Cities Bulldogs who have dropped seven in a row. So, with all those credentials, how do you prepare to play a team that hasn’t won a game, a team you beat 63-19 last year, scoring the 3rd-highest number of points ever in Drake Stadium, and a team that has been outscored 246-18 this season?
Region challenges now begin for both Newnan, ECHS | timesherald.com
Fans of East Coweta and Newnan football realized early-on that the most challenging time of the season for each school would be the last three games of the regular season. For East Coweta, that testing period begins tonight when the Indians (6-1 overall, 3-0 in Region 4-AAAAA) travel to Twelve Oaks Stadium to face the Mundy’s Mill Tigers (4-1-1, 2-0). Newnan (5-1, 2-0) takes on Tri-Cities (0-7, 0-3) in East Point, then begins its “Big Three” next week against Mundy’s Mill at home, while Northgate (1-5, 0-4 in 2-AAAA) hosts Banneker (4-2, 3-1) in the Vikings’ Homecoming game and Heritage School (2-4, 0-0 in 4-AA GISA) entertains Holy Spirit Prep (4-2, 0-0) in the Hawks’ first region game of the season.
Columbus Area
Grangers don’t like to give up points | ledgerenquirer.com
Comparing this year’s defense to previous ones isn’t something LaGrange coach Steve Pardue likes to do during the season. Pardue also maintains that he’s not exactly sure what has allowed his defense to have so much success. One thing is for certain — the LaGrange defense has been dominant during its first six games. The Grangers have allowed six points and 84.8 yards per game this season.
Macon Area
Crusaders wary of trap scenario a they host building Memorial Day | courierherald.com
If history could teach Trinity anything, the Crusaders would see they’ve owned Memorial Day School. A 16-4 mark, including nine straight wins dating back to 1997, plus the fact that the Matadors (2-5) are sandwiched between region powers Windsor and Bulloch makes this week’s matchup with Memorial the perfect trap game. (Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. at Cleve Warnock Field).
Raiders hit I-16 for big 4-AAA game with Patriots | courierherald.com
Trailing 21-0 against Perry last week, West Laurens did something that gave their head coach hope. They didn’t give up and scored late in the game to take a lead. That lead didn’t last long as the Panthers came back down the field and scored the winning touchdown with 12 seconds left in the game.
New twist to Irish, Indians rivalry | courierherald.com
The Dublin Fighting Irish will be heading to Vidalia this week looking to avoid what their coach calls “a trap.” “This game that we’re going into Friday night is one of those games,” said Irish head coach Roger Holmes. “Vidalia is a trap simply because of the way our game has gone the last two year. There are positively no indications of how the game is going to go this year.”
Falcons face battered and bruised Battle Creek Warriors | courierherald.com
Bye weeks are normally reserved for an additional seven days of preparation for the next opponent, but East Laurens took a decidedly introspective approach to their break. “We didn’t worry about Tattnall at all last week,” East Laurens coach Vic Thigpen said. “We worried about our offense, our defense and what we need to do as a football team to get better.”
Homecoming at Griffin�- This time it’s for real | griffindailynews.com
When Riverdale comes calling there will be a lot more than usual at stake in tonight’s homecoming game at Griffin High. For openers, Griffin (6-1 overall, 4-0 Region 4-AAAA Div. A) is looking to win its fifth in a row this season. Then there’s the fact Griffin has won nine in a row against the Raiders (2-4, 1-3) dating back to 1988 in a series that started in 1978 and the Bears lead 19-3.
Bears will rock at home; Jags will roll on road | griffindailynews.com
Region 4-AAAA Div. A first-place Griffin (6-1 overall, 4-0 subregion) hosts Riverdale (2-4, 1-3) tonight for homecoming. Griffin, which has won the last nine meetings in the series dating back to 1988, leads the overall series 19-3. The Bears and Raiders have three common opponents to date this season: North Clayton, Lovejoy and Mt. Zion-Jonesboro. Both beat Mt. Zion-Jonesboro, the Bears prevailing 62-28 and the Raiders prevailing 47-30. The Raiders however lost to North Clayton 47-28 and Lovejoy 31-10. Griffin defeated North Clayton 14-7 and Lovejoy 27-23.
Savannah Area
Area high school football previews | savannahmorningnews.com
Before last week’s 31-13 loss to Bradwell Institute, WINDSOR FOREST had won three straight. For the Knights to return to the win column, they’ll have to do two things against JENKINS no one has done this season: find a weakness in the Warriors defense and stop running back Franklin Green. The Jenkins defenders lead the area in points allowed, surrendering just six in five games. On the other side of the ball, Green has run for 1,134 yards in five games with 14 touchdowns.
Benedictine coach prepares to face his former squad | savannahmorningnews.com
Bob Herndon hasn’t taken any trips down memory lane this week, and tonight will have his focus on the here and now. The Benedictine football coach and his Cadets will host South Effingham at 7:30 at Memorial Stadium in a meeting between Herndon and the team he coached for four seasons. “I’m more concerned about my kids and the team that I coach now more than I am them,” said Herndon, who compiled a 30-14 record as the Mustangs coach from 2002-2005. “I want them to do well because I coached some of those kids, but as far as I’m concerned, I have a different team to get prepared.”
Watts turns up the voltage | statesboroherald.com
Statesboro linebacker Weldon Watts has become a leader on and off the field for the Blue Devils. With 521⁄2 tackles, four interceptions, two tackles for loss, a sack and a fumble recovery, Watts has emerged as an anchor for an SHS defense that week-by-week is only getting stronger.
Valdosta Area
Monroe under the microscope | albanyherald.com
Sure, playing on Thursday night affords the Monroe High School football team the spotlight at Hugh Mills Stadium as the only area team in action. Tornadoes coach Charles Truitt could care
less. He would trade every watt of power from that spotlight for an extra day of preparation.
Rams creating room to run | albanyherald.com
Four-time defending conference champion Albany State is tied with Tuskegee for first place in the SIAC and leads with an average of 230 rushing yards per game. Three Rams are among the conference’s top 10 rushers, but quarterback Kisan Flakes gives credit where he feels it’s long overdue. Meet the offensive line, which helped the Rams rush for 234 yards during a 17-14 win against Clark Atlanta on Saturday.
Valwood ready to face tough test at Piedmont | valdostadailytimes.com
The Valwood Valiants (5-1) are back on the field this week. They head up to Monticello to face off against Piedmont Academy (4-2) tonight at 7:30 p.m. “It’s going to be a mighty tough ballgame for us,” said Valwood head coach Mike Patrick on Thursday.
Vikings ready for ’Cats after two weeks of practice | valdostadailytimes.com
It’s been two weeks since the Lowndes Vikings strapped on the pads. They will do so again today for the biggest game of the season. The Vikings put bragging rights, and a possible region title, on the line when they host crosstown rival Valdosta at 8 p.m. at Martin Stadium.
Valdosta expects a serious challenge from rival Vikings | valdostadailytimes.com
Valdosta’s players know how good Lowndes is. And they’re ready for the challenge. Valdosta and Lowndes square off at 8 p.m. today at Martin Stadium for bragging rights — and possibly an eventual region title.
Statewide
Pigskin Preview: October 19 | accessnorthga.com
High school football gets into the thick of its sub-region races this Friday. In Northeast Georgia, Gainesville hosts Pickens, Johnson entertains West Hall and North Hall plays host to Gilmer in games that will be broadcast on radio. Here’s a look at the non-radio games for October 19.
High School Softball
Atlanta Area
Cass battles its way into sectional tourney | dailytribune.com
The 2007 softball season hasn’t exactly been an easy one for the Cass Lady Colonels. With games against AA powerhouses No. 2 Buford and No. 4 North Oconee, AAA powerhouses No. 2 Central-Carroll, No. 3 Blessed Trinity and No. 8 Westminster, and AAAAA powers North Cobb and Parkview, the Lady Colonels have gone through the gauntlet and come out the other side with a No. 2 ranking from Region 6-AAA heading into today’s state tournament sectionals at Lanier Point in Gainesville.
Back-to-back titles on minds of Sequoyah, Woodstock | cherokeetribune.com
The state softball tournaments begin Friday and three Cherokee County teams will look to navigate through the bracket to Columbus and the Elite Eight. The defending state champions of Classes AAAAA and AAAA, respectively, Woodstock and Sequoyah make a return appearance to the tournament along with 2006 Elite Eight team Cherokee.
Seniors fuel run for RCHS | rockdalecitizen.com
It’s been a steady climb the past four seasons for the Rockdale girls softball team, especially for the senior quartet of Jessie Holmes, Ashleigh George, Whitney Dixe and Kayla Kelly. Two seasons ago, the Lady Bulldogs won only seven games. Last year, they won 12. This year, with its third coach in four seasons, Rockdale has produced a breakout season, posting a 17-9 record and earning its first trip to the state sectionals in 11 seasons. First-year coach Holly Hamilton points to senior leadership as one of the reasons the Lady Bulldogs cleared the final hurdle this season, as they play St. Pius in the Class AAAA North State Sectional at 4 p.m. today in Woodstock.
Wings of the Eagles | rockdalecitizen.com
Diverse would be the best way to describe Eastside’s pitching staff. The Lady Eagles have a combination of speed and grace in seniors Brandi Richards and Ricki Powers and sophomore Amanda Henderson. Richards supplies the heat with her 65 mph fastball, which gets to home plate in less than a half-second, just like a 95 mph baseball. Powers gives Eastside finesse, while Henderson has a little bit of everything — speed and grace. “They work well together. You don’t want two pitchers that are about the same,” Eastside head coach Heather Wood said. “Our team is definitely based on our pitching. When our pitchers are on, we have a tendency to have a good day.”
Local squads begin State Softball Sectionals | timesherald.com
For 40 schools in the state of Georgia today will begin a quest to accomplish what Collins Hill, Sequoyah and several others did in 2006. The GHSA softball State Sectional tournaments begin this afternoon for all five classifications at a variety of venues with an eye on advancing to the Elite Eight Tournament next weekend in Columbus. Northgate, East Coweta and Newnan will be among the schools who will participate. All three local squads open play today in the South Sectional at the Lovejoy Regional Park in Hampton. The Lady Vikings (22-9) will be the No. 1 seed from Region 2-AAAA . Northgate won the region tournament last week in a dramatic two-game sweep of the McIntosh Lady Chiefs in the championship round.
Savannah Area
Standout pitching trio leads South Effingham into sectionals | savannahmorningnews.com
Stacked is how some would describe South Effingham’s pitching staff. Many teams rely heavily on one pitcher to get the job done. South Effingham softball coach Donnie Ussery is able to split the duties between three pitchers, Alison Kirkland (5-6), Sally Faircloth (9-4) and Casey Johnson (8-0). The trio has a combined ERA of .99 and 22 wins, including a Region 3-AAA championship
Valdosta Area
Friendly fire | albanyherald.com
On the field, junior Brittny Dennison and senior Callie Thompson form the potent 1-2 pitching punch that lifted the Lee County High School softball team to a perfect 9-0 Region 1-AAAA season. Off the field, the two are the best of friends. Their mothers and brothers are close, they lay by the pool together and they have formed a palpable bond since first meeting nearly 10 years ago.
High School Volleyball
Atlanta Area
Lady Canes open with wins | dailytribune.com
Cartersville High’s volleyball team is playing some its best volleyball at just the right time as the Lady Canes rolled to a pair of victories Thursday at the Region 6-AAA Tournament at The Storm Center. The Lady Canes (22-14) beat Haralson County, 25-9, 25-8 and Cass, 25-8, 25-19 to advance to Saturday’s 11 a.m. winner’s bracket final match against No. 3 Sandy Creek (37-12) and wrapped up a berth in the Class AAA Sectional Tournament Oct. 27. “We’re very pleased,” said Cartersville head coach Scott Busby. “We had one bad run in the second game against Cass, but the girls really took what we’d been working on in practice and applied it in today’s matches.”
Wesleyan captures another area title | gwinnettdailypost.com
Wesleyan’s dominance in volleyball continued as the Wolves swept crosstown rival Greater Atlanta Christian in three games to capture its seventh straight area title on Thursday night in the finals of the Area 4 AA/A tournament. The area championship wasn’t the only streak going as the Wolves (47-6) extended their current winning streak to 22 matches, a span that has seen Wesleyan lose just one game.
Top-seeded Kennesaw Mountain uses team cohesiveness as benefit| mariettadailyjournal.com
The Kennesaw Mountain volleyball team is doing just as much preparation for the Area 5AAAAA tournament off the court as it is on the court. The Lady Mustangs decided to climb Kennesaw Mountain earlier this week instead of drilling for two hours just to get their minds away from the sport and enjoy bonding as a team. Climbing the mountain is a tradition they do every year before playing the major tournaments that decides the fate of their season.
Pope the target in stacked area field| mariettadailyjournal.com
The Pope volleyball team isn’t taking anything for granted. They’ve already suffered the consequences. The third-ranked Lady Greyhounds are undefeated in Area 1AAAAA competition and are favored to defend their area title, but they paid a tough price earlier in the season when they didn’t come prepared for a match - a three-game loss to Kell in the quarterfinals of the Cobb County Invitational. Taking one match at a time and not looking too far ahead are the two areas the top-seeded Lady Greyhounds (36-3) are concentrating on when the Area 1AAAAA tournament gets under way today at Sprayberry High School.
Devils’ day | gwinnettdailypost.com
Norcross got off to a bit of a slow start in its Area 7-AAAAA volleyball championship match with Mill Creek on Thursday. But once the No. 7 ranked Blue Devils got going, they were hard to stop. The combination of outside hitters August Rhea and Hannah Nelson proved two powerful weapons as Norcross shook off dropping the first game of the match before rallying past a game group of Hawks 23-25, 25-13, 25-16, 26-24 on their home court.
Statewide
“Must win” time for Lakeview volleyball in Area Tournament | accessnorthga.com
Lakeview Academy fell in Thursday volleyball action, 2-0 to Athens Academy in the Area 7-AA/A tournament.The Lady Spartans edged the Lady Lions in both games, sending Lakeview to the loser’s bracket Saturday in a “win or else” match-up against the winner of East Jackson and Tallulah Falls. The loss dropped Lakeview Academy’s record to 19-11 overall, including 7-2 in area games.
Jubilee Christian moves on in volleyball playoffs | accessnorthga.com
Jubilee Christian advanced in the GCAA Class A State tournament by defeating Old Suwanee of Buford. Grace of Columbus and Old Suwanee were eliminated from the tournament after suffering two losses apiece. Jubilee will take on Emmanuel on Friday at 12:30 p.m.
North Hall, Flowery Branch advance to volleyball finals | accessnorthga.com
The North Hall Lady Trojans’ volleyball team defeated West Hall to advance to Saturday’s tournament finals against Flowery Branch, who defeated North Hall on Thursday as well. Chestatee was defeated by West Forsyth, while Johnson was knocked out by West Hall. Flowery Branch will take on North Hall in a best-of-5 match on Saturday at 7 p.m. at North Hall.
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