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FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS
MCHS Season Over
RTCA vs. Brentwood
7:30 p.m. Friday in Sandersville
GISA State Quaterfinals
Listen to on NewsTalk 970 AM 105.3 FM - WVOP
VHS Season Over
Listen to on 97.7 FM WTCQ
VHA vs. King’s Way Christian
7:30 p.m. Friday in Vidalia
GAPPS State Semifinals
All game broadcasts streamed live at
www.southeastgeorgiatoday.com
November 17,2021
®l|e Aiuianre
Section B
Loran
Smith
Sam
Huff
Long before they cross the River
Styx, we learn that our heroes are neither
invincible nor indestructible.
In his prime,
however, you
would have
thought that New
York Giant mid
dle linebacker,
Sam Huff, might
have beaten the
odds, at least,
based on his play
ing field reputa
tion. When the
New York Giant
teams of the fif
ties featured Sam as its middle linebacker,
he became, perhaps, the first great defen
sive Superstar.
The CBS network produced a special
about his considerable abilities to domi
nate a game on defense. “The Violent
World of Sam Huff,” was a highly re
garded film that was narrated by no less
than American’s favorite newsman, Wal
ter Cronkite. Pro football was gaining
momentum at this time, and Huff’s photo
also appeared on the cover of TIME
magazine.
Becoming friends with Sam, who
finished his career with the Redskins, and
Washington quarterback Sonny Jurgen-
son became a rich experience—but time
leaves a lot of rich and rewarding friend
ships in its wake. When Sam was diag
nosed with dementia several years ago, I
knew things would never be the same. He
died earlier this week not knowing where
he was—not even knowing his name.
That is a tragedy that acutely pains this
long-time friend.
The Giants played for the National
Football League title six times in eight
years from 1956-1964, including the
1958 championship game in Yankee Sta
dium, often referred to as “the greatest
game in NFL history” This was the NFL’s
first overtime game which Baltimore
won, 23-17, behind the heroics of quar
terback John Unitas. Huff said about the
game, years later: “I don’t feel so bad in
that we played our hearts out but lost to a
team which played a little better.”
He did hold one regret that had to do
with Giant halfback, Frank Gifford, run
ning for a gain which resulted in an offi
cial moving the ball back a yard when he
marked it, something which the Giants
always lamented was an inaccurate ball
placement. That took away a first down at
Please see Loran page 4B
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By Loran Smith
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BYU
Statesboro 4:00 p.m.
ESPN+
Notre Dame
South Bend, IN 2:30 p.m.
NBC
Charleston Southern
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Athens 12:00 p.m.
ESPN+
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VHS Cheer Takes Region Title
By Mike Branch
Sports Editor
sports 7 advance@gmail. com
Vidalia High School
hosted the Competition
Cheerleading Region
Championship on Saturday
of last week and the Lady
Indians came away with the
title.
VHS took home the
Region 2AA Region Cham
pionship after a solid per
formance, and will now set
their sights on the State
Championship meet which
will be held this Friday and
Saturday at the Centreplex
in Macon. The State AA
Championship will be held
on Friday in the first ses
sion. The doors will open
at 9:00 a.m. and the compe
tition begins at 10:00 a.m.
This was the Indians
fourth Region title over the
past eight seasons. Second
place went to Swainsboro,
Photo by Carroll Williams
(L to R, Front): Abby Barr, Cadence Lanier, Anna Beth Martin, Rebekkah Bell, Reagan Burton,
Braylie Davis, Heidi Barfield; (Middle): Rebecca Evans, Celeste Hodges, Hailey Metts, Jayla
Phillips, Breanna Barfield, Brynna Wheeler, Emma Neesmith; (Back): Coach Julie Spivey, Zoey
Alvarez, Jadhari Jones, Danni Thompson, Hayden Williamson, Megan Morris, Rocki Johnson,
and Coach Ann Michele Toole.
third was Bacon County, fifth was Jeff Davis, and VHS is currently ranked #3
fourth was Toombs County, sixth was East Laurens, in the State in AA.
Last Second Field Goal
Knocks VHS Out Of Playoffs
Photo by John W. Conner
Vidalia freshman running back A.J. McClendon pufs a move on Wesfside's Riley
Walker in Friday's first round playoff game in Augusta.
By John W. Conner
Westside placekicker Sean Medcalfe,
whose first extra point of the evening had
been blocked by Vidalia, got the final laugh
of the evening on Friday night in Augusta.
Medcalfe’s 45-yard field goal, which
split the uprights with just 3 seconds left on
the clock gave Westside their first lead of
the night at 23-21, spoiled what would
have been one of Georgia’s biggest upsets
on opening night of the state playoffs.
The Indians, led by the play of senior
QB Bryce Davis, had led the 8-2 Patriots by
a 21-0 score.
Vidalia scored first, ending their first
drive with a beautiful diving over-the-
shoulder catch by Jordan Powell of a Davis
pass in the comer of the end zone. The play
covered 27 yards and gave the Indians a 7-0
lead after Tate McDaniel’s extra point.
Powell made another big play with a
leaping interception of a Westside pass in
the first half. The Indians scored twice
more in the second quarter. The second
Indian TD came on another Davis pass.
This time, Davis went deep to Kaleb
Bennett, and the Vidalia receiver made an
other over-the-shoulder catch of a per
fectly thrown Davis pass for 53 yards and
the night’s second touchdown. Another
McDaniel PAT made the score 14-0 with
10:24 still left in the second quarter.
It didn't take Davis and the Indians
long to get back on board again. After forc
ing a Patriot punt, the senior Vidalia QB
faded back to pass, found an opening and
was suddenly gone 77 yards for his team’s
third touchdown.
Tate McDaniel’s third PAT made it
21-0 with 6:38 still left in the first half.
The 8-2 Patriots, who seemed to be in
Please see VHS page 3B
MCHS Eagles Fall In First Round
By Mike Branch
Sports Editor
sports 7 advance@gmail.com
The Montgomery County High
School Eagles football season came to
an end on Saturday of last week at
Brooks County against the Trojans.
The Trojans took the lead early in
the game on a 55-yard touchdown pass.
They added the extra point to lead 7-0
over the Eagles.
MCHS answered as Brandon Den
mark came up with an interception and
returned it 20 yards for a touchdown
later in the first quarter. The extra point
was good to tie the game at 7-7.
Brooks added one more touch
down in the first quarter as they con
nected on a 37-yard pass for a score.
They missed the PAT but led the game
13-7.
In the second quarter of the game
the Trojans extended their lead as they
capped off a drive with a 7-yard touch
down run. They again missed the PAT
but led 19-7. And that was the score at
halftime as MCHS wasn't able to find
the end zone.
In the third quarter it was all Tro
jans as they put two more touchdowns
on the board. The first came on a 45-
yard pass play, and the second was a
41-yard run. That pushed the lead to
35-7.
In the fourth quarter Brooks scored
on a 10-yard run to make it a 42-7
game. MCHS finally added to their to
tal on a rushing touchdown with just
under four minutes left in the game.
That made the score 42-13.
The Trojans scored one more time
as they took a 49-13 win over the Ea
gles. The loss ends the Eagles season,
but it was a good run for the Eagles.
MCHS finished the year with an 8-3
record.
Cti
Student Holiday November 19th - 28th
