Newspaper Page Text
Barrow Journal
Chris Bridges, Sports Editor
770-867-6397, phone
678-425-1435, FAX
cbridges@barrowjournal.com
November 9, 2011
Section
B
www.BarrowJournal.com
Recognized for award-winning sports coverage by Georgia Press Association and Georgia Sports Writers Association
CROSS COUNTRY
Cope paces Lady Doggs to top 10 state finish
By Chris Bridges
cbriclges @ barrowjournal. com
Amanda Cope has done it again.
The Winder-Barrow High School cross coun
try standout finished ninth overall at the AAAA
state meet Saturday in Carrollton. While Cope
was somewhat disappointed by her time, her
finish of 19:52 was good enough to crack the
Top 10.
“She felt her time was slow, but all of the
times were slower,” said WBHS coach Michael
Lofton. “Going into state, there were 12 runners
who had times of 18 minutes but only two of
them did Saturday. It is frustrating to finish the
season at the toughest course.”
Caitlin Connell, Whitley Kennedy, Anna
Dean, Isabel Martin, Darcy Potts and Amber
Duffy were the next Lady Bulldoggs to finish
the even behind Cope.
Josiah Bennett paced the WBHS boys finish
ing in the top 25 in 17.11.
“One of our biggest faults of the day was our
excitement,” said Lofton. “They took off at the
beginning and had very fast times for the first
mile. However, it is hard to finish strong when
they do that.”
Lofton said he did like the aggressiveness of
the WBHS runners, however.
“I am pleased we have kids who aren't afraid
of the big race,” the coach said. “Unfortunately,
we probably had a little too much gusto.”
Skyler Lowe, William Wright, Chris Cope,
Timmy Villamater. Alex Martiniz and Shane
Davis also helped lead the Bulldoggs.
“We couldn’t have asked for a better day
weather-wise,” Lofton said. “It was windy, how
ever.”
Flowery Branch, also a member of Region
8-AAAA. won the boys state championship
while the Lady Falcons were second overall.
The WBHS boys were the second team from
8-AAAA in the state standings.
“Flowery Branch was ready for state,” Lofton
said of the fellow region member. “They peaked
at the right time.”
The WBHS coach said it is gratifying to see
the Bulldogg and Lady Bulldogg team members
have another strong season which culminated
with a trip to the state cross country meet.
“It takes a lot of dedication and sacrifice to be
successful,” Lofton said.
OPINION
AHS, LHS give
fans their
money's worth
As it turns out, there
would be no postseason
appearance for either
Apalachee High School or
Loganville High School.
However, the two football
teams put on a display Friday
night at R. Harold Harrison
Stadium which would have
made one
think the
playoffs
— or
even
more —
were on
the line.
In the
end, the
visit
ing Red
Devils
escaped
with a
45-42 victory as quarter
back Garrett Ford, showing
a remarkable resemblance
to Tim Tebow, fought in
on an eight-yard run with
three seconds left. That
score capped a wild display
of offense which had both
teams scoring almost at will,
especially in the second half.
AHS did not punt the
entire game, scoring on
each of its possessions.
After a somewhat slow
start by scoring just seven
points in the first half, the
LHS offense began clicking
on all cylinders and ended
the game by scoring 38
points in the second half.
Wildcat coach Shane
Davis said he has never been
involved in a game where
his team scored on every
possession but still lost. It
was that kind of night.
In recent seasons, the two
teams have played some
“instant classics” on the
gridiron. I still vividly recall
the 2009 game in Loganville
where the Red Devils went
for a two-point conver
sion in overtime to spoil
Apalachee's perfect season.
The Wildcat defense held and
a wild celebration followed.
This past week was also a
treat for those who were in
attendance. It was a perfect
night for football. The rain
from earlier in the week had
left but a coolness was in
the air making it ideal for
the players to compete at
their maximum efforts. And
that is just what they did.
Zay Henry, Jermaine
Smith and Eric Tanner
helped highlight the AHS
offense. Linemen such as
Josh Doman, Chris Guthrie,
Chris Chapman and Sacorus
Riley were having a field
day in the trenches.
Coordinator Joel Miller
helped direct the Wildcat
offense to their best
game of the season.
See First & Ten on Page 2B
chris
bridges
First & Ten
'We will work hard this offseason like we always do. The players know we have
to work to get back to where we need to be.' — AHS coach Shane Davis
RUNNING TO A NEW SEASON
Zay Henry, shown competing against Loganville last week, is one of the Wildcat players who will
return for 2012.
Back To Work
AHS preparations begin immediately for 2012
By Chris Bridges
cbriclges @ barrowjournal. com
T here is some unkown at this point as the
Apalachee High School coaches and play
ers begin preparations for the 2012 season.
The Georgia High School Association has
not yet announced the new classification setup
or region alignments for the next two school
years. This makes it impossible to prepare sched
ules or know who opponents might be.
Even with that, AHS coach Shane Davis said his
players will simply concentrate on going back to
work, primarily in
Coming lip: the weight room as
• Apalachee High School annual they seek a return
football awards banquet, Thurs- to the postsea-
day, Nov. 17, 6:30 p.m. son. The Wildcats
finished 4-6 this
fall, overcom
ing a 0-4 start to go 4-2 in the final six games.
“We will work hard this offseason like we always do,”
Davis said. “The players know we have to work to get
back to where we need to be. We will continue with our
weight program for the rest of this semester. We just
want to get into a good offseason groove with our work
outs. Once spring gets here, we'll see what athletes are
playing other sports and go from there.”
What impressed Davis perhaps the most in 2011, is
the fact his players never gave up, despite a slow start
where some close games went against them.
See Wildcats on Page 2B
LOOKING TO 2012
Von Heard will help lead the Apalachee High
School team once again next fall.
CHEERLEADING
Cheer Doggs
prepare for
state meet
By Chris Bridges
cbridges @ barrowjournal. com
Jerrie Husley knows the potential
her 2011 competition cheerleading
team possesses.
The Winder-Barrow High School
coach now wants her squad to use
all of that potential in its quest for
a state championship. The Cheer
Doggs, follow
ing a third-place
showing at sec
tionals, will go
for the big prize
Saturday as
they make the
trek once again
to Columbus.
“I am ready for this team to hit
this routine and show the state of
Georgia we deserve a state cham
pionship,” Hulsey said. “There are
10 seniors on this team and this is
their last opportunity. I feel like their
experience and leadership will help
us bring home title number five.”
The Cheer Doggs are scheduled
to compete Saturday at 2 p.m.
Seniors on this year’s team include
Crystal Hodge, Laura Beth Brown,
Lauren Geiger, Ashley Rogers,
Ashley Healan. Austin Sorrels, John
Reese Fortson, Kody Sanders. Nick
Oxley and Jonathan Rodriquez.
“We dropped a stunt on Saturday
— one that never falls — and
had 20 points in deductions so
that dropped us from second to
third,” Hulsey said of sectionals.
“Having said that, going third is
much much better than going sec
ond at state. The even numbers,
starting at 16 down to two go before
intermission. After intermission the
odd numbers go, starting at one
and ending in 15.1 had two athletes
throw and land their standing tuck
(on Saturday) which puts us at the
required 14 standing tucks.”
Inside:
•Apalachee
Cheer Cats also
preparing for state
competition.
— Page 2B
TIME FOR STATE
Flyer Lauren Geiger and the
Winder-Barrow High School
competition cheerleaders will
go for a state title Saturday in
Columbus. The Cheer Doggs
are scheduled to compete at
2 p.m.
Photo by Jessica Brown