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4B ♦ SATURDAY, DECEMBER 9, 2006 . , ft,,. W BJK in 111 v> - . . -.« - . ,i,, ENI Gary Harmon Brandon Buford lines up against a teammate, Thursday during practice. TWIN From page iB Brandon’s treatments were in the form of chemo therapy. He was unable to play football in the seventh grade, instead working with his school’s team as a man ager. Brandon finally got to put the uniform on in the eighth grade. “I was in remission in four weeks after I got diagnosed,” he said. “They got all the cancer out of my body, but there was a chance that it could come back. That’s why you get chemotherapy, to make sure it doesn’t come back.” So the worst is behind Brandon, but he does go back for check-ups about every six months, and every one so far has been positive. “I’ve always loved foot ball,” he said. “I wasn’t going to let one small thing keep me down from doing what I love to do. It took me a long time to get in shape. When I had leukemia, I gained a whole lot of weight. I would get tired real easily from the chemotherapy. But I turned DEMONS From page iB very good, athletic, good tacklers, and they don’t give up a lot of big plays.” The Demon staff has stud ied eight Peachtree Ridge games. From an offensive standpoint, Way said in some games the Lions do the I formation and run the ball, but in others they spread people out and throw it everywhere. “I think they run the ball better than they throw it,” he said. “They can certainly move the football through the air if they decide to do that. I don’t really know what they’re thinking is. They are basically an I for mation football team run ning the sweeps and the powers and the fullback on the trap, then mix in play action off of that.” So it looks like a “wait and-see,” especially in terms of who will control the line of scrimmage or who will be able to out-run the other. “We’re generally the small est team on the field,” said Way. “We will be again this week. I think we match up pretty well speed-wise. It’s going to be an even game. They remind me a lot of Norcross in their athleticism and how they play.” Warner Robins beat Norcross, ranked No. 1 in SA, 14-3 last Friday. Peachtree Ridge’s forte has been to Play Belter Golf wilh JACK NICKLAUS / -4 MA Bolder s T ts&SP’ u.-ic ■■*.< 1 fgfp HOLDING ON TO THE : w. CLU6 SECURELY OS 'TV THEY COMPLETE T«E bPCKSUJING, OR (JUMO lUSt SLL® get too Flippy- \ . UJR.ISTEO. SHOULD TgvlMlt- & yW.■■■ lOHA-t tour; players Hk »* V CALL THE "LONG THUMB ' GRIP. 11l t; % 111-33 H! ! it all around.” Brandon had his own determination to become a football player as motivation to recover, but he also had strong family support. He said the prayers and well wishes came from friends, his church and other church es. “Being that young, I really didn’t understand what was going on,” said Brian about his perspective on what his brother was going through. “I just knew he was sick. I only had one breakdown where I was like, ‘He ain’t coming home.’ We shared a room together, and he wasn’t there for a while. It hit me that one night, but the other times I was pretty good.” Last year, Brandon saw his first significant playing time on varsity for Warner Robins High, and most of that was on special teams. Now he is one of those who battles in the trench es snap after snap, and in the Demons’ offense, there are no breaks but plenty of rewards. “The season’s going great,” said Brandon. “I just want to get this state champion- keep scores low, holding Wheeler to three and also squeaking out a two-point second round win, 16-14, against Campbell. Is this game today going to be devoid of offensive pro duction? “It maybe one of those games where both offenses play great, the defenses play horrible and it’s 40-38,” said Way. “I think our chances are better if it is a low-scor ing game. I would anticipate it being a relatively low-scor ing game.” In the Norcross game, the Demons held a 7-0 lead for the longest time, but Way said Norcross had more chances in the second half while his team struggled to move the football. But the Warner Robins defense only yielded a field goal while picking up an interception to stall another long drive. “That was a big boost to us,” said Way. “As we got into the fourth quarter we started moving the ball again and had an outstand ing drive that chewed up a lot of time and put it out of reach.” Not only do some Warner Robins players already have the experience of playing in the Georgia Dome from the 2004 season against Ware County, but all of the ros ter knows what it’s like to suit up in this stadium this year. The Demons dominat ed Parkview on Sept. 2, and Way said that might be the ship. A lot of people didn’t expect us to get this far, but we surprised everybody. “Coming off the ball, I’m not afraid to hit anybody. I come off the ball with no fear and do what I have to do to get the block. My reward is seeing those points on the board and winning the game. I understand that the running backs get the credit, but when you go to the side lines, the coaches and play ers know what you’ve done. “I want (the champion ship) so bad, I don’t know how to describe it.” For Brandon and other Warner Robins players who’s time has only come the past two years, the Georgia Dome still won’t be a new experience since the Demons played - and beat - Parkview in the opening game back on Sept. 2. “My first start in the Georgia Dome ... I’m not going to lie. I was a little nervous,” said Brandon. “Once that first snap goes, you can’t be nervous any more. It was nerve-racking, but it was a great experi ence. Of course we won, so it was a better experience.” only advantage his team has going in today. “If you don’t watch your self, you end up looking around the whole time,” said Way about what being in the Dome for the first time does to a high school player. “I don’t think the Dome part of it is going to affect us a whole lot. “The kids are very excit ed. Everybody’s excited in the school. Four weeks ago not many people gave us a chance to be here, and understandably so. We hope we can play this and one more.” And before anyone forgets, Demon quarterback Mark Wright Jr. is a perfect 8-0 in career playoff starts. He made news last year with his season-ending knee injury after his championship run as a sophomore starter, and that was still the main topic of discussion as he came back for this, his senior year. Wright’s not a 2,000- yard passer or anything like that, but when healthy does what he knows to do in big games. “He makes outstand ing decisions,” said Way. “Against Camden he played as well as anybody could play at quarterback. His stats didn’t knock you down - I think 5-of-9 for a little over 100 yards - but he ran the offense like we wanted it run. That’s his ability. We look for him to play his nor mal great game.” SPORTS Adding Soriano puls Bravns a By TRAVIS HANEY Morris News Service The Atlanta Braves left last year’s winter meetings without a single proven entity in their bullpen. And then they paid for it for the first three-quarters of the woe-ridden 2006 season. The Braves blew 20 of their first 40 save chances and rode a wave of late inning uncertainty through most of the year. With that principle driv ing their recent activity, the Braves will leave Disney World today with two legit imate relief forces - re signed closer Bob Wickman and new setup man Rafael Soriano. Atlanta locked down Wickman in September. After some medical reports were examined and approved Thursday morning, the Braves finalized their deal for Soriano, sending oft injured starter Horacio Ramirez to Seattle. “It’s a huge piece,” Braves manager Bobby Cox said. In one of the few deals league-wide this week, the Braves achieved their pri mary goal of the meetings - bolstering the bullpen. “If nothing else, we want ed a bullpen guy, a legiti mate bullpen guy. And we got that,” Cox said. “We already signed Wickman, so we have two that we didn’t start with last year. “We’re way ahead of the game.” Coming off elbow surgery CLEATS "ARAROPITE OP THE EOCCER PITOT~ TAE KIP WAO WROTE TAl£ AAE> A m Ajog m^osi ilt, MACON REGIONAL .sjggpMBBIMMMO Help solve A Crime Rewards of up to ‘O,OOO - Remain Anonymous! I v) Matthew William Berg Wanted for violation of probation (for failure to report and to pay as instructed) LKA: 100 block of Hickory Hill Lane. Warner Robins [ - -"-wcrr- Terrance Lemont Brown Wanted for failure to appear/amtempt of court, driving with suspended or resxtked license, unlawful use of driver's license or IP. weaving/failure to maintain lane, giving false name/hirthdate/address to officer LKA: 900 block of CrestwotKl Terrace, Warner Robins 1 V..WVV, ■ ' I A King Edward Cannon Jr. Wanted for aggravated stalking, bench warrant LKA: 700 block of Loop Road, Vidalia ran 1 m Cesar Cervantes Wanted for violation of probation (DUII LKA: 100 block of Creek Cove TraU, * Warner Robins Wo’ POH'T Y\ TANK YOU A i CRUEA AIE- AEAP, / EAOOtP 6IVE 1 ! | TAIHK IT'E A l AIM A BIG AUG J < r EWEET ARTICLE. / —“~S : y fj MAYBE A ■ <p 1/ V I Kl«. OH TAE i y f 1 I - I (c) 2008 BiH Hinds, Pisl by Umvrsal Press Syndicate 742-2330 • 1-877-68 CRIME (27463) if yqy don’t like seeing your picture on this page, CALL CRIMESTOPPERS AND TURN YOURSELF IN! that wiped out his 2004 and 2006 seasons, Soriano, 27, rebounded to post a 2.26 ERA in 60 innings. He would have pitched more, but he missed the final month after suffering a concussion. Soriano was hit by a Vladimir Guerrero line drive Aug. 29 and experi enced dizziness and concus sions thereafter. But he has been pitching this fall in the Dominican Republic, his home country, and Braves scouts assured the team that his head and arm are just fine. The right-hander, who has a 93 mph fastball and sev eral other breaking pitch es, has a 2.89 ERA in 116 appearances over pieces of five seasons. “To have a five-year career in the American League and come out with a 2.8 ERA, that’s saying something,” Cox said. “One of our objec tives in coming here, ini tially, was to strengthen the bullpen. We were able to do that, so we’re happy.” The Braves might groom Soriano to one day take Wickman’s place as closer. Cox said, too, that Soriano has the pitches to perhaps become a starter down the road. Without being asked about Ramirez, Cox said it was very difficult to part with the left-hander, who never seemed to fulfill promise because of injuries and gen eral inconsistency. 'lt__ Altaveus Devon Branch Wanted for violation of probation State Court (simple battery) LKA: 100 block of Brandywine Court, Warner Robins Christopher Dale Bruner Wanted for violation of probation (for failure to report and to pay as instructed) LKA: Haynesville, Jefferson, Warner Robins I David Carrillo Wanted for violation of probation (for DVD LKA: 100 block of Sandy Run, Bonaire Hee Jin Chough Wanted for violation of probation State Court Ispeeding) LKA: 100 block of Cherokee Forest Trail, Warner Robins THE HOUSTON DAILY JOURNAL “(Atlanta pitching coach) Roger McDowell thinks lv can win 15 to 20, he really does,” Cox said. “He’s sin cere about that." Ramirez said he knew leaving Atlanta was a possi bility, but there was no real way to be ready for the news of the trade. “As much as you prepare yourself, there’s nothing like the real thing,” Ramirez said. “I was a little stunned, but I’ve had time to think about it and get settled and excited for the opportunity ahead of me in Seattle.” GM John Schuerholz talked about the amount of work that went into the deal, lauding his staff before and during the meetings. Interestingly, he left Orlando infuriated with one club and with another team infuriated with him, sources said Thursday. Schuerholz was miffed with Orioles owner Peter Angelos for quashing a deal at the last minute that would have sent first baseman Adam Laßoche and second baseman Marcus Giles to Baltimore for second base man Brian Roberts and pitching prospect Hayden Penn. Even after the Orioles’ front office had signed off on the deal Monday, Angelos weighed in and said he didn’t want to part with Roberts, a fan favorite. Schuerholz told someone he’d been working on the deal for a month. j 60 OP TAIHG TAERE'E A TRAEM \ j CAM UEARBY BECAUSE YOU'RE K www gocomics com e-mail Cleatsmail@aol com Jjr . Ricky Lynn Branch Jr. Wanted for DUI I.KA: 2000 block of Collins Avenue, Centerville Juan Cabrera, aka Romeo Sontay Wanted for violation of probation from State Court LKA: 100 block of Wall Street, Warner Robins Morses Carrillo, aka Moises Patistan DeDois Wanted for violation of probation (for drinking underage) LKA: 100 block of Sandy Run, Bonaire Hector Conego Wanted for bench warrant from Superior Court LKA: 100 block of Dixie Trail, W'arner Robins ea ■OWMIOI3