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4 New sheriff Bears entering a new era By MATTHEW BROWN Journal Sports Writer After the most eventful off-season in school history. Houston County High football has fallen back into a feeling of “certainty.” The Bears went into the summer fully ex pecting another season under the leadership of veteran head coach Doug Johnson. But in late June, Johnson announced his retirement from coaching due to health reasons. Enter George Collins, though it wasn’t a long entrance as Collins had spent the last six years as Houston County offensive co ordinator. He is also a former head coach at Perry High. But Collins already had a strong idea of what state the Bears program was in after losing a loaded senior class off a team that reached the Class AAAAA Elite 8 after squeezing into the playoffs as the TAAAAA fourth-place team. “We still have uncertainty at some posi tions,” said Collins. “As far as the staff and day-to-day, that’s pretty well settled. The kids understand what we want and how we’re doing it and the little differences. We’re on a routine now ... and preparing for hopefully three (seasons): the first four games, the re gion games and then the playoffs.” V*' lv ' * f , §te~\,; / ~ 'por t Sa£e s4ttdl fjied CqMuvl UfLholAt&uj, jpg* Wishes A Great Season For All Houston County Football Teams! • Aviation • Convertibles /PKttStS • Auto Interiors • Home eeTfJLVilTee • Vinyl Tops • Office m *lri#< m B J x 478-987-4591 V*V ( 1445 Swift Street Perry, GA 31069 "We're going to be playing some great defenses, starting on week No. 1 with Northside. We're going to have to do things offensively that give us a chance to move the football." - Houston County head football coach George Collins As a review of 2006, Houston Coun ty had some of its greatest road success ever with wins at Parkview, Valdosta and Lowndes. The key losses took place at McConnell-Talbert Stadium by slim margins to Warner Robins, Tift County and Cof fee County. But the Bears were big on the road in the playoffs winning at Newnan and Cl &ame djt/mj 1137 ‘Macon (Rd. (Perry, 31069 ♦ 478-218-7754 *Hours: Mon. - Sat 10-5:30 or 9y appointment ‘Furniture, China, (mens, (Boohs aruCctfome (Decor See BEARS, page 12 j|3h owm . *■**»»* swoo'.- ifr ... ■ • ■ ■ . . ... ' '• . • ■ ■ • - i c.• • ■ ENI/Gary Harmon A Bear loses the handle on the football during a practice earlier this month. i .!l:.. - 1.. .. i.. i. i?l° if I® i ■ . i... I Houston County Bears 478-988-6340 Date Day Time I Aug 31 Fri | Sep 07 Fri 7:30 PM | Sep 14 Fri Sep 20 Thu Sep 27 Thu f Oct 05 Fri 7:30 PM | Oct 12 Fri 7:30 PM Oct 19 Fri 7:30 PM | Nov 02 Fri I Nov 09 Fri 505471 -I Houston Healthcare \r. • u • U i Houston Medical Center VlSlt OUf Webslte at WWW.hhc.org 51879 HOUSTON COUNTY FOOTBALL 2007 920 Hwy. 96, Warner Robins Opponent Houston County (1-AAAAA) Warner Robins (1-AAAAA) North Clayton (4A-AAAA) Jones County (48-AAAA)* Dutchtown (48-AAAA)* Stockbridge (48-AAAA)* Baldwin (48-AAAA)* Upson-Lee (48-AAAA)* Westside, Macon (48-AAAA)* Region Playoffs Houston Lake Med-Stop Hwy 127 & Moody Rd. 478-988-1865 Location > Home Away Home Home Home Away Home Away Home Home Pavilion Med-Stop N. Houston Rd at Houston Mall 4789-923-2843 rz.w .. Im. zir. 150682