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PAGE 2B
BARROW NEWS-JOURNAL
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2016
A bright future in Philly?
T he life of a rookie quarterback is
hard. They are drafted to a team that
is often times desperate for a fresh start.
You instantly become the face of the
franchise. You sign a big contract and now
you have to do something with all this
money.
You move to a new city and try
to get acclimated with life after
college. Oh, and then there is the
whole “competing on the field”
part. It’s just hard, and more times
than not rookie quarterbacks fall
short of their expectations.
The Philadelphia Eagles select
ed Carson Wentz with the second
overall pick in the 2016 draft. At
the time the Eagles already had a
“franchise” quarterback signed to
a big contract, you might remem
ber him as Sam Bradford. The
Eagles recently traded Bradford
away to the Minnesota Vikings,
leaving no doubt in anyone's mind
that Wentz is the future.
Now, to Wentz's credit, he has respond
ed very well to all the pressure. It is still
very early in the season and especially
early in his career, but even in this short
time frame, he has shown that he is up for
the challenge.
Wentz played his college ball at North
Dakota State where he went on to win
five straight National Titles (two of them
as a starter). So he knows what winning
is all about. So not only does Wentz have
the talent and the size to be an NFL quar
terback but he also has a track record of
winning - and that’s something that the
Eagles need.
Fast forward to where we are now. After
two weeks of football the Eagles are 2-0.
Wentz has led the Eagles to victory in
both games and as it currently stands, he
is undefeated in his NFL career.
I don’t have many doubts about Wentz,
I anticipate that he will overcome all the
pressure that is put on his shoulders as a
rookie quarterback. I’m just not going to
be as quick as everyone else to jump on
the bandwagon and profess this guy as the
next great QB and I'm certainly not ready
to say that the Eagles are back as
a perennial power now because
of him.
I'm happy for the Eagles and
I’m happy for Wentz. But at
the end of the day they are
2-0 because of victories over
the Cleveland Browns and the
Chicago Bears. The guy played
very well in both games. He’s
managed the offense, scored
touchdowns and hasn't thrown
an interception yet — he’s doing
wonderful! I just don't want
anyone to get carried away with
all this.
Rookie quarterbacks rise and
fall. How many times have we
seen rookie quarterbacks have success in
their first season but not be able to sustain
that success throughout their career. Is
there a more notable case than RG3?
And don’t get this twisted, I’m not say
ing that Wentz is the next RG3, I’m just
saying that we should slow down and see
how this all plays out.
Wentz is a very good quarterback who I
believe will be able to sustain his play for
more than just his rookie season, but only
time will tell.
In a perfect world, Wentz wouldn’t have
all this pressure and buzz and we could
just see how the kid responds, but this isn’t
a perfect world.
Tyler Rollason is a Winder-Bar
row High School and Universi
ty of West Georgia graduate. You can
e-mail comments about this column to
tyrollason @yahoo. com.
Snapshots
BACK AT YOU
Tari Lampkin of the Winder-Barrow High School volleyball team returns
a serve during a recent match for the Volley Doggs. See more volleyball
coverage in today’s sports section. Photo by Jessica Brown
Football Pickers Contest: Week Four
Tiebreaker decides last week’s contest
In what was an overall tough week for
forecasters, four players tied for first,
missing three games.
In the end. Rhonda Kennedy of Beth
lehem edged Ken Moore, Tim Husk and
Steven Fisher for first place. Kennedy's
prediction of 45 points was just three off
the actual 48 combined points between
Winder-Barrow High School and Logan-
ville High School.
Contestants missing four games includ
ed David McDaniel Sr., Larry T. Ste
phenson, Susan White, Larry McDaniel,
Michael McDaniel, Dale Kennedy, Elaine
Moore, Dwight Barnes, Charles Perry.
Tommy Nabors, Rebecca D. Freeman, Bill
Cartmill, Tony Bennett, Nathan Freeman
and Vince Sparacello.
Missing five games were Mike Mur
phy. Bill House, Angela Smith, Dale
McDaniel, Melinda Miller, Johnny Suggs,
Frank McElveen, Gloria McDaniel. Jim
McBride, Billy McDaniel, Vinson Wall
and C. Larry Manders.
Special recognition goes to Bill House
and Angela Smith for their decorative
envelopes which they enclosed their
entrants in.
This week’s contest is on page 4B. In
addition to the local high school games,
there is another batch of college games
which may, or may not. prove tough
for the pickers. Deadline to have contest
entrants into the Barrow News-Journal
office at 77 E. May Street in Winder is
Friday at 5 p.m.
Monroe Area @ Apalachee High School
•The Game: Monroe Area High School @ Apalachee High School,
Friday, 7:30 p.m., R. Harold Harrison Stadium.
•Records: AHS 1-2-1; Monroe
Area 1-3
•Last meeting between the
teams: Apalachee won 31-7 in
2010
• Listen In: Game will be broad
cast on WJBB 107.1 FM.
•Last Week: Apalachee defe-
taed Walnut Grove 14-13; Monroe
Area lost to Madison County 41-7
• Coaches: AHS: Steve Sims, sec
ond season at Apalachee, 1-12-1
overall; Monroe Area: Joey Sulkowski, third season, 5-19
•Key Players: AHS: WR Ethan Morris, S Gunner Wright, QB Ryan
Miller, WR/DB Will Smith; TE/DE Jason Craig; RB Stephen Massillon; K
Justin Pretel; Monroe Area: RB Jerquarious Walton; RB Jakaia Thompson;
WR Chase Fleming
•Notes: The Apalachee High School football program is still on an
emotional high after earning its first win since 2014 last week in a 14-13
victory against Walnut Grove. After scoring a late touchdown to pull
within one point, Wildcat coach Steve Sims elected to go for two points.
The move paid off as AHS took the lead and then held on for the win.
Quarter back Ryan Miller continues to play well along with receiver Ethan
Morris and running back Stephen Massillon, who had another touchdown
run of more than 90 yards.
Defensively, Gunner Wright continues to be a standout. Proving to have
a nose for the football, Wright had a key interception in the win and once
again drew the praise of his coaches for his leadership on the defensive
side of the football.
Monroe Area has been in a downward slide since 2014. After playoff
seasons from 2010-2013, the Purple Hurricanes have gone 1-9 and 3-7
and are just 1-3 in 2016.
They Said It: AHS coach Steve Sims: “You can look at things on
paper all day long, but you have to go out and do it. We will keep believ
ing in what we are doing. This is a game we should be in. To win two in a
row going into region. Winning takes care of a lot of issues.”
North Oconee @ Winder-Barrow High School
•The Game: North Oconee @ Winder-Barrow High School, Friday, 7:30
p.m., W. Clair Harris Stadium
•Records: WBHS 2-2, North
Oconee
•Last Week: WBHS lost to
Loganville 41-7; North Oconee lost
to Clarke Central 45-21
• Last meeting between the
teams: First meeting between the
sschools
•Coaches: WBHS: Heath Webb,
third season at Winder-Barrow
High School, 13-13 record, 8th sea
son overall as head coach, 31-35;
North Oconee: Terry Tulley,llth season at North Oconee, overall coaching
record of 136-111-2
•Key Players: WBHS: LB Mason White, DB/WR Deon Williams; C Dylan
Brown, RB Javonne Hughes; LB Nate Millwood, QB Brock Landis; North
Oconee: RB/LB Will Newman; G/TE Harrison Clark; RB Jermaine Browner
•Listen In: Game will be broadcast on WJBB 107.1 FM.
•Notes: The Winder-Barrow High School football team will try to bounce
back from a disappointing loss to Loganville High School. While the defeat
was disappointing, likely of more concern is how the Red Devils controlled
the game from the start.
Coach Heath Webb's team was coming off a bye week and that may have
been a factor in slowing down the team's momemtum from the two previ
ous weeks in which the Bulldoggs posted victories. Webb said the loss this
past Friday should help refocus his team going into this week.
While North Oconee enters this Friday still looking for its first victory
of 2016, the Titans have been a strong program under coach Terry Tulley,
making the state playoffs the last eight seasons.
• They Said It: WBHS head coach Heath Webb: “The deal with North
Oconee is that they are young and still trying to figure some things out.
They have several sophomores on the field. You can tell they have some
good, young players who are getting better every week. They have really
improved from their scrimmage to their most recent game.
— Scouting reports compiled by Chris Bridges/photos by Jessica Brown
WILLIAMS WEBB
High School Softball
WBHS, AHS have busy weekends
The Winder-Barrow High School soft-
ball team played five games Friday and
Saturday in the Morgan County High
School Lady Dog Invitational.
The Lady Bulldoggs fell to Morgan
County 7-1 to open play on Friday before
defeating Forsyth Central 8-2.
On Saturday, WBHS defeated Pierce
County 10-6 before falling to Vidalia 10-0
and Creekview 7-6.
WBHS will travel to Lanier High School
on Thursday for a 5:30 p.m. contest.
The Apalachee High School softball
team played a pair of games Saturday,
defeating Flowery Branch 13-5 and Jack-
son County 12-7. The Lady Wildcats will
travel to Flowery Branch Wednesday
(today) for a 6:30 p.m. contest.
Run continued from IB
Molly Silva of AHS was fourth over
all in 22:15.34. Bailey Kennedy fin
ished ninth for the Lady Bulldoggs in
23; 14.01. Katie Silva of AHS was 12th
overall in 23:25.01.
Jackson County, St. Pius X and Mor
gan County rounded out the top five for
the varsity girls.
“We were very proud of our varsity
runners,” said WBHS coach Deigh Mar
tin. “We are battling some injuries and
our girls persevered through the pain to
get several season bests.”
Holmes was also impressed by the
efforts of his varsity girl runners.
“Our girls varsity ran great as well,”
said Holmes. “Molly Silva continues to
pace the girls team as the No. 1 runner.
However, her sister and freshman, Katie
Silva, ran a personal best time with an
injured knee. Michelle Murdock contin
ues to get better every week as well as
newcomer junior runner, Rachel Caza-
rin. We were without Taylor Salvaggio
and Maddie Highfill so I was pleased
with a second place finish without them.
I expect the girls to continue to get bet
ter and better every week as they have
packed together and work very hard at
practice.”
Farm Bureau
would like to
congratulate the
Players of the Week
for their exceptional
performances!
Logan Cash Cash/Wright Photo
m/m If* . Courtesy °J
770-867-2188