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PAGE 2B
BARROW NEWS-JOURNAL
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2016
The Game Plan
High School Football: Battle of Barrow
NFL’s scheduling hinders rivalries
S ports are so much better when there
is a big rivalry between the teams or
competitors performing. I know, that’s not
some shocking revelation, but it certainly is
true. And although not every big rivalry is an
in-state rivalry, one can certainly make the
point that in-state rivalries are the
most fun to watch.
Take, for example. North Caroli
na and Duke basketball. These two
teams have a bitter rivalry that has
been going on for a long time and
when one team gets the edge over
the other they have serious brag
ging rights within the state of North
Carolina.
I’m not diminishing other classic
out-of-state rivalries like the Yan
kees and Red Sox or Ohio State
and Michigan - I’m just making the
point that there seems to be some
thing so much more authentic and
special about in-state rivalries.
In light of all this, let me bring you into
my personal life for just a brief moment. I
grew up in a household full of Pittsburgh
Steelers fans. My dad was born and raised in
Pittsburgh and although I never lived there I
still feel like it’s home to me. I say all that to
say that I really love my Steelers.
Now, the Steelers have some incredi
ble rivalries already. There is a growing
rivalry with the Cincinnati Bengals and of
course there is the rivalry with the Baltimore
Ravens, which might even be the best rivalry
in the NFL — and yes, I despise the Ravens,
but that’s another topic.
But this past Sunday, the Steelers traveled
across the state of Pennsylvania to play the
Philadelphia Eagles. Now I understand the
Steelers got beat down, but that’s not what
we’re talking about here. As I was watching
the game, it began to dawn on me, even
though the Steelers and the Eagles are in the
same state, they essentially have no rivalry.
Let me give some explanation for why
this is. The Steelers play in the AFC and the
Eagles play in the NFC, which means they
only get to play each other every four years.
They only get to have the Battle of Pennsyl
vania every four years. You’ll never have a
rivalry between two teams when you only
play each other every four years!
Here is the reason that this is so: in the
NFL, teams play 16 games a season. Six of
those games are played against teams in a
team’s division. So, for example,
the Steelers play the Bengals,
Browns and Ravens twice each
for a total of six games. Aside
from those six, a team also plays
one other division from within
their conference. So, for the Steel
ers this year it is the AFC East.
The Steelers play four games
against the AFC East.
So that takes up 10 of the 16
games on a team’s schedule. After
that, a team plays one division
from the other conference. So,
for the Steelers this year it is the
NFC East. Now this happens on
a four-year cycle. For example,
every four years the AFC North will play
the NFC East. And this is consistent for the
entire league.
With those four games, the total is now to
14, leaving only two remaining games in a
team’s schedule which are scheduled against
other teams from within their conference,
and this is random.
The beauty of this scheduling system
is that it’s easy to produce every year, but
when teams like the Steelers and Eagles
only get to play every four years it can also
hinder some natural rivalries. Other match
ups that aren’t really rivalries because of this
scheduling system are: the Giants and Jets,
Dolphins/Jaguars and Buccaneers, Raiders
and 49ers, and the Chargers and Rams, not
to mention some others.
At the end of the day, the NFL could have
way more exciting rivalries if they adjusted
their scheduling system. Simple as that.
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
ty rollason @ yahoo, com.
FIRING A PASS
Apalachee High School’s Ryan Miller complete a pass during last
week’s game against Monroe Area. The Wildcats, who have now won
two games in a row, will host Winder-Barrow High School in the Region
8-AAAAAA opener for both teams this Friday at R. Harold Harrison
Stadium. Photo by Jessica Brown
Football Pickers Contest: Week Five
Kennedy stands alone in pickers’ contest
In what was another tough overall week
for contestants, Dale Kennedy of Bethle
hem missed only one game in last week’s
Barrow News-Journal contest.
Kennedy correctly predicted 9-of-10
games and earns the week’s $50 prize.
Kennedy was two ahead of his closest
competition
Missing three games were Angela Smith
of Winder, Mike Murphy of Winder, Tim
Rose of Winder, Charles Perry of Winder,
Tommy Nabors of Winder, Ken Moore of
Winder, Gloria McDaniel of Lawrencev-
ille and David McDaniel Sr. of Law-
renceville. Smith earns special recognition
for her creative envelope which contained
her contest entry.
Missing four games were Dale McDan
iel of Monroe, Larry McDaniel of Monroe,
Steven Fisher of Dacula. Tony Bennett of
Winder, Rebecca D. Freeman of Bethle
hem, C. Larry Manders of Winder and Jim
McBride of Bethlehem Road.
This week’s new listing of games is on
page 4B. Deadline for entries to be at the
Barrow News-Journal office at 77. East
May Street is Friday at 5 p.m. Remember
to include your complete mailing address
with your entry so we can mail your
money if you are the winner.
Good luck to all players as we enter
Week Six of the 2016 contest.
Maddox knows both sides of
Winder-Barrow, AHS rivalry
By Chris Bridges
Sports Editor
Jeff Maddox probably knows as much
about the inner workings of the Wind
er-Barrow High School-Apalachee High
School football rivalry as anyone.
Maddox, the current running backs coach
at WBHS, has also coached for The Chee
through the years. He has been on both
sidelines of the local rivalry, which will
write a new chapter this Friday in the Battle
of Barrow matchup.
"The last few years the ‘rivarly’ has
been more about getting an important
region win,” Maddox said earlier this week.
"When the ‘rivarly’ first started, the two
schools were in different regions and the
motivation from the players and coaches
came from wanting to beat your cross-town
rival for bragging rights. Recently, I think
players and coaches have changed the moti
vation to it is a region game which if you
win gets you one step closer to making the
state playoffs.”
See Coach on Page 12B
COACH JEFF MADDOX
Winder-Barrow High School @ Apalachee High School
•The Game: Winder-Barrow High School @ Apalachee High School,
Friday, 7:30 p.m., R. Harold Harrison Stadium
•Records: Winder-Barrow High School, 3-2 overall, 0-0 in Region
8-AAAAAA, defeated North Oconee 38-0 last Friday; Apalachee High
School, 2-2-1, defeated Monroe Area 10-7 last week
•Last meeting: WBHS won 45-0
in 2015
• Tune in: Game to be aired live on
WJJB Radio 107.1 FM with Tim Rose,
Todd Wambold calling the action.
• Coaches: Heath Webb, third sea
son at WBHS; Apalachee, Steve Sims,
second season as head coach
•Key Players: Apalachee: WR
Ethan Morris, S Gunner Wright, QB
Ryan Miller, WR/DB Will Smith; TE/
DE Jason Craig; RB Stephen Massillon;
K Justin Pretel; Winder-Barrow: LB
Mason White, DB/WR Deon Williams;
C Dylan Brown, RB Javonne Hughes,
QB Brock Landis, WR Latrell Scott,
WR Casey Thurmond
•Notes: Both Winder-Barrow and
Apalachee enter this week's Region
8-AAAAA opener coming off vic
tories. WBHS took care of business
against winless North Oconee High
School last week while Apalachee
High School won for the second consecutive week with a 10-7 victory
against Monroe Area. The Bulldoggs have won the last three matches in the
series, including a 45-0 win last season. The game is the Region 8-AAAAAA
opener for both teams.
• Items of Interest: WBHS assistant coach Jeff Maddox has seen both
sides of the rivalry. Maddox, a standout athlete himself at Winder-Barrow,
coached the Bulldoggs before coaching at AHS and then returning to GG
Nation prior to 2014. Winder-Barrow has won the last three meetings as
the series is now tied 6-6. AHS won five consecutive matchups from 2008-
2012. WBHS won the first two meetings in the series in 2004 and 2005. The
Wildcats' first win against WBHS came in 2006 by a 21-7 mark.
•They Said It: WBHS coach Heath Webb: "We will gladly take the
Battle of Barrow trophy, but we have to remember there are bigger trophies
out there for us to aim for."
• They Said It, Part II: AHS coach Steve Sims: "Winder-Barrow has a
lot of weapons. We can't give up big plays.”
•They Said It, Part III: WBHS offensive coordinator Naji Lyon:
“This is not a rivalry game for us, it is Week One of region play. Our goal is
to be 1-0 in the region”
— Scouting report compiled by Chris Bridges/photos by Jessica Brown
m
SIMS
SMITH
/V
, • jr 1
WEBB BROWN
WBHS Bulldoggs vs. AHS Wildcats:
Past Battle of Barrow Outcomes
•2015: Winder-Barrow 45, Apalachee 0
•2014: Winder-Barrow 26, Apalachee 20
•2013: Winder-Barrow 27, Apalachee 20
•2012: Apalachee 42, Winder-Barrow 20
•2011: Apalachee 47, Winder-Barrow 0
•2010: Apalachee 28, Winder-Barrow 14
•2009: Apalachee 56, Winder-Barrow 0
•2008: Apalachee 51, Winder-Barrow 6
•2007: Winder-Barrow 12, Apalachee 8
•2006: Apalachee 21, Winder-Barrow 7
•2005: Winder-Barrow 30, Apalachee 7
•2004: Winder-Barrow 21, Apalachee 0
APALACHPp
Alex Philpot
AHS
»
Matthew Kamm
BCA
Farm Bureau
would like to
congratulate the
Players of the Week
for their exceptional
performances!
Ke’von Mooney
WBHS
Philpot/Mooney ___ -- , _ _
770-867-2188