jenkinscountytimes.com
The Jenkins County Times
Wednesday, September 20, 2023 - Page 9
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BRAD ASBURY pastorbradasbury@gmail.com
Under the
Bleachers
I have often heard it said that “time slows down for no
man.” This statement is truer than ever, or so it seems. Just
a few short weeks back we were anticipating an exciting
start to fall sports. Now, softball and football are halfway
through their schedules, and in less than one month we will
start winding down the seasons and talking about playoffs.
Locally, our War Eagle sports teams have started off to a
successful mn in the 2023/2024 school year.
Speaking of success, the War Eagle football team is off to
one of its best starts in football history. They are presently
5-0 with one more non-region game left to play. The 2014
football team started off 4-0 before dropping their first
game. The winning streak is one of the best streaks in school
history, the 2017 team won 6 straight games. Likewise, the
softball team, at 8-4 is off to one of its best starts as well!
Speaking of high school football, ECI fell to top ranked
Swainsboro on Friday night 27-12. Portal lost to Bryan
County 22-14, Montgomery fell to Telfair 45-7, and
McIntosh County Academy lost to Lanier County 10-0.
Every team in the region, except for Jenkins County lost
this past Friday night.
The MLB season is 13 days from completion as of writing
this article. It is hard to imagine that teams have already
played 149 games. Playoffs are right around the comer. The
Atlanta Braves are favored to win the World Series this year.
They were the first team to clinch a divisional title, making
it six in a row for this super-talented team.
In other news of Atlanta professional sports, the Atlanta
Falcons of the NFL have started off 2-0. This has found
very excited as the team has not been successful for a few
years now. Local football fans are also keeping a close eye
on the Georgia Bulldogs. The Bulldogs are seeking to be
one of the few teams in the history of football to win three
straight national championships. They did straggle a little
Saturday but still won. Based on the reaction of fans during
the struggle on Saturday, you would have thought they had
a losing record and would never win again. They prevailed
over South Carolina.
Let me encourage you with this, “Life is short.” Time is
passing all of us by quickly. It is moving in the blink of
an eye! Slow down! Crawl out from “Under the Bleachers”
after the dog days of summer are starting to pass and enjoy
the cooler fall air. Take in some local sports. Remember, this
line from an old song, “This is the day the Lord has made,
I will rejoice and be glad in it! This is the day, this is the
day that the Lord has made.” Sing it loudly. Enjoy every
moment. Before long we will be gone, and so will these
days. God have them to you, enjoy them!
EAGLE
Continued from page 1
Eagles was quickly shown. In just a couple of plays, the
Gamecocks coughed up the ball and the War Eagles had
possession with only six yards needed to score. Coney
would have the ball in his possession and would charge
into the end zone for his first of three touchdowns on the
night.
The next possession for the Gamecocks looked like the
previous one. On the first play of the next drive, Screven
County would have the ball forced out of their hands. This
time, however, the War Eagles would need twelve yards to
get to the end zone. An unsportsmanlike conduct penalty
against Screven would then move the ball to the 3-yard
line. Coney would use his size and push the ball into the
end zone again for another touchdown. The War Eagles led
with six minutes to play in the first quarter 12-0.
The Gamecocks tried to air out the ball, but the War
Eagles would have nothing to do with this attempt either.
With the ball deep into War Eagle territory, senior TyTy
Williams was able to pick off the first pass
attempt by the Gamecocks. After about 1 minute
of offense and some big
drives, Tyrone Martin would punch the ball
in from two yards out to extend the lead. After a
made extra point, the War Eagles led 19-0.
The next drive would find ZZ Wilson on the
receiving end of a Gamecock turnover. Wilson
intercepted the ball and eventually Coney
scored again and as the horn of the first quarter
sounded, the War Eagles had a 25-0 lead. In the
first quarter, the War Eagles forced 4 turnovers
allowing nearly nothing in offensive movement,
and the War Eagles had built a sizeable lead
scoring four touchdowns off the Screven County
turnovers.
The Gamecocks would manage to not turn
the ball over the remainder of the half; however,
the War Eagles were not finished. With 9
minutes remaining in the first half, the War
Eagles would show that they had more than defense and
running game. Quarterback Tyrone Martin stepped behind
the pocket, took the snap, and threw a perfect pass to
Tyler Williams who would score on the 40-yard
touchdown pass. At the end of the half, the lead
had increased to 33-0.
The War Eagles were able to score again
in the fourth quarter, but it would not be until
almost the end of the game with another War
Eagle rushing touchdown. The War Eagles did
force 5 turnovers and a fumble in the 4 th quarter.
From the opening drive to the final whistle, the
game was dominated by the War Eagles. The War
Eagles held the Gamecocks to only 83 yards total
offense while forcing the offense to hand over
the ball five times on turnovers. RobTravious
Coney put up tremendous numbers once again.
He finished the game with 149 yards rushing, 3
touchdowns, and 7 tackles for the game.
After being defeated by Screven County
in the previous two meetings, the War Eagles
proved once again that this year was different.
The War Eagles last defeated Screven County
at Roy Head Stadium in 2020. Next up for
the War Eagles will be the Claxton Tigers in
Claxton on Friday night. Claxton has
a 1-4 record as they prepare for their
matchup with the War Eagles. The
last time the War Eagles traveled to
Claxton on September 17 th of 2021,
the War Eagles won 20-16. When
the War Eagles return home to Roy
Head Stadium on October 6 th , they
will square off with McIntosh County
Academy for a regional showdown
that will be much anticipated.
Nothing but an open field! Tyler Williams (31) caught a 40-
yard touchdown pass from Tyrone Martin. Photo by Crisalyn
Frawley.
Vance Garvin (55) throws his hand up in celebration of
RobTravious Coney heading into the end in one of his three
touchdowns on the night. Photo by Crisalyn Frawley. Photo
Submitted. Toss for the touchdown
Tyree Abraham receives the handoff during the game
Friday night. He prepares to take the ball
behind Kendrick Thomas (8). Photo by Crisalyn
Frawley.
,AR EAGt£
By Brad Asbury, Sports Editor
for
’r111 : Times
Lady War Eagles
“Rain, Rain go away,” has been the familiar cry of coaches,
fans, and players alike these last three weeks. “Game
postponed” seems to be the familiar social media post of
Head Coach Renee Hearn during this time. This week for
the Lady War Eagles does not seem to be much different.
On Monday, the War Eagles were set to host Montgomery
County for their first regional game of the season. Entering
the game Montgomery County was 3-7 and had not played
their first regional game. The game was off to a slow start
as it was delayed twice due to weather.
The Lady War Eagles jumped out on top first with a ball hit
by Laura Gayle Dailey allowing Jakhaila Oglesby to score.
The Lady War Eagles would then score 3 runs in the second
and add 1 more in the third. Montgomery County finally got
on the scoreboard in the 4 th , scoring two runs and pushing
the score to 5-2. At the top of the 6 th, Montgomery County
would inch closer with one more run.
The bottom of the sixth inning provided an insurance run
for the Lady War Eagles. Avery Wiggins scored on a passed
ball pushing the lead to 6-3. Montgomery County opened
the 7 th
with back-to-back doubles, scoring one run. With a runner
at second and no outs, the War Eagles would have to hold
strong defensively for the remainder of the inning. The
next batter lined out to pitcher Katie Bell, followed by an
intentional walk called by the War Eagles.
The Lady War Eagles were facing the tying run on first
and only one out. A sacrifice bunt was laid down by
Montgomery County causing a force out at 1 st , but the
tying run moved into scoring position. With two on and two
outs, Bell completed the game. With a 2-2 count, two on,
and two outs; Bell caused the batter to strikeout swinging!
The Lady War Eagles moved their record to 8-4 overall and
1-0 in the region. The game scheduled against ECI will be
rescheduled for another week after being postponed twice
due to rain. The Lady War Eagles maintain their top-10
ranking in Max Preps once again this week.
In the week ahead, the Lady War Eagles will play 4 games
in three days. They host New Hampstead on Monday,
travel to McIntosh County Academy on Tuesday, and an
exciting home double-header against Portal on Thursday!
Thursday’s double-header is slated to begin at 4:00 and at
5:30.
Still Soaring
Above: Laura Gayle Dailey prepares to run at second.
Dailey had 1 hit and 2 RBIs in the Lady War Eagle win.
Photo by Lisa Dailey.
It takes a team to score a touchdown! Blake Aaron (68), Vance Garvin
(55), Ty Boynton (62), and Corey Lockett (59) block the defensive
line giving Tyrone Martin (with the ball) time to toss the ball to
RobTravious Coney (6) as the War Eagles would score 6 of their 39
points in the shutout victory over the Gamecocks. Photo by Crisalyn
Frawley.
Above: The ball is in the catcher’s mit of Dailey as the batter
knows she should have swung! Katie Bell was on the mound
for the Lady War Eagles. She finished with 7 innings pitched,
throwing 91 pitches, giving up 4 runs and had 4 strikeouts.
Photo by Lisa Dailey.
Left: Shanya Lake throws the ball on Monday night as
Jakhaila Oglesby (left) watches on Monday night. After a
late start due to rain and a lengthy lightning delay, the Lady
War Eagles defeated Montgomery County. Photo by Lisa
Dailey
