Newspaper Page Text
Thursday, November 18, 2021
UPSON
BEACON
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Page 5B
It’s Georgia’s
2021 Upson-Lee Football Most Valuable
Players: Detravious Mathis and Jadarius White
Natty to Lose
By Jacob
Stewart
The 2021 college football
season has been beyond en
tertaining and unpredictable
through n weeks of action.
From Alabama’s skimpy
win over Florida to Ohio
State’s early loss at home to
Oregon to Clemson’s unfore
seen collapse, the season has
far from followed the usual
script. The transfer portal has
already worked wonders in
spreading out the talent and
leveling the playing field.
Shocker, it didn’t ruin college
sports, it made it better. Who
would’ve thought...
Just about every team has
had a hiccup or two, and not
one squad has looked un
touchable except for Kirby
Smart’s Bulldogs. Georgia has
rolled every opponent outside
of a seven-point win over
Clemson in the opener. They
lead the nation in margin of
victory at +31.5 with the next
closest being Ohio State at
+26.1.
So far, they’ve followed
suit of the past three national
title winners. The last three
winners were fairly separated
from the rest of the field. The
only difference is 2018 Clem
son did it with Trevor Law
rence, 2019 LSU did it with
Joe Burrow, and 2020 Ala
bama did it with Mac Jones.
Georgia is doing it with Stet
son Bennett.
The past two national
champions have been offen
sive juggernauts. The product
that LSU and Alabama pro
duced in those runs has lit
tered the National Football
League with offensive fire
power and most of those guys
have made immediate im
pacts on their respective
teams. If Georgia wins the
whole thing in January, it will
be the other side of the ball
that gets the recognition from
vailoa in 2017 and if they do
need to, will they?
These questions have cir
cled my mind a lot and I be
lieve for good reason, because
even if Alabama is not at its
signature strength this sea
son, the Tide will still be the
best team that Georgia has
faced all season. Let’s not for
get that the 4-0, eighth-
ranked Arkansas Razorbacks
that Georgia housed on Oct. 2
are now second to last in the
SEC West. The undefeated
Kentucky Wildcats that Geor
gia ran out of Sanford Sta
dium now have three
conference losses and we
don’t even have to bring up
Clemson’s downfall.
All I’m saying is Georgia
has not exactly picked up a
win against a very strong team
this year. Their best win came
on the road win over Auburn,
but the Tigers just got beat by
two scores by Mississippi
State. Now, they’ve won every
game and done it by an aver
age of 31.5 points. They fully
deserve the credit they have
received, and they are the best
team in the nation. The de
fense is unfathomable, and
the offense has been strong
despite an injury-riddled year.
I think Georgia is far better
than any other team, but the
on-field pressure is coming,
and it will be interesting to see
how it unfolds.
If they don’t win this thing
in a year where it looks like it
was tailored-made for a UGA
title, the season will be written
off just like every other close
call. The Braves brought one
home and now the expecta
tions are a little higher. Maybe
Georgia sports are finally
going to break through for
good.
Jacob Stewart
Sports Editor
sports@upsonbeacon.com
Offense:
Detravious Mathis is a
great story of hard work and
dedication to the program.
On the first play of his
career, he suffered a season
ending knee injury. Last sea
son, while leading the team
in rushing yards and making
a case as the top running
back in Region 2-AAA, he
suffered another injury that
ended his season.
Mathis set his mind to
rehabbing with hopes of a
successful senior season.
His hard work paid off as he
finished his first full season
as the team’s leading rusher.
He rushed for 788 yards
through nine games and
scored three touchdowns.
The senior posted three
games with over 100 yards
and ran for a season-long
84-yard touchdown dash.
In addition to his efforts
on offense, when the team
needed him to contribute on
the defensive side of the ball,
he stepped up at cornerback.
Mathis is a leader both on
and off the field for the
Knights and truly earned
this award throughout his
entire career at Upson-Lee.
Defense:
After Maddox Jackson
posted ill total tackles in his
senior season of 2020, the
Knights had big shoes to fill
at the linebacker position.
Jadarius White stepped up
and put together a huge sea
son for Upson-Lee.
In nine games, White
posted 47 solo tackles, 34 as
sists, and eight tackles for
loss. He averaged nine tack
les a game and was the
leader for the Knights.
*Stats via MaxPreps.
The final game versus Jack-
son was not available at
press time.
Above, Detravious Mathis secures the ball and heads downfield. Below, Jadarius White
sets his eyes on the ball carrier and charges to make the tackle.
Jacob Stewart/Upson Beacon
the NFL.
I’ve had, and still have, my
skepticisms about Bennett
and Georgia’s offense. I hesi
tate to buy the narrative that
“it doesn’t matter how good
they are on offense because
the defense is so good,” but it
is becoming hard not to at
least listen to it. Bennett has
been fine and even though I
still think JT Daniels is head
and shoulders above Bennett
as a potential NFL quarter
back, Bennett is getting the
job done.
So let me get to the point:
the title of this article is not
groundbreaking news to
anyone. Georgia has been un-
disputedly the top team in the
country for weeks now and
has done what they need to do
to punch a playoff ticket after
finishing the SEC season 8-0.
Other than the defensive
showdown in week one
against Clemson, a game has
n’t been close for a long time.
So, how will this team
react under pressure?
Well, the pressure is
deeper than the final score.
The pressure is having a No. 1
next to the name week after
week. Pressure is everyone
telling the Bulldogs that this is
their year and that no one else
is even close. However, the
way that the Bulldogs have
handled every opponent, it’s
easy to say that they haven’t
been under much pressure on
the field. They’ll face it when
they meet Alabama (prob
ably) in Atlanta.
Even though the Tide has
looked more beatable than in
recent years, it’s still Nick
Saban on the opposing side
line and Georgia will have to
play its best game to win it.
However, as long as the Bull
dogs handle Charleston
Southern and Georgia Tech,
they could lose in Atlanta and
still have a shot at the Na
tional Championship.
But what happens if Ben
nett makes a mistake that
costs Georgia six points early
in the game and the Bulldogs
trail early to Alabama, not
Tennessee? Will they need to
hand the ball to Daniels as
Saban handed it to Tua Tago-
III Wrestlers Impress at McIntosh IV Invitational
Jacob Stewart
Sports Editor
sporfs@upsonbeacon.com
On Nov. 12, the Upson-
Lee Junior Varsity wres
tling team traveled to
McIntosh High School to
compete in the individual
match. Russell Kaczmarek
(3-0), Trenton Young (5-
o), Trevor Young (4-0),
Tyler Culbreth (3-0),
Conner Walker (3-0),
Avery Gomez (4-0), Kaden
Goins (5-0), and Demri
Kenan (3-0) all finished in
first place.
The wrestling team will
host its first home meet of
the season Friday, Nov. 19
against Starrs Mill.
Pictured left to right, bottom to top: Wrestlers Russell
Kaczmarek, Avery Gomez, Trenton Young, Kaden Goins,
Cooper White, Connor Walker, Sierra Rogers, Matthew Hick-
mon, Rielee Raybon, Ty Gresham, Tyler Culbreth, Trinton
Norman, Austin Besse, Raymond Greenless, Kody Adams,
Tyanna King, Tanjer Smith, Juliana Carmona, Zach White.
Managers Abbie Underwood, Kylie Gooden, Skyy Vin
cent, Grade McBurnett, Camari Brazil, Kolby Schadenberg.
Coach Dominic Stuckey and Coach Logan Winkles.
Not pictured: Trevor Young, Demari Kenan, and Coach
Collin Gilbert.
Keep Your Family Safe
By Locking Up &
Disposing Medication!
Secure Drug
Drop-Off Boxes
are located at the
Thomaston Police
Office and
Upson County
Sheriff’s Office.
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8
-Tit-
'-IT
*
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For More Information about Drug Drop Boxes and
Personal Medication Lock Boxes, Email Shannon at
slawson@livedrugfree.org
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k, m < ^
•W-
yVL
Since 1969
Generation Rx Project
DBHDD
https://stoprxabuseinga.org/prescription-drug-disposal/
Christmas Tan^|
SATURDAY. DECEMBER 11. 2021
6PM @ SILVERTOWN BAPTIST CHURCH
5K Run/Walk will begin/end @ Silvertown Baptist Church on Dec 11, pass
through the Greatest Generation Park and down Christmas Lane/R Street
in Thomaston Georgia
If you are searching for a unique 5K running/walking
experience this year, THIS IS IT!
Every December, since the 1970s, residents on 'Christmas Lane/'R Street' in
Thomaston GA, transform their homes & yards into a magical wonderland with
twinkling lights and Christmas decorations galore.
Participants will travel through Christmas Lane and the historic Silvertown
Subdivision, while surrounded by the sounds and sights of Christmas!
We hope that you will join us for our Annual Holiday Tradition & that this event
will become a tradition for you as well!
Awards for this event will be presented to overall top 3 male/female finishers.
Overall top male/female masters. Top 3 male/female finishers in the following categories:
14 & under, 15-19, 20-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50-59, 60-69, 70-79, & 80+.
All Participants of the 5K that register before the Nov 30, deadline will receive a
one-of-a-kind Christmas Lane long sleeve shirt.
Runners/Walkers will also be treated at the end to homemade veggie soup.
courtesy of The Country Cupboard & Deli; as well as fresh Apple Cider. Hot
Chocolate & Coffee.
Show US YOUR CHRISTMAS SPIRIT! BEST HOLIDAY DRESSED PARTICIPANT A
WILL WIN A $25 GIFT CARD FROM CHICK-FIL-A '
For more information/to register, visit: https://wwvu.ultrasignup.com/register.aspx?did=88361