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2B I DAWSON COUNTY NEWS I dawsonnews.com
Wednesday, August 29,2018
Bob Christian Dawson County News
Sophomore Olivia Walls sets up the spike during a game Aug. 23.
FROM 1B
Volleyball
Walls. Pounding out eight straight
points, Walls set the tone for the
second set early, and the Tigers
closed out the first match with a
25-13 second set win.
Gilmer High School’s Bobcats,
having won their first match of the
evening, came out strong and
looked determined to derail the
Lady Tigers after edging out a first
set victory by the score of 25-23.
Coming together as a team, the
Lady Tigers rallied behind the solid
defensive play of a trio of Dawson
County sophomores - Hannah
Waddy, Micaela McClendon and
Makaela Everett. As they continued
to deny points to the Bobcats, the
steady service of the Tigers slowly
built a lead and the Tigers took the
second set by the score of 25-19.
The Lady Tigers applied the
same formula, smothering defense
with a solid offense, to the third set
and it proved just as successful as
the Bobcats fought hard but
dropped the tie-breaker by the final
score of 25-20.
Riding the momentum of their
home court sweep, the Dawson
County Lady Tigers, now with six
wins against three losses on the
season, went to Fannin County on
Saturday, Aug. 25 for a long day of
volleyball that featured four non-
regional matches.
Starting with a tough loss to
Fannin County in two sets, the
Fady Tigers had a difficult time
putting themselves together
throughout the rest of the day.
Gilmer High School took advan
tage of the Tigers’ sudden funk and
posted a two-set win of their own,
and Pickens County High School
exacted their revenge in a quick
two sets as well.
Facing the Gilmer Bobcats for
the final match of the day, and
quickly losing the first set, the Fady
Tigers went back to the formula
that had worked on their home
courts just two days earlier. Solid
defense with steady service and
fought back to grab the last two sets
and cap of their day with a victory.
The Dawson County Fady Tigers
volleyball team next played at
Chestatee High School in
Gainesville on Tuesday. Results
were unavailable at press time.
Bob Christian Dawson County News
Head Coach Charles Beusse talks to the team
about the upcoming race.
FROM 1B
Roster
seniors “that understand what it takes to compete at a
championship level,” according to Beusee.
“I know that a lot of people are going to look to us,”
senior runner Will Mulberry said in response to being
asked about his leadership role on the team.
“It will be nice to pass on our experience,” fellow
senior Nico Poston said in agreement.
The boys’ team comes into this season after a sec
ond-place finish at the state level in 2017, and that close
loss is still on the minds of the team as 2018 gets
underway.
“There’s some pretty good competition out there,”
Cody Wood, the third member of the leadership trio,
said. “We just have to give ourselves the chance to
win.”
On the girls’ side of the track Beusse acknowledged
that losing Marley Hamby to graduation did have an
impact on the team, but he was optimistic about their
season.
“I believe our girls are capable of winning region and
finishing on the podium at state,” Beusse said. “It will
take a lot to get there, but we aren’t afraid of hard
work.”
Key to getting there is returning senior Frankie
Muldoon. Muldoon will be defending her three-time
individual regional champion status during the season
and knows that there was a lot resting on her shoulders
as the season is set to begin.
“I definitely feel like I have more authority with my
teammates,” Muldoon said. “But I am not the loudest
person. I prefer to lead by example.”
With the personal gods of winning her fourth indi
vidual title and breaking the state record in the process,
the example she sets during the season will be a tough
one to follow.
“Overall, I’m very pleased with the potential I see on
both the boys’ and girls’ teams.” Beusse said. “I’ve
seen some solid improvement with our entire team over
the past few weeks and believe the foundation is there
for another great season.”
FROM 1B
Softball
With a ground-out to end the
inning, the Fady Tigers moved
into the second inning with a
commanding 7-0 lead over the
Cherokee Bluff Bears.
Coming out swinging, the
Bears looked determined as the
inning with the leadoff batter
drove the ball hard into right
field for a single. Back-to-back
singles followed and suddenly
the Bears had the bases loaded
with no outs and the Fady Tigers
defense was put to the test.
Not able to gather in a sharp
grounder, shortstop Drake kept
the ball in front of her, allowing
only one run across the plate but
keeping the bases loaded.
Cherokee Bluff wasted no time
in taking advantage of the error
with the next batter driving a
double deep into left field bring
ing home two more runs and
cutting the Tigers lead down to
7-3.
Recovering in dramatic fash
ion the Fady Tigers fought their
way out of trouble with a spec
tacular 4-3-6 double play that
ended with a trapped runner
expertly chased down with a per
fectly executed run-down drill.
With a pop-up to end the inning,
the Fady Tigers escaped into
their dugout with the lead intact.
The bottom of the second
opened with a first pitch ground
out by Schandera as the Bears
looked to end the Tigers time at
the plate quickly. Two quick sin
gles from Henson and Martin
dashed those hopes and the
Bears found themselves right
back in hot water.
Quick thinking and quicker
reflexes from the Bears caught
Henson off second base, remov
ing her from scoring position
and securing the second out, and
it looked like Cherokee Bluff
was going to escape any further
damage and get another shot at
closing in on the Tigers.
Olivia Martinez, the batter
during the pick off, fought
through a long plate appearance
to keep the Tigers alive with a
single to just far enough along
the third base line to put her on
first and advanced Martin to sec
ond. Crane added another single
and the bases were loaded for
Tow, the sixth batter of the
inning. With a deep double to
center Tow drove in two more
runs for the Tigers and extended
their lead to 9-3.
Twelve more batters came to
the plate. Twelve, as the Dawson
County bats refused to be silent
and the Fady Tigers began
pounding the ball all over
Waldrip Field. Every member of
the active roster tallied at least
one hit over the course of the
20-minute two out rally.
Featuring a double off the bat of
Schandera and eight singles scat
tered all over the park the Tigers
drove another eight runs across
home plate before ending the
inning with a routine grounder to
the pitcher.
“We have been hitting the ball
hard all year against some good
pitchers,” Head Coach Jimmy
Pruett said. “This job gets a lot
easier when you have confidence
in your offense.”
Taking a 17-3 lead into the
top of the third inning it was
clear that the Fady Tigers were
focused and determined as cen-
terfielder Tow opened the inning
with a spectacular diving catch
to rob the Bears of multiple
bases. With a strike-out of the
next batter and another fly out to
center field, Cherokee Bluff was
retired without putting any runs
on the board.
Drake once again demonstrat
ed her ability to reach base as the
lead off batter with a single to
start the bottom of the third
inning, but the Bears (showing
remarkable fortitude) came
together defensively and retired
the following three batters with
ease.
Coming to the plate in the top
of the fourth, down 14 and fac
ing a loss via the run rule, the
ladies from Cherokee Bluff set
tled down to the business of
scoring a run. Putting together a
pair of doubles and some solid
contact on the ball the Bears
managed to bring two runs
around the bags but it proved not
to be enough as a ground out to
Henson ended the game with the
Fady Tigers 17 and the Bears 5
the final score.
The Fady Tigers faced the
North Hall Trojans Monday,
Aug. 27 with the final score of
5-1, dropping the Tigers to 3-6
overall and 1-3 in the confer
ence.
The team hosted the Fannin
County Rebels on Tuesday, Aug.
28 but results were not available
as of press time.
FROM 1B
Football
ball to senior running back
Ahmad Kamara. Showing
power up the middle and
speed in the open field,
Kamara quickly broke
loose for a 63-yard score.
On a drive that took less
than 20 seconds off the
clock, the Tigers took the
lead at 7-0.
The speed of the Dawson
County defense allowed the
team to quickly adapt to the
quick screen and outside
pass style of play that
Chestatee brought to its
second possession and the
War Eagles were once
again forced to punt.
Changing pace on their
second possession, the
Tigers relied on the arm of
senior quarterback
Savaughn Clark who com
pleted passes to three dif
ferent receivers on the drive
including a 16-yard touch
down grab by fellow senior
Ethan Cameron. After con
verting on the two-point
option the Tigers extended
the lead to 15-0 with just
over half of the first quarter
remaining to be played.
Attempting their own set
of adjustments, the War
Eagles switched to a run
ning game but, once again,
hit the brick wall of the
Tigers defense. Another
three and out gave the
Tigers’ their third shot on
offense in the first quarter,
but they would have to
cover a long field after a
great punt by the War
Eagles put the ball on the
Tigers’ 28.
Reverting to the running
game, the Tigers quickly
chewed up yardage with
Kamara powering up the
middle and Clark flashing
around the outside. Using
just over two minutes of the
clock (the longest drive of
the quarter by either team)
the Tigers put an additional
six on the board with
another long run up the
middle from Kamara, this
one of 23 yards. Two more
points on the PAT and the
Tigers were out to a com
fortable 23-point lead as the
first quarter was ending.
On the ensuing kick-off,
disaster struck for the
Chestatee War Eagles in the
form of a fumble on the
return. The Tigers offense
returned to the field taking
possession deep inside
Chestatee territory. Making
quick work of the short
field the Tigers drove the
ball into the end zone with
senior running back Evan
Abernathy pushing in from
the 11-yard line.
Settling for the kick the
Tigers, with 2 minutes and
16 seconds left in the first
quarter, built their lead to
30.
Fightning struck for a
second time as the Tigers
recovered another fumble
by the War Eagles on the
following kick-off and
amid sideline shouts of
“Quick change! Quick
change!” the offense once
again took the field in the
first quarter.
A quick option right and
Clark broke through the
secondary, taking the ball
32 yards down the sideline
for the fifth Tiger touch
down of the quarter, and the
score moved to an incredi
ble 37-0 with time remain
ing in the game’s first quar
ter.
Taking possession of the
football on the third kick
off in less than two min
utes, the War Eagles put
together a two-minute drill
that finally managed to put
the Tigers defense on their
heels and as the first quarter
finally drew to a close the
Chestatee team was in a
great position to put some
points on the board.
For fans on the visiting
side of the field, the open
ing play of the second quar
ter was heartbreaking as the
Tigers defense muscled
down once more, forcing
and recovering their third
fumble of the game and
ending the War Eagles
drive 4 yards from the end
zone.
On the ensuing drive’s
second play Cameron got a
chance to display his speed
as he took the ball on the jet
sweep around the left side
for 70 yards and put a lid
on the game with his sec
ond touchdown of the
night. Another 2-point con
version and the score
moved into blowout territo
ry at an insurmountable
45-0.
Both teams, tired from
the exertions of the first
quarter, settled into a
steady, time-chewing pace
and the remainder of the
half settled into an
exchange of punts as the
teams stayed between the
twenties to head to the
locker rooms.
“There is no such thing
as a 45-point play,”
Chestatee Head Coach
Shaun Conley said, assess
ing his team’s position at
half time. “You’ve got to
show up and go back to
work.”
The second half of the
game opened with the
Tigers returning the open
ing kick to the 40-yard line
and Dawson County fans
were excited to get a
glimpse of the team’s future
as several members of the
second team took the field.
Making the most of his
opportunity on the field,
junior running back Shawn
Thomas turned two carries
into 62 yards and another
quick touchdown for the
Dawson County Tigers,
bringing the score to 52-0.
The remainder of the
quarter turned into a defen
sive struggle as the Tigers
continued to dominate the
front line of the War Eagles
and a resurgent Chestatee
defense buckled down and
stopped the Tigers on mul
tiple possessions as well.
Taking over the running
back duties at the beginning
of the fourth quarter, soph
omore running back Isaiah
Grindle appeared deter
mined to make his mark as
he took the ball 49 yards to
the house on his first carry
of the quarter, further
extending the Tigers lead to
59 over the War Eagles
zero.
From the opening play
the fourth quarter settled
into much the same pattern
as the third, and the game
wound to a close with both
defenses preventing any
more scoring in the contest
to finalize the night’s score
at 59 for the Dawson
County Tigers and zero for
the Chestatee War Eagles.
The Tigers will not play
this Friday but will return
next week to play West
Hall at home on Sept. 7,
with kickoff at 7:30 p.m.
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