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THE JACKSON HERALD
WEDNESDAY, MAY 13, 2009
JHS FOOTBALL
LISTEN UP
JHS head football coach T. McFerrin (pictured right) speaks to his players and
coaches prior to Tuesday’s practice. Photo by Brandon Reed
Dragons begin spring practice
By Brandon Reed
THE DEFENDING region
champion Jefferson Dragons
got their first taste of 2009
football this week, as the
team began spring practice
Monday.
It was also their first taste
of working under their new
coach, T. McFerrin, who was
announced as the replace
ment for outgoing coach Bill
Navas a few weeks back.
“I know how the first prac
tice always is,” McFerrin
said Monday. “Even when
you've been at a school for a
long time, it's always a inter
esting day because you’ve
got new guys out there, and
you’re trying to get orga
nized.”
McFerrin said this week
would be especially chal
lenging with his being the
new guy, and with he and
the assistant coaches getting
familiar with each other.
“I'm still not familiar with
some of the players since
they’ve been involved with
other activities,” McFerrin
said, adding that Monday
would be an organizational
day. “(We’ll) just try to get
them on the field and get
organized and get a little bit
done, I hope.”
Practice was originally
slated to begin last Monday,
but McFerrin said he decided
to wait until this week due to
inclement weather and the
holding of the state track
meet last week at Memorial
Stadium.
McFerrin said the main
thing for spring practice is
to evaluate the players and
to get them in the right posi
tions.
“The offense is not going
to change a whole lot from
what they've been doing,”
he said. “They're going to
still run the spread and the
shotgun. We are going to be
under center some and have
some pro-offense with two
backs. We’re going to have
more of that than I think
they've done before.
“So getting the terminol
ogy and the new system
learned is the biggest goal
for the spring, along with
evaluating the players.”
McFerrin came out of a
four-year retirement to take
the helm of the JHS foot
ball program. He said that
despite all the years he's
been around the sport, he
still gets excited about get
ting back on the field.
“I still wake up at four
o'clock in the morning, just
like I used to do when I was
coaching. So I guess it's
going to be about the same.”
McFerrin said that when
his players walk off the field
at the end of spring practice,
he wants them to know the
way he intends for the team
to practice, and what the
team's goals are.
“I hope we have a lot
of our offense and a lot of
our defense installed, even
though it may be jut eight
practices.”
With exams next week,
Jefferson has only five days
this week and three next
for practice. With Friday
exams, McFerrin said there's
the possibility of a scrim
mage on Friday.
“But it won’t be a full
scrimmage game because
we've got so many guys still
out,” he added.
“I think if we can get a
good amount of the offense
in and a good amount of the
defense in, and I can get a
good offense in and I can
get a good evaluation of the
players, I think that would be
a good spring.”
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JCCHS FOOTBALL
ONE MORE TIME
Former players and students are expected to come out for the 2009 Alumni football
game at Panther Stadium on Saturday. It’s the second year for the event, which will
be followed by the Red and Black scrimmage. Photo by Justin Poole
JCCHS Alumni game to be held Sat
JCCHS IS set to host the 2009 Alumni foot
ball game on Saturday, preceding the Red and
Black scrimmage.
Game time is scheduled for 5 p.m. Fast
year, around 30 former JCCHS players took
the opportunity to pad up for old times sake,
leading to a memorable event for everyone in
attendance.
Teams will be made up by even graduation
JHS TRACK AND FIELD
years versus odd graduation years. Participants
should meet at the Panther field house Saturday
at 1 p.m. to be issued pads and uniforms and to
have a brief practice.
Pre-registration is not required, however
organizers ask that players RSVP to Steve
Crawford at scrawfordll@yahoo.com, or to
coach Billy Kirk at bkirk@jackson.kl2.ga.us.
For more information, call 706-387-7305.
Lady Dragons finish second in region
By Brandon Reed
IT WAS a successful region
meet for the JHS girls track
team, as they brought home
a second place finish with a
score of 144 points. They
trailed only North Oconee,
who scored 171 to become
the region champs, and fin
ished ahead of Rabun County,
who scored 95 points.
Seven girls qualified for
this weekend’s state meet in
Albany.
Marcayla Hester took first
in the triple jump with a
jump of 34’ 91/2”, break
ing the school record for
the second time this season.
Hester also took second in the
400-meters, and second in the
200-meters.
Missy Parks took first in
the 100-meters.
The 4x100 team of Hester,
Parks, Eden Starnes and
Callie Holloway took first in
their event.
Other placers included Erin
Knight, who placed second in
the 800-meters. Iniki Allen
took second in the 100-metei
hurdles. Kasey McDonald
took second in the shot put.
The state meet gets under
way on Thursday.
JCCHS continued from IB
“It’s not for the faint of heart” Kirk added.
“I know the men who are working with these
players and this program are completely com
mitted to Panther football and not buying time
till something better comes along.”
Kirk said he and his team are still in the pro
cess of building up the football program.
“We are trying to build something here,” he
said. “In 2007 we were killed with the new
school and in 2008 we had a small group of
seniors and players. This year we will still be
young, but a solid senior class will help build
some leadership and bigger expectations.”
Kirk says his team is doing nothing different
in their approach to spring practice this year.
“We are staying the course and trying to
build consistency in our program. I’ve finally
got a full class of ninth graders for the first
time since I have been here.”
Kirk said that 83 players came out on day
one and that, as of Friday, they had 65 players
left.
“Through the process of elimination (some)
decided football wasn’t for them.”
But for those who remain, hopes remain
high for a new season of Panther football.
Dragons continued from IB
up five runs and five hits in six innings.
It was a big night for Jake Fields, who put
out three homers while going 3-5 on the night
with five RBIs. Chris Beck went 2-4 with a
homer. Lucas Redd went 1-3 with a home run
and three RBIs. Jamie Sexton went 4-5. Jason
Demos went 2-5 with an RBI. Tyler Bailey
went 2-4 with an RBI. Caleb Meek went 1-3.
The wins over Model improve Jefferson's
overall record to 22-3.
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