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Inside: Road Atlanta hosts Petit Le Mans — page 4B
SEPTEMBER 23,
2009
Phone: (706) 367-5233
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Section B
JCCHS FOOTBALL
Panthers go 3-0 with Homecoming win
HOLD ON TO IT
Jackson County’s Alex Crawford keeps the ball during a play Friday night, as the
Panthers defeated Prince Avenue Christian 13-3. Photo by Brandon Reed
By Brandon Reed
IT’S BEEN 28 years since
the Jackson County Panthers
football team found them
selves with a 3-0 record going
into the fourth game of the
season.
But that's exactly where the
Panthers are going into the
start of region play Friday
after defeating Prince Avenue
Christian last week, tasting
their first homecoming game
victory in about 20 years.
Now Jackson County turns
its attention to the task at
hand - their first region game
of 2009.
The Panthers will travel to
Morgan County for that pair
ing. Looking at the statistics,
Jackson County appears to
have the clear advantage over
the Bulldogs.
Morgan County comes into
the game with a 0-3 record,
having lost 55-7 to Washington
County in their last game back
on Sept. 11.
The Panthers have scored a
total of 99 points this season,
an average of 33 per game.
The Bulldogs have scored 35,
an average of 11.7 per game.
Jackson County has allowed
only 10 points to be scored
against them all year, an aver
age of 3.3 per game, while the
Bulldogs have allowed 127
points to be scored against
them, an average of 42.3 per
game.
Last year, Morgan County
came away with a big 34-6
win.
Kickoff is scheduled for
7:30 p.m.
PRINCE AVE.
Friday's pairing against the
Wolverines of Prince Avenue
Christian started off with both
JHS FOOTBALL
teams fighting for field posi
tion, and looking for a way
around each other’s defensive
lines to score.
The Wolverines appeared to
be on their way to scoring
first, but with just under two
and a half minutes left in
the first quarter, the Panthers
made a big stop on fourth
down to take over on their
own 15 yard line.
Both teams continued to
look for an advantage, and
with just under six minutes
left in the half, the Panthers
appeared to gain an upper
hand.
Prince Avenue fumbled
during a drive, and Jackson
County’s Cody Grissom
recovered, giving the Panthers
possession on their own 22
yard line.
When the Wolverines again
got the ball, they began mov
ing their way back down the
field. A field goal attempt
with just over two and a half
See Panthers on page 2B
Jefferson pummels Patriots 54-14
By Brandon Reed
THE DRAGON Express
rolled on Friday night, as
Jefferson soundly defeated
Oglethorpe County 54-14 on
the road.
The win leaves Jefferson
undefeated thus far in 2009,
including three region victo
ries.
Next up for the Dragons is
Homecoming, and a challenge
from the Panthers of Union
County.
The Panthers are coming
off of a 56-27 loss to East
Jackson. They are currently
1-2 in the region and 2-2 over
all.
Give the advantage to
Jefferson Friday night. So far
this season, the Dragons have
scored 182 points, an aver
age of 45.5 per game. Union
County has scored 125, an
average of 31.3 per game.
Jefferson has allowed 70
points scored against them
in four games, an average of
17.5 per game. The Panthers,
meanwhile, have allowed 126
points scored against them in
four games, a per game aver
age of 31.5.
Jefferson has won the last
three meetings between the
two teams, including a 50-14
final from last year.
Kickoff is scheduled for
7:30 p.m.
THE PATRIOTS
Jefferson set the tone for the
night early by scoring on their
opening drive, as J.J. Damons
broke into the Patriots’ end
zone on an 18-yard run, giv
ing the Dragon an early 7-0
lead.
On their next possession,
Lucas Redd made his way into
the end zone, and Jefferson
carried a 14-0 lead into the
end of the first quarter.
Less than a minute into
the second quarter, Damons
again found a path through the
Patriots’ defense to make it a
21-0 lead for the Dragons.
With just under six minutes
left in the half, Caleb Meek
made a 42-yard touchdown
run to give Jefferson a 28-0
lead, which they would carry
into halftime.
Just over three minutes into
the second half, Jefferson
would again score, as Redd
made a 38-yard run into the
end zone, making it a 35-0
Jefferson lead.
With five minutes and 15
seconds left in the third quar
ter, Oglethorpe County finally
got on the board, making it
35-7. But just 14 seconds
later, Jefferson would add to
their lead when Lucas Redd
made a 90-yard return to make
it 41-7.
Damons added to his totals
for the night with a minute
and a half left to go with a
67-yard return to make it a
48-7 Jefferson lead.
The Dragons would add one
more touchdown before the
end of the game to make it
54-7. Oglethorpe would find
the end zone one more time,
making the final score 54-14
at the buzzer.
STATISTICALLY
SPEAKING
Darius Minor went 4-6
for 149 yards, including
two touchdowns against the
Patriots.
J.J. Damons had two recep
tions for 77 yards, includ
ing two touchdowns. Sky
Porter had one reception for
25 yards. Hoytez Damons
had one reception for eight
See Dragons on page 4B
LISTEN UP
Jefferson coach T. McFerrin talks to his players during a recent game. McFerrin has
guided the Dragons to a 3-0 region record so far and 4-0 overall.
Photo by Blair Buffington
JHS VOLLEYBALL
DANIEL ASSISTS
Jefferson’s Amanda Daniel, seen here from earlier
action, had five assists in the Lady Dragons’ match
against Rabun County. Photo by At McLeod
JHS goes 7-0 in area play
THE JEFFERSON Lady Dragon volleyball team has now
won 14 matches in a row, and remains unbeaten in area play
with a 7-0 record.
The Lady Dragons will next travel to Prince Avenue to face
the Lady Wolverines as well as Athens Christian and North
Oconee. Start time is slated for 5 p.m.
Last Tuesday, Jefferson traveled to Tallulah Falls to face the
Lady Indians. The Lady Dragons won the match 2-0, but the set
scores were very close, 25-23 and 25-18.
Jefferson was led by Stephanie Fincher with eight kills,
Mandy Daniel with nine assists and Taylor Cramsey with five
kills. Carolyn Carreno connected on six assists.
“This is the best team Tallulah Falls has had in my time here
at Jefferson and we had to play well to defeat them,” said coach
Michael Paul. “I am very proud of our team and where we are
right now but we have to keep working to improve for the area
tournament.”
Next up was a home match with Rabun County and East
Hall.
Against area opponent Rabun County, the Lady Dragons won
handily 2-0, with set scores of 25-8 and 25-18.
Stephanie Fincher logged seven kills while Cassie Metcalf
added three. Amanda Daniel and Carolyn Carreno led in setting
with each player having five assists. The team had 13 aces for
the match.
Jefferson next took to the court against East Hall, coming
See JHS on page 2B
JCCHS CROSS COUNTRY
SECOND PLACE EFFORT
Brittany Aikens finished second overall in the girls
event at Saturday’s Eagle Run at EJCHS. The girls
team placed sixth overall. Photo by Lyn Sengupta
Panthers cross country
teams place well at EJCHS
DESPITE WET and muddy
conditions, the Jackson County
Panthers cross country teams
performed well at the Eagle
Run, held at East Jackson
Comprehensive High School
Saturday. The girls team
placed sixth, while the boys
placed 16th.
For the girls, Brittany Aikens
finished second overall to lead
the team and freshman Sydney
Baird finished 16th overall.
Lexie Miller, Mary Collin and
Susie Diesch finished the scor
ing for the girls.
The boys’ team was led by
a strong top three of Miguel
Guereca, Austin Moser and
Thomas Carroll. Dragos
Teador and David Serna fin
ished the scoring out for the
boys.
The Panthers are next slated
to travel to Madison County on
Thursday.