Newspaper Page Text
The True Citizen, Wednesday, December 2, 2020 — Page 9A
® SPORTS
Senior James Mable makes the catch
X
C/)
q:
DC
5
Bears end season in playoffs
BEN ROBERTS
benroberts@bellsouth.net
The fourth-seeded Burke
County Bears were eliminated
from the first round of the
Georgia High School Asso
ciation (GHSA) playoffs by
the number one-seeded Pierce
County Bears last Friday by a
score of 59-14.
It was Burke County’s 14th
straight post season appearance
under head coach Eric Parker.
For the first time in his 24 years
as a head coach, however,
he wasn’t on the sidelines to
lead his team. Parker tested
positive for COVID-19 last
Tuesday and was forced to
begin a 10-day quarantine and
remove himself from all team
activities. Defensive coordina
tor Anthony Williams served as
the Bears’ interim head coach
in his place.
Parker’s absence may have
had some effect on his team,
but it would most likely have
had little effect on the game’s
outcome as Burke County was
simply outmatched for most of
the night.
“They were a solid group,”
Parker said. “They had two
really good offensive skill kids
and everybody else around
them was just solid. Those are
the kinds of teams that win this
time of year.”
Pierce scored on their open
ing play from scrimmage,
going 75 yards for their first
touchdown.
Burke County scored on
their next possession on an 11 -
yard run. Senior kicker Jacob
Hickman kicked the first of
two extra points on the night,
the last of his high school ca
reer. The Bears seemed poised
to give their fans hope for a
competitive night.
That would not be the case,
however, as Pierce would find
the end zone on three of its next
five drives. It would miss one
held goal and score on another
to go into the half up 38-7.
Burke scored again on their
opening drive of the second
half after senior Daveion Hen
ry recovered a mishandled
opening kickoff. That gave
the Bears possession on the
Pierce 31-yard line. Sopho
more quarterback Marshall
Flowers would score on an
11-yard run a few plays later
to make it 38-14.
The Bears would not find the
end zone again, however, and
Pierce would score on three of
their four possessions for the
final of 59-14.
Parker said the Bears have
been forced to play a lot of
underclassmen this season, a
difficulty any year due to their
lack of experience. However,
that difficulty was compound
ed by the numerous restric
tions due to the COVID-19
pandemic and its effects on
GHSA football.
“Confidence is a big part of
the game of football,” he said.
“The kids that ended up with
us, they gave us everything
they had. They worked hard in
practice. They came and they
did what they were supposed
to. When that ball got kicked
off on Friday nights we just
didn’t always play with the
confidence that we needed to
play with, especially when it
came down to the end of the
region schedule and then going
into the playoffs.”
Parker said he and his coach
ing staff have already begun
the conversations about how
to begin working towards next
season.
“We’ve got a bunch of kids
that have been on the held now;
(they) understand the speed
with which it’s played. When
we start talking about what we
need to do in the off season,
in the weight room, these kids
are not wondering what you’re
talking about. I think you’ll
see big strides, the key is that
continuity,” he said. “I’m hop
ing we get a chance to have a
full off season. If we get to do
that, I feel pretty good about
the progress that’s going to
get made.”
Including Friday’s loss, the
Bears were 3-6 overall, mark
ing Parker’s first losing sea
son in his 14 years at Burke
County.
“I know by our standards this
definitely was not a good year.
No other way to put it than to
just say it,” he admitted. “I
think this group of kids is going
to end up being pretty good. I
just hope everybody will stay
behind them and support them
and encourage them to do what
it takes.”
Parker believes there is much
to be encouraged about in the
Bears’ future.
“There’s a lot of potential
when you start looking at the
kids that are returning. You’ve
got a lot of kids that are battle
tested. You’ve got a lot of kids
that have been in the fire, so to
speak,” he said. “If we can take
what we did well and make
that what we consistently do, I
think you’re back playing good
football. We’ve just got to go
back to work and we’ve just
got to try and close the gap as
soon as we can.”
POWER PLAYERS
SENIOR
The %peecy wkJe-fiweiifer a™
defensive enfluKPjereo the
Fieccnfl half kicfcglf when
Cecily mistimed the
leeeptiqn Henry, a wnof
has stifled wi both idee or
L 1he hal kf multiple games
1his WMOn.
SENIOR
Jones hint Zl total
ruckles on
defense. Inc5t>dlng
14 solo tackles and
7 assists. Two
tackles were
for k»SS.
Sponsored by:
Planters Electric
Membership Corporation
A Touchstone Energy* Cooperative
307711 wy LrN&itlt
Wrens, GA 3C1J53
Jefferson Energy
Cooperative
3077 Hwy. 17 North
Wrens, GA 30833
1-877-Jefferson
HHHf Offkf l+rm ffta/ir J-*roJ
December
Virtual
CHRISTMAS AT THE LIBRARY
Dec. 1-18 until 3 p.m.
Warm up to a good book and
win a Kindle Fire 7 kids edition.
(Participate at all Burke County branches.)
Birth-2nd grade will read 20 books.
3rd-5th grade will read 15 books.
Pick up a reading log at Burke, Midville and Sardis libraries.
Write down your name, age, grade and phone number on the
log and bring it to the library or email to bcosharedocuments@
gmail.com and you will be entered in the drawing.
UGLY SWEATER CONTEST
Post a picture of your ugly Christmas sweater and it will be sub
mitted to the contest.
DISGUISE A GINGERBREAD MAN
Disguise your gingerbread man as your favorite book character.
ELF ON THE SHELF
The Elf on the Shelf will be hiding in a new spot every day!
So be sure to look for him when you visit the library.
CHRISTMAS DECORATING CONTEST
Decorate your Christmas tree and your house
with Christmas lights.
PET DRESS-UP CONTEST
Dress your pet up for the holidays and post them on our
Facebook page.
STORY TIME & CRAFTS
Special Christmas story time and crafts will be held
Wednesday, Dec. 16.
Deadline for all submissions is Friday, Dec. 18, at
3 p.m. Post all photos to our Facebook page.
Winners will be announced via Burke
County Library Facebook and The True Citizen.