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THE HOUSTON HOME JOURNAL. WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 28, 1992
8A
Perry sports
Cosby L
Woodruff!
Sports
, editor |
Football '92
going into
final weeks
It seems like just yesterday we
were looking forward to a new
football season, full of optimism,
hope and high expectations.
Now, about two months later,
the prep season has turned into just
a few more weeks, but the
optimism, hope and high
expectations are long gone.
Right now, neither Westfield nor
Perry looks to have much hope of
finishing at brerak even. The
Panthers arc 2-5 with a couple of
above-average teams left in front of
them.
Westfield is 3-5, and traditional
power Tattnall lies in wailing for
Friday night.
No, all is not lost as both teams
still have realistic chances of
making the playoffs, but if either
wants to have a memorable season,
now is the time to try to turn
things around.
The Panthers have three games
remaining, at Dodge County and
then Appling County and Jones
County here. For Perry to make the
playoffs, they will need to win two
of those three.
Just for argument's sake, let’s
say they will beat Dodge County
(by about 24-16) and lose to
Appling County (let's call it .31-6).
If that happens, they would be 3-
6 overall and 2-3 in the region
going into the season-finale at
home against Jones County Nov.
13. And that game would likely be
do-or-dic for the Panthers and their
hopes for the second season.
Well, Panther fans, go ahead and
make plans for Nov. 20, because
you probably won't be going to a
football game that night. This year
the Panthers have shown more
ability to lose games they should
win rather than win games they
should lose.
Call it Jones County 21-Perry
13.
Perry has simply not been able
to get the kind of offensive
production they need to win games.
The running game that produced in
excess of 4,500 yards over the
1990-91 seasons, will be hard
pressed to get 1,800 this year.
The air attack has been a little
better, but it is still not a real threat
to opposing defenses.
A passing attack is something
the Westfield Hornets have not
lacked this year.
Westfield has gone up and down
the field with big plays through the
air this year, but an iffy running
game and a so-so defense has led
them to a number of close losses.
The Hornets look like a lock to
make the playoffs as they only need
one win in their last two games to
assure themselves of a bid. Even if
they lose both games, they could
go depending on what happens
between George Walton and
Monroe.
But let’s look at the Hornets.
They will be at home against
Tattnall Friday night, and you can
be assured their air attack will be in
full force.
The running game floundered to
a 7-yard outing against George
Walton last week, and don't expect
too much more when they face
Tattnall.
But the passing game produced
some more big numbers, and 30
passes agaisnt Tattnall would not
be out of the question.
If the defense can give the
offense a chance to win, the big
play attack may be the difference.
But if Tattnall controls the ball and
keeps the Westfield offense on the
sideline, it could be a long night for
the Hornets.
If a season-long trend continues,
and the Hornets can hold the
Trojans to a touchdown or less,
they will win.
But I don’t see them doing either
this week. Let's call it Tattnall 28-
Wcstficld 12.
And that would set the Hornets
up for their final game, a road trip
up to Macon to see Mt. de Sales.
The Cavaliers have had a down
year, and this could end up being
for a playoff spot for the Hornets.
Ball control and defense will tell the
story, and I think the Hornets will
be playoff bound. Let's call this one
Westfield 24-Mt. de Sales 8.
Perry claims region titles in
boys and girls cross country
By COSBY WOODRUFF
Sports Editor
Perry won both the boys and
girls GHSA Region 2-AAA cross
country titles Saturday.
In the girls event, Perry barely
edged out Wayne County 27-28,
and the boys routed Appling
County 19-50.
Only Perry and Wayne County
ran in the girls competition, so
only their runners figured into team
scoring. Fitzgerald's Vista Beasley
finished first in 19:32, more than
90 seconds ahead of second place
Lauara Peel from Wayne County.
Perry's top runner was Melinda
Howard (21:50), but the key to
Perry's win was a group of three
Lady Panthers further back in the
pack.
Laurie Coffee (24:11), Uli
Abaratis (24:32) and Hillary Smith
(25:23) crossed the finish line in
sixth through eighth places, but
scored in places four through six.
They finished just ahead of a
pack of three runners from Wayne
County, and they finished just high
enough to insure Perry's win.
Both Perry and Wayne County
as well as Beasley from Fitzgerald
and Shonda Wilson from Appling
County will advance to the Nov. 7
state meet.
Struggling Panthers still
in hunt for playoff spot
By COSBY WOODRUFF
Sports Editor
Even though the Perry Panthers
are just 2-5 overall and D 2 in
GHSA Region 2-AAA, they arc
still very much in the playoff pic
ture.
In fact, if the season ended today,
the Panthers would get the fourth
and final spot in the region. And
the Panthers can put a little more
security on their playoff hopes with
a win over the Dodge County Indi
ans (1-6, 0-3) Friday night in
Eastman.
Perry and Dodge County are two
PHS-FHS perry offensive stats
late box es?* Att .
Rushing (Perry)- Teruya TeruyaWilliams 89 452 1
Williams 11-27, Stacy Francis 12- Stacy Francis 108 387 4
24, Shawn Bass 7-6, Dexter Shawn Bass 7 60 1
Kendrick 3-15. (Fitzgerald)- Dcon Dexter Kendrick 1
Graham 11-55, Kelvin Faison 13- Jake Forehand
56, Tim Thomas 7-47 (touchdown), Arthur Billings 1 (- )
Devarcs Wilcox 4-13 (two Jason Brett • (- )
touchdowns), Leon Douglas 6-15, George Francis 2 (- 8)
Stacey Ranscy 5-11 (touchdown), Alan Rowe (- )
Michael Coney 2-4, Rodney Bonner Team - ’ ..
2-(minus4), Keith Morris 3-(minus Opponents 289 1,076 13
13). Passing
Player Att. Comp. Yards TDs Ints
Passing (Perry)- Shawn Bass 3- Shawn Bass 65 21 286 2
16-4,21 yards, Teruya Williams 1- Jason Brett 1 0 0
2-0, 30 yards, George Francis 1-1- Teruya Williams 2 1 30 O
0, (minus 16 yards). (Fitzgerald) George Francis 11 (-16)
Devares Wilcox 4-8-1, 80 yards, Team 6 9 2 3 300
Keith Morris 2-3-0, 18 yards. Opponents 9 1 42 689 4
Receiving
Receiving (Perry)- John Morton Player Reept. Yards IDs
2-40, Corey Harvey 1-2, Stacy Arthur Billings 6 59 2
Francis 1-9, Teruya Williams 1- Stacy Francis 4 29 0
(minus 16). (Fitzgerald) Marc John Morion 7 175 0
Sheffield 1-45, Leon Douglass 3- Dexter Kendrick 2 15 0
35, Kelvin Faison 1-11, Bennie Teruya Williams 3 20 0
Cunningham 1-3.
Basketball practice open now
By COSBY WOODRUFF
Sport* Editor
As basketball practice started up
over the last couple of weeks, all
four local prep teams had similar
holes to fill. They all need size and
experience in the middle.
The Perry Panthers and Lady
Panthers and Westfield Hornets and
Lady Hornets all had winning sea
sons last year, and they all gradu
ated starting centers.
And for both of the boys teams,
the leading candidate to step into
the center spot is out catching foot
balls rather than working out in the
gym.
The boys meet was never in
doubt. Led by region medalist John
Morton (16:57), Perry took five of
the top eight spots, including five
of the top six scoring slots, to fin
ish with just 19 points.
Eight Perry runners also finished
ahead of the fifth runner from Ap
pling County, pushing the Pirates'
score even higher.
The region championship was
the second straight for the Panthers
who won GHSA Region 4-AA last
year cn route to an eighth-place fin
ish at the state meet.
Perry coach Carl Thomas said lie
would like to at least duplicate last
year's finish.
"There arc eight regions, so there
will be 16 teams at state," he said.
"I would like to finish in the top
half.”
1992 GHSA 2-AAA
Girls Meet
1. Vista Beasley, Fitzgerald,
19:32. 2. Luaran Peel, Wayne
County, 21:06. 3. Melinda Howard,
Perry, 21:50. 4. Dusty Smith,
Wayne County, 23:59. 5. Shonda
Wilson, Appling County, 24:09.
6. Laurie Coffee, Perry, 24:11.
7. Uli Abratis, Perry, 24:32. 8.
Hillary Smith, Perry, 25:23. 9.
of four teams in the seven-team re
gion that have either no region
wins or one region win. The others
are Jones County and Wayne
County.
This week, Jones County will
face Fitzgerald and Wayne County
will face Ware County. Region
leader Appling County is off.
The Panthers have dropped their
last two games by a combined 47-
10.
While Perry is still very much
in the playoff picture, they arc not
having the kind of season Panther
faithful have been used to over the
The Westfield Hornets finished
as GISA AAA runners up last year
with a 16-11 record. But center
Chris Nunn along with forwards
John Gamble and Joey Hawk and
guard John Lamberth have gradu
ated, leaving the Hornets somewhat
depleted.
Guard Austin Abney returns to
lead the Hornets. He will be joined
by several other returning letter
men.
Hornet coach Cater Pierce is
splitting his time between his
hardwood troops and football.
Also playing football are Shane
Hester,who along with Troy Nuss
sajjjl |h -^ . .fJ&£jjS&l , & \
Perry’s boys cross country team shows off its GHSA 2-AAA trophy. Perry defeated
Appling County to win the title.
Daisha Wright, Wayne County,
27:16. 10. Brandi Luke, Wayne
County, 27:32.
11. Cynthia Jones, Wayne
County, 28:01. 12. Katherine
Blount, Perry, 31:02. 13. Aisha
last few seasons.
Perry has not been below .500
since 1987 when they finished 3-7.
Since then, they havb'gbnc 5-5, 8-
3,6-4 and 5-5. -
To finish at .500 or better this
year, they would have to win their
last three games, plus at least one
playoff game.
Much of Perry's trouble this year
can be traced to an offense that is
having trouble producing both yards
and points.
Through seven games, Perry is
Please see PERRY, page 10A
is the current leading candidate to
replace Nunn in the middle. Lon
Talton and Matt Shcplcy are also
expected to contribute after football
season ends.
The Westfield Lady Hornets re
turn two starters from last year's
16-10 final four team. Among the
list of the graduated was three-year
starting center Christi Horsting.
Westfield's two returning
starters, forward April Horsting and
forward-guard Laura Langston will
be joined in the starting lineup by
last year's top two reserves Kim
Marshall and Laurie Thompson.
At Perry, the Panthers were 21-5
( The Houston Home I
Journal
Jackson, Perry, 31:02.
1992 GHSA 2-AAA
Boys Meet
1. John Morton, Perry, 16:57.
2. Cedric Rodgers, Appling
GISA 2-AAA standings
Region Overall This
Team W L T W L T Week
Tattnall 2 0 0 6 2 0 Westfield
Mt. dc Sales 2 1 0 2 6 0 Open
Westfield 1 10 3 5 0 Tattnall
George Walton 1 2 0 5 3 0 Monroe
Monroe 0 2 0 5 3 0 George Walton
Hornets to face
Tattnall Friday
By COSBY WOODRUFF
Sports Editor
Since the start of the 1988 foot
ball season, Tattnall Square
Academy has been the class of
GISA football.
In the nearly five football sea
sons that have passed since, the
Trojans have been 53-7-1, have
won four region championships and
three state championships. This
year the Trojans arc 6-2 overall and
2-0 in GISA Region 2-AAA.
i ! /' Jh
Westfield's defense makes the stop against George
Walton. Westfield fell to 3-5 with the loss.
last year, and they return three
starters. However, the two starters
that graduated had a combined
heighth of more than 13 feet.
Tazari Green signed with Fur
man and Jason Brown will play for
Brewton Parker.
And when the Panthers started
workouts recently, the two leading
candidates to fill the slots (Arthur
Billings and Boris King) were on
the football field.
"I feel like we have enough
players out to have a quality varsity
practice," Perry coach Carl Thomas
said.
County, 17:19. 3. Paul Kemp,
Perry, 17:29. 4. Charlie Strickland,
Ware County, 17:34. 5. Paul
Robertson, Wayne County, 17:40.
Please see REGION, page 10A
Westfield (3-5, 1-1) is virtually
all that stands between the Trojans
and their fifth straight region title.
For the Hornets, who have not
beaten Tattnall since 1987, the
game represents a chance to claim
their eighth-straight playoff berth.
Westfield's 1-1 region mark places
them squarely in the middle of the
live-team region. The top four of
those teams will advance to play an
Please see HORNETS, page 10A
Returning regulars include Stacy
Francis (now playing football), Eric
Richardson and Keith Wimberly.
Mike Lane and Rico Simon were
also regulars off the bench for Perry
last season.
The Lady Panthers were 12-11
last year in their first season under
head coach Tim Simmons, and like
the other local teams, they gradu
ated their center.
Deidre Williams, a four-year
starter in the middle, graduated and
headed to Valdosta State to play for
the Lady Blazers.
Leading returning players include
Chasity Thornton, Amber Fendley
and Angela Leggett.