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SPORTS
The Times, Gainesville, Georgia | gainesvilletimes.com
Friday, October 26, 2018 3B
COLLEGE FOOTBALL
Solid pass rushing presence
No. 7 Georgia, No. 9 Florida both
have players who can get after QB
JIM HIPPLE I Associated Press
Georgia Bulldogs outside linebacker D’Andre Walker rushes the Austin
Peay quarterback during the game Sept. 1 in Athens.
Associated Press
Game-wrecking pass-rushers
could turn the “World’s Larg
est Outdoor Cocktail Party”
into a steady stream of sack
celebrations.
Florida’s Jachai Polite and
Georgia’s D’Andre Walker are
two of the most disruptive defend
ers in the Southeastern Confer
ence. Polite, a junior defensive
end, has seven sacks in as many
games and at least one in each
of the last five. Walker, a senior
linebacker, has five of the team’s
nine sacks and a team-high 10
quarterback hurries.
Keeping them at bay is among
the top priorities for both offenses
heading into Saturday’s rivalry
game between the No. 9 Gators
(6-1, 4-1 SEC) and the seventh-
ranked Bulldogs (6-1,4-1).
“It’s the SEC, so every week
there’s going to be great rush
ers, great defensive linemen,
especially in the box,” Bulldogs
offensive tackle Andrew Thomas
said. “Everyone is pretty good.
It’s going to be a challenge for us
on our pass protection, but we’re
going to work on it and we’ll be
good on Saturday.”
The Gators rank third in the
league with 21 sacks, trailing Ala
bama and Auburn. Defensive end
Jabari Zuniga has 4y 2 , and line
backer Vosean Joseph has three.
Polite is the best of the bunch,
widely projected to be an early
round pick in the 2019 NFL draft.
“They’re extremely athletic.
Georgia vs. Florida
When: 3:30 p.m. Saturday
Where: Jacksonville, Fla.
TV: CBS
They’re quick. They have caused
problems for everybody that
they have played with their ath
leticism,” Georgia coach Kirby
Smart said. “They are hard to
block. They stay active. Even
when you block them, they get in
on plays.
“You can’t put two people on all
of them. You have to try to block
those guys and get hands on them.
They do a good job of changing
stunts, moving fronts, stemming
things and are really effective,
especially on third down.”
Georgia has been mostly solid
protecting
quarterback
Jake Fromm,
allowing 11
sacks. Seven
of those came
on third down,
which is Polite’s
specialty.
The 6-foot-2,
242-pound Day
tona Beach native has the kind of
speed that keeps offensive tack
les awake at night and the kind
of balance and body lean that
excite NFL scouts and general
managers.
Playing at the next level is so
much part of Polite’s goals that
he sort of included it in his Twit
ter handle: RetireMoms.
“Just to retire my mom,” he
said. “I don’t want her to work,
just having money for her so she
doesn’t have to work.”
Polite is well on his way to
becoming a millionaire. He
bought into new strength and con
ditioning coordinator Nick Sav
age’s program, allowing him to
shed weight, build muscle and get
faster and stronger. And he’s get
ting closer to becoming an three-
down player for the Gators.
“He’s really working to become
a set-the-edge guy, to become
more stout and be able to play all
three downs,” Florida defensive
coordinator Todd Grantham said.
“The biggest thing he gives you is
the luxury of being able to win
one-on-one matchups.”
Walker has done the same for
Georgia — and without nearly as
much help from teammates.
The 6-foot-3, 245-pound Fair-
burn, Georgia native has made
strides every year he’s been on
campus. He finished with 13 V2
tackles for loss, including 5'/ 2
sacks, as a junior but has stepped
up his game in his final year.
Now, he faces a Florida line
that was shaky early in the season
and much more stable of late.
“I think D’Andre has grown
into this role,” Smart said. “He’s
a very motivated kid. He plays
so hard. It’s important to him.
He still has room for improve
ment. .. He’s a tough, good foot
ball player that probably a lot of
people overlooked throughout his
career because he’s behind other
guys.”
It’s unlikely anyone will ignore
Polite and Walker on Saturday.
Fromm
GEORGIA SOUTHERN 34, NO. 25 APPAG\CHIAN STATE 14
Werts leads Eagles in an upset victory
JOHN AMIS I Associated Press
Georgia Southern wide receiver Darion Anderson (81) celebrates his
touchdown with quarterback Shai Werts during the first half against
Appalachian State in Statesboro.
Associated Press
Shai Werts rushed for 129
yards, including a 47-yard touch
down run, and Georgia Southern
upset No. 25 Appalachian State
34-14 on Thursday night to spoil
the Mountaineers’ first week in
the Top 25.
Werts threw a 57-yard scoring
pass to Darion Anderson early in
the second quarter. It was Werts’
only completion in three attempts
for Georgia Southern (7-1,4-0 Sun
Belt). Wesley Fields had scoring
runs of 10 and 18 yards in the
Eagles’ fifth straight win.
Georgia Southern fans stormed
the field following the school’s
first home game against a Top 25
team.
App State quarterback Zac
Thomas was knocked out of the
game on the opening series for
the Mountaineers (5-2, 3-1). The
back of Thomas’ helmet hit the
ground as he was tackled follow
ing a 5-yard run. He was taken to
the medical tent on the sideline
and then escorted to the locker
room. He didn’t return.
Backup quarterbacks Peyton
Derrick and Jacob Huesman
combined to throw four intercep
tions, and the Mountaineers also
lost a fumble on a punt return.
Derrick completed only 3 of 12
passes for 73 yards with two inter
ceptions. Huesman took over in
the fourth quarter and was inter
cepted twice by Kindle Vindor
before throwing a 4-yard scoring
pass to Malik Williams with only
10 seconds remaining.
Derrick completed a 50-yard
pass to Corey Sutton to the Geor
gia Southern 3 early in the second
quarter. Marc Williams’ 1 -yard
run tied the game at 7-all.
The Eagles quickly scored fol
lowing two first-half turnovers by
the Mountaineers. Darrell Baker
Jr.’s interception set up Werts’
long scoring pass to Anderson.
Dexter Carter Jr. recovered
Clifton Duck’s fumbled punt
return. On the next play, Fields’
10-yard scoring run gave the
Eagles a 14-7 lead.
App State linebacker Jordan
Fehr was ejected late in the first
quarter after he was called for
targeting on a late hit on Werts.
The game matched longtime
friends as opposing coaches.
Georgia Southern coach Chad
Lunsford was App State’s tight
ends coach from 2001-02 and
lived in App State coach Scott Sat
terfield’s basement apartment for
a year when Satterfield also was a
Mountaineers assistant.
Georgia Tech 49, Virginia Tech 28
Georgia Tech 14 14 14 7—49
Georgia
Virginia Tech
First Quarter
VT—Turner 46 pass from Willis (B.Johnson kick), 13:26
GT—Howard 8 run (Wells kick), 6:56
VT—Hazelton 41 pass from Willis (B.Johnson kick), 5:52
GT—T.Oliver 1 run (Wells kick), :15
Second Quarter
VT—Willis 1 run (B.Johnson kick), 10:30
GT—Mason 5 run (Wells kick), 6:57
GT—T.Oliver 5 run (Wells kick), 1:27
Third Quarter
GT—T.Oliver 11 run (Wells kick), 9:14
GT—Mason 14 run (Kerr kick), 3:02
Fourth Quarter
GT—Mason 1 run (Wells kick), 6:23
VT—Holston 1 run (B.Johnson kick), 3:48
GT
VT
First downs
36
16
Rushes-yards
78-464
25-122
Passing
0
201
Comp-Att-IntO-
1-0
15-22-0
Return Yards
0
140
Punts-Avg.
2-41.0
4-41.5
Fumbles-Lost
1-0
2-1
Penalties-Yards
6-50
8-87
Time of Possession
42:18
17:42
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
RUSHING—Georgia Tech, T.Oliver 39-203, Mason 12-82, Howard 12-76,
Malloy 4-27, Graham 2-24, Cottrell 3-21, Searcy 2-15, K.Oliver 1-12, Lynch 2-3,
Gantt 1-1. Virginia Tech, S.Peoples 6-51, Holston 5-29, Willis 8-22, Grimsley
2-13, Hazelton 1-4, McClease 3-3.
PASSING—Georgia Tech, T.Oliver 0-1 -0-0. Virginia Tech, Willis 15-22-0-201.
RECEIVING—Georgia Tech,. Virginia Tech, Hazelton 6-81, Keene 3-27, Turner
2-62, S.Peoples 1-13, Grimsley 1-11, Kumah 1-5, Savoy 1-2.
MISSED FIELD GOALS—None.
Associated Press
TECH
■ Continued from 1B
the third team to score at
least 45 against Virginia
Tech this season. Old Domin
ion (49) and Notre Dame (45)
are the others. Virginia Tech
hadn’t given up at least 40
points to three teams since
1991 when Miami (43), Rut
gers (50) and Virginia (41)
did it. Virginia Tech talked
all week of keeping the Yel
low Jackets from dominating
the time of possession.
The Hokies’ first drive
lasted 1:34, ending with
Ryan Willis’ 46-yard pass to
Tre Turner, and their second
took 58 seconds, ending with
Damon Hazleton’s 41-yard
catch.
In between, the Yellow
Jackets went 75 yards in 12
plays and followed Virginia
Tech’s second TD with an
11-play, 75-yard march to tie
it at 14. Oliver kept the first
drive alive with a 15-yard
scramble, and Qua Searcy
gained nine on a fourth-and-1
from the Yellow Jackets’ 34
on the second drive.
The loss also cost the Hok
ies their grip on first place in
the Coastal Division as they
dropped into a tie with Vir
ginia for the lead.
THE TAKEAWAYS
GEORGIA TECH: Oliver
(7 yards per carry coming in
vs. Marshall’s 4.7) routinely
spun away from contact to
gain additional yards against
the Hokies. But Marshall
connected on 60- and 80-yard
scoring throws to beat Vir
ginia Tech last season, and
Oliver’s lone attempt — just
his 10th attempt of the sea
son — was miserably short
of his target, leading to their
first punt, which proved to
be the turning point.
VIRGINIA TECH: The
Hokies’ young defense again
got burned by a backup
quarterback. In a 49-35 loss
at Old Dominion early in the
season, drop-back passer
Blake LaRussa replaced
dual-threat Steven Williams
and threw for 494 yards
and four touchdowns for
the previously winless Mon-
archs. TaQuon Marshall had
started all seven games for
coach Paul Johnson head
ing into the game, but sat
out Thursday night with an
undisclosed “upper body”
injury.
NO. 13 WEST VIRGINIA 58,
BAYLOR 14
Grier throws for three
touchdowns for Mountaineers
Will Grier threw three touchdown passes
and No. 13 West Virginia used a big second
quarter to cruise to a 58-14 victory over Baylor
on Thursday night.
The Mountaineers (6-1, 4-1 Big 12) bounced
back from a blowout loss at Iowa State with
arguably their best performances of the sea
son on both sides of the ball.
During a 31-point second quarter, Grier had
TD tosses of 25 and 65 yards to David Sills, and
Grier ran for a 1-yard score for a 41-0 halftime
lead. It marked the most points in a quarter
for the Mountaineers since they scored 35
against Clemson in the Orange Bowl following
the 2011 season.
West Virginia had 10 first-half drives, com
piled 435 yards by the break and 568 overall.
“We needed to go out and play well and we
did. It’s what our team needed,” West Virginia
coach Dana Holgorsen said. “It’s going to give
us momentum for what we know is going to be
a tough November.”
Grier had his best game in the span of
a month after getting sacked seven times
against Iowa State, throwing three intercep
tions in the red zone against Kansas and fail
ing to get the Mountaineers into the end zone
in the second half at Texas Tech.
He was limited to 100 passing yards in the
30-14 loss to the Cyclones two weeks ago and
had 302 by halftime Thursday. He finished
17 of 27 for 353 yards and sat out the fourth
quarter.
Baylor (4-4, 2-3) was limited to 287 total
yards.
“I didn’t see it coming,” Baylor coach Matt
Rhule said. “I thought our defense hung in
there early, as the offense had some unchar
acteristic turnovers.”
Charlie Brewer, who nearly brought Bay
lor back from a 38-13 fourth-quarter deficit
against West Virginia as a freshman last year,
threw three interceptions and was replaced
by Jalan McClendon in the second quarter.
Rhule said Brewer “looked a little out of it”
as he left the field and was being evaluated for
a potential injury that Rhule didn’t specify.
Brewer went 1 of 8 for 22 yards.
Evan Staley kicked three field goals for
West Virginia. His 44-yarder in the third quar
ter boosted the lead to 44-0.
THE TAKEAWAY
BAYLOR: The Bears lost their third
straight road game to a ranked league oppo
nent. They still have plenty of chances to
get two more wins to become bowl eligible a
year after going 1-11 in Rhule’s first season.
Baylor dropped to 0-4 against West Virginia in
Morgantown.
WEST VIRGINIA: The defense had 12 tack
les for losses, including five sacks, and was
noticeably better after what defensive coordi
nator Tony Gibson pointed out were 31 missed
tackles in the team’s only loss.
Associated Press
NFL
ERIC SMITH I Associated Press
Houston Texans quarterback and
Gainesville High graduate Deshaun
Watson (4) is lifted by teammate
Nick Martin (66) as they celebrate
a touchdown against the Miami
Dolphins during the second half of
Thursday’s game in Houston.
Watson
throws for
5 scores
Gainesville grad
leads Texans to
fifth straight win
Associated Press
Gainesville High graduate
Deshaun Watson matched his career
high with five touchdown passes
to lead the Houston Texans to their
fifth straight victory, 42-23 over the
Miami Dolphins on Thursday night.
The Texans (5-3) have left their 0-3
start behind with their longest single
season winning streak since reeling
off six victories in a row in 2012.
Watson threw touchdown passes of
13, 2, 73, 49 and 2 yards to give him
34 career scoring passes to move
ahead of Dan Marino (32) for second-
most through in NFL history after 15
games.
Miami’s Brock Osweiler, who had
one tough season in Houston after
signing a $72 million contract in 2016,
threw for 241 yards with an intercep
tion in his third straight start in place
of injured starter Ryan Tannehill.
Kenyan Drake had a touchdown
run and touchdown reception for the
Dolphins (4-4). They lost for the sec
ond straight week.
Rookie Jordan Thomas caught
the first two touchdown passes of
his career, DeAndre Hopkins had 82
yards receiving and two scores and
Will Fuller added 124-yards receiv
ing and a touchdown.
Texans running back Lamar
Miller, who grew up in Miami and
spent his first four seasons with the
Dolphins, had 133 yards rushing and
a touchdown for his second straight
100-yard game.
Houston led by 8 when Watson
threw a 49-yard touchdown pass to
Hopkins on the first play of the fourth
quarter to make it 35-20.
Watson found the speedy Fuller
in front of the defense for a 73-yard
touchdown that left Houston up 28-17
late in the third quarter. It was the
longest touchdown pass of Watson’s
career and the longest reception of
Fuller’s. Fuller has caught 11 touch
down passes in 11 career games with
Watson. The Dolphins used a 41-yard
field goal to cut the lead to 28-20 with
less than a minute left in the third
quarter.
MEET
■ Continued from 1B
third-best time (20:10).
RIVERSIDE MILITARY QUAL
IFIES FOR STATE: Austin Erick
son was 15th overall (19:08) for the
Eagles who finished fourth as a team
at the Class A-Area 2 championship
on Thursday in Peachtree Corners.
Riverside Military won the fourth-
place tie against Providence Chris
tian by way of its sixth-place runner
having a better time (Cooper Lind
say, 19:56).
In the girls’ race, Lakeview Acad
emy’s Sarah Nivens was 14th overall.
SOFTBALL
LOCUST GROVE 2, BUFORD
0: Ansleigh Hollifield recorded six
strikeouts for Buford in the first
round of the Class 5A state tourna
ment in Columbus. With the loss,
the Lady Wolves face Villa Rica
in the loser’s bracket on Friday in
Columbus.
FOOTBALL
CLARKE CENTRAL 55, JOHN
SON 3: With the loss the Knights fall
to 4-5 and 0-4 in Region 8-5A.
Johnson hosts Loganville at 7:30
p.m. on Nov. 2 in Oakwood.
Compiled by Marcus Etienne
High school scores can be reported
by 10:30 p.m. each day by calling
770-718-3415 or email sports@
gainesvilletimes.com
