About The times. (Gainesville, Ga.) 1972-current | View Entire Issue (Nov. 5, 2018)
SPORTS Bill Murphy Sports Editor | 770-718-3415 | sports@gainesvilletimes.com Unties gainesvilletimes.com Monday, November 5, 2018 NFL I Falcons 38 Redskins 14 SUSAN WALSH I Associated Press Atlanta Falcons running back Tevin Coleman (26) breaks free from the pack and runs for a touchdown during the first half against the Washington Redskins on Sunday in Landover, Maryland. Offense clicking all day Jones highlights big play Falcons scoring Associated Press Julio Jones set his sights on the end zone, twisted to break a tackle and lunged toward the promised land. A swarm of teammates rushed over from the sideline, jumping around in jubilation to celebrate the end of the star receiver’s 12-game touchdown drought. Jones was back in the end zone where he belongs, and the Atlanta Falcons looked like the team they were predicted to be in a 38-14 blowout of the Washington Redskins on Sunday that extended their winning streak to three games. “We’re a brother hood,” said Jones, who made seven receptions for 121 yards and caught his first TD pass since Nov. 26,2017. “We support one another. If anybody scores, I’m trying to be the first one over there. Nobody hates on each other on this team. Everybody loves when other people go out here and excel and make plays.” The Falcons (4-4) made plenty of plays in flexing their offensive muscles with the kind of balanced attack they’ve lacked in an injury-marred season that so far has failed to live up to expectations. Matt Ryan completed 26 of 38 passes for 350 yards and four touchdowns, including the 35-yard screen to Jones that set off a team-wide celebration. Even though losing four of its first five games didn’t give Atlanta much to celebrate, put ting up 491 yards on Washington has players excited about their cur rent position and what more they can accom plish this season. “The start to the season was not what we were looking for, but we’re halfway through it, we’re 4-4 and we’re in the mix,” said Ryan, who had touchdown passes of 39 and 10 yards to running back Tevin Coleman and a 40-yarder to rookie receiver Calvin Ridley. “The good football teams that I’ve been a part of in my career are the ones that have gotten better as the year’s gone along. Half way through, I think we’re a better football ■ Please see FALCONS, 3B Ryan Jones BASKEBALL Enjoying his pro journey Gainesville High graduate Shaquan Cantrell plays during a 2018 game for the Nordlingen Giants in Germany. For The Times Gainesville High graduate Cantrell playing with Germany club MARCUS ETIENNE metienne@gainesvilletimes.com Shaquan Cantrell has already made history in a short time playing pro basket ball in Europe. The Gainesville High gradu ate and former University of North Georgia standout put up 53 points for the Nordlin gen Giants on Oct. 13 in a 105- 61 win against Jahn Freising, which was a new franchise record for points in a game. “It was pretty cool, I was locked in,” Cantrell said. “It is a moment I won’t forget, for sure. “It was my first 50-point game of my career.” Cantrell who set an NCAA- era school record with the most career points at North Georgia (1,477) was very pleased with his historic night but was more pleased with the win. “I was also happy we won the game, that’s what really matters,” Cantrell said. Once Cantrell arrived in Germany, it wasn’t so much hoops on his mind. He really wanted to catch up on sleep after a nine-hour flight and six-hour time change. “My first few days, I did not want to do anything but sleep,” Cantrell said. Cantrell joined the team a week after arriving in Ger many, which came with the territory of getting used to being so far from home. Then he joined his teammates for conditioning. The former Red Elephant said that the conditioning was not too bad since he was training back at home before he flew out to Germany. “They’re all nice guys,” Cantrell said. “They got me out, they showed me around, they invited me to get lunch and play video games to get out the house,” Cantrell is also enjoying the atmosphere of playing at the professional level. He sees the difference from when he was playing at Memorial Hall and at the Convocation Center for North Georgia. “The fans are pretty good, they like basketball over here,” Cantrell said. “They (fans) are very supportive. It’s pretty cool. “It’s loud, they have drums at the games that they beat on, the fans are more engaged than it was in college.” Another thing the rookie from Gainesville noticed is that the physicality of the game has change from college to pro. “It is way more physical out here, the guys are bigger and stronger than they were in col lege, Cantrell said. “There is a lot more contact. “The refs don’t call too many fouls over here. ” The Gainesville High gradu ate, who averaged 20 points per game with the Red Ele phants in 2013, is glad he made the decision to go pro and is glad he has the opportunity to continue to do what he loves to do. “Just living a lifelong dream, getting paid to play basketball and having the ability to play basketball after college,” Cantrell said. “I get the opportunity to play longer than most people, because for most people when their eligi bility runs out in college, that’s it.” LEANER CHRISTAN ACADEMY GOES INTO PEYOFFS WITH WIN For The Times Lanier Christian Academy’s Tommy Wandrum carries the ball during its 41 -20 win against Covington Christian on Friday. With the win, the Lightning finished the regular season at 6-4 and open the GICAA Division II state semifinal against Skipstone Academy on Nov. 9. BRYAN W00LS0N I The Associated Press Georgia running back Elijah Holyfield (13) stiff arms Kentucky safety Mike Edwards (7) during the second half of Saturday’s game in Lexington, Kentucky. GEORGIA BULLDOGS Running back duo key to success Holyfield, Swift have Georgia back in the SEC title game Associated Press No. 5 Georgia is heading back to the Southeastern Conference champion ship game behind a new running back tandem that has capably stepped in for the dynamic duo that led the Bulldogs to the national championship game last year The Bulldogs had to replace New England Patriots first-round draft pick Sony Michel and Cleveland Browns second-round pick Nick Chubb , who combined to run for 2,572 yards and 31 touchdowns a year ago. But they still have D’Andre Swift and Elijah Holyfield, who are pretty darn good in their own right. Swift and Holyfield ran for a combined 271 yards Saturday as Georgia (8-1,6-1 SEC, No. 6 CFP) clinched its second straight SEC East title with a 34-17 victory over Ken tucky (No. 9 CFP), which entered the weekend leading the nation in scoring defense. “I think our one-two punch is one of the best in the country,” Swift said. Swift and Holyfield helped set up an SEC championship game showdown with No. 1 Alabama (9-0, 6-0, No. 1 CFP), a rematch of last year’s College Football Playoff final that the Crimson Tide won 26-23 in overtime. Alabama clinched the SEC West championship Saturday with a 29-0 victory at LSU , the same team that trounced Georgia 36-16 last month. Ala bama outrushed LSU 281-12 and is out- scoring teams by 37.2 points per game. “To be able to come in here and play the way we played and have the suc cess we had, I think it just gives us noth ing but confidence going into the rest of ■ Please see GEORGIA, 2B
