Newspaper Page Text
SPORTS
Bill Murphy Sports Editor | 770-718-3415 | sports@gainesvilletimes.com
Sftncs
gainesvilletimes.com
Saturday, November 10, 2018
NO. 5 GEORGIA
VS. AUBURN
BRYAN W00LST0N I Associated Press
Georgia running back D’Andre Swift (7) rushes
for a touchdown against Kentucky during the
first half on Nov. 3 in Lexington, Kentucky.
Bulldogs in
reach of all
their goals
Associated Press
The Georgia Bulldogs are in position to reach
all their goals.
Assuming they don’t slip up in the Deep
South’s oldest rivalry.
No. 5 Georgia (8-1, 6-1, No. 5 CFP) is a two-
touchdown favorite for its 123rd meeting with
Auburn, a team that has endured a disappoint
ing season after starting out in the top 10.
If the Bulldogs can win their remaining reg
ular-season games — after Auburn, they’ll also
be big favorites against UMass and Georgia
Tech — it would set
OnW
When: 7 p.m. tonight
TV: ESPN
up a rematch with
top-ranked Alabama
in the Southeastern
Conference champi
onship game and a
conduit to the College Football Playoff.
“We go at it even harder because we know
we’ve got so much at stake,” Georgia offensive
lineman Solomon Kindley said. “We know that
they’re coming in here to try to ruin our season.”
This will be third meeting between these
teams in the last 12 months.
Auburn romped past the Bulldogs during the
2017 regular season, but Georgia rebounded
with an emphatic victory in the SEC title game.
The Tigers (6-3, 3-3, No. 24 CFP) are feeling
more upbeat after rallying for two fourth-quar
ter touchdowns to beat Texas A&M , their big
gest win since a season-opening triumph over
Washington.
“It felt different from a confidence stand
point,” coach Gus Malzahn said. “That’s exactly
what we needed — that kind of win to help give
us some momentum moving forward.”
An upset of Georgia would really give this sea
son a whole new feel.
Some other things to watch for in Saturday’s
game between the hedges:
■ Please see GEORGIA, 3B
GEORGIA TECH
VS. MIAMI
Jackets out
for revenge
Associaged Press
Marshall
Georgia Tech players have not forgotten a
last-second loss at Miami last season.
“I think it was kind of the turning point of our
season last year,” said Yellow
Jackets quarterback TaQuon
Marshall.
The Hurricanes’ 25-24 win
last year helped Miami win
the Atlantic Coast Confer
ence’s Coastal Division while
Georgia Tech fell short of a
bowl bid for the second time in
three years.
Saturday night’s game could
be similarly important for each team.
Georgia Tech (5-4,3-3 ACC) will try to extend
its two-game winning streak when it faces strug
gling Miami (5-4, 2-3), which has lost three
straight. The Yellow Jackets, who have enjoyed
a sharp increase in forced turnovers, have won
four of five following a 1-3 start.
One year ago, Darrell Langham’s 28-yard
catch on a tipped ball on fourth down set up
Michael Badgley’s 24-yard field goal with 4
seconds left for the
Hurricanes.
It’s a bitter memory
for the Yellow Jackets.
“We’ve been waiting
on this one,” said quar
terback Tobias Oliver.
“It’s one we had marked on our calendars.
We’ve definitely been looking forward to it.”
On TV
When: 7 p.m.
tonight
TV: ESPN2
■ Please see TECH, 3B
HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL PLAYOFFS
North Hall 41, Lakeview-Fort Oglethorpe 6
Trojans make history
North Hall earns its first road
Playoffs scoreboard
playoff win in 61 year existence
Anytime you can get that mon
key off your back it’s a good feel
ing. For football coach David
Bishop, North Hall’s win Friday
night lifted quite the weight off
his shoulders.
North Hall made program his
tory in its 41-6 rout of Lakeview-
fort Oglethorpe in the opening
round of the Class 3A tourna
ment, becoming the first squad
to win a road playoff game in the
school’s 61 years of existence.
“It feels real good,” said
Bishop, whose No. 3 seeded Tro
jans move on to face top-seeded
Cedar Grove in the second round
next Friday night.
“The one thing I’ve learned
■ Please see NORTH, 3B
Friday’s games
Class 6A
■ Creekside 47, Gainesville 12
Class 5A
■ Buford 35, Miller Grove 14
Class 4A
■ Ridgeland 34, Flowery Branch 14
■ Pickens 42, White County 0
Class 3A
■ North Hall 41, Lakeview-Fort Oglethorpe 6
■ Dawson County 44, Haralson County 22
Class A private schools
■ Riverside Military 24, George Walton Academy 14
CLASS 5A STATE PLAYOFFS I Buford35, Miller Grove 14
Photos by AUSTIN STEELE I The Times
Buford’s Elijah Turner holds off Miller Grove’s Kelley Antonio Mackey Jr. while running the ball during the first-round playoff
game in Buford.
Buford’s Elijah Turner jumps over Miller Grove’s Kameron Williams during Friday’s
first-round playoff win in Buford.
Buford’s starting quarterback Aaron
McLaughlin was unavailable for the
team’s first-round playoff game against
Miller Grove Friday night, but that
didn’t seem to slow down the Wolves
(9-2, 5-0 Region 8-5A) as backup Jarvis
Evans and a dominant rushing attack
carried the team to a 35-13 victory.
Buford coach John Ford did not com
ment on the reasoning for McLaughlin’s
absence but expressed his pride and
confidence in Evans following the game.
“Jarvis is a great kid,” Ford said. “He
works hard. He prepares. He was ready
when his number was called.”
Evans was not asked to do too much
for the Wolves — going 5 for 12 on the
night for 93 yards and an interception.
Instead, Buford leaned on a rushing
attack fronted by a trio of seniors in Der-
rian Brown, Elijah Turner and Jamaal
Singleton.
Brown carried 16 times for 109 yards
and a pair of first-quarter touchdowns,
while taking his lone reception for 34
yards. Turner added 43 yards on his
six totes and caught a pass for 16 more
yards through the air.
Singleton touched the ball only three
times, but he took advantage of his
opportunities, gaining 34 yards and scor
ing twice in the third quarter.
“I’m kind of the Swiss Army Knife on
my team,” Singleton said of his efficient
performance. “Whatever they need, I’m
usually right there to pick it back up and
make sure we’re on the right track.”
Buford started things off quickly,
scoring three touchdowns on its first
four possessions, while holding Miller
Grove to just one first down in the open
ing quarter.
■ Please see BUFORD, 3B
Without starting QB, Buford advances to the second round
BY NATHAN BERG
nberg@gainesvilletimes.com
CLASS A PRIVATE SCHOOLS I Riverside Military 24, George Walton 14
Eagles land upset win in the first round
The Riverside Military Academy
football team is moving on in the
Class A-Private schools playoffs.
Jordan Battles ran for 191 yards
and a touchdown, senior quarter
back Isaac Teasley had two total
scores and the No. 23 seeded Eagles
stunned No. 10 seed George Walton
Academy in the opening round with
a 24-14 triumph on Friday night in
Monroe.
With the win, Riverside Mili
tary Academy (6-5) faces Fellow
ship Christian next Friday night in
Roswell.
“Our kids did a phenomenal job
of sticking to their guns, executing
the game plan we emphasized all
week and just trusting the process,”
Riverside Military coach Nick Gar
rett said. “The kids stepped up and
made phenomenal plays on both
sides of the ball, and the George
Walton coach said it best: We just
completely outschemed them,
■ Please see EAGLES, 3B
Garrett
