Newspaper Page Text
PAGE IB
September 17, 2008
The best
coverage
for Monroe
County sports
MP’s Devarick Jones (55) and Daniel Weeks (19) blow through Hurricanes offensive line to tackle Rutland quarterback Jamel Hickey
(3) for a loss. The MP defense sacked Hickey six times in the Bulldog victory Friday night in Macon. (Photo/Gina Herring)
Lightning-fast Dog defense,
special teams down ’Canes
Mary Persons 34,
Rutland 6
BY GINA HERRING
Even humidity so thick you could
barely see the field and a 30-minute
lightning delay couldn’t stop the
Mary Persons Bulldogs from slicing
right through to Rutland quarter
back Jamel Hickey. The much-tout
ed quarterback, in his first game
this season after a summer injury,
was sacked six times. The Bulldogs
improved to 3-0 and 1-0 in region 4-
AAA with the 34-6 win Friday night
at Henderson Field in Macon.
Once again the Dog defense was a
big part of the story. But Friday, MP
added a new chapter - special
teams. The Dogs recovered a muffed
punt return, a fumble in the end
zone on a hobbled punt and blocked
another punt. All led to MP points.
The Bulldogs continue to struggle
on offense, but had their moments
Friday night. Chris Bowden turned
an 18-yard catch into a 63-yard
Senior Andrew Estes (13) celebrates af
ter recovering a fumbled punt in the end-
zone for his first Bulldog touchdown.
touchdown in the third quarter.
Quin King carried the ball 17 times
for 64 yards and two touchdowns.
The Bulldogs got the ball first but
only managed eight yards. Devin
Chambliss pulled off a 47-yard
punt, but the return was muffed
and Devarick Jones pounced on the
ball, getting it back at the Rutland
5-yard line.
Quin King took in in from there
and the Dogs were on top.
Early in the second quarter, the
Bulldog offense made it to the
Rutland 19 but the drive ended on a
missed field goal.
The Bulldog defense dug in its
heels and pushed the Hurricanes all
the way back to their own three-
yard line. Rutland lined up to punt
from their own endzone, but the
snap was high and MP’s Andrew
Estes fell on the ball for a Bulldog
score, his first as a Bulldog.
But he didn’t stop there. On the
very next Hurricane possession,
Estes blocked a punt. Daniel Weeks
scooped it up and took it to the
Rutland 16-yard line. But the
Bulldog offense couldn’t get the ball
in the endzone and were forced to
try for a field goal on fourth and 2.
The kick from Brooks was low.
The Hurricanes mounted an
impressive offensive drive but were
stopped on fourth and goal to go as
the half came to an end.
The second half began with a 30-
minute delay as lightning threat
ened. After the all-clear was sound
ed, the Bulldogs kicked off to the
Hurricanes. On third down
Rutland’s Michael Johnson took the
ball 47 yards to the endzone. A two-
point attempt failed.
MP returned the favor on its next
possession. On third and six from
the Bulldog 37-yard line, quarter-
See BULLDOGS page 3C
Mary Persons Bu ltda°s
Porsyth, Ho.
Friday, Sept. 19
7:30 p.m.
MP vs. So. Atlanta (4AAA)
Dan Pitts Stadium
at Mitchell Field
Last met: Never
ifoiif/i Atlanta Hornets
Atlanta, Ha.
Friday night the undefeated MP
Bulldogs come home to play anoth
er virtually unknown team, South
Atlanta. The Hornets have not had
a winning season since 1995 and
have yet to win a game this sea
son. The Hornets lost Aug. 29 to
North Atlanta (5B-AAA) by a score
of 27-13. On Sept. 5 Carver,
Atlanta (5B-AAA) beat them 32-6.
The Hornets were off last Friday.
Get your tickets early
MP vs. South Atlanta kicks off at
7:30 p.m. at Dan Pitts Stadium at
Mitchell Field. Save a dollar and
time standing in line by getting
your ticket early Advance tickets
are available all week at T-
Screens, Monroe County Bank and
Radio Shack for $6 each. Tickets at
the gate will be $7.
Lucky 13 for
Lady Dogs
Win over Woodward ties school win record
Just two-thirds of the
way through the season,
the MP Lady Bulldogs
softball team has already
tied the school record for
most games won in a sea
son at 13. The Lady Dogs
picked up that 13th win
Sept. 9, beating beating
Woodward Academy 8-4.
he win also improves MP’s
region 4AAA record to 3-0.
Kaylan Sims picked up
her sixth win of the season
while Sarah Bennett came
in to get the save pitching
three innings with no hits.
The leading Bulldog hit
ters were Courtney
McDaniel (2-2), Marleigh
Dennis (2-3), Sarah
Bennett (1-2), Lauren
Camp (1-2) and Amber
Sawley (1-2).
However, on Sept. 10 MP
could not overcome errors
and lost a non-region game
5-4 to Baldwin. Chandler
Williams and Kaylan Sims
pitched a 5 hitter.
Chandler Williams (1-3)
and Kaylan Sims (1-1)
were the leading hitters.
The season intesifies this
week with a region game
against Spalding on the
road Tuesday and a home
game Wednesday with
Rutland. Games begin at 5
p.m.
Senior Night - Sept. 23
Next Tuesday the Lady
Dogs will recognize the
team’s seniors prior to the
Courtney McDaniel (7) led the
Lady Dogs at the plate in the
win over Woodward, (file pho
to)
Woodland game at 4:45
p.m. The game will begin
at 5 p.m.
• • •
The JV Lady Bulldogs
improved to 4-0 on the sea
son after beating Baldwin
County 11-3 on Sept. 10.
Kaylee Chitwood pitched
to get the win. Leading hit
ters were Kaylan Sims (2-
2), Briana Walls (2-2) and
India Lyons (2-2).
The JV team plays
Rutland Wednesday in
Macon and will face
Jackson Sept. 24 at home.
Both games start at 5 p.m.
The 9-10 Giants and Cowboys faced off Saturday in the Rec season
opener. The Giants won 21-0. (Photo/Gina Herring)
Rec football
Sept. 20 games
Monroe County Rec Dept.
9 am
Giants vs. Oilers
10:15 am
Steelers vs. Cowboys
11:30 am
Seminoles vs. Panthers
season begins
12:45 pm
Dolphins vs. Bengals
1:45 pm
Saints vs. Rams
2:45 pm
Bulldogs vs. Tigers
3:30 pm
Jaguars vs. Yellow
Jackets
What a comeback
Mustangs score 26 points in fourth to win first game
BY WENDELL RAMAGE
Trailing Heritage Academy in
Newnan Friday night 22-13 at
the end of third quarter, the
Monroe Academy Mustangs
exploded in fourth quarter, scor
ing 26 points and taking the con
test decisively 39-28.
Scoring only one touchdown in
the first two games of the sea
son, the Mustangs had generated
doubts about their offensive
capabilities. Those doubts were
laid to rest Friday night as fans
left Newnan believers.
“That was great! Wonderful!
Spectular!” was the way fans
reacted after the game.
“Wouldn't have missed it for any
thing,” they added, glad to be in
the winning column after drop
ping the season's first two con
tests.
Quarterback Aaron Purser, who
had an outstanding game, struck
first in first quarter with a 42-
yard run into the end zone.
Micah Spivey added the extra
point to put the Mustangs in the
lead 7-6.
Heritage scored in the second
quarter and successfully went for
the two-point conversion,
Purser, however, responded from
one-yard out to make his second
TD. The conversion failed, and
the Mustangs trailed 14-13.
During third quarter, Heritage
held the Mustangs scoreless
while collecting eight points for
themselves to take a 22-13 lead.
But Heritage would be able to
score only one more time—six
points in the final period-the
period when Monroe's offense
blazed, putting up 26 points.
First in the fourth, Andrew
Hendrickson pulled in a Purser
pass of 60 yards for a TD. Again,
See MUSTANGS page 2C
Mustangs celebrate following the 39-28 win over Heritage Academy Friday.