Newspaper Page Text
H-F '1
■' Conroe
County Day OCTOBER 15TH
VS ETSU, 4:00 PM AT MERCER
FOOTBALL
TICKETS AT MERCERBEARS.COM
WE HAVE IT COVERED IF ITS PLAYED
fiReporter
IB
October 12, 2022
SPORTS
CALENDAR
Thurs., Oct.l3
5:30 pm
Varsity Softball @
Eagles Landing High
School
Fri v Oct. 14
8 pm
MP Varsity Football @
Peach County High
School
Mon, Oct 17
5:30 pm
Girls Varsity Flag
Football vs. Pike and
Luella
@ Pike County High
School
MP seeks first Peach win since ’18
By Will Davis
publisher@mymcr.net
Mary Persons (4-2, 0-1)
will try to beat Peach
County (3-3, 0-0) for the
first time since 2018 on
Friday, and an upset win is
just what the Bulldogs need
after a demoralizing loss to
Jackson.
“They’re still really good,”
MP coach Brian Nelson said
of the 3-3 Trojans. “I say this
every game, but they’re big
ger than us on both sides of
line of scrimmage.”
With 3 losses, powerhouse
Peach has struggled more
than usual this season.
But their losses have come
against strong programs
like Northside-Warner Rob
ins (35-7), Perry (35-7) and
Carver-Atlanta (8-6). Only
one of those losses came
at their newly-renovated
stadium as the Trojans are
3-1 at home.
MP is 7-11 all time against
Peach County, and lost last
year 35-13. The Trojans
went 8-4, 6-1 region (2nd)
last year and made it to the
Elite Eight in the Playoffs.
They are led by head coach
Chad Campbell, who has
coached the Trojans since
2007 and had a winning
record every season. He also
led them to the AAA State
Championship twice, and
won it all one of those times
in 2009. They return their
top three scorers and top
rusher from last year.
MP’s defense will have
to find a way to neutralize
sophomore offensive tackle
Peyton Jones, who already
has an offer from UGA.
Defensive coordinator Clint
Kent reportedly resigned
last Thursday just before the
Jackson game. So this week
MP coach Brian Nelson will
have more time to regain
control of that unit. Kent
had installed a 4-2 defense
and Nelson is going back
more to the 3-3 formation
used in the past.
The game will give MP
fans their first chance to see
the renovated Peach County
stadium, which has a nice
new scoreboard and even
LED lights that flash to the
music.
GAME ®wim
vs
Mary Persons @ Peach
8 p.m., Friday, Oct. 14, Trojan Stadium
Peach leads series 11-7
Last year: Peach 35 MP 13
Prediction: Peach 28 MP 21
Tickets: $10 GoFan app
www.mymcr.net
Dogs fall to Devils after 2nd-half swoon
Defensive coordinator departs day before game
By Will Davis
publisher@mymcr.net
Mary Persons (4-3, 0-1)
opened region play with a
28-14 loss to Jackson (4-3,
1-0) on Friday before a
standing-room-only crowd
at the newly renovated Red
Devil Stadium.
It probably didn’t help
that defensive coordina
tor Clint Kent parted ways
from the program on
Thursday, the day before
the game. Kent had been
hired to replace Kip Bur
dette, who took the head
job at West Laurens in the
spring. Kent had been at
Tattnall Square Academy
and installed a 4-2 defense.
MP coach Brian Nelson
said it was a mutual deci
sion.
Nelson has mostly re
turned to the 3-3 setup MP
had used in the past.
Nelson said it also didn’t
help that MP was penal
ized 14 times for 112 yards,
while Jackson was only
flagged 6 times for 42
yards.
Nelson guessed that only
5 of those were legitimate
flags, and said he has sent
some video showing his
complaints to the GHSA
office. Nelson got a 15-yard
penalty of his own when
he accused the referee of
screwing MR
“We have a good foot
ball team, we just haven’t
caught a break,” said
Nelson. “If we do catch a
break, we might be able to
do some damage.”
See DOGS Page 3B
Above, defensive coordina
tor Clint Kent is out. Right,
Nic Arnold blocks a Chance
Goddin punt on Friday.
(Photo/Russ Campbell)
Mercer hosts SoCon showdown on Monroe Co. Day Sat.
Carolina on Saturday when
Mercer scored touchdowns
on six of its nine drives in
the opening half en route to
a 49-6 victory at Five Star
Stadium.
The Bears forced five turn
overs, including four inter
ceptions. Mercer also limited
their fourth consecutive
opponent to under 100 yards
rushing, as the Catamounts
(3-3,1-2 SoCon) gained only
74 yards on the ground.
On the offensive side of the
ball, the Bears racked up 520
total yards, including 257 on
the ground.
Fred Payton threw for
247 yards and three touch
downs. Payton connected
on 16 of 22 attempts. Devron
Harper caught 6 passes for
94 yards and a touchdown.
For tickets go to www.
mercerbears.com.
MARY PERSONS BULLDOGS
ATHLETE OF THE WEEK
Jordan Singleton
MCMSFOOTBALL
3 passing TDs, 1 rushing
against Gray Station.
2 passing TDs against Upson
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MACON - No. 12 Mercer
hosts defending Southern
Conference champion East
Tennessee State University
at 4 p.m. on Saturday in
a huge conference show
down on Monroe County
Day. Tickets are just $5 for
Monroe County residents as
Mercer welcomes fans from
the county.
The Bears (5-1,3-0 SoCon)
are having a terrific season
but are still in search of their
first Southern Conference
title. Last year Mercer and
ETSU met in a de facto
conference championship
game and the Bears lost a
heart-breaker 38-35.
The Bears are coming
off a big win over Western
MARY PERSONS BULLDOGS
PLAYER OF THE WEEK
STIFEL
Malaki Knight
Defensive lineman
3 tackles, 1 for loss Vs. Jackson
Investment Services Since 1890
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577 Mulberry Street, Suite 1200
Macon, Georgia 31201
478-803-9342 cjkawealthadvisory.com
Jason Jungberg, AAMS* Senior Vice President/Investments