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PAGE 2B - THE COMMERCE (GA) NEWS, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2007
Dragons Vs. Screaming Devils
In 2nd Round Of State Playoffs
By Allen Luton
The Jefferson football team will
travel to Warren County for its
second game against the Scream
ing Devils this season on Friday
night. The Dragons hope the re
turn trip home this time will be
more enjoyable than the last one.
Back on Sept. 21, the Scream
ing Devils handed Jefferson its
second loss through the first
three games of the season, win
ning 40-28, thanks in large part to
quarterback Tommy Seals who
accounted for five Warren Coun
ty touchdowns on the night.
Since then, the Dragons (8-3)
have reeled off six wins in seven
games, knocked off arch-rival
Commerce for the first time in 12
years, and won their first playoff
contest since 2003. They hope
to make even more history, as
a Jefferson team has not won a
second-round playoff game in 30
years.
Warren County earned the top
seed out of a tough Region 7-A
that includes two-time defending
Class A state champion Lincoln
County.
“Warren County’s one of the top
four teams in the state. We know
that because we played them down
there,” Jefferson head coach Bill
Navas said. “We know that we ei
ther go down there and know that
they beat us last time and it might
be uglier. Or, they might be a little
bit big-headed and we might be a
little bit more excited and come
out and play well.”
Last Friday, the Dragons strug
gled early, but come on strong in
the second half to defeat Bow-
don 24-13. Fullback Tyler Hill
had a pair of touchdown runs
on the night, including a 52-yard
scamper in the fourth quarter
that helped seal the victory.
“That was a zone play and I just
went out and had a hole there,” Hill
said of his final touchdown run.
“Our linemen just basically stepped
up and started blocking better.”
Hill leads his team in rushing
and has eight 100-yard games
and 18 touchdowns to his credit
this season. During the loss to
Warren County earlier this year,
Hill had a career night, running
for 222 yards on 32 carries with
a pair of touchdowns. He’ll be
looking for similar success on
Friday in Warrenton.
“It means another game for
me, because I’m a senior, it’s one
more game I can play,” Hill said
of the first round triumph last Fri
day. “We’re ready to play them.
We’d love to get revenge because
they beat us last time.”
One thing the Dragons will look
to do this time around is contain
Seals a bit better. The athletic
signal-caller torched the JHS de
fense in the earlier meeting for
five touchdowns and 180 yards
rushing. As a team, the Devils ran
for 361 yards on the night. Since
that loss though, the Jefferson de
fense has played pretty well.
Last week’s win over Bowdon
saw Mack Rakestraw lead the way
with nine tackles on the night
as the Dragons allowed just 13
points. Over the last five games,
Jefferson has held its opponents
to just 13.4 points per contest,
and claimed victory at all but one
of those affairs.
“It’s a great opportunity,” Navas
said. “We’re in the Sweet 16, we’re
going to practice on Thanksgiv
ing Day, so I’m just excited. I
don’t care who we’re playing.”
Sleighbell 5K Set
Dec. 1 In Winterville
The East Georgia chapter of the American Red Cross will hold its
22nd annual Sleighbell 5k Run/Walk Saturday, Dec. 1.
The event will be held at the pavilion at Pittard Park on North
Church Street, Winterville.
Registration begins at 7:30 a.m. and the race starts at 8:30 a.m.
Proceeds will benefit local disaster services of the East Georgia
chapter of the Red Cross.
For more information, or to register, visit www.sleighbell.org or call
706-353-1645.
NEED PRINTING?
CALL
706-367-5233
You're Invited!
HOMETOWN HOLIDAYS
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 1,2007
BREAKFAST WITH SANTA
9:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. @ OPERA HOUSE DANCE ACADEMY
(Have your picture taken with Santa Clans and enjoy breakfast)
SECRET SANTA WORKSHOP
12:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. @ COMMERCE SCHOOL OF DANCE
[Shop in a store designed just for kids. All gifts are priced under SI0, For kids ages 5-12)
HOMETOWN HOLIDAYS HOT ROD & ANTIQUE CAR SHOW
12:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. @ SPENCER PARK PARKING LOTS
DOWNTOWN LOFT AND BUSINESS OPEN HOUSE
3:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. @ VARIOUS DOWNTOWN LOCATIONS
(Tour our local heritage hot spots and witness downtown’s completed and ongoing renovations)
COMMERCE CHRISTMAS PARADE
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 2,2007
3:00 p.m. START TIME
PARADE THROUGH HISTORIC DOWNTOWN COMMERCE
Theme: ‘‘Rockin' Around The Christmas Tree"
CHRISTMAS CONCERT - THE SEED & FEED BAND
5:00 p.m, (after parade) @ SPENCER PARK
FREE ADMISSION
TO ALL EVENTS!
::: commerce::^::::
A City tip? The tiigtt Track
FREE ADMISSION
TO ALL EVENTS!
For more information, call (706) 335-2954.