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THE COMMERCE (GA.) NEWS
WEDNESDAY,
NOVEMBER 18,2009
STATE CHAMPIONS AGAIN
Cheer Tigers Win 6th State Title
Commerce’s Cheer
Tigers are back on top with
their sixth state champion
ship and first since 2005.
Saturday in Columbus,
the Cheer Tigers faced
off against 15 other Class
A schools. Commerce
defeated the defending
state champions, Trion,
by 26 points, scoring 242
points to best Bremen
(221), Brookstone (220)
and Trion (216).
This is the Cheer Tigers’
sixth state title since the
competitive cheerleading
program began in 1999.
The Tigers were also state
runners-up five times and
have one third-place finish
at the state level.
“This program has been
a great success because of
the dedication of the team
members to train and work
Continued on Page 2B
With what was described as a flawless routine by coach Dianne Cotrell,
the Cheer Tigers secured their sixth state championship. Commerce
defeated 15 other Class A squads to earn the title. Photo by Lee Chestnut
The Commerce Cheer Tigers celebrate winning the 2009 state title.
SECOND ROUND BOUND
Commerce Football
East Jackson Football
Tiger running back Jon Cash (11) charges towards a Landmark defender as
Tyler Austin (72) and Deon Brock (1) cover his rear. Photo by Justin Poole
East Jackson defensive lineman Scott Hill (right) makes a stop Friday
night in the Eagles’ 27-14 victory over Manchester. Photo by Ben Munro
Tigers Vs Tigers
Commerce Advances After 29-19 Victory
Eagles Soar Into Round 2
East Jackson Faces Atlanta Powerhouse Lovett Fri.
By Justin Poole
It has been two years since the Tigers
made it past the first round of the State
Playoffs, but last Friday night Commerce
secured its spot in the second round after
a 29-19 victory.
Commerce knocked Landmark
Christian out of the postseason last week
to advance the Tigers to face Darlington
High School in Rome this Friday at 7:30.
The 6-A Darlington Tigers are 7-4 overall
after edging out Warren County 16-14.
Commerce is also 7-4.
On paper, Commerce looks better than
Darlington. The local Tigers score an aver
age of six points more than Darlington and
have allowed 56 fewer points. Regardless
of how either set of Tigers looks on paper,
coach Steve Savage has taken his own
look at the competition.
“They are a fine team,’’ Savage said.
“They are a wing-T football team and play
real aggressive on defense with good size
and good speed.... We have played three
other wing-T teams this year, so it is not
something we haven’t seen. [Darlington]
gives a lot of misdirection.’’
Savage says the key to winning Friday’s
game is in blocking the Darlington
defense.
“They have a really good defensive line,’’
said Savage. “If we can block them, we will
have a chance. Offensively we are going
to do the same thing we have been doing,
just optioning a little bit and probably
throwing a little bit more.’’
The winner of Friday’s game advances
to face the winner of the Twiggs County
and Chattahoochee County game in the
third round of the state playoffs.
Landmark Christian
Friday night was a perfect night for
football and the Commerce Tigers took
advantage of the conditions and came
away with a 29-19 victory.
“We played pretty good,’’ Savage said.
“It was a strange game where they had
more plays than us, but we capitalized on
ours.’’
Landmark Christian had the ball for
29:29, the majority of the game — but
never led. Landmark was unable to get
on the board until late in the first quarter
with a field goal. By then, it was too late as
Commerce was already ahead.
Jon Cash returned the first Landmark
punt to the Commerce 45 yard and two
plays later Deon Brock sprinted 40 yards
downfield to put the Tigers up 6-0 follow
ing a failed PAT kick.
Landmark responded by getting close
enough for a field goal, and at the end of
the first quarter, Commerce led 6-3.
“Our defense bent a little but didn’t
break,’’ Savage said. “We held up to their
big offensive line and big backs pretty
good.’’
In the second quarter, Commerce
Continued on Page 2B
By Ben Munro
East Jackson continues to surprise every
one — including itself.
The Eagles (10-1) manhandled Region
5-AA Manchester 27-14 Friday in
Commerce behind 291 yards rushing
to win their first-ever playoff game and
advance to the second round of the state
playoffs.
“Our team, we didn’t think really think
we were going to make it to the second
round; we didn’t think we’d make this
playoff at all, but we did,’’ Eagle running
back/defensive back Tyler Collins said.
“So we’re all just happy. We’re happy to
be here.’’
East Jackson faces Lovett (10-1) — which
routed Chattooga 45-7 in round one — this
Friday in Atlanta at Conley-Oakley Field.
Collins had a lot to do with getting the
Eagles to round two. The sophomore ran
wild, gaining 127 yards on just 11 car
ries to lead East Jackson's stout ground
effort. His night included a 29-yard rush
ing touchdown and a 23-yard touchdown
catch.
Collins said he liked his ground score
better.
“The run,’’ he said. “I like running. I like
contact.’’
Collins’ two scores — which came in the
second and third quarters — were sand
wiched in between a one-yard touchdown
run from C.J. Allen in the first quarter and
a one-yard plunge from Michael Stephens
on the last play of the game.
Allen finished with 82 yards rushing on
18 carries, while Deon Sewell added 71
yards on 20 attempts.
Collins said the Eagles came into this
game ready after a focused week of prac
tice.
“It was awesome,’’ said Collins, who also
intercepted a pass. “Our coaches put in a
great game plan, man, and we went out
and did it.’’
East Jackson shut out Manchester (7-4)
in the first half, forcing two turnovers and
allowing just two first downs during the
first two quarters as the Eagles led 14-0.
Manchester cut the lead to 14-7 with a
touchdown in the third quarter, but East
Jackson answered with Collins' 23-yard
touchdown reception to put the Eagles up
21-7. Quarterback Evan Williamson threw
the touchdown pass, part of a 5-of-9 night
passing for the senior signal caller.
Manchester scored another touchdown
off a 62-yard halfback pass in the fourth
quarter and then got the ball back with
3:43 with a chance to tie or take the
lead, but the Eagle defense stiffened. East
Jackson sealed the victory with a fourth-
down stop at the Manchester 29.
The Eagles didn’t immediately know
who their second round foe would be fol
lowing the victory, but that mattered little
to a team that had just made school his-
Continued on Page 2B