Newspaper Page Text
August 21,2008
Section
B
The Banks County News
Sports Editor: Chris Bridges
Contact: 706-367-2745
www.mainstreetnewssports.com
First
&
Ten
. ★ ★ ★
chris@mainstreetnews.com
BY CHRIS BRIDGES
Community
support vital
for success
I t's common sense when you
think about it.
High school athletic pro
grams must have community sup
port to thrive and be successful.
Think about it, you don’t see too
many winning programs without
it. Come to think about it, you
don’t see any that I know of.
That’s why the scene at the
Banks County High School foot
ball stadium last Friday night
— for a preseason scrimmage no
less — was so great to see. As
the start of the scrimmage against
Johnson High School arrived,
the crowd on the home side of
the stadium was indeed a sight to
behold.
One long-time Leopard fan said
there have been plenty of regular
season games where the stands
were not as full. It was great to
see the support and enthusiasm
of those who took the time to
come to support the players and
coaches. After the work they have
put in during the offseason they
certainly deserve it.
While some fans know about
the hours of work that go into
the preparation for a new football
season, many do not. It's really
not possible to know unless you
see it first hand. Parents of play
ers probably have more of an idea
because they know how much
time their sons are at the weight
room or at the practice field tak
ing part in offseason conditioning.
Perhaps word of all the work
that was done this offseason has
spread throughout the community
because the fans turned out in
mass last Friday night. During
halftime of the scrimmage I had
a few minutes to talk with the
Leopards No. 1 fan. Brother Jim
McLendon. Like me, he was
impressed with the turnout of
BCHS faithful. We both believe
the 2008 season can be something
special for the Leopards. We both
agree the program deserves every
thing positive that comes it way.
As I stood on the sidelines
Friday night I watched BCHS
head coach Blair Armstrong in
action. This is the man who is
responsible for a great deal of
the excitement surrounding the
Leopard program. It’s strange in a
way because many times a coach
who generates excitement is one
who is a showman of sorts on
the sidelines. In pro football you
think of coaches like Mike Ditka
or Jerry Glanville.
Armstrong, however, is more
reserved on the sidelines. He
remains calm in the eye of the
storm. However, what he is good
at is generating support and belief
in the program he is coaching.
He has done that everywhere he
has been. He is doing it now at
BCHS.
The countdown clock to the
2008 season opener is almost
expired now. I’ve always been
one who likes to have the first
game of the season at home.
However, I have a feeling when
the Leopards load the buses and
make the trip to Washington-
Wilkes Aug. 29, a large group of
fans will be making the trip as
well.
In fact, I wouldn't be surprised
to see the visiting stands just as
full as the home side. Excitement
is here for BCHS football.
Chris Bridges is sports editor of
The Banks County News. Contact
him at 706-367-2745 or by e-mail
at chris @mainstreetnews. com.
FAST-PITCH SOFTBALL
BCHS records victory in tourney to open campaign
BY CHRIS BRIDGES
The Banks County High School fast-
pitch softball ushered in the new season last
weekend, competing in the Lanier Pointe
Tournament in Hall County.
Coach Josh Lord’s team was involved in
several competitive contests and managed to
record a 3-0 victory against Chestatee. In that
win Jordan Rogers recorded the victory by
allowing just one hit. Hay ley Baird and Ashley
Denton led the Lady Leopards at the plate
against Chestatee.
Madison Franklin, Catlyn Free and Rogers
also contributed offensively.
“We had good pitching and defense all
weekend,” Lord said. “We just could not man
age enough offense. It was frustrating because
we have been swinging
the bats a lot in practice.
If we hold a team to
three or fewer runs, I
feel like we should win
those games.”
BCHS opened tour
nament play in one of
those defensive strug
gles Lord described.
Battling Flowerly Branch, the Lady Leopards
dropped a 3-1 decision despite a standout
pitching effort from Kim Thomas.
At the plate, BCHS managed hits from
Franklin, Baird and Laura Rose Pickens.
Thomas has two hits and scored the team's
lone run.
On Deck:
•Thursday, hosts
Habersham, 5:55
p.m.
•Saturday vs. North
Hall, 10 a.m.; vs.
Dawson, noon @
Commerce tourney
Lord’s team then battled Providence and
while the Lady Leopards held their opponent
to three runs they could not push any across
themselves and fell 3-0. Rogers earned the
start in the contest as Denton provided the
only offensive highlight.
Next up in the tournament was a matchup
with Pickens County. Thomas took the mound
in this outing which was another close, defen
sive struggle. Pickens, however, would emerge
with a 2-1 win, overshadowing a strong effort
from Thomas and the BCHS defense.
Baird, Pickes, Free and Samm Kennedy
paced the offense with Free scoring the lone
run for the Lady Leopards. Baird recorded the
team’s lone RBI.
In a matchup with fellow Region 8-AA
member Rabun County, BCHS fell 3-2 as
Rogers once again pitched well. Franklin,
Lauran Taylor, Denton, Thomas and Baird led
the offense. Kellany Merck had two hits in the
contest while Franklin and Denton both scored
runs. Denton and Merck collected RBI.
A 2-1 loss to Commerce would follow.
Franklin scored the lone run for the Lady
Leopards as she was driven home by Denton.
Franklin, Denton, Baird, Pickens, Madison
Porter and Merck all had hits.
“We’ll continue to work hard and carry these
games with us as learning experiences,” Lord
said. “We had several players competing at
the varsity softball level for the first time. That
will help us later in the season when region
play begins.”
HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL 2008
BANKS STARS
Worley eager for
collegiate career
RUNNING FOR DAYLIGHT
(Top) Senior Demetric Dempson breaks through the line for a positive gain during last week’s scrimmage against
Johnson High School. Dempson is one of several returning players who will be looked upon to lead the Leopards
this fall. BCHS opens the season Aug. 29 at Washington-Wilkes. (Bottom) Senior Lyn Hester recovers a fumble in
the scrimmage. Photos by Lyn Sengupta
Countdown nears end
BY CHRIS BRIDGES
A year ago at this time, Dustin Worley was pre
paring for his senior year at Banks County High
School.
This August he is preparing for a new chapter is
his life, both academically and athletically. Worley
is currently going through summer preseason foot
ball practice at Catawba College in Salisbury, N.C.
The former BCHS three-sport standout has been
at Catwaba since July, his father, Dwayne said last
Friday night prior to the BCHS Leopard scrim
mage.
“He’s getting settled in,” the elder Worley said.
“They haven't decided if they are going to redshirt
him or not yet. I told him to hang in there and not
worry about what happens with that. I told him
Peyton Manning didn't start until his fourth game
his freshman season at Tennessee. He wants to go in
and make an impact right away, but sometimes the
best thing is to sit back and watch for a little while. If
that's what happens, then it might be best for him.”
Worley helped lead the BCHS Leopards to the
Region 8-AA playoffs in 2007 from the quarterback
position. He also played a key role on the defensive
side of the football for coach Blair Armstrong.
“The coaches (at Catawba) have been impressed
with how quickly he has picked up their system,”
Dwayne said. “They noticed how quick he was able
to break down film and see what they wanted him
to do.”
Worley was also a standout basketball player and
golfer during his recent high school career. His father
said Dustin is seemingly adjusting to play at the next
level well.
“College is a different game,” Dwayne said.
“Dustin is eager to show them what he can do. I've
told him to be prepared for whatever decisions made
be made.”
Catawba is a Division II school which posted 11
wins in 2007. The Indians’ starting quarterback from
last season graduated and signed an undrafted rookie
free agent contract with the Baltimore Ravens.
BY CHRIS BRIDGES
When all was said done last Friday
night, Banks County High School head
football coach Blair Armstrong took just
what he wanted from his team's pre
season scrimmage against Johnson High
School of Gainesville.
With two weeks remaining until the offi
cial season opener against Washington-
Wilkes, Armstrong wanted to see where
his team stood and see what areas the
coaches still needed to work on. He got
his answer.
“I was very impressed
with the effort our Countdown
players showed,” , 0 kickoff .
Armstrong said after
he and the coaches 8 DAYS
spent the weekend
breaking down the
scrimmage. “We were in decent shape
even though we had several players
going both ways.”
There were some execution issues for
the Leopards in the scrimmage although
Armstrong said he almost expected that.
Fortunately, the scrimmage was two
weeks before the first regular season
game which gives the coaches more time
to work on necessary areas.
Armstrong said the players would
spend quality time in the film room this
week to see where mistakes were made.
Still, the coach said he liked the overall
“hustle and attitude” shown.
“I also thought our young kids played
well,” Armstrong said. “We are work
ing toward perfection. Everyone else is
in the same boat. We are going to keep
working on the little things. We evaluate
everything and show the players what
they need to work on. It takes numerous
reps to get everything right. It can get
boring at times when you go over some
thing a hundred times.”
see BCHS football on page 3B
PLAYING ON
Dustin Worley, competing against Fannin
County last fall, is now playing at Catawba
College in North Carolina.
Photo by Randy Crump
Kickoff Special Next Week:
Are you ready for some football? The
Banks County Leopards are set for a new
season of gridiron action and The Banks
County News will preview the upcoming
season for Coach Blair Armstrong's team in
next week's edition.