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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.