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— www.MainStreetSports.com — September 11, 2008 The Banks County News Chris Bridges, Sports Editor 706-367-2745, direct line 706-367-9355, FAX chris@mainstreetnews.com FAST-PITCH SOFTBALL Lady Leopards get back on winning track BY CHRIS BRIDGES For the Banks County High School Lady Leopards, it was good to have some clear skies. With rain causing havoc with the sched ule the previous week, the BCHS team was able to return to the field last Wednesay and record a 10-1 victory against East Hall. The Lady Leopards needed just five innings to complete their task. “This was the best we've looked at the plate all year,” coach Josh Lord said. The BCHS offense compiled 13 hits while pitcher Kim Thomas was two outs from recording a perfect game. “Hopefully, we can carry this momentum for the rest of the season,” Lord said. Several players contributed at the plate including Ashley Denton (3-for-3, two runs, RBI), Thomas (2-for-4, run, two RBI, double), Catlyn Free (2-for-2), Madison Franklin (2-for-4, two runs), Hayley Baird (2-for-4, run, stolen base) and Jordan Rogers (double, run and RBI). Laura Rose Pickens and Brittany Cook both contributed a single, run and RBI. The Lady Leopards returned to region play the following day with a 5-4 win in nine innings at Rabun County. Lord noted every game during the last three seasons against the Lady Wildcats have been decid ed by one run. “We knew what to expect going in,” the coach said. “We were able to carry over some confidence at the plate from the East Hall game and we looked pretty good against a solid Rabun County pitcher. Being able to execute sacrifice bunts and manu facture runs in the tie breaker innings was key.” See Softball on page 3B LINE OF DEFENSE Laura Rose Pickens holds a runner on first during a recent game for the Lady Leopards. Photo by Lyn Sengupta Dawson County @ Banks County, Friday, 7:30 p.m. AIMING FOR A WIN The Banks County High School football team, lead by players such as quarterback Chris Porter, run ning back Justin Beasley and lineman Zach Dale (top) and receiver Kane Duncan (bottom) will look to get in the win column this Friday as the Leopards host Dawson County in a Regon 8-AA contest. Photos by Lyn Sengupta Leopards seeking to make adjustments BY CHRIS BRIDGES When the Banks County High School football team takes the field for its third game of the 2008 season Friday night, look for some adjustments — especially on the defensive side of the football. Coach Blair Armstrong said with the Leopards fac ing several more opponents which run the spread attack this season, the BCHS coaching staff will look to find ways to slow down the attack which Riverside had so much success using last week in its 56-28 win. “We are going to face four more teams who run the spread so we are going to do some things differ ently,” the Leopard coach said. This week's opponent — Dawson County — also runs a form of the spread and Armstrong said the Tigers will be a formidable opponent, similar to last fall. “They may not be as skilled in the backfield as last year, but they are very strong on special teams with a Division I kicker,” the coach said. “Their quarterback throws the football better although he is not as good of a runner as the one they had last year.” BCHS will likely go away from using as much of a two-platoon system beginning this week. “We were trying not to play eight or nine play ers both ways but we may have to just line up and ‘gut it out’ to keep the best ones on the field,” Armstrong said. JV FOOTBALL Leopards begin with big victory BY CHRIS BRIDGES The Banks County High School junior varsity foot ball team ushered in its new season last week in impres sive fashion posting a 28-8 victory on the road against Oglethorpe County. Sophomore quarterback Alex Banks helped lead the way for the JV Leopards with 104 yards rushing and a touchdown. Banks was also 4-of-6 through the air for 57 yards. Fellow sophomore Dylan Lackey also helped pace the offensive attack with 64 yards on eight carrries with two scores. Freshman Kyle Smith had 49 yards on 11 attempts. Smith also caught one pass for 13 yards. Caleb McCoy hauled in a 26-yard reception with Cody Evans and Brett Bowman also having receptions. Jameson Flynn and Bo Garrison also helped BCHS earn the win. Flynn rushed for 10 yards while Garrison carried for seven. The JV Leopards will look to make it two wins in a row to begin the season when they travel to Riverside today (Thursday) for a 6:30 p.m. contest. LOCAL STARS Worley gets season to learn offense Former Banks County High School football stand out Dustin Worley will get a season to sit back and learn the system at Catawba College. Worley will redshirt this season, his father, Dwayne, said last Friday. While quick ly picking up the system at Catawba, the coaches felt Worley, a three-sport stand out at BCHS, would benefit from the extra season. MIDDLE SCHOOL FOOTBALL BCMS squad begins new season with two victories Falcons win, but fans should remain realistic A Hollywood movie writer couldn’t have scripted a better start to the new season for the Atlanta Falcons last Sunday. Before the Detroit Lions knew what happened, the Falcons had jumped to a three-touchdown lead and then held on for a 34-21 lead. The eras of Mike Smith, Matt Ryan and Michael Turner all began in fine fashion. While it was certainly great to begin the new season with such a victory — and believe me I was as excited as anyone who has followed this team through the years — we must remember not to go over board. In fact, I kept thinking back to the first game of the 1990 season as the 2008 opener unfolded. For those of you with long memories, the first game of 1990 mirrored this past Sunday’s game in many ways. The Falcons also debuted a new head coach that afternoon as Jerry “The Man in Black” Glanville made his return to Atlanta, this time as head coach. There was a renewed sense of enthusiasm in the air even though the Falcons were coming off a disastrous 1989 season in which the head coach who began the year was gone after 13 games. In fact, comparing 1990 to 2008 really does have an eerie feel to it doesn’t it? The first game of the 1990 season was against the Houston Oilers, a team many felt could certainly defeat the Falcons that day. It was the same way this past Sunday with the Detroit Lions, who were actually favored by the oddsmakers. Just like Atlanta did this past Sunday, the Birds of 18 years ago jumped out to such a fast start their opponent didn’t have time to react and fell behind by such a large deficit they simply couldn't catch up. The final score that early fall day in 1990 was 47-27 with the Falcons on top. As the 1990 season played out, however, the overall weaknesses of the team began to show and the end result was a 5-11 campaign. While the team was exciting to watch with Deion Sanders, Andre Rison, Chris Miller, Glanville and a host of celebrities on the side lines, there would be no playoff appearance. I say this to give clear warning that I just can’t see any scenario in which Atlanta makes the play offs this year. Remember, one national publication predicted the Falcons would record just one win in 2008 with another forecasting two victories. Looking back, however, Atlanta had begun to build the ground work in 1990 for a playoff run the following season. Perhaps that is realistically what we are look ing at in 2008.1 don't foresee the playoffs in our future this year, but who’s to say 2009 might not be our year. As Falcon fans, we should all enjoy Sunday’s win against the Lions, however, we would also remember that it was only one game out of 16. NFL seasons are long and when a franchise is in an ultimate rebuilding stage like Atlanta is, it is important to keep things in perspective. Still, it was great seeing such an inspired performance from the team on opening day. Hopefully it’s a sign of things to come. Chris Bridges is sports editor of The Banks County News. E-mail comments about this column to chris @ mainstreetnews. com. BY CHRIS BRIDGES Dedication is a word which can be used to describe the work ethic of the Banks County Middle School football players. It’s something coach Vince Lehotsky expects from his players. That dedication includes practicing on Friday afternoon when most mid dle school teams are not doing so. BCMS began the 2008 season 2-0 with wins against Madison County (24-6) and Rabun County (40-14). While the games were not league contest, Lehotsky and his coaches and players were pleased to begin the season with victories. “Since I have been at the middle school we have always practiced on Fridays,” Lehotsky said. “When you only have four practices between games, I don’t see how you can take a day off and expect to do well.” The keys to the wins in the first two contests, the coach said, have been no turnovers, no bad snaps between the center and quarterbacks and just a few penalties. “We aren’t doing things to defeat ourselves,” Lehotsky said. “That’s why those first two games before league play are important.” OP chris bridges First & Ten