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— www.MainStreetNewsSports.com —
November 6, 2008
The Banks County News
Justin Poole, Sports Editor
706-367-2348, direct line
706-387-5418, FAX
justin@mainstreetnews.com
25 th World
CROSS COUNTRY
Crown at
Peach State
on Sunday
BY BRANDON REED
With 25 years of history,
drivers from all around the
country are preparing to trav
el to Peach State Speedway
in Jefferson this weekend to
take part in the World Crown
weekend, with the high
light being an opportunity
to add your name to the list
of winners, including Darrell
Waltrip, Dick Trickle, Rick
Crawford and three-time
winner Paul Kelley.
Drivers from New York,
Colorado, Maine and around
the southeast are entered to
compete for the right to wear
the coveted crown in victory
lane, and to take home the
Rob Joyce Memorial trophy.
For some, there’s no such
thing as too much practice as
they get ready for the World
Crown.
2008 Georgia Asphalt
Series Five Star Wheels
Rookie of the Year T. J. Reaid
hit the track last week to
work to dial his car in for
the big event. The Acworth
native says he feels confident
going into the Nov. 9 event.
“We’re trying some stuff
here today that we’ve messed
around with at the shop that
we think may help us.”
Reaid won his first late
model event at New Senoia
Raceway back on Aug. 16,
and would like to make the
World Crown his second
win.
For Royston’s Jeremy Rice,
Sunday’s World Crown rep
resents an opportunity to end
his season on a high note.
“We didn’t make the last
race at Lanier due to fuel
problems,” Rice said. “We’ve
had problems the last few
months, but we think we’ve
finally gotten it fixed. We
hope to have a good showing
all weekend.”
It will be Rice’s first
appearance of the year at
Peach State.
Seventeen-year-old James
Nealis is a two-and-a-half
year Pro Late Model vet
eran. The Gainesville area
driver says he enjoys coming
to Peach State to compete,
and the history of the World
Crown is not lost on him.
“It’s very important,”
Nealis said. “At the begin
ning of the year, we built this
car with the hopes of making
it with this same car to this
race. About a month ago,
we stopped and I tore the car
down and rebuilt it just for
next weekend with the hope
that we can come out and
win.”
Reaid said there’s
definite importance to
See World Crown on page 2B
BCHS boys cross country heading to state
BY JUSTIN POOLE
Expectations were high as
the Banks County cross coun
try team traveled to Riverside
last Saturday.
In the region race, the cross
country runners had to give
it their all because accord
ing to coach Kelly McDuffie,
it is all or nothing in cross
country.
The Leopards’ runners
were rewarded for this sea
son’s hard work. The girls
finished seventh in the 8-AA
region, which is one of the
toughest regions in the state,
and Amy Sims finished just
shy of a new school record.
The boys made it to state,
finishing third in the region.
The brother duo of Jorge
Diaz, placing second, and Ivan Diaz, placing eighth, broke into the top ten
and set a school record.
STATE BOUND
The Banks County boys cross country runners are heading to Carrollton compete in the state race
Saturday. Pictured are Avery Chastain, Viet Pham, Nathan Holloway, Jorge Diaz, Kieffer Hellmeister, Trey
Martin and Ivan Diaz. Not pictured but also going to state is Simon Hurtado.
The boys will go this Saturday to compete in the state race at Carrollton.
The race starts at 11:30 a.m.
See Cross Country on page 3B
BCHS @ Union County, Friday, 7:30 p.m.
Banks is in for the fight of the season
BY JUSTIN POOLE
The Banks County High School Leopards are more than
ever in a do-or-die situation.
Friday night is it.
Banks will either make it to the show or end up making
plans for next year.
Banks has to beat Union County. Be it by one point or
50, the Leopards have to win. In addition, the situation is
only halfway in Big Blue's playbook. For the Leopards to
make it to the playoffs another team has to lose.
According to head coach Blair Armstrong, if Banks can
pull out a win and North Oconee helps out by beating
Fannin County, the Leopards should be in the playoffs.
“We have a lot of film on Union County,” said Armstrong.
“They arc a very, very good football team. They have a lot
of things going in their favor.”
Armstrong feels that the kids are comfortable with the
travel and since Banks has a little bit stronger defense than
last year, the Leopards have a shot.
BREAKDOWN
Banks is 5-3 going into
Friday’s game with 4-4,
Union County.
The Leopards have a
paper-thin advantage over
their opponent. Banks has
scored a total of 272 points
this season, only six points
over Union’s 266 points.
Average scored points per game for Banks is 30.2 barely
above Union at 29.6.
Union County has allowed 242 points compared to
Banks allowing 201 points.
Last year, the game came down to one touchdown as
Banks trumped Union 42-34. In fact, in the past three
meetings between the teams, Banks has come out on top.
However, Union County holds the advantage overall win
ning 18 of the past 33 games since 1959.
If you arc superstitious, the two times Banks has faced
Union on a November 14, (2003 and 1986) Banks has won
(27-0 and 12-7).
Banks has to pull out all the stops and throw everything
it’s got at Union on Friday night to have a shot. The fans
have to pull double duty and cheer for a Big Blue victory
and for North Oconee to beat up on Fannin County so
Banks can make it to the playoffs.
See the report on the Oglethorpe game on page 3B
At A Glance:
Union County
(4-4, 5-4)
@ Blairsville
Friday, 7:30
Last Year:
BC won 40-34
THE KICK IS UP
Tyler Husley kicks a fair PAT last Friday at Oglethorpe County. Big Blue defeat
ed the Patriots 42-20. Photo by Justin Poole
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