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THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 1 3, 2008 THE BANKS COUNTY NEWS PACE 3B Playoffs continued from page IB happen now the pressure is on. “They kind of scare me. We score fast and then kind of relax," Armstrong said. “It makes me nervous. I have the feeling that it will be a little different against this next opponent." Armstrong also said that he is immensely proud of the hard work and effort that the team has shown this season and for doing something that Banks County has not done in a long time. The .600 season is the first winning season since 1997 which is also the last time the Leopards made it to the playoffs under coach Dennis Marlow. Marlow said that the Leopards have a great coaching staff that genuinely cares for the players. “I am excited about the Leopards going to Calhoun,” said Marlow. “The players from Calhoun will put their pants on one leg at a time just like we do... I think [Banks] has a great chance at winning the game.” Runners continued from page IB Coach Kellie McDuffie said that the preparation was more of a mental thing and consisted of switch ing the boys to practice in the morning instead of the afternoon. “The coach and team decided that they needed to practice in the morning since the state race would be run in the morning and that they needed to make sure their bodies were healthy and ready for the race,” said McDuffie. “The team practiced Tuesday and Thursday morning. In one week the guys were not going to change the time that their bodies were capa ble of doing...it was going to be a mental thing.” The team went down on Friday to preview the course after a lunch treat sendoff from Longhorn’s Steak House. On Saturday, Banks took their place among the elite runners of the state with a well-earned 15th place fin ish out of 32 teams. “It has been an awesome season and I am proud of the boys and girls cross country teams," McDuffie said. Results Jorge Diaz and Ivan Diaz were named to the first team All Region 8-AA and Amy Sims and Maggie McCoy were named to the third team All Region 8-AA. Placing inside the top 25 runners, Jorge Diaz finished the state course with 23 points running a 17:57.33 race. Still inside of the top 50 runners, Ivan Diaz ran the race in 18:10.90 picking up 38 points for the Banks team. The third Banks runner to cross the line was Simon Hurtado at 19:56.19 fol lowed by Kieffer Hellmeister at 20:10.54. Avery Chastain finished his state run at 20:19.01. A little later, Viet Pham crossed the line at 20:42.68 with Nathan Holloway rounding out the Banks runners at 21:24.39. The team aver aged a 19:18.80 run with a total time of 1:36:33.97. BANKS COUNTY LEOPARD FOOTBALL 2008 Banks County going to state after 34-13 win Leopards find victory on the hill BY JUSTIN POOLE Friday night, November 7, is a date that is going to be a part of Banks County High School history. For the first time in 11 years, Banks County is making the trip to post-season play, after a 34-13 victory over Union County. There were moments during Friday’s game against Union County where Leopard fans were holding their breath every time Banks County had possession, but the players and coaches knew that for Banks to have a shot at the playoffs, it had to just flat out win. Big Blue did its job and secured a victory while others made calls to check on the North Oconee game against Fannin County. North Oconee defeated Fannin 21-14 and allowed Banks to move into the number four seed for the playoffs. Union County Banks County’s players were ready as they took the field Friday night in Blairsville. The visitor stands were packed with blue and on again, off again drizzle did little to dampen the crowd. Banks County received the ball first and within the first three minutes of the game Jus tin Beasley had scored the first touchdown of the game setting a precedent for later in the contest. The Union County defense picked up the pace and kept Banks off the board, while the Justin Beasley broke 2,000 yards Friday. rushing during the Union County game last Photo by Justin Poole Union offense slipped through to tie the score with under a minute left in the quarter. Going into the second quarter. Union again got past the Leopards to move ahead 13-7. This scoring followed by intense pressure on Banks quarterback Chris Porter had specta tors a little nervous as the time on the half started dwindling down. Then with 1:06 left on the clock, Nick Sose- bee pulled down a Union County pass for an interception. Banks County took the opening. Porter got the ball to Beasley for the touch down. Ending the first half leading 14-13. In the third quarter, another Banks intercep tion by Chase Armour brought about the first touchdown of the third quarter and extending the Leopard lead. Further ex tending the lead, Beasley scored his final touchdown of the night setting Banks ahead 28-13. Clay Frink stepped up in the fourth and provided Banks with two more interceptions and a touchdown with five minutes left in the game, sealing Union’s fate 34-13. By the numbers Chris Porter completed three passes for a gain of 14-yards. Porter’s passes to Kane Duncan, six yards. Bill Redmon, one yard, and Riley Nicholson, seven yards, helped shake up Banks County’s heavy rushing game. Justin Beasley rushed 321 yards at Union County, breaking over the 2,000-yard record for a season total of 2,031 yards, and added three touchdown notches to his belt. Demetric Dempson carried nine for a gain of 29 yards and a season total of 605 yards. Holding the Union County Panthers at bay, the Big Blue defense was lead by Matthew Patton with 13 tackles followed by Billy Pinson with 12 tackles; Kane Duncan, 11 tackles; Tyler Hulsey, eight tackles including a sack; Clay Frink, six tackles and two interceptions; and Chase Ar mour, three tackles and two inter ceptions. GRAND OPENING It signals our customers about some really good news When the light is on our original glazed doughnuts are being served hot off the line! UVHC y 4. JP DOZEN GLAZED I (k DOUGHNUTS with J purchase of any dozen Doughnuts. | iMju'jn nt : .Vflf iwsHit with iitfy ntit*r ffffrr. _ CHILLER with purchase of a Chiller. COFFEE with purchase of a Coffee. DOUGHNUT No purchase necessary! Offlt rvfrm IltM/tlft Not I'dlifi with uny otiirr frfjr Offit r.xpim flBlM. AW jw/ii/ with tfftf jtji/ut uffrf- O/f^r ry-fifTT! 12/JIMA iVi?r T.vifotf with a tty nthrr nffer. 40103 Hwy. 441 * Commerce, GA (inThe Sears Shopping Center) * 706-336-8312