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The Madison County Journal INSIDE THTS WEEK Self defense class offered The Madison County Recreation Department is offering a women’s self defense class 2B IB Thursday, August 27, 2009 www.MainstreetnewsSPORTS.com Ben Munro/ ben@mainstreetnews.com (706) 795-2567 Prep football Madison County senior Jeremiah Nesmith puts on his game face before last Friday’s scrimmage. Madison County opens the season this Friday against Rockdale County. Ben Munro/staff MCHS out to stop Rockdale Wing-T in Friday’s opener By Ben Munro ben@mainstreetnews.com T he Madison County defense’s daunting task for week one: Stop the Rockdale County wing-T offense that took wings against the Raiders last year. Madison County surrendered 235 yards rushing against the Bulldogs’ wing-T in a 25-14 loss in Conyers in 2008. “They look like last year, just more comfort able in what they're doing,” Raider head coach Randell Owens said of the Bulldogs, who went 5-5 last season. Madison County gets its chance for redemption Friday when it kicks off the season at 7:30 p.m. against Rockdale County at home. The wing-T is based largely on fakery and deception regarding where the ball is going. A series of different things can happen on a single play. Thus, the problem the wing-T poses a defense is several points of attack, Owens said. — See Rockdale County on page 2B FRIDAY’S OPPONENT ■ Team: Rockdale County (Conyers) ■ Coach: Mike Etheridge ■ 2008 record: 5-5 ■ Last year: Rockdale Co. 25, MCHS 14 ■ Series: Rockdale Co. leads 4-1 Jamal Cooper had a 41-yard touchdown run Friday. Ben Munro/staff Injury could press backup OB into service By Ben Munro ben@mainstreetnews.com jM Madison County heads into its season opener against Rockdale County not 100 percent sure who will start under center. No. 1 quarterback Jacob Owens left in the second quarter of the Raiders’ 13-0 scrimmage victory over Franklin County last OWENS Friday with a shoulder injury and mild concus sion. On Monday, coach Randell Owens list ed Jacob’s availabil ity as “probable” against TURNER Rockdale County, but at the same time said backup quarterback Bracken Turner was the prob able starter against the Bulldogs. — See Quarterback on page 2B Middle School Softball MGMS blasts Prince Avenue The Madison County Middle School softball team routed Prince Avenue 12-0 Aug. 21 for its second straight shutout. The win upped the Mustangs’ record to 5-1. Madison County is 1-0 in region play. Volleyball Volley Raiders ‘getting there’ Madison Co. starts out 1-2 The Madison County High School volleyball team is off to a 1-2 start, bearing Walnut Grove (Aug. 20) and losing to Buford (Aug. 18) and Monroe Area ( Aug. 20). New coach Kristen Delay said her team got off to a slow start in the season opener against Buford, but redeemed itself by picking up its first win two days later. “We improved a lot over the course of (last) week’s matches,” she said. “We had a rough start (last) Tuesday, but pulled it togeth er for our Thursday matches at home. I am really proud of the improvement the girls made this week. We’ve got a long way to go, but we’re getting there.” The Raiders fell to Buford 25-13, 25-12 on the road last Tuesday to open the season, before returning home to beat Walnut Grove 25-10, 25-8 last Thursday. Madison County also played region foe Monroe Area that afternoon, winning the first game 25-22, but dropping the last two 25-15 and 25-16. Madison County played region foe Clarke Central Tuesday and has matches with Jackson County and Rabun County at Jackson County today (Thursday). The Raiders then face Habersham Central and Lumpkin County at home Tuesday. DELAY Senior Megan Economos sets the ball during action last week. Ben Munro/staff Softball Raiders win 9-inning thriller MCHS downs Hab. in subregion opener Tues. By Ben Munro ben@mainstreetnews.com In a region that's often decided by one- run games, the Madison County High School softball team has proved its mettle so far in pressure situations. The Raiders (8-1,1-0) beat Habersham Central 2-1 Tuesday in nine innings for their second extra-inning victory this year against an 8-A AAA foe. Madison County got a bunt hit from Olivia Duncan to put runners at first and third in the bottom of the ninth and scored the game-winner off a wild pitch one batter later. The victory moved the Raiders to 1-0 in subregion play. Brandi Osborne throws over to first last week. Ben Munro/staff COMING UP ■ @Apalachee today (Thurs.), 5:55 p.m., @Cedar Shoals Tues., 5:55 p.m. “We’re able to execute the little things, like getting the bunts down," coach Doug Kesler said. “It makes a huge difference when you can do those things." Erin Gibson threw all nine innings to earn the victory Tuesday, surrendering four hits and one earned run. Habersham Central took a 1-0 lead in the top of the third, but Madison County answered with an RBI single from Haley Peeples in the bottom half of the inning. The game stood deadlocked for the next six innings until pinch runner Emily Mann — who started the ninth inning at second base (a tiebreaker rule in softball) — scored the game-winning run off the Habersham wild pitch. Madison County already owns two victories over teams from the other side of the region. The Raiders opened the season with a 9-7 victory over Heritage Aug. 17 in eight innings. They also won a one-run affair over Loganville Aug. 18, 4-3. — See softball on Page 2B Madison County High School soft- ball player Cortney Boggs races home last Thursday afternoon in the Raiders’ victory over Oglethorpe County in the Leadoff Classic. Madison County, which fin ished the event at 5-1 and second place in the Gold Division, started sub- region play this week. Ben Munro/staff