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PAGE 2B — THE MADISON COUNTY (GA) JOURNAL. THURSDAY. OCTOBER 8. 2009 Loganville at MCHS, Friday, 7:30 p.m. Kendrick Butler breaks loose for a 68-yard touchdown last week in Madison County’s 35-6 victory over Habersham Central. Ben Munro/staff FRIDAY’S OPPONENT ■ Who: Loganville (3-2) at Madison Co. (5-1) ■ When: Friday, 7:30 p.m. ■ Where: Danielsville ■ Series: Madison County leads 4-1 ■ Last year: Loganville 13, Madison Co. 10 ■ Last week: Madison Co. 35, Hab. Central 6; Loganville 35, Heritage 24 ■ Opponent’s coach: Eric Godfree (6th season, 29-27) ■ What else: Madison County’s defense has already racked up 19 sacks this year ... With 33 wins in five and a half seasons, Randell Owens is now the winningest coach in Madison County history, surpass ing Tom Hybl’s victory total of 32 ... Loganville’s Storm Johnson is a major college recruit who played on Buford’s Class AA state title team last year before transfering to the Red Devils ... Loganville won the region title last year, the first since 1991 for the Red Devils. Defense continued from page IB Two weeks ago against Salem, the Raider defense produced a memorable goal line stand, stopping the Seminoles on six plays inside the five-yard line. That defensive series helped lift Madison County to a 21-16 vic tory. Then against Habersham, the Madison County defense was all over the field, forcing three take aways and limiting Habersham Central to just five first downs on the evening. Jeremiah NeSmith led the defensive effort with nine tackles, including two sacks. He already has eight sacks on the season. Coach Randell Owens credited his defensive staff's preparation and his players' week of practice for the Habersham game success. "We had the best week of prac tice since I’ve been here," Owens said. And the Raider defense is playing the best it has all season. Madison County’s defense has demonstrated a marked improve ment since the beginning of the year. The Raiders surrendered 28 points in their season-opening loss to Rockdale County and 29 • • • the following week in a close win over Winder-Barrow. But Madison County allowed just one touch down last week to a Habersham Central team that scored 42 points in its previous outing. The resurgence is partly a prod uct of simply being healthier. The Raiders were ravaged by sickness and injuries at the start of the season, but Owens said his team was the healthiest it's been all year during preparation for Habersham Central. As for this week, most everyone on the sick and injured fist — as of Monday — is available, save for two players, who fall into the "probable” category. "So we’re probably the best shape we've been in all year at this point," Owens said. The offense has helped, too, by keeping the defense off the field. Owens noted a 14-play drive during the first quarter against Habersham Central. Though Madison County scored no points, it did keep the defense on the side lines for quite a long stretch. And for those who play both ways, a long offensive drive is much less draining than a long defensive stand, Owens said. "Our offensive plan meshed well,” he said. Madison County hopes the same factors come into play Friday when the Raiders face Loganville. Madison County, which held Habersham Central to just 23 rushing yards, must stop Johnson, who is a four-star recruit who recently de-committed from LSU. Owens said Loganville is talented athletically. "They've had some situations where they’ve turned the ball over in crucial situations that have cost them,” Owens said. “But they're scoring a lot of points against everybody.” Madison County’s defense hopes to reverse that trend. Because if it can, the Raiders have a shot to earn their sixth win of the year. That would clinch a winning season and secure one part of Madison County’s two-part goal this season. "Have a winning season and get to the state playoffs, and then any thing can happen,” Owens said. "And that's the mantra.” Munro ... couldn’t when the year started. They've become a group that you don’t want to bet against. So end the end, maybe all we know is just this: The last four games will be very compelling. Given the way Madison County's first six games have gone, we wouldn’t expect any less. Let the coffee shop talk begin. Georgia has a surprise ally in the blown call con troversy. Apparently, Florida coach Urban Meyer thought the refs erred on an excessive celebration penalty assessed to Georgia’s A.J. Green Saturday. If you missed it, Green caught a go-ahead touch down pass late against LSU and was flagged for ... well, we're not sure. continued from page IB “That's just awful,” Meyer told reporters in Gainesville, Fla. “I can’t stand that when then hap pens. I just think that’s wrong.” The Bulldogs eventually lost, thanks in no small part to this penalty that set the Tigers up in prime field position for their game-winning drive. Meyer's defense was all the more surprising given that it was Georgia which committed the mother of all celebration penalties when it stormed the field after scoring a first-quarter touchdown against Meyer's Gators in 2007. So if Meyer has sympathy, that means this must have been a really, really bad call. Ben Munro is a reporter for The Madison County Journal Subvarsity football.. • continued from page IB “The guys did a good job of coming out hard and played a better second half,” Drake said. MCHS freshmen lose, junior varsity game canceled Madison County’s freshmen team fell 21-0 to Clarke Central last Thursday (Oct. 1), dropping the squad's record to 0-3. With the night’s junior varsity game between the two schools canceled, Clarke Central included some 10 th graders on its ninth grade squad. "Our team played ninth and 10th graders, but we did a great job,” coach William Trimier said. "We are getting better and we are working hard in practice.” Madison County shoots for its first win of the year today (Thursday) at 5 p.m. at Monroe Area. The junior varsity team plays Monroe Area following the freshmen game. ACE HARDWARE & LAWNMOWER SERVICE Proudly Serving Northeast Georgia For 18 Years Master Your Great Outdoors With Professionally Proven Outdoor Equipment We Carry Parts & Service Most Brands Of Power Equipment Pick-Up & Delivery Available IT’S THAT EASY. 706-788-2878 • 706-788-3319 6145 Hwy. 72, West Colbert, Ga. 30628 www.colbertacehardware.com Sports shorts Touchdown Club offering $10,000 prize The Madison County Touchdown Club will hold its 23 rd annual "$10,000 Giveaway” Oct. 24 at the Danielsville Volunteer Fire Department. Contact Ricky McElroy at 706- 789-2305 for tickets. The Touchdown Club is also selling 911 signs, while spots for the Raider Wall of Fame (located on the back of the press box) are still available. Youth basketball signups start Oct 12 Registration for Madison County Recreation Department youth bas ketball leagues begins Monday, Oct. 12. Signup days are Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Extended hours for registration are Thursday, Oct, 22; Friday, Oct. 23; and Saturday, Oct. 24. The extended Thursday and Friday sign-up times are from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. and the extended Saturday sign-up time is from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Visit the main office at Sammy Haggard Park located at 1345 Highway 98 West for all sign-ups during the designated times. There will be no late sign-ups. Leagues are offered in both boys and girls divisions for 7-and- 8-year-olds, 9-and-10-year-olds, 11-and-12-year-olds and 13-and- 14-year-olds. The age control date is January 1, 2010. All players must be seven by that date and cannot turn 15 by that date. The registration fee is $25 per child. A birth certificate is required for registration. The out of county fee is an additional $25 per child. For more information on the youth basketball program, call the recreation department at 706-795-6270. Rec Dept. offering tennis lessons The Madison County Recreation Department is offering four-week youth and adult tennis lessons beginning Tuesday, Oct. 27. The lessons are Tuesday and Thursday evenings at Sammy A. Haggard Park on Highway 98 in Danielsville at the following times: •Tuesday: 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. for ages 6-8; 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. for ages 9-12. •Thursday: 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. for ages 13-18; 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. for ages 19-and-over. The fee is $45 per person. Registration deadline is Oct. 26. Anyone signing up after this is charged an additional $5 late fee. Participants should bring their own racquet, but tennis balls are provid ed. Junior and adult tennis racquets available for $12 each but must be paid for separately. Christina Fortson of Danielsville instructs the class. Fortson has played USTA league tennis players for 7 years and will teach the fun damentals she has learned through years of attending clinics. Participants must pre-register and pre-pay at Sammy A. Haggard Park. To register or for more infor mation, call the recreation depart ment at 706-795-6270. Rec Dept soccer scores week 2 Here are scores from week 2 youth soccer action at the Madison County Recreation Department: Intermediate League: •Chargers 2, Kickers 0 Goals: Joe Gordon, Holly Glenn, •Silverbacks 1, Cougars 0 Goals: (Silverbackers) Kaitlyn Padgitt •Legends 4, Typhoons 0 Goals: (legends) Sidney Arnold (2), Jaylan White, Calina Croy •Chargers 4, Chiefs 0 Goals: Noah Dobbs (2), Jared Wiley (2) Major League: •Stingers 8, Terminators 0 Goals: (Stingers) Tyler Terrell (2), Eli Dixon (2), Chandler Hart, Tyler Angel, Leah Gearing, Alex LeVines •Steelers 4, Spartans 1 Goals: (Steelers) Ryan Greene (2), Bethany Lee, Sam Chandler Senior League: •Tornadoes 4, Blazers 3 Goals: (Tornadoes) Jenna Jansen (2), Donnie Harper, Joel Kellum (Blazers) Michael Wells, Michael Garrett, Wyatt Gearing Softball • •• continued from page IB record in subregion play, Madison County earned hosting rights for the final rounds of this year’s softball 8-AAAA tournament. After a rainout on Tuesday, Madison County was scheduled to start postseason play this past Wednesday against Heritage at 5 p.m. at home, though morning rains threatened to delay the tournament. Results of any games played Wednesday weren’t available at press time. As of Wednesday morning, the region champi onship contest was slated for Friday at 2 p.m. at MCHS. The “if needed” game is at 4 p.m. The times were adjusted to avoid a conflict with Madison County High School’s home football game with Loganville that night at 7:30 p.m. “Just all the traffic and everything and with us being right there next to the football field,” MCHS softball coach Doug Kesler explained. The Raiders entered the postseason boasting the most impressive regular season resume in school history, going 22-1 and winning their last 16 games. Madison County’s last loss came all the way back to Aug. 22 against North Oconee in the Raiders’ Leadoff Classic. The team beat its opponents by an average score of 9-1 during the regular season and won the cov eted Shaw Invitational Tournament in September. But due to an inordinate amount of rain in September, Madison County has played just five games since Sept. 12. Included in the cancellations were several of Madison County’s subregion matchups. Since all games couldn’t be made up, subregion seedings for the region tournament were based on the just first five games of divisional play. Madison County was 5-0 during that stretch. The Raiders did add two games to their schedule to recoup some of the time lost with the rainouts, which Kesler said helped his club shake off some of the rust. Madison County closed out a 22-win regular season with a pair of victories against two non- region foes, beating Morgan County 9-1 and Alcovy 10-2 at Morgan County last Wednesday (Sept. 30). Kesler said the double header served as good preparation for the region tournament. “It really was,” Kesler said. ‘They’re both pretty good teams.” Elizabeth Whieldon heads for third in a recent Madison County softball game. The Region 8-AAAA tournament started this week. RECENT BOX SCORES MCHS 9, Morgan Co. 1 (Sept. 30) MCHS 201033 —9 Morgan 100000 — 1 Offense: LaZear 3-3; Peeples 2-3; Osborne 2-4, 3RBI; Duncan 2-4; Bolin 2B, 3RBI Pitching: Gibson 5IP, 3H, 1R, 2BB, 5K; Boggs IIP, 1R, IK 2BB MCHS 10, Alcovy 2 (Sept. 30) MCHS 0241103 —10 Alcovy 0010001 —2 Offense: Peeples 2-4; Osborne 2-3; Atkinson 1-1, 2RBI; Duncan 2-4, RBI Pitching: Smith 5IP, 3H, 1R, 7K 2BB; Boggs 2IP, 1R, IK 2BB CITY OF ILA CURRENT 2009 TAX DIGEST AND 5-YEAR HISTORY OF LEVY The Ila City Governing Authority does hereby announce that the millage rate will be set at a meeting to be held at the City Hall on October 5, 2009 at 7:00 p.m. Pursuant to the requirements of O.C.G.A. 48-5-32, does hereby publish the following presentation of the current year’s tax digest and levy along with the history of the tax digest and levy for the past five years. Current 2009 Tax Digest and 5-Year History of Levy 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 Real & Personal 3,994,212 4,583,796 6,518,480 7,168,482 6,499,041 6,222,769 Motor Vehicles 666,930 655,940 642,270 603,660 568,180 491,460 Mobile Homes 156,756 83,872 62,693 80,484 112,319 62,371 Timber - 100% 0 0 0 0 0 0 Heavy Duty Equipment 0 0 0 0 0 0 Gross Digest 5,407,482 7,348,655 7,223,443 7,852,626 7,179,540 6,776,600 Gross M&O Millage 13.00 13.00 13.00 13.00 13.00 13.00 Less Rollbacks 9.08 9.08 9.08 9.08 9.08 9.08 Net M&O Millage 3.92 3.92 3.92 3.92 3.92 3.92 Net Taxes Levied 21,197 28,806 27,823 30,044 27,491 26,142 Net Taxes $ Increase 1,272 7,609 -983 2,221 -2553 -1,349 Net % Increase 0 0 0 0 0 0