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The Madison County Journal INSIDE THIS WEEK Week 7 predictions are in Check out the football picks for week 7 of The Madison County Journal Pigskin Picker 2B IB Thursday, October 15, 2009 www.MainstreetnewsSPORTS.com Ben Munro/ ben@mainstreetnews.com (706) 795-2567 Madison County defensive lineman Matt Dove (no. 66) chases Loganville quarterback A. J. Schmidt in last week’s Raider loss. Ben Munro/stafF Prep Football Madison Co.’s goals still very much intact despite loss By Ben Munro ben@mainstreetnews.com Granted, Friday's 37-22 loss to Loganville hurt. But Madison County’s playoff hopes are still alive and well, though a five-game whining streak is now over. The Raiders' two preseason goals are to have a winning record and qualify for the state playoffs, and both objectives are still attainable. But Madison County (5-2) needs a win Friday at Fleritage to get back on track. "Last week, we were dealing with a group that was sky-high over a big win ... This week, we're hurting, but we’ve got to quit licking wounds,” coach Randell Owens said. Madison County seeks its ever first victory over MORE INSIDE: •Friday rewind: Loganville runs past Madison Co., PAGE 2B Heritage. The schools have met only three times. The Patriots won 7-0 last year. Heritage (1-5) has been victimized by some close losses this year, dropping four games by a touchdown or less. But the Patriots did beat Rockdale County (14-10). which handled Madison County 28-6 in the Raiders’ season- opener. Owens, who coached at Heritage from 2001- 2003. says to not pay too much attention to — See Football on page 3B FRIDAY’S OPPONENT ■ Who: Heritage ■ Where: Conyers ■ When: Friday, 7:30 p.m. ■ Series: Heritage leads 3-0 ■ Last year: Heritage 7, Madison Co. 0 ■ Last week: Loganville 37, Madison Co. 22; Heritage was off ■ Opponent’s coach: Chad Frazier (third season, 9-17) ■ What else: Madison County head coach Randell Owens coached at Heritage from 2001- 2003 ... Madison County has never beaten Heritage, coming close in 2005 (28-22) and 2008 (7-0)... Heritage’s lone victory this year came against Rockdale County (14-10). Glass AAAA Softball Tournament Sequoyah @ Madison Co, DH, Fri, 3 p.m. Katie Bolin applies a tag to Loganville’s Brooke Robinson last week during the region tournament. Madison County won the Region 8-AAAA title and swept Sandy Creek in the first round of the playoffs Tuesday. Ben Munro/staff On the cusp of Columbus? Madison County two wins away from advancing to state quarterfinals By Ben Munro ben@mainstreetnews.com M adison County earned a no. 1 seed for the state softball tournament and is playing like it. The Raiders (27-2) drilled no. 4 seed Sandy Creek 8-0 and 9-2 Tuesday for a first-round playoff sweep and are now two victories away from advancing to the state quar terfinals in Columbus. "It gives me chill bumps thinking about it," coach Doug Kesler said. “Not for myself, but for the kids.” Madison County, which won the Region 8-AAAA championship last week, plays Sequoyah Friday at home in a double header that starts at 3 p.m. Admission is $5. "They won the state championship a few years ago,” Kesler said of Sequoyah. "They have a good program and are well coached ... If we do what we do and play like we’re supposed to play, we’ll take the results, what ever they are.” The Raiders hope the second round goes similarly to the first round. •A look back at region: mchs has won its first region title since ‘01, PAGE 3B Madison County run-ruled Sandy Creek in six innings in game 1 and jumped out to a 7-0 lead in game two to send the Atlanta-area school packing. “It was a good day for us to say the least," Kesler said. “The girls played hard. They were focused. They got after it.” Sandy Creek returned five starters from a team that fin ished third in Class AAAA last year. But Madison County dashed any upset hopes behind timely bats and strong pitching. Emily Mann went 3-for-3 at the plate and drove home a ran in game one while Elizabeth Whieldon went 1-for- 3 with two RBIs. Haley Peeples also had a multi-hit day, going 2-for-4 with an RBI. Others driving in runs were Katie Bolin (l-for-4) and Erin Gibson (l-for-4). Gibson pitched six innings for yet another victory, — See ‘Softball’ on page 3B Timia Skelton slides into third base Tuesday in Madison County’s double header against Sandy Creek. Ben Munro/staff Middle School Sports MCMS stomps Stephens Madison County Middle School finished off a 4-2 football sea son with a 27-8 victory over Stephens County Saturday. “The players really stepped up and finished the season off strong,” coach Tim Drake said. Madison COMING UP ■ 9th scored the grade, JV ® ls ^ “7 double Points of header, the game, today, 5 got two p.m. i 0 ng sec- ond-half touch down runs from Antonio Walters of 44 and 62 yards in the lopsided victory. Also finding the end zone were Wesley Johnson, who ran in from 10 yards out for Madison County’s first score, and Malik Freeman, who caught a 23-yard touchdown pass from Johnson on the Mustangs’ second drive, Cameron Haga kicked three extra points. Overall, Johnson fin ished the season with 11 touchdown passes to four different receiv ers. Freeman led the Mustangs with five touchdown receptions, but Walters finished with seven total scores (five rushing touchdowns and two receiving). Now, the Mustangs look toward next year. Drake said many sev enth graders got a lot of snaps under their belt this season. “The outgoing eighth graders provided great leadership and were a great model for the sev enth graders that will take over leadership next year,” Drake said. “We had 10-12 seventh graders see significant time this year which will be a huge advantage for next year.” Racing Madison Co. driver wins Crate Late Model race By Heather Rhoades Correspondent Steven “Showdog” Segars, a Madison County native, looked like a dog with a stolen bone as he led the field of 12 around the speedway during the 20-lap Crate Late Model feature at Hartwell Speedway. While "Showdog” is no stranger to the winner’s circle, this was his first victory behind the wheel of Steve Pearson’s no. 45. And what a win it was, against all odds Segars held off Brandon “Combread” Haley, the driver with most overall wins of the 2009 season with a total 20 between COMING UP ■ Georgia State Championships, Oct. 16-17, Lavonia Speedway Hartwell and Lavonia alone. “Combread" Haley rolled his new red no. 51 Crate Late Model onto the speed way, claiming the pole with a lap time of 17.724 seconds. “Showdog” not wanting to be "showed up” cranked out a fast time as well with a lap time of 17.930 seconds, landing the outside pole. Like poetry in motion, the field came screaming down the front stretch to take the green flag. By the time they had cleared turn one, Segars had already gained a slight lead over Haley. For the first half of the race mere inches was all that separated the two, but as the laps wore on, “Showdog” finally managed to gain a car length on the no. 51, where he would stay for the remain der of the race. "Combread would settle for second followed by Scott Holmes in third. The action returns starting Friday night at Lavonia Speedway with the Georgia State Championships Oct 16-17. This is the biggest event of the season, with racing action from eight classes of racing including Southern All Stars, Southeastern Late Model Sportsman Series, FASTRAK Crate Late Models, Enduro, Stock V-8, Steven Segars, in the no. 45 car, runs neck-and-neck with Brandon Haley over the weekend in Crate Late Model racing at Hartwell Speedway. Submitted photo/Heather Rhoades