Newspaper Page Text
Wednesday, August 24,1994, “Houston Times-Journal - Special Edition
Page 2C
Hornets, from ic
est," said Jones.
If worse comes to worse, Jones
said be could use Matt Sbepley in
the secondary. However, Sbepley is
also the starting quarterback and
Jones "would rather have someone
else play (in the secondary)."
On offense, Lon Talton is gone.
Into his shoes steps Sbepley, who
did get some snaps in, and played
extensively on offense in other po
sitions.
Matt Shepley
Jones said the biggest difference
between Shepley this year and last
year is confidence. "He's throwing
the ball a lot better this year than
he did last year." While Shepley
doesn't have the arm that Talton
had, Jones said he did have better
speed.
Behind Shepley are two quarter
backs without any experience, Ben
Hulbert and Chip Davis. Jones said
that both quarterbacks have good
talent, but they didn't play last year
and need to get some experience.
In the Delaware Wing-T, the
fullback gets the bulk of the carries.
Last year, Justin Blocker gained
over 1,600 yards from that slot.
However, he was one of the 13 se
niors that graduated.
In his place, Jones said he was
planning on using Allen and
Morton in the fullback position.
"We count on him (Allen) so much
on defense, we would like for him
to share the position (fullback) with
Morton.
"John has speed and quickness,
while Tim is the type of fullback
Looking at the past, Hornets 2nd in state
By VETO F. ROLEY
Sports Editor
The year 1993 will long be re
membered in Hornet lore as the year
Westfield broke a string of three
consecutive losing campaigns to
host the state finals.
Hornets 41 Deerfield 0
Westfield opened the season in
grand fashion, wasting little time in
announcing to the GISA they were
for real, trouncing Deerfield.
Although Westfield was to gain
234 yards on the ground, it was
quarterback Lon Talton who was
the hero. On the night, the senior
signal caller completed five of six
passes for 101 yards. He also had an
41 yard interception return for a
touchdown and a 33 yard romp for a
t.d.
Justin Blocker also got a good
start on a year that would see him
gain over 1,600 yards from the
fullback position, scoring two
touchdowns against the Deerfield
defense.
Hornets 27 Stratford 24
In a preview of the state cham
pionship game, the Hornets blew a
half-time lead, but came back late
in the fourth quarter to put the
game away for their second win.
Behind the running of Talton,
who accounted for 80 first half
yards, the Hornets quickly built a
21-9 first half lead.
However, Joey Cranford and
Chad Smaha would lead the Eagles
in a comeback in the second half.
When Stratford got the Westfield
punter with 9:32 in the game, re
covering the blocked kick for six,
the Hornets saw their first half lead
evaporate.with Stratford on top 24-
21.
Talton took over, directing an 82
yard drive. Blocker took the ball in
from the three with 4:32 remaining.
The drive was kept alive on a key
fourth down play, with Talton hit
ting Brian Nash on a 19 yard bullet.
Hornets 33 FPD 34
For the second Friday in a row,
Westfield saw a late lead evaporate.
Late in the third quarter, Talton
connected on a touchdown toss to
give the Hornets the 27-14 lead.
FPD would score 20 of the next
27 points to take the win. Late in
the game, Westfield drove once
more, covering 65 yards in six
plays. However, the field goal fell
short.
Despite losing, Westfield had
two runners who broke the century
mark on the ground. Talton ran for
133 yards, while Blocker had 130
yards. Talton also had a good night
in the air, throwing for 133 yards.
Hornets 12 Southland 13
The 1992 state champions were
next up against the Hornets, and of
fense stayed home as the two teams
m
The Hornets will be looking for Michael Davis to continue to sting opposing
defenses from the halfback position.
who can gain three-to-four yards
when you need it."
Michael Williams, who has
played on the team since the eighth
grade also should get a lot of snaps
at the fullback slot, said Jones.
The halfback position has a re
turning starter and letterman.
Michael Davis started at halfback
last year, and rushed for over 700
yards despite missing four games.
Brian Staines also got a great deal
of time at the halfback slot. Ben
Hulbert will also spend some time
at the halfback slot.
While the Hornet runners are
small, Jones said they had a lot of
quickness. "We are exceptionally
small, except when we have Tim in
there.
"This offense is designed for
quickness and speed," said Jones.
"We don't try to do anything where
engaged in brutal defensive warfare.
The first two quarters settled
nothing, with the Raiders going
into the locker rooms with a 7-6
lead. On the second play of the final
stanza, the Raiders scored, making
the score 13-6.
Westfield, behind Brian Staines,
would come right back. After a 35
yard burst, Staines would run the
sweep for 32 yards and the six with
9:24 left in the game. The extra
point failed, and the defenses pre
vented any further scoring.
Hornets 14 Westwood 7
The Hornets fifth game of the
season would again feature the de
fense. Both teams would give up
yardage grudgingly, with a total of
303 yards accounted for between the
two teams at the end of the night.
It would be Westfield that came
out on the winning end of the sta
tistical battle, picking up 233
yards, all on the ground. Blocker
picked up half of the yardage.
Matt Shepley would provide the
winning yardage, capping an 80
yard drive after the second half
kickoff, with a 21 yard run.
Hornets 34 Windsor 18
The offense, absent since the
first three games of the season, fi
nally showed up for Westfield.
Blocker had a big night for the
Hornets, rushing for 224 yards and
two touchdowns. Watson and
Michael Davis also scored for the
Hornets.
Hornets 50 Monroe 0
The Hornet defense threw its
second shutout of the year, and its
first since the opening game against
Deerfield. However, it was not
needed as the offense scored often
and at will, especially in the first
quarter with the Hornets going in
for the mid-game pep talk in front
36-0.
The Monroe game was Shepley's
turn to play hero, scoring three
times on the night. The first two
scores came in the second quarter,
with Shepley scoring on a 40 yard
interception return and a 78 yard
punt return. He completed the hat
trick conventionally in the fourth
quarter with a 37 yard scamper for
paydirt.
Hornets 35 Geo. Walton 7
Homecoming was celebrated, and
Walton was the victim, although
things did not look so well when
the Hornets fumbled deep in their
territory on the first play from
scrimmage.
However, Blocker and company
rallied, with the senior fullback
gaining 124 yards on the night. The
defense was also strong for the
Hornets, limiting Walton to 55
yards rushing and 68 yards passing.
Walton attempted 11 passes on
the night, with the Hornet sec
we run over folks."
On the offensive line, only one
starter returns. Campbell returns at
a guard position. "Jere is one of the
best offensive lineman in the state
in our league," said Jones. "He is a
third year starter on the offensive
line."
Campbell should not be hurt by
going both ways, said Jones, who
noted that he had been a two way
starter for the Hornets for three
years. "It shouldn't be a problem for
Jere."
Three players are working at the
other guard slot, including
Boire, Dennard and Greg Adams.
"Our guards run probably as
much yardage as our backs," said
Jones. "95 percent of our plays in
volve trapping or running a lot
sweeps."
Four players are vying for the
tackle slot, including Walls, who is
ondary having one less reception
(three) than the Walton receivers.
The Hornets narrowly missed a sec
ond consecutive shutout, with
Walton putting the ball into the
endzone with 3:22 remaining in the
game.
Hornets 12 Tattnall 3
In the pouring rain, the Hornets
stung the Trojans in a defensive
battle to take control of the region.
Once again, it was Talton who
took control of the game, first on
defense, then on offense. Talton
turned back two Tattnall drives in
the third quarter with interceptions,
one on the Hornet 10 yard line. Jeff
Dehem also had a pick for the
Hornets in the third.
Talton put the game away in the
final quarter of play. Going for a
first down on a quarterback sneak at
his 39, Talton not only got the
yardage necessary to move the
sticks, but did not stop until he had
six.
Hornets 34 Mt. de Sales 0
The Hornets scored early and
often against the Cavaliers, jump
ing out to a 27-0 lead, naming the
score. The defense threw only its
third shutout of the year, holding
the Macon school to 114 total yards
Westfield opens Friday
Defending state runnerups
Westfield will defend their second
place trophy in 1994, starting with
a road game against Mt. DeSales
Aug. 8, opening a 10 game sched
ule.
The Hornets will open their
home schedule against Tattnall
Academy on Sept. 2.
Westfield will play four of its
first six games on the road, includ
ing a Saturday game, Sept. 16, at
John Milledge. The Hornets will
Westfield Football Schedule
8- Mt. DeSales Away
9- Tatnall Home
9-9 Open
9-16 John Milledge Home
9-24 Westwood Away
Saturday
9-30 Tiftarea Away
*lO-7 Windsor Away
* 10-14 Stratford Home
* 10-21 First Presbyterian Home
* 10-28 Southland Away
11-4 Athens Christian Home
* Region Game
the biggest player on the team.
Kent McKinney, who has been
slowed by a broken hand, Chiles
and Shepherd also factor in the
tackle position.
"We are hoping he (McKinney)
gets the word Friday (that he can
play),” said Jones. "He has done ev
erything but contact."
At the center position Wall and
Boire are vying for the spot. "They
are both about even right now,"
said Jones.
When the running game slows
down, Shepley will have a few tar
gets to get the ball to, including re
turning tight end Nash. "He has
size and good hands," said Jones.
Andy Smith will back Nash up.
At set end, Rigdon and Scott
Hill will see a lot of playing time.
Morton and Hulbert also look to
get a lot of playing time at the end
position.
in the game.
Hornets 43 Deerfield 8
The Hornets opened the state
playoffs with the same team it
opened the season with, and the re
sults were much the same. Only a
late touchdown prevented Westfield
from recording two shutouts against
Deerfield.
Blocker was the leading ground
gainer for the Hornets, getting 92
yards and three scores on only nine
carries.
The Hornet defense was espe
cially stingy, allowing no yards on
the ground and only 100 through
the air.
Hornets 7 Southland 6
In the second meeting between
the two schools, both teams again
left their offenses home. Southland
could only manage 131 yards and
seven touchdown, while the
Hornets could only get 178 yards
and 10 first downs.
One of the few Hornets to figure
out the Raider defense was Blocker,
who finished the quarterfinal game
with 116 yards on the ground.
After playing most of the first
half without scoring, Southland
managed to mar the scoreboard with
Please see Hlatory, page 3C
play three of their last four games
at the Hornet's Nest
Westfield will start the region
schedule Oct. 7 with a match
against Windsor. The Hornets are
moving to Region lAAA, which
also includes Stratford, FPD and
Southland. Stanford is the defend
ing AAA state champion, while
Southland won the title in 1992.
The Hornets will conclude their
regular season with a Nov. 4 meet
ing with Athens Christian at home.
Our Teams
Are The Best!!
Walker-Rhodes
Tractor Company
912 Jernigan Street, Perry
987-1173
We’re Proud Of
Our Teams!!
P. & fa,
756 Carroll St Perry 987-4700
Make ‘94 A Year To
Remember!
742 Main
graffiti^
Go All The Way!!
Jones Jewelers
904 Carroll Street
987-1531
Go Teams
\w y
Make Us
Proud!!
Davis Oil
Co
Basking?) Robbins.
Ice Cream & Yogurt
tom