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Sports ■L Sports I How are the first year coaches doing? When head coaching changes oc cur in high school football, there is always aprehension. Will it be for the better? Will a new coach reju venate a stale program? Will a new coach be able to continue winning traditions at schools that are used to winning? You be the judge. At the start of this school year, there were 87 new head football coaches in the 327 GHSA football playing schools. Eighty five were moving from one school to an other, or being promoted from within, while two of the positions were created by the addition of new schools at Collins Hill in Suwanee and North Forsyth in Gumming. At the midway point of the sea son, we thought it would be inter esting to take a look at some of those coaching changes, particularly around the mid state, and see just how tilings are going. When former Warner Robins player Chip Stuart was let go at Irwin County in Ocilla, Ross New was brought in from Bradwell Institute in Hinesville. Now, you may wonder why a coach would leave a job at a AAAA school to come to a single-A school to begin with, but Bradwell has been down for several years, so New saw the chance to move away from the coastal area, even if it was to a smaller school. At the midway point this year, his new school, Irwin County, was 1-4, while Bradwell, under Jim Walsh, was 0-6. Walsh, by the. way, made a lateral move, going from Johnson Savannah to Bradwell, both in Region 3AAAA. Luther Welsh became disgruntled at Camden County when the ath letic director’s job was separated from the head football coach, and given to a non-coach. So the vet eran coach began looking else where, including an application for the vacant Peach County job. Welsh ended up at Greene- Taliaferro, where Charlie Winsletle had won the 1993 state A A cham pionship before departing Grecne- Taliafcrro for Quad-A Coffee County, where Bonwell Royal had retired. Welsh, at Greene, was 1-3-1 at the midway point of this season, while his old team, Camden County, was 4-1 under new coach Jeff Caldwell. Meanwhile Winslette has Coffee County at 4-2, playing in tough Region lAAAA. Caldwell, by the way, is in my estimation one of the brightest young coaches in the state. He had built Hawkinsville into respectabil ity before moving to Brooks C'ounty. lie had been successful at Brooks, too, before the chance came to move to Quad-A at Camden. Playing in region 3AAAA, Camden is virtually assured of a playoff spot. | Perhaps the move that gained the most attention locally was Neal Rumble's decision to leave Peach County and return to his native Thomasville as coach of the lhornasville Bulldogs, a position left vacant when George Bohr) de cided to take an assistant's job at Class A Annuchee, with long time friend Tommy Welch. Bobo, who had coached with Welch at West Rome and Thomasville, said he wanted to be closer to Athens, where his son Mike plays for the Bulldogs. But Rumble's return to Thomasville has been anything but pleasant His Bulldogs made the turn at 1-4, and they tire now 1-5 after losing Friday night to cross town rival Thomas County Central, winner of the last two Class AAA state titles. Thomasville is wir.less in Region lAAA with four games left to play, and face missing the region playoffs, with Central, Please see Clark, page 7A NOAH'S ARK BRACELETS Sterling Silver $ 24 95 10K Gold Large $ 199 95 Medium $ 119 95 Brown's Jewelers / \ ’Kate* Michael Davis crosses the goal line for a touchdown against FPD in Friday night's 41- 6 homecoming thumping of the Vikings. Panthers claw Bears 19-14 By VETO F. ROLEY News Editor Perry High School bolted to a 19-7 lead and held on to beat Hous ton County in a key 3AA Region battle Friday night 19-14. The win virtually assures Hous ton County will not make the playoffs in 1994. The Panthers, holding the fourth and last playoff spot in the region, improve to 3-2 on the season, while the Bears drop to 1-4 on the season. With three games remaining on the region schedule for both teams, Perry has to lose all three games and Houston County has to win all three games for the Bears to make an appearance in the playoffs, one year after going to the semi-finals. "We did some crazy things tonight; but, we were able to over come our mistakes," said Perry Coach John Stephens. "Our mis takes didn't hurt us tonight." Stephens said the win against Houston County came at a good time for the Panthers, who were coming off two tough region losses and facing Mary Persons Friday night. "If we had lost this game, then our morale would have been shot to pieces. It makes all the dif ference to us." Perry special teams also played a big role in the win. With time run ning out in the final quarter of play, the Panther hands team recovered an on-side kick to give Perry a chance to run out the clock. "That was crucial," said Stephens of the on-side kick recov ery. Please see Panthers, page 7A r Put your money in here ] - Year 1 - 5.75% Interest Rate Bank South's 3-Year Escalating Rate Savings Certificate is an insured investment with a great future. IMBi! Regardless of what happens in the economy. 1 6.45% If you invest a minimum of SIOOO, you can choose either a Savings Certificate or an IRA account that guarantees 1994 Bank lioutli Corporation M* mb* r I DIG 11ms ofloi :s not good tn conjunction with any other time deposit otter and may be w.'lidrawn witfiout notice Hie above quoted rates are available tor a limited lime only and are subject lo cltange The given Annual Percentage Yield (APY) is accurate as ot August 24, 1994 Interest on this certificate will compound daily A substantial penalty will be imposed lor any witlidrawals other than the one permitted Fees coukl reduce earnings on ttie account -r - *, immhbhmb Wednesday Oct 26,1994 Mmmmm Houston Times -Journal ~,x*v 4 Houston County’s Jerry Latimore (#24) loses all inter est in the pass after being hit by Perry's Carlton Felder (#2O), with Antwann Fann (#9O) waiting nearby. And three years later ] Year 2 - 6.25% Interest Rate a higher rate for each of the next three years. And you "IflUWffl don't have to sacrifice liquidity to achieve this 3 APY | exceptional yield. You can withdraw all or part of your money one time without penalty after two years. Stop by any Bank South office or call 1 -800-299-BANK Hornets celebrate 41-6 homecoming 6A By Phil Clark Sports Editor By the time FPD's Nick King pushed over a touchdown late in the fourth quarter Friday night,making the final score 41-6 in favor of the Hornets, most Westfield fans had long since turned their thoughts to Friday night's meeting with South land in Americus. That's because the game has taken on immense importance as the two teams will batde for second place in region lAAA and a home field advantage to open the GISA playoffs. Westfield is 2-1 in region play while Southland is just 1-1, but the winner will get second place even though Southland would have a region game left with Windsor. After Jeanna Bishop relinquished the crown of Homecoming Queen to Leslie Davis, Ronnie Jones and his staff turned the offense over to the reserves. Jones said "We had the opportu nity to let everybody get into die ballgame and play some substantial minutes." Ben Hulbert quarterbacked the entire last half as the starters watched from die sidelines while die Hornets had the ball. The rest probably came at a good time, too, since Southland had an open date and will surely be rested and ready. Against the Vikings, the West field defense was awesome, pressur ing FPD quarterback Nick King all over the field in die first half, forc ing three interceptions that led to Westfield scores. The Hornets wasted no time in getting the offense rolling, even diough assistant coach Bert Brown said before the game, "We're afraid it will take a little time to get the I **i r PERENNIAL MUMS 6-10 Blooms 99* Ea. 25-40 Blooms *2 50 Ea. Purchase 5 Mums or more & Receive a FREE Mum of equal value. 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But the fears were unfounded as the Hornets rolled down the field after forcing a Viking punt. Matt Shepley hit split end Todd Rigdon in the back comer of the endzone for the game's first score, a 25- yarder, and the first of two Shepley TD passes on the night. Alex Gambill's PAT attempt was wide right, and the Hornets set tled for a 6-0 lead. But not for long, as they came right back on their next possession and marched 53 yards for another first quarter score as John Morton took it in from eleven yards out. A two-point con version pass from Shepley to Brian Nash made it 14-0 Westfield. Then the defense really went to work. After Shepley hit Tim Allen from 12 yards out for a Hornet score, Allen intercepted King to set up a touchdown run of eight yards by Michael Davis. Lindsey Harrell then picked off a pass and returned it 40 yards to the one, from where Michael Williams went over. Before the crowd could settle back into their seats, defensive tackle Mike Shepard picked off a pass and returned it 23 yards, again to the one yard line, where again Williams took it in. That gave the Hornets a 41-0 lead at halftime. Davis had nine carries for 60 yards to lead the Hornets, but nine players handled the ball in the back field. Morton picked up 53 yards, Williams 29, J.R. Moore 25 and David Walker 24 for Westfield. Shepley hit two of five passes, both for touchdowns, and had a two point conversion pass to Nash. In Please see Westfield, page 7A Put COLOR In Your Yard For FALL!!