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Sports
Prep sports turns to
basketball, wrestling
Wed., Dec. 4: PMS Bth vs.
Northside, 3:30, NMS.
Thurs., Dec. 5: PHS,
Warner Robins, Houston Co.
wrestling, 6, HCHS.
Fri, Dec. 6: PMS 7th vs.
Warner Robins, 3:30, PMS;
PMS Bth vs. Warner Robins,
6, PMS; Perry vs. Americus,
PPD to Jan. 18.
Fri., and Sat., Dec. 6-7:
PHS wrestling at Cook Co.
Invitational, TBA, Adel.
Sat., Dec. 7: Perry vs.
Warner Robins, Girls B
team, 7, Perry.
Tues., Dec. 10: PMS 7th
vs. Tabor, 3:30, Tabor;
Westfield vs. Monroe
Academy, Boys B-team,
6:30, Westfield; Perry vs.
Bleckley County, Boys B
team, 6, Cochran.
Wed., Dec. 11: PMS Bth
vs. Tabor, 3:30, Tabor;
Westfield Football Banquet,
7 p.m., Westfield School.
I Tattnall, Mount
de Sales in
GISA title game
By PHIL CLARK
Times-Journal Sports
The Georgia Independent
I Schools Association will crown
! state football champions this
• weekend in class AA and AAA,
while the Georgia High School
Association is getting down to
l serious business with 32 teams
; competing in this weekend’s
; quarterfinals.
; Tattnall beat Mount de Sales
: 12-7 on Nov 8 to claim the GISA
1 Region 2-AAA regular season
I title. The Trojans last week
• avenged their only loss of the year
• by beating Southland 43-10 while
the Cavaliers beat John Milledge
; 17-6 to set up the all-region 2-
; AAA state finals.
The game will be. played at
I Tattnall where the Trojans are
i always extremely tough, especial
’ ly at this time of year. Mount de
Sales probably has more talent,
but they don’t have Barney
Hester. Phil’s pick, Tattnall.
In the GHSA, there are eight
survivors in each of the four clas
sifications and this week’s quar
terfinals will be highlighted by a
1-AAAA rematch between
Valdosta and Colquitt County.
Ordinarily there would not be
games between teams in the same
region at this stage of the playoffs,
and there are bracket movements
to prevent it, but three 1-AAAA
teams survive, so two of them are
forced to play each other.
The same is true in the north
bracket of AAAA where three
region 8-AAAA teams still sur
vive.
On Oct 18, Colquitt beat
Valdosta 17-7 in Moultrie, the
Packers’ fifth straight win over
the Wildcats. A repeat will be
extremely difficult, especially in
Valdosta. Phil’s pick, Valdosta.
Parkview will play Brookwoud
in the only other rematch of a reg
ular season game. Brookwood
won their Sept 13 meeting 21-14
on the way to the 8-AAAA num
ber one seed. Clarke Central is
also still alive from this region.
Look for Brookwood to win
again.
In the other two AAA A quarter
finals, Ixjwndes County will be at
surprising Benedictine and Clarke
Central will play at McEachem.
Our picks, Lowndes County and
Clarke Central.
In AAA, Thomas County
Central and Josey have won the
last four state championships,
three of them belonging to
Central. The two meet this week
in the top AAA quarterfinal game.
Josey was surprised by Thomson,
which lost Crisp, which lost to
Central. Nuff said. We like
Thomas County Central.
Dougherty County eliminated
Peach County last week and
earned a spot in the quarterfinals
where they will meet unbeaten but
basically untested Woodward
Academy. Dougherty has too
much speed. We like the region 1-
AAA Trojans.
Dalton will be at Marist, and
the Catamounts would like to
keep their title hopes alive in
coach Bill Chappell's final sea
son. Marist is a solid football
team, though, and Dalton will
have to play near perfect football
(See WINNERS, Page 7A)
PHS wrestling prospects: Inexperienced, aggressive
By CHAD LEWIS
Times-Journal Sports
When the Perry Panther
wrestling team hits the mat for
their season opener at Houston
County High School Dec. 5, they
will have 24 young men ready for
action. The only problem is only
two of them are seniors.
“We’ve got a lot of people on
the mat,” sec
ond- y e a r
Head Coach
Sean Moistner
said in a
recent inter
view. “But we
don’t have
much experi
ence.”
Moistner
explained that
since the
'Ai I '
Houston County middle schools
don’t offer wrestling, virtually
Panther Cubs on the run
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Times-Journal Sports by Mark Felty
MAKING A MOVE Rashad Winn (24) puts a move on
Feagin Mill defenders in a recent Feagin Mill-Perry Middle
School game. The Panther Cubs won.
Keeping up with the neighbors
Macon County advances, Peach eliminated in title chase
By PHIL CLARK
Times-Journal Sports
With all of the Houston County teams
already on the football sidelines local fans
turned attention to the Peach County Trojans
and Macon County Bulldogs to keep hopes
alive for a state championship in the immediate
area.
Both teams entered their Nov 29 games with
the task of stopping a division I prospect run
ning back. Clinch County brought Tennille
Williams to Montezuma to face the Macon
County team, while Dougherty of Albany tout
ed their own Kawaskee Teemer.
The difference is Macon County stopped
Williams while Teemer ran roughshod over the
Peach County defense for 206 yards and three
touchdowns in leading Dougherty to a 28-17
win, eliminating the Trojans from the playoffs.
Meanwhile the Macon County defense, led
by ends Antonio Perkins and Eddie Cochran
and linebacker Antwann Hill, held Williams
Mossee Lane Gardens open house is Dec. 8
Special to the Times Journal
FORT VALLEY Massee
Lane Gardens will hold Christmas
Open House Dec. 8 from 1-4 p.m.
to mark the opening of the 1996
Festival of Trees.
Eight live Christmas trees will
be decorated by various organiza
tions and companies in the middle
Georgia area and will be on dis
play throughout the month of
December at the Gardens, a
Massee Lane spokesman said in a
news release.
Each tree will be decorated
according to a-theme with many
of the ornaments hand-made.
Each theme is selected by those
decorating the trees. Fort Valley
State University will present a tree
entitled “Angelic Christmas”. The
Jolly Nut Co. will decorate a tree
called “Peace on Earth”.
A very timely theme, “Under
Construction”, will highlight the
tree decorated by the Peach Public
Page 6A
none of his varsity troops has any
experience.
“What makes wrestling so hard
in this region is that it isn’t like
baseball where the kids have been
play for eight or nine years before
reaching high school,” Moistner
continued. “These guys have to
start from scratch when they’re 15
or 16 years old.”
Shawn Padgett and Travis
Passinault, the only two seniors on
this year’s roster will lead the
Panthers. Both men will serve as
co-captains as well. They will be
leading a group that possess six
freshmen.
Perry is looking to accomplish
several goals this season, includ
ing winning the Houston County
Championship on Jan. 18 at
Northside High School. In the first
ever county championship last
year, Northside won. This year,
Moistner hopes his team has a
Moistner
Libraries. The theme is timely
since the construction is about to
begin on a new library in Fort
Valley.
The Original Peach Antiques
and Gifts of Byron will offer a
nostalgic tree entitled “Victorian
Memories”. “A Paper White
Christmas" will be presented by
the Fort Valley Woman’s Club.
The Marshallville Garden Club
will decorate their tree named
“The Heavens and Earth
Rejoice”.
“An Early American Tree” will
be presented by the Fort Valley
Historical Society. The Peach
County Chamber of Commerce
will decorate a tree called “God’s
Gift from Above”.
A festive afternoon has been
planned for the entire family with
music, refreshments, shopping,
and viewing of the trees and gar
dens. For this day only there will
be no admission charge for view
Wednesday, Dec. 4, 1996
and the Clinch running game in check.
Williams carried 12 times for minus four yards,
the team was minus 13 rushing.
The Macon County offense was also
stymied by a tough Clinch defense, and the
Bulldogs led just 7-6 going into the fourth
quarter. The third quarter score could have a lit
tle deceiving, though, since Macon County had
just intercepted a Clinch pass and had posses
sion at the Clinch 29 when the third quarter
ended.
Antwon Oliver scored on the first play of the
fourth quarter and Macon County took a 13-6
lead. Just two minutes later, the Bulldogs’
defense had backed Clinch up to their own six
yard line and a 29-yard punt game Macon
County the ball at the Clinch 25.
A 13-yard run by Aaron Jackson and a 12-
yard touchdown run by Oliver put the Panthers
away. A 10-yard touchdown run by Macon
County freshman Demetrious Walker made the
final score 27-6 in a game that was much clos
shot.
The week after the county
championship, the Panthers will
host their own tournament, the
Perry Invitational, at the Perry
High Gym.
“That’s the big tournament for
us,” he continued, “because it
would mean a lot to win our own
tournament.”
The varsity squad is agressive
but inexperienced. Eric Gaston
will wrestle the 103-pound divi
sion after finishing sixth in area
last year.
Ben Katshor will experience his
first year at the varsity level as he
competes in the 112-pound divi
sion. Last year, Jonathon Jones
qualified for state; this year, he
will represent the Panthers in the
130-pound group.
Passinault, who was the runner
up in the nine-team region last
year, will be the Panther represen
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GETTING TO THE HOOP - Jessica Green gets past
Feaain Mill defenders during recent Perry Middle School
basketball action. The PMS eighth graders won.
ing of the gardens and porcelain
museums in addition to the deco
rated trees.
The buildings will also be dec
orated in Williamsburg-style,
using fresh greenery and fruit.
Throughout the gardens and
greenhouse visitors will se the
Perry Players plan musical auditions
Special to the Times-Journal
Oh wouldn’t it be loverly —to audition for Percy Players’ produc
tion of “My Fair Lady”? Carol Strandburg, Director, Lu Mellin,
Musical Director, and Sally Stanley, Choreographer, hope to find many
interested in the play.
Auditions will be held Dec. 15, at 3 p.m., and Dec. 16, at 7 p.m. Just
have a song prepared (Jingle Bells or Happy Birthday are acceptable; an
accompanist will be provided. Those auditioning may be asked to read
from a script.
Interested in another angle? The theater group needs seamstresses,
prop people, set builders, and many other volunteer positions are
available. Even one hour of time is appreciated. New comers are wel
come!
Call 987-5354 for additional information.
Houston Times-Journal
tative in the 135-pound division.
In the 145-pound bracket,
Moistner will send out Brian
Ramey, who finished fifth in the
area last year. Joe Smith, a third
year varsity wrestler, will go in the
160-pound division. Nathan
Garren, a state qualifier a year ago,
will wrestle 171, and Padgett will
represent his alma mater in the
215-pound and above category.
Perry will open the season on
Dec. 5 at 6 p.m. at Houston
County High School as they
square off against both Houston
County and Warner Robins.
The Panthers have their first
tournament of the season on Dec.
6-7 as they travel to Adel for the
Cook County Invitational.
“We can be as good as we want
to be,” Moistner predicted, “and
that’s what these guys have to real
ize if we’re going to have a good
season.”
er than the score might indicate.
Macon County’s superior strength and con
ditioning was the difference in the fourth quar
ter. The Bulldogs meet another 2A team this
week when once-beaten Charlton County
comes to Montezuma.
Macon County’s defense held Clinch to
minus 13 rushing yards, and only 45 through
the air on five completions, including an 11-
yard touchdown pass from Russell Johnson to
Clayton Morris in the second quarter. Macon
County strong safety Ty Jones blocked the
point after attempt to preserve Macon County’s
lead.
Peach County, meanwhile, fell behind 16-3
at the half, but came back with two scores in
the third quarter to take a 26-17 lead. But from
there on, it was all Teemer and Dougherty.
The season is over for Peach County. The
Trojans finished at 11-1.
Dougherty, also 11-1, will play unbeaten
(12-0) Woodward Academy at College Park.
camellias as they display their
winter blossoms.
Massee Lane Gardens is locat
ed just off Georgia 49 between
Fort Valley and Marshallville.
For more information about the
Open House or visiting the
Gardens, call (912) 967-2722.
Phil
Clark
Times-Journal
Sports
The weekend
in sports
OK, so how was your week
end? What sports events did you
take in? Were you surprised at all
by any of the results?
Lets recap a few of the events
that took place. First of all, at this
time of year I suppose a lot of
attention is focueds toward high
school football. Only thing is,
we’re running out of area teams
to support.
Going into last weekend’s sec
ond round games, Macon County,
Peach County, Mary Persons and
Crisp County were left in the
Georgia High School Association
playoffs. That total was nearly
wiped out, with only Macon
County surviving with a 27-6 win
over Clinch County.
Peach County was favored
over region 1-AAA Dougherty
County, but lost the game 28-17
in one of the surprises on the
weekend. Peach went into the
game knowing that their old
nemesis, Josey, would not be the
opponent next week if the Trojans
beat Dougherty. The teams were
bracketed so that they could not
meet this week regardless of the
outcome of other games.
On the other hand, there was
Thomas County Central lurking
in the shadows. The Yellow
Jackets would play Peach’s 2-
AAA partner Crisp County. Peach
would play Thomas County if
both won. Over the past four
playoffs, Peach has lost twice to
Josey, twice to Thomas County
Central.
No need to worry now, though.
The Trojans are out of the picture.
Thomas County beat Crisp
County and the Yellow Jackets
will now play Josey. I don’t sup
pose Peach County has a favorite
in this game.
Washington-Wilkes of region
4- eliminated Dan Pitts’ Mary
Persons Bulldogs to advance to
the quarterfinals. The Tigers will
advance to play unbeaten
Americus this week in Americus.
The Panthers disposed of Tattnall
County 30-14. Americus is one of
seven unbeaten teams still in the
playoffs.
Macon County kept area hopes
alive for a championship with
their win over a good Clinch
County team featuring division I
running back prospect Tennille
Williams. The Bulldogs’ stifling
defense shut down Clinch
County, though, and the offense
finally came to life in the fourth
quarter with three quick touch
downs.
As always, Macon County’s
superior strength and stamina
proved to be the difference. The
Bulldogs don’t use any players
both ways, and usually by the
fourth quarter, opponents are
physically whipped. That was the
case Nov 29.
By the way, Tennille Williams
rushed 12 times against the
Bulldogs tenacious defense, for a
total of minus four yards! Of his
12 carries, he was thrown for
losses six times, held for no gain
once, and his longest run was five
yards! Overall, Clinch was held
to minus 13 yards on the ground
and got just 45 through the air on
five completions.
Macon County meets another
2A, team this week, Charlton
county.
Did the Southern Cal win over
Notre Dame surprise you? How
long has it been since the Trojans
beat the Irish? It was possibly the
last game for Lou Holtz as Notre
Dame coach. The Irish are out of
the bowl coalition, and only a
couple of minor bowls would be
left open to them, both of which
Notre Dame reportedly would
decline.
The Georgia Tech-Georgia
game was basically a good foot
ball game. Neither team was
going anywhere, so it would have
been easy to dog it a little, not
give it 100 percent. But, then, it’s
a Tech-Georgia game, so it’s
always played with a lot of enthu
siasm. Georgia won the game, as
you know, meaning both schools
ended the season with records of
5-
How about the skins game?
Watch any of it on television
(See CLARK, Page 7A)