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Wcd., ScpT. 1, 1999, Houston Home Journal FaII Extracurricular Aciiviiits Guide
Page 6B
Young Westfield Hornets to be tested early
By Phil Clark
Home Journal Sports
Somewhere in the middle
of the 1999 Westfield Hor
nets' football season, a
milestone will be
reached. Coach Ronnie
Jones enters the season
with 195 career victories,
needing just five more to
reach the coveted 200
plateau.
Jones will tell you.
though. that personal
coaching records are some
thing for fans to talk about.
While he will no doubt
cherish reaching a level
that places him in the elite,
he would still rather talk
about the next week's oppo
nent , and “how in the world
our little ole' boys are
gonna stay on the field with
them," no matter who the
opponent happens to be.
Locals know, though,
that Ronnie Jones has a
way of getting the most out
of his players, and molding
them into a team.
With the opener against
Fullington already under
their belts, the young Hor
nets now must focus on
playing well against the
teams they expect to meet
down the road in the play
offs.
"Were gonna be small
again. But we ought to be
quick, especially in the
backfield. We have a few
guys back there who can
turn it up a notch when
they hit an opening," Jones
said of his team.
He's talking about senior
Jacob Walker, an all-star in
anybody’s book. Walker
should be among the top
runners in the Georgia
Independent School Associ
Westfield Headmaster Drake: Growth
at Westfield is great for education
By Torey Jolley
Home Journal Staff
field is growing and accord
ing to Headmaster Michael Drake,
the growth is great for education.
'Most of the changes Westfield
Schools have made are in areas of
facilities or administration. Howev-
er. in our curricu
lum. we have added
six advance place
ment classes. That is
a sign of a strong,
improved curricu
lum,'’ said Drake.
"We’ve created for
the first time last
year a high school
chorus class. Last
year, we took our
(lass to Carnegie
Hall where they performed on stage.
It was inspiring," said Drake.
He added that Westfield has
expanded the drama department.
"We have a great curriculum, but we
choose carefully each one," he said.
In addition to new class offerings,
Westfield Schools have updated
technology equipment. With the
addition of the new front offices,
space was created to increase com
puter space for students.
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ation "if our blocking holds
up,", Jones pointed out.
It is up front, on the
offensive line, where the
Hornets suffered the
biggest graduation blow.
Gone are some of the
best linemen Westfield has
produced in several years.
Robby Heaton, a walk-on at
the Citadel, is gone. So is
guard Matthew Lee, a solid
blocker who seldom made a
mistake.
Ron Marshall is gone at
guard, too, though a nag
ging shoulder injury kept
him from playing at full
strength his senior season.
Tackles Chad Ekey and
Josh Giles will be hard to
replace, since both were in
the 220-230-pound range,
and both were quick and
agile.
But enough about what’s
gone. Jones has to look at
who’s left, and who is going
to help them. Ben Brannen
was a starter last year,
mostly at center. He could
be moved to a tackle posi
tion with Joel Stephens
moving inside. Cole Carter
is a big, strong sophomore
many believe will become
an outstanding lineman.
Michael Giles is back,
too, and he will take advan
tage of a year’s experience
with the 1998 outstanding
line. Junior Matthew Eve is
not big, but is quick, in the
mold of Matthew Lee.
There are several other
linemen getting a close look
by Jones and his staff, and
it could be well into the sea
son before they are able to
settle on a set lineup on
both sides of the line of
scrimmage.
Quarterback is a position
“We always had two computer
labs. Now we have a lab for each:
high school, middle school, and ele
mentary," said Drake. The idea is
students can use the computers and
gain access to the internet for
search purposes. All the computers
in Westfield will be networked
together.
“We needed this third lab. We v
need to teach everyone children
and teachers, how to use computers
to obtain information. Our feeling is
a computer lab is right for us now.
Perhaps in the future, we will go to
computers in the classrooms, but
now. now we need our labs," said
Drake.
As for new facilities, Westfield has
several new additions: the front
office building, the new field house,
and K 4-5 building.
“The front office building is great.
It is a way for people who come to
Westfield to know that is the place
to stop for answers," said Drake.
The recently completed addition
houses all administration functions
such as the headmaster office,
counselor offices, as well as the
boardroom.
Last year, Westfield Schools added
a new K 4-5 building. This unit.
nMK mg-T
Drake
‘Haw in the
world lore]
our Uttle ole’
boys are
gonna stay on
the field with
them." Ron
nie Jones on
opponents
where Jones has been
blessed. Entering his sev
enth season as the head
man at Westfield, Jones has
used Just three starting
quarterbacks, beginning
with Lon Talton 1993, Matt
Shepley then started for
two season as the signal
caller, and finally, Trevor
Jones, the coach's son,
held down the spot for
three seasons.
“We've pretty much set
tled on Bo Hart, a rising
junior," Jones said. "Ernest
Greene is also an outstand
ing quarterback candidate,
but we need him so much
in other areas, that we
believe we’ll be stronger
with Bo calling the plays,
and Ernest out there where
he can use his great pass
catching ability." Jones
said.
“And Mitch Greer, who's
not as big and strong as the
others, is as fundamentally
sound at quarterback as
any player you'll find."
Jones added.
When he gets to the
backfield, that’s where
Jones’ eyes sparkle a bit.
With Jacob Walker back
and sophomore Chance
Jones ready to step in at
fullback, with Hart at quar
terback, Jones said there’s
lots of competition for play
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ing time at the other run
ning back spot, and as
relief for Walker and Jones.
“We have Matthew Hul
bert, Donald Walker, Mark
Hulbert, and Will Holt who
can flat fly at the wing posi
tion. Kyle Harold has some
experience at the fullback
position, but we need him
so much at linebacker,"
Jones said.
The kicking game is in
good hands, too. “Some
major college coach will do
himself a favor if he looks at
Daniel Weir as a punting
prospect," Jones said. “He’s
just a junior and already
he’s hitting the ball higher
and further than most pun
ters in our league. And he
still has a year to learn. He
will be a weapon for us,"
Jones added.
“Nathan Skinner ended
the season last year by hit
ting 10 extra point kicks in
a row during the playoffs,
where the pressure is the
greatest." Jones said of his
place kicker. The graduated
Gary Virden handled kick
off duties, and that job was
open coming into the sea
son.
Whether Ronnie Jones
wants to relish it or not,
victory number 200 will
come this season. Deep
inside, he's proud of the
victories, but he’s more
proud of the young folks
who put the wins on the
scoreboard. That's the way
he'll always feel.
Helping him along *the
sidelines to post those wins
will be Jamey Watson, who
returns from last season,
as does Ben Hulbert. New
to the staff will be Duane
Hunter, from Fullington,
located adjacent to the elementary
school wing, houses the youngest
Westfield students. It also houses
the Westfield after school program.
“This program is to help our West
field parents. We have an after
school program, which is directed
by Mary Thrower, for our K 4. It
allows the children to have a safe
place to stay until the 3:15 p.m. bus
or until the parents get off of work
to get them by 6 p.m.," said Drake.
As for the new field house, “It is
slow, but we think we will be in it
mid-September. It will be great. It
will have a extra large dressing
room, coaches’ offices, and plenty of
storage area. It will have a weight
room as well." said Drake.
The field house is located behind
the school gymnasium, facing the
football stadium.
In addition to new buildings, a
newly paved road was laid around
the administrative building.
"This should ease traffic problem
through Holly Hills," said Drake.
"Seventy-five new parking spaced
behind the gym will be available and
15 new spaces by the new building."
Westfield Schools will house 600
students in grades k 4-12 this
year.
who will also handle boys'
basketball. Keith Warnock
is a part-time coach with a
lot of experience who
should be an asset.
"We ll need a lot of input
from everybody," Jones
said of his staff. "We lost
one of the best assistant
coaches I’ve ever had in
Rennie Atkinson, and Jeff
Dehem was a vital cog in
our strategy last season.
Well miss both those guys.
Have a great <C>
school year!
Dr Rhonda Thompson
Optometrist
Good Luck
to the
PANTHERS
and the
HORNETS!
Beavers & Moore
Insurance Agency
1017 Jernigan Street, Downtown Perry
987-1832
Go,l tornets! Go, Panthers!
See you after the-game!
M*
1428 Sam Nunn Blvd.
and the 10 senior we lost.”
Continuing, Jones said.
"Billy Sellers and Larry
Bennett are back to work
with our younger players. If
we can stay healthy, we
ought to be all right again
this year."
After opening with two
straight on the road
(Fullington and Tattnall
Square), the Hornets' home
opener will be Sept. 10
against Tiftarea.
Thompson
Clfnic
Spoc'i«lizin|4 in
I*c*clintrie!S
<mcl Contacts
Call 987-3702 now
for an appointment.
I mated in Will Mart Vision Center
I lO‘> St Patricks Pk%vy Perry, (.c*orf*i«i