Newspaper Page Text
THE HOUSTON HOME JOURNAL
This close
Buccaneer players
Trevon Shelton-Bay, left
and John Minter go over
the finer points of the
game during the team’s
Warner Robins-Perry
Recreation department
game against the Bears
Tuesday at Schenck
Field in Warner Robins.
Visit our Web site at
www.hhjnews.com for
more photos of the day’s
action.
HHJ Don Moncrief
AAAA remains volatile at midway point
The Associated Press
ATLANTA Although
the top six teams retained
their previous week's rank
ing, Class AAAA welcomed
three new teams while say
ing goodbye to two in the
Associated Press high school
football poll this week.
Sandy Creek (5-0) debuts
at No. 9 after a 46-13 win
over Lithia Springs on
Friday. Coming in tied at
No. io with Rome, Cedar
Shoals (4-0) received enough
votes to enter the poll after
both Douglas County and
Pebblebrook exited with
region losses to unranked
teams last week. Rome (4-1)
re-entered the poll after a
four-week absence with a
14-6 win over Southeast
Whitfield.
No. 1 Thomas County
Central (4-0) received ten
first-place votes and No. 2
Marist (5-0) received five.
Class AA qualified as the
runner-up in significant
shifts with a few notable
HORNETS
From page 1B
fundamentals like blocking
and tackling.”
Jones said the off week is
also a good time to get
healthy.
Some Hornets have banged
up ankles and various bruises
and the day off will provide
adequate time to recuperate.
Jones is remaining opti
mistic about his chances as
they open their Region 3AAA
next week against Southland.
“The kids should know
that it’s a second season
(now),” Jones said. “It does
n’t matter what you’ve done
in the past.
“If you can win all your
region games you’re fine.
EAGLES
From page 1B
as well as we had the previ
ous week.”
“Sure we were satisfied
with the outcome (against
Morrow) and all, but we did
n’t do a real good job in a
couple of areas,” Nix added,
referring to corrections
made in practice this week.
In terms of Xs and Os,
Jonesboro spreads the ball
around to a variety of differ
ent receivers. They work pri
marily out of the shotgun
formation spreading four or
five receivers out on most
downs, but get into conven
tional formations as well,
giving the opposition’s
defense plenty to prepare
for.
“They throw so much
short stuff that we are a lit
tle bit concerned about being
able to pressure the quarter
back,” Nix said. “Hopefully
we’ll be prepared and be
ready defensively too.”
Living on the edge ...
Northside Jonesboro
Power rating 116.40% Power rating 81.85%
! ! Rushing offense
Passing offense 0
i | Rushing defense
| ] Passing defense
j Special teams
l I Giveaway/takeaway
A V” equals an advantage - If only in terms
of statistical data. A means they’re even
' Wl * jw
Wf v
r . ;
changes. Greater Atlanta
Christian (3-2) exited the
poll for the first time in
more than two years after
being shutout 30-0 by No. 1
Buford. Calhoun fell four
positions to No. 8 after los
ing to Class A No. 6 Trion
37-30. Charlton County (2-
2) slipped two slots to No. 7
after losing to Valdosta 38-
14. No. 2 Americus (6-0) and
No. 3 Early County (5-0)
continue to round out the
top three.
Class AAAAA saw only a
change at No. 10 with
Newnan (6-0) entering the
poll for the first time and
Douglass out after a 12-6
loss to Tri-Cities.
Brookwood, Camden County
and Parkview remain the
top three teams.
Class AAA rankings also
remain unchanged with the
exception North Hall (4-0)
making its debut at No. 10
after Hart County made
room losing to Class AAAAA
Newnan 13-0.
It doesn't matter
what you've done
in the past. If you
can win ail your
region games
you're fine.'
Westfield head football
coach Ronnie Jones
“We’ve been region champs
for the last three years,”
Jones added.
“We’ve got a lot of tradition
going there. It’s what you
play for, these region ball
games.”
On offense Nix said noth
ing changes for their game
Friday at McConnell-
Talbert.
According to Nix his plan
is to continue to utilize sen
iors Ferlando Williams,
quarterback, and Rodrick
Hayward, running back. The
speedy tandem is a big rea
son the Eagles lead Region
2-AAAAA in total offense
with 375.5 yards per game.
Despite the offensive suc
cess, Nix said that leading
the region statistically in
any category was not a set
goal from the spring.
“Our set goad was to win
the region this year,” Nix
said. “If part of that is being
the number one offense and
defense then that’s fine. We
certainly want to do well,
but our main goal is to win
the region.”
HHJ Prediction:
Northside 31, Jonesboro
6
No. 1 Screven County (5-
0) received 15 of the 16 first
place votes while No. 2
Gainesville (4-0) received
one.
The top five teams contin
ue in those rolls in Class A
with No. 9 Commerce (2-2)
and No. 10 Calvary Baptist
(4-0) entering the ranks for
the first time this season.
Temple and Emanual
County Institute bowed out
after losses last week. No. 1
Lincoln County (5-0)
received 12 first place votes,
No. 2 Hawkinsville (5-0) got
two and Metter (4-0) contin
ues to hold down the No. 3
position.
Prep poll
The Associated Press high
school football poll, with first
place votes in parentheses
and total points:
CLASS AAAAA
1. Brookwood (16) (4-0) 160
2. Camden County (5-0) 137
3. Parkview (4-1) 127
4. Northside (3-0) 107
5. Lovejoy (5-0) 87
6. Lowndes (4-1) 73
7. Walton (5-0) 71
8. South Gwinnett (4-0) 54
9. Stephenson (5-1) 20
10. Newnan (6-0) 11
Others receiving votes: East
Coweta 10, Harrison 6,
Centennial 5, Beach 4,
Westside-Macon 3, Mt. Zion-
Jonesboro 2, Campbell 1,
Riverdale 1, Tri-Cities 1.
CLASS AAAA
1 Thomas County Central
(10) (4-0) 146
2. Marist (5) (5-0) 145
3. Shaw (6-0) 128
4. Tucker (4-1) 100
5. Ware County (1) (4-1) 84
6. McNair (6-0) 75
7. Thomson (4-1) 59
8. Dalton (4-0) 56
9. Sandy Creek (5-0) 26
10. (tie) Cedar Shoals (4-0)
13
(tie) Rome (4-1) 13
Others receiving votes: Mays
10, Troup 10, Clarke Central
6, Pebblebrook 4, Statesboro
3, Lakeview-Ft. Oglethorpe
2, Douglas County 1.
CLASS AAA
1. Screven County (15) (5-0)
159
2. Gainesville (1) (4-0) 143
3. Cedartown (5-0) 123
4. LaGrange (3-1) 95
5. Peach County (4-1) 89
6. Cartersville (5-0) 84
7. Washington County (4-1)
58
8. Swainsboro (3-0-2) 53
9. Mary Persons (5-0) 46
10. North Hall (4-0) 17
Others receiving votes:
Stephens County 6, Monroe
Area 4, Westminster 2,
Fitzgerald 1.
CLASS AA
1. Buford (15) (4-0) 159
2. Americus (6-0) 143
3. Early County (5-0) 127
4. Vidalia (3-0-1) 102
5. Cook (4-0) 92
6. Decatur (5-0) 72
7. Charlton County (1) (2-2)
46
8. Calhoun (4-1) 32
9. Wesleyan (4-1) 29
10. Randolph-Clay (4-0) 26
Others receiving votes:
Greater Atlanta Christian 9,
Greene County 9, Macon
County 8, Darlington 7, East
Laurens 7, Morgan County 5,
Adairsvilie 3, Chattooga 2,
Irwin County 2.
CLASS A
1. Lincoln County (12) (5-0)
154
2. Hawkinsville (2) (5-0) 142
3. Metter (4-0) 124
4. Clinch County (2) (4-1-1)
112
5. Twiggs County (6-0) 95
6. Trion (4-1)72
7. Landmark Christian (4-1)
61
8. Pacelli (5-0) 58
9. Commerce (2-2) 18
10. Calvary Baptist (4-0) 17
Others receiving votes:
Bowdon 9, Emanuel County
Institute 7, Mclntosh County
Academy 3, Miller County 3,
Temple 2, Whitefield
Academy 1.
SPORTS
Alabama reeling after Georgia loss
Alabama lost to
Georgia on the road
this week. So much
for the five-game conference
road win streak and so much
for a starting quarterback.
Georgia (4-1, 2-1 SEC)
knocked out Alabama (2-4,
1-2 SEC) sophomore starter
Spencer Pennington then
re-injured everyday starter
Brodie Croyle.
Some college football pun
dits have gone after first
year Alabama head coach
Mike Shula saying that
when Alabama was trailing
but more than 14 points he
should not have placed an
already tender Croyle in the
game and risked further
injury. Beware of trouble
and resentment brewing in
Tuscaloosa.
Alabama has lost three
straight games and four of
its last five since posting a
40-17 win over South
Florida in the 2003 season
opener at Legion Field on
Aug. 30.
BIG BULLDOG WIN: With
senior safety and team
leader Kentrell Curry out
Hnl
CURRY
ing the Alabama game.
Curry is slated to miss the
remainder of the season
with a leg injury.
■'■n' '■***
■* %
in
JOHNSON
the Tide in the first half and
that is the most points put
on Alabama in one half since
1933.
Senior kicker Billy
Bennett seemed to shake
the funk of the LSU game
two weeks ago, connecting
on three field goals and tal
lied 13 total points. The
mark puts him in second
place on Georgia’s all time
scoring list. Bennett has 325
points in his college career.
Georgia fans should be
encouraged by the produc
tion of unit’s besides the
offense. The defense created
two fumbles that were con
verted into 14 points and a
score off a blocked punt
AVOID BACK SURGERY WITH THE
DRX SPINAL DECOMPRESSION
I fl
aI if J 8
■feff -
COLLEGE notebook
Compiled by Josh Gordon
helped build the 37-10 half
time lead they refused to
give up.
Georgia has won two con
secutive games against
Alabama for the first time
since 1955-56.
GATOR GUFFAW: For the
first time in a long time the
two most highly respected
top-25 college football polls
find it impossible to include
Florida.
Florida (3-3, 1-2 SEC) has
done nothing but fuel con
troversy about head coach
Ron Zook. The second year
head coach is getting more
hits than ever on the
fireronzook.com website, to
his chagrin, and the Gators
aren’t playing well.
And it doesn’t get any eas
ier.
Florida's schedule over the
next few weeks marks one of
the toughest stretches in
school history. UF will play
three connective ranked
opponents on the road for
only the second time in the
history of the program. In
1997 Florida faced No. 14
LSU and lost, 28-21, and
then defeated No. 6 Auburn,
14-10, the following week
before losing to No. 6
Georgia, 37-17, in
Jacksonville after a bye
week. Florida faces No. 6
LSU, No. 8 Arkansas and
No. 11 Georgia in consecu
tive weeks this year. Florida
has already faced two
ranked opponents this year.
The school record for most
ranked teams played in the
regular season is six by the
1987 and 1991 teams.
AUBURN GAINS: After
losing two early games to
Southern Cal and Georgia
Tech the Tigers have roared
back with a 2-0 start in SEC
play.
Not only have they started
2-0 in the SEC the last four
seasons but their victory
over Tennessee
another streak. Auburn has
now won four straight
games over top 10 teams
when entering the game
unranked.
The celebrated Tiger
rushing attack seems to be
taking shape as well.
Auburn went over 250 yards
rushing in consecutive
games for the first time
since 1995 (Kentucky-285,
Mississippi State-332).
While the Tigers’ defense
played well Saturday they
did not have an interception
for the third straight game.
The Tigers have thrown
70 straight passes without
being picked off on the
offensive side of things,
however.
for the sea
son wide
out
Michael
Johnson
honored
him by
trading in
his normal
25 for
Curry’s 4
to pay trib
ute to the
senior dur-
Georgia
did some
thing
against
Alabama
that no
other team
has ever
done in the
SEC. The
‘Dogs
scored 37
points on
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 9, 2003
Auburn has accumulated
more than 400 total yards in
back-to-back conference
games for the first time
since 2000 (Ole Miss-421,
LSU-421).
WATCH OUT FOR OLE
MISS: Auburn and Ole Miss
have both begun SEC play
at 2-0. Led my Eli Manning
the Rebels have beaten
Florida for the second con
secutive year.
Ole Miss' win over Florida
was the first over a ranked
team since upsetting the No.
6-ranked Gators 17-14 last
year in Oxford. This time
the Rebels went on the road
to the intimidating Swamp.
It is the Rebels' first road
win over a ranked team
since a 36-21 win over a No.
8 LSU in 1997.
TENNESSEE OF OLD?:
Tennessee’s bread and but
ter during coach Phil
Fulmer’s tenure has been
their ability to run the foot
ball. They did no such thing
against a solid Auburn
defense. The Vols netted a
dismal four rushing yards
on 16 attempts. Starting
tailback Cedric Houston ran
just five times for 10 rush
ing yards.
Auburn on the other hand
ran for 264 yards on 57 car
ries.
Fulmer was disheartened
but cordial when he spoke
the media after the game.
“Offensively, we didn't
play to what we are capable
of,” Fulmer said.
“Defensively, we didn't play
to what we are capable of. I
take full responsibility. We
never got in sync tonight.
We worked well all week and
I though we were prepared.
In the end, we were too nice
to Auburn (by giving them
penalty yards).”
Senior quarterback Casey
Clausen had a good day try
ing to bring the Vols back.
He went 30-46 with 355
yards passing, two touch
downs and one interception.
The 46 attempts is a career
high for Clausen and his 30
completions ties a career
high.
HATCHING A PLAN:
Valdosta State continue to
wow Division II football as
head coach Chris Hatcher
won against Saturday.
Hatcher, who graduated
from Mt. De Sales Academy
in Macon, won game num
ber 41 in the Blazers’ flamed
black and red.
He is 41-4 in his fourth
season as head coach and
passed Hal Mumme on the
all-time list to take over first
place.
First year starter and
sophomore quarterback
Barrett Wilkes threw for
306 passing yards and four
touchdowns in a 42-21 rout
of Ouachita Baptist.
New medical
breakthrough
treats:
• Herniated Discs
• Degenerated Discs
• Sciatica
• Failed Back Surgery
• Severe Low Back Pain
Phone 922-4091
for a free
consultation
to learn if you
quality
for the DRX9OOO
James C. Smith, MA, DC
Smith Spinal Care Center
1103 Russell Parkway
Warner Robins 922-4091
3B