Thursday, October 13, 2011
Tuesday, September 27, 2011
Haas wins Tour Championship with amazing lake shot
| Tuesday, September 27, 2011 'All or nothing' shot closes playoffs Young talent shakes up the old guard as FedEx Cup awarded at East Lake Golf Club |
 (REUTERS/Tami Chappell) FedEx Cup winner Bill Haas on taking a shot from the lake: "I got an unbelievably fortunate break. My first thought was that it's playable. The lake down there is just a big bunker." |
Professional golf was back in Georgia last weekend as the Tour
Championship presented by Coca-Cola took center stage again at East Lake Golf Club.
Championship presented by Coca-Cola took center stage again at East Lake Golf Club.
The annual PGA Tour stop in Atlanta is billed as the playoff finale to determine the winner of the $10 million FedEx Cup. The traditional field of 30 golfers consisted of tour veterans, such as Vijay Singh, David Toms, Steve Stricker and Phil Mickelson, as well as a slew of young talent looking to shake up the old guard.
The tournament was played over four days, and the golfers competed in balmy and soggy conditions, jockeying daily up and down the leader board via pars, bogeys and birdies.
PGA Tour rookie Keegan Bradley, who won the PGA Championship in August at the Atlanta Athletic Club, led the tournament after Thursday's play by firing a 6-under 64. Australia's Adam Scott took a 1-shot lead on Friday by birdieing the tough, par-3 18th hole.
PGA Tour rookie Keegan Bradley, who won the PGA Championship in August at the Atlanta Athletic Club, led the tournament after Thursday's play by firing a 6-under 64. Australia's Adam Scott took a 1-shot lead on Friday by birdieing the tough, par-3 18th hole.
Through Saturday, fellow countryman Aaron Baddeley shared the lead with American Hunter Mahan at 9-under 201.
Entering Sunday's final round, 10 golfers were within five shots of the lead,
including two-time Tour Championship winner Mickelson, who was four strokes back. In 2009, Mickelson overcame a 4-shot deficit to win the tournament and the FedEx Cup. This year, Lefty never made a run on the final day, carding a pedestrian 1-over 71. But the two-time Masters champion did draw the biggest galleries of the week.
including two-time Tour Championship winner Mickelson, who was four strokes back. In 2009, Mickelson overcame a 4-shot deficit to win the tournament and the FedEx Cup. This year, Lefty never made a run on the final day, carding a pedestrian 1-over 71. But the two-time Masters champion did draw the biggest galleries of the week.
As the tournament unfolded on the back nine at historic East Lake, two 29-year-old former NCAA Players of the Year—Mahan and Bill Haas—finished tied at the top at 8-under 272. The golfers returned to the 18th tee for a sudden-death playoff to determine the champion.
After they both got up-and-down for par on the 235-yard par 3, Mahan and Haas were shuttled to the par-4 17th hole for a second playoff hole. While Mahan hit his approach shot to about 15 feet from the pin on the 470-yard hole, Haas slightly pulled his second shot and it rolled down the bank next to the green and settled half submerged in the shallow lake.
After assessing his dilemma, Haas grabbed a sand wedge, opened the clubface, put one foot in the lake, and blasted his ball like it was a routine bunker shot, spraying water everywhere. The golf ball shot up into the air, bounced on the green, spun back a little and stopped less than 3 feet from the cup.
From there, the former Wake Forest golfer knocked in his improbable par. Meanwhile, Mahan missed his birdie putt and also made par.
Riding momentum after what several golf analysts described as "the shot of the year," Haas parred the third extra hole at 18—while Mahan made bogey—and won the Tour Championship.
As a large bonus, Haas also won the FedEx Cup, pushing his total earnings to $11.44 million.
Afterward, the champion discussed his amazing lake shot on 17.
"I got an unbelievably fortunate break. My first thought was that it's playable," said Haas. "The lake down there is just a big bunker. It was all or nothing. Definitely some luck involved. I feel lucky that I was able to pull it off."
LAW FIRMS ON SITE
As usual, the legal community was well represented at the Tour Championship, which offers a great opportunity for area businesses and law firms to entertain clients and guests. The corporate village that stretched between holes 12 and 17 was full of hospitality suites and tents, and included law firms such as Alston & Bird; King & Spalding; Morris Hardwick Schneider; Bryan Cave; Arnall Golden Gregory; Ford & Harrison; Johnston Barton Proctor & Rose; The Cochran Firm; Greenberg Traurig; and Womble Carlyle Sandridge & Rice.
Alston & Bird placed an ad in the tournament program identifying its connection to former partner Bobby Jones, the legendary Atlanta golfer and only player ever to win the Grand Slam, or all four major championships, in the same year (1930). The headline in the ad read, "One Golfer and His Law Firm Continuing the Tradition of Excellence Set By Our Colleague and Partner Bobby Jones."
East Lake is where Jones grew up and the place where he developed his prodigious golf skills.
John Carroll is a Georgia-based freelance writer who writes about golf for the Daily Report. He can be reached at jkcarroll@knology.net or at (706) 332-5926.
Thursday, August 25, 2011
Little League hero delivers clutch performance for Columbus High baseball team
Cody Walker has a gift for delivering huge hits in big baseball games.
In 2006, Walker famously helped Columbus Northern win the Little League World Series by smashing the game-winning home run in the finals against Japan.
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Cody Walker has that "flair for the dramatic," said Columbus High baseball coach Bobby Howard. |
No hit was bigger than Walker’s game-winning, two-RBI single in Game 2 vs. second round opponent Ringgold. Having lost Game 1, Columbus was on the brink of elimination in Game 2, trailing 8-5 heading into the seventh and final inning.
But the cardiac Blue Devils refused to go gently into the good night. Boston Red Sox signee Jordan Weems doubled in two runs, cutting the deficit to 8-7, and setting up Walker’s final heroics. His seeing-eyes single up the middle scored Weems and another teammate, lifting Columbus to an improbable 9-8 victory.
Riding high from the stirring comeback, the Blue Devils won the series-deciding Game 3 on the next day and advanced to the next round of the state playoffs.
Walker’s game-winning single vs. Ringgold in Game 2 was “one of the biggest hits of the year,” said Columbus head baseball coach Bobby Howard.
“Cody has a history of doing that. He’s got that flair for the dramatic,” said Howard. “When there’s more on the line he responds. He has had so many big hits for us in his career.”
Recalling the pressure-packed situation against Ringgold, Walker said he was focused on staying calm and picking out a good pitch to drive. He anticipated a curve ball or something off-speed and that’s what he got on the first pitch, stroking it into the outfield and scoring the runners on second and third base.
“I put it in my head that I was going to get a hit. There was no doubt in my mind,” said Walker. “I like the feeling of being in a clutch position where I need to get a hit for the team. I’ve been put in that situation before and I know what it takes.”
The 18-year-old catcher was fortunate to be playing at all his senior year. In February, a few weeks before the season began, Walker tore a tendon and chipped a bone in his foot while playing pick-up basketball. The injury was severe enough that he needed surgery and close to two months of rehabilitation. Unsure about his playing future as a Blue Devil, Walker was devastated, but determined to return by the end of the season.
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| On this swing, Walker hit the home run to beat Japan in the 2006 Little League World Series. |
“I had to face the fact that I had to have surgery,” he said. “You don’t want to hear that as a high school athlete in your senior season.”
After pushing himself in physical therapy and rehabilitation, Walker did return to the playing field during the final week of the season. But the layoff made his bat rusty and he struggled to find his swing, creating anxiety and uncertainty about his ability to hit and drive in runs during the post-season.
“I was struggling when I first came back to find the bat,” said the catcher. “Of course, I was concerned. I’m used to having hits and not going into a slump. I definitely got worried. You start thinking, what if I can’t produce for my team in the playoffs?”
But something clicked with Walker in the post-season and his bat got hot again when it mattered the most. For the 13-game, five-series playoff run to a state championship, Walker batted .381 (.429 obp) and drove in 10 runs, second highest on the team behind Kyle Carter (17 RBIs). In the final playoff game against Spalding, which Columbus won to capture its 11th state championship, Walker went 4-for-4 with two doubles, two runs and four RBIs.
“Once I was thrown into the situation where we need hits and my team needs run, the adrenaline took over and put me back to where I needed to be, and I started hitting like before I got hurt,” Walker said. “Once the playoffs started, I don’t know what happened, but I went on a hitting spree.”
Columbus assistant head coach Greg Mathis was impressed with Walker’s work ethic and determination to return to the Blue Devils lineup. He also admired Walker’s attitude and leadership while recovering from the injury.
“He was at all the games and did everything with the team and still kept his role as one of the leaders,” said Mathis. “A lot of kids might not have been mentally tough enough to do that. He was always around encouraging the guys and telling everybody he was going to be back.”
Walker signed a scholarship to play baseball at Chattahoochee Valley Community College. He is excited about the next phase of his career and life. “I love the coaching staff. It’s a great program and they win ballgames,” he said.
After two years at CVCC, Walker hopes to sign with a Division I college and one day get drafted by a Major League Baseball team. For that to happen, Walker knows he needs to take his game to another level.
“I have to get bigger, stronger, faster and elevate my game,” said the catcher. “I’ve had clutch performances before and been a good hitter. But I want to be known as a great hitter and be known as one of the best hitters in the Southeast.”
By John Carroll
http://columbusvalley.inthegamemagazine.com/
Thursday, August 11, 2011
Major golf in Georgia, again!
Major championship golf is back in Georgia this week with the PGA Championship at the Atlanta Athletic Club.
Golf is good. Golf is great. Golf is a $5 billion industry in Georgia that supports 57,000 jobs. Golf tournaments in Georgia gave $57 million to charity in 2009.
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| Golf teaches many life lessons such as humility, honesty and perseverance. |
Golf teaches important life lessons about patience, honesty, etiquette, humility, perseverance, and sportsmanship. Walking a golf course is great exercise. Golf courses enrich our environment with green space and natural beauty.
Here's to a fantastic finish at this week's PGA Championship in Atlanta. It seems fitting that the first and last men's majors in 2011 are in Georgia!
And don't forget about the McGladrey Classic in October as the PGA Tour returns to Georgia for a fall event at the venerable Sea Island Golf Club.
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Monday, August 8, 2011
Hardaway Hunts for Red and Gold October
The Hardaway Hawks made the playoffs in 2010 for the first time in 11 years. The Hawks went 4-1 in the month of October beating Region 1-AAAA foes Bainbridge, Warner-Robins, Northside-Columbus, and Houston County.
“It was so impressive for us to make the playoffs because we had to buckle down and win some games we weren’t supposed to win,” said fourth-year head football coach Jeff Battles. “We beat Houston County to clinch a playoff spot. It was very exciting in the locker room.”
The Hawks lost in the first round of the playoffs 42-9 to Starr’s Mill, who advanced to the AAAA state championship game at the Georgia Dome where they lost to Chattahoochee.
Coach Battles said Hardaway’s season-opening win in overtime last year at Harris County gave his players some early confidence. “That was a big win for us,” said Battles. “It gave us a confidence level that we are really improving. Our kids are buying into the program that we are teaching them.”
Hardaway has 10 returning starters from last year’s playoff team, including six on defense. “Our strength better be our defensive line if we have any success,” said Battles. “We return a lot of experience there. Hopefully, in our region we can stop the run. We are going to have to man up and stop the run.”
The Hawks’ defense includes two junior defensive ends Jerod Coleman (6’2/245) and Alyrk Perry (6’2/205), senior noseguard James Triplett (6’1/190), and senior safety Ivan Cobb (6’0/185), the team’s leading returning tackler. Coach Battles on Cobb: “Very versatile, can play anywhere on defense. He has great ball skills, good speed, a very solid player.” Battles on Triplett: “He’s a demon off the ball. It’s hard to block him.”
One area of concern for Coach Battles is the offensive line, where he lost four starters from last year’s team. The Hawks could start four sophomores, along with senior right tackle DeArrius Dickens (6’4/320), on the offensive line this fall. “That will be an area where guys will have to step up and play above their heads for us to be successful,” said Battles.
Dickens is Hardaway’s biggest college prospect, according to Battles. “He’s a big-time blocker, very good on run block and has good feet. He gets to the second level well. He could go D-I as a guard,” said the coach.
At quarterback the Hawks return junior Joseph Gibson (5’10/160), who started 10 games as a sophomore (15 TD passes, 9 INTs) and did a good job running the offense, said Battles. “He’s a very smart quarterback. He doesn’t make many mistakes. He manages the offense very well and keeps us in the ballgame. He has a good arm and can run with the speed option. He’s a tough kid.”
Hardaway runs a spread offense and relies on a 50-50 mix of rushing and passing to keep the defense off balance. Battles said key skill players on offense would include Triplett at running back and senior wide receivers Albert Bemiss (6’0/170) and Corey Lyles (6’0/165). Battles on Lyles: “He showed some good promise this spring and summer. He has good hands and good ball skills.”
Another player who should see a lot of reps on both sides of the ball is senior running back/safety Cedrik Key (5’11/180). “He is an explosive kid. A good tackler with good ball skills. He needs some game time. He didn’t get a whole lot of reps last year,” said Battles.
Hardaway will have some new faces at linebacker this season as the school lost three starting linebackers to graduation. Two players Battles expects to step up at the linebacker position are junior David Countryman (6’0/220) and senior Justin Livermore (6’0/190).
Two other important players who Coach Battles said should see a lot of playing time in 2011 are junior defensive end Brandon Fox (6’3/205) and sophomore center Aiden Sloan (6’1/190).
Hardaway opens the season on Aug. 27 at home vs. Harris County. “Harris County is a tough team,” said Battles. “That will be a great game physically for us and let us know where we stand.”
“Our goal is to host a playoff game this year,” said Battles. “That is something the kids have come up with. They want to not just make the playoffs, but also host a playoff game. It’s a difficult goal.” In order to host a playoff game, Hardaway must finish in the top 2 in its region, which includes powerhouse teams such as Northside-Warner Robins and Thomas County Central.
“We’ve had a solid group this summer working out and running,” said Battles. “They are pushing themselves pretty hard. We’re looking good right now. We can compete with anybody if we put our minds to it.”
Hardaway Hawks
GHSA, Region 1-AAAA
Colors: Red and gold
2010 Results
Record: 5-6, Region: 4-3
Playoffs: 0-1
Points scored: 181
Points allowed: 299
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Monday, July 25, 2011
Blue Devils install spread offense to produce more points
The Columbus High Blue Devils will have a new look on offense when they hit the gridiron this fall. Head Coach Phil Marino and his staff have ditched the traditional I-formation and installed a spread offensive attack with four wide receivers and one running back. Coach Marino hopes the change will enable the Blue Devils to score more points and improve on its 2-8 season from 2010 when they beat only Kendrick and Central-Carrollton.
“I’ve been running the I-formation forever but don’t have the lineman or backs to run that particular offense,” said Marino. “We are adjusting to our personnel and lack of size. We are a lot more athletic. We are going to run the spread, throw the ball around a little bit more, make it a little more exciting and create more opportunities to score. We will be in the shotgun about 80 percent of the time.”
Columbus has been working on its new offense since after Christmas, when the staff and key players first began to talk about the change and plan for it. The spread offense was officially installed at spring practice. “It went pretty well,” said Marino. “They are adapting pretty quickly.”
Leading the charge at quarterback will be sophomore Wyatt Peterson (5’11/170). “He has a very strong arm and a good pocket presence,” said Marino. “He throws the ball as well as anybody I’ve seen in a while. He’s very smart in the pocket.”
Last year’s quarterback, senior Ryan Lang (5’11/185), is moving to defense where he will play cornerback. “He was willing to make that move. We feel like he will be a good defensive player for us,” Marino said. “He is a hard worker and a dedicated young man. He has good speed and he is strong.”
Pass blocking is the focus for the Blue Devils’ offensive line in the new scheme. The O-line will be anchored by senior Trey Robertson (5’10/230), junior Tedric Palmer (6’2/260), junior Gabriel Pudichery (5’11/190), sophomore Adams Clark (6’2/230), and junior center Gavin Bonner (6’0/227).
The primary target in the passing game is senior wide receiver Anthony Padron (6’3/185). Padron caught 37 passes last season and scored two touchdowns. He will also see playing time at safety and serve as the back-up quarterback. “He is an outstanding athlete,” said Marino. “He will get a lot more balls thrown his way this year. He runs great routes and if the ball gets near his hands he is going to catch it.”
Another target in the air will be junior wide receiver Tony Alexander (5’10/170). “He is a talented young man and will be a big part of our offense,” said the third-year coach.
The running back position is still up in the air. Marino said they would use two or three different players in the offensive backfield.
The Blue Devils are changing their defensive scheme, too, abandoning the 4-4 from last season and switching to a more athletic and agile 3-3-5. “The reason is because of our personnel,” said Marino. “We have more linebackers and defensive backs than we do defensive lineman.”
Expected starters on defense include senior linebacker Patrick Stallings (5’11/215), senior linebacker/defensive back Ben Bice (5’11/180), senior linebacker/defensive back Carden Doolittle (5’11/192), junior inside linebacker Trey Taff (5’11/205), junior cornerback Luke Thompson (5’11/175), and senior defensive end Terrance West (6’1/215).
Marino said Columbus has 67 players on the roster, which includes 18 freshmen. “We have some pretty good athletes out of that group,” he said.
After back-to-back 2-8 seasons, Coach Marino took caution when talking about expectations for the upcoming season. “Our goal is to take one day at a time, take one practice at a time, and take one game at a time,” he said.
Columbus High Blue Devils
GHSA, Class AAA, Region 6
Colors: Orange and Blue
Head Coach: Phil Marino
2010 Results:
Record: 2-8, Region: 1-5
Points Scored: 110
Points Allowed: 297
Players to Watch 2011
Wyatt Peterson, QB, 5’11/170, SO
Ryan Lang, CB, 5’11/185, SR
Tedric Palmer, OL, 6’2/260, JR
Trey Robertson, OL, 5’10/230, SR
Gavin Bonner, C, 6’0/227, JR
Gabriel Pudichery, OL, 5’11/190, JR
Adams Clark, OL, 6’2/230, SO
Anthony Padron, WR/QB/S, 6’3/185, SR
Tony Alexander, WR, 5’10/170, JR
Patrick Stallings, LB, 5’11/215, SR
Ben Bice, LB/DB, 5’11/180, SR
Carden Doolittle, LB/DB, 5’11/192, SR
Trey Taff, LB, 5’11/205, JR
Luke Thompson, CB, 5’11/175, JR
Terrance West, DE, 6’1/215, SR
Sam Dunton, K, 6’0/185, JR
BY JOHN CARROLL
IN THE GAME HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS MAGAZINE
Friday, July 22, 2011
Brookstone football seeks return to post-season
Blair Harrison will have his work cut out for him this fall as he begins his ninth season as the head football coach at Brookstone. The Cougars lost 12 seniors from last year’s team that finished 7-3 and missed the playoffs on a tiebreaker. It was the first year that a Harrison-coached Brookstone team failed to make the post-season.
“Not to take away from any other teams, but last year was arguably the best team I’ve had since I’ve been here,” said Harrison, whose career record at Brookstone is 65-25 and includes seven consecutive playoff appearances from 2003 to 2009.
Last year’s Brookstone team lost three games by a combined 13 points (Marion County, 10-7; Hawkinsville, 20-14; and Greenville, 14-10). Against Hawkinsville and Marion County, Brookstone scored go-ahead touchdowns on their final possessions, but both were nullified due to illegal motion penalties.
“We did it. They were penalties,” said Harrison, who reviewed the plays on video. “It was just bad timing. Unfortunately, we had penalties at the wrong time.”
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| Drew McCluskey, left, rushed for 1,004 yards in 2010. |
Only four seniors are on the Brookstone roster for the 2011 season. The most experienced senior is running back Drew McCluskey, who rushed for 1,004 yards on 110 carries in 2010 and scored 12 touchdowns. McCluskey (5’8”/170) also caught 10 passes for 155 yards and serves as the Cougars punt returner.
Joining McCluskey in the offensive backfield will be his first cousin, Madison McCluskey (6’0”/165). The junior playmaker rushed for 125 yards on 23 carries in 2010.
“We need a big year from the two McCluskeys,” said Harrison. “They really need to shine for us to have a chance.”
Also carrying the ball for the Cougars will be senior running back E.J. Schwan, who last year gained 195 yards on 20 carries. Schwan (5’8”/165) also plays linebacker and was the leading tackler in 2010 with 80 tackles.
The Cougars return experience at quarterback with junior Duncan Fletcher (6’3”/185) once again calling signals under center. Last year, Fletcher passed for 781 yards and eight touchdowns while connecting on 39 of 70 attempts (55.7%). He threw three interceptions.
“Duncan Fletcher needs to step up and have a great year to take us to the next level,” said Harrison. “He can do everything we need him to do to be successful. He will run the ball more this year. He is ready to carry this team.”
Two of Fletcher’s receiving targets will be juniors Tim Kennedy (5’10”/160) and Max Williams (5’10”/165). In 2010, Kennedy caught seven passes for 105 yards. “Max Williams is a baseball guy who needs to step up as a receiver and tight end,” said Harrison.
Anchoring the offensive line for the Cougars will be senior Will Whilden (6’3”/250) and juniors Bo Jones (6’2”/240) and Jackson Mansour (5’10”/170). “Whilden is our best lineman. He started last year,” said Harrison.
Up-and-coming players to watch, added Harrison, include sophomore Nick Sargent (6’2”/175) and freshman lineman Tripp Valentini (5’10”/180).
Brookstone’s kicking game should be strong, noted Harrison, with sophomore place kicker Miller Page and junior punter Tim Kennedy. “Kennedy has an excellent leg,” said the coach.
With only 31 players on the roster, including 18 sophomores and freshmen, Harrison said several offensive players with also need to play defense this season. “We will play guys both ways this year more than we ever have,” he said.
The linebacker corps will be led by E.J. Schwan, Jackson Mansour and Madison McCluskey.
When asked about his expectations for the 2011 season, Harrison joked, “I hope we can make it through the year alive.”
Then on a serious note: “The expectations are the same every year—win every game. Win the region championship. Go far in the playoffs and ultimately win a state championship. We don’t have the numbers that we had in the past, but I still think we have very good players.”
Brookstone Cougars
GHSA, Region 4A
2010 Stats:
Record: 7-3
Region: 7-3
Total offense: 3,401 yards
Average points allowed per game: 10
Most points scored against: 20
Opening game: Macon County, 8/26, home
Players to Watch:
Drew McCluskey (5’8”/170), RB, SR
Madison McCluskey (6’0”/165), RB/LB, JR
EJ Schwan (5’8”/165), RB/LB, SR
Duncan Fletcher (6’3”/185), QB, JR
Will Whilden (6’3”/250), OL, SR
Bo Jones (6’2”/240), OL, JR
Tim Kennedy (5’10”/160), TE/P, JR
Max Williams (5’10”/165), TE, JR
Jackson Mansour (5’10”/170), OL/LB, JR
Miller Page (6’2/140), K, SO
Nick Sargent (6’2”/175), DE, SO
Tripp Valentini (5’10”/180), OL, FR
JOHN CARROLL
IN THE GAME HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS MAGAZINE
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Friday, July 15, 2011
Football debuts at Calvary Christian School
Friday night lights are coming to Calvary Christian School this fall in the form of a brand new football team—the first in school history. Calvary headmaster Len McWilliams hired Brian Osborne away from Brookstone to serve as the school’s athletic director and inaugural head football coach.
“Not many coaches can say they’ve had the opportunity to start a football program from scratch,” said Osborne. “It feels tremendous to have that honor. It’s an opportunity that I’ve been working for.”
Osborne worked as an assistant football coach at Brookstone for eight years where he studied and learned from head coach Blair Harrison. He served as the Cougars defensive coordinator for three seasons.
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| The Calvary Knights prepare for their inaugural football season in 2011. |
Osborne said he plans on running the same offense as Brookstone at Calvary—the Wing T—which relies heavily on the running game. “We are going to be running the ball most of the time and throw a pass when they are not looking for it,” he said.
The team had 31 players participate in spring practice, which mainly consisted of teaching the fundamentals of football and practicing proper technique. More than 20 Calvary players are playing football for the very first time.
At the first day of spring practice, Osborne and his seven assistant coaches put the players through several drills and taught them the proper football stance. When the head coach told a group of players to go forward on “hut one,” one player raised his hand and said, “Coach, what is hut one?”
There have been other lighthearted moments, too, according to Osborne, who said he embraced the opportunity to shape and mold his players.
“We don’t have any bad techniques to get them out of because they don’t have any techniques,” said Osborne. “And that’s a great thing. We’ve been starting out with the basic fundamentals—what steps to take, and proper placement of head and shoulders on tackling.”
The current Calvary roster consists of 10 seniors, five juniors, 11 sophomores, and five freshmen. Osborne said senior Steven Thomas (6’1/195), a star basketball and baseball player, will most likely see a lot of playing time at fullback and linebacker. “He is one of the better athletes at Calvary,” said the coach.
Senior Adam Nantz will anchor the offensive line. “He is one of the most enthusiastic players on the team,” said Osborne. “He has been in my office a lot just wanting to talk football.”
Another senior, Joseph Webb, has stood out in practice. “He is picking up things real quick. He’s smart. I think he can play multiple positions for us,” said Osborne.
Calvary Christian will compete in the Independent Christian Schools of Georgia and Alabama Athletic Association (ICSGA). The Knights will play an 8-game schedule with six games on the road, mostly in the Atlanta area. “We are going to travel some,” said Osborne. “One of the things about being a start-up program is not many teams want to ride down to Columbus.”
Calvary’s first game is Aug. 26 at Loganville Christian Academy in Loganville, Ga. The school’s first home game is Sept. 9 vs. defending state champion Covenant Christian Academy. The Knights will play their two home games in 2011 at Britt David Park.
The last four games on the Calvary schedule are all region games. Osborne said the Knights play in a region with five schools where four teams make the playoffs. One win in the region will put Calvary in the playoffs. “That’s a big goal for us,” said the coach.
Osborne, who played high school football at Brookstone and college ball at Rhodes, said there has been a constant buzz of excitement surrounding the Calvary football program. He said people constantly ask him, “How is football going?” His standard reply: “The guys look great out there.”
A Columbus native, Osborne said it will take time to build and grow the football program at Calvary, and admitted the team may struggle in its first season.
“I want to go out and win a championship in the first year, but that’s probably not realistic,” said Osborne. “But we are going to start building for the future. We just want to get out there and play football. Our ultimate goal in the future is to join the GHSA so we can start playing Brookstone and Pacelli and cut down on travel. We think that would be a great rivalry, if we can play those two schools.”
BY JOHN CARROLL
Number Name Grade Position
3 Clayton Bray 12 TE/DB
4 Corey Carroll 10 RB/DB
5 Derek Bigham 12 RB/DB
7 Jeremy Walker 11 RB/DB
8 Patrick Cook 12 RB/DB
9 Adam Gray 10 QB/DB
10 Luke Giegerich 10 TE/LB
12 Steven Thomas 12 RB/LB
15 Landon Rush 9 QB/DB
18 Jacob Ammons 11 QB/DB
21 Tim Thomas 9 RB/LB
23 Cole Parker 9 RB/DB
24 Justin Moss 11 RB/DB
31 Caleb Ashburn 12 RB/DB
36 Trent Burns 10 TE/LB
50 John Greene 12 OL/LB
55 Joseph Webb 12 OL/DL
56 Noah Jenkins 10 OL/DL
57 Tyler Jones 12 OL/DL
60 Jason Fowler 11 OL/DL
63 Chase Womble 9 OL/DL
65 Dylan Tumlin 11 OL/DL
66 Adam Nance 12 OL/DL
71 Jacob Struecker 10 OL/LB
74 Clayton Barefield 10 OL/DL
75 Aaron Struecker 12 OL/DL
77 Will Buck 11 OL/DL
82 Andrew Walsh 10 TE/LB
89 Joshua Mixon 10 TE/LB
Head Coach: Brian Osborne
Assistant Coaches: Robb Riddell, Floyd Clements, Richie Ashburn, David Spitzmiller, Jason Robertson, Dillon Bigham, Brandon Walker Monday, July 11, 2011
Harris County seeks the elusive playoff victory
As the saying goes, close only counts in hand grenades and horseshoes. Just ask Harris County head football coach Tommy Parks. His Class AAAA Tigers were close in a lot of Georgia High School Association football games in 2010, but struggled to finish, losing six games by a touchdown or less, including two in overtime and three by a mere field goal.
That’s enough to make Coach Parks lose his religion. Take the Griffin game, for instance. Harris County was beating Griffin 6-0 with less than two minutes remaining when the Bears connected on a Hail Mary pass to win in dramatic fashion.
“They had third and forever and threw a 97-yard touchdown pass,” lamented Parks, who starts his eighth year at Harris County this fall. Painful losses during the 2010 campaign, like the one to Griffin, left the Tigers with an underachieving record of 3-7, and 2-4 in Region 3A competition.
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| Harris County defensie end Jordan Jenkins (90) is one of the top college prospects in the nation. |
What’s more, last season was the first time the Tigers missed the playoffs since 2006. For the 2011 season, Parks hopes the Harris County defense can once again keep the Tigers in ballgames and the offense can produce enough points to win. The Tigers return eight starters from the 2010 defense that only allowed 10 points per game.
Anchoring the defense is the highly touted and explosive Jordan Jenkins (6’3/245), a four-year starter and one of the top college football prospects in the nation. The senior defensive end had 80 tackles and 8.5 sacks as a junior while routinely fighting through two blockers. Jenkins had similar numbers as a sophomore, said Parks.
“All I can tell you is the kid can play football,” said Parks. “He is real explosive off the ball, very athletic. Plays hard. He practices like he plays. He is targeted by other teams—let’s block No. 90. He gets double teamed every play. His biggest asset is his competitiveness. That’s what keeps him grounded.”
The supporting cast around Jenkins on defense includes senior linebacker Jagger Buggs (6’3/230), junior defensive end Jay Ellison (6’2/285), senior outside linebacker Jalliane Coverson (5’10/190), junior free safety Diquan Roberts (6’0/175), junior linebacker Tyler Denova (5’10/190), senior defensive lineman Jordan Durham (6’2/210), senior defensive back Roquez Harris (5’10/170), and senior defensive back Devon Moore (5’9/160).
“We take a lot of pride in playing defense in Harris County,” said Parks. “My job is to move that over to the offensive side of the ball. We are going to be fairly young on offense, but athletic. We’re starting some sophomores and juniors. We’re real excited about it. They are hungry to play and eager to make a difference.”
Projected started on offense, per Parks, are seniors Curtis Johnson (OL, 6’2/230), Zac Rovig (FB, 6’1/210), and Tevon Moore (WR, 5’9/160). Expected to see playing time at running back Roberts, Harris and sophomore Esiasas Chapman (RB, 5’10/175). The Tigers have four spots to fill on the offensive line. “We got five or six kids fighting for offensive line spots,” said Parks. “We lost all of our offensive line but Johnson.”
The starting quarterback job is still up for grabs, Parks said, but the leading contenders are junior Justin Wright (5’10/170) and freshman Taeqan Marshall (5’10/165). Marshall was the Middle School Player of the Year two years in a row at Harris County Middle School. Marshall’s teammate, wide receiver Tay Crowder (6’1/175), is another outstanding freshman player. “They won back-to-back championships in middle school,” said Parks. “They played everywhere—running back, receiver, quarterback.”
Other players who should contribute this season, said the coach, are junior wide receiver Zac Kelly (5’11/170), sophomore wide receiver A.J. Howard (5’9/165), and senior running back/wide receiver Zac Thomason (5’10/170).
“The goal is to win a playoff game,” noted Parks. “We’ve never won a playoff game. Every time we’ve made it we’ve had to play one of the powerhouse schools like Peach County, Griffin and Statesboro in the first round. It’s time to jump back up, strap on our boots and get back to work.”
By John Carroll
IN THE GAME HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS MAGAZINE
Harris County Tigers
GHSA, AAAA, Region 3A
Head Coach: Tommy Parks
Colors: Black and Gold
2010 Results:
Record: 3-7, Region: 2-4
Points scored: 142
Points allowed: 157
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