The Hotseat Bowl is what this upcoming Georgia/Ole Miss game has been dubbed. Mark Richt laughed when he heard this “nickname” at a press conference earlier this week, but then threw a few pointed remarks towards the media and the author of the nickname.
As a Georgia alumnus I must say that this is the side of Richt that is bothersome. I have sighed before when Richt played the “unless you’ve played the game, be quiet and leave the football to us” card. However this easily-aggravated-over-job-security persona that is now on display is making those sighs a bit deeper. I have never been in his spot, ie, on the hotseat and possibly about to lose my job. However I would think that he could take the criticism a bit better. He has said before that he is blocking out the “noise” and the team is as well, but I keep reading and seeing and hearing an agitated tone when the topic is broached. Sorry, but a coach with 90+ wins at Georgia and a pair of SEC titles in his tenure now in trouble IS NEWS. If the reporters weren’t asking about it, they wouldn’t be doing their jobs.
Richt is getting a little testy over this and that is perhaps the blackest eye on the program right now, not just the losses. If he keeps the team playing well, including a win this weekend, the noise should quiet down a bit. I hate to say it but when you take the big money, you take everything that comes with it. Sometimes that is noise from reporters and fans/boosters/alumni. Block it out or address it. Don’t get testy.
Wednesday, September 21, 2011
Will CPJ pull Kallon's offer? Doubtful
This whole football thing for Central Gwinnett defensive end Francis Kallon is probably starting to be fun. Before he ever stepped onto a football field for an official game, the London, England native had multiple scholarship offers in hand and had pledged to Georgia Tech. That declaration has not stopped plenty of SEC coaches from stopping by coach Todd Wofford’s practices, though Kallon tells the AJC his word is his word. He will however be attending Alabama’s football camp this week where an offer to join Nick Saban’s Crimson Tide might be granted. It will be interesting to see if Paul Johnson pulls his offer to Kallon as he has done with other previously committed prospects that visit other schools…
The Warner Robins’ upset of Colquitt County (available on-demand at GPB.org/sports) may have been the upset of the year and Packers’ head coach Rush Propst told the Moultrie Observer that it was “one of the worst offensive days I’ve ever had.” Propst noted that there was a bust on every play in the Wayne Grandy article. Propst also promised to get “out better players in the game.” Running back Willie Woodyard had just six touches in the loss and Ty Smith was held without a touchdown…
Amanda Chambers of Parkview’s Lady Panther softball squad did a little bit of everything in the team’s 11-1 win over Newton. Chambers was 2-2 at the plate, stroking two doubles and driving in two runs. On the rubber she was better, striking out 12 batters to pick up her seventh win of the season…
The Walton cross country teams dominated the Warpath Invitational last Saturday. The boys were led by individual champion Brian Sullivan to finish ahead of second place Marist. The girls meanwhile featured individual winner Alexa Womack to take down Woodstock.
The Warner Robins’ upset of Colquitt County (available on-demand at GPB.org/sports) may have been the upset of the year and Packers’ head coach Rush Propst told the Moultrie Observer that it was “one of the worst offensive days I’ve ever had.” Propst noted that there was a bust on every play in the Wayne Grandy article. Propst also promised to get “out better players in the game.” Running back Willie Woodyard had just six touches in the loss and Ty Smith was held without a touchdown…
Amanda Chambers of Parkview’s Lady Panther softball squad did a little bit of everything in the team’s 11-1 win over Newton. Chambers was 2-2 at the plate, stroking two doubles and driving in two runs. On the rubber she was better, striking out 12 batters to pick up her seventh win of the season…
The Walton cross country teams dominated the Warpath Invitational last Saturday. The boys were led by individual champion Brian Sullivan to finish ahead of second place Marist. The girls meanwhile featured individual winner Alexa Womack to take down Woodstock.
Tuesday, September 20, 2011
Score 44 for Week 5.
Week five of the Score 44 finds two new members as ML King Quarterback Jonquel Dawson was proving week after week to be too good to be excluded and Shad Thornton nearly ran hard enough to pull off a big upset of Statesboro. Last week Dawson piled up plenty of stats in a victory, 23-40 278 passing yards with 4 TDs (two passing, two rushing). Meanwhile Thornton rushed for 245 yards and two touchdowns in Liberty County’s 17-14 loss to Statesboro. Thornton is averaging more than 200 yards per contest. With every name we include, unfortunately one has to come off the list. Ty Smith certainly looked good in warm-ups last Friday night in Warner Robins before the Colquitt County Packers fell in an upset. While he will play tight end at the next level, Smith was being split out to receiver but let a few passes hit off his hands while not reaching two others. Smith has made big plays in prior weeks however and will be a very talented player for Georgia over the next few years. Adam Griffith did nothing to be taken off but Thornton was simply too good to be left off the list any longer.
In (from week 4) Jonquel Dawson, ML King (Lithonia), QB; Shadrach Thornton, Liberty County (Hinesville ) RB
Out (from week 4) Adam Griffith, Calhoun (Calhoun), K; Ty Smith, Colquitt County (Moultrie) TE
Austin Hardin, Marist (Atlanta ), K
George Morris, Central Gwinnett (Lawrenceville) RB
Kurt Freitag, Buford (Buford), TE/DE
Jonquel Dawson, ML King (Lithonia), QB
Kenderius Whitehead, ML King (Monroe) DE/OLB
Blake Tibbs, ML King (Lithonia), WR
Daron Blaylock, Walton (Marietta), DB
Darius English, McEachern (Powder Springs ), DE
Jonathan Jones, Carrollton (Carrollton) CB
Shadrach Thornton, Liberty County (Hinesville) RB
Brandon Greene, Cedar Grove (Ellenwood) OT
Chase Roberts, GAC (Norcross) OG
Greyson Lambert, Wayne County (Jesup) QB
Mike Davis, Stephenson (Stone Mountain) RB
Scott Hosch, North Gwinnett (Suwanee) QB
Nick Tompkins, Brookwood (Snellville), RB
Imani Cross, North Hall (Gainesville) RB
Dakota Ball, Pepperell (Lindale) DT
Dillon Lee, Buford (Buford), LB
DeMarcus Sweat, Stephenson (Stone Mountain) WR
Carlos Hood, Stephenson (Stone Mountain), DT
Jarontay Jones, Stephenson (Stone Mountain), DE
Quinteze Williams, Sandy Creek (Tyrone) DT
Markuss Eligwe, Stone Mountain (Stone Mountain), LB
Jordan Watkins, Woodward Academy (College Park), DT
Dalvin Tomlinson, Henry County (McDonough), DL
Leonard Floyd, Dodge County (Eastman), DE
Jacob Sealand, Tucker (Tucker), LB
Niles Clark, Lassiter (Marietta ), CB
Miles Jones, Allatoona (Acworth) RB
Josh Dawson, Tucker (Tucker) LB
Mike Hilton, Sandy Creek (Tyrone), RB
Ricky Parks, Callaway (Hogansville), ATH
Jordan Jenkins, Harris County (Hamilton), DE
Jonathan Taylor, Jenkins County (Millen), DT
Geno Smith, St. Pius X (Atlanta), DB
Kenyan Drake, Hillgrove (Powder Springs), RB/ATH
Raphael Kirby, Stephenson (Stone Mountain), LB
Joe Harris, Lithonia (Lithonia), OG
Vadal Alexander, Buford (Buford), OT
Josh Harvey-Clemons, Lowndes (Valdosta), OLB/WR
JaQuay Williams, Sandy Creek (Tyrone), WR
CJ Curry, Flowery Branch (Gainesville), WR
Josh Holsey, Creekside (Fairburn) DB
In (from week 4) Jonquel Dawson, ML King (Lithonia), QB; Shadrach Thornton, Liberty County (Hinesville ) RB
Out (from week 4) Adam Griffith, Calhoun (Calhoun), K; Ty Smith, Colquitt County (Moultrie) TE
Austin Hardin, Marist (Atlanta ), K
George Morris, Central Gwinnett (Lawrenceville) RB
Kurt Freitag, Buford (Buford), TE/DE
Jonquel Dawson, ML King (Lithonia), QB
Kenderius Whitehead, ML King (Monroe) DE/OLB
Blake Tibbs, ML King (Lithonia), WR
Daron Blaylock, Walton (Marietta), DB
Darius English, McEachern (Powder Springs ), DE
Jonathan Jones, Carrollton (Carrollton) CB
Shadrach Thornton, Liberty County (Hinesville) RB
Brandon Greene, Cedar Grove (Ellenwood) OT
Chase Roberts, GAC (Norcross) OG
Greyson Lambert, Wayne County (Jesup) QB
Mike Davis, Stephenson (Stone Mountain) RB
Scott Hosch, North Gwinnett (Suwanee) QB
Nick Tompkins, Brookwood (Snellville), RB
Imani Cross, North Hall (Gainesville) RB
Dakota Ball, Pepperell (Lindale) DT
Dillon Lee, Buford (Buford), LB
DeMarcus Sweat, Stephenson (Stone Mountain) WR
Carlos Hood, Stephenson (Stone Mountain), DT
Jarontay Jones, Stephenson (Stone Mountain), DE
Quinteze Williams, Sandy Creek (Tyrone) DT
Markuss Eligwe, Stone Mountain (Stone Mountain), LB
Jordan Watkins, Woodward Academy (College Park), DT
Dalvin Tomlinson, Henry County (McDonough), DL
Leonard Floyd, Dodge County (Eastman), DE
Jacob Sealand, Tucker (Tucker), LB
Niles Clark, Lassiter (Marietta ), CB
Miles Jones, Allatoona (Acworth) RB
Josh Dawson, Tucker (Tucker) LB
Mike Hilton, Sandy Creek (Tyrone), RB
Ricky Parks, Callaway (Hogansville), ATH
Jordan Jenkins, Harris County (Hamilton), DE
Jonathan Taylor, Jenkins County (Millen), DT
Geno Smith, St. Pius X (Atlanta), DB
Kenyan Drake, Hillgrove (Powder Springs), RB/ATH
Raphael Kirby, Stephenson (Stone Mountain), LB
Joe Harris, Lithonia (Lithonia), OG
Vadal Alexander, Buford (Buford), OT
Josh Harvey-Clemons, Lowndes (Valdosta), OLB/WR
JaQuay Williams, Sandy Creek (Tyrone), WR
CJ Curry, Flowery Branch (Gainesville), WR
Josh Holsey, Creekside (Fairburn) DB
Sandy Creek is streaking, Buford isn't allowing any points
With Clinch County’s loss to Wilcox County last week, its winning streak was snapped at 17. The defending Class A champions started a new streak over the weekend with a 14-13 victory over Bacon County. Two-time defending champion Sandy Creek now holds the longest current winning streak at 32 games. The Fighting Patriots defeated Drew 35-0 in the Georgia Dome, part of the Great American Football Classic. Four-time defending Class AA champ Buford is second with 18 straight victories.
The Wolves, who have surrendered just 14 points through five games and have posted three shutouts this year, host Lovett this Friday in the GPB.org Game of the Week…
The Year of the (injured) Quarterback continued over the weekend as Lassiter’s Eddie Printz and Duluth’s Anfernee Stewart both left games with an injured shoulder and an injured leg, respectively. Neither injury is expected to force either player to miss extensive playing time…
Add one more name to the top quarterbacks of the 2013 recruiting class as Eman Westmoreland threw for 582 yards in the Georgia Dome Saturday. He has a serious weapon in Malachi Jones to help him pad stats all season long…
Brookwood’s football team may be struggling a bit this season but the cross country teams are more than making up for any shortcomings. Both the boys and girls cross country teams won the Gwinnett County Cross Country Championships over the weekend. The boys were sparked by five runners finishing in the top eight including runner-up Morgan Malanoski. In all, Brookwood put nine runners in the top 20. The girls meanwhile were paced by three runners in the top ten. Caroline Kissel finished fourth to lead the Lady Broncos. Collins Hill’s Chloe Whitworth and Peachtree Ridge’s Josh Brickell claimed individual honors in the event.
The Wolves, who have surrendered just 14 points through five games and have posted three shutouts this year, host Lovett this Friday in the GPB.org Game of the Week…
The Year of the (injured) Quarterback continued over the weekend as Lassiter’s Eddie Printz and Duluth’s Anfernee Stewart both left games with an injured shoulder and an injured leg, respectively. Neither injury is expected to force either player to miss extensive playing time…
Add one more name to the top quarterbacks of the 2013 recruiting class as Eman Westmoreland threw for 582 yards in the Georgia Dome Saturday. He has a serious weapon in Malachi Jones to help him pad stats all season long…
Brookwood’s football team may be struggling a bit this season but the cross country teams are more than making up for any shortcomings. Both the boys and girls cross country teams won the Gwinnett County Cross Country Championships over the weekend. The boys were sparked by five runners finishing in the top eight including runner-up Morgan Malanoski. In all, Brookwood put nine runners in the top 20. The girls meanwhile were paced by three runners in the top ten. Caroline Kissel finished fourth to lead the Lady Broncos. Collins Hill’s Chloe Whitworth and Peachtree Ridge’s Josh Brickell claimed individual honors in the event.
Monday, September 19, 2011
The Unseen Score Atlanta Week Two Fantasy Recap
Week two of the fantasy football season started to separate the contenders from the pretenders, the for-reals from the flukes. Carolina rookie quarterback Cam Newton passed for 400+ yards for the second straight week, declaring that he is a viable starting quarterback option assuming you have a strong running back tandem. While Newton has three scores on the season he also has four picks. Newton isn’t ready yet to carry a fantasy team like Tom Brady or Aaron Rodgers, but he is certainly going to rack up points this year. Buffalo’s Ryan Fitzpatrick chucked it 46 times, scoring three touchdowns and 264 yards. Fitzpatrick has thrown for seven scores this season. Matt Stafford also looks legit and healthy, passing for an average of 299.5 through two games with seven scores on the year. Stafford’s favorite target near the endzone so far has been Calvin Johnson. Nate Burleson has caught more passes but Johnson has caught four touchdown passes in the two games thus far. Finally it is no surprise that Tom Brady is lighting it up but one of his favorite targets has been second-year tight end sensation Aaron Hernandez. Hernandez has hauled in 14 catches for 165 yards and two scores in a mismatch-nightmare for opposing defenses.
While those Week One darlings followed it up with a strong Week Two, several standouts dropped back to Earth with sub-par second weeks. Ben Tate did not find the endzone after scoring once in Week One. Arian Foster got ten carries so expect Tate’s touches to decrease over the next week or two. Mark Sanchez passed for 335 yards and two touchdowns in the season opener but fell back to earth with two picks and just 182 yards.
Minnesota was all about redemption in the season’s second week as running back Adrian Peterson turned in a two touchdown, 120 yard effort after a scoreless, 98 yard Week One. The Vikings quarterback Donovan McNabb improved on his 39 yard performance from Week One to 228 yards passing in Week Two. LeGarrette Blount also bounced back from a five-carry, 15 yard game in Week One to rack up 71 yards and two scores in Week Two.
In a very disappointing match-up with highly-drafted fantasy running backs, Chris Johnson and Ray Rice let many an owner down. Tennessee’s Chris Johnson rushed for just 53 yards, no scores, on 24 carries while Ray Rice failed to set the world on fire, with just 43 yards rushing on 13 carries. Rice did provide his fantasy owners with 53 yards receiving and one touchdown.
One thing fantasy owners cringed over was Jamaal Charles leaving the game after just two carries with what could be an injury that could keep him out a few weeks. Thomas Jones is likely to see more carries but if you can grab Dexter McCluster, do it. He is listed in most leagues as a RB/WR and he should see his 10-12 touches a game (he returns punts and kicks too) increase to 17-20 with Charles out.
Lastly Matt Ryan found the endzone four times for the Atlanta Falcons, something he did not do once in Week One against Chicago. Roddy White scored his first touchdown of the young season going against the powerful Philadelphia defensive secondary. And Michael Turner followed up his 100-yard performance in Week One with 114 yards and a score in Week Two. The Atlanta defense also held DeSean Jackson to just 21 yards after Jackson hauled in six receptions for 102 yards and a score in Week One.
While those Week One darlings followed it up with a strong Week Two, several standouts dropped back to Earth with sub-par second weeks. Ben Tate did not find the endzone after scoring once in Week One. Arian Foster got ten carries so expect Tate’s touches to decrease over the next week or two. Mark Sanchez passed for 335 yards and two touchdowns in the season opener but fell back to earth with two picks and just 182 yards.
Minnesota was all about redemption in the season’s second week as running back Adrian Peterson turned in a two touchdown, 120 yard effort after a scoreless, 98 yard Week One. The Vikings quarterback Donovan McNabb improved on his 39 yard performance from Week One to 228 yards passing in Week Two. LeGarrette Blount also bounced back from a five-carry, 15 yard game in Week One to rack up 71 yards and two scores in Week Two.
In a very disappointing match-up with highly-drafted fantasy running backs, Chris Johnson and Ray Rice let many an owner down. Tennessee’s Chris Johnson rushed for just 53 yards, no scores, on 24 carries while Ray Rice failed to set the world on fire, with just 43 yards rushing on 13 carries. Rice did provide his fantasy owners with 53 yards receiving and one touchdown.
One thing fantasy owners cringed over was Jamaal Charles leaving the game after just two carries with what could be an injury that could keep him out a few weeks. Thomas Jones is likely to see more carries but if you can grab Dexter McCluster, do it. He is listed in most leagues as a RB/WR and he should see his 10-12 touches a game (he returns punts and kicks too) increase to 17-20 with Charles out.
Lastly Matt Ryan found the endzone four times for the Atlanta Falcons, something he did not do once in Week One against Chicago. Roddy White scored his first touchdown of the young season going against the powerful Philadelphia defensive secondary. And Michael Turner followed up his 100-yard performance in Week One with 114 yards and a score in Week Two. The Atlanta defense also held DeSean Jackson to just 21 yards after Jackson hauled in six receptions for 102 yards and a score in Week One.
Sunday, September 18, 2011
More QBs hurting in GHSA 2011 season
This has been a rough year for quarterbacks as the coaches of South Gwinnett and Coffee can attest and Duluth, Lassiter, Mill Creek and Colquitt County learned over the weekend. Eddie Printz was forced to leave Lassiter’s win over Milton last Friday with a shoulder injury but Colquitt County, Mill Creek and Duluth were not as lucky. Duluth’s Anfernee Stewart was forced to leave Duluth’s loss to Norcross with a leg injury in the fourth quarter. Stewart had helped Duluth to a 2-1 record entering the game with undefeated Norcross and topped the 1000-yard mark for the season before leaving on a cart. Duluth head coach Corey Jarvis told the Gwinnett Daily Post he believed the injury to be a high ankle sprain. John Russ the Mill Creek senior signal-caller missed his team’s 9-7 loss to Mountain View after sustaining a concussion last week. Colquitt County’s Cole Seagraves showed a noticable limp throughout the second half of the Packers’ 16-8 loss to Warner Robins. Seagraves fumbled twice and threw one interception in the loss....
Norcross was also bit by the injury bug as FB/LB Tanner Maloof left the game with what appeared to be a torn ACL...
The Bone Yard is quickly become a dangerous place for opponents as Kell found out over the weekend. Perhaps it has something to do with the triumverate of running back Kamani Thomas, receiver Andrej Settles and quarterback Mitchell Webb. The three combined for four scores to give Kell its biggest loss since a 35-point loss to Walton in 2007, according to the Marietta Daily Journal...
A big win by Sandy Creek in the Georgia Dome Saturday, 35-0 over Drew. Chip Waker’s Patriots have won 32 straight games now including two straight state titles in two different classifications.
Norcross was also bit by the injury bug as FB/LB Tanner Maloof left the game with what appeared to be a torn ACL...
The Bone Yard is quickly become a dangerous place for opponents as Kell found out over the weekend. Perhaps it has something to do with the triumverate of running back Kamani Thomas, receiver Andrej Settles and quarterback Mitchell Webb. The three combined for four scores to give Kell its biggest loss since a 35-point loss to Walton in 2007, according to the Marietta Daily Journal...
A big win by Sandy Creek in the Georgia Dome Saturday, 35-0 over Drew. Chip Waker’s Patriots have won 32 straight games now including two straight state titles in two different classifications.
Saturday, September 17, 2011
Colquitt County loses and Metro Roundup
In the weeks leading up to Colquitt County’s game against Warner Robins, Packers head coach Rush Propst was telling anyone that would listen that he was worried about his team. He was concerned that his team was too young. He worried his team would be distracted heading into the Westlake game with Homecoming distractions. He was worried about Warner Robins having the extra week to prepare for his team. He was right to worry about the Demons, especially with the game being played at McConnell-Talbert Stadium where Propst had lost two straight as Packers’ head coach. The Demons held the Packers scoreless for nearly the entire first half, scoring themselves late in the first quarter on a Michael Lee one-yard run. With less than thirty seconds to play in the half, Colquitt County’s backup quarterback Daniel Mobley hit Matt Sailor for a ten-yard score but the extra point was missed. Warner Robins immediately marched down the field and connected on a 37-yard field goal with no time left. After a scoreless third quarter, Colquitt’s final points came via a safety, and Warner Robins was able to tack on an insurance touchdown with twenty-eight seconds to play when senior Brian Sutton scored his first touchdown in two years. Sutton, who led the Demons with eleven scores as a sophomore missed his junior season with a broken neck. The Demons improved to 2-1 while Colquitt County fell to 4-1.
Metro roundup
Marist was held to under 60 yards of offense in the first half in its region battle with Southwest DeKalb but quarterback Myles Willis found the endzone late in the half and then twice more in the second half as Marist moved to 3-1 with a 24-6 win...Defending 4A champion Chattahoochee used a powerful ground game to sink Creekview 45-21. C.J. Leggett scored three times while Chase Nelson tallied two touchdowns...Keithon Redding took a punt to the house in Columbia’s 54-0 rout of McNair. Keno Loyal had two scores in the victory...Kyle Sloter was at it again for Mt. Pisgah, throwing for nearly 300 yards in a 35-3 win over Pinecrest Academy...Peachtree Ridge went double-nickel in a 55-6 win over Meadowcreek. Ron Dixon scored twice for the Lions...McEachern also put 55 points on the scoreboard while shutting out Campbell. Trent Thompson continues to impress as he threw for four scores in the victory...Joseph Farrar scored three touchdowns and piled up 167 yards in Dunwoody’s 34-3 win over Lithonia...North Gwinnett continues to put its last minute loss in the Georgia Dome behind them as the Bulldogs thumped Collins Hill 34-10. Joseph Jones ran for three first-half scores in the victory. Scotty Hosch also found Chad Scott for a touchdown...Alvin Kamara fell just short of 100 yards but did score three times on 18 carries in Norcross’s 35-14 rout of Duluth. Jason Croom hauled in two scoring receptions...Jonquel Dawson came alive against Westlake with four scores (two passing, two rushing) as ML King defeated Westlake 35-14...The Walton Raiders donned black jerseys and Tyren Jones brought the thunder with 279 yards and three scores on 21 carries as Walton ripped Roswell 45-3. Jones had two more scores wiped away on penalties.
Metro roundup
Marist was held to under 60 yards of offense in the first half in its region battle with Southwest DeKalb but quarterback Myles Willis found the endzone late in the half and then twice more in the second half as Marist moved to 3-1 with a 24-6 win...Defending 4A champion Chattahoochee used a powerful ground game to sink Creekview 45-21. C.J. Leggett scored three times while Chase Nelson tallied two touchdowns...Keithon Redding took a punt to the house in Columbia’s 54-0 rout of McNair. Keno Loyal had two scores in the victory...Kyle Sloter was at it again for Mt. Pisgah, throwing for nearly 300 yards in a 35-3 win over Pinecrest Academy...Peachtree Ridge went double-nickel in a 55-6 win over Meadowcreek. Ron Dixon scored twice for the Lions...McEachern also put 55 points on the scoreboard while shutting out Campbell. Trent Thompson continues to impress as he threw for four scores in the victory...Joseph Farrar scored three touchdowns and piled up 167 yards in Dunwoody’s 34-3 win over Lithonia...North Gwinnett continues to put its last minute loss in the Georgia Dome behind them as the Bulldogs thumped Collins Hill 34-10. Joseph Jones ran for three first-half scores in the victory. Scotty Hosch also found Chad Scott for a touchdown...Alvin Kamara fell just short of 100 yards but did score three times on 18 carries in Norcross’s 35-14 rout of Duluth. Jason Croom hauled in two scoring receptions...Jonquel Dawson came alive against Westlake with four scores (two passing, two rushing) as ML King defeated Westlake 35-14...The Walton Raiders donned black jerseys and Tyren Jones brought the thunder with 279 yards and three scores on 21 carries as Walton ripped Roswell 45-3. Jones had two more scores wiped away on penalties.
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