AJC > Sports > Highschools > Blog > Archives > 2007 > August > 30 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USMcIntosh ready to ring the bell
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
McIntosh coach Dwight Jones has a bell at home that is only rung when his team wins a game. Sort of like the bell on campus at UGA that students ring when the Bulldogs win.
Jones’ kids know that if they ring the bell out of turn — when no win has granted bell-ringing license — they’re going to be in trouble. All the same, they’re growing weary of waiting. For the record, Jones is too. That bell sits where, taunting him with each passing week. McIntosh went 0-10 in Jones’ first year at the Peachtree City school.
“You don’t ever go into a season expecting that,” Jones said. “There are constant reminders of it everywhere.”
How long the bell-ringing will have to wait is anybody’s guess. Starting with Friday’s game against Sandy Creek, McIntosh likely will be out-manned athletically on a weekly basis this fall, which means the Chiefs will have less margin for errors in execution than their opponents…..
Not exactly disarray — Mike Earwood simply doesn’t do disarray — but Starr’s Mill finds itself in a state of flux on offense to begin the season because of a variety of ailments.
Quarterback Matt Sweat hurt his hip in the Panthers’ scrimmage against Sandy Creek and is questionable for the opener against Cherokee in the Georgia Dome, leaving open the possibility that either sophomore Miles Jaye or freshman Adam Holley will get his varsity indoctrination in front of 70,000 seats. On top of that the Panthers could be without two projected starters on the line.
Coach Mike Earwood didn’t say who, but he has one lineman with a shoulder injury and one fighting a digestive-tract problem…..
The folks at Whitewater are happy to have been to the playoffs last year, but this year will be when they find out what sort of program they have. The Wildcats graduated 44 seniors — 25 is considered a good number at most large-school programs — including those responsible for virtually all of the team’s offensive production. For the record, I think they’ll be in the hunt for another playoff berth, for the general reason that Amos McCreary has produced consistent winners in the past.
I wanted to focus on football for the opening week, but we’ll start hitting the other sports next week.
GAME OF THE WEEK Fayette County at Mt. Zion 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Twelve Oaks Stadium COACHES: Fayette County, Tommy Webb (31-50); Mt. Zion, Jarrett Laws (first year) PLAYERS TO WATCH: Fayette - QB/DB Brandon Boykin (Sr., 5-10, 175); FB/DB Matt Daniels (Sr., 6-1, 195). Mt. Zion - RB Martin Ward (Sr., 5-10, 195), WR Rashad Boone (Sr., 5-10, 170), OL Gideon Scott (Sr., 6-3, 305), LAST YEAR: Mt. Zion won, 42-13. THE SKINNY: It’s not a region game, but both teams need to make an early statement, and Boykin and Ward are two of the state’s marquee players. Ward set the tone in last year’s rout, carrying 19 times for 202 yards and two touchdowns, and to slow him down would mean a lot to a Fayette defense that allowed 334 points last year. Fayette is likely to try to control the ball with Daniels, who like Ward rushed for more than 1,300 yards in 2006. Prediction: Mt. Zion, 27-24.
Permalink | Comments (3) | Post your comment | Categories: Football
Comments
By A fan
August 31, 2007 11:18 PM | Link to this
How can Boykin be considered one of the states top players…this baffles me…I have watched him play since he was 9 years old…he is fast, granted…but he rarely makes it through a game…as soon as someone pops him he starts limping and makes a case for the sideline.
Plus if you are that good and have Daniels (who is supposed to be all everything as well)…shouldn’t you win a game or two a year?
I most upset with UGA…what do they see in him?
By Matt Carroll
September 2, 2007 11:48 PM | Link to this
DWIGHT JONES GOT TO RING THE BELL AFTER THE SANDY CREEK GAME
By bluelion
September 11, 2007 10:55 AM | Link to this
I’m hearing and the hoopla about the McIntosh’es,the Starrs Milly,the Whitewaters and the Fayette county’s.But nothing about the school thats’s at the top of the food chain,WaWa..WESTLAKE. The lions have pre-ordered their dinners for the season. 1st on the menu is a full helping of Mcin.Chiefs with a tall glass of greentosh. Next on the menu will be a platter of bakea cat with my favorite Starrs Mill sauce under glass. The lions must go out into the wild to have their Kat and eat it too,with a cool glass of Whitewater. And for the lions next meal. they will have to go out into the jungle and do the unthinkable, grab the tiger by the tail ,Fayette county. We all no who is the king of the jungle.(WESTLAKE) THE PAW.