Farner's Almanac

Titans nearly perfect in rout of Warriors

2011-11-12T08:00:00.000-05:00

BOGART — North Oconee’s coaching staff didn’t believe the Titans played a perfect game during their undefeated regular season.

But after a 63-6 defeat of Gordon Central in their Class AA playoff opener on Friday, they may have found that elusive effort.

Behind its trademark defense, which had five shutouts in the regular season, and six different players scoring touchdowns, North Oconee rolled.

“As players, you’re never going to play the perfect game, we’re going to ask you to, but you probably never will,” Titans coach Terry Tuley said. “But if you don’t ever strive to be there, then it never will happen. … It’s just a critical eye of the coaches expecting perfection.”

Georgia Notebook: Fritts returns to Western Georgia

2011-11-10T08:00:00.000-05:00

Sid Fritts returns to western Georgia this week for the first time since he was on the sidelines as the head coach at Rome.

Fritts, the Elbert County, coach will lead his No. 7 Blue Devils (9-1) some 170 miles from Elberton this week when they travel to Lindale, Ga. to play Pepperell. The Dragons (7-3) fell in the Region 7-AA championship game last week to Calhoun, their second loss of the season to the Yellow Jackets.

Fritts and Rome never played Pepperell during his five-year tenure, but he said the Dragons are a physical bunch with big linemen.

“They are similar in philosophy to us, I just think we’re a little more explosive,” Fritts said.

Game of the Century

2011-11-04T15:50:00.002-04:00

There have been several games that have drawn similar hype as this week's Tussle in Tuscaloosa, or Showdown in T-Town, between LSU.

Personally, Alabama has the edge in coaching, while LSU has more overall talent. There's talk that 35 NFL prospects will be on the field, and there have been 600+ media credential requests.

Keep in mind that no one handles rematches like Nick Saban. According to Jon Solomon of the Birmingham News, 10 years have passed since Saban lost in consecutive years to the same college coach. Since Steve Spurrier beat LSU 41-9 and 44-15 in 2000 and 2001, Saban is 12-0 in rematch games.

What's more, Alabama RB Trent Richardson will be the best player on the field. For investment advice, take the Crimson Tide -5 against the Bayou Bengals.

Big blown lead ends Eagles' crazy ride

2011-11-04T08:00:00.000-04:00

After a lackluster first half, George Walton Academy looked nothing like a team that could pull off a fourth-quarter comeback. Not that it appeared the Bulldogs would even have that chance.

But thanks to an 85-yard touchdown run by quarterback Hunter Rice, the visiting Bulldogs were given hope with less than a minute left in the third quarter. And after Athens Christian struggled to drain the clock late in the fourth, George Walton came back to finish an improbable 23-21 victory on Friday night.

Georgia Notebook: Stephens prepares for region championship game

2011-11-03T08:00:00.000-04:00

In arguably the program’s biggest game in four years, Stephens County travels to Gainesville this week to play the Red Elephants for the Region 8-AAA title.

The Indians appearance in the game flies in the face of most preseason predictions, which had Gainesville against North Hall. But the Trojans have lost two in a row, to Franklin County and Stephens, which knocked them out of contention.

“It’s a big game for us in the fact that no one gave our kids and team a chance to be in this game,” Stephens coach Travis Noland said.

Stephens earned its way after it dispatched of North Hall last week, 39-14.

Gainesville and Stephens have had similar campaigns as each lost their opener to a strong AA team (Buford and Elbert County), but have rolled since. The Red Elephants have scored at least 40 points in every win, and topped 50 twice.

The Red Elephants' closest game was a 41-21 win against Monroe Area. The Red Elephants, behind their spread offense, have averaged 51 points per game in subregion play. That’s why Stephens’ big play trio of running back Chaz Thornton, quarterback Dionte Mayfield and wide receiver T'omas Colbert is especially important this week.

Titans take region's top spot with win over Elbert County

2011-10-29T08:00:00.000-04:00

ELBERTON — Terry Tuley walked away from the handshake line, faced the scoreboard and raised both hands above his head.

“Victory!” he shouted into the cold drizzle.

North Oconee’s head coach, who turned 63 on Friday, celebrated one of the biggest victories of his career with a 17-6 win at Elbert County.

Tuley, who hadn’t won a region championship in his coaching tenure, now owns the Region 8-AA South crown after his Titans dispatched of the reigning champion Blue Devils in The Granite Bowl.

“We might not leave, we might camp out, because it’s so sweet,” Tuley said.

Georgia Notebook: Elbert and North Oconee battle for Region 8-2A South title

2011-10-27T08:00:00.000-04:00

The game many have looked forward to for a year has arrived.

When North Oconee (8-0, 5-0 Region 8-AA) travels to The Granite Bowl this week to face No. 7 Elbert County (8-0, 5-0), the Region 8-AA South title is on the line, as well as a ticket to next week’s Region 8-AA championship.

The Titans and Blue Devils have mirrored each other all season.

They each have a smothering defense (each have four shutouts), and a star player in the offensive backfield. North Oconee, actually, has two in versatile Nick Colvin and speedy freshman Kawon Bryant. Elbert relies heavily on star Tyshon Dye.

North Oconee has averaged 45.6 points per game, while Elbert has put up 34.8. The Titans have yielded eight, compared with 7.4 for the Blue Devils.

Michigan State shocks undefeated Wisconsin

2011-10-23T09:44:00.002-04:00

Michigan State got off to a rocky start, and trailed 14-0. But the Spartans came all the way back, and thanks to this hail mary, knocked off previously undefeated Wisconsin in East Lansing.

Warriors begin playoff push against Johnson

2011-10-22T08:00:00.000-04:00

WATKINSVILLE — After Oconee County dropped its third straight game against Gainesville at midseason, the Warriors shifted their mindset.

Coach Mitch Olson’s team entered playoff mode in hopes that it could scramble back to .500 and earn a playoff berth. The Warriors are one step closer to meeting their goal after a 35-8 victory over winless Johnson-Gainesville on Friday night.

Oconee County picked up consecutive wins for the first time this season, and it was the second victory in which they posted 35 points.

“We win two games in a row, and we had to win them,” Olson said. “If we hit like that, we’re going to be in good shape.”

Georgia Notebook: Stephens still working out kinks despite 6-game winning streak

2011-10-20T08:00:00.000-04:00

Despite winning each week since the season opener, Stephens County coach Travis Noland continues to stress that his team is a work in progress.

Noland’s point was only highlighted in the wake of last week’s 25-14 victory over White County. Despite the win, the talk around Toccoa was that it wasn’t as crisp as it should be. Even in the victory, the Indians could have tacked on more if they hadn’t dropped a touchdown catch in the end zone, or an interception for a touchdown.

“A lot of people around here thought it was an ugly win,” Noland said. “But as coaches, we felt like we played one of the better games all year.”

The Indians have won six straight, and are 6-1 and 3-0 in Region 8-AAA, their only loss to Class AA No. 6 Elbert County, a one-point defeat in The Granite Bowl. Yet Noland continues to point to correcting dropped passes and the healing of injuries like the hip injury that knocked kicker Matt Moon out two weeks ago against Chestatee.

Georgia Notebook: Elbert prepares for region test

2011-10-13T08:00:00.000-04:00

After several weeks of the weaker portion of its schedule, Elbert County travels to Jefferson this week in a meeting of Region 8-AA South contenders.

The Blue Devils, who used a strong fourth quarter last week to beat Hart County, will play one of the best offenses in the region, with arguably the best quarterback.

Jefferson’s Bryant Shirreffs led a win over Hart County last month when he was 15-for-21 passing for 285 yards and four touchdowns.

“Very good trigger man,” Elbert coach Sid Fritts said, “who can distribute the ball to a lot of different people.”

LSU punter has TD called back on celebration penalty

2011-10-10T16:20:00.003-04:00

Associated Press

"LSU appeared to have scored its third TD when punter Brad Wing covered 52 yards on a fake late in the first quarter, but he raised his arms moments before crossing the goal line. That drew an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty, which took the score off the board. LSU retained possession, but had to settle for Drew Alleman's 35-yard field goal.

Miles said he did not call a fake but said Wing made the right call to run when he saw Florida's coverage team retreating. He only wished he hadn't drawn a flag.

"In a big game when 4 points is important, we won't do that," Miles said."

It didn't matter much in the grand scheme of the game as LSU won 41-11.

Week 6 picks

2011-10-08T09:25:00.000-04:00

Empty your 401(k) here:

Auburn +10 at Arkansas

If the Tigers didn't prove last week that their national championship hangover has been overplayed, check them out this week. Auburn's even won three of its last four trips to Fayetteville. With comeback wins already against Mississippi State and South Carolina, Auburn has what it takes to at least keep it close. Given last week's late comeback against Texas A&M and the blowout loss to Alabama, how can the Hogs beat anybody by more than 10?

The pick: War Eagle and grab the 10.

It's OK to dip into the spare piggy bank:

Ohio State +11 at Nebraska

Classic let down game for the Cornhuskers, who are coming off a loss at Wisconsin. The Buckeyes, despite the post-Jim Tressel-Tattoo meltdown of the summer, still have a respectable defense. The Buckeyes are still in the top 15 in the country in yards and points allowed. And against a Huskers offense that can be fairly one-dimensional, all they need is a defensive score or two to make this interesting.

The pick: Dot the i on the way to the bank.

Tennessee +1 vs. Georgia

Tennessee needs a signature win to continue in progression back into the elite in the SEC. Georgia has struggled at Neyland Stadium recently. Georgia is without its best pass rusher in Cornelius Washington, who is suspended for an arrest last weekend. Heck, by the fourth quarter, Barbara Dooley might be wearing a headset calling plays.

The pick: Rocky Top will eke out a victory.

Only touch with your father-in-law's cash:

Florida +13.5 at LSU

Les Miles is 1-13 against the spread in SEC games, including last week's ATS loss against Kentucky when the Bayou Bengals led 35-7, but just 14-0 at halftime. Sure, the talk all week has been the injury to John Brantley. The easy pick would be to bail on true freshman replacement Jeff Driskel. But the SEC is tough enough that style points aren't needed. A win is enough, even if it's less than two TDs.

The pick: Chomp your way to a Gator cover.

Last week: 3-1

Season:

401(k): 3-1

Piggy bank: 5-1

Father-in-law: 1-2

Spartans slaughter 'Skins

2011-10-08T08:00:00.000-04:00

Coming off of two straight losses for the first time in six years, Athens Academy got exactly the tonic it needed on Friday night.

The Spartans welcomed winless Social Circle to Slaughter Field, and coasted to a 48-3 victory, their largest scoring output since 2006.

The Redskins had three first-quarter turnovers — two the rest of the way — as Athens Academy rolled.

Jags squander chances vs. Pats

2011-10-01T08:00:00.000-04:00

In a span of less than three minutes early in the second half, Heritage erased all of its first-half mistakes.

The Patriots’ two fumbles and an interception in the first half gave Cedar Shoals plenty of chances to build a lead.

But the Jaguars couldn’t generate much momentum, and it came back to burn them at home in a 36-19 loss on Friday. The unbeaten Patriots scored 16 unanswered points in a decisive third quarter that started with another highlight reel play from Cedar Shoals running back Rodney Willingham.

But that momentum didn’t last long as Heritage went 80 yards in 10 plays to restore its eight-point cushion and then coast to victory.

Week 5 picks

2011-09-29T18:28:00.004-04:00

Empty your 401(k) here:

Georgia Tech -10 at N.C. State

The Yellow Jackets actually have a passing game this season to go with the triple-option. Tech has averaged over 600 yards and 53 points per game. N.C. State, meanwhile, has a host of injuries on its defensive line, including its third group of linemen this week. That's the main reason why the Wolfpack have allowed nearly 40 points and 470 yards to FBS opponents Wake Forest and Cincinnati. Tech hasn't been 4-0 since 1990 when it won the national title.

The pick: Ramble your way to a double digit cover.

It's OK to dip into the spare piggy bank:

Alabama -3.5 at Florida

Word out of Gainesville is Charlie Weis is being dubbed the new Steve Spurrier. But the SEC is the dad-gum best conference in land because it has the best defensive linemen around (see: Marcell Dareus, Nick Fairley, Glenn Dorsey). Not coincidentally, the most recent SEC and national champions led the SEC in rushing defense. The Tide's defensive front cause all kinds of problems for Arkansas last week, and while Jeff Demps and Chris Rainey will get the pre-game hype, look for them to bottled up.

The pick: Roll Tide in the Swamp.

Auburn +10 at South Carolina

In a meeting of teams that each have several issues, most notably Auburn's defense and South Carolina's offense, they no doubt hope to find a cure in this week's opponent. While Auburn's offense is struggling so far, and it will be a tall order against one of the best defenses in the country, the easy pick here would be the Gamecocks. But the South Carolina defense and Marcus Lattimore alone aren't more than 10 points better than the Aubbies.

The pick: War Eagle in Columbia.

Only touch with your father-in-law's cash:

Clemson +7 at Virginia Tech

This is the third week that Clemson plays a ranked team, and the third time many believe the Tigers are due for a letdown. They're 2-for-2 so far, and how many top 15 teams are handed a touchdown, even on the road? The Hokies, meanwhile, haven't exactly been tested by the likes of Appalachian State, East Carolina, Arkansas State and Marshall. Look for Clemson to remember the 2006 Blacksburg Beatdown, and be motivated to cover, or win outright.

The pick: Dabo does it.

Last week: 3-1

Season:

401(k): 3-0

Piggy bank: 3-1

Father-in-law: 0-2

Georgia Notebook: Region 8-AA South teams fighting for position

2011-09-29T08:00:00.000-04:00

One of the pitfalls of the strength of Region 8-AA South, the subregion where Hart County and Elbert County reside, is the lack of playoff spots that match the playoff-worthy teams.

Last year, North Oconee finished 9-1, but because the Titans lost at Elbert, and therefore finished second in the subregion, they opened the playoffs on the road, an eventual loss.

North Oconee’s 28-20 win over Hart County last week was one of the first steps toward shaping the playoff field from that subregion.

“Hart obviously has their back against the wall, and they’re fighting in that survivor mode,” North Oconee coach Terry Tuley said. “We only get three (in the playoffs). It’s a screwed up region, it’s not Hart’s fault.”

Defense overcomes Titans' many mistakes

2011-09-24T08:38:00.000-04:00

BOGART -- In a game of twists and turns, the North Oconee defense, which stood tall the entire night, stopped Hart County when it mattered most.

The Titans' defense, which only allowed a touchdown when it started at its own 5-yard line, stalled an 18-play Hart County drive at its own 3 to start the fourth quarter. And despite another turnover by the Titans, that defense responded again to preserve a 28-20 victory on Friday night.

"We finally got some backbone, we finally stepped up," said North Oconee coach Terry Tuley. "Give up that and give up this, before you know it, you stand around, and all of a sudden you're at the goal line. Our guys have a lot of pride, and the defense pitched a shutout. It ain't their fault there's not a goose egg up there."

Stephens' Aaron Trotter continues to overcome adversity

2011-09-23T00:20:00.001-04:00

TOCCOA, Ga. — In four years starting for the Indians, Aaron Trotter has had a different dose of adversity almost every season.

As a freshman, he was undersized to play safety.

As a sophomore, Trotter suffered a broken bone in his foot and missed several games.

This year, he’s moved back to linebacker after last playing there as a sophomore.

And while he’s been the most experienced player on the defense, and directing a young secondary, he’s watched his mother battle liver and colon cancer.

Through it all, he’s emerged as one of the Indians’ most valuable players. His move to linebacker in Week 2 coincided with the defense allowing just 24 points the three weeks.

Week 4 picks

2011-09-22T22:33:00.003-04:00

Empty your 401(k) here:

Clemson -3 vs. Florida State

The Tigers don't often make a habit of winning back-to-back big games, especially against the likes of Auburn and Florida State. But freshman Sammy Watkins opened some eyes last week in the Auburn win, and the Noles are battling injuries, most notably to QB E.J. Manuel. If there's ever a time for Clemson to win the ACC, a win here would go a long way in that direction. The visitor is 1-8 in the last nine games in this series, and FSU has dropped four straight at Clemson by 15 points per game.

The pick: Clemson and give the points.

LSU -5.5 at West Virginia

A road win in Starkville last week only strengthened the Bayou Bengals' position as a BCS contender. Now they go to Morgantown, but LSU is 4-0 in true non-conference road games in the last eight years. LSU gets QB Russell Shepard back this week from a three-game suspension. The Mountaineers, who beat Maryland 37-31 last week, are also 3-0. While West Virginia has a high-powered offense, behind QB Geno Smith, LSU is yielding just 12 points per game, which includes the season opening win against Oregon.

The pick: LSU and give the points thanks to its defense.

It's OK to dip into the spare piggy bank:

Florida -21 at Kentucky

The wheels are quickly falling off the Big Blue wagon. And since the Cats don't exactly have a confidence-boosting history against the Gators, this one could get ugly quickly. Florida has won 11 straight in Lexington, and hasn't lost there since 1986. In the last three years, Florida has beaten UK 154-26. While the UK defense has been a bright spot (it has allowed 13 points per game), the likes of Western Kentucky, Central Michigan and Louisville don't quite have the backfield speed of Chris Rainey and Jeff Demps.

The pick: Take the Gators, and it's almost basketball season in the Bluegrass.

Only touch with your father-in-law's cash:

Notre Dame -6.5 at Pittsburgh

The Irish may have solved their quarterback woes, and gained momentum after last week's 31-13 win over No. 15 Michigan State. Pitt, conversely, is recovering from a loss to Iowa where the Panthers lost a 21-point second half lead. Pitt was just 4-for-13 on third downs last week, and its defense will be tested again with Tommy Rees and Michael Floyd in the passing game.

The pick: Irish and give a touchdown

Last week: 3-2

Season:

401(k): 1-0

Piggy bank: 2-1

Father-in-law: 0-1

Georgia Notebook: Hart prepares for stingy North Oconee

2011-09-22T08:00:00.000-04:00

Still recovering from last week’s loss at Jefferson, Hart County continues the Region 8-AA South grind this week with a visit to North Oconee.

The Titans, who won 28-16 in Hartwell last year, are 3-0 and haven’t been scored on since a Week 1 win over Arabia Mountain. In the last two weeks, they’ve beaten Commerce (33-0) and Rabun County (69-0).

“They’re really, really big up front,” Hart coach Joby Scroggs said. “The people they’ve played, they’ve been able to move out of the way.”

Eagles make it two straight behind Wildgoose, Sims

2011-09-17T08:26:00.000-04:00

Athens Banner-Herald

Athens Christian had already been on the wrong side of a down-to-the-wire finish this season, so Eagles coach Steve Brooks wasn't interested in going down that path again.

Thanks to a two-pronged rushing attack, and a broken play that set up a first-and-goal situation, the Eagles knocked off visiting Banks County 27-21 on Friday.

Senior running back Travis Wildgoose led the way with 192 rushing yards on 13 carries, while junior Malik Sims had three touchdowns.

Scroggs reaches milestone

2011-09-15T09:00:00.001-04:00

Anderson Independent-Mail

Friday’s win for Hart County was important because it gave the Bulldogs something to think about besides the previous week’s lopsided loss to Stephens County.

But it was also a milestone for coach Joby Scroggs, who tied Bobby Pate for 66 wins, the most in school history. In his ninth season coaching the Bulldogs, Scroggs said it was a “tremendous honor,” and he was humbled to achieve it because Pate was a mentor for him.

Scroggs worked as an assistant under Pate at Hart from 1987-93, and credited Pate for molding him as a coach.

Week 3 picks

2011-09-14T22:36:00.002-04:00

Here at the Almanac, we're back in the saddle with another season of picks. Sure, we came out of the gate a bit late, and are still recovering from a 16-18 record in 2010. But it's just now that the games are getting good, and we're mostly through with the Directional Techs and Southwest Prairie View paycheck-paloozas.

Empty your 401(k) here:

LSU -3.5 at Mississippi State

This is a critical game for the Cowbell Dogs if they want to win the SEC West, since they've already lost to Auburn. While the Bayou Bengals may not be the team many expected before the August bar brawl, they showed against Oregon that they're among the nation's best. The key matchup is the LSU run defense, which is the best in the SEC, against the MSU rushing offense that has collected more than 640 yards in two games. LSU has won 11 straight in the series with an average score of 39-13.

The pick: Take the Bayou Bengals and start the weekend off right.

It's OK to dip into the spare piggy bank:

Auburn +3.5 at Clemson

It's tough to imagine why the Aubbies are getting points here, even though the game is at Clemson. The Palmetto Tigers have certainly struggled against SEC teams lately, going 3-7 in their last 10, mostly against South Carolina. But, after last week's win over Mississippi State, the Aubbies don't appear to be as bad as advertised. And it's still difficult to get behind a perennially underachieving program that often loses games it should win.

The pick: The Western Tigers until Clemson proves me wrong.

Oklahoma -3 at Florida State

In one of the marquee games of the young season, the Sooners, a popular pick to get to the national championship game, need a tough win to bolster their BCS resume. The pre-game hype will center on the top 5 rankings, and the meeting of the Stoops brothers. FSU is 5-12 in its last 17 games against top 10 opponents, including back-to-back losses by 27 and 30 points. The 'Noles have revenge on their mind after last year's 47-17 whipping in Norman. But the Sooners are a cut above, and better by more than a field goal.

The pick: Boomer Sooner

Wisconsin -17 vs. Northern Illinois at Soldier Field

The Badgers are one of the main dark horses to play for the national championship, and have only impressed behind new quarterback Russell Wilson. Since Northern Illinois is coming off of a tough loss against Kansas (45-42), a bounce back game against a top 10 team is not likely. The Northern Illinois defense has also given up 837 rushing yards in games against Army and Kansas.

The pick: On, Wisconsin!

Only touch with your father-in-law's cash:

Kentucky -6.5 vs. Louisville

The annual Governor's Cup game has lost a bit of the hype it typically has as a season opener. It's the third game for both teams, and neither has done anything to fire up their fan base. UK has won four straight in the series, which is significant since the Cats have only beaten Vandy and Mississippi State four straight among SEC teams in the last 20 years. The team with the most rushing yards has won 15 in a row in the series. It's difficult to pick a team that hasn't put up more than 600 offensive yards in two games, but UK is a touchdown better than the Cards this week.

The pick: Take the Cats and give the points

Willingham rings in birthday with huge night

2011-09-10T08:00:00.001-04:00

Athens Banner-Herald

Rodney Willingham just smiles when he's asked his height and weight.

The pint-sized junior running back for Cedar Shoals -- officially listed at 5-foot-5, 155 pounds, but closer to 5-4, 145 -- didn't let his size hold him back Friday night.

Willingham scored three touchdowns and rushed for 124 yards on 12 carries in the Jaguars' 28-14 victory over Rockdale County at The Jungle.

For Willingham, the victory and touchdown binge was just one reason to celebrate. He also rang in his 17th birthday.

"That's the biggest present I wanted," Willingham said. "I told my team, 'Y'all just go out and play hard.' I knew we were going to face some kind of adversity. That's all I really wanted for my team was the victory."