October's Todays
Tuesday, Oct. 31, 2017
In The Sports Report
McConnell-Talbert Stadium has hosted a lot of big games over the years for Warner Robins, usually involving Northside on the other sideline.
Not this time. It's Bainbridge, it's No. 3 in the state, and it's for a region title and perfect regular season. Coming this morning in This Week's Coverage.
The high school football standings/scores/schedule is updated in the High School Scoreboard.
The first College Football Playoff poll comes out Tuesday night, and paranoia is rampant. That and other thoughts in Loughdmouthings.
Look for a mid-afternoon Alumni Update as well.
Update, 1:45 p.m: Warner Robins hosts Bainbridge in a monster non-Northside game, in This Week’s Coverage. … Excited about the first college football playoff poll? Worried? Don’t be either. In Loughdmouthings.
Weather
Warmer, high in mid-70s and sunny, low in mid-40s and clear. Weekend is around 80, low in mid- to upper-50s.
Fountain City Classic Awaits
Fort Valley State kept the SIAC's Eastern Division title Saturday with a rousing 52-7 win over Morehouse, blasting away for 35 points inthe third quarter.
The Wildcats improved to 5-3 overall and 5-0 in the SIAC.
Former Dodge County standout Cam Young had two interceptions, returning one 59 yards for a touchdown.
Albany State is off a 17-12 loss to Benedict to fall to 5-4 and 3-2.
FVSU scored all of its points in the second half and shut ASU out in the process for a 21-17 win.
The Wildcats will then play in the SIAC championship is on Nov. 11 in Montgomery, Ala.
Also this weekend
1 p.m.
GMC at ASA-Miami.
2 p.m.
Kennesaw State at Montana State. Sagarin margin: even.
3 p.m.
Samford at Mercer, 3 p.m. Sagarin margin: Samford by 1.
Georgia Tech at Virginia, ACCNE. Line: Georgia Tech by 10.
Georgia State at Georgia Southern, ESPN 3
3:30 p.m. Line: Georgia State by 3.5.
South Carolina at Georgia, CBS. Line: Georgia by 24.
5 p.m.
Delaware State at Savannah State. Sagarin margin: Savannah State by 2.
1 p.m. Sunday
Atlanta at Carolina, FOX. Line: Carolina by 2.
Remote control watch
Noon, Wisconsin at Indiana, ABC; Penn State at Michigan State, Fox
3:30 p.m.: Clemson at N.C. State, ABC; Iowa State at West Virginia, ESPN 2
4 p.m.: Oklahoma at Oklahoma State, FS1
8 p.m.: LSU at Alabama, CBS; Virginia Tech at Miami, ABC
Memo to softball, volleyball coaches
Send complete all-region teams - with any notes and info - and we'll post them for Central Georgia folks to see. To centralgasports@gmail.com
Reading/Viewing Material
Can the Dodgers and Astros top things so far?
Too early for the hyperbole?
Or was it all overrated because of manager blunders?
How "classic" can it be if millions can't watch it?
Do you need a note for being late to school/work?
Like sands through the hourglass ... Elliott suspended
Florida will focus on three coaches
Or on 21
But it's Mullen, right?
No way it's Mullen, right, Mrs. Mullen?
Good news for Garoppolo? Probably starting. Bad news? For the 49ers
* * * * *
Monday, Oct. 30, 2017
In The Sports Report
The good news was that nobody, in fact, was ejected from the Dodge County-Bleckley County game. And that’s huge for Bleckley County, which is in a logjam in Region 3-AA with Washington County, Dublin and Southwest. Details on all that are in This Week’s Coverage.
Coming later Monday: updated high school football scoreboard. This week’s games are posted, too.
From the past few days:
* Catch up on the doings at Georgia Southern after the first bad trip to New England for a state football team this weekend.
* Saturday Afternoon Quarterback took a thorough look – most complete look in the area – at Friday night’s high school football, from surprises to thrillers to notables.
* Tattnall played its way late Friday into the championship round of the GHSA softball playoffs, and then forced a true championship game, but lost in an extra-inning walkoff. The area’s most complete coverage of the three days is in This Week’s Coverage.
* Check out Friday’s high school scores and this week’s games, with some notes and observations. And take a peek at the area rankings.
* Speaking of Dodge County and Bleckley County, take a look at the advance for that game and the top-10 showdown in Class 5A with Stockbridge and Jones County.
* Georgia Southern is in transition again.
Weather
You can maybe skip a jacket, with a high near 70 and low around 42. The week will be in the 70s in the daytime and 50s at night, until cracking 80 for a few days starting on Friday.
World Series? Epic. Exhausting. Whopper. Splendiferous.
Game 5 of the World Series blew past Game 6 of the 1975 Series, known for Carlton Fisk helping his hit get over the wall. It had everything but nudity.
For a slight idea of the insanity that didn’t end until 1:39 in the morning:
Just check out coverage at www.chron.com and www.latimes.com, plus www.espn.com and anywhere else for the ranting and and raving and exclamations and hyperbole. Because it lived up to it all, nearly 5 ½ hours worth.
Will post specific Reading Material at some point Monday.
Coming up
Macon Touchdown Club
Former Wake Forest head coach Jim Grobe is Monday’s speaker at the Macon Touchdown Club.
Tattnall and Mary Persons are the high school teams of the week.
Grobe went 117-121-1 as head coach at Ohio, Wake Forest and Baylor, and was 4-2 in bowl games.
The Huntington, West Virginia native played at Ferrum and Virginia, and he coached at Virginia, Liberty High in Virginia, Emory and Henry, Marshall and Air Force before becoming a head coach.
He spent one season at Baylor as the school worked to deal with a wide-ranging sexual assault scandal that continues.
The club will honor three players.
Back of the week: Destin Mack, Tattnall, running back/defensive back: had 22 carries for 192 yards and a touchdown plus six tackles in the instant-classic loss to Stratford;
Lineman of the week: Tobe Umerah, Stratford, defensive end: Had 15 tackles, one for loss and a forced fumble in the win over Tattnall;
Special teams player of the week: Kody Burrell, Howard, punter/kicker: Averaged 38 yards on five punts, with a long of 51 yards, and was 3 for 3 on PATs with a 25-yard field goal in a loss to Spalding.
The club meets at the Methodist Home for Children and Youth, in the Rumford Center, at 304 Pierce Ave. It starts at 6:30 p.m. with dinner and the program to begin around 7. Cost is $30 for non-members, who needn't be accompanied by a member.
For more info, http://www.macontouchdownclub.com.
Reading/Viewing Material
The Falcons took care of business, and won on the road
It was a fun day in Jacksonville, huh?
And the Dogs got a coach fired …
… Which may have been coming longer than the past weird week …
… And less of a surprise on the inside than we figured
Clemson had the D - and rain - for Georgia Tech
Georgia Southern open to all, um, options at head coach?
* * * * *
Sunday, Oct. 29, 2017
In The Sports Report
You have, after a big ol’ burly Saturday of college football, a lot of catching up to do.
There is the GHSA softball tournament and the thriller involving a local team. Catch up on the three days of the tournament in This Week’s Coverage.
There is the full-buffet Saturday Afternoon Quarterback, which covers upsets, big games, surprises and assorted other nuggets from the Central Georgia area about two dozen counties, almost three times that of other area media.
A reminder of how much content there is here, more than in so many other places? In the past four days: Saturday Afternoon QB, assorted GHSA tournament softball updates, Friday night football scores, preview on Bleckley County-Dodge County and Jones County-Stockbridge, and a look at a full Friday night of prep football. Plus the most extensive prep page in Central Georgia by far.
Bookmark the page and start checking it daily a few times.
Reminder: This is better utilized on a desktop or tablet. Use all your fingers, save your thumbs.
Weather
True fall weather, with some clouds, temps in mid-50s and mid-30s, mid-50s humidity. Things warm up Monday with Chamber of Commerce weather for a few days.
Reminder
The Falcons are at the New York Jets at 1 p.m. Sunday, on Fox. The Jets are 3-4 and last in the AFC East, the Falcons are 3-3 and third in the NFC South.
Pittsburgh-Detroit is the night game, and MNF is Denver at Kansas City.
Macon Touchdown Club
Former Wake Forest head coach Jim Grobe is Monday’s speaker at the Macon Touchdown Club.
Tattnall and Mary Persons are the high school teams of the week.
Grobe went 117-121-1 as head coach at Ohio, Wake Forest and Baylor, and was 4-2 in bowl games.
The Huntington, West Virginia native played at Ferrum and Virginia, and he coached at Virginia, Liberty High in Virginia, Emory and Henry, Marshall and Air Force before becoming a head coach.
He spent one season at Baylor as the school worked to deal with a wide-ranging sexual assault scandal that continues.
The club meets at the Methodist Home for Children and Youth, in the Rumford Center, at 304 Pierce Ave. It starts at 6:30 p.m. with dinner and the program to begin around 7. Cost is $30 for non-members, who needn't be accompanied by a member.
Former Georgia lineman and current ESPN analyst Matt Stinchcomb is next week’s speaker.
For more info, http://www.macontouchdownclub.com.
* * * * *
Saturday, Oct. 28, 2017
The most complete Central Georgia softball roundup is in This Week’s Coverage.
Up to date are Friday night’s Central Georgia football scores – and there were some interesting scores. For pregame reading material afterward, check out the Jones County/Stockbridge and Bleckley County/Dodge County previews, see how close things ended up in those major showdowns.
Coming today: how Tattnall and Monticello did in their hunt for a state softball championship, at least a high school notebook (or Friday night review/Saturday PM QB), some college football, perhaps a quick pre-Cocktail Party Loughdmouthings.
Weather
Good day to watch TV. A 90 percent chance of rain, afternoon thunderstorms, and a low of 40. Things improve Sunday.
Mayhem lose close one
Macon lost to Evansville 5-4 in overtime Friday night. The Mayhem are on the road Saturday against Evansville.
http://pointstreaksites.com/view/maconmayhem/news/news_494930
Baseball update
Houston had 12 hits to top Los Angeles 5-3 Friday and take a 2-1 World Series lead. Game 4 is Saturday at 8 p.m. on Fox.
* * * * *
Friday, Oct. 27, 2017
In The Sports Report, This Week’s Coverage
Tattnall, West Laurens and Monticello won two games Thursday night in the GHSA softball Elite Eight, and the rest of Central Georgia has some climbing to do.
Jones County's Greyhound Field will be in epic form for an epic game when the No. 5 Greyhounds host No. 2/3 Stockbridge in a battle of unbeatens.
Who's where in Central Georgia football stats? There's a new rushing leader, and we have more schools - more than two dozen, from Mary Persons to Macon County to West Laurens to Upson-Lee to Houston and Bibb counties.
Coming Friday: Dodge County is at Bleckley County, and the rivalry has more on the line than just bragging rights; updates from Columbus and softball; college football and that game in Jacksonville, and more.
Weather
A little warmer, daytime and nighttime, high in the mid-70s and low in the mid-50s. Rain is coming Saturday.
* * * * *
Thursday, Oct. 26, 2017
In The Sports Report, This Week’s Coverage
Ready for you to read or go back and read: Jake Fromm is getting dissed by Florida DBs? Hmmm … ; Loughdmouthings: get off Sark’s butt, for now (and predictions and all sorts of other stuff); Columbus is host to a large Central Georgia gathering for the state softball Elite 8.
Coming Friday: Jones County has a huuuge home game; Dodge County has a huuuuge road game; UGA-Florida nugget; and more content will pop up. More Reading/Viewing Material to come.
Update, 5:15 p.m.: Area teams fighting uphill battle after early losses at GHSA softball tournament (through 3 p.m. games). In This Week's Coverage.
Weather
High in low 70s, low in low 40s.
Friday’s kickoff: mid 60s, colder by final horn. Saturday four hours from Jacksonville: 70ish at WLOCP kickoff and some moisture there and here.
Reading/Viewing Material
Do college football coaches make too much? Would Bama become UAB without Saban?
MLB catcher denied at Alabama for kneeling
David Stern ready a to chill on doobage … aka use of marijuana?
https://www.uninterrupted.com/
* * * * *
Wednesday, Oct. 25, 2017
In The Sports Report, This Week’s Coverage
Florida has a fair amount of confidence it can shut down Jake Fromm despite plenty of evidence to the contrary. And the Gators have a young, inexperienced quarterback, too.
More than a dozen teams are getting ready for the GHSA Elite Eight softball tournament in Columbus, a whole lot more than last year.
Coming Wednesday afternoon: More Georgia-Florida, the state football polls will be added to the High School Scoreboard, and a look at one of the big high school football games this Friday.
Take a look at some UGA-Florida action on the Gators’ chatter about Jake Fromm, and Central Georgia football rankings.
Mayhem at home Friday
Off to an 0-2 start is nothing for Macon.
The Mayhem got going better last season, winning their first three games before evening out to a 4-3 start.
Macon will try to get started to such a roll Friday when it hosts Roanoke.
Roanoke is 0-1, losing 4-3 to Fayetteville.
Macon then heads to Evansville for a Sunday meeting and then is at Mississippi on Nov. 3. The Mayhem return home for three straight, starting on Nov. 9 with a two-game series against Evansville.
Dodgers take 1-0 lead
Clayton Kershaw was money for seven innings to lead Los Angeles to a 3-1 win Tuesday in the World Series opener.
The shocker: It took all of two hours and 28 minutes, and first-pitch temperature was 103 degrees.
Game 2 is Wednesday at 8 p.m. on Fox.
Hawks off until Thursday
The 1-2 Atlanta Hawks visit Chicago on Thursday at 8 p.m. on WGN.
The Bulls are off to sluggish start, too, at 0-3 after losing 119-112 Tuesday to Cleveland.
A big Friday night
One doesn’t have to drive far from anywhere to see a football game this Friday
But leave early to get there early, because places will be filling up quickly. Take a look at This Week’s Coverage.
* * * * *
Tuesday, Oct. 24, 2017
In The Sports Report
The most comprehensive set of Central Georgia standings is up to date, with last week’s score and this week’s games, by region, 16 regions worth. And more on Georgia Southern's football coach change, and local connections to the interim coach.
The GHSA softball schedule is set in This Week's Coverage. Coming later: Alumni Update, and maybe more.
Updated, 1 p.m.: Who is No. 1 in area football? Big-school and small-school top 5s.
Weather
Postcard, wish-we-could-open-the-roof-at-the-office weather, high of low 70s, los in the 40s, 10 percent chance of precip, mid-50s humidity.
Kickoff weather Friday: low 70s and perfect.
Reading/Viewing Material
Virginia did more than just hire a new athletics director
Georgia will have an impact on UVA athletics
The Falcons have a plan to, you know, get better, they reeeeally do
Avoiding fog is part of that plan
And speaking of fog and fog machines and Craigslist …
Gabbing in Gainesville will make UGA locker room walls
Of course, Florida is quite the underdog
The Gators have more than UGA to deal with: death threats (yeah)
Soap opera brewing in Pittsburgh with Steelers
ESPN cuts a talk show after one episode?
* * * * *
Monday, Oct. 23, 2017
In The Sports Report
Catch up on the doings at Georgia Southern after the first bad trip to New England for a state football team this weekend.
Coming Monday: updated high school scoreboard.
In Case You Missed It: This Week’s Coverage has a load of information, from high school football advances to postseason softball and volleyball results and pairings to the Saturday Afternoon Quarterback looking at a freaky Friday night of football.
Weather
The rain we didn’t get Sunday should appear Monday, and temps will barely crack 70 in the daytime, drop to around 50 at night. Find the umbrella, the well-rested umbrella.
Help wanted in Statesboro
Georgia Southern fired Tyson Summers on Sunday, less than a day after rout at UMass
Football scheduling updates
The crossovers and play-ins for Region 4-A are set.
This week: Macon County at Central Talbotton; Taylor County at Greenville; Dooly County at Marion County; Hawkinsville at Manchester; Crawford County at Pacelli.
Next week: Manchester at Macon County; Brookstone at Taylor County; Greenville at Dooly County; Hawkinsville at Pacelli; Central-Talbotton at Crawford County
Region 7-A has regular scheduling this week and play-ins next week.
Coming up
Macon Touchdown Club
Former Alabama quarterback Brodie Croyle is Monday's guest speaker at the Macon Touchdown Club.
FPD, off a big overtime win over Tattnall, is the high school of the week.
Croyle played at Alabama 2002-05, battling injuries his entire career. He led the Tide to a 10-2 record and No. 8 final ranking as a senior, and was the MVP of the Cotton Bowl.
Drafted by Kansas City, he spent only a few seasons in the NFL before joining the family vocation, as executive director of Big Oak Ranch, "a Christian home for abused, neglected, orphaned and abandoned children" with three homes in Alabama.
The ranch was founded in 1974 by Croyle's father John, who played defense at Alabama under Bear Bryant. It initially served boys, and a girls home was added in 1988.
The club meets at the Methodist Home for Children and Youth, in the Rumford Center, at 304 Pierce Ave. It starts at 6:30 p.m. with dinner and the program to begin around 7. Cost is $30 for non-members, who needn't be accompanied by a member.
Former Wake Forest head coach Jim Grobe is next week's speaker.
For more info, http://www.macontouchdownclub.com.
Reading/Viewing Material
That was a lot of hype for a rematch that was about as brutal – albeit not as painful – as the first meeting, won by the same team
At least the Falcons weren't THIS bad
Braves making changes ... maybe ... probably
Virginia breaks ground, hires African-American woman - and ex-UGA star - as AD
Truex Jr. wins emotional race in Kansas ...
... day after a crew member dies
College football polls stay fairly stable, for a change
Coach Khakis catching heat after Michigan gets thumped by Penn State
Naturally, some of it comes from SECland and Finebaum
There was some homer optimism for the Wolverines going in ... oops
NBA season just started, and Phoenix fires its coach
* * * * *
Sunday, Oct. 22, 2017
In The Sports Report
Read away, the GISA softball championships, the Saturday Afternoon QB, both in This Week’s Coverage.
Really, there is plenty to catch up on in This Week’s Coverage, so chill at the desktop, laptop or with the tablet.
We’re for ease of reading, so it’s not about the phone. Sunday will be slow, so go back and read – or take a look – at what we’re giving you.
Weather
Fall football weather, high a little warm at low 80s and low around 68. Rain may start Sunday, but it’s coming on Monday.
Reminder
The Falcons are at New England at 8:30 p.m. on Sunday.
Macon Touchdown Club
Former Alabama quarterback Brodie Croyle is Monday's guest speaker at the Macon Touchdown Club.
FPD is the high school of the week.
Croyle played at Alabama 2002-05, battling injuries his entire career. He led the Tide to a 10-2 record and No. 8 final ranking as a senior, and was the MVP of the Cotton Bowl.
Drafted by Kansas City, he spent only a few seasons in the NFL before joining the family vocation, as executive director of Big Oak Ranch, "a Christian home for abused, neglected, orphaned and abandoned children" with three homes in Alabama.
The ranch was founded in 1974 by Croyle's father John, who played defense at Alabama under Bear Bryant. It initially served boys, and a girls home was added in 1988.
The club meets at the Methodist Home for Children and Youth, in the Rumford Center, at 304 Pierce Ave. It starts at 6:30 p.m. with dinner and the program to begin around 7. Cost is $30 for non-members, who needn't be accompanied by a member.
Former Wake Forest head coach Jim Grobe is next week's speaker.
For more info, http://www.macontouchdownclub.com.
* * * * *
Saturday, Oct. 21, 2017
In The Sports Report
Up to date are Friday night’s Central Georgia football scores – and there were some whoppers. For pregame reading material afterward, check out the West Laurens-Mary Persons and Gatewood-John Milledge previews, see how close things ended up in those major showdowns. Maybe check out the Scoreboard and the Maxwell picks for some fun.
Coming today: Saturday Afternoon QB on the high school highlights; tentatively some Alumni Updates, college football and perhaps some NFL.
Update, 8:30 p.m.: The GISA state softball finals are done, with details in his Week's Coverage, along with Saturday Afternoon QB. More to come Sunday on Alums.
Weather
Heavenly. High of 81, low of 58, humidity in the 60s. Sunday, about the same, warmer at night, rain chances increase. Monday: rain.
Championship Saturday
It's time to crown GISA softball champions, at Mercer. And go to This Week's Coverage to see which two Central Georgia teams snagged the hardware.
Mayhem open season
Eh, it’s a long season, one in which Macon didn’t start off that well, losing 4-0 to Pensacola Friday night. Pensacola got rolling late in the second period
Baseball update
Saturday: 8 p.m., Yankees-Astros, thanks to Justin Verlander’s seven shutout innings and clutch hits from Jose Altuve and Brian McCann.
Tuesday: 8 p.m., World Series, Game 1, Houston/NYY at L.A. Dodgers
Wednesday: 8 p.m., World Series, Game 2
Reading/Viewing Material
Still buzzing over that wild Kansas City-Oakland finish Thursday night
Of course, Marshawn Lynch had an attention-getting night, too
Former UGA star Todd Gurley among the many unhappy with London games
This NFL game in the Northeast has nothing to do – contrary to what TV will say – with that first game this year
What the Falcons are saying about playing the Patriots
Baker bounced as manager of the Nationals
Axe falls on Louisville’s Jurich …
Former Crawford County star Kenny Walker checks in on Pitino scandal
… while Pitino executes spin control
* * * * *
Friday, Oct. 20, 2017
In The Sports Report
A look at West Laurens' visit to Mary Persons in a Region 2-AAAA showdown - last year's game was a defensive showcase in Dexter - is posted in This Week's Coverage.
Coming Friday: John Milledge and Gatewood meet up in a huge GISA battle of undefeated region rivals and state championship combatants. And some high school notes.
Central Georgia added three more teams to the contingent heading to Columbus, in This Week's Coverage, along with the area’s most complete GHSA softball tournament report, with details and names and stats for most of Wednesday’s series as the majority of Central Georgia’s teams advanced.
The High School Scoreboard is completely up to date, with standings/scores/this week already set, and expanded look at area football stats posted with a few more schools represented, and the Maxwell Ratings picks.
Look for some more Reading Material in the afternoon.
Weather
Look up "perfect weather" in the dictionary. High around 80, low around 52. Saturday is the same high with a low around 59.
Some rain coming Sunday, and definitely Monday.
Time to drop the puck
The Macon Mayhem start defense of their Southern Professional Hockey League title on Friday at 7:35 p.m. at the Centreplex against Pensacola.
It’ll be a big pregame, with the players getting their championship rings and the championship banner being unfurled.
For ticket information, call 803-1592 or go to the website.
Wild, wild stuff
Oakland, and Macon's Marquette King, finally won an almost absurd game with Kansas City Thursday night in NFL action. Take a read.
Moving on
Los Angeles hammered Chicago to advance to the World Series
* * * * *
Thursday, Oct. 19, 2017
In The Sports Report
The area’s most complete GHSA softball tournament report is up in This Week’s Coverage, with details and names and stats for most of Wednesday’s series as the majority of Central Georgia’s teams advanced.
The High School Scoreboard is almost completely up to date, with standings/scores/this week already set, and expanded look at area football stats posted with a few more schools represented.
Coming Thursday: In the afternoon, a look at the Region 2-AAAA showdown between West Laurens and Mary Persons, plus some high school football notes; some Alumni Update info.
Weather
More of the same: Sunny, daytime temps in mid-70s and low in upper 40s. Kickoff weather Friday will be glorious with the night getting chilly. Same for Saturday, but not as cold at night. Rain coming Sunday.
Time to drop the puck
The Macon Mayhem start defense of their Southern Professional Hockey League title on Friday at 7:35 p.m. at the Centreplex against Pensacola.
It’ll be a big pregame, with the players getting their championship rings and the championship banner being unfurled.
Macon returns several key players from last year, including Daniel Gentzler, Stephen Pierog, Dennis Sicard, Chris Joseph, and Troy Passingham, among others.
Macon is at home Saturday against Huntsville and next Friday against Roanoke before hitting the road.
For ticket information, call 803-1592 or go to the website.
Reading/Viewing Material
Speaking the Mayhem and SPHL: pick your playoff opponent?
The Cubs stay alive, force Game 5
Pitching leads Yankees to shutout
Boston and Celtics still reeling from Gordon Hayward injury
And they’re not alone
San Antonio’s Popovich praises fans for unifying reaction …
… A day after he lit into the president
There was quite the behind-the-scenes activity in the Houston Nutt-Ole Miss drama
College basketball teams play extra game for disaster relief proceeds
A good look at college football at the about-midway point
* * * * *
Wednesday, Oct. 18, 2017
In The Sports Report
Westfield advances in GISA softball, Mount de Sales moves on in GHSA volleyball; GHSA pairings and times are updated, all in This Week’s Coverage.
Coming after lunch: Alumni Update and more Reading/Viewing Material. Any additional softball times will be added and updated.
Update, 9:15 p.m.: Whoooo’s headed to Columbus for GHSA softball? Who won the thrillers, the blowouts? Go to This Week’s Coverage for the most extensive softball roundup in the area. Alumni Update pushed to Thursday, with expanded Reading/Viewing Material.
Updated, 4:45: Full and expanded Central Georgia football stats, plus the polls, on the High School Scoreboard. Softball updates coming later this evening.
Weather
Similar to Tuesday: High of 75, low of 47, no precip, sub-50 percent humidity.
Reading/Viewing Material
A good night for Yankees and Dodgers in MLB playoffs
NBA tips season off: LeBron beats Kyrie
Aaaaaand Ezekial Elliott is unsuspended. Again
* * * * *
Tuesday, Oct. 17, 2017
In The Sports Report
The High School Scoreboard is updated with standings, last week’s football scores, and this week’s games for 16 regions.
There’s also the Monday Afternoon Quarterback, with items from Georgia and Jake Fromm to high schools to Georgia Tech’s missed chance. An Alumni Update is planned for the afternoon.
Volleyball and softball playoffs are picking up speed, and the schedule is in This Week’s Coverage.
Update, 4:15 p.m.: Westfield advances to GISA softball finals. More softball times updated, more to come late tonight, with volleyball, in This Week’s Coverage.
Weather
No need to check the calendar. It actually is October again. High in mid 70s, a sub-50 low, sunny, for the next few days.
Reading/Viewing Material
Yankees roll past Astros for first win
Houston Nutt, Mississippi make nice
Julio Jones is still in uniform, right?
College players dismissed for kneeling invited back
It’s not Butch Jones hot, but seat is warming up for Jim McElwain
The Braves troubles continue with investigation
Georgia Tech has things to work on, on the field and sideline
* * * * *
Monday, Oct. 16, 2017
In The Sports Report
Volleyball and softball pairings for the second round are set, with seven softball and four volleyball teams at home. Also up is this week’s high school football schedule.
The Monday Morning Quarterback will be posted around lunchtime.
Note the loads of Reading/Viewing Material to not peruse while at work (riiiight). And check This Week’s Coverage, and maybe peek back to Recent Coverage. Lotsa stuff.
Check back for updates, including any times to the softball and volleyball schedules.
Update, 1:45 p.m.: A fresh Monday Afternoon Quarterback – with state colleges and plenty of high schools – is posted, and some more times are in for GHSA softball and volleyball.
Update, 8:30 p.m.: The full prep standings/scores/games package is updated on the High School Scoreboard.
Weather
We’re back to some football weather, with a Monday high in the mid-70s and low around 50, humidity averaging around 68 and a decent chance of early-morning rain.
Coming up
Macon Touchdown Club
ESPN/SEC anchor and host Dari Nowkhah is the featured speaker Monday at the Macon Touchdown Club.
Southwest and Windsor are the teams of the week.
Nowkhah took over as a lead anchor on the SEC Network in 2014 after seven years at ESPN in Bristol, Conn. during which he hosted a variety of shows, including SportsCenter, while filling in on other show.
The 41-year-old Tulsa native and married father of four graduated from Oklahoma in in 1998.
Former Alabama quarterback Brodie Croyle is next week's speaker.
The club meets at the Methodist Home for Children and Youth, in the Rumford Center, at 304 Pierce Ave. It starts at 6:30 p.m. with dinner and the program to begin around 7. Cost is $30 for non-members, who needn't be accompanied by a member.
For more info, http://www.macontouchdownclub.com.
Reading/Viewing Material
Fromm solid in Georgia's wild win over Missouri
The view from Missouri
Georgia Tech had a marquee road win within grasp
The Canes were grateful
Even more grateful, the pro Miami team after stunning the pro Atlanta team
Green Bay is blue: Rodgers out for awhile
Vols could have slowed the Jones countdown, but didn't
And speaking of slowing a countdown/clock, Muschamp has questions
Amid, well, everything that's not all that good, there's this
The weekend wasn't a complete loss for former Tider Dabo Swinney
It took awhile, and plenty of cautions, for Keselowski to win at Talledega
A look at the weekend in college football
Tennessee is a what touchdown underdog against Alabama?
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Sunday, Oct. 15, 2017
Coming around the time folks get outof church is an updated Reading/Viewing Material list, ranging from college football to the NFL to the MLB playoffs to news, and perhaps one or two other items. Updates as the day progresses.
Update: Reading Material galore coming Monday, with other posts.
Weather
High reportedly in the mid to upper 80s, similar to Saturday, which was overstating it. Low in the mid-60s. Still some humidity, in the 60s and higher.
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Saturday, Oct. 14, 2017
In The Sports Report
Up to date are Friday night’s Central Georgia football scores, as well as Friday’s area softball playoff scores, in This Week’s Coverage. Catch up on overall softball and volleyball there, too.
Coming today: some college football, Loughdmouthings (still can’t figure out Georgia’s offensive philosophy, which may bite the Dogs on the dog butt), and a Friday football review.
Weather
The non-football temperatures continue, with the mid-80s in the daytime, although humidity will drop some in the afternoon to a low of the upper 60s.
Reading/Viewing Material
Want to see a 59-yard field goal by a Central Georgian? Northside’s Cory Munson shall accommodate, courtesy of Michael Fincher/Twitter and Northside.
You thought it’d be a dull weekend? It’s off to a wacky start with CFB upsets
But Dabo was unfazed, and pretty classy
Speaking of upsets and North Carolina and the NCAA and academics …
Reaction around the land was of some shock and dismay
Big game in Gwinnett, No. 1 goes down
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FRIDAY, OCT. 13, 2017
In The Sports Report
An update on the softball and volleyball playoffs, with several games – including a few in central Georgia - on tap for Friday is in; tonight’s Central Georgia football schedule; a look at some tight prep football regions, including that of Dublin and head coach Roger Holmes.
Coming in the afternoon, Loughdmouthings while wondering about Georgia and the passing/catching/pass-blocking game.
Take a look at the High School Scoreboard, with stats, standings, polls and predictions.
Update, 1:25 p.m.: Sleepless nights await teams in regions 2-AAAA and 3-AA. In This Week’s Coverage. Every Friday night is big from here on out.
Weather
Still preseason football weather at midseason. High near 90, low upper 60s. Average humidity will be 72 percent. Chances of precip during daytime range from 5-20 percent.
At kickoff: around 80, feels like 84ish, humidity around 70, little breeze.
Reading/Viewing Material
(to be updated in the afternoon)
Cubs advance in long and winding Game 5
Media day came too early for Arizona hoops coach Sean Miller
https://sports.yahoo.com/sean-miller-still-tough-road-ahead-despite-arizonas-support-011430258.html
Zeke Elliott's suspension is back on
Mrs. Goodell - if that's who you are - meet Kevin Durant - if that's who he is: Twitter anonymity
http://nypost.com/2017/10/12/roger-goodells-wifes-sketchy-fake-twitter-account-exposed/
Big NCAA shoe fixing to drop for North Carolina
http://www.newsobserver.com/sports/college/acc/unc/unc-now/article178496691.html
Playing Friday
The Yankees are in Houston for the first round of the ALCS, at8 p.m. on FS1. Saturday: New York at Houston, 4 p.m., FOX and Cubs at L.A. Dodgers, 8 p.m., TBS.
No. 2 Clemson is a huge favorite at Syracuse (7 p.m., ESPN), as is No. 8 Washington State at California (afterward, ESPN).
Playing this weekend
Saturday
2 p.m. Lane at Fort Valley State
3:30 p.m., Georgia Tech at Miami, ABC; Chattanooga at Mercer
5 p.m., Georgia State at Louisiana Monroe
6 p.m., New Mexico State at Georgia Southern; Kennesaw State at Liberty
7:30 p.m., Missouri at Georgia, SECN
Miami visits Atlanta in NFL action at 1 p.m. on CBS.
Sunday in the MLB playoffs, the NLCS game is at Los Angeles at 7:30 p.m. on TBS.
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Thursday, Oct. 12, 2017
State softball and volleyball info is updated in This Week’s Coverage, and the belated prep notebook will be up by lunchtime. There may be some opinions, aka Mouthings, in the afternoon, and some Reading/Viewing Material.
Update, 6:15 p.m.: Central Georgia is off to a superb start in the GHSA softball tournament; pairings up to date. And alas, prep notes are belated again. Volleyball scores will be updated later this evening, with complete update greeting you Friday morning.
Weather
Ah yes, a high of 90, low of 66, humidity of 70 percent or higher much of the day.
They're still playing baseball
New York ended Cleveland’s hopes of being this year’s Cubs with a 5-2 win in Game 5 in their AL series. And the Cubs face the Nationals in the series finale at 8 p.m.
Update your calendars
Nov. 4, 2 p.m., Fort Valley State vs. Albany State, Fountain City Classic, Columbus
Nov. 11, 7 p.m., SIAC football championship, Montgomery, Ala.
Dec. 2, 4 p.m., SEC football championship, Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta
Dec. 2, 7:45 p.m., ACC football championship, Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte
Playing Tonight
A pair of surprising teams go at it when Philadelphia visits Carolina on Sunday.
Former Hawkinsville standout Charles Johnson keeps plugging along for Carolina.
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Wednesday, Oct. 11, 2017
Some times are out for Central Georgia softball and volleyball teams in the first round (send info to centralgasports@gmail.com), in This Week’s Coverage.
Coming today: prep football notebook, any updates on volleyball and softball times, prep football polls in the High School Scoreboard. Check back around lunchtime, and then mid-afternoon.
Update, 3:30 p.m.: Some technical difficulties have pushed back the prep notebook and region outlook, and updating some volleyball and softball times. Will post as soon as possible.
Weather
It remains very un-football-like, with the high sniffing 90, aided by humidity above 75 percent most of the time from 8 a.m. to midnight. Low in low 70s.
Local kickoff weather: mid 80s, fair chance of showers in the afternoon, low of 67.
Reading/Viewing Material
Marquez Callaway gets into a little Twitter trouble?
Georgia OL getting props from inside and out
Big stretch of opponents gives Georgia Tech chance to answer questions
U.S men’s soccer team: ohhhhh, the humanity
Rain affected the MLB playoffs – and pitching rotations – with the Cubs and Nationals going today at 4:08 p.m.
Jersey burning! Jersey burning! Ah, but because his team lost, and he caught fire, too
Mike Ditka has seen no difference in treatment or life for black or white people
And Joe Namath is floored by those thoughts
Ditka eventually “clarified” his statements; context was involved
Adrian Peterson – not the Georgia Southern one – hopes for snaps with Cards
New Las Vegas NHL team honors victims, survivors, responders at home opener
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Tuesday, Oct. 10, 2017
The softball and volleyball playoffs are set, in This Week’s Coverage. Coming today: Tuesday Morning Quarterback and prep notes, with a look at how funky some region races – like Region 2-AAAA, 3-AA and GISA 4-AAA, among others – and some updating of Alumni.
Update, 12:15 p.m.: A wide-ranging Tuesday Morning QB – 11 high schools mentioned, the state of Georgia college football this season, great high school kickers, Saturday was better than we all expected – is up in This Week’s Coverage.
And the prep notes have been pushed to Wednesday, but there will be an Alumni Update later this afternoon.
Weather
The preseason weather continues with highs in the upper 80s, and humidity bottoming out in the 60s in the afternoon and spending the next several hours at 70 percent or worse, including 100 percent overnight. The return to normal weather won’t come until next Tuesday.
Reading/Viewing Material
Even a Primanti Brothers sandwich can’t improve things in Pittsburgh
http://www.post-gazette.com/sports/steelers/2017/10/09/le-veon-bell-fantasy-steelers-offense-jaguars-run-defense-todd-haley/stories/201710090120
Houston advances in MLB playoffs
http://www.chron.com/sports/astros/article/Gameday-Live-Astros-at-Red-Sox-Game-4-12264009.php
More playoff updates: Dodgers, Yankees, Cubs win
https://www.mlb.com/
Things have calmed down since “staged” VP visit to Indy … nowhere
http://insider.foxnews.com/2017/10/09/kellyanne-conway-egregious-accuse-pence-political-stunt-leaving-colts-game
https://sportsday.dallasnews.com/dallas-cowboys/cowboys/2017/10/09/president-trump-gives-cowboys-owner-jerry-jones-big-salute-twitter-anthem-stance
http://insider.foxnews.com/2017/10/09/msnbc-steve-schmidt-says-pence-displayed-appalling-disgusting-behavior-nfl-colts-game
The cost of the short visit is an issue
https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2017/10/mike-pence-colts-game
http://www.businessinsider.com/how-much-did-pence-trip-cost-colts-49ers-2017-10
Offseason remains busy for the Braves
http://www.foxsports.com/south/gallery/braves-have-number-of-decision-to-make-with-arbitration-eligible-players-100917
ESPN’s Hill back in hot water
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/10/09/sports/football/jemele-hill-suspended-espn.html
New Florida uniforms going over, well, entertainingly in some quarters
Help wanted: Oregon State, where the head coach left more than $12 million on the table
http://www.oregonlive.com/sports/oregonian/john_canzano/index.ssf/2017/10/canzano_gary_andersen_vowed_he.html
Monday, Oct. 9, 2017
Welcome to a re-introduction of the Central Georgia Sports Report, after a week and two days.
Your best bet is to bookmark/favorite the main page, which then takes you here to let you know what’s new on the site and what’s coming. And this is where you can check back during the day for updates when info is posted.
You’ll get the day’s weather, and a collection of reading and viewing material you might’ve missed, ranging from state news to items maybe off the beaten path a little bit.
We’ll have all sorts of other tidbits, like an FYI and Coming Up and Who’s Playing.
Also, this is the site to keep up – as we update it – with what former Central Georgia high schoolers are doing in college and the pros. See the Alumni Update page for a full – and growing – list for football, with other sports to come. Chip in names and colleges to centralgasports@gmail.com.
That’s the address for suggestions, questions, game information, stats, box scores and all that.
This is the 1.0 version of the site, and you’ll see tweaks and changes as time goes on, with expansion in the plans.
Your best bet is to check here in the morning, visit back around noon, and then again after dinner. Admittedly, this isn’t a huge breaking news site, or one to just throw a bunch of stuff against a wall. You’ll get no misleading clickbait headlines, nor will stories open with blaring videos or ads.
So enjoy and contribute as we try to provide coverage for Central Georgia and of Central Georgia, from Lamar County to the north to Dodge and Dooly to the south, Washington County to the east and Upson County to the west, and in between.
Today
The state volleyball playoff pairings are out, and three Houston County teams are at home. The Class 6A softball pairings for Houston County and Northside and their opponents are set, and the Class A brackets will be set Monday.
Also coming Monday afternoon: an updated High School Scoreboard’s standings, scores and schedule, and a Monday Afternoon Quarterback.
Update, 3:30 p.m.: The high school football standings are set, but Friday’s Score and This Week’s Games will be added later this afternoon. And Monday Morning QB is now Tuesday Morning QB.
Update, 6:15 p.m.: The scores and this week’s games are ready in the High School Scoreboard, and the Class A softball matchups have been added there in This Week’s Coverage.
Weather
The sun will be hiding behind clouds all day with at least a 15 percent chance of rain all day, more in the early morning and again after dinner. And it will remain absurdly humid most of the day, moreso early and late.
Reading/Viewing Material
Georgia is up to No. 4, Georgia Tech on the verge of being ranked
The political football gets kicked around again
And again (same football, same kicking)
So there’s a talking point for the week …
... As Peyton Manning’s day is overshadowed
J.J. Watt missed 13 games last year, hurt early against K.C.
Where is a former Northside hoops standout headed? He's playing for a big name
Who's the best - according to one survey - in academics and athletics?
Houston and Cleveland win in MLB playoffs, Monday is a full day
Coming Up
Macon Touchdown Club
The speaker for Monday is Samford head coach Chris Hatcher. High school team of the week is Rutland.
Hatcher, a Mount de Sales and Valdosta State grad, is 17-12 in his third year at Samford, 138-69 overall in 18 seasons. The No. 20 Bulldogs pulled off a 35-14 upset of then-No. 11 The Citadel two weeks ago and dumped VMI 26-7 Saturday to improve to 4-2. The Bulldogs are at Wofford on Oct. 21. Will Bazemore, a wideout from Mary Persons, is the lone Central Georgian on the roster.
The club meets at the Methodist Home for Children and Youth, in the Rumford Center, at 304 Pierce Ave. It starts at 6:30 p.m. with dinner and the program to begin around 7. Cost is $30 for non-members, who needn't be accompanied by a member.
For more info, http://www.macontouchdownclub.com/
Who's playing?
Minnesota is at Chicago at 8:30 p.m., ESPN, on Monday Night Football.
Former Dodge County and Georgia standout Leonard Floyd is a starter for the Bears.
Contact us
Put us on your mailing list at centralgasports@gmail.com to get the word out.
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Sunday, Oct. 8, 2017
As we get ready for a rainy Sunday, today’s menu is mostly reading material, from Georgia to a sister getting a penalty during a game to Mark Richt and Miami stunning Florida State.
And look, yes, for some Loughdmouthings in the Falcons-free afternoon, with a volleyball update coming Monday as well as updated high school standings, scores and schedules.
Weather
Rain chances are 80 percent, still too humid, high low 80s, barely 10 degrees higher than the low. Humidity average around 80 percent.
Only gets worse. Try 90 and 69, 72 percent humidity and 60 percent chance fo rain on Wednesday.
Reading Material
Offensive line has big day as Georgia rolls Vandy
Almost a home game for Georgia, no fun for Vandy
Mercer stuns with win at The Citadel, and it wasn't a nail-biter
FVSU balanced in rolling past Clark Atlanta
http://fvsusports.com/news/2017/10/7/football-wildcats-over-power-clark-atlanta-41-24.aspx
How many sisters get THIS happy over their brother's team?
Well, they did win a 139-point game in seven overtimes
http://www.mlive.com/broncos/index.ssf/2017/10/live_updates_western_michigan_29.html
Sometimes, well, announcers appear to be blind
https://twitter.com/EMUBarstool/status/916717030635601920
Gator fans - a lot - serenade Tom Petty's memory
https://www.sbnation.com/college-football/2017/10/5/16431572/lsu-florida-tom-petty-i-wont-back-down
Richt, Miami stun Florida State with late TD
http://www.miamiherald.com/sports/college/acc/university-of-miami/article177680531.html
But Richt didn't want tooo much celebration
https://twitter.com/CarlosFPineda/status/916826185912520704
Media apparently ruining Alabama's season again with, um, positivity
http://www.al.com/alabamafootball/index.ssf/2017/10/nick_saban_rails_on_medias_rat.html
Is LSU back?
Coming Up
Macon Touchdown Club
The speaker for Monday is Samford head coach Chris Hatcher. High school team of the week is Rutland.
Hatcher, a Mount de Sales and Valdosta State grad, is 16-12 in his third year at Samford, 137-69 overall in 18 seasons. The Bulldogs pulled off a 35-14 upset of then-No. 11 The Citadel last week and play at VMI this week. Will Bazemore, a wideout from Mary Persons, is the lone Central Georgian on the roster.
The club meets at the Methodist Home for Children and Youth, in the Rumford Center, at 304 Pierce Ave. It starts at 6:30 p.m. with dinner and the program to begin around 7. Cost is $30 for non-members, who needn't be accompanied by a member.
For more info, http://www.macontouchdownclub.com.
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Saturday, Oct. 7, 2017
Friday night’s Central Georgia scores are in This Week’s Coverage. Catch up on colleges there, and go back a day or two for high school notes (see the past and the future).
Today: The state softball playoff pairings are just about set, so look for an update before lunch (and check back for any updates as tournaments conclude); there may be a dinnertime update to Reading Material, and any Loughdmouthings will be some pre-dinner reading.
Remember to check back here around noon for updates to our plan. And holler at centralgasports@gmail.com.
And follow us at @CentralGaSports.
Update, 3 p.m.: GHSA state softball pairings are mostly ready, minus a few regions and Class, and updated in This Week’s Coverage. Area softball teams should send scheduling information to centralgasports@gmail.com when final.
Weather
Actual precipitation is on the horizon. Chances are 10-20 percent early in the morning, drops for awhile, and picks back up to 35 percent mid-afternoon and jumps to 40 percent – a drop from 60 percent - as bedtime approaches. Overnight is around 40 percent chance – a decrease from 70 – with 95 percent humidity increasing for awhile. Sunday will be wetter than Monday.
Who's playing?
Georgia at Vandy, noon, ESPN; Mercer at The Citadel, 2 p.m.; FVSU at Clark Atlanta, 4 p.m.; GMC vs. Hocking, at Austin Peay, 2 p.m.
Other games of note: No. 23 West Virginia at No. 8 TCU, 3:30 p.m., FS1; No. 13 Miami at Florida State, 3:30, ESPN; LSU at No. 21 Florida, 3:30 p.m., CBS; Air Force at Navy, 3:30 p.m., CBSSN; Michigan State at No. 7 Michigan, 7:30 p.m., ABC.
Reading Material
Offenses rule - mostly - in Friday's MLB playoff action, with Houston, Cleveland, the Cubs and the Dodgers all winning.
More weather issues? Or not
http://collegefootball.ap.org/article/miami-florida-state-game-could-be-impacted-weather-again
Middle Georgia State is hosting a golf tournament for the 28th time
Pastner gets an extension at Georgia Tech
Defense and special teams, little offense, in Northside’s escape of frustrated Valdosta’s visit
Coming Up
Macon Touchdown Club
The speaker for Monday, Oct. 9 is Samford head coach Chris Hatcher. High school team of the week is Rutland.
Hatcher, a Mount de Sales and Valdosta State grad, is 16-12 in his third year at Samford, 137-69 overall in 18 seasons. The Bulldogs pulled off a 35-14 upset of then-No. 11 The Citadel last week and play at VMI this week. Will Bazemore, a wideout from Mary Persons, is the lone Central Georgian on the roster.
The club meets at the Methodist Home for Children and Youth, in the Rumford Center, at 304 Pierce Ave. It starts at 6:30 p.m. with dinner and the program to begin around 7. Cost is $30 for non-members, who needn't be accompanied by a member.
For more info, http://www.macontouchdownclub.com/
Contact us
Put us on your mailing list at centralgasports@gmail.com to get the word out.
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Friday, Oct. 5, 2017
Coming around lunchtime will be some area and state college notes, a little bit after a softball update with maybe some more high school notes (football and otherwise) in the afternoon.
Don’t forget to check out the High School Scoreboard, plus a pretty hefty Alumni Update with more than a dozen high school represented.
Update, 1:45 p.m.: A look at some in-state college football is ready in This Week's coverage, leading with Georgia and possible distractions. Softball update is pushed to Saturday.
Weather
Sunny and warm, high in upper 80s. Kickoff temps down to 81, mid-50s humidity, overnight low only around 70. Saturday: about the same temps, but a 40 percent chance of rain, which increases to 100 percent on Sunday.
Ruh Roh, Ratrez
Some playing time will likely open up Saturday – and the next month - at linebacker for Georgia with Thursday’s arrest of Natrez Patrick for marijuana possession. It’s his second such arrest since arriving in Athens.
FYI
Former Washington County standout A.J. Gray was named the ACC’s defensive back of the for his day in Georgia Tech’s 33-7 romp over North Carolina. The junior had two interceptions, doubling his career total, and added four tackles as part of the Yellow Jackets’ controlling defensive performance.
Thursday night’s action, local
Howard picked up a huge Region 2-AAAA win over Perry on Thursday, getting a two-point conversion in overtime for a 29-27 win.
That evened the Huskies at 1-1 in region play, 5-2 overall. Howard is a win away from tying the program record for wins, set in 2015, Barney Hester’s third year as head coach. The Huskies beat the Panthers 19-13 that year.
Peach County had no trouble in dispatching Central 44-0, which wasn’t far off from last year’s 48-0 win at home. Central has scored in only one of the past six meetings with the Trojans, who have won 12 straight in the series and 10 region games in a row.
Central fell to 1-2 in region play and 1-5 overall, basically putting the Chargers out of the playoff race. Peach County is 5-1 and 2-0.
Callaway kept Lamar County winless with a 48-7 win.
Thursday night’s action, national
Cleveland took a 4-0 win over the New York Yankees in the first game of the AL Division Series, led by Jay Bruce’s three RBI and Trevor Bauer’s eight strikeouts
Boston got off to a rough start in the other ALDS series, falling 8-2 at Houston behind some power.
Fortune smiled on New England and frowned on Tampa Bay and field goal kicker Nick Folk
Reading Material
Snitker gets good news from the Braves amid crisis
And speaking of that crisis …
There was good news of the same type for Mercer and Susie Gardner
Newton tries to remove foot from mouth with belated apology
There will some changes at Charlotte Motor Speedway next year
Hands will be wringing in North Carolina even with delay in NCAA release of report
Outgoing Louisville AD had a miiiighty good gig
But the current Louisville football coach didn’t have a good Thursday against N.C. State
Have some good reading material? Send the link to centralgasports@gmail.com.
Coming Up
Macon Touchdown Club
The speaker for Monday, Oct. 9 is Samford head coach Chris Hatcher. High school team of the week is Rutland.
Hatcher, a Mount de Sales and Valdosta State grad, is 16-12 in his third year at Samford, 137-69 overall in 18 seasons. The Bulldogs pulled off a 35-14 upset of then-No. 11 The Citadel last week and play at VMI this week. Will Bazemore, a wideout from Mary Persons, is the lone Central Georgian on the roster.
The club meets at the Methodist Home for Children and Youth, in the Rumford Center, at 304 Pierce Ave. It starts at 6:30 p.m. with dinner and the program to begin around 7. Cost is $30 for non-members, who needn't be accompanied by a member.
For more info, http://www.macontouchdownclub.com/
* * * * *
Thursday, Oct. 5, 2017
Catch up with the high school football polls, and some softball and volleyball from yesterday.
Coming today: high school football stats, high school football Friday preview, college notebook, and we'll see what else.
Enjoy the Reading Material, and taking a look at the Alumni Update, and check back in the afternoon for high school copy.
10 a.m. update: Stats, polls and Maxwell predictions are updated in the High School Scoreboard, with field goals - which need more reporting from schools - added this week.
8:45 p.m. update: A softball update and college notebook - moved from Thursday - are on Friday's agenda, and perhaps Loughdmouthings.
Weather
Mostly sunny, high of 86, low of 61, 10 percent chance of precipitation, 60 percent humidity or less.
Friday's kickoff weather:
Saturday's kickoff weather: Cloudy 'round here, 75 pct. humidity, 20 percent chance of something, low of 71, very un-October-like; Georgia at Vandy, cloudy and 80s with 20 percent chance of rain; Mercer at The Citadel, temps in low-mid 80s, decent chance of some rain, 82 percent humidity.
They're still playing baseball
Arizona had 17 hits and beat Colorado 11-8 in a non-pitchers duel in the NL wildcard game.
If you want to watch some serious pitching - and probably defense - then you have Boston and Houston, and Justin Verlander and Chris Sale. The AL Division Series starts at 4 p.m. today on the MLB Network.
Cleveland, the next general team ready for a breakthrough title, hosts the Yankees at 7:30 p.m. on FS1.
Playing Tonight
There’s some area high school football action on Thursday.
Lamar County at Callaway: This may be a running clock game, since Lamar County is winless, and has been outscored by an average of 24 points a game, while Callaway is 5-0 and has outscored opponents by 23 points a game.
Perry at Howard (Ed DeFore): A burly Region 2-AAAA game with a pair of upstart teams trying to prove they’re not just upstarts. Perry is 4-1, Howard 4-2, with a region loss. Both need a win, especially Howard, to stay in the region race, where it’s expected that Mary Persons, West Laurens and Upson-Lee will be the major postseason contenders. Howard’s Jeremiah Kelly, a sophomore, is among the state leaders – among the information provided by schools to Maxpreps – in rushing with 638 yards.
Peach County at Central: The visiting Trojans lead the series 11-2, and have shut out Central in five of the past six meetings, dating back to 2011. The Chargers will have to play over their heads to avoid another shutout. The top-5 Trojans have four wins, by 30, 28, 21 and 28, the first three over higher-class teams.
Reading/Viewing Material
Not a nice home opener for Georgia Southern
WNBA championship won by a Georgian
It was an interesting September in the SEC
Invitation or not, South Carolina's Staley is ready to defend title
Are Atlanta's front-office dreams nearing reality with hire?
Sometimes the rails can't quite containt Dabo
North Texas takes on ESPN, and wins
Good news: Somebody asked Steve Spurrier a question
Update your calendars
Nov. 4, 2 p.m., Fort Valley State vs. Albany State, x Classic, Columbus
Nov. 11, 7 p.m., SIAC football championship, Montgomery, Ala.
Dec. 2, 4 p.m., SEC football championship, Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta
Dec. 2, 7:45 p.m., ACC football championship, Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte
* * * * *
Wednesday, Oct. 4, 2017
There are some updates late Tuesday to catch up on, like Loughdmouthings (Is Kirby really playing around with the QB position? Naww, he can't be. Juststrategy, right?) and Reading Material (neat NFL debut for a former Georgia Tech kicker, Alex Morgan and MLS players in trouble at Disney ...).
Coming today: a volleyball update, and some high school and college football in the late afternoon, including high school polls. And there was a whole lot of updates on Central Georgia football alumni.
Update, 9:25 a.m.: The state prep football polls have been updated on the High School Scoreboard, under stats, which will be updated by noon Thursday, perhaps Wednesday.
Update, 6:15 a.m.: High school softball standings have been updated, and the latest state volleyball polls are out. Otherwise, volleyball information is hard to come by.
Coming Thursday: area football stats and a college football update plus more high school football.
Weather
Too bad offices don't have retractable roofs. Sunny and high of 83, low of 59, sub-60 percent humidity. Thursday is about the same.
Callaway OK
Tennessee wideout Marquez Callaway of Warner Robins was held out of practice Tuesday after bouncing his head hard off the ground during Saturday's 41-0 loss to Georgia.
Head coach Butch Jones told reporters that Callaway would have been in practice had the Vols had a game this week. They're off this week and host South Carolina on Oct. 14.
Yankees win, Rockies and D-Backs up next
Minnesota jumped out with three runs in the top of the first and New York answered, and kept going for an 8-4 win Tuesday night in an AL wildcard game.
Colorado visits Arizona at 8 p.m. Wednesday on TBS in the NL game.
Boston is at Houston on Thursday (4:08 p.m.) in an AL Division Series opener.
Coming Up
Macon Mayhem
Ready for hockey (even though we haven't had consistent football weather yet)?
The Macon Mayhem are will host a "Welcome Home" Friday happy hour this week at the Macon City Auditorium's Cherry St. outdoor bar.
There will be drink specials and Marco's Pizza.
More info?
Who's playing?
Georgia Southern is back in action, hosting Arkansas State on Wednesday at 8 p.m on ESPN2.
Ty Mimbs, a deep snapper from Brentwood, is on the Arkansas State roster.
Central Georgians on the Georgia Southern roster: DB Sean Freeman of Peach County, OL Caleb Kelly of Northside, DE Logan Hunt of Washington County, QB Ryan Fitzpatrick of Westfield, OL Parker Williams of GMC, WR Darion Anderson of Houston County and HB/TE Josh Lee of Veterans.
Georgia Southern is 0-3, losing to Auburn 41-7, New Hampshire 22-12 and Indiana 52-17. Arkansas State is 1-2, beating Arkansas-Pine Bluff 48-3 and losing to Nebraska 43-36 and SMU 44-21.
Reading/Viewing Material
George Foreman taking on Steven Seagal?
A trip to Memphis wasn't the hoped-for medicine for Butch Jones
And check out Tuesday's Reading Material below a page or two.
* * * * *
Tuesday, Oct. 3, 2017
There's an new Alumni Update coming before lunch on that page that will have info on kids from 16 Central Georgia high schools, ranging from Lamar County to the north and Dodge County to the south, as well as Washington County, Taylor County and a bunch in between.
Coming today: Updates on high school softball and volleyball, and Loughdmouthings. Check back after lunch, Loughdmouthings before dinner.
Update, 9:40 a.m.: A hefty Alumni Update is ready to read.
Update, 10:05 a.m.: A look at area prep softball - who's No. 1? - is ready in This Week's Coverage, as are the latest GHSA Class A football power rankings. Last week's coverage is now moved to Recent Coverage.
Update, 7:30 p.m.: Could Kirby really be thinking of playing around with the QB position? New Loughdmouthings have been posted. And new reading material. Volleyball update Wednesday morning.
Don't forget that the high school standings, scores and schedule have been updated.
Reading/Viewing Material will be updated after lunchtime, but there is some Braves-related content to peruse until then.
WEATHER
Mostly sunny, high of 81, low of 60, 60 percent humidity, maybe 10 percent chance of precip.
Friday’s football weather still looks good: sunny, 86 and 64. Still not necessarily football weather.
READING/VIEWING MATERIAL (updated)
Alex Morgan, MLS players getting frisky at Disney
When radio homers for obsessive fan base go too far ...
Former Georgia Tech kicker has full-spectrum debut
Coppy had to go
Sports Illustrated checks in
Just a week ago, Coppy was looking ahead
COMING UP
This week's football
College
Wednesday
Arkansas State at Georgia Southern, 8 p.m., ESPN2
High Schools
Thursday
Perry at Howard (Ed DeFore)
Peach County at Central (Henderson)
Friday
Valdosta at Northside
Bainbridge at Veterans
Warner Robins at Thomas County Central
Upson-Lee at Mary Persons
West Laurens at Spalding
Richmond Academy at Baldwin
Rutland at Westside (Ed DeFore)
Central vs. Southwest
Lamar County at Callaway
FPD at Wilkinson County
Tattnall Square at Mount de Sales
Twiggs County at Stratford
Crawford County at Macon County
Taylor County at Schley County
Hawkinsville at Dooly County
John Milledge at GMC
Lincoln County at Hancock Central
Westfield at Gatewood
Piedmont at Windsor
Pinewood at Trinity Christian
College
Georgia at Vanderbilt, noon, ESPN
Mercer at The Citadel, 2 p.m.
Fort Valley State at Clark Atlanta, 2 p.m.
Georgia State at Coastal Carolina, 6:30 p.m.
Texas Southern at Kennesaw State, 7 p.m.
Shorter at Gardner-Webb, 1:30 p.m.
Valdosta State at West Georgia, 2 p.m.
Lincoln at Albany State
Tuskegee vs. Morehouse, at Columbus/McClung, 2 p.m.
Georgia Tech is idle
Sunday
College
GMC vs. Hocking College, at Austin Peay, 2 p.m.
NFL
Atlanta is idle
Monday, Oct. 2, 2017
New stuff you might've missed in the Central Georgia Sports Report from Sunday includes what a nice day Saturday was for some state college teams - helloooo Dawgs, Jackets and Bears and GMC Bulldogs - in This Week's Coverage plus all sorts of Reading/Viewing Material on the Falcons, Dawgs, Vols, LSU and the polls in yesterday's Today section.
The high school football standings section is updated. Polls and stats are later in the week.
Coming today: Alumni Update and Loughdmouthings in their respective links, and tentatively a look at area high school softball and volleyball postseason in This Week's Coverage. Hopefully in there will be an update on Warner Robins alum and Tennessee receiver Marquez Callaway, who went out Saturday with a head injury.
Reading/Viewing Material will be updated after lunchtime, but note that the SEC Network is re-running the Georgia-Tennessee game at noon Monday.
Updated 3:45 p.m.: Reading/Viewing Material has a full plate. Fall sports update, Alumni Update and Loughdmouthings postponed until Tuesday.
Weather
Partly cloudy, high of 81, humidity in low 60s, low of 61, little rise in humidity, 10 percent chance of something. Rest of the week: highs growing from low to mid 80s, lows in the low 60, 10 percent chance of rain.
Friday’s football weather looks good: sunny, 87 and 63.
Coming Up
Macon Touchdown Club
Monday night's speaker is Georgia Tech head coach Paul Johnson , and the high school teams of the week are Howard and Central Fellowship.
The Yellow Jackets are 3-1 after beating Pittsburgh 35-7 last week and North Carolina 33-7 on Saturday.
They have a number of players from Central Georgia: Qua Searcy, and Lawrence and Lance Austin, Lamar County; Tobias Oliver, Northside; Steve Dolphus, Westside; A.J. Gray and Djimon Brooks, Washington County.
The club meets at the Methodist Home for Children and Youth, in the Rumford Center, at 304 Pierce Ave. It starts at 6:30 p.m. with dinner and the program to begin around 7. Cost is $30 for non-members, who needn't be accompanied by a member.
Next week's Touchdown Club speaker is Samford head coach and Maconite Chris Hatcher. Rutland is the high school team of the week.
For more information, go to http://www.macontouchdownclub.com/
Who's playing?
Tonight's Monday Night Football game has Washington at Kansas City at 8:30 p.m., ESPN.
Washington is 2-1 and Kansas City is 3-0.
Kansas City has 12 Georgia connections, including former Peach County wideout Demarcus Robinson, plus. Defensive back Steven Nelson (Northside) is on injured reserve.
Washington has five state connections, four from the high school ranks.
Thursday’s game is New England at Tampa Bay at 8:25 p.m. on CBS and NFL.
Reading/Viewing Material
Breaking: Braves rebuilding takes a hit as Coppolella resigns
And good riddance?
How long will Julio be out (this time)?
Ahhh, so that's what happened in Baton Rouge
Orgeron's buyout starts at $12 mil, and so starts a GoFundMe page
Clemson or Alabama?
They hit the 19th hole at the Presidents Cup before the press conference?
It's still mid-summer Texas heat for Butch Jones' backside
Send Reading/Viewing Material items to centralgasports@gmail.com
* * * * *
Oct. 1, 2017
An alternatively interesting and boring Saturday came to an end, with more blowouts than most folks expected, in Blacksburg and Tuscaloosa. And, well, Knoxville.
Today’s content will appear around the church departure time, ranging from a Falcons capsule to Saturday review to Loughdmouthings, and Reading/Viewing material. So check back after lunchtime.
High school standings and scores are likely to be updated by Monday, maybe your breakfast reading.
6:30 p.m. update: Reading/Viewing Material has been updated with Falcons, UGA, UT, LSU, Pitino and polls.
1 p.m. update: A look at Saturday's college action and a peek at the Falcons' game today are up. Reading/Viewing material will be updated by 6 p.m. (Some LSU copy, you think?) Loughdmouthings are postponed until Sunday night or Monday morning.
Weather
We maaayyy be nearing fall weather. Sunday’s high is around 80, or lower, with nifty sub-40 percent humidity much of the day. Sleeping weather awaits with a low around 60.
Reading/Viewing Material
Buffalo defense outshines Atlanta's
And there's some headscratching after the Falcons loss
Ice needed for some britches in Knoxville
And in Baton Rouge ...
Where it wasn't supposed to be that easy for a non-power 5 visitor
So much for Peyton bringing some magic to Neyland
And Coach O was filled with woe
Nick Chubb normally isn't all that chatty, but ...
Pitino promises vindication
The college football polls are out.
The debate
One team got beat by 41 at home, and it was in no way closer than the score indicated. The winner? A top 10 SEC team. The loser? A head coach in his fifth year.
Move south and west, where a team got beat at home – and it’s as serious a home-field advantage as anywhere in the land – by three by a Sun Belt team – who had Peach County alums Kyle and Kevin Nixon each get a tackle – that got a million bucks to visit. LSU paid Troy that much? Poor mismanagement for the Tigers, a 19-point favorite and 3-point loser in a game that may not have been that close.
LSU gave up 191 yards rushing to Jordan Chunn, who outgained LSU by 29 yards. Troy turned a 19-point underdog situation into a 24-21 win that may not have been that close.
So, who gets fired first? Butch Jones or Ed Orgeron? Does the buyout matter? You’re the AD. What do ya do?
Coming Up
The Falcons
Atlanta hosts Buffalo at 1 p.m. on CBS on Sunday.
On Buffalo's roster: Cordy Glenn, Georgia; Reid Ferguson, Buford/LSU; Mike Tolbert, Douglasville/Coastal Carolina.
The line is Atlanta favored by eight.
Macon Touchdown Club
The speaker for Monday, Oct. 2 is Georgia Tech head coach Paul Johnson.
Johnson is in his 10th year at Tech and 21st overall, and has a career mark of 180-88, 73-49 at Tech. The Yellow Jacket hammered North Carolina 33-7 on Saturday to improve to 3-1.
High school teams of the week are Howard and Central Fellowship. Maconite Chris Hatcher is next, on Oct. 9, with Rutland as the prep team.
The club meets at the Methodist Home for Children and Youth, in the Rumford Center, at 304 Pierce Ave. It starts at 6:30 p.m. with dinner and the program to begin around 7. Cost is $30 for non-members, who needn't be accompanied by a member.
For more info, http://www.macontouchdownclub.com.