ouThursday's Central Georgia - and of interest to Central Georgia - news and notes, compiled from staff reports, email reports, the web, and social media. Updates will be noted, so check back.

 

 

Scoreboard is in The Latest Coverage

 

Georgia Southern takes OT road win

          Raymond Johnson III blocked a game-winning field goal in overtime and Randy Wade forced a fumble to set up Georgia Southern’s 20-17 win over host South Alabama.

 

Coming Friday

          The high school football schedule has been in The Latest Coverage all week. Visit The Sports Report’s predictions, and Monday Morning Quarterback, plus the two main state football polls, and predictions, in The Latest Coverage.

          Friday: Scouting reports on Friday games.

 

Braves Report

          There were many things to talk about in Game 1 of the NL Division Series.

          More Ronald Acuna hot-dogging, though, dominated conversation.

          Acuna’s stroll on a long fly ball became a single instead of a double, and then he was doubled off second moments later, leaving the door open for St. Louis to come back and beat Atlanta 7-6.

          The play overshadowed his later home run and a good defensive play, plus Atlanta’s comeback – amid an odd pitcher-threw-no-pitches situation – in the bottom of the ninth.

          The Cards did most of their damage in the final two innings, getting an unexpected boost when the Braves’ bullpen rotation was substantially interrupted on Chris Martin’s inability to pitch after an injury during his on-mound warm-ups. Martin is likely done for the rest of the series with oblique tightness.

          Luke Jackson was rushed into action and gave up two runs before Mark Melancon came in and coughed up four more.

          Atlanta went through nine pitchers, eight excluding Martin, who is listed in the box score because he was announced, and used five more players off the bench.

          Acuna had three hits and two RBI, and Freddie Freeman added two hits – including a ninth-inning homer – in a Braves lineup that managed only nine hits and stranded eight – two less than the Cards – and was only 1-for-11 with runners in scoring position.

Box

Next: Playoffs: Friday, vs. St. Louis, 4:37 p.m., TBS; Sunday, at  St. Louis, 4:10 p.m., TBS; Monday, at St. Louis, 3 or 5 p.m., TBS; Wed.,  vs. St. Louis, 5 or 8 p.m.,  TBS

The Acuna enigma

Video: Snitker, Acuna talk

Poor baseball preceded bullpen problems

Try not to overreact, if possible

Melancon: “gave that game away”

Not a new mistake for second-year Acuna

Odd night for Martin

Another big-stage nightmare for the state?

Interesting season for Folty

Power helps Cards overcome early issues

 

State college football Report

Mercer: Connections with Chattanooga

UGA: QB pressure an issue for the Vols

UGA: Fromm the leader

UGA: Different directions since that ‘Hail Mary’ in Athens

UGA: Homecoming for Mays

UGA: Quasi-homecoming for Wolf

UGA: More on the overrated connection with Chaney

Tech: Injuries hammer above-the-line chart

Tech: Carter’s role to increase

Georgia State: Arkansas State not worried about crowd noise in Atlanta

Georgia State: Punter’s joy = fair catch

 

Falcons Report

Still upbeat

Injury update

 

Around/About Georgia

A Georgia baseball update