Friday's Report: Scoreboard; Thursday's HS FB; Braves, UGA/Auburn, Falcons, UGA hoops; college 🏈, MLB, NBA/WNBA, NFL, golf, NASCAR
Thursday's Central Georgia - and of interest to Central Georgia - news and notes, compiled from staff reports, email reports, the web, and social media.
In Coverage: Maxwell Ratings predictions
Coming Friday: Scouting reports
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High School
Football
Houston County 21, Northside 17
Northside owned the first half, but Houston County – especially on defense – was in charge of the second half, shutting out the Eagles and coming up with a late defensive stand, aided by Eagle 5-yard penalties. Damien Dee’s 38-yard run early in the game was followed seven minutes later by an Ashton Paredes 34-yard field goal for a 10-0 lead with 2:52 left in the first. The Bears (6-1/1-1) got a 4-yard run from Nick Jordan three minutes into the second quarter to get close, and later wasted an interception. Then the Eagles (4-3/1-1) got a 57-yard pass from Dee to D’Shawn Hooten, who made a move, for a big score inside the final two minutes of the second quarter for a 17-7 halftime lead.
Houston County got back within three barely two minutes into the third quarter on Antwann Hill Jr.’s 28-yard pass to Ricky Johnson. Hill connected with Kale Woodburn about four minutes later, and Thomas Bryant’s kick made it 21-17 with 7:08 left in the third, the Bears converting the interception of defensive lineman Jayden Jackson. The teams battled, and Northside had a first down at Houston County’s 30 with 2:30 left in the game. Two false start penalties and a sack by EJ Nobles put the Eagles in a tough spot, and a fourth-and-19 pass was nearly intercepted.
Dee led all rushers with 127 yards on 19 carries, Michael McClendon adding 93 for Northside, which outran Houston County 220-81, Ryan Taleb with 61 of the Bears’ yards. Dee had one of his best passing games, completing 11 of 17 for 200 yards – despite sitting, temporarily – with a score and two interceptions. Hill was 19 of 27 for 205 yards and two touchdowns, no picks. Hooten had three catches for 82 yards for Northside, Ricky Johnson and Woodburn five catches each for 78 and 51 yards.
Putnam County 48, Glenn Hills 6
Glenn Hills (2-5/1-3) got to Eatonton a good chunk late, so kickoff was delayed. So was the inevitable. The War Eagles (6-1/4-0) rolled, as expected, Tamarion Peters getting it going from 8 yards out less barely four minutes into the game. He added a 47-yarder for a 14-0 lead inside the final 90 seconds of the first quarter. Jalon Kilgore followed a bungled snap with a 10-yard score, and another botched punt snap led to another Kilgore touchdown for a 27-0 lead midway through the second quarter. Kilgore took a punt back 55 yards with 3:46 left in the second en route to a 34-0 halftime lead. Kilgore opened the second half by taking the kickoff back, for two rushing touchdowns, a punt return and kickoff return for scores. Peters added his final score halfway through the third quarter.
Rutland 49, Jordan 0
The Hurricanes handed the Red Jackets their sixth shutout of the season, with their best point total since a 50-21 win over ACE in 2020. It’s Rutland’s first shutout since 26-0 over Spencer in 2014, and biggest margin of victory in program history. Rutland improved to 4-3 and 2-2, while Jordan fell to 0-7 and 0-3 with its 21st straight loss (including seven forfeits last year).
🥎 🥎 🥎Softball 🥎 🥎 🥎
Central 8, Southwest 0
Crisp 20, Covenant 2
Dodge County 8, Worth County 0; Dodge County 10, Worth County 1
GMC 6, Stratford 3
Houston County 10, Thomas County Central 4; Houston County 9, Thomas County Central 1
The Bears clinched the Region 1-6A title and went 15-0 in region play.
Howard 2, Griffin 1
Abby Davis struck out five and Sydnee McElveen had a double and triple and scored both runs to lead Howard, which clinched third in Region 2-4A. The Huskies (10-9/7-5) host Dublin on Tuesday.
Fullington 11, Twiggs 0
Glascock County 15, Wilkinson County 0
Hawkinsville 19, Dooly County 0
Jackson 15, Peach County 0; Jackson 9, Peach County 3
John Milledge 11, George Walton 8
Jones County 7, Union Grove 6
Mount de Sales 8, Lamar County 0
Oglethorpe County 10, Jasper County 2
Piedmont 6, Edmund Burke 3
Marissa Holder had three hits and two RBI to lead Piedmont, which got eight strikeouts in relief from Emily Whitwell.
Westfield 13, Strong Rock 1
West Laurens 8, Spalding 0
🏐🏐🏐Volleyball🏐🏐🏐
ACE 2, Baldwin 0 (25-11, 25-10); ACE 2, Howard 0 (25-7, 25-23)
Central 2, Northeast 0
Islands 2, West Laurens 0
Locust Grove 2, Warner Robins 0
Peach County 2, Upson-Lee 0 (25-22, 25-15)
College
⚽ ⚽ ⚽Soccer ⚽ ⚽ ⚽
W-Mercer 0, Wofford 0
🏐🏐🏐Volleyball🏐🏐🏐
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Around/About Georgia/Southeast
Rest for Braves, then ready to run
Bobo’s influence clear to Harsin
Can Auburn improve its run game?
Brady, Bucs on 2-game skid with Falcons next
College Football/South
Wofford’s Conklin resigns amid 15-game losing streak
Two Clemson players were racing before serious wreck
Column: If fireable in September, fireable today
South Carolina a tricky test for Kentucky
Bama has QB questions as A&M comes calling
ACC teams counting on beefed-up staffs
College Football
Column: New fad is dumping coaches early
Bielema, Illinois vs. Iowa in old-fashioned matchup
Oklahoma’s Venables hitting rough patch in first year
Wisconsin players never saw Chryst firing coming
Baseball/MLB
A guide to the 12-team playoffs
Half of the challenges led to overturned calls
Star-studded Mets and Padres square off
Phils, Cards in first postseason meeting since 2011
Giants sit, a year after 107 wins
Trout eager to lead Angels back to winning
NBA/WNBA/Basketball
Warriors’ Green apologizes for fight with teammate
Shaq lost weight to avoid a Barkley body
Griner at her ‘absolute weakest moment in life’
Football/NFL/USFL
Indianapolis the least ugly in ugly-game win
Tech alum Butker may be out again
NFL getting wake-up call on concussions, courtesy Burrow
NFL players working to ease mental health stigma
McVay’s Rams in unfamiliar position
Close calls happening at record pace
‘Cooper Clutch’ is QBing the Cowboys
Golf
LIV players won’t get OWG points in Bangkok or Jeddah
Auto Racing
Hockey
Barrier-breaking female goalie Rheaume still doing it
Cup champ Colorado still the team to beat in West
Soccer
Messi says World Cup in Qatar is his last
Around the nation/world