Southeast Georgia October 2017 Edition

The Workhorse Cornerstone Anthony Madison, Bacon County

James Lucas, Ware County

High Flying Impersonator Jamie Felix Camden Middle

UGA’s Future Defensive Lineman

GAME SOUTHEAST GEORGIA

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IN THE

October 2017

Tramel Walthour Liberty County

In The Game | 1

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e u s s I s i h t T n I 8 16 20

UGA’s Future Defensive Lineman

26

Cornerstone

33

It’s All About Sleep

35

The Workhorse

Tramel Walthour, Liberty County

High Flying Heisman Impersonator Jamie Felix, Camden Middle

The Palmetto State Effect Ken Cribb, Wayne County

James Lucas, Ware County

The CPAP Store

Anthony Madison, Bacon County

Also 14 24 38

Finish in Sight for Ware County Cross Country Ware County

Bacon Ladies Flying High Bacon County

Elite School for 3rd Straight Year Pierce County

In The Game | 5

FROM THE PUBLISHER

Well, it’s fall and 93 degrees here in Southeast Georgia, which sounds about right. However, the weather does match some first year coaches and their teams here in our coverage area… HOT! Ross Couch at Bradwell Institute has his Tigers sitting at 6-1 on the season when this same team was 0-20 just two years ago. I’m not sure I could be any happier for a group of student athletes in our coverage area. The Tigers are a true testament to perseverance, and Couch has them rolling into region play.

Sean Pender made the move to Brunswick in the offseason and has his band of Pirates flying high at 4-1, averaging 43 points per game. The Wayne County Yellow Jackets made a move in the offseason to go get one of South Carolina’s best coaches, and man has it paid off. Wayne is sitting at 5-1 with one of the most explosive offensive teams I’ve seen in Jesup in years.

Things heat up now for all our SEGA teams as the non-region schedule is over for most and the region schedule begins; they’re all counting toward a birth in the playoffs. Keep up with all the action right here with In the Game Sports Network.

Kirby Smart is rolling at the University of Georgia right now, and for the second straight year he’s came to Hinesville to get one of the state’s elite defensive players. Meet Liberty County’s Tramel Walthour, defensive lineman for the Panthers. Coach Kirk Warner has coached up some great defensive players over the past four years, including Miami Dolphin Raekwon McMillian and Georgia Bulldog Richard LeCounte.

Walthour is the next big hitter to make his way to the college ranks.

A great combination of size and speed, Walthour is making an impact in Region 2-AAA, and next

6 | itgsportsnetwork.com

season his skills will be on display in Sanford Stadium.

The cornerstone of any offense in football is its offensive line, and on the offensive line it all starts with the center. He’s the coach on the field calling out protections and snap counts, so he must have the football savvy to think like a coach. James Lucas, senior, is the man for the job for the Ware County Gators. Lucas, a threeyear starter, is an example to his teammates on the field and in the classroom. He has several offers to further his education and playing time at the next level, and where ever he decides to go, they’ll be getting a leader.

Some would argue that Texas, Florida, or California have the best high school football in the nation.

I’ll take the Pepsi Challenge with any of those states with our great state of Georgia. That’s why one of the best to ever do it in the state of South Carolina, Ken Cribb, took the Wayne County job. As Rick Flair said, “If you want to be the man, you have to beat the man.”

Cribb comes to Wayne as one of the winningest coaches ever in the state of South Carolina and has already turned the Yellow Jackets into a powerhouse in Region 2 AAAAA. Cribb has the Jackets ranked No. 8 in AAAAA for the first time in several years.

Seems like every year a bigtime player comes through Camden Middle School. Coach Lang has coached up several over the past eight years, and 2017 is no different. Jamie Felix is a name you should familiarize yourself with in Camden County and all of SEGA. When Felix has plays that are referred to as Heisman-like, you should pay attention. The threesport star already stands 5’10” and weighs 175 pounds, so you know he’s a handful in middle school sports. Like several standout players before him, Felix wears No. 5 in honor of Braxton Sullivan, who was tragically killed in a roadside

26

accident in 2014.

I was beginning to question if I knew what I was doing in my job. After eight years I thought I had a good grip on who’s who in high school sports, at least here in SEGA. When I saw Bacon County senior Anthony Madison run the football earlier this year, I was shocked, stunned, and amazed.

Shocked by how talented he was, stunned because I had no clue who he was, and amazed by his speed and size. After talking to coach Kyle Langford, I felt a little better. Langford shared with me that Anthony put on 30 pounds in the offseason and didn’t start at running back until halfway through last season.

We hope you enjoy reading In the Game as much as we enjoy producing and publishing it. We would like to thank our friends at the Georgia High School Football Historians Association (ghsfha. org) for their assistance. We are always open to suggestions as well as story ideas or ways you think we can improve our magazine. Please visit our website at www.itgsportsnetwork.com and Facebook at www.facebook.com/ inthegamenation. Follow us on Twitter @SEGAInTheGame and on Instagram @inthegamesega.

You can now keep up with all the Friday Night scores across SEGA and the state with our new partner app Scorestream. Download the Scorestream app at Google Play or the Appstore today. Join us every Thursday evening live from 6-7 p.m. as we broadcast live from Firehouse Subs in Waycross.

Listen to “In the Game on Radio” on WWUF 97.7 FM or stream the show live on www.waycrossradio. com. While you’re online, don’t forget to nominate a deserving student-athlete or coach for one of our feature articles. You’ll be glad you did.

TELL US YOUR THOUGHTS!

Email us at info@itgsportsnetwork.com to let us know what you thought of the September edition of ITG!

Contributors

Publisher Shawn Smoak Editor Mark Dykes Graphics Mandy Douthit Cover Photography Charles E. Smith Feature Photography Charles E. Smith Jennifer Carter Johnson Michael Brinson Jeffrey Griffith Debra Tanner Carolyn Griffin Chandler Watson Feature Writers Rob Asbell John DuPont W. John Wood Evan Smoak Jaron Raulerson Makayla Copeland Copy Editors Anna Limoges Alex Dunn Advertising/Marketing Shawn Smoak shawn@itgsportsnetwork.com Mark Dykes mark@itgsportsnetwork.com Website Manager Mandy Douthit SEGA Prep Sports P.O. Box 2960 Waycross, Ga. | 31502 Corporate Office: Dykes Media Group LLC P.O. Box 812 Valdosta, Ga. | 31603 In the Game is published monthly (excluding July).

The contents of this publication may not be reproduced in part or in full without consent from the publisher. Dykes Media Group, LLC 2017 makes no representation or warranty of any kind for accuracy of content. All advertisements are assumed by the publisher to be correct. Copyright 2015 Dykes Publishing Group, LLC. All rights reserved. ISSN 1945-1458.

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UGA’s Future Defensive Lineman

The Twitterverse was blowing up 55 minutes after midnight on Sept.

18. Senior defensive tackle Tramel Walthour announced a very early commitment to the University of Georgia.

Written by: W. John Wood Photography by: Charles E. Smith

“Blessed to say that I am 100% committed to the University of Georgia! @KirbySmartUGA @TravionScott @CoachSchuUGA #GoDawgs,” Walthour said on Twitter.

Sponsored by:

Tramel Walthour at a glance: 8 | itgsportsnetwork.com

Defensive Lineman

6’4”

270 lbs

Standing 6’4” and 270 pounds, Walthour lines up as three technique between the guard and tackle and was a major haul for Georgia. The super athletic recruiting class of 2017 that was top five in the country brought the haul of Walthour’s teammate Richard LeCounte III, Jake Fromm, and Vidalia’s speedy linebacker Nate McBride among others.

In that class though, there was not one defensive lineman. Many of the Georgia faithful hope that Walthour’s early commitment will net more beef for the D-line.

Walthour has been playing football since age 8. However, when he was a freshman he played varsity defensive tackle for Liberty County High School and witnessed first-hand the resurgence of the program.

“It’s an honor to come behind so many great players who come from the same place I come from, and also it gives me motivation that I can do the same,” Walthour said.

The program went from occasionally making the playoffs to winning a shootout against Pierce County for their first out-

Solo Tackles

106

right Region 3-AAA title, and their season didn't end until a double overtime loss against Greater Atlanta Christian in the AAA semi-finals.

“It's an honor and privilege to be part of a team that has a lot of pride in their program,” Walthour said.

As he went through his first season with the varsity, he learned how to use his size to his advan-tage and to become much more cerebral about the game of football. Tearing up the practice turf; working on quick feet; and firing out of the steel cage chutes low and fast, getting his hands in-side the opposite player, Walthour gained more confidence in his ability.

He also did some serious work in the weight room, which added to his strength and speed.

“Early morning workouts, going in the weight room, and working as hard as I can and doing whatever my strength coach has for us to do,” Walthour said.

Liberty County football runs in the family.

His brother, Tracy White,

Total Tackles

171

a lockdown corner and also a strong player on the 2016 championship basketball team, is now playing corner at Old Dominion University.

The hard work that Walthour put in got noticed. He ended up a three-star recruit and No. 47 in the entire Class of 2018 as a defensive tackle. He also got to see how he would do against some of the best talent in the United States at different elite and invitation-only combines.

Closer to home, he played in the Rising Seniors Bowl last year, which puts the best juniors in the entire state of Georgia playing each other.

“It's always a good experience,” Walthour said.

“I love to compete against players that are as good as or sometimes even better.

It's a good way to learn new things from them.”

Kirby Smart missed out on landing Liberty County’s Raekwon McMillan when he was still the defensive coordinator at Alabama. But once Kirby Smart came home to Georgia, a lot of the tal-ented players decided to stay too.

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— Tramel Walthour

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McMillan got every Division I coach to set their GPS to Liberty County. Walthour definitely passed the eye test, but what really sold recruiters were his feet and how quickly he was able to come off of the ball. Auburn, Ohio State, Georgia, and a host of others all beckoned Walthour to come to their respective schools.

“It’s been very stressful, and nobody told me anything about the process,” Walthour said.

A lot of that stress disappeared when he tweeted mid-September that he would be playing for UGA in the fall of 2018.

“I already had my mind set on UGA before I even had a scholarship offer from them, and it's go-ing to be real exciting to be able to go and play with Richard knowing that

“I already had my mind set on UGA before I even had a scholarship offer from them, and it's going to be real exciting to be able to go and play with Richard knowing that we grew up playing with each other. We can both just go out there and put on for our city.”

— Tramel Walthour

we grew up playing with each other,” Walthour said. “We can both just go out there and put on for our city.”

When asked if technique or strength were more important for a lineman, Walthour stayed true to his defensive line roots.

“Technique,” he said. “My favorite technique is the ‘out, in, and swim’ move.”

Lining up his three technique, the first thing Walthour looks at is the formation, and then he keys the hips of the offensive linemen.

When the ball snaps, natural instincts take over, and in the blink of an eye, you see his size working in concert with quick feet. A second later he has shed the offensive lineman’s block, his heels are on the line of scrimmage, and he has a pursuit an-gle on the ball carrier.

“I engage the offensive lineman, shoot my hands, get off the block, and get to the football,” he said. “I hope to be one of the best defensive linemen to come through our program.”

Walthour has the goal of going to the NFL after UGA, but if he doesn't he wants to be a sports therapist.

“It means a lot to be able to go to the University of Georgia,” Walthour said. “It has a great program and is just getting better and better. It's just a blessing and privilege to be able to be a part of it in the future and to further my education and pursue my career.”

DIFFERENT TYPES OF SHOES FOR EACH SPORT

RUNNING

Get well cushioned shoes to absorb shock and make sure the soles are lightweight.

Have an upper mesh to keep weight down and feet cool, as well as a grip for one directional motion.

FOOTBALL

Get shoes that are designed to help you turn and change direction quickly and smoothly. Have studded or bladed outsoles that provide cushion. These shoes don’t have much arch support or foot motion within the shoes.

TENNIS

Have a shoe for multi-directional movements, flexibility for lateral movement, and good grip and ankle support. Have fore-foot and rear-foot cushioning, but also a more durable rubber in areas that get more worn.

BASEBALL

These shoes have a spike located beneath the toe and a midsole that provides improved ankle support.

BASKETBALL

There are high-top, mid-top, and low-top versions. The main idea is to either provide ankle support, added leverage movement, or speed and quickness on the court. They have traction on the soles to better pivot more effectively and change directions.

HIKING

You generally want a shoe with a lot of ankle support for treacherous climbs on uneven ground. These shoes should have a component of water-proofing, insulation, and traction.

WEIGHTLIFTING

These shoes should help you use all the force your body produces to help you move weight. They should have a raised heel and should offer stability.

Courtesy of sporting-feet.com

In The Game | 13

WARE COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL FINISH IN SIGHT FOR WARE COUNTY CROSS COUNTRY Written by: Evan Smoak | Photography: courtesy of Ware County High School

Ware County High School’s cross country teams are off to a great start this year. Both the boys and girls teams are led by head coach Joe Eichfeld. This is Coach Eichfeld’s third year with the team and second as head coach. This year coaches Alvin Nelson and Chad Whitley are his support staff.

Seniors Logan Millard and Matthew Hamilton lead the varsity boys team. Millard finished top 10 in all but one meet, the exception being September’s Jekyll Island Invitational where he placed 30th out of 224 runners. Millard won the Gator’s first home meet, finishing first overall with a time of 19:11. However, it has not been a solo effort. Seniors Brandon Foster and Austin Sweat; sophomores Bruce Altman, Caleb Crawford, Ethan Frye, and Dakota Walker; and freshmen Grayson Smith and Colby Walker have all made impacts by running on the varsity boys team.

14 | itgsportsnetwork.com

The varsity girls team has been a total team effort as junior Maree Harris; sophomores Hannah Boggan, Aaliyah Sandiford, and Kaylah Youngblood; and freshman Bailey Moore lead the charge. Other varsity girl runners include junior Jakaria Kay and sophomores Anne Lin and Mia Sandiford.

Both teams’ hard work paid off. On Sept. 28, Ware County hosted its second home meet of the year with 10 teams competing. The Gators boys and the girls varsity teams brought home first place trophies. The cross country Gators have three remaining events scheduled for 2017. The last regular season match will be held in Wayne County before the region championship meet. Those who qualify will be afforded the opportunity to compete at the state meet being held in Carrollton, Georgia, on Nov. 3- 4.

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In The Game | 15

High Flying

HEISMAN Impersonator Written by: Rob Asbell Photography by: Michael Brinson

Heisman-like: It’s the only way to describe such an amazing play.

The ball-carrier breaks through the line and cuts to the outside, where he shakes off a linebacker and then heads for a cornerback who is the last obstacle between him and the end zone. The defender dives for the runner’s legs in an effort to keep him from scoring, but in a show of impressive athleticism, the ball-carrier jumps over him in stride to score the touchdown.

Some believe it was the play that won the 2016 Heisman Trophy for University of Louisville quarterback Lamar Jackson. Although strikingly similar to Jackson’s vault against Syracuse, this time it happened during a middle school scrimmage in Kingsland, Georgia.

“For some reason I felt like I should jump over him,” Jamie Felix, Camden Middle School running back, said about the play.

Already standing 5’10” and weighing 175 pounds, Felix will play football, basketball, and baseball for the Camden County Wildcats next year.

“He is one of the most talented athletes that I have ever coached,” Mark Lang, Camden Middle School head football coach, said . “He learns quickly, receives coaching feedback, and can make his body perform at levels most cannot imagine achieving.”

Such was the case of Felix’s high-flying impersonation of Jackson’s Heisman leap during the Cougars’ annual Blue and White spring scrimmage. Felix took a pitch on a sweep, shook off a linebacker, and headed for the outside toward a cornerback.

“I'm thinking, ‘He’s not going to tackle me. He is going to try and go for my lower half,’” Felix said.

The defender did exactly that. But as he went for Felix’s legs, the young running back hurdled him, landing in stride and scoring the touchdown.

“It is memorable because Lamar Jackson did the same thing in a game, which was pretty cool,” Felix said.

16 | itgsportsnetwork.com

“I was a complete beast on the field. I fell in love with the game as soon as I put a helmet on.”

— Jamie Felix

As a running back and defensive back for CMS, Felix likes to announce his presence on both sides of the ball, setting the tone of the game by breaking a big run or making a big hit.

“Jamie gives the whole team greater confidence when he simply steps on the field,” Lang said.

Felix has speed to get him beyond the second level of defense, and for anyone who is able to catch up to him, Felix also has the size and strength to run them over with sheer brute force. Before each snap, Felix mentally prepares himself by getting his adrenaline pumping.

“I just express everything when the play starts, and it makes me play hard every game,” he said.

Like many young men, he got his start playing flag football at age 5 in Kingsland. At 7, he put on pads and strapped on a chin strap for the first time, which got him hooked.

“I was a complete beast on the field,” he said. “I fell in love with the game as soon as I put a helmet on.”

His first big game came in the 8U league when he moved to quarterback in the Wildcat formation during the second half of a game against the Woodbine Cow-

boys. He led the Kingsland Falcons to victory in the second half, running three touchdowns and throwing for another. Later, his team went all the way to state in football and won the 9-10 championship. He continued playing recreation football in Kingsland until he joined Lang’s Camden Middle School team. He helped lead the Cougars to an undefeated season in 2016, scoring five touchdowns in a single game.

Outstanding on the basketball court and the baseball diamond, too, Felix made Camden County High School’s junior varsity baseball team while still in seventh grade. He has played travel baseball in tournaments throughout the southeastern United States since he was 9 years old. Felix was recently selected for the Southeastern Division for Team USA in the National Team Identification Series. He now has the chance to be on the international team next year.

Whether his future is in football or baseball, Felix would like to go pro in either sport.

He credited coach Brian Crum for teaching him how to play the game better and at a higher level.

“He has taught me how to be a student of the game and to study my playbook and my school work,” Felix said.

“I just express everything when the play starts, and it makes me play hard every game.”

— Jamie Felix

Like most young teens, Felix likes to play video games when he is not in school or at practice. He also likes to work on ways to improve himself.

“I lift weights, work on my feet, work on my hands and speed,” he said.

A quiet leader on the team, Felix sets an example for teammates to follow.

“He uses his influence to make his team better,” Lang said. “Jamie is extremely talented and very humble. Jamie will play any position asked and always pushes himself to get better.”

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18 | itgsportsnetwork.com

The Palmetto State Effect Written by: W. John Wood Photography by: Jeffrey Griffith

Long before anyone down I-95, Cribb helped would Google “Chan- the programs he was with, ticleers,” as in the 2016 making them competitive College World Series and raising the level of champion Coastal Car- play. olina University ChanHis last stop in South ticleers, Wayne County Carolina was Bluffton, right head football coach Ken across the Savannah River Cribb could have told and about 10 golf courses them. from Hilton Head Island.

He not only knew what Cribb put together doua Chanticleer was, he was ble-digit wins three years an original member of in a row; during the 2011 the Coastal Carolina Col- season, he won 14 straight lege club football team. games with the Bobcats Cribb also with the has a di- “My love for sports led only loss rect tie to coming in a piece of me to want to become a the quarterthat hard- coach. My parents both finals of the ware from coached recreationally. state playOmaha: offs.

His high My high school head footWhile s c h o o l ball coach sarcastically at the helm b a s e b a l l called me ‘Coach Cribb’ of the Bobcoach was cats, Cribb Gary Gilm- when I was a freshman.” had an op— Ken Cribb p o r t u n i t y ore. Gilmore skipto jump the pered the Chanticleers to border to play some Georthe CWS title in 2016. gia schools, mainly physGraduating from ical power running-team Pleasant Hill High School Effingham County and the in Georgetown, South skill rich South Effingham Carolina, Cribb grew up Mustangs. loving sports and knew it “I have been familiar would be the right career with Georgia high school for him. football for the last sev“My love for sports led en years due to being in me to want to become a Bluffton and bordering the coach,” Cribb said. “My state line while competing parents both coached against several Georgia recreationally. My high schools,” Cribb said. “The school head football biggest difference in my coach sarcastically called opinion is the level of comme ‘Coach Cribb’ when I petitiveness throughout the was a freshman.” different classifications.”

Over a 29-year career, Bluffton became known Cribb has covered the for a fast attacking, Upstate and Low Country pass-happy offense and a of South Carolina. Up and stingy, punishing defense.

20 | itgsportsnetwork.com

Those same elements are the foundation that kept Wayne County undefeated coming into the midpoint of the 2017 season.

When the Yellow Jackets met the other Yellow Jackets of Thomas County Central, the Aug. 12 scrimmage loudly proclaimed that the Palmetto State was in full effect in South Georgia. After leading 35-7, Wayne County staved off a hastily put together rally by TCC and won 47-21, gaining over 500 yards of offense in the process.

Wayne won their first game of the season on the road against West Laurens, but Cribb knew what faced Wayne County in Game 2. The Yellow Jackets had to make a long trip to Valdosta.

Not only were the 2016 AAAAAA state champ Wildcats waiting on them, but Hurricane Irma was starting to move into the Caribbean Islands.

“My first time experience playing in Valdosta and admiring their stadium, football museum, and adornment of championship banners was quite

impressive,” Cribb said. “It was a great atmosphere and a monster win for our program over a quality opponent.”

Following the victory on the road against Valdosta, Wayne was dealt its next major challenge, an upstart Brunswick team that has been a scoring machine since Sean Pender took over last spring.

But as the great Jimmy Buffett laments in his song, “Trying to Reason With Hurricane Season,” debris and post-Irma conditions forced Brunswick to forfeit the game to Wayne. Hurricanes and

lightening are about the only thing that will stop high school football.

When Wayne County did reemerge on the field after Irma, they brought their own barrage, defeating Appling County 49-14.

Wayne County fits Cribb like a glove, and he reciprocates all of the cordiality and kindness the Yellow Jacket nation have shown him.

“The administration has been 100-percent supportive, and the whole town is hungry for success,” he said.

“My career-long dream was to coach in a community that loved football half as much as I do.”

The administration gave Cribb the ability to build the staff that would best work for him and maximize the coaching players would receive.

When you look at the Wayne County staff, you see not only a wealth of technical football knowledge, but life experiences that players can glean.

A lot of his assistants have played and coached college football,

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In The Game | 21

from Division I to NAIA power Northwest Oklahoma State. The staff is so diverse and versatile that they have assistants that worked alongside legendary Summerville coach John McKissick and at Byrnes High School, a nationally ranked prep South Carolina program.

Ten of Cribb’s past assistants are now head coaches.

“I have always had great staffs, but thanks to the support of the Wayne County administration, I have assembled an allstar staff,” Cribb said. “No doubt, best staff of my career.”

Though he is the head football coach, he also is the athletic director and tries to do everything he can to make sure all sports have what they need to be successful.

When Cribb does find some time away from

the field, he likes to get in some golf and grill on the Lang smoker he won at his first In the Game Media Day in July. Cribb kept putting the bags in the cornhole board like Larry Bird shooting three pointers.

“I can't tell you how awesome it was to be lucky enough to have won the cornhole tournament and the Lang 36" Smoker-cooker at the Media Day,” Cribb said. “I have smoked a Boston butt and chicken on it so far, crazy good.”

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8/2017 In The Game Š|201723 SGHS

BACON COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL

BACON LADIES FLYING HIGH Written by: Rob Asbell | Photography by: Carolyn Griffin

Victory is in the air this fall at Bacon County High School in Alma.

The softball team jumped out to a 12-3 record, the football team started 4-0 for the first time in school history, and the competition cheer team has been flipping and flying across Southeast Georgia.

After traveling to Savannah for choreography camp and stunt camp this summer, the Bacon County competition cheerleaders embarked upon their schedule of six invitational tournaments this year.

The first was in Lyons at Toombs County High School, where they placed second. Next, they placed third at a tournament at West Laurens High School in Dublin. Head cheer coach Tanya Bourdeau, along with Misty Rigdon and Crystal Moore, prepared the team.

“I am proud to have the opportunity to coach these young ladies,” Bourdeau said. “They are an awesome group of girls to work with.”

The Bacon County Competition Cheer team consists of 15 members, including five juniors, seven sophomores, two freshmen, and senior leader Cheyenne Taylor.

“Cheyenne is always encouraging these young ladies to strive to be the very best that they can be,” Bourdeau said. “Her enthusiasm, dedication, and caring attitude is contagious.”

The team is scheduled for more competitions including ones at Lowndes, Vidalia, and Swainsboro in October. They will travel back to West Laurens in November for the Region competition.

While the competition cheerleaders were in the gym, the Lady Raiders Softball team was out on the diamond representing Bacon

County. First year head coach Kelli Poff had them heading in the right direction. They finished the regular season schedule at 14-8, but more importantly at 9-3 in Region 2-AA. It came down to a doubleheader against Metter, and the Lady Tigers took Game 1 to tie them in the region standings. The Lady Raiders pulled together and won 6-2 in the nightcap to pull ahead in Region 2-AA, and then a final 17-4 win over Toombs County sealed the No. 2 seed in the region playoffs.

“I feel we have a great group of girls and I am blessed with a great coaching staff, and together I expect our program to be all in and selfless,” Poff said at the beginning of the season.

Bacon County had to play the second half of the season without Breanna Booth at third due to a season-ending injury. Freshman Kamari Strozier stepped in to play third base, and in her first big play against Brunswick she tagged out a runner at third before firing to first to complete the double play.

The Lady Raiders are young this season and have only four seniors – Ashley Durante, Breanna Booth, Cameo Snell, and Taz Whitley – and no juniors, but plenty of sophomores and freshman for Poff in the coming years. The state playoffs are scheduled to begin Oct. 11 with the Elite Eight teams playing in the state tournament Oct. 26-28 in Columbus.

In The Game | 25

Cornerstone Written by: John DuPont Photography by: Jennifer Carter Johnson

Those who shepherded James Lucas through his formative years said the blue chip gridder is the kind of guy upon which coaches build programs. The 6-foot, 285-pound Ware County High senior is on several college radars thanks largely to his athletic skills. However, his do-right attitude and commitment to excellence have also paved the path to success, a journey his dad said started when he was just 15 months old.

"My most vivid memory of James was actually in the wrestling room when he refused to lose his wrestle-off. He was determined to win and did what it took to represent Ware County High School in the region traditional tourney.

James is a respectful young man with great ambition. He is goal oriented and does what is needed to achieve his goals."

- Joe Eichfeld, WCHS wrestling coach

26 | itgsportsnetwork.com

“God’s true gift – that’s what he’s been,” Tim Lucas said. “He is as close to a perfect child as any parent can ask for. Everything I ever told James to do,, he always did it the first time. He always listened.”

Diligent ways produced top grades throughout elementary school, and Lucas has maintained his scholarly ways ever since. The first “B” didn’t appear on a report card until sixth grade, and a “C” has never found its way there. A National Honor Society member, Lucas bears a GPA that hovers in the neighborhood of 3.9. His workload has consistently featured honors and AP classes, including a current offering of AP college math.

Lucas scored 1140 on the SAT and 24 on the ACT. “My favorite subject is actually science,” he

said. “I like physics and knowing how objects move. I took psychology last year, even though it’s a social science. I’ve tossed around things like sports medicine and nursing as possible careers and then even considered another direction like mechanics.

But right now I just really don’t know what my college major will be.”

Here and now, Lucas and his affinity for moving things bodes well in his role as a two-sport athlete at WCHS, where he also wrestles. His weight room max totals include 350 pounds on the bench press, 495 pounds in power cleans, and 260 pounds in squats. His football talents have taken him to campus visits at Faulkner University in Alabama and Lindsey Wilson College in Kentucky, both faith-based schools that compete in the NAIA.

LET’S GET FIT There has also been some interested all the way up to Division-1 and Middle Tennessee State.

“James is a very intelligent individual on and off the field,” Franklin Stephens, WCHS head coach, said. “He is one of those who gets it when it comes to making adjustments and recognizing what's going on during a game. He has started every game on the offensive line since his sophomore year, which gives him a lot of experience. He also possesses very good strength, size, and quickness, a skill set that will provide him with the opportunity to be a very good offensive lineman this season. James is another great kid that we are fortunate to have in our program.”

Football has been a mainstay activity for Lucas since kindergarten, when he first played the flag variety. Tackle football took hold in third grade. He has always been a lineman, primarily on offense where he has played center, guard, and tackle.

“Tenth-grade year we went all the way to the semifinals,” Lucas said. “That was my first year starting varsity. Just learning and having fun with a bunch of guys is what I remember most. We started out good and then had an incident with Glynn Academy in the middle of the season, and then it was Effingham, when everyone was emotional and we came out flat. Then we had to play Northside (Warner Robins) in the playoffs, and they had won state the year before. They were on a streak of winning in the first round for like

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10 years straight.

But we got back on track and made it to the semi-finals. In the playoffs we beat Northside, Drew, Rome, then we lost to Glynn again. But the stadium was packed, and it was a really fun atmosphere.”

match, I stretched the tendons in my ankle and couldn’t walk on it for a couple days,” Lucas said.

“Everyone said I turned white like a ghost when I did it. Against Coffee my 10th-grade year, I rolled my right ankle a couple of times. Then it was my left ankle. I did it in the semifinal against Glynn and had to wear a boot.

That’s why I couldn’t wrestle.”

Hopes this year are for Lucas to recapture the magic from his eighth-grade year, when as a 240-pound wrestler, he lost only one match – to a teammate who wound up as conference champion. Chad Starling, the head football coach and athletic director at Ware County Middle School, fondly recalled watching Lucas in those days as a fledgling Gator.

"James has developed into a solid football player and more importantly an awesome young man,” Starling said. “He has always been a hard worker and dependable. His gradu-

Winter will mark the second year in a row back on the mat for Lucas. Upon launching his wrestling comeback as a junior, he grappled his way to the state sectionals. Lucas won his first match there and lost his second one, bringing his state finals hopes down to a third and final sectionals bout. He won it in triple overtime, thus qualifying for the state finals. Subsequently he finished 16th among the heavyweights. It was a triumphant return for Lucas, who had missed wrestling as a freshman and sophomore due to high ankle sprains suffered on the gridiron.

“My ninth grade year in my first wrestling

ating class is one of my favorites because they had a great bond and really played well as a team. I'm very proud of James as well as the others in seeing them accomplish things on the field and learning as students in the classroom. There is nothing more gratifying as a coach than to see a student-athlete prosper and develop into a strong leader on and off the field. That is what it's all about."

Leading by example, Lucas logs community service hours at local elementary schools and as a volunteer at the Ware County Courthouse.

There he assists Anna Lane, mother of Colby Lane, his army-bound best friend since sixth grade. The Lucas inner circle also includes sister Kassie, 15, a defending national champion gymnast, and brother Noah, 11, a first-degree karate black belt. Lucas also enjoys tinkering on his 1999 Chevy Silverado with his older step-brother, Dalton

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Strickland, and grandfather Jimmy Scurry. Whether competing or otherwise, Lucas always seems to display a unique self-awareness.

“What I love about wrestling is the one-on-one nature of it,” Lucas said. “It’s just you and another guy going at it. It’s a man’s sport, just like football.

You’re trying to break another person’s will and wind up on top. It’s an individual sport, but also a team sport.

What I love about football is probably the same thing because you have to win your own battles in order for the team to compete, and it’s also fun. Then when you start putting people in the dirt, that’s when it really gets fun.”

While he wears a number of hats, Lucas is quick to note the manner in which people should recall his exploits.

“I want to be remembered as someone who worked his hardest at everything he did and someone that whenever the coaches said ‘Jump,’ I said ‘How high?’”

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IT’S ALL ABOUT SLEEP

BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT

Written by: Rob Asbell | Photography by: Jennifer Carter Johnson

Sleep. As humans, we devote up to one-third of our lives sleeping. But many of us do not sleep well, and it may be having negative effects on the rest of our lives.

More and more, primary care physicians are connecting patients’ quality of sleep with their overall health.

“A lot of people are walking around tired,” said Al Thomas, who owns The CPAP Store in Waycross, Georgia, with his wife, Amanda. “You can see it in their faces and in their eyes because they’re not sleeping,” The CPAP Store specializes in equipment and supplies prescribed by doctors for sleep therapy.

“Everything revolves around sleep,” he said. “If you’re not sleeping, you don’t feel good, and you don’t function well.”

More than 22 million Americans are currently diagnosed with sleep apnea, in which breathing stops and restarts while sleeping. It is estimated that 80 percent of people with sleep disorders go undiagnosed.

One of the primary treatments for sleep apnea is a device known as a CPAP, or Continuous Positive Airway Pressure device. A mask worn while sleeping, a CPAP ensures a constant flow of air to prevent breathing stoppages

and helps the person sleep more soundly.

Thomas spent the last 20 years working as a respiratory therapist with different medical equipment companies.

He realized that people in the community who wear CPAPs were finding it increasingly difficult to locate a provider for their devices and supplies. That is when he and his wife decided to open The CPAP Store in Waycross earlier this year.

“I’ve always been a social person,” Thomas said. “But I’ve been stuck behind a desk for 15 of the last 20 years.”

Indications of a sleep disorder include being constantly tired and unable to concentrate during the day, labored snoring, and falling asleep at odd times and places.

“If you get on the right sleep therapy, you will see all of that change,” Thomas said.

“You will be happy again and be able to enjoy life again. The process is a lot easier than it used to be and a lot less expensive.”

He added that people with those symptoms should dis-

cuss it with their doctors and have sleep studies performed.

The CPAP Store is in network with most health insurances. Once a person has been diagnosed by a doctor, The CPAP Store works to make sure they get the right device for their needs.

With a selection of different masks in stock in different sizes and different styles, they will let you try on the mask and make sure it fits, and works, correctly.

The CPAP Store motto: “Exceptional care. Exceptional Service. Without Exception.”

They also help those who have unsuccessfully tried sleep therapy in the past by helping them get back on track with new supplies and equipment. They are open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. at 512 City Boulevard, Suite G in Waycross in the Los Palmas shopping center.

You can call The CPAP Store at (912) 590-6546, find them on Facebook, or go to their website at loveyourCPAP.com.

“If you have problems sleeping, if you are tired all the time, if you fall asleep at the drop of a hat, talk to your doctor about your symptoms and get tested,” he said. “When you get it treated, you will feel much better and have a better quality of life.”

In The Game | 33

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The Workhorse Written by: Rob Asbell Photography by: Debra Tanner

It’s a sight defenders dread seeing: 225 pounds of high speed tailback coming at them on a downhill run like a bull that has broken free.

That’s what they get each time Bacon County’s Anthony Madison gets the ball. The senior has become a major part of the Red Raiders offense, establishing an effective running game to set up the Bacon County passing attack of Dawson Jewell to LaGondric Snell.

“He is a kid that can carry the ball 40 times a game, do a good job in pass protection, and as he has matured he has filled a role as a team leader in his actions on the field and in the school,” Kyle Langford, Bacon County head football coach, said.

In this season’s home opener against the Pierce County Bears, Madison rushed for over 125 yards and two touchdowns, all of which came in two quarters of work following a two-hour lightning delay. With the re-

start of the game came the resurgence of the Bacon County Red Raiders, who poured it on to soundly defeat their neighbors to the south 35-13.

“Bear hunting with my brothers,” Madison said. “It was a huge success.”

“Mad Dogg” Madison, as he is known, is a 6’1” north-south runner, meaning he doesn’t do a lot of quick cuts. Instead, Madison prefers to run straight ahead behind his pads, slamming into defenders and carrying them as he fights for extra yardage. He is

“He is a kid that can carry the ball 40 times a game, do a good job in pass protection, and as he has matured he has filled a role as a team leader in his actions on the field and in the school.”

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also a threat to break tackles up the middle and find an opening for long runs.

He can step up to become a pass blocker or slip out to become a receiver on short screens that often turn into big gains. He made a highlight reel one-handed catch out of the backfield against Pierce that went for 13 yards and a first down. He has improved his field vision and receiving abilities in the offseason and added muscle to his frame.

“Anthony has gained 30 pounds in the offseason,” Langford said. “He has worked out extremely

36 | itgsportsnetwork.com

“Striving for greatness while others sleep.”

— Anthony Madison

hard in the weight room.

His max numbers have exploded, and I think that is all due to an increase in confidence in his abilities on the field and in the weight room.”

Madison has shown major improvement over the past few seasons. He did not become a starter at running back until halfway through last year when two players were injured.

In his first start, he rushed for over 200 yards against Swainsboro. In the final five games of last season, Madison ran for 875 yards and six touchdowns.

“He really carried the offense the last four games of the season,” Langford said.

This season, Madison has already picked up where he left off.

Against Berrien County, the workhorse back had 40 carries for 261 yards and three touchdowns. In the first four games of this season, Madison was listed among the state’s leading rushers and was already well on his way to breaking the 1,000-yard mark by the halfway point of the season.

To continually improve

himself he does push-ups and situps every night.

He credited Langford for making him get out of bed at 4 a.m. to work out.

“Striving for greatness while others sleep,” Madison said.

When he enters Morris-Johnson Stadium on Friday nights, he is thinking about giving Alma something to talk about, which he often does. The word on the street is that Madison will help lead the Raiders back to the playoffs. Madison was named Most Outstanding Offensive Player for Langford’s Red Raiders football team last year. After

becoming a varsity starter his sophomore season, he soon discovered a love for scoring touchdowns.

Several schools are showing interest in Madison, including Georgia Southern University, Norwich University, Georgia State University, and West Texas A&M. His first big play came last season against Metter, when he broke a 56yard touchdown run.

“I felt like Ezekiel Elliot,” Madison said, referring to the Dallas Cowboys running back.

In middle school he played full back. Now, he is the focal point of Ba-

con’s running game. As he progressed as a player, Madison also grew as a team leader and someone Langford said he can depend upon.

“Anthony is a very consistent person,” Langford said. “We know that he is going to show up to work every day, and his presence is a security blanket to the rest of the team.”

He plays tailback in football and center in basketball, where he is effectively clearing the lane in the low post for coach J.B. Bergeron’s team.

In The Game | 37

PIERCE COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL

ELITE SCHOOL FOR 3RD STRAIGHT YEAR Written by: Jaron Raulerson and Makayla Copeland Photography by: Chandler Watson

The Pierce County audio visual class is constantly trying their hardest to represent their school and all its happenings. We are proud to be a part of this pathway. It’s like a family; all of our successes are group successes, and all of our learning moments are shared among the team.

When NFHS Network named us a National Elite school for the third year in a row, we were overjoyed. It’s a large reminder of the goal we strive for daily. We want to highlight our opportunities, wins, and representatives of good character.

The audio visual class has a tradition of surprising Dara Bennett, our principal, with the banner we are given along with our elite title. When we showed our accomplishment, you wouldn’t believe her support. We know she is proud of us, and she always encourages us to do our best work.

Without her, it’s no doubt that the Elite title would be nearly unreachable.

We never expected this kind of honor, and NFHS doesn’t just hand out Elite titles to anyone.

This is the fourth straight national award for PCHS, which in 2014-15 earned “Select” status, the Network’s second highest honor. PCHS has earned the Network’s highest honor, Elite Status, every year since 2015.

We distinguished ourselves as leaders among the 1,350-plus schools involved in the School Broadcast Program, as PCHS was among 50 schools from 15 different states to achieve the top honor of Elite school status this year. On average, Elite schools produced over 100 events across seven different sports. Elite schools are the best of the best when it comes to producing, broadcasting, promoting, and covering their schools’ activities, and it’s our honor to be chosen for such a high reward.

“I am extremely proud of John DuPont and the AV class for winning another national award, and their work should be commended,” Bennett said. “The community would miss out without all of their commitment and help.”

We are proud of our past success, but we are focused on the future of the AV class and are continuing to strive for success. The audio visual class is constantly trying to improve and won’t settle until their craft is perfect and everyone who looks at their work is pleased. DuPont and every student enrolled in this pathway know that excellence is the standard at PCHS, and their work shows it.

“This award represents a lot of hard work by student broadcasters after hours,” DuPont said. “Also, because most of our broadcasts are sporting events, it underscores how many playoff games our teams play. So, it really is a badge of honor for our students, our student-athletes, and the coaches at PCHS.” While the praise and the awards are great, we will continue to focus on our work for the Pierce County community to enjoy.

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In The Game | 39

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