Morgan County Citizen: Morgan County High School 2013 football tab

A PUBLICATION OF THE Morgan County Citizen

Rush.

Countdown to kickoff

Morgan County Head Football Coach Bill Malone’s outlook on this year’s Dogs and the lastminute preparations going on before the season begins, 10.

The team’s true colors

There are many, varying factors that affect the players. Head Coach Malone discusses this year vs. last year’s teams and what makes them “tick,” 12.

Reaping what you sow

This year’s team Bible verse is Galatians 6:7, about reaping what’s sown. This idea is manifesting itself in the locker room, in practice and on the field, 24.

Morgan County High School Bulldog Football 2013 Previews

Want to know what the offense, defense and special teams have been up to? 6, 7 & 8

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Bulldog Football 2013

MORGAN COUNTY CITIZEN

MORGAN COUNTY CITIZEN

Bulldog Football 2013

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Bulldog Football 2013

Start barkin’

2013 VARSITY SCHEDULE Kickoff at 7:30 p.m. All home games at Bill Corry Stadium. Admission is $7 per person.

It’s the beginning of football season... time to call the Dogs!

Nick Nunn

SPORTS WRITER

The team exits the safety of the locker room, walks down the tiers of blue stairs and lines up behind the Morgan County banner.

“What them dogs do?”

Woof!

“What them dogs do?”

Woof!

“What them dogs do?”

Woof!

The cannon booms, startling the onceagain unaccustomed fans in the stands, and the Bulldogs tear through the thin barrier to rush the sideline, standing there only momentarily before they return to the field and take their positions.

That’s Legion Field, Bill Corry Stadium, Morgan County High School on a Friday night in the fall.

It seems like it was just yesterday that we were freezing our buns off in North Hall last November for the last game of the 2012 season, hoping to take hold of just a little more of that playoff magic.

But it is late summer again. There has been chance enough to thaw our hearts and bodies for another season of Morgan County football.

There have been changes since last year, but changes are far from uncommon in this arena.

MORGAN COUNTY CITIZEN

Morgan County High School’s senior football players, water girls and cheerleaders stop to pose for the camera during this season’s Picture Day, their last before they become Morgan County High School alumni. PHOTO BY LIFETOUCH

2013 will be the second year back at AAA, and teams that we saw only for the first time last year – North Hall and East Jackson, namely – have left impressions on the team and the fans, who eagerly await another chance to measure up against the best and the worst of 8-AAA. The team is ready. So are the cheerleaders, the band, the color guard, concession vendors, announcers and everyone else who makes the magic of a Morgan County Friday night.

There is only one element that isn’t there yet; an element that can change the whole mood on the field and make or break momentum in a game.

You. You are as essential a link to a successful season as just about any other in the chain, and there doesn’t have to be a lot of preparation on your part.

All you have to do is leave the comfort of your home after a long week’s worth of work, get to the stadium (whether here or there), shell out the mere $7 – and I challenge you to find three hours’ worth of entertainment on a Friday night elsewhere for only $7 – and take a seat in the stands.

Yeah, it’ll be hot some Fridays.

Yeah, it’ll be cold some Fridays.

But I’d be willing to bet that each and every one of you has at least one T-shirt and one winter coat in the closet. Maybe even two.

Win or lose, the possibility is there during each game to get completely swept up in the rivalries and heritage of Morgan County football, which most of you are likely to have a stake in.

As a graduate of Morgan County High School, who has a father and several uncles – not to mention a great uncle, Frank Nunn, who was on the 1962 State Championship team – who were Bulldogs, I’ve got a stake in the tradition.

Do you?

And, if you decide that your stake is enough to warrant season tickets, that can be arranged as well. Just call up Susan Beasley at Morgan County High School, 706-342-2336, and she’ll be able to get you what you need.

Come on out and show your support. The boys deserve it, the team deserves it and you deserve it.

Show yourself the best Friday nights Morgan County has to offer.

Aug. 30 at Monticello Sept. 6 vs. Greene County Pre-game: Miss Football Sept. 13 vs. Putnam County Sept. 27 at Oconee County Region game Oct. 4 vs. North Oconee Region game Pre-game: Kids’ Cheer (Elementary School Night) Oct. 11 at Elbert County Region game Oct. 18 vs. East Jackson Region game Halftime: Homecoming Oct. 25 at Franklin County Region game Nov. 1 vs. Hart County Region game Pre-game: Senior Night Nov. 8 at Jackson County Region game

Bulldog Football 2013 Patrick Yost EDITOR AND PUBLISHER

Nick Nunn FOOTBALL WRITER

Jesse Walker PHOTOGRAPHER AD DESIGN

Ryan Roberts ADVERTISING REPRESENTATIVE AD DESIGN

Dianne Lively Yost ADVERTISING REPRESENTATIVE

Bob Hogan ADVERTISING REPRESENTATIVE

Kathryn Schiliro EDITORIAL DESIGN

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Bulldog Football 2013

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Offense

Bulldog Football 2013

MORGAN COUNTY CITIZEN

Dogs’ offensive focus is on timing

During the Bulldogs’ 2012 football season, the offense was able to rack up almost 32 points per game, rush for well over 3,000 yards and pass for almost 750 yards.

But last year’s stats are a matter for PROJECTED STARTERS the history books, and Offensive Coordinator John Robbins is looking to VS. MONTICELLO what it will take to keep the ball movLT: Zack Jenkins ing forward this year.

LG: Tevin Waller Number one on his list: timing.

C: Jacob Bobo “Our speed sweeps and tosses are RG: Markell Ingram things that must be done daily in RT: Garrett Bone order to ensure the timing between TE: MJ Webb the center, quarterback and ball carQB: Trent Hawk rier all mesh perfectly together,” said FL: Melvin Davis Coach Robbins. “We feel like our HB: Sam Couch most successful games are when we HB: Trey Chapman play fast out of the huddle. Our goal FB: Marquis Benton is to snap the ball between three and SE: Justice Chapman four seconds after breaking the huddle, and, if we can do that consistently, it puts us in position to win.”

Trent Hawk is beginning his third year as starting quarterback for the Bulldogs, and Coach Robbins stated that Hawk is right where he should be.

“Trent has done a tremendous job of being our leader in the offensive huddle so far this year,” said Robbins. “His output and effort since we have put on pads has been that of a senior three-year starter.”

Getting newer additions to the team ready for Friday nights has been a focus during the summer as well.

“That's one of the toughest parts of coaching,” said Robbins. “This year has been no different. We have been planning and working with out current squad since the end of the season last year, so by this point the ripples are no longer present.”

Top left: The Quarterbacks and their coach, John Robbins (left to right), Dalton Cole, Trent Hawk, Brantley Frost and Garrett Frost. Top right: The Runningbacks include (back row, left to right) Trey Hurt, Trey Chapman, Melvin Davis, Marquis Benton, Wyatt Martin, Coach Todd Peaster, Bradley Eberhart, Dalton Fulcher, Dee Hubbard, Glenn Tolbert, Jr., Malik Chapman, (middle row) Maclane Zant, Jody McAlister, Antonio Robinson, Gurminder Singh, Griffin Sorohan, Collin Eberhart, Sam Couch, Tyler Benford, (front row) Andre Peterson, Jesse Taylor, Jerimiah Butler, Cornelius Peterson, Robert Shook, Michael Mitchell and Trea Johnson. Above: The Receivers include (back row, left to right) Jackson Ogletree, Jonathon Nelson, Will Donaldson, Justice Chapman, Robert Shook, Justis Ogletree, Levi Ewing, Alex Dickson, Coach John Dustin Hawkins, (front row) Rogers Burke, Paul Laverty, Cody Harper, Blake Nelson, Cedric Robertson, Quincey Jones, (no longer on team), Hunter Misuraca and Dalton Greenwalt.

MORGAN COUNTY CITIZEN

Defense

Above: The Offensive and Defensive Line includes (back row, left to right) Coach Jeff Snipes, Tez Mathis, MJ Webb, Dakoda Ruby, Zack Jenkins, Daltin Guderian, Justin Bryan, Austin Scanland, Jacob Bobo, Billy Holtzclaw, Markell Ingram, Chris Benford, Tevin Waller, Coach Bill Malone, Coach Jeff South, (middle row) Robert Gibbs, Seth Stapleton, Matthew Calloway, Joseph Konicki, Brandon Crowley, Garrett Bone, Collin Efird, Steven Ervin, Zach Howe, Isaiah Newell, Juwan Edwards, Nathan Behrendsen, Michael Rhodes, Will Spates, (front row) Casey Cooper, Caleb Fossom, Cedric Porter, Griffin Jaynes, TJ Abernathy, Case Segrest, Sam Jones, Guy Nelson, John Cox, Lewis McDaniel, Dawson Hawkins and Keandre Williams. Middle: The Linebackers include (back row, left to right) Collin Efird, Marquis Benton, Zach Howe, Coach Dusty Sidwell, (middle row) Trey Hurt, Andre Peterson, Case Segrest, Jerimiah Butler, Gurminder Singh, Collin Eberhart, Will Parker, (front row) Jesse Taylor, Griffin Jaynes, Caleb Fossom, Jody McAlister, Adam Brown and Michael Mitchell. Bottom: The Defensive Secondaries include (back row, left to right) Coach Allen Crowley, Will Donaldson, Melvin Davis, Justice Chapman, Robert Shook, Justis Ogletree, Trey Chapman, (third row) Dalton Cole, Antonio Robinson, Dalton Greenwalt, MJ Webb, Trent Hawk, Wyatt Martin, Rogers Burke, Levi Ewing, Alex Dickson, Glenn Tolbert, Jr., (second row) Cody Harper, Maclane Zant, Sam Couch, Griffin Sorohan, Tyler Benford, Quincey Jones, (no longer on team), Hunter Misuraca, Trea Johnson, (front row) Garrett Frost, Cedric Robertson, Nathan Lundy, Blake Nelson, Cornelius Peterson, Dalton Fulcher, Dee Hubbard and Bradley Eberhart. PHOTO BY LIFETOUCH

Bulldog Football 2013

Spending time developing the line

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The 2013 Bulldog defense is under new management this year with Coach Dusty Sidwell taking over as the defensive coordinator after Doug Huff ’s departure from the school system last year.

“We have a Coach Sidwell, very young who traces his core coming Morgan County High School foot- back to us for ball roots back to defense...”

2000, when he was a member on –Dusty Sidwell, the team, served Defensive as JV head coach Coordinator and special teams coordinator last season.

However, Sidwell didn’t miss a beat stepping into his new role, developing a method of preparing the defense that was specifically suited to the types of athletes on the team.

“We have a very young core coming back to us for defense and some older guys that didn't get very much playing time last season,” said Sidwell. “So, we spent a good portion of our time trying to teach them the basic lining up and being able to check off to different coverages given the situations the opponent may present.”

With the first game against Monticello knocking on the door, Sidwell is getting a better read on the individual athletes now that they are able to practice in full pads, which gives Coach Sidwell a better view of what they will be like in actual game situations.

“Pads have allowed us to see who will hit and who will be able to get the job done,” stated Sidwell. “Pads allow us to get a better picture of how they will perform under the lights and help us make out the roster as the season gets closer.”

Even with only a couple of weeks of preseason left, positions on the first string roster are still up in the air.

“The list of starters is still in progress,” said Sidwell. “That is why scrimmages are so great: they help us see who will be able to make the cut.”

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Bulldog Football 2013

MORGAN COUNTY CITIZEN

Special Teams Squad continues their work on returns

The Special Teams roster includes (left to right) Andrew Bishop, Tristan Yontz, Jacob Bobo, Trent Hawk, Jeffery Vernon, Brantley Frost and Nathan Lundy.

The success of a team largely depends on whether or not the special teams squad is able to make extra points and field goals, kick the ball far into their opponents' territory and be able to return kicks successfully in order to attain the best field advantage possible.

Last year, the special teams produced more than 50 points for the Morgan County Bulldogs, taking into

consideration field goals and extra points.

This year the legwork for the special teams will be handled by two Bulldogs: Andrew Bishop and Tristan Yontz.

Bishop, junior, will handle kickoffs, field goals and point after touchdown (PAT) attempts, while Yontz, a junior as well, will take care of the punting duties.

“We are excited about the potential that both of those guys have got,” said Head Coach Bill Malone about

his kickers.

Nevertheless, Coach Malone noted after the scrimmage game against Jefferson that the special teams still need a little work on returns.

“We’ve got a way to go,” began Malone. “We’ve talked about it. We know how glaring an issue it is right now.”

Malone explained that, with the work going into the offense and defense, the special teams squad hasn’t received all of the attention that it should during the summer, but the

coaching staff intends to rectify that shortcoming before the first game against Monticello.

The one thing missing from the special teams’ ability to return kicks well right now, according to Malone, is practice.

“A skill not practiced is a skill either not polished or one that has not been learned,” said Malone.

“It’s not the kids’ fault; we haven’t prepared for our special teams the way we spent time on offense and defense.”

PROJECTED STARTERS VS. MONTICELLO

Kickoffs, field goals, PATs: Andrew Bishop Holding: Trent Hawk Snapper: Jacob Bobo Punting: Tristan Yontz Long snapping: Jacob Bobo Returns: Sam Couch and Griffin Sorohan

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Bulldog Football 2013

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Bulldog Football 2013

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Count down Coach Malone’s lastminute preparations for 2013 season Head Coach Bill Malone has a newfound sense of excitement regarding the 2013-2014 school year, and it isn’t what you think it might be.

“I’ve got a classroom!” proclaimed Coach Malone, who was left to peddle his lessons in whatever rooms were available last year, keeping his books and teaching materials in a metal pushcart that resembles a grocery buggy.

“I’m excited, and [the classroom] backs up right to the field,” said Malone. “I’m very fortunate to have that.”

Even with the Malone’s permanent classroom this year, the long table in the office of the Morgan County field house is just as cluttered with stuff as it was last year.

On an average day, the table might hold anything: fast-food wrappers, revised rosters, outdated copies of magazines, Morgan County laptops, a strange stick with electrical tape wrapped around it or even last week’s copy of the Morgan County Citizen.

But all of the little distractions become nothing when there is business at hand, and, with few precious days remaining before Aug. 30: business is booming.

In the past couple of weeks, the coaching staff has been working on squeezing a starting lineup out of the team for Monticello.

Malone explained that the Morgan County athletes have been playing in different positions throughout the summer in an effort to see who will fit where, while filling in some of the

essential starting positions that were left by graduating seniors last year.

“We’ve done our best this offseason to get, at standup positions, two or three guys a bunch of reps,” said Malone.

The practice of splitting reps between athletes served its purpose, which was to allow the coaches to try out multiple athletes in the same position, but now it has become apparent to Coach Malone that the athletes who will ultimately take the starting roles will need more repetitions in their position in order to be fully prepared for the regular season.

“What we’ve got to work on now is saying, ‘This is your spot. You’re going to get 75 to 90 percent of the reps at that spot, and you’re going to get good enough to make it through the game.’”

Still, with all of the preparation for

“What we’ve got to work on now is saying, ‘This is your spot. You’re going to get 75 to 90 percent of the reps at that spot, and you’re going to get good enough to make it through the game.’” the season, the starting roster is going to remain somewhat liquid during the first few games, as the coaches get to see the boys in full-on competition and evaluate their performances.

“The work ahead of us is to determine who we can count on to either improve so much that they are able to play at the varsity level, or who we can count on to maintain what they have established and still be able to play well at the varsity level.”

Top: At summer practice this year, Morgan County High School Head Coach Bill Malone has a few congratulatory words for the team and their hard work. Above: Malone (center) looks to the sideline during a huddle at the preseason scrimmage game against Jefferson Aug. 15.

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Bulldog Football 2013

Group effort Community Coaches: Holding the team together As important as they are, coaches simply cannot be everywhere at once.

With only four coaches on staff at Morgan County High School, there is the potential to miss something either during practice or an actual game, and something, which could make all the difference in a score later on, might – by no fault or negligence on the part of the coaches – slip through the cracks.

Luckily, the powers that be allow a “...Morgan group of men out County Schools there to pick up on have opened the more things than door for those would have been of us outside the possible before: community coaches. teaching As an extra set of profession to eyes, a counseling coach at the voice, a helping high school hand, or so much level.” more, a community coach acts as an ex–Todd Peaster, tension of the “offiCommunity Coach cial” coaching staff.

But, with the roles they play and the time they devote to the team, the distinction of “official” really doesn’t seem to mean a thing.

Todd Peaster is beginning his sixth season as a Bulldog and will be one of five community coaches serving the Morgan County Bulldogs this year: Jeff South, Tom Duff, Jeff Snipes, John Dustin Hawkins and Peaster.

As a Realtor at Madison Realty and a landscape architect at Georgia Civil, Inc., Peaster has to schedule his life around team, a practice which he states is only possible because of his

wife and family’s support.

“I am up early every day getting work done that I would otherwise miss in the afternoon, said Peaster. “Mornings are quiet and I can get much more done than during normal business hours. My wife and the rest of my family also provide tremendous support. We try to think ahead and stay on a schedule. It is not a perfect system by any means, but each year we learn how to navigate the challenge a little better.”

Peaster is thankful for the opportunity to serve as a community coach, a role that has become increasingly essential at Morgan County.

“We have very few full-time teaching/coaching positions at Morgan County,” said Peaster.

“Fortunately for everyone involved, Georgia and Morgan County Schools have opened the door for those of us outside the teaching profession to coach at the high school level. It bridges a temporary gap for the school system, while allowing us the opportunity to work with a group of tremendous teachers/coaches and student-athletes.”

And fortunately for everyone involved, Morgan County has citizens such as Peaster and the other community coaches who are willing to devote hours upon hours for the Bulldogs.

COACHING STAFF

On-staff coaches include John Robbins, Dusty Sidwell, Allen Crowley, Dennis Sitzmann and Bill Malone.

Community coaches are Tom Duff, Jeff Snipes, Todd Peaster, Jeff South and John Dustin Hawkins.

Top: It takes a village to raise a football team.

The Morgan County High School Bulldogs football coaching staff includes (left to right) John Robbins, Tom Duff, Dusty Sidwell, Allen Crowley, Jeff Snipes, Todd Peaster, Dennis Sitzmann, Jeff South, Head Coach Bill Malone and John Dustin Hawkins. Above: Coaches get excited and storm the field following a touchdown in the Aug. 15 preseason scrimmage game against Jefferson.

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Bulldog Football 2013

MORGAN COUNTY CITIZEN

True colors

Potential: Coach Malone discusses what makes teams “tick” A little tweak. A barely noticeable position shift. A talk in the locker room before the game.

Hundreds of factors both on and off “...I look the field affect how forward to a young studentathlete is going to the challenge of finding a perform on each and every play of way to make the game. our guys gel Multiply those into a team...” factors by the number of plays per –Bill Malone, game and by each Head Coach and every kid that steps out onto the field, and, in the wrong hands, you’ve got an unwieldy sideline full of football players, whose hormones – how could those be forgotten? – might shove them off in any direction at any moment.

Luckily, Morgan County has very capable hands at the reigns, which don’t neglect the all-too-important psychological aspects of high school football.

“With these guys, what I’m looking forward to is going into what is going to make this team tick,” said Head Coach Bill Malone.

“You knew it last year,” continued Malone. “The kids on last year’s team were overachievers. Very little motivation was needed to get those guys going.”

“This year it is an experiment, and I look forward to the challenge of finding a way to make our guys gel into a team like they did last year.”

Getting the best out of the team means getting the best out of each individual player, and, for Coach Malone during the last stages of preseason, that means determining how the potential that each athlete has developed during the off-season is going to translate into actual performance on the field.

“We’ve got to get rid of playing potential,” said Malone. “We have to now focus on who is going to go out there and do the absolute best they possibly can but, at the same time, still be able to compete.”

Potential isn’t the only factor going into performance on Friday nights, however.

An athlete’s performance depends not only on what they might have been capable of accomplishing on their own – because, let’s face it, some athletes are more naturally gifted than others – but also on how hard each athlete is willing to work in order to better himself and the team.

With relatively little time in real-game situations, many of the Bulldogs haven’t yet had the opportunity to show their true

colors on the field of battle, leaving Coach Malone in a tough spot.

“It’s a tricky place to be. We’re anxious to see, once we raise that bar, who is going to drop their head and poke their lip out or who is going to say, ‘I’m glad I’ve got a shot.’”

The team gathered for a group photo in the stands of Bill Corry Stadium on Picture Day (top). Football team captains head out onto the field prior to the preseason scrimmage game with Jefferson Aug. 15 and Quarterback Trent Hawk gives a wave (above).

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Bulldog Football 2013

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Bulldog Footb

The Dogs Morgan County High School

Andre Peterson No. 1 Sophomore

Malik Chapman No. 2 Freshman

Justice Chapman No. 3 Senior

Trea Johnson No. 3 Sophomore

Alex Dickson No. 14 Junior

Cedric Robertson No. 15 Freshman

Daltin Guderian No. 15 Senior

Brantley Frost No. 17 Junior

Maclane Zant No. 18 Sophomore

Dawson Hawkins No. 19 Sophomore

Dalton Fulcher No. 20 Senior

Wyatt Martin No. 21 Senior

Michael Mitchell No. 21 Freshman

Sam Couch No. 22 Sophomore

Collin Eberhart No. 33 Sophomore

Garrett Frost No. 34 Freshman

Cody Harper No. 35 Junior

Collin Efird No. 36 Junior

TJ Abernathy No. 37 Sophomore

Andrew Bishop No. 38 Junior

Griffin Sorohan No. 39 Junior

Caleb Fossom No. 40 Freshman

Antonio Robinson No. 41 Freshman

Marquis Benton No. 42 Senior

Jacob Bobo No. 54 Senior

Markell Ingram No. 55 Senior

Juwan Edwards No. 55 Sophomore

Zack Jenkins No. 57 Senior

Dakoda Ruby No. 58 Sophomore

Bradley Eberhart No. 59 Senior

Austin Scanland No. 60 Freshman

Case Segrest No. 61 Sophomore

Sam Jones No. 62 Freshman

Matthew Calloway No. 63 Sophomore

Robert Gibbs No. 77 Freshman

John Cox No. 78 Freshman

Lewis McDaniel No. 79 Freshman

Paul Laverty No. 80 Sophomore

Michael Rhoades No. 81 Freshman

Jody McAlister No. 83 Freshman

Jeffery Vernon No. 84 Senior

Will Parker No. 84 Junior

Jackson Ogletree No. 85 Freshman

Justin Bryan No. 86 Freshman

ball 2013

MORGAN COUNTY CITIZEN

Trey Chapman No. 4 Sophomore

Jerimiah Butler No. 5 Junior

Blake Nelson No. 6 Freshman

Melvin Davis No. 7 Senior

Justis Ogletree No. 8 Senior

Levi Ewing No. 9 Sophomore

Tyler Benford No. 10 Sophomore

Trent Hawk No. 11 Senior

Quincey Jones No. 12 Sophomore

Tristan Yontz No. 13 Junior

Dalton Greenwalt No. 23 Sophomore

Cornelius Peterson No. 24 Freshman

Trey Hurt No. 25 Junior

Rogers Burke No. 26 Junior

Gurminder Singh No. 27 Sophomore

Will Donaldson No. 28 Sophomore

Robert Shook No. 29 Senior

Jesse Taylor No. 30 Sophomore

Dee Hubbard No. 31 Senior

Tez Mathis No. 32 Senior

MJ Webb No. 43 Freshman

Billy Holtzclaw No. 44 Sophomore

Zach Howe No. 45 Sophomore

Griffin Jaynes No. 46 Sophomore

Glenn Tolbert, Jr. No. 47 Freshman

Jonathon Nelson No. 48 Junior

Dalton Cole No. 49 Freshman

Garrett Bone No. 50 Junior

Keandre Williams No. 51 Freshman

Tevin Waller No. 52 Senior

Paul Guderian No. 64 Freshman

Cedric Porter No. 66 Sophomore

Joseph Konicki No. 67 Sophomore

Steven Ervin No. 68 Junior

Guy Nelson No. 70 Freshman

Seth Stapleton No. 71 Sophomore

Nathan Behrendsen No. 73 Freshman

Isaiah Newell No. 74 Freshman

Will Spates No. 75 Sophomore

Casey Cooper No. 76 Freshman

NOT PICTURED Daniel Hall, No. 53, Freshman Brandon Crowley, No. 65, Freshman Keyshawn Brown, No. 72, Freshman Ladarrius Andrews, No. 82, Freshman Parker Stone, Freshman Adam Brown No. 87 Freshman

Hunter Misuraca No. 88 Freshman

Nathan Lundy No. 89 Junior

Chris Benford No. 90 Senior

Let’s go!

Editor’s Note: We know some numbers are duplicated. These numbers could change at game time, so be sure to pay attention to who’s on the field.

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Seniors’ finale This is the last year of high school football for the athletes of the Class of ‘14 Clockwise from right: This year’s football seniors are Justice Chapman, Melvin Davis, Justis Ogletree, Trent Hawk, Daltin Guderian, Dalton Fulcher, Wyatt Martin, Robert Shook, Dee Hubbard, Tez Mathis, Marquis Benton, Tevin Waller, Jacob Bobo, Markell Ingram, Zack Jenkins, Bradley Eberhart, Jeffery Vernon and Chris Benford. The senior cheerleaders are Emily Owen, Caroline Jones, Katherine Martin, Jessie Adams, Morgan Nash, Lily Arienzo, Ashlyn Slaughter, Olivia Lindsey, Kylie Prevatt, Briana Smart and Ashlyn Spivey. Senior Justice Chapman makes a catch in the preseason scrimmage game against Jefferson Aug. 15.

Bulldog Football 2013

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Bulldog Football 2013

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Bulldog Football 2013

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Bulldogs break loose MCHS will play 10 regular-season games over the course of this year Morgan County 2012 Record: 9-3 overall, 5-2 region Game 1: Monticello Purple Hurricanes (Non-region game) Date: Aug. 30 Site: Purple Hurricanes Stadium, Monticello Coach: Eddie Roberts 2012 Record: 2-8 overall, 1-6 region Last winning season: 2003 (6-4) Last season in State Playoffs: 1999 Last season vs. Morgan County: Morgan 34 – Monticello 6 All-Time vs. Morgan County: Morgan leads 26-3-1 (Monticello last won in 1984) Series dates back to: 1948 Game 2: Greene County Tigers (Non-region game) Date: Sept. 6 Site: Bill Corry Stadium – Legion Field Coach: Robert Edwards 2012 Record: 4-7 overall, 4-3 region Last winning season: 2010 (6-4) Last season in State playoffs: 2012 Last season vs. Morgan County: Morgan 26 – Greene County 7 All-Time vs. Morgan County: Morgan leads 28-25-1 (Greene County last won in 2006) Series dates back to: 1948

Seniors Zack Jenkins (left) and Tevin Waller are ready... are you?

Game 3: Putnam County War Eagles (Non-region game) Date: Sept. 13 Site: Bill Corry Stadium – Legion Field Coach: Kyle Gourley 2012 Record: 3-7 overall, 2-5 region Last winning season: 2011 (8-3) Last season in State Playoffs: 2011 Last season vs. Morgan County: Morgan 39 – Putnam County 16 All-Time vs. Morgan County: Morgan leads 30-16-1 (Putnam County last won in 2001) Series dates back to: 1948 Game 4: Oconee County Warriors (Region 8-AAA Opener) Date: Sept 27 Site: Warrior Stadium, Watkinsville Coach: Mitch Olson 2012 Record: 3-7 overall, 2-5 region Last winning season: 2004 (8-4) Last season in State Playoffs: 2008 Last season vs. Morgan County: Morgan 56 – Oconee County 14 All-Time vs. Morgan County: Morgan leads 11-9-1 (Oconee County last won in 2009) Series dates back to: 1968

Game 5: North Oconee Titans (Region 8-AAA Game) Date: Oct. 4 Site: Bill Corry Stadium – Legion Field Coach: Terry Tuley 2012 Record: 10-2 overall, 7-0 region Last winning season: 2012 (10-2) Last season in State Playoffs: 2012 Last season vs. Morgan County: Morgan 7 – North Oconee 35 All-Time vs. Morgan County: North Oconee leads 10-0 Series dates back to: 2012

Game 6: Elbert County Blue Devils (Region 8-AAA Game) Date: Oct. 11 Site: Blue Devil Stadium, Elberton Coach: Sid Fritts 2012 Record: 5-5 overall, 4-3 region Last winning season: 2011 (11-1) Last season in State Playoffs: 2011 Last season vs. Morgan County: Morgan 22 – Elbert County 29 All-Time vs. Morgan County: Elbert County leads 7-31 (Elbert County last won in 2009) Series dates back to: 1974

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SCHEDULE

Bulldog Football 2013

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>> From Page 18 RECAP OF MORGAN COUNTY’S 2012 SEASON

Monticello (4-AA): Win 34-6 Greene County (8-AA): Win 26-7 Putnam County (4-AA): Win 39-16 Oconee County (8-AAA): Win 56-14 North Oconee (8-AAA): Loss 7-35 Elbert County (8-AAA): Loss 22-29 East Jackson (8-AAA): Win 36-10 Franklin County (8-AAA): Win 50-21 Hart County (8-AAA): Win 35-8 Jackson County (8-AAA): Win 44-28 Gordon Central (5-AAA): Win 24-21 North Hall (7-AAA): Loss 9-13 Senior Melvin Davis jumps for a ball (below). Seniors (left to right) Tez Mathis, Melvin Davis, Trent Hawk, Tevin Waller (sitting), Justice Chapman, Dee Hubbard and Marquis Benton represent (right).

Game 7: East Jackson Eagles (Region 8-AAA Game) Date: Oct. 18 Site: Bill Corry Stadium – Legion Field Coach: Gary Hughes 2012 Record: 0-10 overall, 0-7 region Last winning season: 2009 (10-2) Last season in State Playoffs: 2009 Last season vs. Morgan County: Morgan 36 – East Jackson 10 All-Time vs. Morgan County: Morgan County leads 10-0 Series dates back to: 2012 Game 8: Franklin County Lions (Region 8-AAA Game) Date: Oct. 25 Site: Lion Stadium, Carnesville Coach: Jerry Underwood 2012 Record: 2-8 overall, 1-6 region Last winning season: 2011 (6-5) Last season in State Playoffs: 2011 Last season vs. Morgan County: Morgan 50 – Franklin County 21 All-Time vs. Morgan County: Franklin County leads 7-3-1 (Franklin County last won in 2009) Series dates back to: 1970

Game 9: Hart County Bulldogs (Region 8-AAA Game) Date: Nov. 1 Site: Billy Corry Stadium – Legion Field Coach: William DeVane 2012 Record: 6-6 overall, 5-2 region Last winning season: 2011 (6-4) Last season in State Playoffs: 2012 Last season vs. Morgan County: Morgan 35 – Hart County 8 All-Time vs. Morgan County: Morgan leads 8-6 (Hart County last won in 2009) Series dates back to: 1959

Game 10: Jackson County Panthers (Region 8-AAA Game) Date: Nov. 8 Site: Panther Stadium, Jefferson Coach: Benji Harrison 2012 Record: 6-5 overall, 4-3 region Last winning season: 2012 (6-5) Last season in State Playoffs: 2012 Last season vs. Morgan County: Morgan County 44 – Jackson County 28 All-Time vs. Morgan County: Morgan leads 4-1 (Jackson County last won in 1992) Series dates back to: 1992

Aug. 29, 2013 Page 20

Bulldog Football 2013

MORGAN COUNTY CITIZEN

Carry the weight Dogs hit the weight room over the summer

Players stand by and observe teeammates breaking personal records.

“Win the Day! Be a good spotter and count every rep.”

Michael Mitchell spots for Jody McAlister (top) and Ladarrius Andrews assists a teammate (above).

So read the inspirational message of the day, which was written on a dry-erase board standing in front of the Morgan County weight room just a few weeks before school started this summer.

Within the succinct, 11-word message were a number of themes important to developing both as an individual and a team: make today count toward your goal, work together with your teammate and monitor your progress accurately.

Monitoring the progress of all of the athletes is a big part of Coach John Robbins’ role in the weight room.

Taking over in the weight room for Doug Huff, who left the position of Morgan County defensive coordinator after last season, Coach Robbins did little to change the weightlifting program at Morgan County.

Weightlifting sessions took place through the summer Monday through Thursday, with the athletes doing upper-body workouts and lower-body workouts on alternate

“It is a microcosm of a football play.”

–John Robbins, Coach

days.

According to Robbins, the process of alternating upperbody and lower-body workouts allows “their bodies a chance

to rest and recuperate.”

The lifting sessions focus on heavy weights and few repetitions in order to “increase their power and size,” noted Robbins.

“It is a microcosm of a football play. We don’t work a whole lot with endurance; it’s not a seven-minute wrestling match. We go hard for five or six seconds, tops, and then rest. That’s what we’re trying to train them for.”

The 85 percent program is still in place, where the athletes are expected to regularly lift 85 percent of their max during workouts.

And Robbins expects the athletes’ maxes – and thus the 85 percent – to keep increasing in order to show improvement.

“Every four of five weeks, that 85 percent needs to change, or we’re going to plateau and start losing ground,” said Robbins.

The athletes never need to wonder where they stand in terms of their fellow team members: in addition to having the personal numbers for each athlete posted in the weight room, there is always the big board on the wall, proudly proclaiming the top 10 in each lift.

Although the big board can be a distraction, Robbins stated that having definite numbers on each athlete assures that “every kid has a tailor-made workout.”

Right now, most of the names up on the wall are those of the upperclassmen, but, just like with any developmental process, the younger athletes will soon be nipping at their heels.

“There’s a bunch of them, and they’re big,” said Coach Robbins about the rising ninth graders, who will be on top of the program in a couple of years. “They’ve got great attitudes. They really make coming to work every day much more enjoyable.”

MORGAN COUNTY CITIZEN

Bulldog Football 2013

Aug. 29, 2013 Page 21

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Sound spirit

Bulldog Football 2013

MORGAN COUNTY CITIZEN

Band rocks Friday nights

I JUST CAN’T WAIT...

This year’s halftime show features music from Disney’s “The Lion King.”

This year’s band leadership includes (back row, left to right) Kris Lawrence, Dylan Jaynes, Cain Bentley, Rebekah Everett, Aaron White, Jake Williams, Jasmine Hyman, (middle row) Mary Win Ligon, Fulton Pritchett, Zach Stone, Ben Shytle, Henry Smith, Carson Womack, Jack LeClair, Sarah Beth Collins, (front row) Director Jeffrey Rowser, Leslie Wasendorf, Sabrina Shan, Emily Watson, Cheyenne Stevens, Beth Denham, Kiara Thomas, Toby Denham and Courtland Nation.

Clockwise from top left: This year, Drum Major Dylan Jaynes will lead the band. The entire band fills stadium seats on Picture Day. The Band Managers, or “Band Aides,” are (first row, left to right) Rebecca Simpson, Mandolin Moody, Courtland Nation, Lillie Chupp, (back row) Maya Simpson, Morgan Godbey, Director Jeffrey Rowser, Sabrina Shan and Olivia Simpson. The Morgan County High School Band staff includes (left to right) Percussion Instructor Berry McWhorter, Director Jeffrey Rowser, Morgan County Middle School Director Karisa Seymour and Georgia College & State University StudentTeacher Kayla Sullivan.

MORGAN COUNTY CITIZEN

Bulldog Football 2013

Aug. 29, 2013 Page 23

“Give me an ‘M’...”

Out goes the cry from the sideline. And, honestly, what would a Friday night be without a cheerleader in sight?

Cheerleaders are as “We use integral a part of varsity football as rivalprimarily ries, the marching chants that are band and... well, footshort and ball itself. repetitive so But a cheerleading our crowd can team doesn’t just hapget involved.” pen. Hours and hours are poured into learning routines, chants –Denise Frost, Cheerleading Coach and cheers, as well as making sure that each cheerleader on the team is able to recall every one at a moment’s notice.

Denise Frost, coach for both the varsity and JV spirit cheerleaders this year, cited what makes a cheer work on game night.

“We use primarily chants that are short and repetitive so our crowd can get involved,” said Frost. “We have approximately 40 or 50 chants and cheers that we do several times during all games.”

Preparation for the football season begins well before the end of August. Camps held throughout the summer keep the cheerleaders in touch with the tradition that they take on and also create during their years at MCHS. “Both squads attended a spirit camp in June where we learned several new chants and cheers as well as a dance that we will use at a pep rally,” stated Frost. “We will be incorporating our new material this season to add to our old favorites.”

Since there is only one coach for the varsity and JV spirit squads this year, Frost thinks that the two groups are getting a chance to come together more than they would otherwise.

“I do believe that they are closer this year because we have been working together this summer,” said Frost. “We have been practicing together so far this season, but, beginning this week, we are breaking into separate squads because each one has a slightly different focus at practice. JV is still learning the high school material and varsity needs to be practicing on pep rally, making tags, making signs and other things.”

Together or apart, don’t forget that MCHS cheerleaders work hard every week to make sure that they add something to your Friday night football experience.

“Give me a ‘C’...”

Say it loud

Cheerleaders fire up the crowd

Caroline Jones, Briana Smart and Lily Arienzo cheese it up for the camera (top). Senior Caroline Jones gives her little brother, football player Sam Jones, a kiss for luck (above).

Clockwise from top: The varsity squad includes (front row, left to right) Captain Briana Smart, Captain Lily Arienzo, Captain Kylie Prevatt, (second row) Morgan Nash, Jessie Adams, Olivia Lindsey, Katherine Martin, Ashlyn Spivey, Emily Owen, Caroline Jones, Ashlyn Slaughter, (third row) Katherine Rittenhouse, Callie Beal, Kaylee Darsey, Rebecca Tallman, Kaylee Breedlove, Emily Smith, Jordan Adcock, Anna Lindsey and Shelby Singleton.

The JV squad includes (front row, left to right) Kaylie Armistead, Taylor Pickrell, Natalie Swanson, Jimayou Sanford, Lorrie Elle Lindsey, Reagan Fulcher, (second row) Ramsey Autry, Taylor Adams, Olivia Martin, Grace Cruce, Zikiea Blake, Nicole Clark and Coach Denise Frost.

Aug. 29, 2013 Page 24

As they have in past years, the Morgan County Bulldogs football team has taken a new piece of scripture yearly as their motto: Galatians 6:7, which, in its entirety, reads, “Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.”

This passage, which resounded like a fresh beginning “I’m a firm in the open air of early spring, believer in has now become a trap door upon which the team must [Galatians 6:7] in every stand and be tested. aspect of life.”

As stated in Ecclesiastes, “to every thing there is a season,” and the season for sowing is –Bill Malone, soon over.

Head Coach For the second year in a row, there has been a blue moon in August: two full moons in a single month, sent by nature itself to show without a doubt that harvest time is nigh.

Coach Bill Malone has prepared the team for this time, and, now that it is upon us all, his eyes are cast toward the field.

“I’m looking forward to having the opportunity to show more kids that the ability to work hard will pay some benefits,” said Malone. “You don’t know what those are going to be. I know that everybody just wants us to win, but I see it as so much more than that. I’m a firm believer in [Galatians 6:7] in every aspect of life. I want these boys to understand that.”

The desire to fully impress the lesson of Galatians 6:7 on the athletes, however, puts Coach Malone in an odd place, where the lines of what is best for the team and what might be best for an individual athlete don’t intersect!

On one hand, Coach Malone never wants anything except success for the team, but, if an athlete fails to prepare properly for the season and earns success nonetheless, what lesson has that athlete learned?

None. And since the athlete didn’t learn the lesson during an early and formative stage when life’s pitfalls aren’t so deep, they will have to learn them later – if they ever do – when the stakes for success are much higher.

“On one hand, I want them to understand this Galatians 6:7, and, on the other hand, I want us to be able to overcome that,” said Malone. “If we are able to overcome it and one of these kids [who hasn’t prepared well] is able to rush for 1,400 yards and 20 touchdowns... does that hold any truth to them for the rest of their life?”

“There is my issue. It began as, ‘Alright guys, let’s work real hard, because it will pay off later on.’ Now that we’ve gone through the work real hard, some have and some haven’t.”

“What is it we will reap?”

Bulldog Football 2013

MORGAN COUNTY CITIZEN

Sow and reap “To every thing there is a season”

GALATIANS 6:7

“Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.”

The Dogs return to the field from halftime (above) and line up to begin a play (below) in the preseason scrimmage match against the Jefferson Dragons Aug. 15.

MORGAN COUNTY CITIZEN

Bulldog Football 2013

Aug. 29, 2013 Page 25

Aug. 29, 2013 Page 26

Bulldog Football 2013

Read all about it.

Morgan County Citizen

The Morgan County Citizen is a proud supporter of the Morgan County High School Bulldogs.

Don’t miss our weekly coverage, and check out our website for photo galleries of each Friday’s game.

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MORGAN COUNTY CITIZEN

@MORGANCITIZEN

MORGAN COUNTY CITIZEN

MORGAN COUNTY CITIZEN

Bulldog Football 2013

Aug. 29, 2013 Page 27

Kickoff The Dogs start the season with a scrimmage against Jefferson

Clockwise from top left: Tristan Yontz kicks off.

Both teams look each other in the eye, ready to play.

Melvin Davis outruns the competition. The crowd cheers as the Dogs take the field. Trent Hawk warms up his throwing arm.

Aug. 29, 2013 Page 28

Bulldog Football 2013

MORGAN COUNTY CITIZEN