Score Atlanta Vol. 11 Issue 41

Time to look great!

VOLUME 11 ISSUE 41 | DECEMBER 3-9, 2015

Workin’ Day And Night | Pg. 4 Craig Sager II explores the booming growth of high school athletics.

Can You Feel It? | Pg. 9 Four undefeateds set to clash in historic Class 6A semifinals.

|

YOUR SOURCE FOR SPORTS IN GEORGIA

REMEMBER THE TIME What can we learn from the Mark Richt era | Pg. 7

STAND TALL. STAND PROUD. STAND ARMY STRONG.

There’s strong. Then there’s Army Strong. As a Soldier in the U.S. Army, you’ll develop the physical, mental and emotional strength to meet the challenges you may face today and in the future. You’ll gain unmatched leadership skills and on-the-job training—the kind that’s highly desired in both the military and civilian world. Plus, recruiter, goarmy.com or call 1-800-USA-ARMY.

Earn a salary and money for your education while you gain the strength to stand out. Visit your local Army Career Counselor today or visit us online at goarmy.com/bs02

©2009. Paid for by the United States Army. All rights reserved.

Vol. 11 Iss. 41 | December 3-9, 2015

STARTING LINEUP PUBLISHER/EDITOR I.J. Rosenberg

04

COLUMNISTS

07

ON THE COVER

09

PREP COVER

ART/CREATIVE DIRECTOR DJ Galbiati Blalock

MANAGING EDITOR Craig Sager II

ASST. MANAGING EDITOR Kyle Sandy MARKETING/ Lauren Goldstein PARTNERSHIP DIRECTOR JUNIOR GRAPHIC DESIGNER Rhonda Rawls

BUSINESS MANAGER Marvin Botnick

BEAT WRITERS: Ricky Dimon (Braves)

Colin Hubbard (GA Tech) Dan Mathews (UGA) Craig Sager II (Falcons,

Kennesaw)

Kyle Sandy (Transfer Corner, GSU, Hawks)

STAFF WRITERS Tyler Andrews

TO ADVERTISE IN SCORE ATLANTA:

404.256.1572

Copyright 2015 Score Atlanta Publishing, LLC. All rights reserved. Score Atlanta is published in print every other week on Fridays and a digital version is posted to ScoreAtl.com in-between print issues. Views expressed in Score Atlanta are not necessarily the opinion of Score Atlanta, its staff or advertisers. Score Atlanta does not knowingly accept false or misleading editorial content or advertising nor is Score Atlanta responsible for the content or claims of any advertising or editorial in this publication. No content (articles, photographs, graphics) in Score Atlanta may be used for reproduction without written permission from the publisher.

TEAM SCOOP AND VOICES

06 10 11

SCORE LIST | NUMBERS GEORGIA STATE | KENNESAW STATE GEORGIA | GEORGIA TECH BRAVES | FALCONS HAWKS | THE TRANSFER CORNER

COVER PHOTOS COURTESY OF ROB SAYE, TY FREEMAN AND SONNY KENNEDY.

ON THE INSIDE AT SCORE

STAY CONNECTED!

Score Atlanta is looking for interns.

Please visit www.scoreatl.com/ internships for more information on our program.

Visit our website, ScoreAtl.com for the our weekly fall sports rankings.

Download the free Georgia High School Scoring App www.scoreatl. com/mobile-app/ or in the app store for live scores all year long.

/SCOREATLANTASPORTS @SCOREATLANTA WWW.SCOREATL.COM WWW.GAPREPNEWS.COM

The Best or Nothing

Be The #NextFanUp

MercedesBenzStadium.com/NextFanUp 678-686-4400

FACEBOOK.COM/MBSTADIUM

@MBSTADIUM | #NEXTFANUP

3

4

SCORE ATLANTA | www.ScoreAtl.com

SAGER SAYS

UNIVERSAL GROWTH OF SPORTS REFLECTED AT HIGH SCHOOL LEVEL

BY CRAIG SAGER II | CSAGER@SCOREATL.COM

t takes a holistic approach to begin to grasp Icietal the role sports play in our lives. From a soimpact, sports are a transmitter of cul-

ture. Athletes come from an array of different backgrounds and through sports represent our community values. Sports create a common ground for youth and adults as tradition and teachings are passed down. Sports are a source of creativity and the unscripted action builds a narrative that carries over into each new season. Sports evolve with society and society evolves with sports.

From the fitness boom in the 1970’s and 1980’s, all aspects of sports have become tied into big business. The sporting goods industry continues its rapid growth and the market for athletic footwear, exercise equipment and li-

censed sports merchandise athletic apparels were projected to value more than $63 billion this past year by research firm Statistica.

Nothing has impacted the growth of sports however, more than its coverage and we are seeing it evolve and find new platforms at a rapid pace. It would be a mistake to look at today’s sports coverage and believe that this is the norm. In reality, it is just a snap shot of an ever-evolving entity. With the technological growth in recent years, it is impossible to know exactly what the industry will look like in 10 to 15 years but what we do know is that the demand for sports coverage is at an all time high.

There were 70,288 people that attended Super Bowl XLIX this past February but the viewing audience peaked at 120.8 million dur-

SANDY’S SPIEL

NO. 3 WHEELER SHAKES OFF SLOW START AT CHEROKEE

BY KYLE SANDY | KSANDY@SCOREATL.COM

H

ead Coach Roger Kvam, who has directed the Cherokee Warriors for now 13 years, has always given Wheeler fits. After narrow losses to the superior Wildcats last season 51-48, 71-55 and 51-49, this year’s edition of the Warriors looked to get over the hump and thwart powerful No. 3 Wheeler. Cherokee took a 12-5 lead into the second quarter as Wheeler was ice cold. The home standing Warriors took advantage of three three-pointers in the frame to gain the advantage. But as the game wore on, Cherokee’s lack of balance showed and Wheeler’s talent won out. Guard Makhai Eastmond hit Darius Perry on a beautiful backdoor cut early in the second quarter to shake off a lethargic start. The bucket ignited a 17-3 period which gave Wheeler a 22-15 lead at the half.

Kash Jackson and Phillip Cirillo were the only sources of offense for Coach Kvam. The two combined to score all of the team’s points at the half and didn’t receive a third contributor until four minutes left in the third quarter when Jack Carroll sank a three. Cirillo, who led the Warriors with 14 points and nine rebounds, stroked a three and Elisha Mayberry drove for his only points of the game to close out the third quarter and keep the Warriors within striking distance down 33-26.

In the second half and four quarter, Wheeler finally started chipping away at the overmatched Warriors. Al-Wajid Aminu was held scoreless in the first half but provided the Wildcats with an energetic spark. The North Florida signee finished with six points,

ing New England’s fourth quarter comeback.

The Super Bowl is the best singular example of the power of media but from a broader scope the impact is really seen when the cumulative impact is understood. Thousands of high school games are broadcasted through television or webcasts each week. The amount of games being broadcasted is increasing significantly and therefore the audiences continue to grow.

NATURAL SELECTION

Youth sports and high school sports have driven the industry in so many ways. These sports are the pipeline to the professional leagues. Today’s coaches and teachers pass on what was taught to them and explore new technologies and methodologies to improve upon it.

Trends that work catch on and spread throughout the sports community and what doesn’t work gets phased out. More athletes have access to film to fine tune their mechanics and study the competition at a young age. Sports medicine is combining nutrition and training with science and technology to protect athletes, improve ability and make the game safer.

As a result of a growing industry, the number of participants in high school sports increased for the 26th consecutive year in 2014-15 – topping the 7.8 million mark for the seven rebounds, two steals and two blocks and helped the Cats collect nine steals on the night off their trapping press. Aminu’s second chance rebounds and emphatic blocks helped wake up the rest of the Wildcats. After a slow start, Romello White began to eat away at the smaller Cherokee front line. The Georgia Tech signee ended his night with 14 points and 10 rebounds coupled by a few big dunks. Defensively, he swatted away four of Wheeler’s nine blocks as they cruised to the finish line using a 17-to-10 fourth quarter to pull away.

MY TAKE

Wheeler did not impress early on and still didn’t play up to the level that they are capable of. Sometimes, and especially when playing a fundamentally sound team like Cherokee who doesn’t kill themselves with too many mistakes, the Cats play to the level of their competition. A 76-70 loss to the nation’s No. 1 ranked team, Montverde (FL) according to MaxPreps, doesn’t make sense when they struggled to beat Cherokee. Romello White showed some flashes inside, but it was Al-Wajid Aminu’s energy and Darius Perry’s quiet, yet steady play, that finally woke the team up. Perry went on a personal 5-0 run in the second quarter to get the Wildcats back into the game after an early

first time – according to the annual High School Athletics Participation Survey conducted by the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS).

One of the most underestimated reasons for growth, however, is the increased interest in women’s sports. The first step for change came with Title IX, which was enacted by congress in 1972. As a federal law, it prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex in any federally funded education program. Women’s sports have continued to come a long way. With protection from federal law, women’s sports had the tools to overcome gender inequality and begin to shrink the gap. Less than two decades after Title IX was created, the FIFA Women’s World Cup kicked off in 1991. It turned out to be the game changer as audiences saw women’s sports on a platform like never before.

Sports are in uncharted territory as the future promises new platforms and technologies. The only thing we can be sure of is its continued growth. Sports can not only overcome social challenges, economic hardships, wars, natural disasters but they also have the capacity and influence and lead us into a better future.

Photos courtesy of Ty Freeman. deficit. The second half belonged to Aminu.

His length and motor wore down Cherokee.

The Warriors remain led by the best boys coach Cherokee County has seen in a long time.

Coach Kvam doesn’t always have the talent, but he makes the most out of it, constantly beating good teams (3A No. 3 Morgan County, 57-52) or at least playing them heads-up (SWD 6456). It’s scary to think what he could do with a couple horses like he had back in the day with Chris Singleton. It’s a shame he transferred to Dunwoody his final season. Cherokee will go as far as Phillip Cirillo and Kash Jackson take them this season. Jackson is the only senior on the team which breeds optimism for the future.

Cirillo has exploded onto the scene as a junior and is receiving some D-1 looks after a strong offseason. Playing such a big role as a junior will only help his progression towards his senior season. He looks to have a similar success like Michael Kvam did circa 2009-10 as a big guard who could score, facilitate and lead.

UP NEXT

No. 3 Wheeler (2-1, 2-0) returns to action on Friday against Lassiter (2-4, 0-2). Cherokee (2-4, 1-1) hosts Roswell (3-3, 2-1) on Friday at home in Region 5-AAAAAA action.

Photo courtesy of Ty Freeman.

2015 DR PEPPER SEC FOOTBALL FANFARE Georgia World Congress Center | Building C

AT L A N TA , G A FRIDAY, DEC. 4: 2-8PM SATURDAY, DEC. 5: 9AM-4PM ADULTS: $10 KIDS 12U: $5

BRING THIS AD AND RECEIVE $5 OFF AN ADULT ADMISSION! (REDEEMABLE AT FANFARE TICKET BOOTH) 2015 SEC OFFICIAL SPONSORS

DPlogoOval5c.eps

6

UNC Football

Denzel Valentine

Ben Simmons

The Tar Heels have ripped off 11 straight wins since their opening season loss to South Carolina and will face off against No.1 Clemson this Saturday in the ACC Championship game. The Tar Heels who are currently No. 10 in the CFB Playoff poll rank top 10 in scoring offense at 41 points per game and top 20 in defense at 20.8 points against per game.

The senior from Michigan State racked up his second triple-double on the season in a win over Boston College last week. Valentine leads the No. 3 team in the country in points, rebounds, and assists.

He is nearly averaging a triple-double at 19.9 points, 8.9 rebounds, and 8.6 assists per game. Michigan State will take on No. 24 Louisville tonight in the ACC-Big 10 Challenge.

The freshman, who was the No. 1 recruit in the country last year, has been a dominating force for LSU thus far in the season.

Although LSU is 3-3 on the season Simmons has done his part averaging 16 points and 15 rebounds per contest to go along with 5.8 assists. Simmons is making his case early to be the No. 1 draft pick in June.

SCORE LIST

By Ned Kaish

RICHT OUT AT GEORGIA

The announcement came less than 24 hours after the Bulldogs beat their in state rival Georgia Tech, Coach Mark Richt would not be returning to the sideline in Athens. The move came as a surprise to some who had seen Mark Richt win 145 games in 15 years, nearly 10 wins per season. Alabama defensive coordinator, and former Georgia defensive back, Kirby Smart has been reported to fill Richt’s position.

76ERS WIN

The Philadelphia 76ers won their first game of the season on Tuesday night beating the Lakers 103-91. The win moves the 76ers record to 1-18 but more importantly breaks a 28 game losing streak dating back to last season. The 28 game streak was the longest in any of the four major sports. The 2015-16 76ers remained tied with the 2009-10 New Jersey Nets who also started the season 0-18.

COLLEGE FOOTBALL PLAYOFF

The CFB Playoff polls have been set as the regular season comes to an end. No. 1 Clemson has a date with No. 10 UNC, a Tiger win will likely keep them No.1. No. 2 Alabama will play No. 18 Florida in the SEC Championship to stay in the top 4. No. 3 Oklahoma is done for the season and No. 4 Iowa squares off against No. 5 Michigan State in the Big 10 Championship game for a chance to make the top 4.

KOBE RETIRING

Kobe Bryant announced earlier this week that the 201516 NBA season would be his last. The Mamba has spent 20 years in the league, all with the Lakers. His 20 years with one franchise is an NBA record. The 17-time All-star, two-time NBA Finals MVP, five time NBA Champion and 2008 MVP will be missed by the league as the Kobe era comes to an end.

6A SEMIS MATCH UNDEFEATED TEAMS

The Class AAAAAA semifinal matchups will pair four teams who have a combined 52-0 record this season.

Roswell will square off against Grayson while Mill Creek will host Colquitt County in the other semifinal. Two teams will be handed their first loss of the season this weekend, but you can’t say the four best teams didn’t square off in the final four.

WHO’S NOT

By Ned Kaish

WHO’S HOT

SCORE ATLANTA | www.ScoreAtl.com

Cowboys

Georgia Tech

Falcons

The Cowboys are now 3-8 on the season after being dismantled by Carolina on Thanksgiving 33-14. Not only did the Cowboys lose the game, they lost their quarterback, again. After returning for Week 11 win Tony Romo reinjured his clavicle for the second time this season. The Cowboys could make a push in a weak NFC East but will need to make changes, and quick.

The Rambling Wreck’s season has come to an end, and it was just that, a wreck. The Jackets dropped nine out of their final 10 games to finish the season 3-9 and 1-7 in the ACC. The Jackets once again lost to there in state rival Georgia for the 13th time in the last 15 years.

The Falcons remained not hot once again this week after dropping their 5th game in the last six, this time to the Vikings. Turnovers have been key as Matt Ryan has thrown 12 interceptions while rookie Tevin Coleman has lost three fumbles on the season including one this week while filling in for injured starting running back Devonta Freeman. The Falcons now sit at 6-5.

NUMBERS

OUR TWO CENTS

By Ned Kaish

Our email newsletter is something we take a lot of pride in at Score. If you aren’t familiar with it, it is a high school sportsheavy publication that we produce each day to fill in our readers on the latest happenings in Georgia prep sports. We send it out Monday through Friday throughout the year and Monday through Saturday during the fall.

Not only do we cover popular sports like football, basketball and baseball, we also cover every other varsity sport the GHSA fields. If you like Georgia high school sports at all, sign up for our email newsletter by visiting www.tinyurl.com/scorenewsletter and enter your email address(es) that you’d like added to the distribution list.

?

TRIVIA QUESTION

SINCE 1970, HOW MANY OF THE 72 NFL TEAMS THAT HAVE STARTED 5-0 FAILED TO REACH THE PLAYOFFS? ANSWER ON PAGE 14

“

SANITY AT LAST

“That’s as rough as it gets for us today.”

- Dan Quinn after Atlanta’s 20-10 loss to Minnesota

12 73.8

Total sacks as a team from the Falcons, who trail JJ Watt who leads the NFL with 13.5.

Mark Richt’s winning percentage at Georgia over his 15 seasons.

10

NFL kickers who haven’t missed an extra point through Week 12.

6

Hawks averaging double digits in scoring, paced

by Paul Millsap’s 18.6 per game.

12.9

Rebounds per game for Georgia Tech forward and Marietta native Chuck Mitchell, 3rd in the NCAA.

142

Times Julio Jones has been targeted by Matt Ryan this season.

4 15

Red zone interceptions by Matt Ryan (most in NFL) Falcons spot in the Week 13 ESPN Power Rankings

Vol. 11 Iss. 41 | December 3-9, 2015

ON THE COVER

COVER STORY

MOVING ON FROM THE RICHT ERA

BY CRAIG SAGER II | CSAGER@SCOREATL.COM

For the amount of times I have been asked or heard the question “Should Mark Richt be fired?” over the years, I was stunned with how shocking the news still was to me when I found out the Richt era was officially over Sunday afternoon.

Richt is a special man. His humble approach, family-first mentality and generosity is genuine enough overshadow any results on the field. I am sure I am not alone when I say character is what first comes to mind with Richt.

I was fortunate enough to spend three years in Athens (2008-10) as a walk-on and I got to see first-hand how one of college football’s most beloved coaches ran his program.

I do believe Richt has left the program in a better state than when he arrived but I understand this decision. Richt certainly does not deserve all the blame, so rather than pointing blame, I want to look back at what he could have done differently and improved.

UGA is going to bring in the top players in the country each year. It’s a great school in a state loaded with collegiate talent that plays

in college football’s most celebrated conference. This is what makes Georgia one of the top coaching jobs in the country. Richt did not develop his players at a championship level and the Bulldogs have not taken full advantage of this surrounding talent under him.

I first noticed the subtleties of this problem in 2009. During my first season (2008) we ran an offense with Matthew Stafford at quarterback and Knowshon Moreno in the backfield. Stafford and Moreno both left for the NFL after the season and with them went the deep ball and powerful arm of Stafford and Moreno’s versatility. Joe Cox stepped into the starting quarterback job the next season and the backfield was shared by Caleb King and Richard Samuel (much more one-dimensional backs). The playbook remained mostly the same, despite completely different players.

That was alarming to me. The playbook did not match the players and players did not match the playbook. This has been a trend in Athens over the years.

Following the down years of 2009 and

2010 seasons, however, I thought Richt did a great job of making adjustments and getting back to the basics. I also saw Mike Bobo grow into a one of college football’s premier coordinators. His improvement and success with Aaron Murray under center were remarkable.

After Bobo left, however, the predictable play calling returned this season and a quarterback change came at the worst possible time for a new playbook and new play caller, Brian Shottenheimer.

The Georgia offense has struggled this season and it is something that Richt should have seen coming well before the year started.

Former wide receivers coach Tony Ball (now at LSU) failed to recruit enough depth at the wide receiver position and left it thin before the season started. There are too many good receivers in the state of Georgia to have a fifth-year senior and freshman having to carry the corps.

One year of missing on receiving targets would have been excused, but Richt let the trend continue under Ball.

Players have not developed the way they should have for broader reasons as well. Besides Georgia having an outdated strength and conditioning program for much of the Richt era, the overall philosophy of the team has held guys back. This has been seen throughout the last decade and even with former players that thrive once they make it to the NFL.

It’s time to work smarter and not harder at Georgia. Under Richt, everyone was treated the same. As a walk-on, I was fortunate to feel included and always part of the team but this system still had flaws that can be fixed when done right. Players can be treated as equals without all the uniformity. From mat drills to the weight room, the workouts and offseason programs were not geared to the individuals enough. Some guys are the self-motivated types when it comes to workouts that do not need to be babysat, while others are the type that need to be watched a little more carefully and encouraged or disciplined more. When you treat everyone the same, you start to veil some of the natural leadership that could come out from certain players. A player that comes in overweight does not need to be on the same training program as a player that comes in too light. Also, one player might retain information better from film, while another player might understand more effectively with extra reps after practice.

7

Being nice does not equate to an open environment. It is about more than that. It’s about understanding from the head coach down to each assistant. There needs to be a more open environment where players know it is up to them to step up and work to get better. The more the staff understands how each individual operates, the easier this will be.

It’s the individuals working towards the same goal that builds the dynamics needed for a championship team. The more each player understands a role and sees the value in it, the stronger a team is. Building good character in each student athlete is mutually exclusive and can be done so many different ways. Georgia must put more focus on the individual development to begin to reach its potential. The Bulldogs carry a lot of pressure before, during and after each season and its the personalities and differences that keep each day fresh. When everything is focused on the team, the roles can seem overwhelming and can get overlooked.

There have been great players at Georgia under Richt and great teams, but the leadership from the players can and must be improved.

Leaders take pressure off of their teammates.

They know they will take responsibility if the game goes wrong. On a team without leadership, it will look like everyone is holding their breath at the end of the game, hoping to not be the one that screws up.

Lastly, to the next head coach (Kirby Smart); recruit more athletes and less onetrick ponies. If you are a great enough athlete you can learn and grow into a position and you will have a versatility that otherwise would not come naturally at the position. It’s time to get rid of the molds and let individual growth reign supreme in Athens.

Photos courtesy of Rob Saye.

8

©2015 Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, Inc. All rights reserved. For official contest rules, visit choa.org/comeback.

SCORE ATLANTA | www.ScoreAtl.com

This comeback athlete had a long road back. Today it’s 8.5 miles.

Know a young athlete who overcame a serious injury or illness? Nominate them for Comeback Athlete of the Month at choa.org/comeback.

QUARTERFINAL ROUNDUP

RED-HOT MILL CREEK AWAITS DEFENDING CHAMPS

BY TYLER ANDREWS & CRAIG SAGER II

I

n what was pegged to be one of the top quarterfinal matchups in the state of Georgia turned out to be a complete domination by the home team as Mill Creek shutout Archer 23-0 last Friday. The win improves the Hawks to 13-0 on the season and a berth to the school’s first ever trip to the semifinals.

The Hawks defense was the story forcing three turnovers and continuing to pin the Tigers deep in their own territory. Mill Creek’s offense, although not outstanding, had great starting field position and pounded out tough yards throughout the night.

“The biggest thing it [this victory] means is I’m proud of this football team, and we get to play again,” said Mill Creek head coach Shannon Jarvis. “We have done a great job this year of not getting caught up in the history they are making every time they play. It’s really about lining up and doing your job. I know that

sounds like coach speak, but that’s what this team has gravitated to.”

Archer drove down the field on the opening drive with relative ease mixing in runs with Jamyest Williams and passing plays to Kyle Davis. In the red zone, Williams took a handoff down to the 12-yard line but then fumbled the ball away to Mill Creek. After that drive, Archer was stalled on offense for the rest of the night.

The Hawks then drove 88 yards and converted on a 12-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Cameron Turley to Daniel Leconte to take a 7-0 lead. Late in the first quarter, Mill Creek took advantage of great field position as placekicker Brenton King connected on a 42yard field goal to go up 10-0.

Mill Creek took the opening kickoff of the second half for 69 yards down to the Archer 26yard line. After a short series, King connected on a 41-yard field goal to put the team up 20-0.

The lockdown defense from the home team continued into the second half. They did not give up a first down to Archer in the entire third quarter. King tacked on another field goal at the start of the fourth quarter to stretch the Hawks lead to 23-0. With Archer in desperation mode, they tried and failed on two fourth down conversions late in the game.

Turley finished the game 10-of-21 passing for 108 yards, while Leconte added 43 yards on the ground and the 12-yard touchdown reception.

PACKERS PRIDE

Colquitt County used a 49-31 victory over host South Forsyth to record its 28th straight victory and make its seventh straight trip to the semifinals last Friday. South Forsyth led 3128 with 10:30 left and the ball inside Colquitt County territory before the Packers closed the game with 21 unanswered points. South Forsyth was able to move the ball through the air throughout the game and after an Alex Barbir field goal, the War Eagles took a 10-0 lead with a sideline to sideline scramble and touchdown pass from Davis Shanley to Jalen Camp. Nate Powell scored Colquitt’s first touchdown from 5-yards out and cut South Forsyth’s lead to 10-7 entering the second quarter. Camp leapt for his second touchdown to make it 17-7 but Colquitt County converted a 3rd down and 15 on its ensuing drive and Ty Lee bounced out-

side and ran in a Packers touchdown with 6:23 left in the half. Colquitt County took its first lead of the game (21-17) with 1:46 left in the half when Chase Parrish hit a wide-open Kiel Pollard for a 13-yard slant and score.

Pollard took a direct snap in for a 1-yard touchdown in the third quarter to increase the lead to 28-17 before South Forsyth began climbing back. Shanley hit Camp for an 84yard touchdown and Julian Mingo intercepted Parish to set up a 2-yard touchdown run by Sam Outlaw to give South Forsyth a 31-28 lead.

Colquitt County fumbled its next possession and South Forsyth took over at the Packers’ 42-yardline but the Packers found their footing in the secondary. Quan Singletary picked off Shanley to set up an 8-yard touchdown run

by Lee and Colquitt County reclaimed a 35-31 lead. After a tipped punt, Lee ran in a 29-yard score to make it 42-31. The final score came on what was the fifth Packers interception of the second half. Senior linebacker Akivie Bailey picked off Shanley and returned it 76 yards for the touchdown with 1:10 left.

Colquitt County plays at Mill Creek Friday night to determine which team will face the winner of Grayson at Roswell in the Class 6A state championship.

Photos courtesy of Sonny Kennedy.

10

SCORE ATLANTA | www.ScoreAtl.com

UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA

RICHT ERA ENDS IN ATHENS

BY DAN MATHEWS | DMATHEWS@SCOREATL.COM

A

day after Georgia head coach Mark Richt said that he was not concerned about his job security, the news came out that he will end his 15 year head coaching career at UGA following their bowl game. The announcement came down in a joint statement released this morning by the school’s athletic director Greg McGarity.

“Coach Richt and I met Sunday morning to discuss the status of our program,” McGarity said. “We mutually agreed that he would step down as head coach and would have the opportunity to accept other duties and responsibilities at UGA following the bowl game.”

Richt was 145-51 during his career with the Bulldogs. If they win their bowl game, then he will have 10 seasons with double-digit wins.

He also won six SEC East championships, twotime conference champion and two-time conference coach of the year.

It is no secret as well that the school’s president Jere W. Morehead has been a huge

GEORGIA STATE

FOOTBALL ONE WIN AWAY FROM BOWL ELIGIBILITY

BY KYLE SANDY | KSANDY@SCOREATL.COM

O

ne more win. That is what Georgia State (56, 4-2) miraculously is away from becoming bowl eligible after defeating Troy 31-21. After a 2-6 start to the season the Panthers have won three straight and have a shot at a bowl berth if they can knock off new in-state rival and Sun Belt power, Georgia Southern (8-3, 6-1), who has already wrapped up a bowl game. Last season when the two met it was the Eagles that came away with a 69-31 rout. Nick Arbuckle threw for 408 yards but Georgia Southern’s triple option recorded 613 yards rushing.

Georgia State will play at Georgia Southern next Saturday at 2 p.m. at Paulson Stadium.

“I wouldn’t want it any other way. If we have to go through them then so be it,” Coach Trent Miles said of the matchup with Georgia Southern. “Our young men will prepare because they know how to win and get the job done. All of our success is on them and the confidence they have now.”

supporter of Richt.

“Mark Richt has been an outstanding coach and mentor to our student-athletes during his fifteen-year tenure, and we have developed a strong and enduring friendship during that time,” Morehead said. “I am deeply grateful for his many years of dedicated service to the University of Georgia, and I particularly appreciate the positive way he has represented UGA. I have asked Mark to remain engaged with the institution in a new leadership role, and I look forward to hopefully working closely with him as we advance our capital campaign at the University of Georgia. I know all UGA alumni and supporters will look forward to celebrating the successful conclusion of his coaching career at UGA in a bowl game later this year. I want to wish Katharyn and the Richt family all the best.”

Richt has the chance to stay with the athletic department, working with former football lettermen and other department affairs but appears to be looking for another head coaching position.

Right now, it appears barring any setbacks that the next head coach at UGA will be Kirby Smart. Heavy speculation has been that the Alabama defensive coordinator would be a logical choice, given the fact he played football at Georgia and his success in the SEC.

ARBUCKLE AIR RAID

Nick Arbuckle added to his record setting final season, throwing for 368 more yards and two touchdowns to blow past the Trojans.

Keith Rucker was his favorite target, catching 10 balls for 154 yards. Along with Rucker’s career day through the air, sophomore Glenn Smith ran for a career-best 87 yards and a touchdown on 19 carries.

Georgia State piled up 519 yards of offense, while the Panther defense allowed 23 points or less for the fourth straight game. The GSU defense held Troy to 374 total yards, including just 81 yards on the ground, which is Georgia State’s best performance against an FBS opponent.

PRESSURE FREE THROWS

Coaches always say free throws can win or lose games. Isaiah Williams proved that right as he sank two foul shots with 1.2 seconds left in regulation to tie IUPUI and send the game to overtime on Friday where the Panthers eventually came away with a 78-72 win to move to 3-1 on the season. The win is now Georgia State’s 10th-straight at home, the third best mark in program history.

Before Williams, who scored 13 points on the night, tied the game up, Georgia State rallied from a five-point deficit, 64-59, with 39 seconds to play. Kevin Ware and Jeremey Hollowell tied for the team lead with 18 points apiece. The win was especially special for coach Ron Hunter.

He spent 17 years at IUPUI where he won 274 games before joining Georgia State in 2011.

GEORGIA TECH

FOOTBALL SEASON ENDS WITH ANOTHER LOSS

BY COLIN HUBBARD | INFO@SCOREATL.COM

T

he Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets’ season has come to a close after a 13-7 loss to the rival Georgia Bulldogs this past Saturday at Bobby Dodd. The Yellow Jackets cut the Bulldogs’ lead to six points late in the fourth quarter but were unable to complete the comeback.

Georgia Tech finishes the year at an extremely disappointing 3-9 after losing six games by eight points or less and will not play in a bowl game for the first time since the 90’s.

The Yellow Jackets were decimated by injuries this year and were forced to use more and more underclassman as the season progressed.

The Yellow Jackets will head into the offseason with Justin Thomas set to play out his senior season next year and will likely have every running back return except for Patrick Scov.

However, the Yellow Jackets will lose pieces on the offensive line as well as on defense. Safety

KENNESAW STATE

BASKETBALL LOOKS FOR POSITIVE SWING

BY CRAIG SAGER II | CSAGER@SCOREATL.COM

W

ith Kennesaw’s inaugural football season in the books, attention has turned to the basketball program, which continues looking for a positive step in the right direction. The Owls opened the season with a 98-75 exhibition win over Middle Georgia State but have gone 1-7 in their eight games this season. The latest loss came on Monday as Elon outscored Kennesaw 103-93 in an overtime thriller.

Senior Yonel Brown led the Owls with 31 points, and redshirt junior Kendrick Ray had his first career double-double with 28 points and 12 rebounds.

After trailing by three at halftime, Brown and Ray both came alive in the second half combining for 38 of the 53 points for Kennesaw State.

The Owls led by seven with 3:23 left but could not hang on.

“We played a great 39 minutes, but unfortunately we let things get away from us,” said head coach Al Skinner. “It’s a learning

Jamal Golden will enter into the 2016 NFL draft as well as defensive tackle Adam Gotsis.

On what was supposed to be a great year for the Yellow Jackets and a possible college playoff berth turned into one of the worst seasons in school history. Head coach Paul Johnson and the rest of the coaching staff will now enter into the offseason with hopes of bringing in several more recruits to help next years’ team.

A PROMISING START

The Georgia Tech men’s’ basketball team is off to a 4-2 start including two wins over the SEC and another against Cornell to start the year. After getting off to a hot start, forward Nick Jacobs has cooled off a bit and is averaging just over 11 points per game while Charles Mitchell and Marcus Georges-Hunt are both tied with 15.3 points per game.

Josh Heath is leading the Yellow Jackets with 28 assists on the year while Georges-Hunt and Adam Smith are tied for second with 14. The Yellow Jackets are averaging 82 points per game and have hit the century mark twice already.

The Yellow Jackets will face off with Wofford and Tulane this week before they host VCU next Tuesday.

experience for us and it’s something that we can correct moving forward. The errors we made are correctable, and I like to believe that when we’re in this situation again, we’ll follow through. We had great execution, we were aggressive, the guys did some really nice things offensively. For the exception of a couple of plays, we did the things that we needed to do to win. This is something that we’re going to build on. I’ve said this before, but we’re going to be better in January and February than we are in November and December. The team showed a lot more confidence today than we’ve had in previous games.”

BUILDING BLOCKS

This was the first overtime game that the Owls have had since the 2012-13 season. The Owls had four double-digit scorers in the game against Elon, marking the second time this season that the Owls reached that level of balance.

The 53 points is the most the Owls have scored in one half this season. The team shot 60 percent from the floor in the second half.

Brown, who finished the game with 31 points now has two games this season with 30 or more points and he has now hit the mark four times in his career.

Kennesaw State faced Florida A&M Wednesday night at home and plays at West Virginia on Saturday with a 12:30 p.m. tipoff.

Vol. 11 Iss. 41 | December 3-9, 2015 ATLANTA HAWKS

MILLSAP’S CAREERYEAR KEEPING HAWKS IN FLIGHT

BY KYLE SANDY | KSANDY@SCOREATL.COM

A

tlanta advanced to 12-8 with a win on Monday night at Philips Arena over the Oklahoma City Thunder, 106-100. The Hawks are still trying to string together consistency in their play. They have they have alternated winloss-win-loss over their last seven games and have not put together a winning streak since winning seven straight after an opening night loss to the Detroit Pistons.

Though the results haven’t always been there, the team’s unselfish play has been. Atlanta ranks second in the league with 25.5 assists per game, but its achilles heel, which reared its ugly head against the Cleveland Cavaliers in the conference finals a year ago, has been rebounding. The Hawks rank 27th in the NBA in rebounding at 41.7 a night.

On Monday, Atlanta was able to outrebound and share the ball better than the Thunder could.

The Hawks pounded the glass for 51 boards and handed out 23 assists to hold off big nights from Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook.

ATLANTA BRAVES

BRAVES APPEAR TO BE HANGING ON TO MILLER

BY RICKY DIMON | RDIMON@SCOREATL.COM

T

he Atlanta Braves seem to be unloading everyone and everything as they build toward the future—most notably to 2017, when the new SunTrust Field opens in Cobb County. That is why at least 15 teams have inquired about the potential availability of starting pitcher Shelby Miller.

General manager John Coppolella is not entirely opposed to making a move, but it is becoming increasingly clear that he would need massive amounts in return. So far the price has been way too high for any suitor to pull the trigger on Miller. And the price is high for a reason. In his first season with the Braves, the 25-year-old (he was 24 until this offseason) compiled a 3.02 ERA in 205.1 innings of work despite being saddled with a 6-17 record due to horrific run support. Millers also mowed down 171 batters while walking only 73.

“The Braves are doing the right thing in that they’re looking for everyone’s top guy,” one National League scout said, according to

Westbrook finished with 34 points, 11 rebounds and seven assists while Durant poured in 25 points, six rebounds, six assists and four blocks, but Atlanta’s balance was too much in the end. Three players scored 20-plus points led by Paul Millsap’s 26. Millsap also added 11 rebounds and five assists. Al Horford posted a double-double of his own with 21 points and 13 rebounds. Jeff Teague went for 25 points in the win.

The Hawks withstood a fourth quarter barrage from Westbrook, who scored half his points in the final quarter. He scored off a drive with 2:49 remaining to give the Thunder their first lead since the opening basket, and then knocked down a jumper to put Oklahoma City up by four.

The duo of Millsap and Teague would stem the tide and put the Hawks back in front where they were able to seal an important win.

WORTH THE PRICE OF ADMISSION Imagine where the Hawks would be if they were unable to resign Paul Millsap? The nine-year veteran has all but earned his money thus far after signing a three-year, $58.9 million contract in the offseason. He is averaging career-highs of 18.6 points, 9.6 rebounds, 3.6 assists, 1.2 blocks and 1.9 steals per game.

Millsap might not get the fanfare that other player’s receive, but he by far is one of the most versatile players in the NBA and a true dual-threat, to get the job done on offense and defense.

the Braves website.

One of the first teams to ask about Miller was the Arizona Diamondbacks, from whom Atlanta wanted—or still wants—outfielder A.J. Pollock. The Los Angeles Dodgers expressed interest but are opposed to sending the Braves 21-year-old shortstop Corey Seager. The New York Yankees also reportedly have Miller on their radar, but Atlanta has been asking for 21-year-old righty Luis Severino in return. Severino is considered by many to be the Yankees’ top prospect.

JOHNSON RETURNS For a second consecutive offseason, the Braves have signed reliever Jim Johnson to a one-year contract—this time worth $2.5 million. Johnson excelled in his first go-around with Atlanta, converting nine of 13 save opportunities while compiling a 2.25 ERA in 49 appearances. In 41 outings after April 23, the 32-year-old pitched his way to a 1.58 ERA. The Braves shipped Johnson to the Dodgers on July 30 and he promptly imploded. But Coppolella is confident he will get back the Johnson who starred for Atlanta this past season as opposed to L.A.’s version of the veteran.

“We watched video and we saw a lot of bad luck,” Coppolella explained. “I think he’s somebody you can count on when he’s in the right environment…. We are thrilled to bring Jim Johnson back to the Braves. We feel he will once again play an important role in our bullpen.”

ATLANTA FALCONS

DIMARCO NAMED MAN OF THE YEAR

BY CRAIG SAGER II | CSAGER@SCOREATL.COM

he Atlanta Falcons named fullback Patrick T DiMarco the team’s nominee for the 2015 Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year. DiMarco,

a four-year veteran, is receiving this honor for the first time.

“When guys have the chance to give back and the impact they could have on the community that they’re in, I think it speaks volumes for our whole organization and what we want to stand for,” Head Coach Dan Quinn said. “And I couldn’t think of a more perfect role model for our community than Pat.” DiMarco’s involvement, passion and energy is spread throughout many organizations and causes and is not just absorbed into one organization or one cause; his efforts are spread across impacting every aspect of the community. He has participated in and led countless children’s hospital visits, supported the Rally Foundation (a local childhood cancer research foundation), participated in multiple fundraisers for mentally challenged children, supported the Children’s Miracle Network,

THE TRANSFER CORNER

NORCROSS GETS LOST IN THE GREENFOREST

BY KYLE SANDY | KSANDY@SCOREATL.COM

N

o. 1 Greenforest put together one of the most impressive two days out of any team in the entire nation at Holiday Hoopsgiving as the Eagles pounded No. 2 Norcross, 77-48. The game was never in question. Greenforest raced out to an 18-5 lead after the first period while Norcross could find zero offense outside of Jordan Goldwire, who scored all five points in the opening frame and finished with 11 points all coming in the first half.

The size of Greenforest troubled the Blue Devils all game. Norcross would attack inside with forwards Rayshaun Hammonds and Lance Thomas but the interior defense of Ikey Obiagu (five blocks) and the rest of the Eagles would swallow their shots up. At one point in the first half the foul count was 7-0 in favor of the Eagles which had Norcross Head Coach Jesse McMillan steamed and rightfully so.

NO ANSWERS

In the second quarter Norcross showed some fight and cut the lead to 29-16 using a

11

traveled across the state of Georgia to lead Atlanta Falcons Moms Football Safety Clinics, participated in annual breast cancer awareness events, PLAY 60 events and has a desire for helping those in need, specifically military members and their families.

While DiMarco’s community involvement gauges a large audience, he has found a special place in his heart for not just the military, but their families. For the second consecutive year, DiMarco will host a holiday party for military families that will include a catered dinner and a shopping spree. The families are part of the TAPS organization, Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors, an organization dedicated to the families of our fallen heroes.

DiMarco also recently hosted a Thanksgiving Dinner along with teammate Jacob Tamme for the 125 men from the Atlanta Mission.

DiMarco will be honored at the annual Atlanta Falcons Community Honors Dinner on Tuesday, December 15 at Ventanas in Atlanta.

“It’s such an honor to receive this award.

I’ve been very blessed with a great opportunity to have a platform like this to give back,” DiMarco said.

“Giving back to me is what it’s all about, being able to go out into the community to show love and encouragement to those who are in need is an experience I will cherish forever. I am very grateful to be part of this wonderful organization that encourages all this amazing work we as a team are able to do in the community.”

full court press and some half court traps to temporarily slowdown the Eagles. McMillan finally got tagged with a technical foul after numerous drives to the basket ended with a shot being blocked or altered and no foul being called. When the half rolled around Greenforest held a 37-21 advantage while the majority of the half Coach McMillan was seen pacing back and forth on the sidelines trying to keep his composure and think of a way to help his team back into the game.

Hammonds finally scored his first bucket of the game in the third quarter off a free throw and finished with a season-low five points and eight rebounds. His partner down low, 6-foot7 Lance Thomas, was shutout, not scoring a single point. With Norcross’ best two players and largest post presences being a non-factor, it turned into a rout for the Eagles. Greenforest out-rebounded Norcross 44-to-17 and bullied their way to second chance points while limiting Norcross’ opportunities at offensive rebounds.

Justin Forrest scored a game-high 21 for Greenforest and added four assists while New Hampshire-commit John Ogwuche pitched in 12 points, six rebounds and eight assists.

The incredible weekend helped propel Greenforest into MaxPreps’ top 25 national ranking and more importantly, vaulted the Eagles atop sandysspiel.com’s Power Poll, ranking No. 1 in the entire state.

12

SCORE ATLANTA | www.ScoreAtl.com

STAY UP-TO-DATE We want to hear from you!

Find us on Facebook and Twitter. Give us feedback on your favorite articles, tell us what you’d like to see in upcoming issues and stay up-to-date on sporting news from Metro Atlanta!

/SCOREATLANTASPORTS

WWW.GAPREPNEWS.COM

@SCOREATLANTA

WWW.TINYURL.COM/ SCORENEWSLETTER

WWW.SCOREATL.COM

STAY CONNECTED!

?

TRIVIA ANSWER

6

MAKE YOUR OCCASION A SUCCESS! Great rates! Book your date!

Vol. 11 Iss. 41 | December 3-9, 2015

13