Friday, November 21, 2008
Quick Poll
Who will win tonight's GHSA State AAAAA Football Playoff game?
- Newnan: 76
- Tift County: 16
Total Votes:
Published Monday, September 15, 2008 in Sports
Photo by Jeffrey Leo
Newnan linebacker Aubrey Melson works against a Lovejoy ball carrier in last Friday’s game. The Cougars have allowed just 19 points in their first three games.
East Coweta, Newnan perfect in region
By Tommy Camp
The Times-Herald
The Newnan Cougars and East Coweta Indians will defend their perfect 2-0 records in Region 4-AAAAA with games at home against Morrow and Creekside Friday while Northgate hosts Hiram and Heritage School plays its first road game of the year at Young American Christian Academy in Conyers.
The Creekside Seminoles, who appear to be one of 4-AAAAA’s stronger teams in the early going, come to Sharpsburg Friday with a 3-0 overall mark and a 2-0 region record with wins over Tri-Cities (13-6), Pebblebrook (21-0) and Mundy’s Mill (35-0).
East Coweta has also played Pebblebrook, winning 30-13, and Mundy’s Mill, winning 34-0. EC’s only loss to date was its opening defeat at Sandy Creek, 24-17, in overtime.
The Seminoles moved up to Five-A this year after a successful run in Quad A.
Creekside has made the playoffs the last four years under coach Kevin Whitley, losing in the first round last season, but reaching the quarterfinals in 2006.
East Coweta turned in an impressive win last Friday at Pebblebrook with new quarterback Austin Ingram running the show in the absence of Mac McKnight who was lost for the season with a knee injury.
For the second straight week the Indians didn’t allow a defensive touchdown from scrimmage.
Pebblebrook ran a kickoff back 98 yards for its first touchdown and returned a fumble 75 yards for its other.
Friday’s game will be the third-ever matchup between EC and Creekside. EC won both previous meetings, 23-0 in 1994 in Sharpsburg and 42-0 in 1995 in south Fulton County.
Newnan is coming off its historically explosive 55-6 win over Lovejoy at home last Friday.
The Cougars built a 41-0 lead in the first quarter and led 55-0 at halftime (both school records) and have now outscored their first three opponents 121-19 in going 3-0.
Morrow is 0-3 with losses to Jonesboro (21-14), Westlake (48-6) and Chapel Hill (44-0).
The Mustangs, once one of the proudest programs in Clayton County and winners of the state championship in 1987, have fallen on hard times and have not had a winning season since 1998.
Newnan, which leads the series 20-11, has won the last eight meetings and hasn’t lost to Morrow since 1990.
The Cougars won last year’s game, 48-0, in Tara Stadium.
The Mustangs are under their third coach in three years, Larry Martenson, who previously coached at Jonesboro and Rockdale County before taking the Morrow job.
Northgate will attempt to end its two-game losing streak facing Hiram at home.
The Vikings lost to Benneker at home last Friday, 21-0, after falling to Alexander (35-14 on the road) and beating Dutchtown (14-13) in the season opener.
Hiram comes in at 2-1. The Hornets won their first two games, beating Washington of Atlanta, 27-19, and Northwest Whitfield, 21-14, but losing on the road at Cass last Friday, 22-15.
Hiram is playing in Quad A this season after two years in Newnan and EC’s Region 4-AAAAA.
Coach Andy Dorsey is in his third year with the Hornets and has posted a 15-11 record.
His father, Jimmy, was one of Georgia’s most successful coaches, heading the McEachern program for 24 years and registering 219 wins.
Heritage School, 1-2, goes on the road to face a winless Young American Christian team which is in only its second year of competition.
The Eagles were 0-10 last year and have dropped their first three this season to Randolph Southern (52-0), Central Fellowship (41-12) and Covenant Academy (43-14).
The Hawks fell to Monroe Academy last week, 39-28. Heritage lost its opener to Strong Rock Christian, 34-26, but beat Curtis Baptist two weeks ago, 60-18.