Varsity Sports - Sort Of

Physics - The following picture is of a physics project submitted by Nathan Mallonee (golf), Casey Colquitt (physics teacher and assistant soccer coach), Jim Betty (golf), Tyler Day (soccer) and Griffin Giles (soccer).  It just so happens that that's the order of the guys in the picture. 

A steel ball starts at the top of the "coaster" (out of frame) and travels to the bottom influenced by gravity alone.  The blue funnel at the end of the line directs the ball into a small red cup located on the battery powered conveyor belt to be taken back to the top of the apparatus to start the trip again. 

Varsity Soccer

Boys – The boys faced Banks Co (6-5, 1-2 region) in the early game Thursday.  After eighty minutes of hard fought soccer, Banks came away with the win 2-1. 

        Right off the bat Banks had a free kick just outside the 18 yard box due to a handball.  But keeper Louis Vasquez stopped the well placed ball from going into the goal. 

Louis Vasquez stopping a Banks Co shot.

        For the next 16 minutes OC and Banks moved the ball up and down the field with neither team gaining an advantage although a couple of times Vasquez made great stops on Banks Co shots on goal.

Eli Johnson (L) and Ezra Underwood (R)

        Following a goal kick by OC from Griffin Giles, the Patriots rapidly moved the ball deep into Banks territory allowing Kyle Yeargin to score for Oglethorpe at the 24^th minute.

        OC would continue to dominate the half with shots on goal by Cody Boarders and Tyler Day.  However, with just seconds left in the half a Banks striker got past OC defenders and scored the equalizer tying the game 1-1 at the half.  

        The second half opened with Banks Co visiting OC’s end of the field more often.  At the 33 minute mark, Banks had three shots on goal, first from just outside the 6 yard box, which Zammy Mendez blocked.  Then two more within the 6 yard box that Day succeeded in breaking up before the ball was cleared.  But four minutes later, on a corner kick, Banks Co headed the ball in for their second goal of the game.

        Although OC had several more attempts at scoring the Patriots couldn’t manage to find the back of the goal.   

Girls – The Patriot girls handled Banks Co’s girls (1-9) Tuesday night bringing home a 5-1 win.    

Ouch!

        OC spent most of the evening in Banks end of the field with Laura Abney scoring first for OC and then Jeri Wilcox scoring at the 21^st minute from a short Banks goal kick.

        Time would run down but not before shots on goal by Abney, Jordan Pringle and Lexi Miller.  OC would go into halftime with a 2-0 lead.

Jeri Wilcox scored on this shot.

        The second half was much the same as the first except that Fabolia Rojas scored for OC with 29 minutes remaining and Pringle scored after taking the ball at the top of the 18 yard box . 

        Banks County would score with five minutes in the game but OC returned the favor following the restart when Wilcox scored her second goal of the game. 

        The Patriots (9-3, 4-3 region) is third in the region standings.  OC’s next game will be against Clarke Central on Tuesday, April 10^th in Athens.

         You can see the pictures here:   http://www.photoreflect.com/store/thumbpage.aspx?e=8461780

Varsity Golf

Golf – The OC golfers played twice this week; first, at Jennings Mill, against Oconee, and then yesterday, at Traditions of Braselton, against Jackson and Hart Co’s. 

        The meet against Oconee was a nine-hole top four meet.  OC’s Nathan Mallonee shot a four under par 32 and was closely followed by Jim Beatty’s two under par 34.  Jake O’Bryan shot a two over par 38 and Ben Giles came in fourth out of six with a personal best of 50.  This however was not enough to beat Oconee who bested Oglethorpe by two strokes.

        The meet at Traditions was set-up to play like the region tournament that will be held at Traditions in four weeks.  That is, all the golfers started at the first tee, unlike a local match at Jennings Mill that uses a shotgun start.  Also, unlike a local match, contestants had to count all strokes.  At the local meets if a contestant scores double the number of strokes that the hole calls par, for instance, they shoot and eight on a par four hole, they stop counting.  Players couldn’t do that at Traditions yesterday; all strokes counted.

        For OC Mallonee was first with a one over 37 followed by Beatty at two over.  Jake O’Bryan shot 40 and Kory Lott shot 46 which placed OC second to Hart County and ahead of Jackson Co. 

        Oglethorpe’s golfers travel to Achesta in Dahlonega this weekend for an 18 hole tournament, and then to Vidalia for a two day tournament over the spring break.   

Varsity Track and Field

Varsity Track - The Oglethorpe County boys track team scored 91.5 points Tuesday night in Greensboro to notch a tri-meet win over host Greene County (82) and Putnam County (67). Event winners for the Patriots were Jarret McElheney (pole vault), Davonta Moore (shot put), Casey Pacheco (discus throw), Justin Whitman (1600), and Jovan Jenkins (300m hurdles).

        The Patriots will compete this weekend at the Capital City Classic in Tallahassee, FL.

        The Oglethorpe County girls track team edged Putnam County 74-73 Tuesday night in Greensboro, while the host Lady Tigers finshed 3rd with 56. The Lady Patriots were led by multi-event winners Dede Fleming (long jump, triple jump, 200m) and Aubrey Fearnow (shot put and discus throw). Other event winners for Oglethorpe County were Hannah Murphy (pole vault), Kiki Presley (100m hurdles), and Trenetta Smith (300m hurdles).

       The Lady Patriots will travel to Tallahassee, FL this weekend to compete in the Capital City Classic.

        Thanks to Coach Finch for providing the meet results.

Varsity, JV and Middle School Baseball

Baseball – Last Friday, the Patriots traveled to East Jackson to face the Eagles.  Then on Monday, March 26^th the Eagles came to OC.  The Pat’s lost the Friday game 6-2 but won the home game yesterday 19-4. 

        Clay Ogle (2-3) was on the mound for OC Friday pitching 5 innings.  He had 7 strikeouts, three runs scored against him but none of them earned.  J.D. Sharp pitched the sixth inning allowing three more runs but, like Ogle, none of them were earned.

        OC’s big hitters in Friday’s game were Ogle who went 2-4 with a double and Jacob Hester who went 2-3 and also had a double.

        Nick Mathews, who is 3-2 started for OC in Monday’s game.  He pitched three innings and was relieved by J.D. Sharp for the remainder of the game (one inning). 

        The Pats had several star hitters for the game.  Clay Ogle was 4-4; Jacob Hester was 4-4 with a double; Matt Beyatt had three RBI’s as did Mathews. 

        The Patriots (6-5, 1-3 region) play Elbert (9-2, 2-2 region) at home Wednesday and then travel to Elbert Friday  

JV – OC played Commerce at home last Thursday, March 22^nd and won 5-2.  Evan Meyer pitched a complete game with 14 strikeouts.  OC went to Commerce on Saturday and lost 12-5.

        The JV’s play again at Washington-Wilkes on Thursday, March 29 at 5pm.

Middle School – The middle school Patriots lost against Jefferson last Tuesday 6-3.  However, they rebounded and defeated Athens Christian on Thursday in a close game 6-5.  This past Saturday, OCMS played a double header against Lincoln Co.  The Pat’s lost the first game 3-2 and won the second game 17-2. 

        OCMS lay Jackson Co today at 5pm and then play a double header against Banks Co. on Saturday, March 31^st starting at 11am.

        Thanks to Coach Bramlett for providing all the above information.

         

Varsity Soccer

Boys Soccer – The Patriot boy’s soccer team had a red letter day against Washington-Wilkes winning the match 9-1.

O.T. Padilla trying to win the ball.

        Billy Waters started the scoring for OC with a score from close in to the goal at the 32 minute mark.  Eight minutes later Griffin Giles put the ball in the top right hand corner of the goal on a free kick from 25 yards out. 

Ezra Underwood takes a corner kick.

        OC clearly dominated the game with many shots on goal by Cody Boarders.  Boarders stayed in the Tigers end of the field most of the first half.  At 18 minutes left, Autry Farris passed to Kyle Yeargin on the left who took the ball to the ten yard line and then scored.  Two minutes later Yeargin assisted Ezra Underwood with a pass allowing Underwood to score from just outside the 6 yard box.

        The ball would go back and forth between OC and WW until the three minute mark when Giles passed the ball to Yeargin who scored his second goal from the left side of the field.  Boarders, who played several positions during the first half, would score with a minute left in the half bring the score to 6-0 at the break.

        The second half saw several changes on the OC side with Coach Norton taking full advantage by allowing as many players to get game time as possible. 

Cody Boarders stopping just in time.

        Nick Sanchez was the first Patriots to fine the back of the goal in the second half when he scored at the 33 minutes left in the game.  Five minutes later Farris would score with a shot on goal from the 18 yard line.

        The Tigers would not go home with a goose egg on their side of the board when they score their only goal with nine minutes remaining in the game.  The highlight of the game, however, would be when, with one minute left in the game, Christian Jarecki score his first goal of the season.  In celebration Jarecki executed four or five one handed back flips.  When asked his dad said, “I didn’t know he could do that.”  Not only can he do back flips he can score, too.

        Both the boys and girls finish the regular season Thursday, March 29^th against Banks County at home.        

        You can see the pictures here:   http://www.photoreflect.com/store/thumbpage.aspx?e=8457666

Gary Mathews Invitational

Casey Pacheco

Track and Field – As reported in an earlier post, both the OC boys and girls track team came home winners at the 6^th annual Gary Mathews Invitational Track and Field meet.  Coach Finch provided the following results. 

        The boys track team who scored 144 points to easily win the Gary Mathews Invitational on Saturday. Event winners for the boys were Maurice Freeman, high jump (6-10) and 200meter dash (22.08), setting new meet records in both events; Justin Whitman, 1600m (4:47.09); Kendrick Presley, 110m hurdles (16:48); Jovan Jenkins, 300m hurdles (41.61); Jarrett McElheney, pole vault (10-06); Casey Pacheco, discus throw (117-00), and the 4x400m relay team of Josh Swain, Tron Armstrong, Kendrick Presley, and Justin Whitman, also establishing a new meet record time (3:34.62). 

        The girls track team won the Gary Mathews Invitational by ½ point over Hancock Central in a very close team race. Even winners for the girls were Kiana Jackson, 400m run (1:01.54); Kiki Presley, 100m hurdles;  (18.57) Trenetta Smith, 300m hurdles (new meet record at 49.81); and Hannah Murphy, pole vault (7-06.00). 

        OC will compete at Greene county Tuesday, March 27^th.  OC will be traveling to Florida for the Chiles Capital City Classic in Tallahassee, FL Saturday, March 31^st.  Good luck Patriots!

Gary Mathews Invitational Track Meet at OCHS

OC Boys with their first place trophy.

Patriot Field - Both the men's and women's track team for OC were first place winners at the Gary Mathews Invitational.  Several meet records were broken.  As soon as the meet results are compiled they will be posted here.  In the mean time you can see a few pictures (only the 4X400 mens and womens races as well as the trophy presentations) of the meet here:   http://www.photoreflect.com/store/thumbpage.aspx?e=8454951

OC girls with their first place trophy.

Middle School Baseball - OCMS vs Lincoln Co. MS

Baseball - The middle school Patriots split a double header with Lincoln Co today at home.  OCMS dropped the first game 3-2, but the second game was stopped due to the mercy rule after racking up a 17-2 lead in the fourth inning.  As soon as game stats become available they will be posted here. 

                OCMS plays at home Tuesday, March 27th taking on Jackson Co.
You can see pictures from the game here:  http://www.photoreflect.com/store/thumbpage.aspx?e=8454934

Varsity Soccer OCHS vs North Oconee

Girls - The Patriots traveled to region foe North Oconee Friday night and by the time all was said and done came home with a 2-1 victory.  Both OC's goals were scored by Laura Abney; one in the first half and one in the second. 

          The girls improve to 7-3 overall (3-3 region) and face Banks County Thursday, March 29th at home.

Boys  - North Oconee defeated the OC boys 8-0.  The boys play Washington-Wilkes at home Monday, March 26th at 5:00pm.

Varsity Track and Field

Madison Co HS - The Patriot boys track team scored 91 points Tuesday to easily defeat Madison County (48) and Stephens County (35) in a tri-meet in Danielsville.

Event winners for the boys were Maurice Freeman in the high jump, Xavier Eberhart in the triple jump, Jay Fleming in the shot put, Ricky Marucci in the discus throw (new personal best of 114’ 0”), Justin Whitman in the 800 meter run (new season best time of 2:03.87) and the 1600 meter run, Josh Swain in the 400 meter run, Kendrick Presley in the 110 meter hurdles, Jovan Jenkins in the 300 meter hurdles, the 4x100m meter relay (Sherman Williams, Maurice Freeman, Kendrick Presley, and Josh Swain, new season best time of 43.68) [Had the team of Williams, Freeman, Presley and Swain ran this time at the Georgia Tech meet they would have moved from 17^th to 12^th place.] and the 4x400m meter relay (Josh Swain, Kenny Cinereski, Kendrick Presley, and Justin Whitman).

 Other placers for the boys were Xavier Eberhart (4^th long jump), Jovan Jenkins (3^rd in both the 100m and the long jump), Dillon Evans (2^nd pole vault), Jarrett McElheney (3^rd pole vault), Trevor Cavanaugh (4^th pole vault, new personal best of 10’ 0”), Casey Pacheco (2^nd in both shot put and discus throw), Cody Cinereski (3^rd discus throw), Davonta Moore (4^th shot put), Tron Armstrong (4^th 400m), Sherman Williams (2^nd in both the 100m and 200m, new personal best time of 11.01 in the 100m) [This time would have been good enough to move Williams from 24^th to 8^th place at the Georgia Tech meet.], Tevin Miller (4^th in the 100m), Deuntrez Fleming (2^nd in the 110m hurdles, new personal best time of 16.81), Anthony Thornton (4^th in both the 110m hurdles and the 300m hurdles), Kenny Cinereski (3^rd 800m), Austin Garmon (3^rd 3200m), and Carl Mitcham (4^th 3200m).

The Lady Patriots scored 65 points to defeat Stephens County (47) and Madison County (37) Tuesday in Danielsville. Congratulations go out to Hannah Murphy, who set a new school record in the pole vault yesterday at Madison County with a jump of 8’ 6” [This height was would have put Murphy in 14^th place at the Georgia Tech meet]. Congratulations also go out to Aubrey Fearnow, who broke her own school record in the discus throw with a throw of 118’ 0” [Fearnow would have moved from 9^th to 4^th place at the Georgia Tech meet]. 

Event winners yesterday were Aubrey Fearnow in the shot put, Kiana Jackson in the 400 meter run, Trenetta Smith in the 300 meter hurdles, the 4x400m meter relay team (Trenetta Smith, Caroline Hansford, Dede Fleming, and Kiana Jackson).  

Others scoring points for the Lady Patriots were Kiki Presley (2^nd high jump, new personal best of 4’ 10” [Presley would have earned 12^th place at the Georgia Tech meet with this jump]; 2^nd 300m hurdles and 4^th 100m hurdles), Trenetta Smith (2^nd long jump and 3^rd 100m hurdles), Dede Fleming (4^th long jump and 3^rd triple jump), Caroline Hansford (2^nd in both the triple jump and the 800m, 4^th in the 400m), Jessie Wray (4^th in both the triple jump and the 300m hurdles), the 4x100m relay team (Trenetta Smith, Dede Fleming, Kiki Presley, and Kiana Jackson; 2^nd, new season best time of 51.52) [The team of Smith, Fleming, Presley and Jackson would have finished 19^th at the Georgia Tech meet.], Dreka Howard (3^rd in both the 100m and 200m), Courtney Bonds (4^th in both the 100m and 200m). 

Blogger’s note:   The Georgia Tech Coaches Invitational in which Oglethorpe participated represented both high school and college teams, not only from Georgia but from other states, like Alabama and South Carolina.  It’s worth noting the improved times and scores of OC’s track athletes when compared with other athletes across the state and the south east.   

OC’s next meet will be the Gary Mathews Invitational at home Saturday, March 28^th. 

Thanks, Coach Finch, for providing the report of the meet. 

Varsity Soccer

Girls Soccer – The girl’s varsity soccer team defeated Elbert Co yesterday 1-0.  “It was very frustrating,” said Coach Rindone.  “They put every one of their players in the 18 yard box to prevent scoring because they have been getting beaten all year.  It was like trying to beat down a brick wall. I quit counting shots on goal after 25.  Jeri Edwards scored our only goal.” 

        OC (6-3, 2-3 region) will travel to North Oconee (3-3, 1-2 region) Friday, March 23rd playing the early game. 

Boys Soccer – The boys played Elberton following the girl’s game and lost 1-0.  OC neutralized Elberton’s speed and the only score came on an Elbert penalty kick.   “We did everything right, but win,” said one OC player after the game. 

        The OC boys (3-7, 1-4 region) also travels to North Oconee (5-3-1, 3-0 region) Friday, March 23^rd playing the late game.    

Updates

Baseball Updates – From head baseball coach Jason Bramlett:

Wed. March 14 

North Oconee   0 0 2 6 1 0 1   10 14 2

Oglethorpe Co. 0 0 0 0 0 0 0   0 0 2 

Pitching: Nick Mathews (2-2) took the loss on the mound going 3 and a 1/3 with 7 R, 5 ER, 4 H, 2 BB. He was relieved by Joshua Lee 1/3 of an inning and Jacob Hester 3 and 1/3 innings. Hester did a pretty good job giving up 2 runs and getting 4 Ks. 

Hitting: We got no-hit. Nuff said. 

Fri. March 16 

Oglethorpe Co. 0 1 0 0 0 3 0   4 6 4

North Oconee   3 0 0 1 1 0      6 9 2 

Pitching: Clay Ogle (2-2) took the loss on the mound going 5 and 1/3 with 6 R, 4 ER, 9 H, 5 K, 2 BB. He was relieved by JD Sharp who went 2/3 of an inning and worked out of a jam not allowing a run with 1 K and 1 BB.

Hitting: Tee Hull was 2-4 with a 2B, John Mathews was 1-3 with a RBI and a R scored, Dillon Day was 1-3 with an RBI, and Matt Beyatt was 1-3 with a R scored. 

Misc. 

Record is 5-4 (0-2).

Next game is at East Jackson Friday, March 23^rd at 5:55pm. Next home game is Monday, March 26^th vs. East Jackson at 5:00pm. 

Schedule for this week: 

Tuesday: MS Game vs. Jefferson 5:00pm

Thursday: JV Game vs. Commerce 5:00pm, MS Game @ Athens Christian 5:00pm

Friday: V Game @ East Jackson 5:55pm

Saturday: JV Game @ Commerce 4:15pm, MS DH vs. Lincoln Co. 11:00am

Joshua Lee 

Joshua Lee is doing well. He had surgery yesterday to put 4 plates in his face. He’s in good spirits. He and his family were very thankful and impressed with the outpouring of support from the Oglethorpe Co. community and the North Oconee community. 

4th Annual Alumni Game (Saturday, April 21st)
Our 4th Annual Alumni Baseball Game is Saturday, April 21st! Your $35 donation includes at least 2 games, BBQ for lunch, drinks, and a good time with some old friends. There will be a HR Derby at 9am which participants in the game can enter for $10. The winner will get half the pot. The games will start at 10:15am. Depending on how many participants we have, we'll have 2, 3, or 4 games. Each player will play at least 2. Each game will have a 2 hour time limit. All proceeds will go towards field maintenance/improvements. Thank you for supporting Oglethorpe Co. Athletics!

Update to all Coaches

I will be unable to attend any events for the next two weeks due to prior committments.  But I would like to be able to post game results during that time.  If you'll send me a short synopsis of the game results with the highlight stats, I'll get it posted. 

Thanks for all your help.

OCHS Sportsblog

Varsity Track

Maurice Freeman receiving his award for winning the high jump at the Coaches Invitational from Meet Director Cathi Monk

Track and Field - Congratulations to Maurice Freeman, who won the prestigious Coaches Invitational high jump title this weekend at Georgia Tech. Maurice defeated 33 of the best high jumpers from Georgia, Alabama, and Florida with a leap of 6’ 8” in a competition that lasted over 4 hours.

        Other Patriots with a top 20 finish this weekend were Aubrey Fearnow, 7^th in the shot put (35’ 7.5”) and 9^th in the discus throw (107’ 7”); and Justin Whitman, 14^th in the 2000m Steeplechase (7:13.15); Dede Fleming, 18^th in the triple jump (32’ 3”); the boys 4x100m relay (Sherman Williams, Maurice Freeman, Kendrick Presley, and Josh Swain), 17^th (44.14); and the boys 800 sprint medley relay (Sherman Williams, Deuntrez Fleming, Tron Armstrong, and Maurice Freeman), 20^th (1:37.31).

        OC’s next meet will be at Madison Co., Tuesday, March 20^th against Madison Co, Hart Co an Elbert Co. 

        Thanks to Coach Finch for providing the Georgia Tech meet results. 

Varsity Soccer OC vs Hart Co.

Boys – OC went to Hartwell to face the Bulldogs Wednesday.  After a full time 80 minute game and one five minute overtime period, Hartwell scored with two minutes left in the second overtime period to defeat the Patriots 2-1. 

        The game was pretty even throughout the first period until just four minutes left in the half when Hart found the back of the OC net to put the first point on the board. 

        OC came out from the half time break and fought Hart a scoreless duel for the first 22 minutes of the half.  Cody Boarders got the ball thirty yards out and put it in the upper left corner of the goal to equalize for OC.  It stayed this way until the end of regular time. 

        Hart Co won the toss and started the first overtime but, like OC, was unable to score so the game went to a second five minute overtime.  The Patriots started the second period but with two minutes left both Hart and Oglethorpe got into a big scrum in front of OC’s goal where Hart managed to score the game winning goal.

        OC’s next match is on Monday, March 19^th, at home against Elberton.

Girls – The Patriot girls finished off Hartwell eleven minutes early when Jeri Willcox scored the 10^th and final OC goal with her nose. 

Jeri Willcox

        OC had had their way with Hartwell all afternoon going into halftime with a 3-0 lead.  It took only 29 minutes of the second half for the Patriots to score another 7 goals.  Laura Abney was the top scorer by adding five more goals to her total.  Alexis Miller had two while Bailey Pledger added another goal to her total.  Crystal Lynn scored her first goal of the season to add to OC’s score.  But it was Edwards who would score the most innovative goal of the game.

Goooooooaaaaaaaaaaaal

        On what would be OC’s final push to the goal Edwards and Abney were passing the ball back and forth until Abney made a rush towards the goal.  Several Hart players, Hart’s keeper, Abney and Edwards all ended in a pile on the ground with the ball less than a foot from Hart’s goal line. 

Sarah Chastain vs. Hart Co players.

        “Jeri scored the last goal with her nose,” said Abney after the game.  While it doesn’t make up for OC’s loss to Jackson Co Tuesday night it’s good to know that the Panthers only scored nine goals in full time. 

        The OC girls play Elberton Monday, March 19^th at home.

Varsity Baseball OC vs North Oconee

Baseball – OC played North Oconee yesterday afternoon.  Although the Patriots lost the game 10-0, the loss pales in comparison to the injury sustained by Oglethorpe pitcher Joshua Lee.  Lee, who was on the mound for the Patriots, was struck in the cheek by a hit pitch from a North Oconee batter.  Lee, of course, was rushed to the hospital.  As of this writing no report on Lee’s condition has been made public.  If and when OCHS Sports receives word about Lee it will be posted here.

        Our thoughts and prayers are with Joshua and his family for a speedy recovery. 

Varsity Track and Field

Lexington – From head track and field coach Bob Finch:  The Oglethorpe County boys track team tallied 82 points to win a tri-meet Tuesday night in Lexington over East Jackson (59) and Jackson County (18). Event winners for the Patriots were Justin Whitman (1600 meters, 5:05.60 and 800 meters, 2:07.23); Kendrick Presley (110 meter hurdles, 15.40 and 300 meter hurdles, 41.71); Maurice Freeman (high jump, 6' 2"); Sherman Williams (long jump, 19' 4.5"); Josh Swain (400 meters, 53.42); the 4x100 meter relay team (Williams, Deuntrez Fleming, Jovan Jenkins, Swain, 44.69); and the 4x400 meter relay team (Tron Armstrong, Presley, Swain, Whitman; 3:36.59).

        OC’s next meet will be Friday and Saturday, March 16^th and 17^th at the Coaches Invitational at Georgia Tech.

Varsity Soccer

Boys – Oglethorpe’s varsity boy’s soccer team took on Jackson Co yesterday at home for one of the rare early games the boys play.  Even though OC went into the half ahead by one, by the end of the final buzzer the Patriots had lost by one, 2-1.

Joshua Tuttle passing the ball.

        The game started well enough with OC spending a lot of time in the Jackson Co end of the field.  In fact, at eleven minutes into the game Cody Flores executed one of his patented flip throw-in’s near the Panther’s goal.  In the ensuing confusion Billy Waters got a foot on the ball and scored for OC.  OC would hold this one point lead for the remainder of the half in spite of at least three shots on goal from OC mid-fielder Sean Atkinson. 

        When the second half started Jackson Co had made adjustments and managed to keep the ball in the Patriot end of the field for most of the half.  JC finally put the equalizer on the board at the 30 minute mark when the pressure in front of OC’s keeper Zammy Mendez became too much thus allowing JC to score.  Just five minutes later, Jackson Co scored on a penalty kick resulting from a tackle by Griffin Giles just inside the box.  The Panthers went up by one. 

Tyler Day and a Panther striker.

        Jackson Co’s last real scoring opportunity occurred with 20 minutes remaining when they had the ball near OC’s goal and Mendez blocked a shot.  On the rebound JC tried getting it past an out of position Mendez but it was blocked by Cody Boarders who was standing in the goal. 

        After that OC made several runs towards JC’s goal with three good shots at the goal but either they went wide or were stopped by JC’s keeper.

        It was a close game and could have easily went to the overtime mode had OC scored in the final minutes.  

        OC is 3-5 (1-2 region) and travels to Hart County today to face the Bulldogs who are 0-4 (0-2 region).  The game starts at 7:30pm.

           You can see pictures of the boys game here:   http://www.photoreflect.com/store/thumbpage.aspx?e=8442049

Girls - The Patriot girls played the Jackson Co Panthers in the late game Tuesday evening. OC and JC would go into the half tied 1-1. Jackson Co would score once more in the second to take home the win 2-1.  

According to Oglethorpe Coach Teresa Rindone this was one of the fastest paced games OC has played to date.   “I was proud of the way the girls played,” said Coach Rindone.  “This was one of the fastest games we’ve played and the girls did a great job of staying with Jackson Co.”  The Panthers also had a great deal of respect for OC’s ace, Laura Abney.  All night long Abney was double teamed. Rarely did Jackson Co not have someone with a hand on her shoulder.   

Jackson Co got the first shot across Oglethorpe’s bow when a shot on goal went just over the cross bar.  OC retaliated with their first shot on goal less than a minute later hit that the football goal post.  It was rebounded and put in the net but OC didn’t get the point.   

Shortly afterwards the Panthers got a fast break going and got the ball by OC keeper Rebecca LaFleur.  For the remainder of the first half, OC made run after run towards Jackson’s goal.  Abney was continuingly playing against two JC defenders, and made good use of OC’s wingers Alexis Miller and Bailey Pledger.  However, even after a half dozen shots on goal Jackson Co managed to keep the ball out of the net.   

With six minutes remaining Abney received the ball just outside the 18 yard box and then, with some fancy footwork, got by two Panther defenders and equalized for the Patriots.  At the half the game was tied 1-1. 

        For perhaps two third of the second half Jackson Co controlled the ball keeping lots of pressure on OC’s defense.  Sarah Chastain, Heather Helmreich and Katie Pilson did a stand-up job of keeping JC from scoring.  But under that much pressure any defense is bound to fail, at least once.  At the 31 minute mark Jackson Co finally broke down OC’s defense when on a corner kick a JC player headed the ball past LaFleur for the Panthers second and last goal. 

        “When you’re playing a game like that, fast paced,” said Coach Rindone, “the halftime break can sometimes hurt you because you can’t get re-started to the point you were in the first half.  And that’s what happened to us.”  There must be something in this because OC pretty much controlled the ball and the game for the final twenty minutes.  Just like in the first half OC made several shots on goal but were wide or blocked.   

        Jackson County kept the two defenders on Abney until the final whistle, which was a good thing for the Panthers.  With less than thirty seconds in the game Abney got the ball and starts dribbling towards JC’s goal.  Abney had the ball the whole JC half of the field, juking right, then left, to throw off Jackson defenders.  She finally got behind the Panther defense and shot the ball but the Jackson keeper made an outstanding play to stop the score, otherwise the game would have gone into overtime.  

        The girls, now 4-3 (0-3 region), travel to Hartwell to face the Hart Co Bulldogs 0-4 (0-2 region) today at 5:30pm.