Friday, August 30, 2002
Friday, August 30, 2002 |
|
High school football season starts tonight
By MICHAEL
BOYLAN
If preseason football scrimmages are called jamborees, the opening weekend of high school football for the 2002 season could be called a "humdinger of a hootenanny." The local football teams start the season by playing some big games against some top-notch opponents. The biggest game Friday night will be Northgate at Newnan. The Vikings, coached by Ron Beaucham, made the Class AA state playoffs last year but lost in the first round. This year they are playing in Region 4-AAAA and start the season against the Cougars, coached by Robert Herring, in what could be a fun rivalry for years to come. This is the first time these two teams have met on the gridiron during the regular season. McIntosh will start the season with a home game on the road. Renovations to the bleachers at McIntosh High School are not done yet so the Chiefs will take on the Golden Eagles of Eagle's Landing at Sandy Creek High School. The Chiefs, coached by Butch Prosser, have some experience at some of the skill positions and have seemed to improve during the preseason. After this game, McIntosh will be on the road for two weeks before hosting East Coweta. Fayette County starts the season Friday with a road game at Douglas County. The Tigers are under new head coach Jim Lindsey and have some experience on both sides of the ball. Douglas County is ranked ninth in AAAA and is known for producing big plays and really airing the ball out. Landmark Christian School opens the season with a road game as well. The War Eagles will travel to Adams Stadium in Dekalb County to face Cross Keys. Landmark was a much better team last year than they were the year before and the War Eagles are looking to build on that success. The Cross Keys Indians play a non-region schedule in 5-AAA. Our Lady of Mercy gets its first full varsity season underway with a road game at Pacelli Catholic. The Bobcats played a mixed schedule last year, going 2-1 in varsity play and 3-4 in junior varsity play. Coached by Alan Gordon, Our Lady of Mercy has some talent on both sides of the ball. Saturday will also offer some more local football action as both East Coweta and Starr's Mill head to the Corky Kell Kickoff Classic at the Georgia Dome. Starr's Mill will face the Dacula Falcons at 2:45 p.m., while East Coweta, ranked sixth, will face top ranked Parkview at 8:30 p.m. The Panthers, coached by Mike Earwood, are looking to start another season off on the right foot as they hope to advance to the state playoffs yet again. Though they have graduated a lot of talent, the Panthers have been able to reload on both offense and defense. East Coweta is still the same perennial powerhouse that can stop you with a stifling defense or beat you with an explosive offense. Sandy Creek is the only local team off this week. The Patriots will begin their 2002 campaign next week with a home game against Fayette County.
|
Back to the Sports Home Page