By MICHAEL BOYLAN
Sports Editor

The second game of the football season last weekend, gives everybody a clear indication of what to expect over the next eight games.

For two of the teams, expect good things and for the other two...

Starr's Mill struggled to get points on the board against the Morrow Mustangs Saturday, but still won 9-0. The Panthers improved to 2-0 by playing strong defense and having a good kicking game. Evan Greeson kicked a 45-yard field goal toward the end of the first half to give Starr's Mill a 3-0 lead. In the second half, Bo Clark caught a Brad McClaren pass for a touchdown. The Panthers missed the extra point but won regardless.

“It was a great team effort defensively,” Coach Mike Earwood said. “We have to play with more intensity offensively, though, and handle the blitz better.” The Panthers will host the Henry County Warhawks (0-2) Friday night. There will be no easy games for the Panthers, but they will enter every game prepared to the best of their ability.

Henry County was the opponent of the Sandy Creek Patriots Friday night and a tough opponent despite the scoreboard. Sandy Creek won 38-22. The Patriot offense continued to gather steam, mostly due to an explosive ground attack. Sandy Creek rushed for 342 yards Friday while passing for only 50 yards. J.R. Lemon led the way on the ground with 14 carries, 153 yards and two touchdowns.

The defensive intensity was lacking for the Patriots, though. Several times the team was not lined up right at the beginning of a play. The defensive lapses certainly kept Henry County close, most obvious in their 96-yard kickoff return to open the second half.

Sandy Creek hosts Eagle's Landing (0-2) Friday night, but their defense must improve in order to keep the Patriots in complete control.

Fayette County hosted Newnan (2-0) Friday night and took an early lead on a three-yard touchdown run by Wes Clark. Newnan then took over offensively, with the exception of a 99-yard kickoff return by Trevor Bowman for a touchdown. At the half, Newnan held a 24-14 lead. The Tigers defense prevented the Cougars from scoring in the third quarter and Fayette County closed in on Newnan, scoring a touchdown in the third quarter and a field goal early in the fourth. The score was tied with 5:13 left in the game and that is when it fell apart for Fayette County.

Newnan went on to score three unanswered touchdowns and won 45-24. The Cougars rushed for 287 yards on the night. Their defense intercepted the ball from Fayette County four times and recovered two fumbles. The Tigers travel to LaGrange (1-1) Saturday evening.

LaGrange played at McIntosh Friday night and won big, 44-0. The Grangers lost the previous week to Troup County, 12-7, and came out very aggressive against the Chiefs. McIntosh, which scored several times against a tough Pebblebrook team the previous week, could not put the ball in the endzone or between the uprights. Their offensive troubles began after gaining 36 yards on their first two plays. It was during the second play that quarterback Luke Wiggs went down and left the game with a shoulder injury.

After the injury, the LaGrange points piled up and the Chiefs had breakdowns in every part of the game. LaGrange led 31-0 at the half and both teams began to play reserve players in the third quarter. McIntosh travels to Carver, Columbus this weekend. Carver (1-1) lost to Griffin 20-7 Friday but is a talented team and capable of keeping up with the top programs in the region.

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