Page 12A THE TOWNS COUNTY HERALD May 25, 2011 Towns County Sports Towns County’s Leader In Sports T www.townscountyherald.net • E-mail: [email protected] Blue-White game unlocks mysteries for Langford and his coach staff By James Reese first team in the state to open the Towns County Herald regular season, when they take [email protected] on border state rival Hayesville Frank McClure Stadium on Aug. 19 at Frank McClure was thriving with activity on Stadium. Saturday morning. “We’re playing the first Pads were popping, bod- available date,” Coach Lang- ies dressed in blue and white ford said. “The state granted us flying around all over the place, permission to play a week early and, of course, the sound of this year to accommodate the helmets crashing was definitely other team we play. So we’re evident. going to play early this year. It’s The Indians gather around Coach Langford on Saturday and call it The smell of delicious a week earlier than everyone a camp. bar-b-que also tantalized the else and that’s what we want, Photo By James Reese. crowd of folks at Frank Mc- anything to get attention to our Clure Stadium on the outskirts school in a positive way. of Hiawassee. “It’s something good It was time for Spring that’s going on, something Camp survivors to lock horns good going on with these stu- during the Annual Blue and dents is always good for us,” he Rising freshman Cruz Shook looks impressive on a sweep. White game. said. “We know what the goal Photo By James Reese. The two-hour event gave is; we know where it’s at on the Towns County Indians’ Head calendar. Now it’s just a matter Football Coach Kyle Langford of processing information and and his staff a window of op- getting to that point.” portunity to find out what to Coach Langford and his expect later this summer and coaches came away from the early Fall. Blue-White game with a better “We’ve got good charac- understanding of the cards they ter in our young men,” Coach have been dealt. Langford said. “They are going “I thought the first unit Indians’ Quarterback Jackson Noblet throws on the run during Sat- to do what we ask them to do. offensive line looked good urday’s Blue-White Game. They are going to be account- as far as technique and being Photo By James Reese. able to us and each other. able to adjust to a few different “We like that,” he said. things,” he said. “I thought they “We’ve just got to make some looked good at what they were skills improvements. We’ve got doing. I thought we saw good to get these young guys up to depth at various positions and speed. I don’t know of anytime good quality at running back. Coach McClure explains the fine art of Football to some young Indi- that you leave Spring Camp and “That’s one thing (back- ans on Saturday. say ‘everything’s just great.’ field depth) that we really Photo By James Reese. “If that was the case, you haven’t had a lot of in the past. wouldn’t need to go through I feel good about that,” he said. Summer Drills, you wouldn’t “We’ve got good receivers; we need to do Fall Football camp,” just need to develop more depth he said. “You’d just start play- at that position. I feel really ing.” good about four of them. There That’s not the case, are other guys that could poten- Coach Langford said, admitting tially be good, but they’ve got Coach Kyle Langford gathers his troops in the huddle during Satur- that his Indians have a lot of ar- to just keep working. day’s Blue-White Game. eas that could use some imme- Depth at quarterback is Photo By James Reese. diate improvement. another question mark, Coach doing this since middle school, “Whether they performed Coach Langford watches over his charges during the annual Blue- “We need to get better,” Langford said. so they know how we run good or bad today, I think they White Game. he said. “That’s why you hire “We need to address the this offense. They understand gained a lot of valuable experi- Photo By James Reese. coaches because that’s our job backup quarterback situation. about the timing and spacing. I ence,” he said. They gained a to get these guys better and as That’s something we’ll start to thought timing was really good lot of experience through the opment will be summer work- County Rebels. long as the kids keep working evaluate, look at and start to with those guys today.” whole two weeks. Hopefully outs and preparation in late “I look forward to spend- like they did this Spring, we’re work on to, pretty quick,” he The second group under- they’ll learn to appreciate and July and early August for the ing quality time with these going to be fine and we’ll just said. “That’s certainly an is- stands there is an adjustment love the game the way we like 2011 season’s first scrimmage young men,” Coach Langford keep getting better.” sue we’ll have to work on this period for them, Coach Lang- to play it,” he said. on Aug. 12 versus the Fannin said. The Indians will be the summer. The first group’s been ford said. The next phase of devel- of 36; Starting time: 6 pm, TV: FOX. NASCAR 2011 All times are Eastern. Local By Gerald Hodges/the Racing Reporter Racing Trivia Ques- tion: How many Truck titles Racing Action has Ron Hornaday won? By: Carl Vanzura “Million Dollar” Last Week’s Question: Carl Edwards easily won would’ve got him, but all you drives the No. 31 Bounty on Ledford Saturday night’s Sprint All- had was 10 (laps).” Richard Childress . Star race with a flawless run. , Tony Who did he drive for before continues after four wins While Edwards was beating Stewart and Edwards’ team- RCR? Answer. He drove for to the finish line, mate rounded out Roush Racing. his other three Roush Fenway the top-five. You may contact the teammates finished in the top- was sixth Racing Reporter at hodges@ 8. and , who took race500.com. NT(MAY25,C1)ac Edwards won three of the checkered flag earlier in the four-race segments of the the night with a dominating Vogel’s Kids 100-lap feature. On the last performance in the Sprint Cup and final 10-lap segment, he Showdown, finished eighth in Fishing Rodeo got a huge jump on runner-up his first career Sprint All-Star Vogel State Park and Kyle Busch, and cruised to the Race. Carl Edwards celebrates his All- The Vogel Volunteers will checkered flag. and Ryan Star win at Charlotte. host a Kid’s Fishing Rodeo on David Payne #8 was after the bounty on Danny Ledford #4 but had Unlike most past rac- Newman comprised the re- “We didn’t have the fast- Saturday, June 11 from 8 a.m. to settle for third es, that have been filled with mainder of the top-10. est truck and I got into early until noon. Vogel State Park Hiawassee driver Danny Victory Lane after a two year crashes and wrecks as the driv- Dale Earnhardt Jr. was trouble,” said Busch. “I had an is located 11 miles south of Ledford fought off a strong absence from racing. Hiawas- ers make a wild dash to the voted into the race by fans as angel riding with me. Blairsville on Hwy. 129/11. field of challengers after a see drivers Stacy White and finish, this one was lacking of the third driver from the Sprint “I’m going to say I had Wolf Creek will be $300 bounty was placed on his William Watson ran second some help tonight. It’s weird excitement, as the 10-lap seg- Show Down, but he had noth- stocked with trout for children head for anybody that could and fourth. Hayesville’s Ja- ing for the winners. how things work, but, man, ment turned out to be free of 12 years and younger to fish. stop his three win streak. Out mie Cross won the Pony fea- wrecks and bumping. The NASCAR Sprint when you believe in it and you Your child must be present at of towner Brent Dixon showed ture with fellow Hayesville “The key to winning this Cup Series returns to point- trust it and you have faith in it, he meant business when he out driver Travis Robinson taking race are the guys behind me,” paying racing on May 29 with it’ll repay you.” the registration tent for sign- in and to receive a free t-shirt qualified Ledford and raced second. The next race at Tri- said Edwards. “One of them the Coca-Cola 600 at Char- The angel, Busch was side-by-side for a hand full of County will be Monday night is Jody Fortson, who lost his lotte. The longest race on the referring to was Zahra Baker, prior to fishing. The first 300 children will receive a t-shirt. laps until the blue number 4 May 30 for the big money Me- father. I want to say “hi” to Sprint Cup schedule a 10-year-old girl, whose re- morial Day special event. STENHOUSE GETS FIRST mains were found in North Also the lucky ticket holders pulled ahead by a dozen car- Sheila Fortson watching, but lengths to take his fourth win Blairsville driver Jona- Bob Osborne and my guys, es- NATIONWIDE WIN Carolina, after she had been will receive a prize. Park staff and volun- of the season. Dixon led David than “Superman” Davenport pecially the guys on pit road. Ricky Stenhouse Jr. held reported missing. won the Southern All Star Busch had put her name teers will be helping by giving Payne, Young Harris’s Randy They could have dropped the off Sprint Cup regulars Carl $5000 to win race Saturday Edwards and and photo on his No. 18 truck out bait, baiting hooks, taking Nichols and George Mashburn ball. That was all the pressure night at Cleveland Speedway. in the world on those guys. to get his first career Nation- prior to the race. fish off, and giving out prizes. in the top five to cross under They performed a flawless pit wide victory in Sunday’s John Busch crossed the fin- Prizes are donated by the local the checkered flag. Davenport had to battle a field stop and we got out in front of Deere 250 at Speedway. ish line .317 seconds ahead of businesses. A limited supply The race of the night of 24 cars out of the 37 entered Kyle (Busch). He is a bear on Stenhouse, driver of the . The victory was of loaner rods/cane poles, corn saw 21-cars start the feature and an extremely fast but very those restarts, so if we would No. 6 Roush Fenway Ford his third straight in the series, and worms will be available. in the Limited/Crate class with rough race surface to win the have started behind him, I passed teammate Carl Ed- his fourth in six starts this sea- So, please bring your own if 10 of the strongest drivers in exciting event. This was the think it would have been really wards for the lead with 15-laps son and the 28th of his career, possible. All fishing laws are the south doing battle around first time I had the chance tough.” remaining in the 250-lap, and bringing his aggregate vic- to be followed. We want to the quarter mile dirt track in to see Mt. Holly, NC, driver When Edwards pulled held on until the checkered flag tories across NASCAR’s top teach the children to protect Brasstown thrilling the crowd. Chris Ferguson race, but I am into the infield grass after tak- was given. three series to 97. That ties him and conserve the resources Hayesville’s Charlie Parker definitely now a fan. He had ing the checkered flag, the “We’ve wrecked sev- with Dale Earnhardt and Dar- while having fun. won the race with Shannon two flats, a spin in lapped traf- front of his car dug into the eral cars here in the past, and rell Waltrip for third all-time in For further information Bearden right on his bumper fic and made it all the way back grass, and he messed up the coming into today’s race this total wins across all three na- call 706-745-2628 or visit all night in Blairsville owner up front to battle Chris Madden front-end. wasn’t my favorite track, but it tional series. www.GeorgiaStateParks.org. Randy Shoppe’s car. Bobby for second place when Mad- “I feel so bad about tear- is now,” said Stenhouse. ran third N(May25,Z4)CA Panter, Devin Dilbeck and Ja- den lost it and both wrecked. ing up the car, but Bob says Carl Edwards, winner and took over the series points Ride with the son Payne rounded out the top Murphy High School coach he’s got a faster one for next of Saturday night’s Sprint Cup lead. At 19, Whitt is the young- five. Hiawassee’s Kevin Brad- David Payne finished second week, so I’m pretty excited,” All-Star race was second. est driver ever to lead the series Mountain Miatas shaw and Blairsville’s Jamie in the 50-lapper. Over at Dixie continued Edwards. “We had a very fast car points and the first rookie. Lunsford placed in the top 10. Speedway, Wayne Nichols won The win paid Edwards a at the beginning,” said Ed- came Do you have a Mazda Jeffery Wood won the the Super event. flat $1-million. wards. “During the last home fourth, followed by Ron Miata? The Mountain Mia- Modified feature in front of Former track manager Randy Despite bringing home we changed the tire air pres- Hornaday Jr., , tas have formed a group right Brasstown’s Greg Sudderth McCoy has agreed to reopen his career-best finish in six sure, and that really messed it , Parker Kliger- here in the North Georgia in an action packed race. The Toccoa Speedway in early June NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race up and made the car loose.” man, , and Brad Mountains. We ride on the first Stock main event saw veteran and Westminster Speedway is appearances, Kyle Busch came Brad Keselowski was Sweet. Saturday of every month and driver and former track cham- going back to racing on Friday up short. third, followed by, Reed So- Top-10 leaders after 7 a few rides in between. Come pion Johnny Burnett return to nights. NT(May25,C2)ac “This was a good race renson, , Kenny of 24: 1. Whitt-260, 2. Sau- join us. Call Jon or Pegg at for us with our M&M’s Cam- Wallace, Michael McDowell, ter-259, 3. Hornaday-257, 4. 706-897-3784. N(May25,Z1)CA ry,” said Busch. “We came up , James Bue- Crafton-243, 5. Dillon-240, 6. a little bit short, but we got scher, and Austin Dillon. Peters-225, 7. Buescher-202, 8. Feel Good Friday beat by a faster car. The best I Top-10 leaders after 12 Rogers-195, 9. Kligerman-195, could’ve done was something of 34: 1. Sadler-418, 2. Soren- 10. Papais-192 If you’re tired of all on a restart and I didn’t get a son-411, 3. Stenhouse-410, 4. Weekend Racing: The the bad news and want to be great one there – that final one, Allgaier-398, 5. Leffler-375, Sprint Cup and Nationwide around positive people and but I still kept up with him 6. Almirola-366, 7. K. Wal- teams are at Charlotte. The ideas, come to the Wellness (Carl Edwards) a little bit, but lace-355, 8. S. Wallace-315, 9. trucks do not race again until Center at 144 Blue Ridge he was just too fast. He got Scott-303, 10. Wise-289 June 4. Street, Blairsville, at 7 PM away from me and spread the “AN ANGEL ON MY Sat., May 28, Nation- the first Friday of each month. gap too far. By the time I was SHOULDER,” wide Series Top Gear 300, race Chat about the good things go- trying to run him back down SAID KYLE BUSCH 13 of 34, Starting time: 2:30 ing on, learn, share, and feel on the top side there, it just Kyle Busch credits an pm; TV: ABC. good. Positive support for the took me too long to get back to angel to helping him win the Sun., May 29, Sprint changing times. Complemen- him. A few more laps, maybe I Charlotte truck race. Cup Coca-Cola 600, race 13 tary, call for more information Blairsville’s Jonathan Davenport was $5000 richer after his win 706-781-4048. NT(May25,Z1)CA Saturday night