Page 2B THETHE TOWNS TOWNS COUNTY COUNTY HERALD HERALD October October 26, 201626, 2016 Towns County Sports Towns County’s Leader In Sports www.townscountyherald.net • E-mail: [email protected] Towns County explodes onto scoreboard in Ray Lamb Stadium By Shawn Jarrard Towns County Herald Staff Writer

Commerce - Commerce High School wasn’t expecting what hit them last Friday in their own Ray Lamb Stadium – it was the Towns County Indians with a touchdown just 29 seconds into the game. The setup: Kobe Denton returns the game opening kickoff to right around the Towns County 20-yard line. The second play of the drive features quarterback Trent Bradshaw pitching the ball to Denton, who finds a hole and proceeds to charge down the left sideline. Nobody catches him for 80 yards. Touchdown. After realizing who they were messing with, Commerce decided to get serious, taking the lead with 10 minutes left in the first quarter, 7-6. But the Indians punched right back four minutes later with Bradshaw scoring off a quarter- back keeper, which came after the Boys in Blue slogged another 80 yards up the field thanks to the running game of Zach Davenport coupled with Major Moss’ long The Towns County Indians storm the field at Commerce where the offense made an immediate impact on the Class A Public 9th ranked Tigers. Photo/Lowell Nicholson reach for receptions. Cox decided he didn’t feel like the rest of the game, with Andy that spark, is definitely there. are not afraid. We’re not afraid tractions, but that second play we So Towns County took putting too much credence in the Chambers behind more than a “The guys have shown up to play anybody. We hit just as broke it, we executed perfectly,” back the lead with six minutes Commerce defense, breaking tack- few possessions for the offense to every game ready to play, and hard as Commerce. Commerce said Coach Cornett. “We’ve had remaining in the quarter, 12-7. les and finding a hole for a solid after that first quarter, though the that’s no different this game,” said is a great team, and for us to hang glimpses this year where we look Commerce answered again 57-yard run for the touchdown. Indians were down 20-15 at the Coach Cornett. “I think there’s a with them that first half, that’s good like that, and I just hope we that first quarter, however, once When Bradshaw once more half and ended the game 20-56 in huge call in the first half where we respectable.” can work off that and keep playing more taking the lead from the connected with Moss for the a loss against the Tigers. ran a halfback pass, and Zach goes A big part of the game was that way.” Indians with only two minutes follow-up 2-point conversion, the Indians Head Coach John to throw it and gets hit, and his arm an apparent underestimation of The Towns County Indians and 45 seconds remaining until score was 20-14 in favor of the Cornett was excited to see just how is in forward motion – when (the Towns County by the Commerce play their second to last regular the second quarter. Indians as the final seconds ran well his Indians could perform officials) let it go and (Commerce) Tigers, a mistake they’re not likely season game this Friday, Oct. 28, And the Tigers kept that out of the first quarter. against a team that made it to the scooped and scored, that was a to repeat this time next year. at Lakeview Academy, with a lead for all of one minute 15 sec- Towns County played hard Final Four in playoff games last huge momentum shift. “It’s their Homecoming, kickoff time of 7:30 p.m. onds, before running back Russell and with much enthusiasm for year – Towns County’s potential, “But you know, our guys and there’s always a lot of dis- Benson looking forward to second season at the helm of the Indians By Shawn Jarrard playing.” Towns County Herald Added Coach Benson: “It’s Staff Writer going to be a great season, and we look for a lot of community support, and a lot of involvement Basketball season is nearly in keeping the kids positive and here – practice starts Monday, Oct. upbeat, now that they’re playing 31, and the Indians will square off for Towns County as well as for against Blue Ridge out of North the team and for themselves. Carolina in a pre-season home “I’m probably more excited scrimmage game on Monday, this year than I’ve been since I Nov. 14, at 6 p.m. in Bill P. Kendall started coaching – this is a pretty Gymnasium. exciting year. It’s a lot of expecta- The first regular game of tion. We ought to have a good the season will take place at home, season, we know that. We should scheduled for Friday, Nov. 18, outrebound every team we play, against Lumpkin County. we should be that effective.” Indians Head Coach Rob The 2016-2017 Indians Benson has already said that will be, for Varsity: Major Moss, he can’t wait to get this season starter; Will De Vries, starter; Col- underway, and that he hopes the ten Shook, starter; Adam Barrett, community comes out to support starter; Zach Davenport, starter; their athletes come game time. Cole Ledford, starter; Darringer And there’s plenty to be Major Moss (left) with a behind-the-back pass and Zach Davenport and Coach Benson (right) look for an opening. Photos/Lowell Nicholson Barrett; Chayton McClure; Logan excited about. Cowart; Bradley Benson; Evan “We only graduated two schemes, we’re not going to have ing to help Benson with coaching change things. Benson looks to improve on those Berrong; Brett Denton; Trent players, so we’re returning all to change our defensive scheme. duties. “Even though you may numbers moving into the 2016- Bradshaw; Will Travis. five starters,” said Coach Benson. Now, we just need to fine tune “They know what we’re have to change some things in 2017 season. And for Junior Varsity: Ca- “We’ve added a few additions in some things that we needed to get doing, too, because we’re not the future, once your program’s “We’ve been doing open son Shook, Bradley Benson, Caleb Logan Cowart, Chayton McClure better at at the end of last season, changing the schemes or any- established, that’s huge. So when gyms,” said Coach Benson. Clark, Evan Berrong, Nick Brad- – those two kids are going to be like jumping to the ball, closeouts, thing, everything’s going to be you’re returning everything, that’s “We’ve been doing a little bit of ley, Trevor Bradley, Dylan Shook, very helpful. rebounding, screening, attacking pretty much the same (with few huge.” workouts, but mainly just open Brett Denton, Trent Bradshaw, “Since we’ve got every- the basket, things like that.” changes),” said Coach Benson. The Towns County Indians gyms, because I need the kids Will Travis and Dalton Key. body returning, we’re not going Michael Anderson and “That’s how you’re going to build Basketball Team finished last year playing as much as possible. It’s Kendall Floyd will be team to have to change our offensive Alan Rogers will also be return- your program is not having to with a 12-14 record, and Coach just so important that they’re manager. NASCAR 2016 By Gerald Hodges/the Racing Reporter Logano Wins; Chase Field Reduced Talladega, AL -- Joey and was unable to finish. prime-time TV. us to know. that I had decided not to buy the Logano survived a green-white- “It is what it is and it’s rac- I found out this past Thurs- On the way out of the store, coffee. checkered restart to win at Tal- ing. It’s part of it and we’ll move day how the money would be gen- I suddenly realized how Walmart My daddy had a saying, ladega and clinch a spot in the on,” Truex said. “We’re going to erated to create those new jobs. was going to generate all those “No matter how you try to skin a next-to-last round of this year’s go try to win the last five races or While hurrying to leave millions it needed to help us poor cat, he’s not going to like it.” Chase For The Sprint Cup Cham- whatever is left and have a good for Talladega, my wife informed Americans. There are times I know pionship. end to our season.” me that her schedule was pretty NASCAR is basically the how that cat felt. The win was especially had led tight, and she didn’t have time to same way. I have never had any I sure hope I can find a gro- satisfying for the Penske Racing 90 laps in the race before his car go by the grocery store for some problems with the organization, cery store open on the way home driver because he had to over- started smoking on Lap 144. coffee and a couple other things but I know a few journalists that from the track. come a pit road penalty that cost “It looks like we lost an we needed. are no longer issued race cre- Weekend Racing: The him a lap after he left his pits with engine,” he said. “I’m pretty con- She couldn’t guarantee dentials, based on some negative Sprint Cup and Truck teams are at a jack stuck under his car. He fident I lost a rod or something in there would be coffee in the house writings. the .522-mile Martinsville track. made a full lap around the 2.66- the lower end. That’s just the way when I returned. Descriptions of the actual Sat., Oct. 29, Truck Series mile track, with the jack stuck to it goes.” No problem. I remem- Sprint Cup races put out by NA- race 20 of 23; Starting time: 1:30 his car, and then had to wait for Dillon finished ninth but bered seeing an ad in Sunday’s SCAR’s public relations depart- p.m. ET; TV: Foxsports1. his team to remove it, after return- that was not good enough to beat Joey Logano newspaper for our favorite brand ment always give the image of an Sun., Oct. 30, Sprint Cup ing to his pits. out Denny Hamlin for the last of coffee from one of Walmart’s exciting race. While the last ten race 33 of 36; Starting time: 1 “We were lucky to get this Chase spot. Spencer Gallagher was competitor’s for $5.99 per bag. laps might be exciting, the other p.m. ET; TV: NBCSN. one,” said Logano. “It’s never a finished 12th, second, followed by Timothy Pe- I would be able to zip up to our 490 laps are as boring as an order Racing Trivia Question: layup here. We had several things not good enough to keep him in ters, Rico Abreu, Ben Kennedy, nearby Walmart, pick up the cof- of stale McDonald’s french fries. Where is Chase Elliott’s home- happen that we weren’t prepared the field. Christopher Bell, , fee and other items, and head out The truth is everything town? for. The car was really overheat- The field of eight drivers , Matt Tifft, and Wil- for the track. No sweat. is not as it appears in NASCAR Last Week’s Question. ing a couple times. I wasn’t sure will remain as they are for the next liam Byron. Got in Walmart, found racing. The organization will an- Which Cup team will Clint Bow- about the engine, and then we had three races at Martinsville, Texas, The six remaining Chase all the items, put them in the nounce a new title sponsor for the yer drive for in 2017? Answer. that deal in the pits. But we’ve and Phoenix. After the Phoenix drivers with four races remain- buggy and headed for the check- Cup Series within a few weeks. He will replace at come to far to give up, and I race, the field will be reduced to ing: 1. Byron, 2. Bell, 3. Peters, 4. out. Walmart has a policy that if The new company won’t be pay- Stewart/Haas Racing. think that’s the mindset of all the four. Whichever driver finishes Kennedy, 5. Sauter, 6. Crafton. there are over three customers in ing nearly as much as Sprint did, You may contact the Rac- team.” the highest, or wins at Home- NASCAR AND WALMART a check out line, they will open hence there will be less money for ing Reporter by e-mail at: hodg- Brian Scott’s runner-up stead will be the 2016 Sprint Cup RIDE TOGETHER another register. But I guess that everyone involved. [email protected]. NT(Oct26,Z16)CA finish was the highest of his ca- champion. NASCAR and Walmart didn’t apply last Thursday morn- The field of cars used to reer. “Man, this was just great,” Top-8 Chase driv- seem to be driving the same type ing. I suddenly remembered that consist of 43, now it’s down to he said. “This was a great race ers: 1. Johnson-3100, 2. Kurt vehicle. Both organizations go to this was Walmart, and I had to 40. Youth for us. The only problems we had Busch-3099, 3. Logano-3089, great lengths to show the sunny play by their rules. My wait time Several major sponsors, were trash and some paper on the 4. Kenseth-3088, 5. Kyle side of their business, while sup- wouldn’t be over 15 minutes, and including Kelloggs, are leaving Basketball grill. Being able to stay out of Busch-3084, 6. Harvick-3082, 7. pressing information that might I knew I could make it up once I NASCAR after this season. trouble and avoid the wrecks is Edwards-3082, 8. Hamlin-3078. offer a conflicting view. hit the highway. A little girl that Every 2016 Sprint Cup race Registration like a win.” Note: Denny Hamlin and Aus- Just last week I saw a big looked to be about 16-years-old with the exception of one has had Towns County Recreation The remaining top-10 fin- tin Dillon both had 3078 points, Walmart ad on television. They checked me out. When she got to a decrease in television viewers. Youth Basketball registration ishers: 3. Denny Hamlin, 4. Kurt but Hamlin had a higher average were touting the fact that they the bag of coffee, that was priced Overall television viewership is will begin October 10, 2016 and Busch, 5. Ricky Stenhouse, 6. finish during the last four races, were spending hundreds of mil- at $7.97, I explained to her about down 14 per cent from 2015, and run through October 29, 2016. , 7. , 8. which broke the tie. lions of dollars creating new jobs the competitor’s lower advertised another 17 per cent from 2014. Youth basketball includes boys , 9. , ENFINGER GETS FIRST for Americans. It looked and price. Teams are struggling, es- and girls ages 6-12. Registra- 10. A.J. Allmendinger TRUCK VICTORY sounded great. “We no longer price pecially single-car operations. tion fee is $45 and is held at The four drivers that were of Fairhope, But knowing how frugal match,” was her reply. Tommy Baldwin, a former racer, the Towns County Recreation eliminated from this year’s Chase AL took the checkered flag in Sat- the giant retailer is, I wondered by I was shocked. Walmart who has run a low-budget, one- and Conference Center. Hours: were Martin Truex Jr., Brad Kes- urday’s Talladega Truck Series what means they would cut costs used to have a policy of match- car team for many years, is be- Monday-Friday 9 a.m.-8 p.m. elowski, Austin Dillon, and Chase race. It was the first career win for in order to derive the extra cash. ing all competitors prices. Ap- ing forced to sell out, because he And besides, the ad cost them a and Saturday 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. Elliott. the former ARCA Re/Max Series parently they had changed their can’t pay the bills. For more info please call Martin Truex Jr. lost an en- champion, who led five times for lot of dollars to make, and mil- policy and rules without telling Getting back to Walmart, gine in his No. 78 during lap 50 45 laps of the 94-lap race. lions more to air many times on anyone. Maybe they didn’t want I politely told the young cashier (706) 896-2600.