Page 12 THE TOWNS COUNTY HERALD May 11, 2011 Towns County Sports Towns County’s Leader In Sports T www.townscountyherald.net • E-mail: [email protected] Collier, Hoffman compete Indians gear up for Spring football practice By James Reese in Ohio Tournament of Champions Towns County Herald By James Reese [email protected] Towns County Herald Towns County Indians’ [email protected] Head Football Coach Kyle For the second year in Langford will be keeping on a row, varsity wrestlers from close eye on his squad through Towns County competed in a May 21st. National Tournament in Co- The Indians spring foot- lumbus, Ohio. ball drills cranked up on Mon- The Ohio Tournament day. It was similar to a regular of Champions, held April 21, early season practice, with is the largest one day Amateur shorts, helmets and cleats. Wrestling Tournament in the The real deal begins May world. There were more than 16th with full pads and contact. 2,300 kids registered from al- On Saturday May 21st at 10 a.m. most every state in the nation. at Frank McClure Stadium, the Representing the Towns annual Blue-White game takes Senior Billy Meier helps rising freshman Cruz Shook with his equip- County Indians were junior center stage. ment needs on Monday. Photo by James Reese. Timmy Collier and sophomore “We’ll go full contact Tyler Hoffman. to be a part of and the represen- well as the following businesses next Monday,” Coach Langford game. til 5:45 p.m. each day, Coach The competition was un- tatives of TCHS did their school for making it possible for them said. “We’ll have a little contact “We want them to put on Langford said. believable. proud. The TCHS wrestlers to go: Sweet & Sparkly Cakes, at the end of this week and we’ll a good show for everybody,” “We like to keep it to The grapplers also had to Collier and Hoffman performed Cupcake Shop, Strut Shoes, give them Friday, Saturday and Coach Langford said. “Friday about two hours,” he said. adapt to a set of modified rules. and carried themselves admira- Asianos, Mountain Realty, Sunday off just to heal, rest up (May 20th) we’ll have two prac- The Indians will get a tune There was one 3-minute period, bly as they did a great job rep- Community Cash Title Pawn, C and get their bodies back used to tices after school and try to fine up scrimmage before the regular with everything starting from resenting Towns County. & J Mountain Outfitters, Nob- the grind.” tune them. Saturday is going to season begins in Blairsville on neutral. So, wrestlers have three Collier and Hoffman let’s 5 & 10, Stephens Federal On May 16th, Coach be live. We’re going to be as live Aug. 26 against Union County. full minutes of action. would like to thank everyone Bank, and Lovely Nails. Langford and his staff will take as we can get.” They’ll take on Fannin It was an amazing event who donated at the carwash, as the Indians full tilt, as the sounds Practice begins at 3:45 County, whose Rebels made a of thuds, grunts and meshing of p.m. each day after school, state playoff appearance in Class pads and helmets become a real- Coach Langford said. AA last season. ity. “That gives them about The good news for Indi- Youth Cheerleader sign-up “We’ll go hard as far 45 minutes from the end of ans’ fans, the Tribe will play six The Towns County Co. Recreation Department to order uniforms and assign as scrimmage time and drills. school,” Coach Langford said. games at Frank McClure Stadi- Youth Football Cheerlead- from 9:15 - noon. The cost of teams/coaches. We’ll go hard through Wednes- “That gives them time to make um and four on the road. ers (Kindergarten - 5th grade uniform and pom-pom rental Please call Bunny Wil- day (May 18th),” Coach Lang- sure they hydrate. Those home games in- 2011-2012 season), will be is $60. We MUST have all of liams at 706-781-8945 with ford said. “On Thursday (May “We have to make sure clude the opener against Hayes- having sign-up and uniform our girls signed up by the end any questions or concerns. 19th) we’ll probably back it off they hydrate,” he said. “That’s ville, as they Indians seek re- fitting on May 21, at the Towns of May. This allows us time T(May11,J2)SH a bit and go back to shorts and something we’ll demand of venge against their border state helmets to try to let their bodies them to make sure they stay in rivals from a year ago. rest up a bit.” good shape and stay healthy. I “We’re excited and The goal is to work the think they practice better when geared up for football,” Coach NASCAR 2011 Indians hard and get them ready they’re hydrated.” Langford said. “I love this time By Gerald Hodges/the Racing Reporter to perform in the Blue-White Practices will last un- of year.” Smith gets upset win at Darlington Indians could benefit from GHSA realignment After staying out on old ing made contact with team- Spring football practice compete within the framework tires, held off mate from behind kicked off on Monday as vi- of a region schedule. to win Saturday with nowhere else to go. And sions of a region football sched- “Ultimately, that’s what night’s at Dar- he made contact several times ule danced in Head Coach Kyle we want to do is compete for a lington Raceway in a dramatic with the legendary red-striped Langford’s head. region championship,” Coach green-white-checkered-flag Darlington wall with the right The Georgia High School Langford said. “Depending on finish. side of his Camry. Nonethe- Association was scheduled to what the high school associa- “I don’t really know how less, Busch found the race was make a decision Tuesday on tion’s decision is, we just may to put it in words right now -- it coming to him as the closing realignment for the 2012-2013 get to do that.” is so surreal,” said Smith, laps approached. prep sports season and there’s a The Georgia High School “This is the Southern “It seems to be my best Regan Smith celebrates his possibility that Towns County Association will weigh a pro- 500—we’re not supposed to style here at Darlington – beat Southern 500 win at Darlington will be in a region and a clas- posal that could create a 4 and win this thing.” it up as much as you can and things to many people,” said sification with a whole new line 8 alignment in each classifi- After he took the check- see if you can win with it,” said Benson. “First of all, I was a up of gridiron opponents. cation. Those changes would ered flag to win his first NA- Busch. “We didn’t mean to. family man that thought more Coach Langford said he create a higher and lower tier SCAR race, an emotional There was that one run there of my family than all the glory looked forward to playing a re- in each classification. There Regan Smith, with his voice that we all started getting tight I could win on the track by go- gion schedule in an alignment would be a higher classification cracking, radioed his crew to and it kind of came out, un- ing full time. that will be more competitive champion and lower classifica- tell them how proud and happy expectedly, and I drove it out “I used to race quite a for his Indians than the current tion champion. he was for the entire Furniture into (turn) three one time and it bit with Gordon Johncock. At alignment. Because of its student Row Racing organization. didn’t stick and went right into one of our meetings we were Coach Kyle Langford is anxious The Indians haven’t population, Towns County The victory in Sunday the fence. talking. I told him we had been played a region football sched- would be in the lower classifi- night’s race was not only the “I love coming to Dar- to play a region football schedule through a lot in our time, and in 2012. ule for several years now be- cation of Class A, with a more first for Smith, but also the lington and it’s a really tough, he nodded. We talked about Photo by Lowell Nicholson. cause of the unbalanced level competitive environment maiden win for the Denver- treacherous place for me. We how racing was in the past, By James Reese of football programs from pow- from a football standpoint. Colo.-based team. kind of proved that because and all the great moments we’d erhouse private schools. Those “We’ll have to wait and The only other time the right side doesn’t look so Towns County Herald had. We both accepted the fact [email protected] larger private schools recruit see what happens on Tuesday,” Smith had a brush with victory great, but we still were able to that we’d never see those days talent and that the Indians Towns County High School was at the 2008 fall race in Tal- win today. It’s cool to be here The sounds of pads and again. It was a unique experi- helmets bumping will soon be just couldn’t compete with. Principal Roy Perren said. ladega, Ala. when his apparent in victory lane – my first time ence, where people raced for If everything works out “Hopefully, things will work win as a driver for Dale Earn- in the Nationwide Series here heard from Konahetah Drive the love of the sport, and not again as the Towns County In- on Tuesday, the Indians could out and we’ll play a region hardt Inc. was nullified by NA- in Darlington – so this feels what they could get out of it.” find themselves in a football football schedule beginning in SCAR for passing Tony Stew- pretty good.” dians prepare for the annual Fats Harvison of Laurel, rites of spring. environment in which they can 2012.” art below the out-of-bounds Busch beat teammate Mississippi is considered the yellow line on the final lap. to the finish “Dean of Southern Sportscast- But Saturday night at the line by 3.677 seconds. Elliott ited/Crate main event that saw ers.” His career began in 1948, 18 cars start in an action packed 62-year-old historic Darlington Sadler was third, followed by and at the age of 85, he can still Local Raceway, Smith was officially Nationwide points leader Jus- event. Devin Dilbeck, Jason be found in a broadcast booth, Payne and Jason Deal filled the referred to as a NASCAR win- tin Allgaier and Steve Wallace. even after working 40-hours at Racing Action ner. Pit strategy moved Sadler top five spots. From Union and a regular job. By: Carl Vanzura Towns, Jamie Lunsford, Billy , also to the front of the field, as crew “I think the racing fraten- on old tires, finished third, with chief Jimmy Elledge elected to Roberson, Kevin Bradshaw and ity is the best in the world,’ Stephen Sofield all raced in the polesitter run- keep the No. 2 out said Fats. “Money is killing the ning fourth and Ryan Newman on the track under caution for feature. Greg Sudderth won the sport. In the 1950s and ‘60s, the Modified feature. Josh Roberts fifth. The remaining top-10 ’s backstretch amount of money a driver won finishers were: Denny Ham- crash on Lap 89. was the winner in the Street wasn’t enough for gas money Enduro race with Hiawassee’s lin, , , Sadler passed Allgaier to and from the track. Stacy White and Ricky Smith Jamie McMurray, and Martin for the lead on Lap 108, but “The fans used to love taking the next two positions. Truex. that didn’t last. Busch, who to come and watch the driv- Blairsville’s Shannon Jones , who was had restarted ninth on Lap ers. There wasn’t any souvenir won the Pony feature. angry over an accident with 104—after an eight-car wreck trailers parked outside. The At Dixie Speedway, Mi- fewer than four laps remaining caused the fifth caution of the only way a track could get any Bobby Panter drove Kenny Garrett’s car to victory Friday night at chael Page led a big field of su- in the race, attempted to punch race—worked his way through extra money was at the conces- Tri-County. pers under the checkered flag. . But he wasn’t the field and passed Sadler for sion stand. Saturday night Louisi- lapped traffic and crashing. Kenny Collins won the South successful. the top spot on Lap 124. “People came and en- ana driver Chris Wall won the At Tri-County Friday Eastern Sportsman feature at With both cars stopped An eight-car wreck on joyed the races, without $3000 to win race at Cleveland night, Johnny Chastain in Ran- Westminster Speedway. North nose-to-tail at the entrance Lap 95 collected the cars of spending a fortune. There Speedway and in Victory Lane dall Twiggs’ Super Georgia Speedway was closed of pit road, Harvick got out Carl Edwards and Kasey Kah- was nothing besides hot dogs, announced that his winnings completely dominated the race Saturday due to management of his car and approached ne, both of whom had battled hamburgers, cokes and beer to would be donated to a long putting a half lap on the sec- changes, but should be open Busch’s car. Before he could for the lead early in the race. spend your money on. Now, time fan of the speedway who ond place car of David Payne. again soon. Chris Madden won throw a punch at Busch, Busch , Kenny bless god, it costs more for a suffered damage by the tornado George Mashburn, David Mc- at Volunteer Speedway after whisked off, hitting Harvick’s Wallace, , Jason family to go to the races than it that went through Cleveland . Coy and Young Harris’s Randy Blairsville’s Jonathan Daven- car, which veered by crewmen Leffler, and Ricky Stenhouse did an entire team 15-20 years Before the feature the 24 driv- Nichols rounded out the top port crashed with just a hand and into a wall on the entrance were the remaining top-10 fin- ago. ers in the race went through five. Bobby Panter out dueled full of laps to go. Ray Cook to pit road. ishers. “I had a nephew that the stands and with helmets in Charlie Parker to win the Lim- took a fourth place finish. “He just ran into me Top-10 leaders after took his wife and two boys hand collected with Wall’s and twice,” Harvick said. “I was 10 of 34: 1. Allgaier-346, 2. to Talladega, and they had to several other drivers’ donations getting ready to knock him.” Sadler-341, 3. Leffler-331, pinch pennies for a long time raised a total of $7000. Ronnie Busch, who called Har- 4. Sorenson-328, 5. Sten- afterward, because it cost him Johnson returned to the track vick’s racing “uncalled for,” house-322, 6. Almirola-304, 7. two weeks pay. once owned by his father Joe didn’t seem to mind being K. Wallace-280, 8. Scott-272, “The average working Lee Johnson after a 20 year ab- called to the NASCAR hauler. 9. Bayne-260, 10. S. Wal- race fan can’t afford that. My sence following a disagreement “Good to hash it out lace-254 crystal ball doesn’t always in the mid 90’s when he an- now; might as well,” Busch Commentary: Each work, but I don’t see it improv- nounced he would not ever race said. week I get several e-mails or ing any time soon. It’s just a there again. Blairsville driver Top-12 Chase con- letters from fans expressing sign of the times.” Jacob Grizzle finished seventh, tenders after 10 of 36: 1. Ed- their views on the present state Weekend Racing: It’s Johnny Chastain was 12th and wards-378, 2. Johnson-355, of NASCAR racing. on to Dover’s Monster Mile Ray Cook was 15th after leading 3. Kyle Busch-339, 4. Earn- About the only thing I for the Sprint and Nationwide the race and getting caught up in hardt-331, 5. Harvick-328, 6. can share with them are my teams. The Trucks are off until Newman-317, 7. Stewart-313, personal feelings, because May 20. Turkey 8. -306, 9. Bow- they know as much about what Sat., May 14, Nation- yer-297, 10. Kenseth-295, 11. NASCAR is up to as I do. NA- wide race, 11 of 34, Starting Shoot & Cookout Allmendinger-287, 12. Bif- SCAR has never asked for my time: 2 pm; TV: ESPN. The Men’s Ministry of fle-286 input before announcing a de- Sun., May 15, Sprint North Mt. Zion Church of God “ROWDY” KYLE GETS cision. Cup Fedex 400, 11 0f 36, Start- is sponsoring a Turkey Shoot 48TH NATIONWIDE WIN I asked two old timers, ing time: 1 pm; TV: Fox. & Cookout Fundraiser for The With a convincing vic- men that have been in the sport All times are Eastern. Refuge Ministry Retreat Center. tory in Friday night’s race at for many years, to share their Racing Trivia Ques- The event is scheduled , Kyle thoughts. tion: How many Cup teams for Saturday, May 21st from 10 Busch scored his fifth Nation- The first one is Johnny does a.m. - 2 p.m. Entry Fee: $3 per wide Series win of the season Benson Sr. of Grand Rapids, have? shot. and the 48th of his career, leav- Michigan. He started racing in Last Week’s Question: The Refuge Ministry Re- ing him one behind Mark Mar- 1956. His son raced in the Cup Who is the driver of Kevin treat Center is located on Hwy. tin for the career victory lead Series, won the 1995 Nation- Harvick’s No. 2 Nationwide 76, Young Harris. Turn on Plot- in the series. wide and 2008 Truck cham- car? Answer. . town Road, then take 2nd drive- Busch’s No. 18 did not pionships. There isn’t a nicer way to the left. You may contact the For more information, emerge unscathed as it made family in racing. Racing Reporter at hodges@ its way through the melee, hav- “Racing means many please call Mitchell Sanders at race500.com. NT(May11,F1)ac 706-896-8206.