Special win for Spartans

Athens Banner-Herald

If the Athens Academy special teams units keep playing like this, no one will worry about the Spartans' small senior class.

Behind 23 defensive or special teams points, the Spartans upended visiting Southwest Atlanta Christian 30-0 on Friday night in their season opener at Slaughter Field. Junior Jordan Lawson provided the punctuation on a quick scoring burst after a 74-yard kickoff return late in the first quarter.

Lawson had a punt return called back on a penalty early in the game.

"To get that back on the kick return really meant a lot," said Lawson, who also made a fourth-quarter interception. "All of my blockers were really working hard, everybody on kickoff team."

Rocktenn Makes 'Monumental' Move To Norcross

Gwinnett Daily Post

NORCROSS -- Nearly 40 years ago, this city was home to a family-owned business of paperboard and box manufacturing with sales of $23 million.Today, RockTenn Co. reports $10 billion in net sales, and is one of the crown jewels of the business community in Norcross and Gwinnett County.

#This month, RockTenn announced the acquisition of Smurfit-Stone, one of its competitors, and subsequently made a $5 million local investment that would create 500 jobs in the next two years.

#In an economic climate where business expansion is rare and job creation is not often delivered, RockTenn is proud to be an aberration to recent trends.

#"It's fun, because it makes you proud," said John Stakel, a RockTenn vice president and the company's treasurer. "It's energizing, rewarding from a professional standpoint."

Georgia Notes: Both Stephens Co. QBs Mayfield, Westmoreland to play

Anderson Independent-Mail

As Stephens County entered the preseason, Travis Noland was not sure which quarterback would distinguish himself for this week’s opener at Elbert County.

Juniors Dionte Mayfield and Foster Westmoreland started the summer competing for the starting job, and Noland, the Indians’ coach, said Monday that neither has set him apart.

“They’ll both play,” Noland said. “They can both run the offense.”

Titans Hold Off Warriors, 21-13, in Final Scrimmage

Oconee Patch

The annual scrimmage, unlike any other scrimmage, officially ended the preseason schedule on Friday night for the North Oconeeand Oconee County High School football teams.

Overflow parking was needed for the large crowd, and because the teams don’t meet in the regular season, it had the feel of a game that counted in the standings. But in reality, it was a way for players to learn how to fight off muscle cramps, and coaches to dissect one more video.

Thanks to a couple of sustained drives, and one big pass play, North Oconee held off host Oconee County 21-13. The Titans now turn their focus to their season opener next week against Arabia Mountain, while Oconee is off until Sept. 2 at East Jackson.

New Take On An Old Classic: Updated Fiat Turning Heads, Saving Cash

Gwinnett Daily Post

BUFORD -- Soon after John Montgomery purchased a Fiat 500, the time it took him to complete errands ballooned.

#"You can't get somewhere on time," said Montgomery, a former Suwanee resident who moved to Greenville, S.C., three years ago. "People will come up to you, 'Where did you get it? How much did it cost?'"

#Montgomery, the president of Fiat-Lancia Unlimited, a national car enthusiast club, bought his new wheels at Team Fiat at the Mall of Georgia. The dealership held its grand opening on Aug. 3, but has sold 45 Fiat 500s in nearly three months.

#It's one of three new stores in the Atlanta market owned by AutoNation, the largest dealership group in the country, which would create about 100 new jobs.

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