Scroggs reaches milestone

Anderson Independent-Mail

Friday’s win for Hart County was important because it gave the Bulldogs something to think about besides the previous week’s lopsided loss to Stephens County.

But it was also a milestone for coach Joby Scroggs, who tied Bobby Pate for 66 wins, the most in school history. In his ninth season coaching the Bulldogs, Scroggs said it was a “tremendous honor,” and he was humbled to achieve it because Pate was a mentor for him.

Scroggs worked as an assistant under Pate at Hart from 1987-93, and credited Pate for molding him as a coach.

Week 3 picks

Here at the Almanac, we're back in the saddle with another season of picks. Sure, we came out of the gate a bit late, and are still recovering from a 16-18 record in 2010. But it's just now that the games are getting good, and we're mostly through with the Directional Techs and Southwest Prairie View paycheck-paloozas.

Empty your 401(k) here:

LSU -3.5 at Mississippi State

This is a critical game for the Cowbell Dogs if they want to win the SEC West, since they've already lost to Auburn. While the Bayou Bengals may not be the team many expected before the August bar brawl, they showed against Oregon that they're among the nation's best. The key matchup is the LSU run defense, which is the best in the SEC, against the MSU rushing offense that has collected more than 640 yards in two games. LSU has won 11 straight in the series with an average score of 39-13.

The pick: Take the Bayou Bengals and start the weekend off right.

It's OK to dip into the spare piggy bank:

Auburn +3.5 at Clemson

It's tough to imagine why the Aubbies are getting points here, even though the game is at Clemson. The Palmetto Tigers have certainly struggled against SEC teams lately, going 3-7 in their last 10, mostly against South Carolina. But, after last week's win over Mississippi State, the Aubbies don't appear to be as bad as advertised. And it's still difficult to get behind a perennially underachieving program that often loses games it should win.

The pick: The Western Tigers until Clemson proves me wrong.

Oklahoma -3 at Florida State

In one of the marquee games of the young season, the Sooners, a popular pick to get to the national championship game, need a tough win to bolster their BCS resume. The pre-game hype will center on the top 5 rankings, and the meeting of the Stoops brothers. FSU is 5-12 in its last 17 games against top 10 opponents, including back-to-back losses by 27 and 30 points. The 'Noles have revenge on their mind after last year's 47-17 whipping in Norman. But the Sooners are a cut above, and better by more than a field goal.

The pick: Boomer Sooner

Wisconsin -17 vs. Northern Illinois at Soldier Field

The Badgers are one of the main dark horses to play for the national championship, and have only impressed behind new quarterback Russell Wilson. Since Northern Illinois is coming off of a tough loss against Kansas (45-42), a bounce back game against a top 10 team is not likely. The Northern Illinois defense has also given up 837 rushing yards in games against Army and Kansas.

The pick: On, Wisconsin!

Only touch with your father-in-law's cash:

Kentucky -6.5 vs. Louisville

The annual Governor's Cup game has lost a bit of the hype it typically has as a season opener. It's the third game for both teams, and neither has done anything to fire up their fan base. UK has won four straight in the series, which is significant since the Cats have only beaten Vandy and Mississippi State four straight among SEC teams in the last 20 years. The team with the most rushing yards has won 15 in a row in the series. It's difficult to pick a team that hasn't put up more than 600 offensive yards in two games, but UK is a touchdown better than the Cards this week.

The pick: Take the Cats and give the points

Willingham rings in birthday with huge night

Athens Banner-Herald

Rodney Willingham just smiles when he's asked his height and weight.

The pint-sized junior running back for Cedar Shoals -- officially listed at 5-foot-5, 155 pounds, but closer to 5-4, 145 -- didn't let his size hold him back Friday night.

Willingham scored three touchdowns and rushed for 124 yards on 12 carries in the Jaguars' 28-14 victory over Rockdale County at The Jungle.

For Willingham, the victory and touchdown binge was just one reason to celebrate. He also rang in his 17th birthday.

"That's the biggest present I wanted," Willingham said. "I told my team, 'Y'all just go out and play hard.' I knew we were going to face some kind of adversity. That's all I really wanted for my team was the victory."

Leaders, Citizens Discuss Proposed TSPLOST Projects

Oconee Patch

Mixed views about five road projects proposed in Oconee County collided Thursday in a public meeting among county leaders, transportation planners and citizens.

At the Oconee County Civic Center, those who hope to pass a one-cent sales tax referendum next summer trumpeted the economic growth benefits of widened roads and improved traffic flow. The tax would run for 10 years. Critics, however, struggled to see the congested traffic problems, and worry that road expansion would eliminate the rural community appeal.

“Just the facts in this case would be enough to irritate people,” said Kelly Huff, a Mars Hill Road resident. “They’re being inflexible.”

The Northeast Georgia Regional Transportation Roundtable has spent nearly a year compiling road improvement projects in a 12-county region. The Oconee County projects are on Mars Hill/Experiment Station Road, the Oconee Connector, Daniells Bridge Road, Simonton Bridge Road and Jimmy Daniell Road. The projects are part of the Transportation Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax referendum, or TSPLOST.

Georgia Notebook: Stephens prepares for Oconee's high-powered offense

Anderson Independent-Mail

The Indians, who beat Hart County 39-0 last week, take on a Warrior team that put up nearly 600 yards of offense last week in a 35-0 win over East Jackson.

Coming off one of the best offensive performances of the season, Stephens County has prepared its defense this week for the high-powered offense of Oconee County.

Football has made Elbert's Tyshon Dye a better person

Anderson Independent-Mail

ELBERTON, GA. — Ever since Tyshon Dye was introduced to football, his behavior in the classroom has improved exponentially.

“She said I needed to release some anger,” he said. “Because I had never really heard of football.”

In fourth grade, Dye started football because his mother wanted him to harness his extra energy.

Looking back, Dye isn’t sure where he would be today without the pigskin.

Passing game carries Spartans past Pats

Athens Banner-Herald

LEXINGTON -- As Athens Academy continues to develop its young offensive line and inexperienced backfield, the Spartans might do well to lean on the passing attack.

After a season-opening win fueled by special teams last week, the Spartans used three touchdown passes from senior quarterback Lake Lindsay to win at Oglethorpe County, 21-0 on Friday.

Lindsay was 8-for-16 with touchdown passes of 2, 40 and 15 yards.

Hart County's Stephon Eades doesn't shy away from challenges

Anderson Independent-Mail

HARTWELL, GA. — Stephon Eades is making it difficult on his coaches to leave him at one position.

The Hart County senior, a team captain, is making a habit of filling in for injured teammates on defense, all the while toting the football from the Bulldogs’ backfield.

“I always think of him as a tailback, because that’s where he was always going to be,” said Hart coach Joby Scroggs, who doubles as the running backs’ position coach.

When he first made a name for himself as a sophomore, Eades replaced the injured linebacker Ketitus Harper, who suffered a knee injury in the Abbeville game.

Georgia Notebook: No love lost in Hart-Stephens rivalry

Anderson Independent-Mail

At times in recent years, the Hart County-Stephens County rivalry was nearly on par with the hotly contested showdown between the Bulldogs and next-door neighbor Elbert County.

Hart and Stephens, in the old Region 8-AAA, were arguably the best teams, and the schedule often played out that they decided the region championship in the regular season finale. It may have reached a climax in 2008 when running back Ren Teasley transferred from Hart to Stephens.

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.”