Football Friday Night: Week 7

All of my teams won on Friday Night which has been rare this season. Warner Robins topped Locust Grove, Villa Rica drilled Woodland and Clinch County defeated Irwin County.

WARNER ROBINS 38, LOCUST GROVE 0
Warner Robins won their third straight game since the embarrassing loss to Newton. Warner Robins controlled the game from the opening quarter as they scored on each of their five first-half possessions, built a 31-0 halftime advantage and limited the Wildcats to just 71 yards of total offense. They finished with 345 yards of total offense, including 216 yards rushing. QB Chandler Dyson completed six passes for 129 yards and two touchdowns while also scoring on the ground.

Warner Robins’ defense was equally impressive. They held Locust Grove to minus-17 rushing yards on 23 attempts and only 88 yards through the air. The Wildcats managed seven first downs and never seriously threatened to score.

Next: Oct. 23 vs. Ola
Warner Robins (5-2, 3-0) will host Ola (5-2, 2-1) in two weeks. Warner Robins is 2-0 in the all-time series, winning their last meeting 28-27 in 2023.

VILLA RICA 42, WOODLAND 3
Villa Rica senior running back Emmanuel Ajayi scored five touchdowns Friday in a 42-3 region win over Woodland of Cartersville.

It was a fast start for Woodland, as Clayton McArdle ran back the opening kickoff all the way to Villa Rica's 10-yard line. Chad Waller converted a 25-yard field goal to give the visiting Wildcats an early 3-0 lead.

However, the hosting Villa Rica Wildcats scored 42 unanswered after that, leaning on Ajayi on the ground and through the air.

Next: Friday at Allatoona
Villa Rica (5-2, 1-2) travels to Acworth to play Allatoona (1-5, 0-2). Allatoona lost to Dalton 49-7 in their last game. The Wildcats have never won in this series losing all four meetings between the teams. Villa Rica lost their last meeting 35-7 in 2015.

CLINCH COUNTY 25, IRWIN COUNTY 8
Kamarion Johnson, a 4-star senior committed to Florida, scored on an 87-yard reception and punt returns of 62 and 70 yards and intercepted a pass in the end zone. Clinch County led 181-155 in total yards.

Next: Friday vs. Mitchell County.
The Panthers (4-2, 1-0) will host Mitchell County (5-1, 1-0) in a key region game (if region games really matter anymore). Mitchell County is coming off of a 68-0 thrashing of Atkinson County. The Panthers lead the all-time series 8-2. They have won eight straight in the series. They won last year's meeting 21-6. Mitchell County's last win was in 1955.

Thoughts About Cancer

We all have our crosses to bear.

Life often gives us difficult things we have to manage and get through.

My cross has been a caregiver for someone who has cancer.

For the past six months, my wife has been receiving treatment for her cancer. It has been a slow and agonizing process. I wouldn’t wish this plight upon anyone. Nobody truly understands what is involved unless you’ve been through it.

When she was first diagnosed with cancer, there was genuine concern and those who thought since it was “treatable” that it would be easy. It has not been easy. I have spent endless days obsessing over platelet counts, temperatures, medications and transfusions.

Early on I was upset with people not helping but I had to realize that we have to get through this whether people help or not. You simply can’t worry about who’s helping or who’s not helping. It’s all about treatment and keeping her alive.

There have been moments that I haven’t been as strong as I wished I could be. I’ve been mad at the hospital staff for their lack of compassion or the Uber driver making us both sick on the drive to/from the treatments and many times I’ve just been plain mad.

I have learned that the only thing you can do is to trust the process and keep going.

The only thing worse than being the caregiver is being the one going through it themselves. Many times I would have gladly traded places with her. Let me be the one getting stuck in the arm for the transfusion and the seemingly endless treatments.

We have come a long way since March but with cancer, there is no deadline for it to be over. I don’t know how much further we will have to go, we just have to do it.

Of course I have relied on my faith during this time but honestly my faith has been pathetic at times. It’s easy to stand in a church building dancing to the praise and worship songs but another when you are sitting beside your wife as the platelets are being fed into her body. I had believed God would heal her but He’s apparently doing it His way. It’s not the fast or instant way either. That makes it hard to be strong and keep the faith.

Any fears I have I keep to myself. That’s the only way to manage it. Only God knows.

I know that I am not alone. We all go through things. We cling to whatever helps us to get through the difficult times in our lives.

Basically it comes down to trusting God and leaving the results to Him.

Football Friday Night: Week 6

It's hard to believe we are already at the halfway point of the high school football season. My teams were 2-1 this week as Warner Robins and Clinch County got wins and Villa Rica was defeated in their games.

WARNER ROBINS 55, EAGLE'S LANDING 0
After giving up 70 points two weeks ago to Newton, Warner Robins has rebounded with their second straight win. Quarterback Chandler Dyson completed touchdown passes of 58, 43 and 38 yards as the Demons built a 35-point halftime lead and cruised to a 55-0 region victory at Eagle’s Landing. Warner Robins finished with 388 yards while limiting the Golden Eagles to only 26. The Demons completed all five of their passes for 180 yards and four touchdowns and rushed for another 208 yards.

Next:  Friday vs. Locust Grove

Warner Robins is 4-2 overall, 2-0 in Region 2-5A.  They will host Locust Grove is 1-5 and 0-1 in the region losing to Perry 57-14 last week.  Warner Robins is 6-1 all-time against Locust Grove.  They won their last meeting 51-21 in 2023.

CLINCH COUNTY 14, SEMINOLE COUNTY 9

Clinch County trailed 9-0 at halftime and scored two touchdowns in the third quarter for the final margin. Seminole County made no deep threat in the fourth quarter. Lamarcus Bryant had an interception at the Seminole County 31 to set up the winning drive. Traviian Miller was 6-of-14 passing for 79 yards and rushed for 76 yards on 20 carries. Clinch held Seminole to 122 total yards.

Next:  Friday at Irwin County

Clinch County is 3-2 and opens region play this week against Irwin County which enters the game at 2-3.  Irwin County lost to Berrien 42-13 two weeks ago.  The teams are tied 25-25-1 in their all-time history.  Clinch County won last year's meeting 61-14.  

CARTERSVILLE 58, VILLA RICA 0

The Wildcats were humbled by the top-ranked team.  Cartersville led 58-0 at halftime. Harris Turner was 12-of-13 passing for 229 yards and four touchdowns. Madoxx Davis had five receptions for 75 yards and three touchdowns. Brayden Doss rushed for 89 yards on five carries. Cooper Melvin returned an interception for a touchdown.

Next:  Friday vs. Woodland

Villa Rica is 4-2 and 0-2 in Region 7-5A.  Woodland is 2-3 and 0-1 in the region.  They lost to Cass 42-21 last week.  Villa Rica is 7-1 against Woodland.  They won their last meeting in 2019 by a score of 14-8.  Woodland's only win in the series was their first meeting in 2000.