Issuu

Time to look great!

VOLUME 10 ISSUE 31 | AUGUST 29 - SEPTEMBER 4, 2014

BLASTING OFF Mired in Mediocrity | Pg. 4 Stephen Black laments the ruts Tech and UGA have fallen into.

DeKalb vs. Florida | Pg. 8 DeKalb football powers face Florida juggernauts in Battle of the Borders.

We preview the local teams as college football season commences. | Pg. 5

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Vol. 10 Iss. 31 | Aug. 29 - Sept. 4, 2014

STARTING LINEUP PUBLISHER/EDITOR I.J. Rosenberg

COLUMNISTS

ON THE COVER

PREP COVER

ART/CREATIVE DIRECTOR DJ Galbiati Blalock SENIOR MANAGING EDITOR Stephen Black ASST. MANAGING EDITOR Craig Sager II MARKETING/ Lauren Goldstein PARTNERSHIP DIRECTOR

BUSINESS MANAGER Marvin Botnick

ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE Marcus Nabors

BEAT WRITERS Ricky Dimon (Braves) Matthew Cason (Hawks, Tech) Brian Jones (KSU) Dan Mathews (UGA) Craig Sager II (Falcons) Kyle Sandy (Dream) Darrin Heatherly (GSU) STAFF WRITERS Alex Ewalt Alex Ordu Jalisa Smith

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COVER PHOTOS COURTESY OF GA STATE ATHLETICS, TERANCE JOHNSON, GT ATHLETICS AND ROB SAYE

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SCORE ATLANTA | www.ScoreAtl.com make sure the kids and programs are getting as much exposure as possible. The event represents Georgia high school football and that is why no matter what game you tune into, you can expect to see two teams leaving it all on the field. This year was the first time Fox Sports South was televising the games and there were plenty of other firsts. McEachern had to step up to the plate and host when two days’ worth of games were slated for the first time. BEHIND THE SCENES … I have been to the last four Corky Kell Classics since graduating from the University of Georgia and had a chance to work the event with Score Atlanta for the first time in 2012. I never knew just how much planning and work went into making the Corky Kell happen each year until I was a part of all five games and helped produce the content, coverage and event programs for it that first year. The television side of the production alone takes months of preparation and so many different people with their own set of responsibilities. An event this big must involve ad sales and business, but that’s never been what it’s about. Georgia high school football is the best in the country and those responsible for planning the Corky Kell Classic each year firmly believe that and go above and beyond to

ON AIR … As we scrambled to compile accurate depth charts in the midst of position battles before the week of the games, I was asked to do color commentary for the Valdosta-Brookwood and North Gwinnett-McEachern games. It was a dream come true and I had never done anything like it before. I went into it as wellprepared as possible, knowing that is all that mattered. I knew I was going to be busy trying to learn four rosters of new names and remember as many jersey numbers and pronunciations as possible, but it didn’t matter. When it comes to the media and covering high school sports, we all have our roles and we know the first week is always going to be the craziest. When it came to game day I was definitely ready to get on the air and see how everything

worked with the headsets and communication from the booth to the truck. It was challenging trying to keep up with the action and relay the excitement you’re feeling with three voices in your head, but it is something that gets easier with practice. Luckily I had an incredible team of veterans making my job easy. It is impossible to know what to expect in sports and that is what makes broadcasts so memorable. We heard coach Kyle Hockman mention a sophomore by the name of Tyler Smith but we had no idea he’d catch two touchdown passes and emerge as one of the finale’s brightest stars. North Gwinnett’s Bob Sphire talked about his senior quarterback before the game but no one knew John Urzua was going to toss seven touchdown passes, including a fake-spike touchdown to win the game. It is impossible to always be prepared for what unfolds. You set up the best possible matchups and you enjoy it. That is what the Corky Kell is all about and even with a 1:40 a.m. ending this year, the energy and pride felt throughout the state of Georgia was at an alltime high. Well done to this year’s 14 Corky Kell teams that battled through the heat and late into the night to cap a remarkable kickoff weekend. Photo courtesy of Terance Johnson.

in the top 10 each season and was arguably the SEC’s best program during that time. It just hasn’t been the same since. Despite blips of minor success in 2007, 2011 and 2012, the program has typically won eight or nine games and has gone to a second-tier Florida bowl—or worse. That trend doesn’t look like it will end in 2014. The Dawgs have an incredibly shallow secondary. In fact, a walk-on may start there. The defense may be better under new coordinator Jeremy Pruitt, but the unit would need to improve tremendously in order for Georgia to win a championship. That will be difficult to do with a thin and moderately-talented back four. The offense, meanwhile, doesn’t look to get any better now that the SEC’s all-time leading passer, Aaron Murray, is gone with

the wind. Todd Gurley is a stud at tailback, but can he stay healthy? The wide receiving corps is deep and talented but already has multiple guys who will miss Saturday’s opener against Clemson. With trips to South Carolina and Missouri and home games against Auburn, Clemson and Tennessee to go along with the annual Jacksonville affair, it is hard to imagine Georgia finishing any better than 9-3. It looks like New Year’s Day in Florida once again for the Dawgs. RAMBLIN’ MESS … Tech looks headed for another six or seven-win season. The Jackets will try to get over the loss of quarterback Vad Lee and running backs Robert Godhigh and David Sims. The trio accounted for Tech’s top three rushers last season. Justin Thomas will take over at quarterback and Zach Laskey should pick up the slack at running back, but nothing on offense really excites anyone about Tech this season. Ted Roof did a great job with the defense last season, but it didn’t show in the win column. Despite holding Duke to 14 points, Virginia Tech to 17, Pitt to 10 and shutting out Syracuse (and who could forget the epic shutout of Elon?), the Jackets also managed to give up more than 40 points in arguably the three biggest games of the year against Miami, Clemson and Georgia.

This year’s schedule isn’t a killer, but it does present a few games in which the Jackets will not be favored. The final two games of the season are against Clemson and Georgia, with a week off in between. A loss in the opening game of Tulane’s new stadium in Week 2 would be disastrous. A four-game stretch featuring Virginia Tech, Miami, Duke and North Carolina will define the Jackets’ conference season. Tech won’t wow anyone on paper and early projections aren’t expecting the Jackets to do much more than the usual barely bowleligible performance, but playing well in close games and finding a way to win four or five divisional games are the keys for Tech. A win at Georgia would, of course, make the season for many and a Coastal Division title is not out of the realm of possibility. After all, if Duke can do it, so can Tech. Tech’s leadership will have to make a decision at the end the season if the Jackets continue in their 6/7-win rut. Several Tech fans I have spoken with are done with coach Paul Johnson, but there is something to be said for winning Tech’s first conference title since 1990 and keeping the Jackets in the divisional race on a yearly basis. Photo courtesy of Rob Saye.

SAGER SAYS

THE 2014 CORKY KELL CLASSIC WAS UNFORGETTABLE BY CRAIG SAGER II | CSAGER@SCOREATL.COM

know Georgia high school football then are well familiar with the Corky Kell ClasIsic.fyouyouEach year the state’s top programs meet

in this high school football showcase and the new football season is christened as state title hopefuls from across the state are represented. I’ve been going to Corky Kell games for over a decade and there is nothing like witnessing a team come out of the gates and make a statement, especially when the stage is this big. I dressed out for four Corky Kell Classics with Walton. In 2002 and 2003 we split games with McEachern and in 2004 we fell 20-3 to Starr’s Mill. My senior year we were crushed 45-14 by Camden County. Win, loss and even blowout, it was always a great memory. Playing in this event and in front of a crowd that big was something that kept me and my teammates motivated throughout each offseason.

BREAKING BLACK

TECH, GEORGIA STILL MIRED IN RECENT TRENDS BY STEPHEN BLACK | SBLACK@SCOREATL.COM

s football season approaches and local fans try to get excited, we are reminded of A the recent failures of our local teams. While the Dawgs and Jackets have each made bowl games every year since 1997 and each has won a conference title in the past 10 years, neither has made the national title game and doesn’t appear set to do so in the near future.

GOOD, NEVER GREAT … The Mark Richt era in Athens started ideally. In Year 1, the Dawgs won in Knoxville for the first time since 1980 and played defense like it hadn’t been played in Athens in two decades. Georgia displayed toughness, heart and was sound in all three phases of the game. The next four years were even better. Richt’s program won two SEC titles, finished

Vol. 10 Iss. 31 | Aug. 29 - Sept. 4, 2014

ON THE COVER

COLLEGE FOOTBALL PREVIEW

WITH CLEAN SLATE, OPPORTUNITIES ABOUND FOR COLLEGE FOOTBALL FOURSOME BY RICKY DIMON | RDIMON@SCOREATL.COM

ell, it cannot get much worse than that; at least let’s hope not. The 2013 college football campaign had been full of promise for Georgia, Georgia Tech and even Georgia State. With a record-setting quarterback and sometimes-dominant running backs, Georgia opened SEC play with wins over South Carolina, LSU and Tennessee only to stumble down the stretch. A Georgia Tech team rich in experience was coming off its first bowl win under head coach Paul Johnson, but it never recovered from an early three-game losing streak. Georgia State hoped to begin a new era under head coach Trent Miles with a bang. It did, in a way. But its 2013 season will not be forgotten for all the wrong reasons. At long last, however, the dog days of college football’s offseason are over and gridiron action is underway. For three of this state’s four local (relatively speaking) teams, a shot at redemption is here. For the fourth (Kennesaw State), we already know 2014 will be a success

as a foundation for the future will be put in place. THINGS HAVE CHANGED … Diehard fans will not necessarily need a program to identify their favorite players between the hedges or on the flats, but somewhat new-look Georgia and Georgia Tech squads will be on display in 2014. For the Bulldogs, of course, the biggest change comes at the very top of the offense. Four-year starter Aaron Murray has moved on to the NFL; senior Hutson Mason is in. Although he has been waiting in the wings behind the SEC’s current all-time leader in total offense and passing touchdowns, Mason gained some valuable experience last year. He replaced Murray late against Appalachian State and Kentucky then started against Georgia Tech and in the Gator Bowl versus Nebraska after Murray was felled by a torn ACL. Mason, a 6-foot-3, 209-pound Marietta native and Lassiter graduate, passed for 968 yards with five touchdowns

and three interceptions in 2013. While Mason can be much more than just a proverbial game manager, he will have the benefit of handing the ball off to what will again be one of the most feared backfields in the nation. Heisman Trophy candidate Todd Gurley and fellow running back Keith Marshall have returned for their junior seasons after incredible rookie campaigns gave way to injury-plagued sophomore seasons. Marshall is reportedly good to go for Saturday’s opener against Clemson despite suffering a torn ACL last October. Gurley and Marshall will have company in the form of highly-touted freshmen Nick Chubb and Sony Michel. A deep and talented corps of running backs is especially critical for Georgia because the receiver position is already depleted by injuries to Malcolm Mitchell and Justin Scott-Wesley. On the defensive side of the ball the Bulldogs boast new coordinator Jeremy Pruitt, who helped lead Florida State to last season’s national title. UGA’s defense was much-maligned in recent years under Todd Grantham, but that could change with a new voice directing it, a scary linebacker trio of Leonard Floyd, Ramik Wilson and Jordan Jenkins and the arrival of freshman defensive end Lorenzo Carter. Tech, meanwhile, is also featuring a new starting quarterback. Justin Thomas replaces Vad Lee, who never quite found his niche in Johnson’s offense and transferred to James Madison. Additional voids are left by departed running backs Robert Godhigh and David Sims, who will likely give way to senior Zach Laskey and perhaps former North Gwinnett standout C.J. Leggett. On the other side of the ball, several players joined Lee out the premature departure window. Among them were senior end Anthony Williams (dismissed) and junior end Jabari Hunt-Days (academics). Needless to say, this offseason was not the best for the Yellow Jackets, yet Johnson did not sound overly concerned in his Tuesday press conference. “I think the program’s on pretty solid ground, really,” Johnson assured. “It all depends on your expectations, I guess.” NOWHERE TO GO BUT UP … Expectations are not high for either Georgia Tech or Georgia State, but by the

time you read this the Panthers may have already—gasp!—won a football game (results of Wednesday night’s opener at the Georgia Dome against Abilene Christian were not available at press time). Georgia State could really use an early-season victory because it has been going in the wrong direction ever since its first year in existence; the Panthers won six games in 2010, three in 2011, one in 2012 and zero in 2013. At least part of the slide can be attributed to the fact that GSU made a move to the Colonial Athletic Association prior to its third season and jumped from the FCS to the FBS prior to last year. Now, though, Georgia State has some experience under its belt with coach Miles and with steeper competition in the Sun Belt Conference. The team will not have much experience on offense, with only five starters returning. One, however, is quarterback Ronnie Bell. He will likely have to offset what is expected to be another porous defensive unit that surrendered 36.7 points per game last year. As for the schedule, Abilene Christian is the only FCS opponent on the Panthers’ 2014 slate, which will prepare them for more imposing adversaries such as Washington and Clemson in addition to eight Sun Belt rivals. THE BEGINNING … The countdown is on for Kennesaw State’s football program, which will play its first game on Sept. 3, 2015 of next season. Preparation, of course, is already underway. The Owls held their first workout last Tuesday and the first full practice will take place on Sept. 8. Practices will go through Nov. 22 and a scrimmage is set for Homecoming weekend on Oct. 11. “It’s an exciting time,” head coach Brian Bohannon told the team’s website. “It’s the start of playing in 2015. It’s an exciting time for everyone on campus.” That is the case for all schools around the nation this time of year and for Georgia, Georgia Tech and Georgia State it is no exception. Unlike last season, let’s hope excitement lasts all the way to January. Photos courtesy of Rob Saye and GA State Athletics.

Mike Scott

Justin Upton

Devin Hester

The third-year forward finally turned the corner in 2013-14 and the Hawks rewarded him with a three-year deal said to be worth up to $10 million. The 26-year old appeared in 80 games last season, averaging 9.6 points and 3.6 rebounds per game while shooting 47.9 percent from the floor, including a 31-percent mark from 3-point range.

The younger Upton brother has carried the offensive load in the second half of the season for Atlanta. The 27-year old is batting .326 over his last 37 games to go along with eight home runs and 32 RBIs while significantly increasing his walk rate. If the Braves want the wild card, they will need him to keep pace until the rest of the bats awaken.

The big acquisition for the Falcons this offseason has looked strong while getting reps at wide receiver this preseason. In three games, Hester has logged six receptions for 71 yards, including a team-leading two touchdowns, a bonus for the veteran expected to be a return specialist. Surely quarterback Matt Ryan is pleased with what he has seen.

SCORE LIST By Brian Jones

BATTLE IN ATHENS

The Bulldogs open their season on Saturday with a rematch against Clemson. The one thing I’m most looking forward to seeing is the backfield; Nick Chubb and Sony Michel are scheduled to play along with Todd Gurley and Keith Marshall. If Chubb and Michel are as good as advertised, I don’t see how any team is going to stop this offense.

WELCOME TO THE FLATS

Over in downtown Atlanta, Tech will do battle with Wofford for its 2014 season opener. The Jackets will likely win, but they need to have a great showing so fans feel confident this team can compete in the ACC. Can guys like Zach Laskey and Justin Thomas lead the team to the promise land?

DUEL IN THE DOME

But the fun won’t be over when UGA and Tech finish their games because Alabama and Virginia Tech will square off in the Chick-fil-A kickoff game at the Georgia Dome on Saturday night. This should be a big win for the Crimson Tide as they gear up for the conference schedule. I just hope the boys don’t eat too much Chick-fil-A chicken sandwiches.

WHAT A CLASSIC

If you were able to view any of the games from the Kell Classic, you got your money’s worth. The best game had to be the finale between McEachern and North Gwinnett. Both teams went back and forth all game long, but it was North Gwinnett that prevailed. It will go down as one of the best games in recent GHSA history.

STAR PLAYER INJURED

The one bad thing to come out of the MetroPCS Corky Kell Classic, is that McEachern RB Taj Griffin suffered a torn ACL and will miss the remainder of the 2014 season. Griffin rushed for 137 yards in the Kell Classic and was considered to be one of the best players in the state. We wish Taj a speedy recovery.

WHO’S NOT

By Matt Cason

WHO’S HOT

SCORE ATLANTA | www.ScoreAtl.com

Atlanta Dream

Jonny Venters

Josh Gordon

Atlanta limped into the WNBA playoffs clinging to the No. 1 seed, and they were put down in the Eastern Conference semifinals after getting outscored by 17 points in the fourth quarter on their way to losing to the Chicago Sky 81-80. Veteran Angel McCoughtry was non-existent during the final period. The forward scored just two points on 1-of-8 shooting.

Just when the southpaw’s elbow seems to be getting healthy, setbacks always pop up. That was the case on Tuesday when relief pitcher Jonny Venters was shut down yet again and is scheduled to have his twice surgicallyrepaired elbow examined by Dr. James Andrews. Venters has not pitched in a regular season game since October of 2012.

The Cleveland Browns star wide receiver had his appeal denied Wednesday to reduce his one-year suspension for violating the NFL’s substance abuse policy. Gordon’s appeal reportedly focused on the positive drug test coming from second-hand marijuana smoke. The wide receiver will not be eligible for reinstatement until Aug. 27, 2015.

NUMBERS

OUR TWO CENTS

By Matt Cason

Our email newsletter is something we take a lot of pride in at Score. If you aren’t familiar with it, it is a high school sportsheavy publication that we produce each day to fill in our readers on the latest happenings in Georgia prep sports. We send it out Monday through Friday throughout the year and Monday through Saturday during the fall. Not only do we cover popular sports like football, basketball and baseball, we also cover every other varsity sport the GHSA fields. If you like Georgia high school sports at all, sign up for our email newsletter by visiting www.tinyurl.com/scorenewsletter and enter your email address(es) that you’d like added to the distribution list.

TRIVIA QUESTION

WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME GEORGIA LOST TWO GAMES IN CONSECUTIVE YEARS TO CLEMSON? ANSWER ON PAGE 14

“

SANITY AT LAST

“He is a very talented guy, who can run and pass and he is such a dynamic player, he will probably get in the game so we have to have a plan for him.” - Mark Richt on Clemson freshman QB Deshaun Watson, a Gainesville HS alum.

Points scored by the Chicago Sky against the Atlanta Dream in the fourth quarter of Game 3

Points scored by Dream in the second half

RBIs by Braves outfielder Justin Upton after the all-star break, third in the MLB

Wins by Braves pitcher Ervin Santana after all-star break, best in the MLB

7.5

Games the Braves were behind N.L East-leading Washington Nationals as of Wednesday afternoon

Games with two or more strikeouts in August for Braves outfielder B.J Upton

Touchdown receptions for Falcons WR Devin Hester this preseason

Total touchdowns over the last two years by Hester

WATCH YOUR SCHOOL’S EVENTS ON THE NEW

NFHSnetwork.com

CORKY KELL CLASSIC

DEKALB CHALLENGES FLORIDA’S BEST IN BATTLE OF THE BORDERS BY CRAIG SAGER II | CSAGER@SCOREATL.COM

ootball kicked off this past weekend with a thrilling seven-game Metro PCS Corky Kell Classic and included plenty of must-see nonregion matchups. This weekend marks the first full week of competition with games all across the state. The action is highlighted by the second annual Battle of the Borders at DeKalb County’s Hallford Stadium in addition to four rare cross-state clashes. DeKalb’s top teams host the best programs from the state of Florida in a battle for gridiron bragging rights and as you can imagine, the matchups are loaded with prospects. To open the action, Marist takes on Godby out of Tallahassee, Fla. Marist enters its 30th season with Alan Chadwick at the helm and comes off a strong 11-3 season. Offensive tackle Sage Hardin is a UGA-commit and 6-foot-3 defensive end Kenneth Brinson is a three-star recruit leading Marist’s pass rush. Godby is led by top prospects Jaylin Hayward, running back

P.J. Simmons, offensive tackle Brendan Loftus (Miami-commit) and defensive end Danny Thomas (South Florida-commit). Godby finished 10-2 in 2013 and last won a state title in 2012. M.L. King beat Blanche Ely 41-15 last year in the event. The Lions will take on Norland, Fla., which fell 29-12 to Stephenson last year at Hallford. New M.L. King coach Nicolas Kashama leads the Lions and he will have seven returning starters after a 7-4 finish last year. Norland looks to bounce back from a 4-7 year and a return to prominence after winning the Class AAAAA state championship three short years ago. HEAVYWEIGHTS ... The final two games of the Battle of the Borders feature four factories for college talent and you would have trouble finding any other two games in the country this weekend

with more individual talent taking the field. Stephenson faces Miami Central in the Game 3 slot. The Rockets are coming off a 13-1 season that resulted in the Florida Class AAAAA state title. Central brings back nine starters and is ranked in the top 10 in the nation this season. Stephenson is still searching for the first state title in program history and enters its 19th season under head coach Ron Gartrell. Gartrell is 153-56 as the school’s only head coach and the Jaguars are coming off a 9-3 season. Stephenson is already off to a hot start with a 12-0 win over Tucker in its preseason scrimmage and a 41-6 victory over Arabia Mountain to open the season last Friday. Stephenson boasts one of the best receiving corps in the southeast. Nebraska commit Nekyle Lundie, Kansas State commit Isaiah Zuber, Georgia State commit Tyler Taylor and South Carolina commit Dexter Neal are all Division I-bound senior receivers. Defensively, Chauncey Rivers is a 6-foot-3, 247-pound fourstar defensive end recruit committed to UGA. Miami Central not only fills college rosters, but it sends players into the NFL at an alarming rate. The Rockets have an enrollment of 1,665 students and put three players—Stanley Jean-Baptiste (Saints), Devonta Freeman (Falcons) and Kevin Pamphile (Bucs)—into the NFL during this year’s draft. Three draft picks in 2014 were more than 27 states managed. Da’Vante Phillips leads Central’s receivers and is one of the highest

nationally-ranked wideouts. Safety Calvin Brewton is a Florida State-commit. THE MAIN EVENT ... ESPNU broadcasted Booker T. Washington (Fla.) in 2013 as it traveled up to topranked Norcross and walloped the Blue Devils 55-0 on their home field. The Tornadoes never slowed down and capped off a perfect 14-0 season and a national title as a Class AAAA school. It is Tucker’s turn to face the Tornadoes and the two teams play in the final game of the Battle of the Borders. The Tigers lost an overtime heartbreaker to Norcross in the Corky Kell Classic last Saturday and will need to clean up what was a sloppy 15-penalty performance. Look for the Tigers to run the ball more with Delvin Weems, a bulldozer out of the backfield that is committed to Marshall. Leading the defense is Jonathan Ledbetter, a four-star UGA commit and defensive lineman. Duke Shelley is a Kansas State-commit that can play either side of the ball as a cornerback or receiver and Elijah Sullivan is a linebacker committed to Auburn. Booker T. Washington is paced by Miamicommit and running back Mark Walton along with a bevy of defensive prospects. Photos courtesy of Terance Johnson and Sonny Kennedy.

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ATLANTAMOTORSPEEDWAY.COM

Vol. 10 Iss. 31 | Aug. 29 - Sept. 4, 2014 ATLANTA MOTOR SPEEDWAY

LABOR DAY WEEKEND EXTRAVAGANZA APPROACHES BY KYLE SANDY | KSANDY@SCOREATL.COM

t is finally among us! After weeks and even months of anticipation, Labor Day Weekend is here and that means the uber-crucial Oral-B 500 is coming to town this Sunday. With the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series regular season coming to a close and still a few more coveted spots open for the Chase for the Sprint Cup, this weekend is sure to be one that you do not want to miss. Diehard racing fans know the importance of this weekend and already have begun to camp out. All of Atlanta Motor Speedway’s exterior campgrounds opened this past Saturday for both tents and RV units alike. Many fans try to camp out to get the full experience of the weekend and to taste the electricity in the air. There are campground spots available that are within walking distance from the speedway’s

Fan Zone and also the grandstands. If you are interested in camping out, all tent camping begins at $100, while unreserved RV spaces start at $60 and reserved spaces at $100. The only remaining camping spaces with water, power and electrical hook-ups are in Trackside Terrace. The terrace boasts a beautiful view of Atlanta Motor Speedway and provides campers with 10 admission tickets for each day of the race weekend. CHASE FOR THE CHASE … With only one race left after the Oral-B 500, drivers will be pounding the gas pedal trying to speed into the limited spots left in the Chase for the Sprint Cup. The 10-race playoff format will certainly bring drama as drivers race for glory. With the big dogs such as Jeff

RITO, R U B ANY & SALSA CHIPS

Gordon, Jimmie Johnson and Dale Earnhardt Jr. obviously all locks for the Chase, it is the drivers on the fringe with the most to prove. Matt Kenseth, Ryan Newman, Clint Bowyer and Greg Biffle would all qualify based on points right now. If one of those four wins the race, he would be locked into a Chase position. Drivers Kasey Kahne, Austin Dillon and Jamie McMurray all have work to do. Kahne currently sits in 13th place. With 16 drivers in total qualifying, the top 15 with the most wins will make the Chase. The goose-egg in the winner column is the thorn in each of these three drivers’ side. Kahne was driving a strong race before mechanical issues spoiled his chances in Bristol this past weekend. He has two Atlanta wins under his belt in his career and will need to duplicate his past success in order to make the Chase. Dillon finished 28th last weekend after early damage to his car set him back. McMurray performed the best out of the trio of drivers as his No. 1 car cruised to eighth place. GREAT CLIPS 300 … Aside from the Oral-B 500, the Great Clips 300 will be held on Saturday to benefit Feed the Children, a non-profit relief organization. Its mission is “providing hope and resources

for those without life’s essentials.” Celebrities Evander Holyfield, Bill Elliott and Bo Bice will open the race. Holyfield, an Atlanta native and five-time world heavyweight champion, will be the honorary starter. Awesome Bill from Dawsonville will be the Grand Marshall and Bice will sing the National Anthem. Tickets for the Great Clips 300 start at $30, with children 12-andunder being admitted for free. Being the Grand Marshall at a crucial race would probably be the highlight of anyone’s week, but not for Bill Elliott. On Thursday, he was inducted to the NASCAR Hall of Fame. During his historic career, Elliott won the 1988 NASCAR championship, 44 Sprint Cup Series events and was named NASCAR’s Most Popular Driver Award 16 times. Elliott’s career took off in 1985 when he won the “Winston Million,” capturing a million-dollar bonus for winning races at Daytona, Talladega and Darlington. Elliot was inducted into the “Speed Lane” in Downtown Hampton, complete with a parade in his honor that saw him finish his route by entering Atlanta Motor Speedway’s main tunnel. Be sure to support a local legend and follow the races this weekend. For more information on this week’s events, log onto www.atlantamotorspeedway.com.

EVERY MONDAY AT ALL

ATLANTA AREA MOE’S MOES.COM

#WELCOMETOMOES

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UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA

DAWGS SET FOR CLEMSON; RECRUITING SUCCESS CONTINUES BY DAN MATHEWS | DMATHEWS@SCOREATL.COM

aturday’s Georgia-Clemson game has intriguing storylines for both teams. For example, how will the new defense under the leadership of coordinator Jeremy Pruitt look? How will Clemson compensate for the losses of quarterback Tajh Boyd or wide receiver Sammy Watkins? Will Hutson Mason impress in his very first Sanford Stadium start? All of these questions will be answered when these two teams kick off the season in Athens on Saturday. One thing we do know is that freshmen will get some playing time on the field Saturday night against the Tigers. At his weekly Tuesday press conference, Georgia coach Mark Richt even said as much. Richt specifically mentioned that outside linebacker Lorenzo Carter would get some time on the field. He’ll likely be joined at times by freshman safety Dominick Sanders out of Tucker who would play in certain formations on defense. Richt also said to look out for freshman

GEORGIA STATE

PANTHERS CHRISTEN 2014 SEASON WEDNESDAY NIGHT BY CRAIG SAGER II | CSAGER@SCOREATL.COM

eorgia State kicked off the 2014 college football season with a rare Wednesday night game in a matchup with Abilene Christian at the Georgia Dome. The Panthers’ opener with the Wildcats was the first of four nonconference games this season. Georgia State hosts Sun Belt opponent New Mexico State, then Air Force to open September before traveling to Washington to take on the Huskies. Sun Belt play continues on Oct. 4 when Georgia State visits UL Lafayette. TEXAS TWO-STEP … Wednesday’s opener was televised on ESPNU and college football enthusiasts were able to see what 2014 has in store for the Georgia State program while getting a glimpse of the first regular season college football action. Five starters return to the Panthers’ offense but several players have stepped up and beaten out last year’s first-teamers in this offseason’s position battles. Nick Arbuckle gets the nod at

wide receiver Isaiah McKenzie to get some snaps on offense alongside freshman tight end Jeb Blazevich. Fans can also look forward to seeing running backs Nick Chubb and Sony Michel on the field. Fans can also look forward to seeing junior tight end Jay Rome back on the field. Rome is coming back from a foot injury that forced him to miss most of the 2013 season. When the defense hits the field on Tuesday, we will have to see if inside linebacker Ramik Wilson is not a starter. When Georgia released their depth chart this week, it had sophomore Tim Kimbrough in front of Wilson on the twodeep. Richt said he wouldn’t pay much attention to this depth chart. Keep in mind that Ramik Wilson did miss some time for a concussion during fall camp. So that could be the reason for this listing on the depth chart. NFL LEGACY … Georgia found out this week that four-star wide receiver Van Jefferson has ‘committed to the G.’ The wide receiver out of Brentwood, Tenn. chose Georgia over offers from Tennessee, Florida and Ohio State. The last name might sound familiar to Atlanta Falcons fans, because his father is former wide receiver Kevin Jefferson. He played here from 2000-2002. He is now the wide receivers coach for the Tennessee Titans. He was on that same staff last year with current UGA defensive line coach Tracy Rocker.

quarterback over Ronnie Bell and Joel Ruiz will have last year’s starter Keith Rucker sharing reps at tight end. Running back is a concern this season and multiple guys will see reps until one emerges from the competition. Jonathan Jean-Bart is the leading rusher returning from last year and he took 71 carries for 269 yards and a touchdown in 2013. The Georgia State offense shored up its line this offseason after allowing 32 sacks last season and they brought in experienced playmakers to get the ball to. Michael Harrison is a JUCO transfer that accounted for 1,536 yards of offense last season and will make his debut with the Panthers this season. SIZE MATTERS … On defense, Georgia State returns four starters from last year, including middle linebacker Joseph Peterson and Mackendy Cheridor. Peterson had a breakout 2013 sophomore season that resulted in 103 total tackles. Size was an issue for the defense last year and teams ran for 221.2 yards per game against Georgia State. Marcus Caffey is a talented JUCO transfer that can stop the run and defend the pass in the secondary and Tarris Batiste is a physical safety that started at linebacker last season and was switched to give the Panthers a leader in a secondary that lost eight defensive backs from last season. This is Georgia State’s fifth season of existence and second as an FCS program.

GEORGIA TECH

JACKETS PREPARE FOR WOFFORD; STARTING LINEUP SET BY MATTHEW CASON | MCASON@SCOREATL.COM

eorgia Tech head football coach Paul Johnson released the final depth chart of the preseason on Tuesday, this coming through his Twitter account just days before the Yellow Jackets suit up for the regular-season opener against the Wofford Terriers on Saturday. Sophomore Justin Thomas will get the starting nod at quarterback for Johnson and his triple-option offense while being supported in the running attack by redshirt seniors Tony Zenon and Charles Perkins at A-back. Zach Laskey will round out the group as the main B-back. At wide receiver, DeAndre Smelter will look to build on a breakout 2013 and flanking him will be redshirt sophomore Michael Summers, who started 11 games in his freshman campaign last year. On defense, Ted Roof enters his second year as defensive coordinator and brings back a unit that finished 29th nationally in points allowed. The defensive line will feature junior Adam Gotsis of Australia and freshman KeS-

KENNESAW STATE

SOCCER TEAM BEGINS SEASON WITH LOSS TO ALABAMA BY BRIAN JONES | BJONES@SCOREATL.COM

ennesaw State’s soccer team opened its 2014 season last Friday when it traveled to Tuscaloosa, Ala. to take on the Crimson Tide. Unfortunately, the Owls did not have the start they wanted as they fell 5-1. Alabama struck first in the 13th minute when Pia Rijsdijk drilled a shot into the top of the net. The Tide struck again 19 seconds later when Laura Smith scored into the right corner. Lacey Clarida and Hailey Brohaugh scored in the 38th and 43rd minute, respectively, as ‘Bama took a 4-0 lead into halftime. The Owls were able to get on the board in the 48th minute when Maggie Gaughan scored he fourth career goal, but the Tide added a late goal by Brohaugh to seal the Owls’ fate. Kennesaw State notched eight shots in the match, with Brittney Reed leading the way with three. Goalkeeper Mady Carter made the first start of her career and tallied seven saves.

hun Freeman, whom Johnson described earlier in the preseason as a high-motor impact player. The secondary will boast Isaiah Johnson, who will team up with junior Isaiah Golden to roam the safety positions. Redshirt junior Chris Milton and junior D.J. White, meanwhile, will man the two main cornerback slots. ‘B’ READY … Laskey, a senior, is in a spot in which patience and dedication allowed the Peachtree City native to capitalize on the situation and become “the guy” for Johnson. However, don’t be surprised if we see another player chip in on touches this Saturday. Synjyn Days is a redshirt senior who just transitioned to B-back a few weeks ago. The Georgia Tech head coach liked what he saw, as indicated by the leap on the depth chart over senior Matt Connors to gain the backup slot to Laskey. Though this may dip into his touches, Laskey is fully open to having another player share the workload. “Who wouldn’t want to play the whole game? But at this position, it’s tough to do,” said Laskey. “It’s going to be good to have another guy out there with me.” On the other side of the coin, Days is excited about the opportunity he’s been given, for it allows him to use his size and strength to maximize his talent—something he could not do at wingback.

COMEBACK AT HOME … The Owls looked to bounce back on Monday while hosting Georgia State at Fifth Third Bank Stadium. To nobody’s surprise, a competitive game ended in a tied 1-1 score following two overtimes. Neither team could get anything going in the first half until GSU’s Ashley Nagy scored in the 39th minute. The Owls were able to even up the score when Iyani Hughes found the back of the net in the 71st minute. “It was a good, hard-fought game between two teams that were pretty even,” head coach Rob King said to KSUOwls.com. “I was a little disappointed that we went down a goal against the run of play. They only had one shot. We were very tight defensively and gave up a goal and then we had to chase the game. But I am very proud with the intensity we kept up all the way through. We dominated the game; dominated possession.” Kennesaw State will play in the Trojan Classic this weekend. It will face Troy on Friday and South Alabama on Sunday. On Thursday, KSU hosted its Welcome Back and the main attraction was the unveiling of new football uniforms. The event took place at the Campus Green, where fans were able to get a glimpse of what the football team will be wearing next year. The athletic department also unveiled the official football logo for the inaugural season, which will begin on Sept. 3, 2015 against East Tennessee State.

Vol. 10 Iss. 31 | Aug. 29 - Sept. 4, 2014 ATLANTA HAWKS

HAWKS RE-SIGN MIKE SCOTT TO THREE-YEAR DEAL BY MATTHEW CASON | MCASON@SCOREATL.COM

he Atlanta Hawks rewarded Mike Scott for T his breakout season in 2013 by re-signing him to a three-year deal for a reported $10

million, the terms of the deal according to the AJC. The third-year forward vastly improved after a sub-par rookie season and became a key weapon off the bench for head coach Mike Budenholzer. “(Scott) has worked hard and continues to adapt, improve and expand his all-around game,” said general manager Danny Ferry. “We are very happy to have him with us going forward and we look forward to his continued growth with our group.” Scott played in 80 games last season, shooting 47.9 percent from the field while averaging 9.6 points and 3.6 rebounds per game. MACK IS BACK … The re-signings did not stop there as the Hawks brought back restricted free agent Shelvin Mack, who is projected to maintain his role from last season backing up starting point guard Jeff Teague. Just like Scott, Mack experienced a

ATLANTA BRAVES

NL EAST MARGIN BALLOONS TO BIGGEST IN MAJORS BY RICKY DIMON | RDIMON@SCOREATL.COM

t the all-star break, no division race was more competitive than that of the National League East. In fact, the Braves and Nationals were tied at the top. Fast forward six weeks, however, and no margin between first place and second place in any division is larger. A red-hot Washington team suddenly leads a slumping Atlanta squad by 7.5 games. While the Nationals have won 12 of their last 15 games despite having dropping the first two of a three-game series at Philadelphia earlier this week, the Braves have lost three in a row and are 10-16 in their last 26 outings. Fredi Gonzalez’s club lost the last two after winning the first two of a four-game set at Cincinnati last weekend and it fell to the host Mets 3-2 on Tuesday. Alex Wood turned in solid outing in New York, going seven innings and giving up three runs on just five hits and one walk. At-

breakout season under the tutelage of Budenholzer, averaging 7.5 points to go along with 3.7 assists and 2.2 rebounds in 73 games. Those numbers from the fourth-year guard were convincing enough for Ferry to re-sign him. “Shelvin has proven himself to be an excellent fit in our program,” Ferry explained. “On the court, he plays well within our system and possesses a toughness and level of unselfishness that we truly value.” This gives Atlanta a dangerous trio at point guard, having brought back the veteran Teague along with Dennis Schroeder— who, various reports have said, has vastly improved while playing overseas this summer. ADIOS EDY … Second-round pick Edy Tavares announced on Tuesday his intentions to return overseas to his club team, Herbalife Gran Canaria in Spain’s ACB League. The 7-foot-3 center played for the Hawks in the Las Vegas Summer League, showing the potential that drove Atlanta to draft him 43rd overall. “The summer league of the NBA was a great opportunity to play against good players,” Tavares said through an interpreter. “I have seen how they play and how they work. The work that I was doing was little from what I’ve seen there and I have to work harder to become a better player.” The Cape Verde native averaged 6.0 points, 4.3 rebounds and 1.8 blocks in six summer league games.

lanta cut a 3-1 deficit in half in the seventh but could not pull even during its final two chances. “You can take positives from anything,” Wood said in his postgame interview when asked about his solid performance in a loss. “But we’re here for one reason; that’s to make it to the playoffs and win as many games down the stretch as we can. And the reason I’m on the mound…you can’t help but kind of take responsibility because you’re the guy with the ball in your hand.” JUSTIN STILL IN FORM … Silent bats continue to be a problem for the Braves, who have scored just five runs in their last three games and have not crossed the plate more than three times in any outing since last Thursday. Their season total of 499 runs puts them perilously close to second to last in that department in the National League (every team is well ahead of San Diego). Justin Upton, however, is still swinging a hot bat. The left fielder has hit safely in 14 of his last 16 games and he has six multi-hit performances in his last nine contests. Upton bounced back from a rare 0-for-9 stretch last Saturday and Sunday to go 3-for-3 with a double, an RBI and a run scored on Tuesday. He has six home runs and 23 RBIs during the month of August.

ATLANTA FALCONS

PRESEASON CLOSES, ALL EYES TURN TO SAINTS BY CRAIG SAGER II | CSAGER@SCOREATL.COM

he Falcons fell 24-17 to the Titans last Saturday at the Georgia Dome but led 17-10 at the half with the first units in action. Matt Ryan was 18-of-23 passing for 224 yards and two touchdowns. Julio Jones spun out of a slant and sparked a 52-yard touchdown catch and Devin Hester hauled in his second touchdown of the preseason on a 31-yard catch and run. The Falcons played the final preseason game of 2014 on Thursday night at Jacksonville and they now officially enter the final phase of preparation before their regular-season opener with the Saints at home on Sept. 7. The dress rehearsal with the Jags was the final chance to impress for those hoping to earn a spot on this year’s roster. Final roster cuts are due by 6 p.m. this Saturday and there are still several position battles that are undecided, including wide receiver. The preseason saw several players earn significant roles with this year’s team, including rookies Jake Matthews, DeVonta Freeman, Ra’Shede Hageman and Prince Shembo.

ATLANTA DREAM

DREAM ELIMINATED AFTER NIGHTMARISH FOURTH QUARTER BY KYLE SANDY | KSANDY@SCOREATL.COM

s the final buzzer sounded, the drop of a pin could be audible in Philips Arena on Tuesday night. Fans watched in horror as the Dream let a 16-point lead slip away and their season consequentially end with a first-round exit. Atlanta was outscored 30-13 in the final quarter en route to a heartbreaking 81-80 loss to the Chicago Sky. The Dream had no answer for Elena Delle Donne, who dropped a careerhigh 34 points—including the final dagger that came on an off-balance floater off the glass with defenders draping all over her. The home team still had a final chance with eight seconds left, when Angel McCoughtry received the ball at the top of the key and nearly fell down trying to get around her defenders. Somehow she managed to get off a leaner from 18 feet as the buzzer sounded. The ball came tantalizingly close to going in but bounced around the rim three times before harmlessly dropping to the floor and ending the Dream’s championship aspirations.

LISTEN UP … The fourth of five episodes in HBO’s Hard Knocks series aired Tuesday night and started with the volume and intensity turned up. After a horrible special teams performance against the Texans in the second preseason game, special teams coach Keith Armstrong was livid and his uncut meeting and rant on his players before the matchup with Tennessee was shown. Armstrong individually called guys out and that may have contributed to a much better performance against the Titans. Among the other storylines of the episode that we should continue to watch for this season is Hageman’s development under defensive line coach Brian Cox. The unfiltered coach and former player has been there all along the way pushing Hageman and Cox motivated the rookie in this past episode by telling him, “Even when you’re tired, they can’t handle your power.” Joe Hawley has also been a focal point of the series with his physical altercations and never-back-down attitude during training camp. The Falcons want to be a tough football team in the trenches and offensive line coach Mike Tice complimented Hawley by telling Lamar Holmes to watch Hawley closely. “Hawley proves that he does whatever it takes to make sure his quarterback doesn’t get hit,” said Tice. “That’s how we all need to play.”

A balanced scoring effort from Atlanta was put forth with all five starters scoring in double-figures. However, Delle Donne’s size mismatch proved to be too much. FIRST TWO SPLIT … The first two games of the series were a premonition of Game 3’s classic finish. Game 1 saw Atlanta unable to defend its home court, losing 80-77. Delle Donne was the main catalyst for the Sky’s offense, scoring 21 points. But it was previously-injured guard Courtney Vandersloot who scored the deciding bucket with 20 seconds left when she buried a three at the top of the key to give Chicago a lead for good. McCoughtry filled the stat sheet up with 24 points, six rebounds and five assists, but it was not enough. In Game 2, McCoughtry was on a mission. She scored a career-high 39 points on 13-of-20 shooting and was able to keep the Dream alive with a 92-83 victory in Chicago. When asked about her performance, McCoughtry said, “I just wanted to will the team to win. I wanted the ball in my hands and I wanted to take over the game. Luckily I hit a good percentage of my shots and my teammates gave me the ball and trusted me with it.” Guard Tiffany Hayes chipped in 15 points to help shoulder the load mostly taken on by McCoughtry.

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Vol. 10 Iss. 31 | Aug. 29 - Sept. 4, 2014

A TWO-TOUCHDOWN DEFICIT

IS NOTHING AFTER YOU’VE COME BACK FROM CANCER. Know a young athlete who overcame a serious injury or illness? Nominate them for Comeback Athlete of the Month at choa.org/comeback.

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