The first game of any football season is always special.
For die-hard fans, it ends months of anticipation and built up frustration watching the calendar slowly creep by.
The Apalachee High School Wildcats took the field for their first regular season game at Habersham Central High School last Friday. As always on opening night, it was a time for many “firsts.”
•At 5:45 p.m., the first Apalachee High School bus can be seen arriving at Habersham Central’s Raider Field. Two others follow closely behind. After a little confusion by Habersham officials, the buses are sent to their designated area.
•At 6:06 p.m., the first AHS assistant coaches walk into the stadium. Assistants Jeff Maddox and Joel Miller go the field to set up for the first Wildcat players to warm up.
•At 6:25 p.m., the first AHS players enter the stadium for pregame warmups.
•At 6:32 p.m., Apalachee’s Stanley Williams steps onto a playing field for the first time prior to a 2011 regular season game.
•At 6:38 p.m., the first Habersham Central players take the field for warmups.
•At 7:25 p.m., the AHS captains — FJ Smith, Cole Shook and Chris Guthrie — walk onto the field for the pregame coin toss. The Wildcats win and defer to the second half.
•At 7:31 p.m., the first kickoff of 2011 is held involving AHS.
•At 7:32 p.m., Johnny Thompson makes the first special teams tackle for the Wildcats.
•At 7:33 p.m., Rakim Peters recovers the first fumble of 2011 for AHS.
•Still at 7:33 p.m., Williams scores the first touchdown of 2011 for the Cats.
•At 7:34 p.m., AHS head coach Shane Davis offers his first “words of encouragement” after he notices a missed assignment on an extra-point kick.
•At 7:39 p.m., Smith records the first sack of 2011.
•At 7:44 p.m., Eric Tanner rushes for the initial first down of 2011 for the Wildcats.
•At 7:46 p.m., the first official timeout of the game is called to give players a water break.
•At 7:48 p.m., the first penalty of the season is called against AHS.
•At 7:49 p.m., Austin Goley punts for the first time.
•At 8:02 p.m. the Wildcats trail for the first time in 2011.
•At 8:06 p.m., Clint Ashe completes his first pass of 2011 connecting with Jermaine Smith.
•At 8:16 p.m., the first drive of the season by AHS lasting at least 10 plays is completed.
•At 8:20 p.m., an opponent punts for the first time in 2011 to the Wildcats.
•At 8:59 p.m. the start of the first second half of the new season begins.
•At 9:20 p.m., the AHS defense makes its first fourth down stop of 2011.
•At 9:38 p.m., the Wildcats trail for the first time in the fourth quarter.
•At 10:14 p.m., AHS attempts an onsides kick trailing 38-35 but fails to recover.
•At 10:16 p.m, the game game ends and unfortunately gives the Wildcats their first loss of 2011.
Chris Bridges is sports editor of the Barrow Journal. You can reach him at cbridges@barrowjournal.com.
