Entries by Chris Bridges

Even with a different opponent this Friday, the strategy will be mostly the same for the Apalachee High School football team.

The Wildcats host Loganville Friday in a battle of 4-5 teams. Both teams will likely miss the playoffs, regardless of the outcome.

“We will have to have a strong effort and be able to control the clock,” AHS coach Shane Davis said. “It will be key for us to keep their offense off the field as much as possible. Our defense has played well recently. Hopefully, our players have another four quarters in them.” [Full Story »] 

The Winder-Barrow High School competition cheerleading team performed for scoring only Saturday during its own event.

However, had they actually been figured in the standings, the Cheer Doggs would have won and been named grand champion. It’s just another in a line of impressive performances for coach Jerrie Hulsey’s program, which is preparing this week for co-ed sectionals in Columbus.

“I thought our overall performance was the best to date,” Hulsey said. “The stunts looked very solid. We had a couple of mishaps. A person stepped off the mat and one of my flyers doubled down funny and knocked one of her bases to the floor. However, I feel like we are where we should be at this point heading into sectionals this Saturday at Columbus.”

The Winder-Barrow High School coach said sectionals determine where a team will be ranked 1 through 16, which determines the order of performance. [Full Story »] 

Football, probably as much as any sport, is about emotion.

The Apalachee High School Wildcats have showed a remarkable ability to turn things around this season after a slow start. Ironically, the slow start was in the win-loss category only as AHS actually played well in its first four games of 2011, despite not posting a victory.

Close losses to Habersham Central (three points), Salem (seven points) and Heritage (five points) were tough to accept. Even in the game against undefeated and No. 3-ranked Flowery Branch back on Sept. 9, the Wildcats played well. It’s just the Falcons are a step above most, if not all, opponents in Region 8-AAAA this season. [Full Story »] 

A region championship will not be on the line Friday night at W. Clair Harris Stadium.

Only one team has an outside chance of making the postseason at this point in the season.

Despite those facts, don’t expect less than 100 percent effort from the players — and coaches — who represent Winder-Barrow High School and Apalachee High School when they square off in the eighth annual Battle of Barrow football contest. [Full Story »] 

The 29th annual Hit 'Em for Hemophilia Golf Tournament will be held on Tuesday, Nov. 1, at Château Elan Winery and Resort in Braselton.

Sponsored by Hemophilia of Georgia in partnership with the Atlanta Braves, the Hit 'Em for Hemophilia Golf Tournament is recognized as one of the premier charity golfing events in the United States.

Since 1982, the tournament has raised more than $12 million for research for a cure for inherited bleeding disorders. Over the years, treatment has improved but there is still no cure.

Tournament participants will enjoy a full day of golf on the courses at Château Elan, followed by an awards reception, raffle, and silent and live auctions. Corporate sponsors at the platinum, gold and silver levels will be paired with local and sports celebrities from the Atlanta Braves and other professional sports organizations, including players, alumni, managers, coaches and announcers. [Full Story »]