AHS Sports

Not satsified with a tie, Wildcats look for victory this week

Posted by
Chris Bridges
Wednesday, September 7. 2016
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It wasn’t a loss for the Apalachee High School football team this past Friday, but players, coaches and fans couldn’t help but ask “What if?” following a 22-22 tie against Union Grove on the road.

The Wildcats moved in front 22-2 at one point but had to have a blocked extra point by Jason Craig in the final minute to prevent a possible loss.

“We didn’t feel great coming off the field,” AHS coach Steve Sims said. “We missed two field goals that could have put the game away. We just couldn’t make a play in the second half. They converted some long third downs. Those final two touchdowns hurt us. We gave up an easy one early in the third quarter.”

The blocked extra point did prevent Union Grove from coming all the way back and AHS actually moved into position to possibly win the game. However, the Wildcats were at a disadvantage with an injury to their kicker and had to throw the football into the endzone to try and win the game. Union Grove intercepted an AHS pass on the final play of the game.

“We are proud of how we came back and had a chance to win at the end,” Sims said. “We have tried to focus on that. It’s about baby steps. The first game we were careless with the football. This time we jumped out and got a lead. Our one turnover during the game didn’t hurt. We didn’t have another one until the final play.”

While officially the Wildcats’ losing streak, dating back to 2014, is over, Sims wants his team to be able to take that final step toward a victory.

“We have to be able to finish a game,” the coach said. “These kids don’t have a lot of experience closing out games. It’s still a process although I know people get tired of hearing that. At the end of the day, we played better. A big part of what we are facing is learning how to win. We had several chances last Friday to make plays to stop their final score.” [Full Story »] 

Lady Cats excel on the diamond

Posted by
Chris Bridges
Wednesday, September 7. 2016
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Entering this week, the Apalachee High School softball team is viewing the scenery from on top of the Region 8-AAAAAA mountain.

The Lady Wildcats are the lone undefeated team in region play with a 5-0 mark. AHS is also 9-3 overall and playing solid softball.

“We’ve had some quality performances from several players,” said coach Matt Allen. “This team believes it can win and we hope to continue the level of play we have been competing at.”

A 9-8 win against Lanier High School on Aug. 30 is still fresh on every player’s mind. The Lady Wildcats trailed 8-3 going into the bottom of the seventh inning but rallied for what seemed like an improbable victory. [Full Story »] 

Wildcats see chance for victory Friday

Posted by
Chris Bridges
Thursday, September 1. 2016
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There were some definite bright spots in the season opener for the Apalachee High School football team last week.

A new program record was established and the Wildcats battled well into the season half before visiting River Ridge High School eventually took a 27-14 win.
“As always, there was some good and bad, “ said coach Steve Sims. “We turned the football over five times and you aren’t going to beat anyone like that. We played hard though and I am proud of how we got up off the deck after getting in the hole that we did.”

River Ridge jumped out to a 13-0 lead and that advantage proved to be a little too much for AHS to recover from.

“We made it too hard on ourselves,” Sims said.

River Ridge scored an 11-yard touchdown on its first series of the game and later returned an interception for a score. AHS meanwhile fumbled at the River Ridge two-yard line, preventing a possible score in the second quarter.

The Wildcats did have a 96-yard touchdown run by Stephen Massillon late in the first half which established a new program record. The score kept AHS in the game when it appeared River Ridge was on the verge of possibly putting it away.

After a turnover, River Ridge had a first and goal at the Wildcat 10-yard line, but the Knights would then be bit by the turnover bug with 1:09 left in the half. [Full Story »] 

AHS cross country begins season at tough meet

Posted by
Chris Bridges
Wednesday, August 31. 2016
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The Apalachee High School cross country team began a new season this past weekend, running at the Saucony Kickoff Classic in Savannah.

“I think we ran pretty well,” said AHS coach Alex Holmes. “The course changed from the previous two years and times were significantly slower. In 2015, Marietta’s boys averaged a 16:07. This year, they averaged roughly a 17:30 with three of their top five runners returning. We averaged a time in the 18:00 in 2015. But this year we averaged a 19:30.”

Fabian Martinez ran a 17:58 in 2015 for AHS but his time was 19:06 this year, his coach noted.

The Wildcat varsity boys finished in seventh place overall among 30 teams.

“We had the fastest 1-5 split among all of the team with a 38-second split,” Holmes said. “That was good to see." [Full Story »] 

Wildcats set for season opener Friday

Posted by
Chris Bridges
Thursday, August 25. 2016
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The confidence level in the offseason for the Apalachee High School football team has been higher than most would expect leading into the 2016 season.

After all, the Wildcats were 0-10 last fall and the program has struggled for success in recent campaigns. Judging from the attitudes of players and coaches, however, the tide may be set to turn back in favor of the AHS program.

The first test begins Friday as the Wildcats host River Ridge High School for a 7:30 p.m. kickoff at R. Harold Harrison Stadium.

“It’s time to play a real one,” said second-year coach Steve Sims. “We played OK in our scrimmage and are excited to open the season at home. We are set to go out and see how we do.”

After finishing 1-9 in 2015, the River Ridge Knights have already matched that win total after the first game of 2016. Coach Tyler Wynn’s team defeated Woodland, Cartersville, 36-8 last week.

“They are a spread team and like to run the football using a lot of motion and counters,” Sims said. “Between their quarterback and tailback, we will have our hands full stopping the run.”

The AHS coach noted River Ridge was leading 36-8 at one point only allowing a score once the team’s reserves were in the game. [Full Story »] 

Wildcats win preseason scrimmage

Posted by
Chris Bridges
Wednesday, August 17. 2016
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High school football scrimmages are viewed in different ways for different teams.

Some view them as nothing more than a glorified practice, only with another team. Some simply try to avoid injuries.

To some teams, however, having success is vital for confidence. Such was the case for the Apalachee High School football team which defeated North Oconee 7-0 in its preseason event last Friday. For a program which is struggling to win, having success is always a positive thing.

“It was just a scrimmage but for us to go and have success is a big step in the right direction for our kids,” said second-year AHS coach Steve Sims. “The main thing is that we played hard and played a competitive game. We still have a lot of work to do and things to fix, but to play with an opponent of that caliber is a step in the right direction.”

The Wildcats have two weeks between their scrimmage and regular season opener on Aug. 26 against River Ridge High School.
[Full Story »] 

Lady Cats have playoffs on their minds

Posted by
Chris Bridges
Wednesday, August 10. 2016
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As the new softball season approaches, Apalachee High School coach Matt Allen said he likes the way his roster has shaped up.

“We have a good balance of new players and returning veterans,” Allen said. “We did lose five seniors who were on the field for most of the season. The majority of our pitching is back. We have three or four players who will come up from the junior varsity and set in and play immediately for the varsity.”

The Lady Wildcats are hoping, as are all members of Region 8-AAAAAA, to be one of the four teams to qualify for the postseason. This year there is an extra incentive to finish in the top two.

“It will be a tough fight,” Allen said. “We only have six teams but it is going to be difficult to get past region. It places a premium on regular season region games. You can’t skate through the season and then rely on the tournament. The two top teams will automatically go to state so all teams are aiming for one of those spots.”

The AHS coach likes the new region setup, however. [Full Story »] 

Wildcats enthusiastic about new season

Posted by
Chris Bridges
Wednesday, August 3. 2016
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The level of enthusiasm which is emerging from the Apalachee High School practices can be viewed as surprising when one considers the recent history of the program.

Coming off an 0-10 season in 2015 — and a program mark of 1-29 the past three years — AHS is looking for things to take an upward turn in 2016. No one is predicting a 10-0 season or a region championship, but there remains a firm confidence that things can get better for a program which has not been to the state playoffs since 2009.

“The kids are certainly working hard,” second-year head coach Steve Sims said recently. “There’s no doubt about that. No one is looking back on what has happened. Everyone is working to make things better for the future of this program.”

The 2016 season, which begins Aug. 26 against River Ridge at home, will feature five non-region games to start the new campaign. The Region 8-AAAAAA schedule begins Sept. 30 against county rival Winder-Barrow High School.
[Full Story »] 

AHS hires new baseball coach

Posted by
Chris Bridges
Wednesday, July 27. 2016
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Apalachee High School has a new baseball coach as Allan Bailey was officially hired Tuesday night.

Bailey was an assistant varsity baseball coach at Oconee County High School. He was also the athletic director at Oconee County Middle School where he was also the boys basketball coach.

Bailey replaces Clint Harrison who recently resigned after two seasons.

Harrison steps as Wildcat baseball coach

Posted by
Chris Bridges
Wednesday, July 6. 2016
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A program which has struggled to find its footing since its inception was dealt another hard punch to the gut last week when its head coach resigned.

Apalachee High School baseball coach Clint Harrison stepped down after only two seasons directing the program to become an assistant coach at Kennesaw State University.

The timing of the decision, more than anything else, will put AHS officials behind the proverbial eight-ball in trying to find a new head baseball coach as the new school year begins in less than a month. Harrison was also an assistant softball coach at Apalachee.

The Wildcat baseball program has not managed to qualify for the state playoffs in school history and has struggled to even have a season where it finishes above the .500 mark. Competing in its current region has been tough with long-time successful programs such as Gainesville, Loganville and even cross county program Winder-Barrow. AHS is set for a revamped region and classification next season, however.

Harrison’s hiring two years ago raised some eyebrows mainly due to his age as he was just 26 at the time taking over a Class AAAAA program as a first-time varsity head coach. He would compile a 13-37 record in two years as head coach.
Harrison replaced long-time coach Mike Cavey who long expressed concerns over a lack of facilities at AHS when compared to those with other region programs, including WBHS.
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