East Cobb Sports & Recreation

Wheeler football falls short in playoff bid; Walton, Kell solidify seeds

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Wheeler football

After starting the season 5-0, the Wheeler football team sputtered out of any chance to reach the playoffs in what turned out to be the Wildcats’ final game of 2018.

Wheeler was clipped at home by Pebblebrook by a 38-35 score, as the Falcons claimed the final playoff berth from Region 2 of Class 7A. Although the Wildcats finished with a winning record overall at 6-4, their 1-4 region record was fifth in the region. Pebblebrook is 4-6 but 2-3 in the region.

The Wildcats led 21-7 at one point on Friday, and then almost clawed their way back after trailing 35-21.

Wheeler had a high-powered offense, led by quarterback C.J. Ogbonna, but it was the defense that faltered down the stretch of the season. Last week, the Wildcats were torched by Westlake 76-35, setting up a win-or-go-home finale against Pebblebrook.

The Walton Raiders nailed down the No. 2 seed in Region 4 of Class 7A with a 30-7 win at Woodstock. The Raiders, who scored 21 points in the third quarter, are 9-1 and 4-1 and will have a home playoff game next week. Walton has defeated seven teams who also are going to the playoffs.

The hottest of the East Cobb teams to finish the regular season is Kell, which rolled to its sixth consecutive win Friday by a convincing 41-18 score against Woodland. The Longhorns are 8-2 and 6-2 in Region 7 of Class 5A, and also will be playing at home to start the playoffs.

Sprayberry ended a long season on a high note, defeating River Ridge easily, by a 44-6 score. The Yellow Jackets finished 3-7 overall, and 3-6 in Region 6 of Class 6A.

Lassiter’s long season didn’t fare as well, however. The Trojans were looking for their first win in Region 4 of Class 7A, and had a good chance after taking the lead in overtime on Friday. However, playoff-bound Cherokee prevailed 26-23, as Lassiter turned in a 1-9 season, and 0-5 in region games.

The only win of the season for Lassiter came early, against Pope, by a 30-24 score. The Greyhounds ended their regular season last week at 5-5 and 5-3 in Region 7 of Class 6A. That was good enough to nail down the final playoff spot from that region.

The Georgia High School Association will announce first-round playoff pairings later this weekend.

 

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East Cobb Sports Update: Walton and Pope volleyball reach state finals

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Two East Cobb teams will be playing for state championships Saturday in the Georgia High School Association volleyball tournaments, and they won’t have to venture too far from home.GHSA logo, Walton and Pope volleyball

The Walton and Pope volleyball teams will be playing in back-to-back matches in the finals at Marietta High School.

Pope, which downed Creekview Tuesday in a comeback victory, will be meeting fellow Cobb school Allatoona in the Class 6A championship match that begins at 4 p.m.

The Lady Greyhounds are 39-9 and are in the finals for the first time since they won their last state title in 2011 (they also won state in 2009). Since then, Pope has finished in the Sweet 16 three times, the Elite 8 once and last year the Final Four.

Pope lost the first game to Creekview 25-19 on Tuesday but came back to sweep the match by scores of 25-17, 25-17 and 25-10.

Walton had little trouble dispatching North Gwinnett in straight sets on the road Tuesday to reach the state finals yet again. The Lady Raiders (40-3) will defend their Class 7A state championship at 6:30 p.m. against Milton.

Walton is attempting to win its fourth consecutive state title. The Lady Raiders have a total of 12 GHSA crowns and are heavily favored to make it 13.

The Walton and Pope matches will conclude a day of four title matches at Marietta High School (1171 Whitlock Ave.). All-session tickets are $8 a person. For more information visit the GHSA volleyball page.

 

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East Cobb sports update: Pope softball finishes as state runner-up; Walton, Pope volleyball advance to semifinals

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Pope softball

Two East Cobb teams made it to the Elite 8 of the Georgia High School softball tournament this week, and turned in strong performances. The Pope softball team finished second in Class 6A, while Lassiter was third in Class 7A.

The Greyhounds came out of the elimination bracket to reach the finals in Columbus on Saturday, but fell to Cobb County rival Harrison 6-3.

Pope’s season started in August with a loss to the Hoyas. Along the way the Greyhounds compiled a 33-6 record, a school record for wins, captured their region in undefeated fashion and have now made three championship game appearances since 2012.

Lassiter also won its region and qualified for the Elite 8. On Friday, the Trojans lost to Mill Creek 3-0 in the Class 7A semifinals to end their season. Lassiter’s first loss in the double-elimination tournament was to eventual state champion East Coweta.

Also on Saturday, the Walton volleyball team rolled on in the Class 7A quarterfinals. Playing in their home gym, the Lady Raiders trounced Lambert in a sweep to advance to the semifinals on Tuesday at North Gwinnett.

The finals will be Saturday at Marietta High School.

Walton, the defending state champion, is 40-3 and is heavily favored to continue its dynastic run through the state of Georgia.

Lassiter also reached the state tournament in Class 7A, but fell to West Forsyth Saturday in the quarterfinals. The Trojans were 29-6 this season.

The Pope volleyball team also has reached the semifinals in Class 6A, and will meet Creekview on Tuesday. The Greyhounds are 38-9 on the season and defeated Glynn Academy Saturday to advance.

 

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East Cobb Football Update: Walton upset by Roswell; Kell, Pope, Wheeler stay in playoff hunt

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Daniel Brunner, Walton football
Walton coach Daniel Brunner’s first regular-season loss came at the hands of Roswell, his alma mater. (ECN file photo)

Friday was a dramatic night for East Cobb football teams, with four of them still involved in playoff drives. But a Walton upset at the hands of Roswell has implications for region play as well as the state rankings.

The No. 2 Raiders fell 32-31, the first regular-season loss for coach Daniel Brunner. Khaleed Mobley of Roswell blocked a 26-yard field goal attempt by Walton in the dying seconds, after the Hornets had taken the lead on a two-point conversion after a touchdown.

The Senior Night loss at Raider Valley means Walton (7-1, 2-1) will likely not be the top seed coming out of Region 4 of Class 7A. Roswell, led by former Pope coach Matt Kemper, has an identical record and a tiebreaking win, if necessary, over Walton.

Walton quarterback Austin Kirksey threw for two touchdowns and ran for another, and found star receiver Dominick Blaylock wide open down the stretch of fourth down to set up the field goal try by Jack Westbrock.

The Raiders finish up the regular season the next two weeks on the road, at Cherokee and Woodstock.

Not far away, the Wheeler Wildcats were trying to bounce back from two consecutive losses and stay in playoff contention against a Campbell team suffering through a long season.

Wheeler dashed out to a 28-0 lead in the first half, then went ahead 41-20 in the third quarter before Campbell came charging back.

The Wildcats held off the upset bid 62-56, improving to 6-2 and 1-2 in Region 2 of Class 7A, as quarterback C.J. Ogbonna threw two touchdown passes. Next week Wheeler faces region leader Westlake.

The Kell Longhorns rolled up some points as well, but the outmatched Cass Colonels couldn’t keep up, as Kell won in a 63-3 rout. Quarterback Evan Conley threw five touchdown passes for the Longhorns, who are 6-2 and 4-2 in Region 7 of Class 5A.

The Pope Greyhounds also dug out a dramatic win to keep their post-season hopes alive, as they went to Cambridge and came away with a 29-26 win. Pope pulled off an 85-yard drive in the final minute, scoring on a 9-yard touchdown pass with 21 seconds to play.

Next week the Hounds, who improved to 4-5 and 4-3 in Region 7 of Class 6A, play Northview, which also is battling for a playoff spot.

The Sprayberry Yellow Jackets threatened to upset playoff-minded Sequoyah, and took an early 13-0 lead. But the Chiefs rebounded for a 35-28 win in Class 6A Region 6 play. Sprayberry, which fell to 2-6 and 2-4, continues a tough stretch next week, visiting region leader Creekview.

A long season for the Lassiter Trojans continued Friday in a 23-6 loss to Woodstock. The Trojans, who are 1-7 and 0-6 in Region 4 of Class 7A, play Etowah next week.

 

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East Cobb Sports Update: Walton, Wheeler in state volleyball; Pope, Lassiter softball reach Elite 8

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The first round of the Georgia High School Association volleyball tournament begins this weekend, and defending state champion Walton is a heavy favorite to repeat in Class 7A. Walton Volleyball team

The Raiders, who are 36-3 and have been ranked No. 1 in the state all season, will be playing host to a four-team bracket this Saturday. At noon, they will meet Colquitt County, after Wheeler plays North Cobb in a match that begins at 10 a.m.

The winners of those matches will meet on Monday in the second round.

Lassiter (27-5) also has advanced in Class 7A, but has to travel, facing Lowndes in a bracket at East Coweta.

The third round will be played next weekend, and the tournament culminates as usual for Class 7A at Marietta High School on Nov. 3.

The Pope volleyball team (35-9) will be playing Saturday against Cobb rival Harrison in a Class 6A bracket at Apalachee High School in Winder. The 6A finals also are at Marietta.

The GHSA volleyball tournament is single-elimination.

The Pope and Lassiter softball teams once again have reached the “Elite 8” in their respective classes, which is the culminating stage of the state tournament.

Both will be competing in Columbus next week after winning home doubleheaders in the second round this week.

Lassiter (25-7) swept North Paulding 1-0 and 9-1. Pope (29-4) also moved in a sweep, taking both games against Dacula by 6-0 and 6-1 scores.

On Thursday, Pope will play Greenbrier at 11 a.m. in the Class 6A bracket (click here to see more) in a return visit to Columbus. The Greyhounds have reached the Final Four four times since 2012 and were state champions in 2014.

In Class 7A, Lassiter also gets underway on Thursday in a 9 a.m. game against Brookwood (here’s that bracket).

Both tournaments are double-elimination and will conclude on Saturday.

 

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Pope, Lassiter softball to start state tournament play at home

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The Pope softball team, fresh off winning the Region 7AAAAAA tournament last week, gets to stay at home as the Georgia High School Association state tournament begins this week.

The Greyhounds will play host to Creekview, the defending state champion, on Wednesday in a doubleheader at 5 and 7 p.m. in a best-two-of-three series. A decisive game if necessary also would be at Pope at 6 p.m. Thursday.

Here is the Class 6A playoff bracket.

Pope blazed through the region with a perfect 14-0 record and is 23-3 for the season. That’s only the second time the Greyhounds have defeated region opponents without a blemish. The other time was in 2014, when Pope won its only state championship.

Here’s more on their remarkable region run, from the Pope Fastpitch site:

The 2018 undefeated region campaign was marked with 5 no hitters and 10 shutouts over the course of the 14 games. The 2018 Hounds held a 164 run differential over opponents in region games scoring 169 runs while only surrendering 5 runs over the 14 game span.

The Lassiter softball team won Region 4AAAAAAA and also gets to play host to a first-round series against Peachtree Ridge on Wednesday, also in a doubleheader. The Trojans are 21-4 overall and went 13-2 in the region.

Here’s the Class 7A bracket.

 

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East Cobb football update: Pope, Kell cruise in region games

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Only two of the six East Cobb high school football teams were in action Friday, but they made emphatic statements with region play underway.East Cobb football update

The Pope Greyhounds blanked Dunwoody 26-0 at the Hound Pound, the first shutout for a Pope varsity team in six years. That’s when current seniors were still in middle school.

Pope played without star receiver Zack Owens, who’s recovering from an injury, and raced to a 20-0 halftime lead.

More importantly, the win gives Pope (2-4 overall) a 2-2 record in Class 6A Region 7 play, with another key game coming on Friday at Johns Creek, which is tied for the region lead at 4-1, 3-0.

After two tough losses in Class 5A Region 7, the Kell Longhorns were off last week. On Friday, at winless Paulding County, they scored the first 33 points of the game and cruised to a 54-20 win.

Kell LogoIsaiah Cruz scored two touchdowns for Kell, which moves to 3-2 and 1-2 in region play, but tougher foes are ahead as the playoff stakes grow.

The Longhorns return home to The Stockyard Friday against region rival Villa Rica, which is tied for second in the region at 4-2, 3-1.

Also coming up on Friday is an East Cobb rivalry game. The Walton Raiders, ranked No. 2 in Class 7A at 5-0, opens its schedule in Region 4 against Lassiter, which is 1-4.

Also ranked in Class 7A is Wheeler, which is 5-0 for the first time in 25 years. The Wildcats will be at home for their Region 2 opener against Newnan (2-3).

Sprayberry is off to a 1-4 start and is 1-2 in Class 6A Region 6. The Yellow Jackets will be at home Friday for a region game against Osborne (0-6, 0-4).

 

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Kennesaw State athletics director discusses ‘Flight Plan’ for post-college success

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Milton Overton, Kennesaw State athletics director
“Your purpose in life is where your passion is,” said Milton Overton, who became KSU athletics director in the fall of 2017. (East Cobb News photo by Wendy Parker)

While Cobb County’s college football team continues to soar on the field, how those athletes prepare for what they do once they graduate is regarded as just as important.

Milton Overton, the Kennesaw State athletics director, pointed to himself as an example.

“I’m a guy who wouldn’t be here if it weren’t for being able to play football,” said Overton, the guest speaker at Tuesday’s East Cobb Business Association luncheon.

An offensive lineman for the powerhouse team at Oklahoma, he has also earned two master’s degrees and nearly completed his work on a doctorate.

“Education is the great equalizer, the vehicle for many Americans to have success.”

Overton, who arrived at KSU last fall, has enjoyed a 25-year career as a college sports administrator, and at some of the top programs in the country, including Alabama and Texas A & M.

Along the way, he’s been involved in nearly every aspect of what it takes for athletes to succeed on the field, as well as away from it.

Like many college athletic departments, KSU has a special program to help with the latter. It’s called “Flight Path,” and Overton stressed how good work habits and discipline for athletes now will help when they’re ready to begin their non-sports work careers.

In the Flight Plan program, KSU student-athletes work with a “career coach” to help them assess post-college working opportunities. Those coaches are local professionals who share information about their fields.

Current student-athletes also hear from KSU graduates who played sports, and who offer practical advice on what it’s like in the adult world.

The highly-regimented schedules of college athletes, Overton said, offer them an opportunity to enter the work world with an advantage.

He said the graduation rate for athletes is often higher than non-athletes at many universities because of additional tutoring and academic services.

If a young person is accustomed to “12-hour days over four years,” he said, he or she is “more than likely with an employer to have a good shot” at securing a good job.

Now the third-largest university in Georgia with nearly 35,000 students, KSU has quickly succeeded since beginning varsity football in 2015.

The Owls, who are ranked fifth nationally in the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS), reached the national quarterfinals a year ago. Overton recently extended the contract of head coach Brian Bohannon through 2023, and KSU is trying to sell 30,000 tickets for a November game at SunTrust Park.

Overton was hired by then-KSU president Sam Olens after two years as athletics director at Florida A & M, which was undergoing financial struggles.

The FCS designation is just below the Football Bowl Subdivision, where Georgia and Georgia Tech play. Overton said that for now, there’s no desire for KSU to make a move up, as Georgia State has done.

“We want to be where we have a chance to complete,” he said. “If we keep doing what we’re doing, at some point” there may be some consideration. “This school is primed to do some good things,” he said, and not just in sports.

“KSU is a rocket ship,” Overton said. “I’m just trying to hold on.”

 

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Walton football jumps up to No. 2 in state poll; unbeaten Wheeler unranked

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The Walton football team’s big nationally-televised win over state champion North Gwinnett on Friday catapulted the Raiders to No. 2 in the latest high school football rankings.

The Raiders moved up from third in the Georgia Sports Writers Association Class 7A poll that was released Tuesday, getting 120 points and edging Grayson, which had been second, by two points. Colquitt County remains on top with 139 points. Two other Cobb schools, McEachern and Hillgrove, also are ranked in the Top 10 this week.

Wheeler, which like Walton is also 4-0, is not. In fact, the Wildcats, the only other unbeaten team from East Cobb, didn’t get any votes at all from the GWSA voters.

But they have a chance to make a statement on Friday at home against Roswell, which received 12 votes, just missing the rankings. Marietta got 13 votes.

Walton will also be at home Friday, against Newnan.

The only other ranked East Cobb team dropped out. Kell, which had been No. 10 in Class 5A, lost to East Paulding last week and still got eight votes, just out of the rankings.

 

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Last-minute Walton football comeback stuns North Gwinnett

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Walton football comeback

Dominick Blaylock scored an 11-yard touchdown with 32 seconds left in the game Friday to cap a Walton football comeback in a 27-24 victory over defending state champion North Gwinnett before a national television audience.

Blaylock was already having another marvelous game before he took the snap and raced down the left sideline, bowling over two Bulldog defenders as he pushed his way into the end zone.

Walton football comeback, Dominick Blaylock

It was the last of Blaylock’s three touchdowns, and helped the Raiders, ranked No. 3 in Class 7A, stay unbeaten at 4-0 in their first home game of the season at Raider Valley.

Walton led 7-0 and 14-7 before No. 4 North Gwinnett (2-2) roared back in the second half. The Bulldogs kicked a field goal with 5:42 to go in the game to take a 24-21 lead, setting up a thrilling finish.

The Raiders also played for a time without starting quarterback Austin Kirksey, who went out limping near halftime and returned in the final period.

“These guys just fight and fight and fight for each other,” Walton coach Daniel Brunner said after the game, hugging Blaylock, his baby-faced star who’s bound for the University of Georgia next season.

“I’m so glad I’ve got this dude here, the best player in the state of Georgia,” Brunner said. “He may look sweet, but he sure doesn’t play like it.”

Dominick Blaylock gets Walton on the scoreboard first late in the first quarter. (East Cobb News photos by Wendy Parker)

The game kicked off earlier than normal because it was part of a national TV high school football doubleheader on ESPN2.

Blaylock gave Walton a 7-0 lead with 2:15 left in the first quarter on a two-yard run. On its next drive, North Gwinnett answered, with Tyler Goodson finishing off with a short TD for a 7-7 score.

By the time dusk turned to dark, the dramatics heightened.

Walton regained the lead at 14-7 on an eight-yard TD run by Kirksey. But with 29 seconds to play before halftime, he went out of the game, walking gingerly off the field. He was replaced by freshman Zac Rozsman.

Midway in the third quarter, and on fourth down, the Bulldogs drew even at 14-14 on a 38-yard desperation heave from JR Martin to Garrison Minor.

The Walton defense holds on third down.

North Gwinnett, whose only loss last season was to Walton in the Corky Kell Classic, went ahead for the first time at 21-14 with a touchdown with 1:40 left in the third quarter.

At the same time, Kirksey began limbering up on the sideline, as Walton players and coaches tried to figure out how to come from behind. The answer, of course, was with a whole lot of Blaylock, but the Raiders had to climb out of some holes they created for themselves along the way.

Upon Kirksey’s return, he led a drive that resulted in Blaylock’s second touchdown, which made the score 21-21 with 8:41 left in the fourth quarter.

On their next drive, the Raiders were driving deep when a first-down run by KD Alford (below) was nullified because of a penalty. That could have spelled doom for Walton, as well as Kirksey being sacked on the North Gwinnett 45.

That set up a third-and-27 for Walton, and Kirksey hooked up with Blaylock for a first down to the 12. Blaylock finished off the comeback, and the defending state champions, two plays later.

Walton’s defense held off the last chance for the Bulldogs, forcing three incomplete passes, then sacked the quarterback on the last play of the game.

 

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Walton-North Gwinnett football game to be shown on ESPN2

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Walton-North Gwinnett football game

Back in August we noted that tonight’s Walton-North Gwinnett football game was going to be nationally televised.

That’s still the case, but the outlet has changed, and it’s going to show the game to a bigger audience. Instead of being shown on ESPNU, Raider Valley’s going to be showcased on ESPN2.)

The battle between the No. 3 Raiders (3-0) and No. 4 North Gwinnett (2-1), last year’s Georgia Class 7A state champions, is part of ESPN’s Geico High School Football Showcase.

It’s also the first home game of the season for Walton, and please note that if you’re going, kickoff is at 7 p.m., and not the standard 7:30 p.m.

That’s for television reasons, since the Walton game is the part of a doubleheader.

Last year, Walton defeated North Gwinnett in the Corky Kell Classic in what would be the only defeat of the season for the Bulldogs.

All East Cobb high school football teams are in action after four, including Walton, had bye weeks. Tonight’s other games all start at 7:30 p.m.

Wheeler is also seeking to go 4-0 at Lassiter, which is 1-2. It’s also homecoming for the Trojans. A parade starts at 5:30 p.m. from the Wendy’s on Shallowford Road (near Sandy Plains) and will proceed to the school.

At Pope, it’s the Matt Hobby Game, which we posted here yesterday, and as the Greyhounds are seeking their first win of the season. Sprayberry (1-2), travels to play Harrison (4-0), ranked No. 3 in Class 6A.

Kell, the only other ranked team in East Cobb, is No. 10 in Class 5A and puts its 2-1 record on the line at East Paulding (0-2). Last week the Longhorns fell 35-6 at home to top-ranked Rome, the 2017 Class 5A state champion.

 

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Johnson Ferry South trails at Chattahoochee NRA closed this week

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Johnson Ferry South trails
National Park Service

The Chattahoochee National Recreation Area is getting out word today that the Johnson Ferry South trails and loop will be closed most of this week for routine maintenance and construction.

A social media message said there will be heavy equipment and trenching operations near map post JS3 and JS4 (which are closest to trail access on Columns Drive), and that work is expected to be done by Saturday.

Related story

 

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Wheeler cross country runner wins Cobb County championship

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Wheeler runner wins Cobb cross country, Alex Dyck

Thanks to Meggan Muller, a French teacher at Wheeler High School, for the photos and info about the Cobb Cross Country Championship over the weekend at Allatoona Creek Park in Acworth.

The individual boys winner was Wheeler’s Alex Dyck (pictured at right, above, with teammate Daniel Reis). Alex’s winning time was 16:05.72, and the week before that he was the winner at the Run at the Rock race in Cartersville.

Reis finished in 10th at the Cobb meet and was second at the Run of the Rock. Pictured below is Virginia Miller, a Wheeler freshman who was ninth in the Cobb junior varsity race, also over the weekend.

In the team standings, the Pope boys and the Walton girls finished second.

Virginia Miller, Wheeler cross country

 

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Terrell Mill Park adult coed ultimate frisbee season starting soon

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From Cobb Parks and Rec is a reminder of the Terrell Mill Park adult coed ultimate frisbee season that’s soon to be underway, and with a registration deadline approaching:Terrell Mill Park adult coed ultimate frisbee

The ultra-fun Coed Ultimate Frisbee league is returning for fall season! The league will be held at Terrell Mill Park on Monday nights. Each team will play 7 games plus a single elimination tournament. Teams consist of 5 males and 2 females. Games will be one 90-minute time period to 15 points each week, starting at either 7pm or 8:30pm.

Registration is in progress through September 10th. If you don’t have a team, you can register individually at  the Atlanta Disc Flying Club’s website. Team fees are $150 and teams can register at the PARKS registration page. Games will begin Monday, September 17th. Be sure to join in the fun!

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East Cobb football update: Walton, Kell cruise in rivalry games; Sprayberry, Wheeler rally late

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Two East Cobb rivalry games headlined Friday night’s high school football action, and they turned into convincing wins. Walton High School logo, East Cobb football update

Walton routed Pope 35-3 and Kell dispatched Lassiter 29-3.

After sputtering early–including losing a fumble near the Pope goal line—Walton settled down by the end of the first quarter.

That’s when running back KD Stokes scored the first of his two short touchdown runs. Brandon Spencer ran back an interception 50 yards for a touchdown as the Raiders, ranked No. 4 in Class 7A, improved to 3-0 on the season.

A fourth quarter field goal by Hudson Standfest was all the scoring for the Greyhounds (0-2).

At Kell, the homestanding Longhorns gave up the opening points of the game on a Lassiter field goal.

But quarterback Evan Conley threw for two touchdowns and Logan Flesher booted three field goals for Kell (3-0).  Lassiter fell to 1-2.

The game was delayed in the third quarter when Lassiter defensive back Evan Manring was injured and taken off the field on a stretcher. Both teams gathered together at midfield for a prayer.

Sprayberry (1-2) earned its first victory of the year in stirring fashion, driving more than 95 yards late in the game to defeat South Cobb 28-27 on the road. After Isiah Abbey scored a touchdown at the end of a long drive, QB Aaron Bibbins ran in the 2-point conversion.

Wheeler is now 3-0 after pulling out a last-ditch 31-24 win at Shiloh.

Quarterback Chidi Ogbonna threw a 32-yard touchdown pass to Kiasa Trabue with 1:15 to play in the fourth quarter.

Next week, Kell stays at home for an important region game against Rome. The Longhorns are ranked No. 10 in Class 5A, but the Wolves are second, and are coming off a 35-0 win over North Clayton.

In the only other game for an East Cobb team on Friday, Pope will play at Centennial. Walton, Lassiter, Wheeler and Sprayberry all will have a bye week.

 

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Walton volleyball team raising funds for ‘Tour of Champions’ trip

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By the end of the week the Walton volleyball team is facing a fundraising deadline for a trip that will take them to three elite tournaments out West in September. Walton Volleyball team

The Lady Raiders have dominated high school volleyball in Georgia for years, and are seeking their fourth consecutive Georgia High School Association title.

They’re also coming off national championships, as voted by PrepVolleyball and Max Preps, and are looking to test their prowess early in the new season. They’ll be participating in a “Tour of Champions” that will take them to Nevada, Arizona and California.

For several weeks they’ve been soliciting funds and sponsorships to help support their trip, having reached 70 percent of their goal. That’s nearly $15,000, but the goal is $22,000, and Friday is the deadline for the fundraising effort.

Here’s more about the trip, and click here if you’re interested in helping out in whatever denomination you wish.

All contributions are tax-deductible.

More sports news

 

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Sewell Park baseball renovations, Mabry Park playground on Cobb commissioners agenda Tuesday

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Sewell Park baseball renovations

Renovations to a concession stand building and some dugouts at Sewell Park are being proposed at Tuesday night’s Cobb Board of Commissioners meeting.

The Cobb Parks and Recreation Department says the upgrades have been earmarked in the 2011 SPLOST at a combined cost of $45,191, based on low bids received.

Needed enovations to the main concession stand building include restroom and storage space upgrades, as well as a new paint job and replacing windows. It overlooks Field 3, the main tournament field for the East Marietta National Little League.

Another agenda item would replace the dugout roofs at fields 5A and 5B, which are used for younger age-level games. Those dugouts currently have fabric tarp roofs that require maintenance and replacement. The proposed new roofs are metal.

Also on Tuesday, another item would appropriate $324,989.80 in existing 2016 SPLOST funds for the installation of a playground at Mabry Park, which has been under construction on Wesley Chapel Road since earlier this year.

It’s considered the centerpiece of the park, and the Mabry Park Master Plan calls for a farm theme for the playground to conform to the surroundings that were once park of the Mabry family farm.

Commissioners also will be asked to spend $89,520 in 2016 SPLOST funds for master planning services for land purchased recently with 2008 parks bond money, including 18.3 acres on Ebenezer Road.

On the consent agenda is an item for the commissioners to approve a new Cobb parks master plan for 2018-2028, an action that was delayed from earlier this summer.

One other item that’s sports-and-rec related: At the start of the meeting commissioners will recognize the Sandy Plains Prowlers 12-under baseball team, which recently had a standout tournament in Cooperstown, N.Y., that we wrote about earlier.

Tuesday’s meeting starts at 7 p.m. in the 2nd floor board room of the Cobb government building, 100 Cherokee St. in downtown Marietta.

The agenda is long and hefty, since a previous business meeting scheduled for this month was cancelled. You can read all that’s on tap here, and we’ll be reporting on some of those actions.

 

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PHOTOS: Wheeler defeats Sprayberry in renewal of old East Cobb rivalry

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Wheeler defeats Sprayberry
Jeremiah Pruitte (right) gets a high-five and more after his first touchdown catch for Wheeler. (East Cobb News photos and video by Wendy Parker)

Jeremiah Pruitte caught two touchdown passes and Taylor Smith ran back an interception 91 yards for another score as Wheeler defeated Sprayberry 40-20 Friday Night.

The Wildcats (2-0) were playing their first game at home. Sprayberry had the early momentum on its first drive but fumbled near the Wheeler goal line, and the Wildcats recovered.

Wheeler struck right away, with Zack Atkins scoring on a long touchdown pass.

Wheeler defeats Sprayberry
Myles Worthy sets up Sprayberry’s first touchdown in the first quarter.

Sprayberry scored a touchdown on its next possession when Aaron Bibbins ran into the end zone on quarterback keeper. But Wheeler blocked the extra point to make the score 7-6.

Although they mounted a comeback in the second half, the Yellow Jackets (0-2) would get no closer.

It was the first game between Sprayberry and Wheeler since 2013.

The Wildcats got big plays all night when they needed them, this one on an open-field run by JD Thomas (12), who also scored a touchdown.
Young Wheeler fans line up before the game to greet the Wildcats.
Deonte Trotman gains against Wheeler’s defense as Sprayberry tried to close a 31-13 deficit in the third quarter.
Pruitte (13), a receiver who’s 6-foot-6, was tough for Sprayberry’s defense to handle all night.

Pruitte’s second touchdown pass from Chidi Ogbonna came with 2:02 to play in the third quarter, and gave Wheeler a 31-13 lead.

Sprayberry fought back in the fourth quarter, as Bibbins scored another touchdown on a keeper to make the score 31-20.

But he made some crucial mistakes down the stretch. The Jackets were driving to Wheeler’s goal line when he was intercepted by Derrick Dunn. Later, he was sacked in the end zone for a safety.

With the score 33-20, Sprayberry was knocking on the door again in the final minute of the game. Bibbins aimed a pass toward the goal line, but Wheeler’s Taylor Smith reached up and picked the ball off, then ran it back 91 yards for a TD and the final scoring of the night.

Wheeler defeats Sprayberry
A pleasant, picturesque evening for Friday Night Lights in East Cobb.

In other games involving East Cobb teams, Walton came from behind on the road to defeat Collins Hill 29-25.

In another East Cobb rivalry game, Pope led Lassiter 7-0 at halftime, and then the Trojans scored two touchdowns to take a 14-7 lead.

The Greyhounds came back with a touchdown of their own, but missed the extra point. Lassiter added another touchdown late for a 20-13 win.

Two more East Cobb rivalry games take place next week. Lassiter remains at home against Kell, which was off this week. Pope’s home opener next Friday is against Walton.

More sports news

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East Cobb football update: Walton routs, Kell hangs on in Corky Kell Classic

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The high school football season for East Cobb teams concluded with a bang Saturday morning at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in downtown Atlanta.

The Kell Longhorns led 36-21 in the fourth quarter of the Corky Kell Classic, then almost frittered away that advantage.

East Coweta narrowed the score to 36-28, then got possession on an onside kick and scored a touchdown in the dying seconds to trail 36-34.

However, a two-point play that would have tied the game was broken up by Stefan Green, and Kell ran out the clock to claim a 36-34 win.

A quarterback draw by Evan Conley, Kell’s talented senior quarterback, earlier in the fourth quarter provided the winning margin.

The Longhorns are off next week.

In the second game of the day, the Walton Raiders fell behind Mill Creek early. Then the senior duo of Austin Kirksey and Dominick Blaylock went to work.

Kirksey, the quarterback, threw to Blaylock for three touchdowns and scored two of his own on the run as the Raiders won going away, 48-27.

Kell LogoWalton, ranked in the Top 10 in Class 7-A in several pre-season polls, plays a second consecutive game against a Gwinnett County team when it travels to Collins Hill next week.

On Friday, Wheeler opened its season on the road, and came away with a 28-14 win at Lambert.

Sprayberry was playing at home in its season opener, but fell to South Forsyth 26-6.

Next Friday, Sprayberry visits Wheeler in an all-East Cobb rivalry game.

The other East Cobb team completing Friday night was Lassiter, which was routed at home 48-0 by Harrison.

Next Friday, the Trojans will play host to Pope, which did not play this week.

 

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East Cobb sports update: Kelly Barnhill honored by Pope softball

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Kelly Barnhill, Pope softball

Former Pope softball star Kelly Barnhill had a special unveiling on the left field wall before Friday’s doubleheader against Sequoyah and North Paulding.

She was home in East Cobb for only a few days this week after helping the USA softball national team win the World Championships in Japan and qualify for the 2020 Olympics.

“It’s just nice coming home and being around people who helped make me who I am,” Barnhill said, mentioning family, friends and her former Pope coaches.

Kelly Barnhill

Barnhill got to throw out the first pitch, and met with fans and signed autographs.

Barnhill, who was the 2017 national college player of the year at the University of Florida, returns to Gainesville on Saturday.

 

The Greyhounds rallied for two runs in the bottom of the sixth inning to win the first game 5-3 over Sequoyah. In the nightcap, North Paulding won as Pope’s record is now 4-2 on the season.

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