Sports

Loran Smith/File Photo

Loran Smith/File Photo

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Smith: Football today

Loran Smith
Wednesday, August 14, 2024
There is so much uneasiness about college football today. While I am comfortable with paying the players, I cannot help but ask, shouldn’t there be some guardrails and respect for the grand ole game’s traditions? Some structure and an overseeing body to bring about common-sense regulation?
Greene County and Putnam County will officially renew their rivalry on the gridiron this Friday for the first time in five years. (FILE PHOTO)

Greene County and Putnam County will officially renew their rivalry on the gridiron this Friday for the first time in five years. (FILE PHOTO)

RIVALRY RENEWED: Tigers, War Eagles to face off Friday night

Lance McCurley
Wednesday, August 14, 2024
This Friday, the Greene County-Putnam County football rivalry will be renewed for the first time in five years.The teams scrimmaged each other the past two seasons, but the result will count this Friday.
Entering his third season as the Gators’ starting quarterback, senior Ames Johnson is expected to be a leader on and off the field as Gatewood seeks a return to the state championship game in December. IAN TOCHER/Staff

Entering his third season as the Gators’ starting quarterback, senior Ames Johnson is expected to be a leader on and off the field as Gatewood seeks a return to the state championship game in December. IAN TOCHER/Staff

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Gators gear up for 2024 season

Ian Tocher
Thursday, August 8, 2024
The Gatewood Gators will travel to Athens Christian this Friday for a preseason scrimmage. Head coach Jeff Ratliff hopes to iron out any last-minute kinks before the regular season starts one week later at Flint River Academy in Woodbury.
Erk Russell was Georgia football's defensive coordinator for 17 years and helped start the football program at Georgia Southern. (Photo Courtesy of the UGA Hargrett Library)

Erk Russell was Georgia football's defensive coordinator for 17 years and helped start the football program at Georgia Southern. (Photo Courtesy of the UGA Hargrett Library)

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Smith: Erk Russell tribute planned for Letterman’s Club at UGA

Loran Smith
Thursday, August 8, 2024
As another football season is about to get underway, I thought about all the lustful and enduring praise for offensive football, which has always been the talk of the town. I recalled how the late Erk Russell joined in, too, but underneath, he was plotting and scheming for an equalizer.
Putnam County quarterback Jamarion Robertson drops back to pass during a camp in July. Putnam head coach Joel Harvin said Robertson took most of the first-team snaps in last week’s scrimmage. LANCE McCURLEY/Staff

Putnam County quarterback Jamarion Robertson drops back to pass during a camp in July. Putnam head coach Joel Harvin said Robertson took most of the first-team snaps in last week’s scrimmage. LANCE McCURLEY/Staff

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War Eagles seek to improve after scrimmage

Lance McCurley
Thursday, August 8, 2024
Last Friday at West Laurens, Putnam County’s football team played its first of two scheduled preseason scrimmages.After a rough first half, the War Eagles hit their stride and played well against the Raiders in the final two quarters.
(Contributed)

(Contributed)

Rock Lobsters reveal inaugural-season promo nights

News Staff
Thursday, August 8, 2024
The Rock Lobsters, Athens’s new Federal Professional Hockey League (FPHL) team, has released its schedule of special promotional nights for the team’s inaugural 2024-25 season.Included are: Opening Night, Dec.
Gatewood’s Riley Roberts brings the heat on the pitcher’s mound for the Lady Gators this season. FILE PHOTO

Gatewood’s Riley Roberts brings the heat on the pitcher’s mound for the Lady Gators this season. FILE PHOTO

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Lady Gators softball season underway

Trey Norris
Thursday, August 8, 2024
Despite having their 2023 season come to an end at the hands of rival Piedmont Academy, Gatewood’s Lady Gators softball team went into the offseason with plenty of hope for the future.
Loran Smith/File Photo

Loran Smith/File Photo

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Smith: The Chatsworth Cheetah, Ladd McConkey

Loran Smith
Wednesday, July 31, 2024
After a brief respite in the hills of Northwest Georgia, the Chatsworth Cheetah—a most appropriate byname for Ladd McConkey—has returned to Los Angeles with his sights set on continuing his football career with the Chargers.
Putnam County quarterback Jamarion Robertson drops back to pass during a practice in June. LANCE McCURLEY/Staff

Putnam County quarterback Jamarion Robertson drops back to pass during a practice in June. LANCE McCURLEY/Staff

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Putnam preps for preseason scrimmage

Lance McCurley
Wednesday, July 31, 2024
Putnam County’s football team will travel to Dexter to scrimmage West Laurens at 7:30 p.m. this Friday.The War Eagles’ scrimmage against the Raiders will be the first of two this preseason. They will face former region foe and long-time rival Washington County on Aug.
Eatonton’s Vincent Hancock competes at the 2016 summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. FILE PHOTO

Eatonton’s Vincent Hancock competes at the 2016 summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. FILE PHOTO

Gatewood alum chasing history at Paris Olympics

Lance McCurley
Wednesday, July 31, 2024
Gatewood alum Vincent Hancock will compete in the men’s skeet shooting competition at the 2024 Paris Olympics.Hancock is a three-time gold medalist, claiming victories in Beijing (2008), London (2012), and Tokyo (2021).
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