Sports

Loran Smith/Columnist

Loran Smith/Columnist

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Smith: Making of champions

Loran Smith
Thursday, August 31, 2023
It doesn’t matter about the championship team. Research confirms that most of them had a close call during their season of glory. In the last 20 years, half of the teams that became national champions lost one game. In 2007, LSU won the title, but lost two games, which is very unusual.
Georgia head coach Kirby Smart during Georgia’s scrimmage on Dooley Field at Sanford Stadium in Athens, Ga., on Saturday, Aug. 12, 2023. (Tony Walsh/UGAAA)

Georgia head coach Kirby Smart during Georgia’s scrimmage on Dooley Field at Sanford Stadium in Athens, Ga., on Saturday, Aug. 12, 2023. (Tony Walsh/UGAAA)

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Bulldogs to host UT-Martin in season opener

Lance McCurley
Thursday, August 31, 2023
Defending back-toback national champion and top-ranked Georgia will open up its season on Saturday. The Bulldogs will host FCS UT-Martin between the hedges at Sanford Stadium in each team’s opener. Georgia head coach Kirby Smart and his staff have a lot of respect for the back-to-back OVC champs.
Official 2023-2024 dove season hunting dates are Sept. 2-Oct. 8, Nov. 18-26 and Dec. 19-Jan. 31. Statewide shooting hours for all dove seasons are one-half hour before sunrise to sunset. CONTRIBUTED

Official 2023-2024 dove season hunting dates are Sept. 2-Oct. 8, Nov. 18-26 and Dec. 19-Jan. 31. Statewide shooting hours for all dove seasons are one-half hour before sunrise to sunset. CONTRIBUTED

Georgia dove-hunting season opens Saturday

News Staff
Thursday, August 31, 2023
The Georgia dove hunting season opens Sept. 2, according to the Georgia Department of Natural Resources Wildlife Resources Division (WRD).
Putnam County quarterback Jamarion Robertson (2) hands the ball off to Mark Little (6). TREY NORRIS/Staff

Putnam County quarterback Jamarion Robertson (2) hands the ball off to Mark Little (6). TREY NORRIS/Staff

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Game Preview: Putnam County at Oconee County

Lance McCurley
Thursday, August 31, 2023
Oconee County and Putnam County are both winless, so Friday’s matchup in Watkinsville is huge for both teams. The Warriors have played a tough schedule so far against Class 4A’s No. 2-ranked North Oconee and a Class 5A program in Clarke Central.
Lake Oconee Striper Club VP Darcy Flynn with a double on a mini-Mack rig. CONTRIUBTED

Lake Oconee Striper Club VP Darcy Flynn with a double on a mini-Mack rig. CONTRIUBTED

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Outdoors: Summertime heat

James K. Pressley
Thursday, August 31, 2023
How many of you are sitting there saying, “Well, summer is over, and football is about to start.” Be honest. You are probably the same ones excited about pumpkin spice lattes and wearing Ug boots. Well, I hate to tell you this, but a Georgia summer doesn’t ever really end. It just has breaks.
Gators quarterback Ames Johnson (10) completes a handoff to fellow junior Jackson Hewatt in a pre-season scrimmage early last month. IAN TOCHER/Staff

Gators quarterback Ames Johnson (10) completes a handoff to fellow junior Jackson Hewatt in a pre-season scrimmage early last month. IAN TOCHER/Staff

Gators counting on experience to improve

Ian Tocher
Tuesday, August 29, 2023
A 5-7 finish like last year, including the playoffs, will not be enough to satisfy Gatewood head coach Jeff Ratliff this time around.
(L to R) Zacoree Wallace (35), Sharod White (4), and Rashod Daniel (3) look to be playmakers for the War Eagles in 2023. LANCE MCCURLEY/Staff

(L to R) Zacoree Wallace (35), Sharod White (4), and Rashod Daniel (3) look to be playmakers for the War Eagles in 2023. LANCE MCCURLEY/Staff

War Eagles hungry, hoping to be more physical

Lance McCurley
Tuesday, August 29, 2023
Putnam County heads into the upcoming season with a chip on its shoulder, especially after losing to Fitzgerald for a second straight year in the playoffs and finishing behind Thomson in Region 4-AA.
Loran Smith/Columnist

Loran Smith/Columnist

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Smith: Running backs coach Dell McGee

Loran Smith
Wednesday, August 23, 2023
Few people have figured as prominently in Georgia’s ascent to the summit of college football as Dell McGee, the Bulldogs’ run game coordinator and running backs coach.
A Putnam County tackler brings down Baldwin wide receiver Armontae Palmer in last year’s game at Al Reaves Field. FILE PHOTO

A Putnam County tackler brings down Baldwin wide receiver Armontae Palmer in last year’s game at Al Reaves Field. FILE PHOTO

Game Preview: Putnam County at Baldwin

Lance McCurley
Wednesday, August 23, 2023
Putnam County will open up its 2023 season on the road at Baldwin this Friday in Milledgeville. Series History: Putnam County leads the series, 4-3-1 Last Meeting: Putnam County defeated Baldwin 23-14 last August in each team’s season opener.
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