Sports
Lions back in football league championship game
Christian Heritage has earned its chance to win back-to-back league titles.
The Lions defeated Dominion Christian, 56-20, in the Glory For Christ Football League semifinals on Saturday at Riverwood High School in Sandy Springs and will play the North Georgia Falcons — who beat the Georgia Force, 7-0, in the day’s other semifinal — at 2 p.m. this Saturday at Riverwood.
Coach Mike Vaden said his Lions (9-1) executed their game plan well against Dominion Christian (7-3), a team they beat 27-12 during the regular season.
“We played really hard,” Vaden said. “Offensively, we moved the ball and, defensively, we contained their speed, which was our main concern heading into the game.”
The Lions jumped out to a 14-0 lead early in the first quarter on a 1-yard touchdown run from Daniel Pierce and a 25-yard pass from Pierce to Mason Sikes. But before the period ended, Dominion Christian blocked a punt and returned it for a touchdown and, after a two-point conversion run, the score was 14-8.
Christian Heritage pulled away in the second quarter with three scores of 2 or fewer yards from Terrell Wilson, Pierce and Ethan Turnmire.
Pierce’s scoring run came on a 98-yard drive after a goal-line stand by the Lions defense.
“It seems like after Pierce’s score,” said Vaden, “that really took the life out of them.”
The Lions then scored twice in the third quarter on a 9-yard run for Pierce and a 23-yard pass from Pierce to Sikes, while Turnmire added a 4-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter.
Dominion scored on a 5-yard pass in the third and a 27-yard run in the fourth.
Lions kicker Nick Jang was 6-for-6 on extra point kicks before leaving the game with an ankle sprain suffered while playing defensive back. In Jang’s absence, Cody Stansell converted two extra-point kicks.
Vaden said he expects Jang will be available to kick in next week’s game against the Falcons.
Last season, the Lions went 12-0 and won the league title with a 33-7 victory against the Crown Knights. In order for Christian Heritage to defend its title, the Lions must beat the Falcons (9-2), who handed them their only loss of the season, 13-6, last month in Dalton.
Vaden is hoping for better circumstances and a different outcome in the rematch.
“It’s going to be tough,” he said. “We’re praying not to have to play in the mud like we did the last game. The key to us next week will be making sure we don’t turn the ball over and taking advantage of every opportunity given to us.”
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Adam Krohn: Plenty of highlights for NW
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They reached the state championship game for just the second time in school history and the first time in 20 years. They lost to Southwest DeKalb, 65-45, in the Class 4A finals — it was the Panthers’ third-consecutive state title — but what they were able to accomplish up to that point is worth noting.
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A powerful presence
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Anything would be better than the Monty Morrow-directed operation over the past couple of years. Morrow, who also promotes the Cleveland (Tenn.) Speedway, almost destroyed the Chatsworth operation. Morrow had only five or six races at North Georgia last spring and summer. Fans and drivers are sure to welcome Millwood and Peters with open arms.
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THE WRONG DIRECTION: Southwest tops Northwest for title
Southwest DeKalb turned in a lackluster effort in the Class 4A state basketball semifinals, but the Lady Panthers got down to business quickly against Northwest Whitfield in Friday’s championship game. Southwest hammered Northwest with a shocking 14-0 start at the Arena at Gwinnett Center and stormed past the Lady Bruins, 65-45, to claim its third straight state title.
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Lady Panthers dynasty-mite
The chant wasn’t nearly as loud as the ones Southwest DeKalb supporters would fill the Arena at Gwinnett Center with a couple hours later, but even before Friday’s Class 4A state championship game against Northwest Whitfield, Lady Panthers fans dared to dream of another big finish.
From the stands as the state finalists warmed up on the court below: “Three-peat!”
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Larry Fleming: Coley’s mom has a unique perspective
Their careers covered two generations of basketball at Northwest Whitfield and had almost parallel outcomes. A mother and daughter traveled the same paths, just 20 years apart. They were together Friday — one in the stands, the other on the court — to share an experience of a lifetime.
Baleigh Coley was almost always the smallest player on the court, but was also one who consistently came up with big performances in four years.
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Police mugged it up with Roethlisberger
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Adam Krohn: Plenty of highlights for NW
