TIFTON —
rwin County’s Jon Lindsey and Turner County’s Erik Soliday were both confident their respective teams were in the state Class A football playoffs for public schools.
Both then officially learned that indeed they were in the field of 16, as well as their opponents Wednesday. Lindsey and the irwin County Indians will be hosting the Trion High Bulldogs, while Soliday and the Turner County Rebels will travel a short distance up Interstate 75 to face the Dooly County Bobcats.
After the new power rankings were sorted, Irwin finished sixth, while Trion was 11th. Meanwhile Turner was 11th and Dooly was fifth.
“Everything happened about like we expected, but it was still nice to make if actually official,” said Soliday.
Dooly finished second in Region 4-A and features one of the nation’s top recruits in defensive lineman Montravious Adams.
“He is a great player,” said Soliday.
With Vienna and Ashburn being relatively nearby, Turner and Dooly have experience playing each other. Turner holds a 10-9 overall advantage in the series with the last game being a 27-6 Turner win in 2009.
“It’s not a bad trip for us or our fans,” said Soliday. “We are very familiar with each other’s programs, and it will mean we should have a lot of fans that will be able to go.”
Irwin County and Trion are not familiar at all with each other as the schools are over 280 miles apart. It will be the first time the two teams have ever played.
“We know they are a good team, and we are expecting a great game,” said Lindsey. “They are an 8-2 team and we know they know how to win.”
The game with Trion will be Irwin’s first home playoff game in 13 years, and playoff game of any kind in 12 years.
Both coaches are also excited about having two weeks to prepare for their opponents.
However, three area teams will be in action this Friday.
Cook will face Lamar County and Fitzgerald will host Northeast Macon in Class AA, while Worth County will be at Stockbridge in Class AAAA.
Local Sports
Irwin Co., Turner Co. officially in playoffs
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Tattnall Square tops Tiftarea, 6-2
Ernie Banks used to say, "let's play two." In a game that was as long as two and was defined early on by errors and later by a pitching duel, it would be offense that propelled the Tattnall Square Trojans past the Tiftarea Academy Panthers, 6-2 in 14 innings. Tattnall, who won the first game of the series, 4-1 before dropping game two, 6-3, will meet Mount de Sales in the Class AAA semifinals next week.
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Loop the Lake coming June 1
The 2013 Lake Blackshear Loop the Lake 5K Run, 1 Mile Fun Run/Walk and Stroller Roll benefiting GraceWay Recovery Residence will be held on Saturday, June 1 at the Lake Blackshear Resort and Golf Club.
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Tiftarea-Tattnall split
The quarterfinals series between the Tiftarea Academy Panthers and defending state Class AAA champions Tattnall Square Trojans matched up two of the top teams in the state and after two games, the battle has been a stalemate. The Trojans won the first game 4-1, while the Panthers took game two, 6-3. Game three will be today at 2 p.m.
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Tiftarea hosts defending state champs
Coach Brad Porter and the Tiftarea Academy Panthers have been taking the road to the GISA state Class AAA championship one obstacle at a time. As Region 3's No. 1 seed they are entitled to host the quarterfinals round, which starts at 4 p.m. today in Chula. However, their obstacle is a big one: the defending state champions, the Tattnall Square Trojans.
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First inning dooms Devils
For a team used to deciding games late, it was the first inning that hurt the Tift County Blue Devils Wednesday. Two homeruns within a span a three hitters put the Walton Raiders up by three. That would be the final margin in the quarterfinal series between the two schools, the Devils ending their season with a 5-2 loss in Marietta.
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TCHS spring football game Friday
Are you ready for some football? The Tift County Blue Devils are. Their spring game is being played Friday and it is the start of a fresh season of competition. The game will be played at Brodie Field at 7 p.m. Admission for adults is $5, but is free for students.
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Late magic forces another game three
Metro Atlanta has become home away from home for the Tift County Blue Devils. They have made four trips north for three series in the state Class AAAAAA baseball playoffs. All three series have gone to game three, the third against the Walton Raiders in Marietta because of a miracle comeback 2-1 win after a first game loss of 8-0. Game three will begin at 4:30 p.m. today.
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GHSA girls state track results
The girls state track competition was held last weekend at Albany's Hugh Mills Stadium and several area athletes participated in events.
- Tift County spring football game Friday
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Quarterfinals has Devils on the road again
Convenience store owners on I-75 probably know the Tift County Blue Devils by name now. They will be making their third bus ride in two weeks to metro Atlanta when they play the Walton Raiders of Marietta today in a doubleheader in the state Class AAAAAA baseball quarterfinals.
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