Skipstone Academy running back Christian Stewart poses for a photo Friday night after running for two touchdowns in a weather-abbreviated preseason scrimmage.
To aid them toward that end are preseason scrimmages Aug. 17 at Newnan for Griffin and at home against Pike County for Spalding.
Spalding’s strong suit, at least early on, figurers to be its defense. Jags head coach Nick Davis took over as defensive coordinator this year and the unit already looks noticeably more aggressive.
On the other side of the ball, Ben Allen, Brandon Thomas, Jabril Reid and Locust Grove transfer Courtney Johnson provide the Jags depth at running back in their multiple-set offense.
Across town, Griffin High’s spread offense is also looking better as the timing between quarterback and receiver gets better with each passing snap. More importantly, however, has been the improvement across the offensive wall. Assignments that went missed or unchecked during the spring game are now neatly being picked up.
Bears head coach Steve DeVoursney singled out the unit after Friday night’s intrasquad scrimmage.
“Our offensive line did a real good job,” he said. “We were pleased to see it.”
DeVoursney was also pleased with the way his defense responded.
“Our defense looked good,” he added. “We made them run around a lot and work.”
Fans who wish to catch a sneak peek of the 2012 Bears before the Newnan scrimmage are welcome to attend this Friday evening’s intrasquad scrimmage. DeVoursney said there will be a cookout for the players’ families following the scrimmage.
Fans who wish to catch a sneak peek of the 2012 Jags before the Pike County scrimmage are welcome to attend Friday morning’s situational intrasquad scrimmage.
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QUICK AS LIGHTNING: Henry County transfer Christian Stewart ran for a pair of touchdowns and Christian Salvador added another as Skipstone Academy topped Creekside Christian 21-14 Friday night at Warrior Field in a scrimmage shortened by lightning.
It was the first preseason scrimmage of the season for Skipstone, which opens the regular season Aug. 17 at home against East Atlanta.
“We looked good in spots, but we’ve got to get in better shape before our next scrimmage,” said Warriors head coach Dan Salvador, whose team plays its second and final preseason scrimmage Friday at Appling Christian in Baxley.
Stewart, who along with Christian Salvador starts at running back for the Warriors, played on the Henry County junior varsity last season. Coach Salvador also praised the play of team-leading tackler Rico Corbin.
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ALL-GULF SOUTH: Former Griffin High standout Denarius “Pooh” Appling is making gridiron news, again. The West Georgia standout was named to the Preseason All-Gulf South Conference team released last week by conference officials.
See Sullivan/Page A11
The junior wideout and punt returner was named to the preseason list in both spots, following up on his two All-GSC awards in 2011 when he was named a First Team All-GSC return specialist and Second Team all-purpose player. As a sophomore Appling also went on to earn All-Region and All-American honors.
The speedster has four career punt returns for a touchdown, including two against Arkansas-Monticello last season. He opened the season off right in 2011, scoring the Wolves’ first touchdown of the season on a punt return against Tusculum. Appling averaged 43.8 yards per punt return last season and 20 yards per return on kickoffs. He was also the Wolves’ leading receiver with 22 receptions for 398 yards and three touchdowns, giving him six scores in all on the year in 2011.
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COMING TO A DOME NEAR YOU: Former Griffin High standout Bobby Rainey will be nearby Thursday when his Baltimore Ravens open the preseason scrimmage in Atlanta against the Atlanta Falcons.
Rainey, who signed as a free agent in the offseason with the Ravens after a star-studded career at Western Kentucky University, is listed fifth on the depth charts at running back and fourth at punt returner for the Ravens.
John Sullivan is the sports editor at the Griffin Daily News.
GRIFFIN HIGH
Preseason
Date |Opponent
8/17 |@ Newnan
Regular Season
Date |Opponent
8/31 |@ Dutchtown
9/7 |@ Northgate
9/14 |Jonesboro*
9/21 |@ Woodland
9/28 |Stockbridge
10/5 |@ Riverdale*
10/12 |OPEN
10/19 |North Clayton*
10/26 |@ Upson-Lee*
11/2 |@ Spalding*
11/9 |Region Playoff
* — Region 4-AAAA, Div. B
———
SPALDING HIGH
Preseason
Date |Opponent
8/17 |Pike Co.
Regular Season
Date |Opponent
8/31 |Lamar Co.
9/7 |Rutland
9/14|OPEN
9/21 |@ Locust Grove
9/27 |Dutchtown
10/5 |@ Upson-Lee*
10/12 |@ Riverdale*
10/19 |@ Jonesboro*
10/26 |North Clayton*
11/2 |Griffin*
11/9 |Region Playoff
* — Region 4-AAAA, Div. B
———
GRIFFIN CHRISTIAN
Regular Season
Date |Opponent
8/24 |Cent. Fellowship
8/31 |@ Dominion Christ.
9/7 |@ Loganville
9/14 |@ Creekside Christ.*
9/21 |Randolf Southern
9/28 |@ Calvary*
10/5 |@ Comm. Christ.*
10/12 |OPEN
10/19 |Crown Athletic
10/26 |New Creation*
11/2 |State Quarters
11/9 |State Semis
11/17 |State Championship
* — ICSGA South Div.
———
FAITH CHRISTIAN
Regular Season
Date |Opponent
8/17 |vs. Life Christian
8/24 |@ Shiloh Hills
8/31 |TBA
9/7 |@ Kingsway Academy
9/14 |TBA
9/21 |vs. Philadelphia
9/29 |Dominion
10/5 |Life Christian
10/12 |OPEN
10/19 |@ Westside
10/25 |@ Dominion
———
SKIPSTONE ACADEMY
Preseason
Date |Opponent
8/3 |Creekside Christ.
8/10 |@ Appling Christ.
Regular Season
Date |Opponent
8/17 |East Atl.
8/24 |@ Anderson*
8/31 |@ Ga. Force*
9/7 |North Ga.
9/14 |OPEN
9/21 |HSD
9/28 |No. Atlanta
10/5 |Calvary Christ.
10/12 |@ East Atl.*
10/19 |@ Augusta Prep*
10/27 |GFC Playoffs
* — GFC East Div.
————
GEORGIA
Date| Opponent |Time
9/1 |Buffalo |TBA
9/8 |@ Missouri * |TBA
9/15 |Flor. Atlantic |TBA
9/22 |Vanderbilt * |TBA
9/29 |Tennessee * |TBA
10/6 |@ South Car. * |TBA
10/20 |@ Kentucky * |TBA
10/27 |vs. Florida * |TBA
11/3 |Ole Miss * |TBA
11/10 |@ Auburn * |TBA
11/17 |Georgia Southern |TBA
11/24 |Georgia Tech |TBA
————
GEORGIA TECH
Date| Opponent |Time
9/3 |@ Vir. Tech * |8:00
9/8 |Presbyterian |7:00
9/15 |Virginia * |3:30
9/22 |Miami * |TBA
9/29 |Mid Tenn St |7:00
10/6 |@ Clemson * |TBA
10/20 |Boston Col * |TBA
10/27 |BYU |TBA
11/3 |@ Maryland * |TBA
11/10 |@ UNC * |TBA
11/17 |Duke * |TBA
11/24 |@ Georgia |TBA
————
GEORGIA STATE
Date| Opponent |Time
8/30 |S.C. State |7:30
9/8 |@ Tennessee |4:00
9/15 |UTSA |6:00
9/22 |Richmond * |3:30
9/29 |@William & Mary * |7:00
10/6 |New Hampshire * |3:30
10/13 |@Rhode Island * |1:00
10/20 |Villanova (HC) |3:30
10/27 |@ James Madison * |3:30
11/3 |Old Dominion * |3:30
11/10 |@ Maine * |2:00
————
ATLANTA FALCONS
Preseason Schedule
Date |Opponent |Time
8/9 |BALTIMORE |7:30
8/16 |CINCINNATI |8:00
8/24 |at Miami |7:30
8/30 |at Jacksonville |6:30
Regular Season Schedule
Date |Opponent |Time
9/9 |@ Chiefs |1:00
9/17 |DENVER |8:30
9/23 |@ San Diego |4:05
9/30 |CAROLINA |1:00
10/7 |@ Redskins |1:00
10/14 |OAKLAND |1:00
10/21 |BYE |——
10/28 |@ Phila. |1:00
11/4 |DALLAS |8:20
11/11 |@ Saints |1:00
11/18 |ARIZONA |1:00
11/25 |@ Tampa Bay |1:00
11/29 |SAINTS |8:20
12/9 |@ Carolina |1:00
12/16 |NY GIANTS |1:00
12/22 |@ Detroit |8:30
12/30 |TAMPA BAY |1:00
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