Football Friday Night: Week 6

It's hard to believe we are already at the halfway point of the high school football season. My teams were 2-1 this week as Warner Robins and Clinch County got wins and Villa Rica was defeated in their games.

WARNER ROBINS 55, EAGLE'S LANDING 0
After giving up 70 points two weeks ago to Newton, Warner Robins has rebounded with their second straight win. Quarterback Chandler Dyson completed touchdown passes of 58, 43 and 38 yards as the Demons built a 35-point halftime lead and cruised to a 55-0 region victory at Eagle’s Landing. Warner Robins finished with 388 yards while limiting the Golden Eagles to only 26. The Demons completed all five of their passes for 180 yards and four touchdowns and rushed for another 208 yards.

Next:  Friday vs. Locust Grove

Warner Robins is 4-2 overall, 2-0 in Region 2-5A.  They will host Locust Grove is 1-5 and 0-1 in the region losing to Perry 57-14 last week.  Warner Robins is 6-1 all-time against Locust Grove.  They won their last meeting 51-21 in 2023.

CLINCH COUNTY 14, SEMINOLE COUNTY 9

Clinch County trailed 9-0 at halftime and scored two touchdowns in the third quarter for the final margin. Seminole County made no deep threat in the fourth quarter. Lamarcus Bryant had an interception at the Seminole County 31 to set up the winning drive. Traviian Miller was 6-of-14 passing for 79 yards and rushed for 76 yards on 20 carries. Clinch held Seminole to 122 total yards.

Next:  Friday at Irwin County

Clinch County is 3-2 and opens region play this week against Irwin County which enters the game at 2-3.  Irwin County lost to Berrien 42-13 two weeks ago.  The teams are tied 25-25-1 in their all-time history.  Clinch County won last year's meeting 61-14.  

CARTERSVILLE 58, VILLA RICA 0

The Wildcats were humbled by the top-ranked team.  Cartersville led 58-0 at halftime. Harris Turner was 12-of-13 passing for 229 yards and four touchdowns. Madoxx Davis had five receptions for 75 yards and three touchdowns. Brayden Doss rushed for 89 yards on five carries. Cooper Melvin returned an interception for a touchdown.

Next:  Friday vs. Woodland

Villa Rica is 4-2 and 0-2 in Region 7-5A.  Woodland is 2-3 and 0-1 in the region.  They lost to Cass 42-21 last week.  Villa Rica is 7-1 against Woodland.  They won their last meeting in 2019 by a score of 14-8.  Woodland's only win in the series was their first meeting in 2000.  

Thoughts About Cold Weather

And suddenly it’s cold here.

I don’t like it.

I’m okay with fall weather when it is cool but I’m not good with cold weather.

It went from lows in the 70s to lows in the 50s.

Since moving to New York, I have not adjusted to the cold weather and the length of time we experience cold weather here. It will now be cold until early June.

It was bitter last winter and I’m not looking forward to this change into the months of cold.

Having lived in the South most of my life, I am used to the schedule where I would be mowing the grass for the last time around mid-November and starting again in mid-March. Although I don’t have to mow grass here, the window for mild weather is much shorter here.

Time to pack up the shorts for the season. Good bye long days of daylight.

With the cooler temps I must also contend with my feet. They are freezing during the winter and nothing seems to remedy it. My feet will be permanently frozen for several months ahead.

Time to bundle up.

When it does snow, it eventually becomes a nuisance and then turns to slush making it difficult to walk on the sidewalks. The wind cuts through you like a knife. Indoor spaces become over-heated and crowded.

Ugh.

I honestly don’t mind having four seasons when they are indeed FOUR seasons. In my perfect world I would want three months of each season. Instead, the seasons here are Winter (7 months), Spring (1 month), Summer (3 months) and Fall (2 weeks).

This year I have been determined to prepare for the cold. I don’t mind the Christmas season but from January-early June I would prefer to skip it and just hibernate through those months.

Time to put on the big coat and cover my face for the winter season.

Happy Dude Day!

It was 11 years ago today that I became a “dude”.

Today is the 11th birthday of our first grandchild.

Technically I am a “step” parent but I don’t think I have been referred to that title much over the years. Although some would say that they could never love a child that wasn’t “blood-related” to them, I can tell you that you don’t have to be blood-related to love a child. Although I am not blood-related, I have never felt like an outsider to the lives of the grand kids. Since his birth 11 years ago today, we have been blessed with four more since then. It has been a blessing to be in their lives.

How did I obtain the title of “dude”?

After our first grandchild’s birth, my wife went over several titles for me. None of them seem to fit me or my personality. It was eventually our first grandchild who named me when he was able to talk and called me “dude” and I’ve been known as “dude” ever since.  I think it’s even more special that he was the one who named me. Dude sounds a lot cooler than other grandpa names anyway.

I have never had children of my own although I did have a niece and nephews in my previous life but was forced to sever ties with when that marriage ended.

Even with no children of my own, I can’t imagine my life without the children I have in my life now. They are all precious to me. I have learned to appreciate the time I have spent with them. There are times we were called on to babysit which were quite the experience. The first time was an eye-opener for me and I can say that first time I worked harder in those weeks more than anytime in my life.

We moved to another city over a year ago so we don’t see four of them as much as we once did but with today’s technology, it is a joy to see them grow through social media posts, text messages and FaceTime. Of course it is no substitute for visits but we can still remain close in some way.

Being a grandparent isn’t what I expected 15 years ago when I stepped into this life, but I can’t imagine missing this now. Spending time with the grandchildren is a joy. Although today’s generations expect grandparents to be default babysitters, it is nice to be thought of as more than just babysitting services. Besides, I’m getting too old to keep up with them now. One day they might be babysitting me in return.

As “dude” I understand my station in the family hierarchy of things. I’m not always a first thought but I’m very content with being included in their lives. I hope they know that I will be here for them as they grow up. I want to be a constant for them in their lives. I’m not perfect but I hope they will know that dude will be there for them.

Football Friday Night: Week 5

My teams were 2-1 this week with wins by Clinch County and Warner Robins while Villa Rica suffered their first loss of the season.

WARNER ROBINS 69, UNION GROVE 29
What a difference a week makes. After giving up a historical 70 points to Newton last week, Warner Robins got back on track scoring 69 points in their win over Union Grove. Warner Robins generated 450 yards of offense, produced a pick-six, returned a kickoff and a punt for touchdowns, forced a safety and added a field goal during their most complete scoring performance of the season. Warner Robins established control during a high-scoring first half behind quarterback Chandler Dyson and playmakers X’zavier “Zay” Cannon and Antavious Hawkins.  Dyson connected with Cannon for two touchdowns and found Hawkins for another. Hawkins also scored on runs of one and seven yards for a 36–22 advantage into halftime.

Next:  Friday at Eagle's Landing (0-4)

Warner Robins (3-2) will play the winless Golden Eagles this week.  Eagle's Landing lost to LaGrange two weeks ago 44-0 in the last game.  Warner Robins is 6-0 against Eagle's Landing winning in their last meeting 35-7 in 2023.  

CLINCH COUNTY 35, BACON COUNTY 0
Clinch County held Bacon County to 73 total yards. Traviian Miller passed for 70 yards and rushed for 61. Kyiis Mingo had six solo tackles and two tackles for loss. 

Next: Friday at Seminole County (1-3)

Seminole lost their last game to Thomasville 42-6 last week.  The Panthers are 11-1 against Seminole County.  They won their last meeting 35-6 in 2023.  The only loss in the series was 21-14 in 2013.

CASS 31, VILLA RICA 21
Cass took a 10-point lead on Kalil Charles’ 6-yard run with 1:19 left. Charles rushed for 108 yards and a touchdown on 24 carries. Noah Rogers was 10-of-17 passing for 185 yards and three touchdowns.Villa Rica played well against one of the top teams in Class 5A, but interceptions and turnovers-on-downs came back to haunt them in the loss.

Next:  Friday at Cartersville (4-0)

This week will be a big task for the Wildcats as they face the #1 ranked Purple Hurricanes in Cartersville.  Cartersville had a bye week last week after defeating West Forsyth 49-13 two weeks ago.  Villa Rica is 9-14 in their all-time series.  The teams last met in 2007 which Villa Rica won 47-12.  

Surviving Blindsides

Has life ever blindsided you?

Just when you felt life was going in a certain direction, there was a plot twist that you never expected.

  

That happened to me this week.  

Although it wasn’t a life- or-death event, it still rattled me a bit.

It’s like when people say that “stuff happens.”  (Maybe not exactly stuff but you know the saying)  

Life is unpredictable.  When the unexpected happens it is like getting the wind knocked out of you.  

I have learned that when this happens to me that I have to allow myself time to absorb the event and I know it will take me a few days to adjust.  

The important thing is not to panic or allow my emotions to react.  I have to take some time to settle my mind about what has happened.  I pray about it and leave it in God’s hands because ultimately there is nothing I can do to change it.  In these times we are reminded that we aren’t in control like we think we are. 

While we are surprised by life’s plot twists, God isn’t.  So why not trust Him?  I will admit that sometimes I freak out but I also allow myself some time to let my emotions settle down.  Right now as I continue to digest the latest blindside in my life, I also know that I have been through this before and I got through it.  It may not be something I prefer but I do have some history I can look back on.  People say that everything happens for a reason but that doesn’t help much when you are going through that reason.  Sometimes we never know the reason.  We simply just have to keep moving forward. 

We can’t possibly know it all.  We just live another day.  

I could give you a Bible verse or some witty cliche here but i won’t.  The bottom line is that the only way we handle the things that blindside us is to just go through it.  There are no shortcuts.  

So, I am adjusting my mindset to what has happened to me and recentering my focus.  It’s much like when we use our GPS for directions and we make the wrong turn, we had to re-adjust our course and follow the changes ahead.  

Don’t be rattled by times you are blindsided in life but take time to re-center yourself and refresh your mind.

Football Friday Night: Week 4

This week was a tale of two teams going in very different directions. Villa Rica improved to 4-0 while Warner Robins gave up a historic 70 points in a loss.

Clinch County was off this week.

First the good news...

Villa Rica 35, Seckinger 13
In WSB TV's Sports Zone Friday Game of the Week, Villa Rica made a good showing. The game was delayed due to inclement weather for over an hour and a half but the Villa Rica (4-0) offense seemed to be ready to go right away. The Wildcats drove the length of the field almost immediately. Junior quarterback Blaine Brown connected with Josiah Walker on a scoring toss, giving the Wildcats a 7-0 lead just over two minutes into the game.

Seckinger (0-3) had its best possession of the first half midway through the opening quarter, but it stalled out. Their ensuing 42-yard field goal was off the mark as well, giving the ball back to Villa Rica. Villa Rica tailback Emmanuel Ajayi had a relatively quiet first half, then broke out completely in the third period. The Wildcats hopped on top of the second half kickoff, and on the very next play Ajayi raced in from 30 yards out to create a two-possession lead. Three minutes later as Ajayi punched it in from 30 yards out once more, giving VRHS a 21-0 advantage.

Seckinger finally found the scoreboard in the closing moments of the third quarter. Following a fake punt, the Jaguars scored on the ground. The extra point was missed, making it a 21-6 game going into the fourth quarter.

Ajayi scored again early in the fourth on a 20-yard carry with 9:42 remaining, running Villa Rica’s lead to 22 points. Brown later connected with junior receiver Tamaj Beasley for his second touchdown toss of the night, creating a 35-6 cushion.

This is Villa Rica's best start since 1998. They have surprised me so far after picking them to finish 1-9.

Next: September 18 vs. Cass (4-0)

It will be a battle of the unbeatens in Villa Rica.  The Wildcats are 10-4 in the series.  They lost their last meeting 17-14 in 2019.  Cass defeated Heritage last week 41-13.

Now the ugly....

Newton 70, Warner Robins 14

Yep, you read that right.  Warner Robins gave up SEVENTY points in this game.  It is the most points any Warner Robins team has ever given up in a game.  The previous record was a 67-13 loss to Lanier in 1966.  

Newton had all of the highlights as Kevin Hartsfield returned the opening kickoff for a touchdown, and Newton led 64-0 at halftime. Braylon Miller caught TD passes of 19 and 61 yards in the first quarter and returned an interception 56 yards and a punt 65 yards, both for touchdowns, in the second quarter. Josiah Frazier was 7-of-11 passing for 170 yards and five touchdowns and rushed for 75 yards and a touchdown on three carries. Zayden Harden rushed for 119 yards and a touchdown on four carries.

It is disappointing to see how far Warner Robins has fallen.  From appearing in the state finals from 2016-2022 to this.  This is pathetic.  This is a terrible coaching staff.  Shane Sams should have NEVER been hired to take over this storied program.  Was it not enough that this team endured historic embarrassing losses to Benedictine (61-0) and Cartersville (64-0) last year?  Sams needs to go.  Sorry if he's someone's favorite but he won't get the job done.  How much worst does this need to get?  Warner Robins missed a golden opportunity to snag alum Rich Findley Jr. when he left Bowdon last year.  

Next:  September 18 at Union Grove

It won't get any easier this week when Warner Robins takes on Union Grove.  Although Warner Robins leads the series 3-0, it will be important to see how they respond after the historic Newton loss.  Union Grove is 1-3.  They got their first win this week with a 58-12 win over Salem.  This is a very pivotal week for Warner Robins football in 2026.

Clinch County Panthers 

After a week off, Clinch County (1-2) will travel to Alma to play Bacon County (2-1).  The Panthers got their first win in their last game and will face the Red Raiders who lost to Vidalia 28-14 two weeks ago.  Clinch County leads the series 21-11.  They won last season's game 25-6.  The Panthers have a 16-game winning streak against the Red Raiders.  Bacon County's last win was in 1985. 

Hope for the Tortured Soul

Are you a tortured soul?

Are you in a dark place?

At some point in our lives, we’ve been in a dark place. Restless. Seemingly no purpose and without hope.

Some are even good at hiding it. They are one thing to others but alone in their thoughts they are miserable.

Religion, Christian cliches and Bible verses are useless when you are in a deep dark place in your soul. This world is an angry and bitter place. Sometimes help is nowhere to be found. What do you do to pull yourself out of the tortured place of your soul?

Find the place where you can best quiet your mind and listen to God. It may be nature. It could be a place or music.

For me it has been the ocean. Anytime I go to the beach, I try to take time to sit there with my eyes closed and let the ocean breeze filter my mind and melt away the negativity in me. That is when I feel the closest to God.

Does He speak to me? Not in an subtle voice. I would say I sense His presence. Usually it is that intense His arms around me and assuring me that He is there.

That’s just me. It is something different for others.

The most important thing to remember when you are in a dark place is to make an effort to get yourself out. You are the only one that can do it.

Dark places tempt you to end it. End the pain you are feeling and end the hopeless feeling. Suicide is never the better option. Fighting for your soul is worth it. YOU are worth it.

For me, I was reminded about the depth of God’s love for me in Romans 8 where it says: “For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

You may or may not have a faith in God like I do. Maybe this some religious stuff that doesn’t speak to you. If it doesn’t, I can tell you that when you are in a dark place that you need to find your way out or it will consume you. Don’t listen to the lies that the darkness makes you think. The darkness feeds on the lies and negative thoughts. Break away from it. You are highly valued. The only person who can change it is you.

Football Friday Night: Week 3

The teams that I follow were 2-1 this week. Clinch County and Villa Rica got wins this past Friday while Warner Robins notched their first loss of the season. Here's how it went for Dude's three teams:

Villa Rica 30, South Paulding 13
Leading Villa Rica to victory were Emmanuel Ajayi and Josiah Walker. Ajayi rushed for 121 yards and 1 TD, while Walker picked up 139 receiving yards and 1 touchdown. Ajayi has had no trouble finding paydirt recently, averaging 1.7 rushing touchdowns per game over his last three games compared to 0.2 in his first five games last season. Villa Rica had 462 yards of total offense.

This is Villa Rica's first 3-0 start since 2007 when they finished 6-4.

Next game: 9/11 at Seckinger

This will be their first meeting against the Seckinger Jaguars who are in their in their fifth season of football.  Seckinger, which plays in Buford, is 0-2 so far this season.  They dropped the last game to Cedar Shoals 33-17.

Clinch County 35, Miller County 3

The Panthers finally got their first win of the season as Traviian Miller threw for 61 yards and 1 touchdown. Malik McNair was his top target, rushing for 38 yards and 1 score, while also picking up 35 receiving yards. On the ground, Kyiis Mingo rushed for 58 yards and a pair of TDs on only 8 carries.

Clinch County's victory was their seventh straight on the road dating back to last season, which pushed their record up to 1-2. The wins were due in large part to their offensive performance across that stretch, as they averaged 28.3 points over those games. As for Miller County, their loss was their first of the season and makes their record 2-1.

Next game: 9/18 at Bacon County

Clinch County leads the all-time series 21-11.  They won 25-6 in last year's game.  Clinch County has a 16-game winning streak.  Bacon County's last win was a 14-12 win in 1985.  Bacon County is 2-1 this season, they lost their first game to Vidalia this week 28-14.

Northside Warner Robins 32, Warner Robins 10
The wheels came off in the second half as Northside ended a decade long losing streak for the first time since 2016. 

After a Warner Robins field goal cut the Northside lead to 18-10 in the third quarter, the Eagles marched 77 yards, with Keirion Tate finishing the drive with his third rushing touchdown of the night. Aron Diaz added the extra point for a 25-10 advantage.  Northside added another score later when Ja'noah Hicks took the snap, faked the run and found Tristan Harry for a 50-yard touchdown pass. Diaz’s extra point produced the 32-10 final.

Next game: 9/11 at Newton

This will be the first meeting between these two teams.  Newton is currently 3-0 with impressive wins over Douglas County, Roswell and a 71-7 thumping of Locust Grove in the last game.  

Football Friday Night Week 2

This week my teams were 2-1. Let's see what happened this week:

WARNER ROBINS 21, NORTHEAST 20
Antavious Hawkins scored on a 3-yard run with 16 seconds left, and the extra point won the game. Chandler Dyson was 7-of-18 passing for 66 yards and a touchdown.  He rushed for 101 yards on nine carries. Warner Robins led 310-204 in total yards.

There was some bad officiating in this game.  Probably the worst in a while but both teams pushed through.  Warner Robins had a chance to pull away in this game but let Northeast back in.  The Raiders very nearly pulled off the upset.  Warner Robins continues to be undefeated in the series history.  

Next: Friday vs. Northside (Warner Robins) (1-1)

Warner Robins leads the all-time series 43-25 and have won the last nine games in the series.  They won last year's game 22-13.  I have attended this rivalry game and can tell you that you can throw out the records when these two teams meet.  Anything can happen and has happened in these games.  

VILLA RICA 27, HIRAM 9
Villa Rica football secured its first 2-0 start since 2017 with a 27-9 win at Hiram on Friday night. The game did not start out pretty for the Wildcats, but a 17-0 scoring run in the second half clinched an impressive comeback triumph. Villa Rica (2-0) fumbled on the second play from scrimmage at Hornet Stadium, giving Hiram (0-2) the ball deep in Wildcat territory. Fortunately, Michael Hilbert’s defensive group held the Hornets to only a field goal.

Villa Rica has already exceeded my expectations with their 2-0 start.  I had projected they would finish 1-9, so this is quite a start for the Wildcats.  

Next: Friday vs. South Paulding

Villa Rica is 2-6 against South Paulding but has won the past two meetings.  They won last year's meeting 31-17.  

JEFF DAVIS 42, CLINCH COUNTY 7
Clinch County, playing without four starters, scored the game’s opening touchdown on Lamarcus Bryant’s 41-yard run but was down 21-7 by halftime. Traviian Miller rushed for 83 yards on 18 carries and was 12-of-20 passing for 111 yards. Bryant had 140 yards from scrimmage. 

The Panthers last started 0-2 in 2021 when they finished the season at 3-7.  I am a bit surprised that the Panthers are 0-2 to start the season.  They will need to get it together when that play undefeated Miller County.

Next: Friday at Miller County (2-0)

Clinch County is 18-9 against Miller County and have won the past six meetings between the two teams.  The Panthers won last year's meeting 35-6.  Miller County has defeated Kendrick (51-8) and Atkinson County (51-25) to start the season.

Thoughts about Phone Zombies

I had another encounter with a phone zombie today.

There is a zombie invasion and it is people who have their faces in their phones while walking.

Have you noticed how many people walk while looking at their phones now?  It’s crazy.  Today I was nearly plowed over by someone who nearly walked into me because they were entranced by what they were doing on their phones.

I am challenged enough walking without the distraction of a phone.  

Today when I walked to return a package at UPS, I counted 22 people who were looking at their phones while walking.

 

It’s annoying when you're just walking and the person in front of you is just on their phone. How important is whatever the thing they are doing on the phone that they need to be looking at while walking.

According to State Farm, pedestrian traffic deaths are at their highest since 2009, and distracted walking is likely partially to blame. In just 10 years, there have been over 51,000 pedestrian deaths, an increase of 53%.

What is it about our phones?  Why can’t we put them away to just do the most basic tasks?

I remember when we used to be able to function without our phones.  We actually left them at home - mainly because they were wired and couldn’t be taken with us.  Yes, I’m that old.  There was no need to stay in connection with the world and nothing happened.  

I will say that phones are a great convenience.  It definitely has its advantages but we can also be too dependent on them and miss out on life and what is going on around us.

Having been seriously injured in a trip and fall a few years ago which wasn’t related to using my phone, I have tried to be more mindful of my own phone use when walking.  I will keep it in my pocket instead of holding it out in my hand to avoid the temptation of being distracted by it.  If I need to use my phone, I will stop and stand to the side to do what I need to do.

Beware that phone zombies walk among us.  Be careful and don’t become one yourself.  

Are You Ready For Some Football Reading?

As we begin another football season, I wanted to promote my inspirational football fiction book series available on Amazon.  This series follows the life of Colton Preston who grew up as a preacher's kid with a love for playing football.  Follow his journey through these three books.  

BOOK #1

PASSING TOWARD THE PRIZE

Coach Turner leaned forward and looked directly at Colton. 

“Look here Preston. You have to decide if you are going to be a leader or a quitter. A leader FINDS a way to lead. A quitter doesn’t bother to try. It’s easy to quit. Don’t pick the easy way.”

This is not the way Colton thought his high school football days would turn out for him. He is in the Class of ’82 at Tompkins County High School in the small town of Tompkinsville, Georgia. His father moves them to a new church in Savannah, Georgia. He misses his friends and his girlfriend, Belle, who are now hundreds of miles away. 

Colton also finds himself on a football team that clearly does not want him there. Starting over and dealing with these changes are difficult for any age but for a 15-year-old preacher’s kid, it adds to the challenges he faces. He is not immune to the consequences of sin and the need for forgiveness. Colton will have to trust God that all things will work together for good.

If you loved “Facing the Giants” and “Remember the Titans” you will root for Colton Preston.

Available on Amazon:  https://www.amazon.com/dp/B074WGKN9B

BOOK #2 

FOR A GAME SUCH AS THIS

It is estimated that over 4,000 women play tackle football in the United States.

Carrington Preston loves football and wants to play but – she’s a girl.

Carrington wants to do more than watch her football team on the sidelines.

“Dad…I have a crazy idea,” Carrington says. “I want to try out for the football team!”

Carrington begins her journey from the sidelines to the football field as she joins the Davidson High School football team.

Her dream of playing football is not an easy path as she must summon the courage of Esther to overcome challenges on and off the field. A shocking school shooting in the cafeteria changes the course of her life. The tragedy tests her faith and resolve to pursue her dream of playing football.

How will she respond when the National Football League decides to launch a women’s professional league?

Available on Amazon:  https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0B6742TB4

BOOK #3 

AUDIBLE TO THE PROMISED LAND

Colton Preston’s life has revolved around football. He played in high school, college and the pros. His past brings him back to his old high school to be their football coach and end the state’s longest losing streak. He faces a huge task to rebuild the Tompkins County High School football program.

Once Colton has his team heading in the right direction, his star quarterback decides to come out that he’s gay on social media which rocks the team and the town of Tompkinsville, Georgia.

Colton must find a way to support his quarterback and unite the team.

He is conflicted but his wife, Belle, reminds him of his own past.

"Colton, someone has to do this. Someone has to be a leader. Remember what your old high school coach at Westside told you?"

Colton remembered what Coach Turner had said. He was ready to quit when he walked into Coach Turner's office that day. The old coach must have known what Colton was thinking. He pointed at Colton and said:

"Look here Preston. You have to decide if you are going to be a leader or a quitter. A leader FINDS a way to lead. A quitter doesn't bother to try. It's easy to quit. Don't pick the easy way.”

How will Colton find a way to lead the team and the town through the challenges ahead?

Available on Amazon:  https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CCXLCHH9

Football Friday Night Week 1

The 2026 Georgia High School Football season kicked off last week.  Let's take a look at how my teams fared in their openers:

Warner Robins 34, Veterans 23
Game Summary:

Warner Robins trailed 17-7 in the first half and didn’t lead until Chandler Dyson’s 43-yard run for a 20-17 edge with 10:09 left. Dyson rushed for 105 yards. X’Zavier Cannon had 125 all-purpose yards. Warner Robins held Veterans to less than 125 yards of total offense. EJ Adeside had three tackles for loss and scored on a 44-yard reception. Alijah Alexander had four tackles for loss, three QB pressures and a fumble recovery and scored on a short run. 

Comments:

Warner Robins allowed two kickoff returns for touchdowns and another long return deep into their end of the field.  They need to tighten up on the special teams.  I'm sure they are working on it this week.  Otherwise, they did a good job hanging around and getting the win.  

This Friday:  vs. Northeast Macon (1-0).  Northeast won their opener with a 39-0 shutout of Westside Macon.  Northeast has never beaten Warner Robins in 24 meetings.  Warner Robins won their last meeting in 1999 (35-0).  The closest meeting with in 1991 when Warner Robins edged Northeast 6-0.  I was at that game and it was quite a defensive game.  

Villa Rica 29, Alexander 27
Game summary:

Villa Rica kicked a late field goal to go up 29-20 with 1:06 left, but Alexander immediately answered with a kickoff return touchdown to cut it to 29-27. Alexander recovered the subsequent onside kick, but turned the ball over on a chaotic final play with laterals as time ran out.

Comments:

Michael Hilbert picked up his first win as head coach.  Very close and competitive game in their opener.  Let's see if they can keep it going against Hiram this week.

This Friday:  at Hiram (0-1).  Hiram opened against Cartersville and were demolished 48-0.  Villa Rica leads the all-time series 6-5.  Hiram won the last meeting in 2019 by a score of 42-3.

Fitzgerald 22, Clinch County 13
Game summary:

Clinch County, traditionally a running team, was held to 21 rushing yards. Traviian Miller was 10-of-20 passing for 188 yards. Clinch stayed in the game until Fitzgerald, the No. 2 team in Class 2A, scored a touchdown in the final two minutes. Next: Friday vs. Jeff Davis (1-0)

Comments:

The Panthers played tough with Fitzgerald.  They just needed a few breaks or they would have won this one.  

This Friday:  vs. Jeff Davis (1-0).  Jeff Davis defeated Vidalia 37-0 in their opener.  Clinch County is 2-7 in all-time meetings against Jeff Davis.  They last met in 1977.  Jeff Davis won that meeting 63-0.  Incidentally, I watched the 1976 game when the Panthers won a thrilling 7-6 game to qualify for the playoffs.

Faith vs. Reality

I grew up believing in having faith and trusting God. I have heard hundreds of sermons about how if we just have faith the size of a mustard seed that we can move mountains. I can’t say that I’ve seen that happen personally.

I want to have faith and believe the impossible but am I also setting myself up for disappointment when my faith doesn’t match the reality of the result? What do I do when I believe but then the result isn’t what I was believing for?

I remember the “name it and claim it” people. If you have enough faith, God will give you what you ask for. The only reason that you don’t get it is because of a lack of faith.

B.S.

That’s not how it works. Faith and believing doesn’t always give you the results you are asking for. Sometimes you don’t get what you want. Even worse, sometimes you get the opposite of what you were believing that you were going to get. What then?

This morning I prayed and believed in the result. It didn’t happen. I sit here disappointed. I am disappointed in myself and in my faith. I’m not mad at God as most would be. I just don’t understand what He’s doing or why. Unfortunately God is under no obligation to tell us. We just go through this blindly.

When faith does not lead to the outcome we hoped for, it creates a deep spiritual and emotional shock. Some people think that faith guarantees an answer if you believe hard enough while others argue that true faith is about trusting a higher purpose rather than treating God like He’s a vending machine.

I think the important lesson to learn here is to have faith in God and not in the results.

God knows what He’s doing even if we don’t. I may be sitting here pouting because God didn’t match up the results to my faith but what can I possibly do about it now? Regardless of how mad I could get, it won’t change the result. So where does that faith leave me now and in the future?

I honestly don’t know. I need some time to myself and some soul searching. I have to get to the place where I can be okay with the times where my faith doesn’t meet the results I had expected. When our expectations are not met, it can mess with our emotions but we have to regroup and allow ourselves time to process it.

I’m not happy right now but I will be okay. I have been through this before. It’s not the first time and it won’t be my last. I feel like when Jesus asked the disciples if they wanted to leave after hearing some difficult teaching. Peter answered with “Lord, to whom should we go? You have the words to eternal life.”

That sums it up. We either keep trusting in God or we don’t.

One Star Review

I have self-published six books.  That's not bragging. None of them are best sellers.  In fact, I am not swimming in the royalties from my book sales.  Even my own family members haven’t bought them.  

I recently looked at my books on Amazon to see if they were still there.  They were.  I had an idea about promoting my football fiction books with football season approaching.  

Then I noticed something had changed on one of them.  

An anonymous reviewer gave it one star.  

No review.  Just a one star rating. 

Ouch.  

My mind went overdrive wondering about the identify of this one star reviewer.  Was it someone who knows me? Did they hate the book that much?

What’s funny is that on the same book I also have a five star rating.  

Yet that one star bothers me.  

Why is that?  Why does something negative seem to overshadow something positive?

If I can’t handle a one star review then maybe I shouldn’t be doing this.  Why should I even open myself up to the possibility of a negative review?

My first thought was to take all of my books down.  I still might.  

I am still a writer but maybe books aren’t my thing.  I certainly haven’t had any best - or - any sellers.  Writing is such a fickle craft.  

I remember with my first book I had lofty ideas that all I had to do was put it on Amazon and my book would take off.  

It didn’t happen.  

I didn’t happen for the next five books either.  

Where do I go from here?  Am I going to let a one star review break me?

Thoughts About Georgia High School Football Season

The 2026 Georgia High School Football season is here once again. The season kicks off this week. Anyone who knows me is aware of how I follow Georgia High School Football. Now that I live a world away in New York City, I rely on the Internet and live streaming to keep track during the season. I have always followed Georgia High School football and I doubt that I will ever give it up. I attended my first game at Waycross Memorial Stadium in 1975 to watch a region playoff game between the Clinch County Panthers and Charlton County Indians. Charlton County won that game 6-0. At the time, I attended a middle school in Charlton County. Clinch County was my dad’s alma mater and took us to the game. He took me to some Clinch County games the following season and after a thrilling 7-6 win over Jeff Davis late in the season, I was hooked.

So here we are starting another high school football season in Georgia - yes in mid-August - crazy right? I remember when the season started around Labor Day weekend. It seems a lot has changed.


Playoffs have changed
One of the biggest changes this season is the playoffs. The Georgia High School Association (GHSA) decided to use a computer ranking system for the 32-team playoff field in each classification instead of the top four teams in each region qualifying for the playoffs. I think this is a ridiculous idea. I suspect that this new ranking system for the playoffs will favor North Georgia/Atlanta/Gwinnett County teams more than it will South Georgia. I don’t like it.

Notable coaching changes.

• Rich Fendley Jr. decided to leave Bowdon for Rockmart. Fendley had won four state titles at Bowdon. I was really hoping he would end up at his alma mater in Warner Robins.
• Rance Morgan will take over at Clinch County replacing Jim Dickerson who decided to retire for real this time after coming back to lead the Panthers the past two season.
• Santavious Bryant left Grayson where he was 37-5 and won a state title to take over at Gainesville.
• Bill Stewart is the new coach at Rome from North Gwinnett.
• Tucker Pruitt left Fitzgerald to take over at Camden County.

Future of State Championship Games in Mercedes-Benz Dome
The GHSA lost money for the first time playing the games in the dome. If they continue to lose money again this season, changes could be made to the site of the state final games. Personally, I have always been in favor of playing the title games at the teams' home stadium. There is just different atmosphere playing the state championship games at the schools instead of a college or NFL neutral venue. I hope they will bring it back but I doubt it will happen.

During the season, I usually follow three football teams: Warner Robins, Villa Rica and Clinch County. I will tell you why I follow these teams below. I actually graduated from Tompkins High School in Savannah, Georgia. The school closed in the 1990s so there is no team to follow there but I really never grew attached to the football team when they had a team.

Let’s take a look at the teams I follow during the season:

Warner Robins
Why I follow Warner Robins:
In 1984 I was stationed at Robins Air Force Base. The first game I attended was a state playoff game between Valdosta and Warner Robins. Warner Robins lost that game but I was hooked and have followed the team since then. No, I never attended Warner Robins High School but I adopted the football team as my team and watched them win four state championships.

What happened last season:
Warner Robins suffered some historic losses. It was an embarrassment. I still can’t believe Shane Sams is still the head coach after four seasons with a 23-13 record. I had hoped that Warner Robins could have brought in Rich Fendley Jr. when he left Bowdon. It’s a shame they missed that opportunity. Warner Robins was 7-5 in 2025 with embarrassing losses to Benedictine (61-0) in the regular season and Cartersville (64-0) to be bounced out of the playoffs in the second round.

2025 Results:
Lee County L45-7
Fayette County W53-0
Northside-Warner Robins W22-13
Houston County L48-14
Veterans W26-17
Wayne County L32-10
Benedictine L61-0
New Hampstead W34-26
Ware County W48-44
Perry W33-26
Eastside W28-14
Cartersville L64-0

What to look for this season:
Chandler Dyson should be the starting QB and he’s pretty good when he has protection. That’s been the key. If the offensive line can give him some time, Dyson will be a treat to watch.

In addition to Dyson, other key offensive players include:
Ezra Goings (Sr.): Experienced playmaker expected to shoulder significant offensive responsibility.
Jacoby Parsons (Sr.): Key skill-position contributor and offensive weapon.
Zayvon Burke (Sr.): Senior playmaker providing depth and versatility.
Lekayvious Bryant (Sr.): Dynamic option out in space.
Jamarcus Allen (Sr.): Experienced offensive contributor.
Jessie Roberson (Sr.): Reliable target and playmaker.
Tre Glover (Sr.): Standing 6′ 4″, anchoring the offensive line protection.
Chase Plank (Sr.): Another key protector tasked with keeping Dyson upright.

On defense:
Jaquavion Ross (Sr.): Impact outside lineman applying pressure in the backfield.
Derrick Smith (Sr.): Disruptive force along the defensive front.

I have a feeling that Warner Robins will take yet another step backward this season under Sams’ leadership. I am not sure he’s the guy but Warner Robins is in a better region this season so that might help. I still think it’s going to be a long season in the International City.

2026 Schedule:
8/21 at Veterans
8/28 vs. Northeast Macon
9/4 at Northside-Warner Robins
9/11 at Newton
9/18 at Union Grove
9/25 at Eagle's Landing
10/2 vs. Locust Grove
10/23 vs. Ola
10/30 at Jones County
11/6 vs. Perry

Projected record: 6-4, eliminated in first round of playoffs

Villa Rica
Why I follow Villa Rica:
I attended Villa High School for 8th through 10th grade. I attended many games and was on the football team during 10th grade but I never played in a varsity game. Following my 10th grade year, my dad moved us to Savannah, Georgia.

What happened last season:
After starting the season 0-3, the Wildcats won four of their last seven games to make it into the playoffs where they lost to eventual state champion Thomas County Central in the second round. It was their best season since 2021.

2025 Results:
Troup L42-31
Northgate L12-9
Central-Carrollton L45-7
Alexander W27-6
South Paulding W31-17
Lithia Springs W30-8
Rome L49-7
New Manchester L36-0
Kennesaw Mountain W56-35
East Paulding W17-14
Northgate W24-14
Thomas County Central L55-14

What to look for this season:
Promoted defensive coordinator Michael Hilbert to replace Austin Barron, who is now Bremen’s defensive coordinator. Hilbert has taught at Villa Rica since 2016 and joined the staff in 2021. He coached previously at Carrollton. Villa Rica was 15-18 in three seasons under Barron. This is Villa Rica’s 7th coach in 10 years.

Key players on offense:
Myles George (Sr., ATH): Dynamic playmaker expected to lead the offensive production.
Emmanuel Ajayi (Sr., RB): Powerful running back anchoring the ground game.
Will Wallace (Jr./Sr., QB): Slated to direct the passing and overall offensive attack.
Cam Bolton (RB): Expected to share backfield duties and provide explosive rushing plays.
Jaylyn Murphy (WR): Primary perimeter target in the passing game.

Key players on defense:
Donte Carlisle (LB): Top defensive cornerstone entering the season.
Tamaj Beasley (Jr., ATH): Versatile contributor on both sides of the ball.
Kaleb Aker (DB): Experienced presence in the secondary.
Jace Radford (LB): Key tackler in the middle of the defense

The Wildcats move to a tough Region 7 with Cartersville, Cedartown and Dalton.

2026 Schedule
8/21 vs. Alexander
8/28 at Hiram
9/4 vs. South Paulding
9/11 at Seckinger
9/18 vs. Cass
9/25 at Cartersville
10/2 vs. Woodland
10/9 at Allatoona
10/23 at Dalton
10/30 vs. Cedartown

Projected record: 1-9

Clinch County
Why I follow Clinch County:
My dad attended Clinch County High School and was on the football team. He took me to my first football game. The last game we attended was the state championship game in 2010.

What happened last season:
The Panthers finished 13-1 in 2025 and made it to the state semifinals losing to Bowdon at home to end Jim Dickerson’s second stint as the Panthers’ head coach.

2025 Results:
Bacon County W25-6
Wilcox County W21-13
Miller County W35-6
Berrien W48-43
Mitchell County W21-6
Irwin County W61-14
Charlton County W42-27
Brooks County W6-0
Turner County W40-8
Lanier County W48-0
Chattahoochee County W48-20
Emanual County Institute W28-18
Wheeler County W27-22
Bowdon L45-6

What to look for this season:
Morgan was previously an assistant coach at Clinch but has been the school’s assistant principal. He’s now stepping into the lead role over two decades after he played for the school.

Morgan will have big shoes to fill. Dickerson coached Clinch County from 2004-18 and again in 2024-25, compiling an overall record of 126-47-1. In a lengthy first stint with the program, Dickerson led the Panthers to five state championships and seven regional titles. In this brief two-year return, Dickerson was successful once again, going 11-2 and 13-1, coming just one game away from competing for the Class A, Division II state championship this past 2025 campaign.

Morgan was a three-sport athlete during his days at Clinch. He won a state title in both football (2002) and baseball (2003) and even earned a baseball scholarship to Georgia. He now steps into the head coaching role for one of the top Class A programs in the Peach State.

The Panthers are young and reloaded lineup featuring just three offensive and four defensive returning starters.

Quarterback Traviian Miller returns after a standout sophomore season. Miller is a dual-threat player who can throw and run and serves as the engine of the Panthers’ offense. Receivers Kamarion Johnson and Jakyri Posley — all three players are also coming off a state basketball championship — return as the primary pass catchers. Johnson, described as a vocal leader and high-level Division I prospect, is expected to stretch the field alongside Posley on the outside. The biggest question for Clinch County is its offensive line. The unit has size but lacks varsity experience, and Morgan acknowledged the group will have to develop quickly once the regular season begins.

2026 Schedule:
8/21 vs. Fitzgerald
8/28 vs. Jeff Davis
9/4 at Miller County
9/18 at Bacon County
9/25 at Seminole County
10/2 at Irwin County
10/9 vs. Mitchell County
10/23 vs. Lanier County
10/30 vs. Charlton County
11/6 at Atkinson County

Projected record: 10-3, state quarterfinals

The GHSA football season officially started on Wednesday and many of the private schools get things started tonight.  Everyone will get it going next Friday night as I begin another high school football season.

34 Likes In A Minute

I am convinced that the most overused, non-profanity word is “like”.  It is crazy how much this word is grossly overused in conversations.  I overheard a conversation recently and actually counted that the word “like” was used 34 times in one minute.  It gets to the point of being ridiculous.  Why is the word “like” being used so much to the point of oblivion?

Here’s how the conversation went:

”I told him like this was like how we needed to go down to like Times Square because we like will be like in the middle of a bunch of people who like go down there and like a lot of tourists….”

You see what I mean?  So why do people do this?

Some have fallen into the habit of using it to fill gaps in their conversation because their brain is running faster than their mouth.  It is also a substitute for “um” or “uh”.  Using the the word “like” is the in thing now with current social habits for people to connect to their friends.

It is very annoying.  

Ways that people can calm down using the word “like”.  First, just slow down and take a break.  Be okay with taking a pause in your conversation instead of feeling compelled to add extra words.  Also practice the way you talk.

For me, I think overuse of the word “like” is just as annoying as when people use the F-word.  I get like very annoyed like people using the word “like” so much.

Three Ways That God Heals

When we prayer earnestly for God to heal, most of the time we are hoping it will be instant miracle.

Most of the time it isn’t. I have seen various ways God heals during my lifetime. I remember when I was growing up that my dad never took medicine and never went to the doctor. He believed totally in divine healing. I have seen him laying on the floor rolling in extreme pain believing God would heal him.

When I have encountered moments in my life when I or someone I love needed at healing that I knew it was going to be a lot of praying. I really can’t remember when I prayed and suddenly there was a healing.

Nothing really stands out in my mind but I do believe that God heals.

Here are the ways that He heals:.

Divine Healing
This is when healing occurs which defies any scientific explanation. A divine healing can happen instantaneously or over a period of time.

Some of the ways that divine healing works are:

By touch through the physical contact or the laying on of hands.
By the spoken word when someone commands the sickness to leave.

By faith and action where the recipient actively seeks out God or through obeying a specific instruction.

Healing Through Medicine
Contrary to what many Christians believe, God can use doctors and medicine to heal. In spite of all of the medical technology, there is never a guarantee that a treatment is going to work. The way our human bodies work is so complex.

Rather than viewing science and faith as competing, they are often complementary. Medicine is views by many as a divine gift of wisdom and doctors, nurses and treatments as instruments through which God brings restoration and healing.

The Ultimate Healing
This is one that none of wants to happen. This healing happens when someone passes from this life into eternity.

When we pass from our physical body we will experience the final healing and a place where there is no more pain or death.

Although we pray for a physical healing, the ultimate and complete restoration of our body and soul is fulfilled beyond physical death.

God always heals, we just don’t always know how or when He will perform the healing. None of us wants to suffer or see our loved ones suffer. We pray and believe that God will have compassion and answer our prayers for the healing. The challenge is for us to be prepared for how He does it.

Is God Fighting My Battles?

I like to control things.  

There, I said it.

It’s a confession that I am not proud of.

So when I face difficult times, naturally I try to figure it out and resolve it myself.  Unfortunately, I don’t always have the solution.  I do not have the control l would like to think I have.

Having faith in God is hard.  It means you have to let go.  The battles we face aren’t ones we can fight on our own.  It’s hard to give up the control and let God fight our battles for us.

God is in control whether we believe it or not.  He’s God.  We are not. I would like to have the faith of David when he was standing in the Valley of Elah facing a giant named Goliath.  Although David had picked five stones he only needed one to take out the giant in his battle.  We all need the courage of David in the moments we are facing the battles that challenge us.

We have to be all in if we are trusting in God to fight for us even if the results aren’t what we were expecting.   I have no cute quotes or feel-good cliches to give you on this.  You either trust God in your battles or you don’t.  If you are on the Lord’s side then be on it and trust that his strategy is the right one.

I write this for you but I can tell you that this isn’t easy.  Trusting God is hard and takes every ounce of you.  It’s hard to let go.  Until you are in a battle, you truly don’t know.  As smart as we all think we are, none of us truly knows what is ahead for us.  We don’t know what will test us or the battle we will face.  We can’t prepare for the battle we don’t know but we can put our trust in the one who will fight for us.

If we put our trust in God, He can help us to stay calm and not panic.  He goes ahead of us to open doors, move obstacles and arrange solutions we do not see yet.  Sometimes if He doesn’t remove the battle, He will give us the strength to endure it.  

Thoughts About Trusting God During the Rough Times

There are times we never saw coming. We never truly know what is ahead in our lives.

I have always trusted in God to keep me and He has so far. It is not an easy trust sometimes.

We all go through things. That’s life. We can’t get mad about who’s helping or not helping us. We still have to get through the rough parts.

There are times I am strong in my faith and there have been times I doubted if I ever had any faith at all. That’s why they are called trials and tests. We don’t truly know how strong our faith is until it is tested.

Mine has been tested. I can’t say that I have gotten an "A" on this test. I just hope I will pass.

Some may think I’m silly for trusting in God but that’s all I’ve ever known. I know people don’t believe in God. I know the strong feelings people have about Christians and religion. I can’t control what others think. I know who I am and my own experience.

I often listen to the song “Remember to Remember” by Stephen Curtis Chapman and this verse:

And now I'm looking out at the road that's waiting
But my eyes can only see so far out ahead of me
As sure as the sun will shine there'll be more mountains I will climb
And more deep dark shadowlands where desperate faith is all I have
Until I'm home, I'm resting all my hope and trust
In the only One whose name is: God with us

God never promised it would be easy.  I know some Christians who have nearly lost their minds when they have a flat tire thinking something like that shouldn't happen to them.  Life hits us all in some way.  We don't always expect and there are no guarantees that things won't get rough.  We do the best we can and trust God. 

Life can be rough, and sometimes it feels like everything is falling apart. Maybe you’re facing loss, uncertainty, or a problem that just won’t go away. In those moments, it’s easy to feel scared, overwhelmed, and unsure of what to do next. But you don’t have to carry that burden alone—God is with you, even when things feel out of control.

The truth is, trusting God in difficult situations isn’t about having all the answers—it’s about believing He is still in control, even when life doesn’t make sense.

Hard times don’t last forever, but God’s love does. When life feels overwhelming, take one step at a time. Pray, even if all you can say is, “Lord, help me.” Surround yourself with people who will lift you up. Read His Word and let His promises remind you that He is working behind the scenes. You may not see the full picture now, but one day, you’ll look back and understand how God was guiding you through it all.

Thoughts About Driving In NYC

I finally did it today.  For the first time since we have moved here, I drove into Manhattan.  

It was actually better than I had expected but I was also blessed to have lesser traffic than usual.

Since March, we have been going into the city three times a week for appointments.  With the subway not being a good option, we have been using ride shares such as Lyft and Uber for our trips to/from the city.  Unfortunately, the ride shares had pushed us to our limit with how absolutely ridiculous they drive without regard to health issues.  I have had to fuss at too many drivers lately.  When the ride is more stressful than the actual appointment, something is very wrong.  

So, as the last resort, I decided to drive today.  We have been taking the same route for months so I knew what to expect (usually expect the unexpected) so I took the leap to get behind the wheel and drove into the city.  I have past driving experiences in Puerto Rico, Panama, Atlanta and Nashville but nothing quite compares to New York City.  There are a lot of vehicles, pedestrians, bicycles and other obstacles in tight spaces.  

After a dreadful ride share experience on Tuesday, I starting getting myself mental prepared for driving into the city.  I was finally tired of the stress of depending on a "professional" driver to drive us.  I waited up until we had to leave this morning to go through with it.  

The drive was the most stress-free ride we've had.  I do drive rather cautiously and I am in no way a great driver but I drove at the pace we needed and completed the task.  Crystal did a great job of navigating.  When you drive here, you seriously need as many extra "eyes" as you can to get around.  She navigated me perfectly.

This is more than just tooting my own horn (no pun intended) but a very sad commentary on a majority of the Lyft and Uber drivers we have experienced. We have paid way too much for each ride for most of them being crappy rides and dealing with drivers who are unable to understand or sympathize with our requests for a calm ride.  The ride share services fail at helping those who need something special for their ride experiences.  We never asked for a celebrity chauffeur treatment, just someone that wouldn't drive like a crazy taxi driver in NYC!  I have a long list of drivers I have blocked from accepting our requests.  That is pathetic.  

Will I continue driving into the city?  Probably.  Let's just enjoy today's experience.  We can't assume that it will always be like it was today.  

For today - at least - I can say that I drove in Manhattan.