Sports

Habersham Central’s Zeke Whittington ran away from the competition during the spring game in Hart County, but the real tests begin this week and beyond as the Raiders look to bounce back from two consecutive 3-7 campaigns. TOM ASKEW/Special

Habersham Central’s Zeke Whittington ran away from the competition during the spring game in Hart County, but the real tests begin this week and beyond as the Raiders look to bounce back from two consecutive 3-7 campaigns. TOM ASKEW/Special

Raiders look inward as season dawns

Tonight’s scrimmage doesn’t count towards either team’s official record. It does, however, represent the end of a wait that seems longer each year.

No more teases, it’s time for football

Spring Training. NFL Preseason. Primary elections. Trailers for movies that come out in three years. All of these are (to obviously varying degrees) necessary and entertaining. But let’s be honest. They’re all some of society’s biggest teases. It’s not what the people really want to see.
Abigail and Audrey Hotard were inspired by their older brother Thomas as top-level runners. SUBMITTED

Abigail and Audrey Hotard were inspired by their older brother Thomas as top-level runners. SUBMITTED

Lady Raiders’ sister act is back

Abigail and Audrey Hotard have been a dynamic duo since day one. Literally. The twin sisters have been wowing observers with their collective athletic prowess for years.
Habersham Central’s Brooke Blackburn serves a ball during a game last season. FILE

Habersham Central’s Brooke Blackburn serves a ball during a game last season. FILE

Lady Raiders aim to serve up deep run

With Raider volleyball season set to begin Thursday – albeit unofficially – the buzz is back in the gym in Mt. Airy.
Tallulah Falls’ Addy McCoy will be one of the leaders of the Lady Indians, who are hoping to repeat their success from 2022. AUSTIN POFFENBERGER/Special

Tallulah Falls’ Addy McCoy will be one of the leaders of the Lady Indians, who are hoping to repeat their success from 2022. AUSTIN POFFENBERGER/Special

TFS begins quest to repeat

Last year was one that will always be remembered for Tallulah Falls volleyball. By every metric in the book, the 2022 Lady Indians squad was the best the school has ever seen.
First responders line up for a play during last year’s Battle of the Heroes. FILE

First responders line up for a play during last year’s Battle of the Heroes. FILE

Heroes team up to honor one of their own

The Easton Foundation is teaming up with Life Church to hold its 10th annual Battle of the Heroes at Habersham’s Raider Stadium on Saturday, Aug. 12. The evening gets underway at 7 p.m with a flag football game pitting Habersham and Banks County first responders against those of Hall County.
Habersham Central assistant coach Matt Shirley talks with Jonah Wilson at practice on Thursday morning. LANG STOREY/Staff

Habersham Central assistant coach Matt Shirley talks with Jonah Wilson at practice on Thursday morning. LANG STOREY/Staff

It’s nearly time ...

Now only a week away from the season’s unofficial opener against East Hall, there’s a different aura hovering over Raider Stadium. It’s still treacherously warm outside, but Habersham football hasn’t missed a beat. Coach Benji Harrison and staff have the guys focused and in business mode.
Frankey Moree had 86 hits in his Tallulah Falls career, good for most in school history. FILE

Frankey Moree had 86 hits in his Tallulah Falls career, good for most in school history. FILE

Moree earns All-State nod, turns gaze to road ahead

Baseball standout and recent Tallulah Falls graduate Frankey Moree has been named to the Georgia Dugout Club’s All-State team. The honor comes on the heels of a breakout season in which the Jamaican slugger boasted an .449 average – the fourth highest in program history.
Habersham Central’s Jonah Wilson runs away from a Hart County defender during the spring game. The fall preseason game is just nine days away.  TOM ASKEW/Special

Habersham Central’s Jonah Wilson runs away from a Hart County defender during the spring game. The fall preseason game is just nine days away. TOM ASKEW/Special

Raiders ready to make pads pop for real

When you look at the numbers, Habersham’s 2022 offense hardly jumps off the page. The Raiders struggled mightily at times, averaging just 17 points per game – the lowest in Coach Benji Harrison’s tenure at the school. “Many of our guys weren’t too happy about last season,” Harrison said.

Going with the flow

At dinner with some family friends, the conversation turned to the current state of affairs in college football. It’s been a hot topic lately. Locally, for sure, but also nationwide. Those sitting across the table had a very dim outlook on the direction the collegiate game seems to be headed.