Murphy
Murphy, NC · Sports
Cherokee Tribune
River Ridge heads to Rome with eyes on first win
This Friday night brings a battle between Region 6AAAAAA rivals River Ridge and Rome, two teams still searching for their first win of the season. Postseason football isn’t necessarily the focus anymore for either team, but progress and improvement are, especially over these final three weeks of regular season play. The Knights (0-7, 0-4 region) and Wolves (0-7, 0-4) will square off this weekend at Barron Stadium hoping to showcase how far they have come. “We are still taking those strides forward,” River Ridge coach Mike Collins said. “I know, obviously, it hasn't manifested in the win column, but I feel like we have gotten better in every aspect of the game. I feel like the off week was the same. We just worked on some fundamentals and still tried to hit those trouble areas to avoid those big plays. I feel like we are still progressing and getting better in every aspect.” The Knights have made some strides, which showed up on the scoreboard these past few games. They nearly picked up win No. 1 on Sept. 18 in a 44-40 thriller against Pope where quarterback Hunter Lockerman rushed for 167 and had four total touchdowns. Following a lopsided
Marietta Daily Journal
Burrus sets an early tone as Kell dominates Woodstock
MARIETTA - Senior Brock Burrus celebrated Kell’s homecoming in style, catching a 77-yard touchdown pass to start the game, part of a dominant 56-24 win over Woodstock on Friday at the Stockyard. “That play has been in the books since Monday,” Kell coach Bobby May said. “We knew, if we could protect it, it would be open.” Kell quarterback Boston Pierce finished with 392 yards on 17-of-21 passing. The junior had time in the pocket all night, standing tall on the first play while waiting for Burrus on a long post route. “I knew I had 1-on-1 coverage, so that’s just trust between the quarterback and (his) receivers,” said Burrus, who finished with seven catches for 227 receiving yards. “(Pierce) just trusts us to go up and make a play, so he puts it up there.” Kell’s opening strike was answered back immediately by Woodstock’s Graham Burmeister. The quarterback started with fake handoffs that left defenders at the line of scrimmage while he ran for 27 yards. After a third-down conversion, another set of fakes in the backfield drew defenders in while Rylan Hubbard ran wide open for an easy 21-yard touchdown pass and an early 7-7 score. “Our offense
vsuspectator.com
Blazers look to take on Shorter for Homecoming Matchup
Following a two-week break, the Blazers return to Bazemore-Hyder Stadium on Oct.ober 24 at 3 p.m. to face Shorter University in their annual Homecoming matchup. With the home crowd behind them, the Blazers look to make a statement as they return to the field for one of the university’s most anticipated traditions.
Marietta Daily Journal
Harrison downs region rival to advance to state quarters
KENNESAW – Harrison advanced to the volleyball state quarterfinals with a three-set sweep of Cobb County and Region 3AAAAAAA rival Hillgrove in the second round of the Class AAAAAAA tournament on Wednesday. The Hoyas won the first set in convincing fashion 25-15, eked out a close 25-21 win in the second set before pulling away with a strong run late in the third to win 25-15 to advance to their first elite eight appearance since 2022 – where they will host North Paulding on Saturday. “It’s a huge goal, so now the sky’s the limit,” Harrison coach Kristina Johnson said. Harrison (34-8) jumped to a 6-0 lead in the opening set, with five of its points off of Hillgrove unforced errors. It continued to be all Harrison for the rest of the set, with Leila Smith leading the way with four kills for the Hoyas. The second set was a lot closer, with Hillgrove (25-13) taking the lead and Harrison coming back to tie the score on the first eight points of the set for a 4-4 tie. Harrison would score the next three points, with Smith contributing a kill and Olivia Meek contributing an ace, to go up 7-4
pickensprogress.com
Volleyball Nettes sweep Dawson, reach Sweet 16 for second time ever
The Pickens volleyball team continued its record-setting season over Fall Break, sweeping Dawson County in the opening round of the GHSA Class AAAA state tournament to advance to the Sweet 16 for just the second time in program history. Pickens entered the tournament as the No. 16 seed and hosted...
darlingtonian.com
Winter athletes prepare for seasons with new goals
As the air cools and winter sports begin at, athletes are preparing for another season with new goals, teammates and challenges. Swimmers and basketball players are getting ready for competition while also adjusting to changes within their teams as athletes have opportunities to take on larger roles for their respective teams.
The Tennessean
Kinsley Owen commits to Vanderbilt women's basketball as in-state guard
Kinsley Owen, a 5-foot-7 point guard in the Class of 2027 from Silverdale Baptist Academy in Chattanooga, committed to Vanderbilt women's basketball , she announced on social media . Owen visited Arkansas, Houston and Michigan State before deciding on the Commodores. "I am blessed to announce my commitment to Vanderbilt University," Owen wrote in her Instagram post. "I want to thank all of my coaches, teammates, family, and friends who have supported me and pushed me to have this opportunity. cant wait to see what God has planned for me in this next part of my journey." Owen is not ranked by any recruiting services, but coach Shea Ralph has had a strong track record with small guards, including Aubrey Galvan and Mikayla Blakes on the current team and former players Iyana Moore, Ciaja Harbison and Marnelle Garraud. Owen is the second commit for the 2027 class, joining Clarksville Christian five-star forward Lauren Hassell. Aria Gerson covers Vanderbilt athletics for The Tennessean. Contact her at agerson@gannett.com or on X @aria_gerson . This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Kinsley Owen commits to Vanderbilt women's basketball as in-state guard
wearecollegetennis.com
Champions Crowned at the 2026 ITA Cup
Rome, GA – The 2026 ITA Cup has come to a close at the Rome Tennis Center as singles and doubles national champions have been crowned across the Division III, NAIA, and Junior College levels of play. Played across four days, the ITA Cup is one of the nation’s most storied small college tournaments on the college tennis calendar, with 2026 marking the 40th year of competition.
Rome News-Tribune
Coosa Eagles eliminate Heard County at home
Junior Whitley Sharpe scored three late aces in a go-ahead third-set win for the Coosa High volleyball Eagles Saturday, and after the extremely rare call of a service foot fault by visiting Heard County in the fourth set, Skylar Hegwood’s setter Haven Penney worked with freshman hitter Bella Crews for the emphatic end to opening round play in the GHSA Class A-AA playoffs. Coosa defeated Heard County 3-1 for the Eagles’ 20th win of the 2026 season, and the victory sends the Eagles on the road into the ‘Sweet 16’ round today (Oct. 20) against an area 5 rival in Bremen High. After the Eagles breezed through the first set with the Braves 25-15, things tightened up considerably. Heard leveled the match 1-1 in the second set winning 25-23, then Sharpe’s sharp serving made the difference in a 25-22 third set Coosa win. The fourth set also finished as close as possible to avoid extra play, 25-23 Eagles. Crews not only finished off the match, but she hit two Penney assists to start the first set 3-1. Hegwood has a second solid setter in Maddie Simms, and she set Abby Waits for a sideout that gave her serve. Her first
bartowsportszone.com
The Advocate & Democrat
Essentially Sports
Marietta Daily Journal
Cherokee rallies to overcome Wheeler
MARIETTA -- Cherokee overcame a slow start, holding off Wheeler 24-14 on Friday at Corky Kell Stadium. The Warriors outscored the Wildcats 24-0 across the final three quarters. Cherokee (2-6, 1-4 Region 5AAAAAAA) snapped a four-game losing streak amid a tumultuous stretch that included the dismissal of former starting quarterback Zack Parker. “We’ve got a really close group," Cherokee coach Adam Holley said. "That’s what’s really been cool to see throughout the season, is how close they’ve gotten. With all the adversity and outside noise, they just play for each other, so it was no surprise. I knew they’d fight. That’s what these guys do and it finally showed up.” With Cherokee leading 21-14 to start the second half, the game settled into a battle of defense and field position. The teams combined for eight punts to begin the second half. Midway through the fourth quarter, an errant snap by Wheeler (0-7, 0-4) led to the punter fielding the ball with his knee down at the Wildcats’ 20-yard line. After a pass interference call brought Cherokee down to the 10-yard line, the Wildcats’ defense forced a 26-yard field goal attempt, which Justin Fletcher converted to push the Warriors’ lead to
Gwinnett Daily Post
GGC men's tennis sends singles player, doubles team to ITA Cup finals
ROME — Georgia Gwinnett College men’s tennis players will compete for individual NAIA singles and doubles national championships after having convincing semifinal-round triumphs on Saturday at the Intercollegiate Tennis Association Cup at the Rome Tennis Center. Sophomore Kanan Gasimov, the No. 2 seed in the singles draw, captured his semifinal match in 63 minutes by winning 12 of the 13 games against No. 3-seeded Ching Wah Wai of Holy Cross College (Indiana). The NAIA singles final on Sunday, October 18, will be a rematch of last month’s ITA South Regional in Lawrenceville as Gasimov faces No. 4 seed Nicolas Cortes of Tennessee Wesleyan University. Gasimov won the regional matchup in straight sets. In doubles, the unseeded team of senior Nicolas Philibert and sophomore Mariano Hasenkopf upset the tournament’s No. 2-seeded duo from TWU by identical 6-4 set scores. The Grizzly tandem defeated the No. 3-seeded team in the tournament’s opening round. Philibert and Hasenkopf will compete for the NAIA doubles national championship on Sunday at 11 a.m. against the No. 4-seeded team from Lindsey Wilson University (Kentucky). “We had professional performances from the guys today. We got the job done and now we focus on playing with great focus and