Ranger
Ranger, GA · Sports
thebirdfeed.org
Flag Football Finds Its Place at South
Football has always been known for its big crowds, but a new version of the game, flag football, is rising. For years, traditional football has dominated the field, and now flag football is quickly making a name for itself. Out with the old in with the new. Flag football is...
Gwinnett Daily Post
'It took courage': Peachtree Ridge's Jorgia Walls wins GFL Cheer Off as 1-person team
BUFORD — Facing the large crowd and nailing your routine at the annual Gwinnett Football League Kim Massengill Cheer Off is a pressure-packed challenge, but the young cheerleaders share the nerves with their teammates. Except for Jorgia Walls. With no teammates to lean on, the Northbrook Middle School eighth-grader faced a rarity Sunday in the event at Buford City Arena as a team of one. While Gwinnett cluster teams performed with as many as 45 cheerleaders on a team, Walls confidently strolled onto the mat with just her props — pom poms, a sign and a megaphone — and went to work. The crowd, sensing the moment, put allegiances aside and an arena full of fans responded to her cheer requests, yelling “red,” “blue” and “Peachtree Ridge,” an emotional moment for the GFL cheer community. Her entrance and performance each drew the loudest applause of the all-day showcase and brought many in attendance to tears, largely citing her courage to compete when others would have declined facing the crowd and judges solo. “It took courage, lots of bravery and courage,” said Kenya Barbour, Walls’ coach at Peachtree Ridge. “She’s a softball player, an avid and very good softball player. That
Gwinnett Daily Post
No. 1 Buford pulls away from Mill Creek challenge in 2nd half
HOSCHTON — Mill Creek didn’t make it easy, but eventually No. 1-ranked Buford pulled away for a Region 8-AAAAAAA football win on Friday night. The Wolves tacked on a pair of fourth-quarter touchdowns for a 40-0 victory in a game they led just 14-0 at halftime. On occasion, they looked like a team with consensus top-10 national rankings, while host Mill Creek gave them trouble at other times. “We did some stupid things that we can’t do if we want to keep playing past two weeks from now,” Buford head coach Bryant Appling said. “We’ve got a lot of stuff we need to get fixed. … We started off great (in the second half) and stalled out, started giving things up. I don’t know why. It’s the DNA of this team right now, which we’ve got to get it out of them. We’ve still got some time to do it, not much time. We’ve got to figure out that stuff during the week and let it show up on Friday nights.” Mill Creek gifted the Wolves (8-0, 4-0 region), now winners of 18 straight, a quick touchdown after a fumble on the game’s first offensive snap. Five plays later, Jameer
Marietta Daily Journal
Walton rolls into state semifinals
LAWRENCEVILLE -- Walton upended Archer on the road 3-1 on Saturday in the quarterfinal of Class AAAAAAA state volleyball playoffs. The Raiders (27-12) advanced to the semifinal where they will face North Forsyth on Wednesday at LakePoint Sports Complex in Cartersville. Their chance to repeat as state champions is still alive. “I think that’s what the goal of every season is, is to make the state championship” Walton coach Ashley Jones said. “So that fact that we’re one step closer is very exciting.” Meanwhile, Archer (30-5) sees its season come to an end, as the champions of Region 4AAAAAAA. “I think we’re getting hot at the right time,” Jones said. “They have really fought for every single point. They’re really working hard in practice and making sure that the focus is there. So, I think we finally found our stride of just making sure we’re focused on one point at a time.” Walton to battle is out, but they pulled off a 27-25, 27-25, 18-25, 25-21 win. Walton took the first two sets by taking early leads and holding off Archer’s attempts at a comeback that went down to the wire, 27-25 each time. The Tigers avoided the shutout by
USA TODAY Sports Media Group
atlantanewsfirst.com
Frederick Douglass football player who survived crash, long recovery playing in senior night game
ATLANTA, Ga. (Atlanta News First) — For Frederick Douglass High School senior Travis Isaacs, Friday night’s game is about more than football. The Frederick Douglass football team will host Pace Academy on senior night at Lakewood Stadium in southeast Atlanta, with kickoff scheduled for 5:30 p.m. Among the seniors taking the field will be Isaacs, a safety who returned to the sport after surviving a crash that killed both of his brothers and left him in a coma.
Gwinnett Daily Post
Grayson dominates in region win over South Gwinnett
LOGANVILLE — For many football coaches, it’s a luxury to be able to give underclassmen valuable experience at the end of lopsided games. For Grayson head coach Greg Carswell, those second- and third-stringers that enter when the game is already decided are future Division I players. Grayson (5-4, 2-1 Region 4-AAAAAAA) dominated visiting South Gwinnett (5-3, 1-1) in every facet on Friday to earn a 52-0 win, allowing Carswell to deploy reserves that would start on many teams in the state. After starter Deuce Smith threw for two touchdowns and rushed for another two, backup quarterback K.J. Simpson ran in a 10-yard score to stamp a perfect night for the Rams. “That kid’s expected to be the guy next year,” Carswell said of Simpson, a junior. “So him being able to get these reps with us having the schedule we’ve had all year and games going down to the wire into the fourth quarter, we haven’t been able to get him in that much. So when he’s able to get in there and do what we know he can do, it’s a great thing to see.” For the time being, though, Smith is more than capable of being the leader
bcinterruption.com
Three-Star DB Stays Committed To Boston College After Father’s Departure
Kenyatta Watson mutually parted ways with the Eagles but his son remains committed. Boston College has been busy on the recruiting front lately. After a flip and a loss over the last week or so, the Eagles received good news from three-star defensive back Jett Watson. Watson, the son of...
ramblinwreck.com
Men’s Basketball Closes Preseason at Providence College
GEORGIA TECH (0-0, 0-0 ACC) at PROVIDENCE COLLEGE (0-0, 0-0 BIG EAST) Saturday, Oct. 24, 2026 | 12 p.m. ET | Providence, R.I. | Amica Mutual Pavilion. Georgia Tech men’s basketball closes out preseason play with its final exhibition slated for Saturday at Providence College. The Yellow Jackets and Friars, who have never met in program history, tip in the final tune-up of preseason at noon in Amica Mutual Pavilion.
Gwinnett Daily Post
Providence Christian earns first football win in 19 tries against Athens Academy
LILBURN — Providence Christian broke through Friday night with a big win over a longtime football nemesis. The Storm defeated Athens Academy 35-28 on quarterback Riley Braiden’s touchdown run with 13 seconds left, earning their first victory over the longtime Athens power in the 8-AA matchup. Providence entered Friday’s game with an 0-18 all-time record against the Spartans, and almost all of those losses were in lopsided fashion, including a 69-13 setback last season. Until their breakthrough win, the Storm had never held Athens Academy under 40 points in a game. “What an unbelievable football game,” first-year Providence head coach Trae Owens said. “Our players showed tremendous character and resilience tonight. We got down 14-0 early, battled back to tie it, and then went into halftime down 21-14. Our guys never folded, never flinched and continued to believe in each other. “All three phases played a huge role in this win. Our defense made stops when we needed them most, our offense capitalized when we had opportunities and our special teams created two big turnovers that gave us momentum. This was a huge win for our program against a team we had never beaten before, just a complete team win.
Gwinnett Daily Post
Lanier responds to early deficit, rolls past Johns Creek
SUGAR HILL — Lanier took down Johns Creek 43-14 in a come-from-behind, Region 7-AAAAAA football game on Friday. After fallowing behind 14-0, the Longhorns rallied quickly to finish the first quarter with a lead, then pulled away. “Yeah, just being able to overcome adversity was big,” Lanier head coach Tyler Maloof said after the game. “I mean that same situation happened to us against Lambert, and we didn’t. That felt like a mountain we couldn’t climb. So, really just proud of our guys not for freaking out down 14-0.” Johns Creek set up a scoring opportunity when quarterback Jacob Blackwelder found wide receiver Ben Feigin for a 43-yard pass. Blackwelder carried in the ball the remaining two yards for the touchdown with 9:35 left in the first quarter. The Gladiators scored again on their following drive when Michael Hanley found the end zone for a touchdown with 5:12 left in the first quarter for a 14-0 edge. Lanier (4-4, 2-2 region) punted on its first drive, but it got on the board the second time around. Running back Michael Morring put together three consecutive big runs, and after an incomplete pass, the versatile Ben Vanden Bos took it in two
Gwinnett Daily Post
Makyree Cross totals 5 TDs in Collins Hill's 52-40 win over Dacula
SUWANEE — Collins Hill quarterback Makyree Cross tossed four touchdown passes and ran for another as the Eagles kept their state playoff hopes alive with a 52-40 win over visiting Dacula in Region 8-AAAAAAA football Friday night. Ranked No. 39 in the GHSA’s PSR Power Rankings coming into the contest, the Eagles (3-5, 3-1 region) would have been all but eliminated with a loss. “I told the kids that every week it’s win or go home,” Collins Hill head coach Drew Swick said. “We’re banged up and have many kids sick but I’m proud that we found a way to win tonight.” Dacula (4-4, 2-2) received the opening kickoff but was only able to move to its 45 before the Eagles forced a punt. On the kick, the ball deflected off a Collins Hill defender and was picked up by return man, Xavier Sheffield on the right hash at the 14. Reversing his field, Sheffield made the corner around the left side of the field and raced 86 yards for the touchdown. Kevin Lopez’s extra point gave Collins Hill a sudden 7-0 lead. “Xavier is a three-year starter and one of the hardest workers on this team,” Swick said of