Page 8 Levy county JourNAL S PO RTS te iP EC i EATI | A

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2006

 

    
 

Bears maul Red Devils

les me two. ne

   

BY NEAL FISHER,
~ Sports WRITER -

One week - after iesing
the battle, but winning
- the war of removing
“the cultura setback of a
loss from its memory to
. Dunnellon, the Nalision
~ Red Devils” took -
on another foe —

with similar
implications. -
This time it was _
. the Dixie ae

us in difficult positions. For
example, we get a: penalty |
on first down after gaining 1
“positive yardage. Now Dev:
instead of it being 2" and 5 or ther
6, its 1“ and 15 and it makes opponen’
_it hard to ae poseo of Buton
col oo

 

 
       
     
     
     
      
 
    
 
   
 
    
   
  

Game Summary
Williston | 0:19:00 = 49
Dixie County 9 O 7 7 23
First fe
DC -- Corey. Van Aernam tackles Timmons in end |

zone, safety :
DC = Scott 3-yard touchdown run
Second
Williston — Evans 1-yard touchdown run .

_| Williston — Dixie County recovers fumble in end zone, |

| safety

| Williston — James 23-yard fumble return, touchdown

Williston — Quezeda 45-yard field goal

Third

DC — Keene to Harris 33 yard touchdown pass

Fourth

DC -- Scott 2-yard touchdown run

|. Rushing stats

ice as Nit stony: Mines 1Qn44, fisomons 10-28, White 5-27,

pL Evansibtd 5 reactor

..Passing,. eae Me

Williston: Timmons 8- 16- z -0

Receiving S

| Williston: Evans 3-46, James 2- 34, Brown 2-26, James |

| 1-26

Fumble Recovery

Williston: James 1

Interception

Brown 1

  

 
     
 
      
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
 
        
 

Tha Sports Guy

NEAL FISHER :
~ LEVY COUNTY JOURNAL

Football rivalry clearly the fiercest

ne of the more enjoyable things
Q about being a sportswriter is the

time I have to think about what
is going on in my life. With the peace it
affords me, (after I get far enough from the
stadium or gym) it gives me the opportunity
to work out a plan to take care of grown up
stuff, like my finances, who I need to talk to
the next day and what I need to buy the next

- time I shop for food.

But every now and then I have one of
those light bulb moments. where I think
about the lighter things life has to offer and
how unique they are to the fabric of my life.
One such instance happened last Friday.
Being the new guy in town, I was somewhat
surprised at the vindication with which both
Bronson and St. John’s were playing their.
football game.

I was surprised at the atmosphere of
the game and the fervor with which the
players maintained it. With Bronson
coming into the game at 0-4 and St. John’s
record standing at 3-1, it seemed to me both
teams would play hard, but not with the we
have something to prove to the other team
eagerness they did. Regardless of who won
or lost, I thought the teams would play for
the pride that comes with winning a game,
regardless of and having nothing to do with
who stood on the other side of the line of
scrimmage.

A little after halftime I was told that the
two schools had been playing each other
for several years and there was a history of
upsets, often involving homecoming. So, a
rivalry has developed. Being from the state
of Michigan, I know a thing or two about

rivalries. We don’t like teams that represent
Chicago or Cleveland. It doesn’t really
make much sense since both cities are a lot
like Detroit, but in sports there needs to, be a
common enemy among those associated with
a team.

And its not just limited to cities or regions.
There are specific rivalries to each sport.
Major League Baseball is loaded with its
share of rivalries; the Yankees and Red Sox,
the Dodgers and Giants, the A’s and Angels
and the Cubs and Cardinals to name a few.
Of course, basketball’s biggest showdowns
start and end with the Celtics and Lakers, but
the Celtics also have rich rivalries with the

~ 76ers, Pistons, Bulls and Knicks. The Lone
Star State boasts three teams, the Spurs, the
Mavericks and Rockets, making for some of
sports’ best rivalries in recent years.

But as I listed in mind that night all of the
highly publicized and reported rivalries and
what they have brought to their respective
sports, the ones in football stood out as
unique, both collectively and individually.
While it is uncommon in other sports,
many of football’s rivalries develop simply
because of circumstances or the drive to win
championships.

Whatever the circumstances for the
football rivalry, there is a certain magic and
aura that surrounds every aspect of the game
and teams. This is true whether it is high
school, college or the NFL and this particular
game made that point perfectly clear. As the
game wore on, the magic and aura of this
particular night, which began with the rivalry,

See Neal Page 11

top

     

BHS Volleyball stays hot

BY NEAL FISHER
Sports WRITER

They do not have any
physical advantages. They
do not have any depth to
speak of. Nor do they play
with the flash and pizzazz
usually associated. with
playoff teams.

Yet despite the lack of
these noticeable traits of
teams, the Bronson
Eagles’ volleyball team is
primed to claim their second
consecutive district title as
the season begins its home
stretch.

With five games left, the
Eagles record stands at 9-4
overall and 6-1 in class 2A,
district 6 play.

They have accomplished
Cds Cadet
impressive
record with
the simple,
but effective
traits of
fundamentals,
being in the
right place at
the right time
and chemistry.
Coached
by Bronson
graduate
Sherrie Schuller, the team has
found its stride and relies on
a core group of players who
have been in the program for
several years.

“We have been very
fortunate to avoid any
injuries,” Schuller said.. “We
only have eight players, so
an injury could really change
who we can use and how.
But other than that, we really
have a solid foundation to
work with.

“All the girls have been

3
4
6
7
8
1
1

with me for at least three:

years. So they know what
to do and» what works: best,”
Schuller said. “For us that is
making sure our fundamentals
are strong, we are always in
the right place to field the
ball and having the right
chemistry you always hear
about on winning teams.
They practice hard, at least
two hours a day and spend
a lot of time together. They
are a family and have learned
to depend on each other. All
these things really show on
the court.”

While the Eagles have
become one of the top teams
in the county by constructing

a philosophy .and culture

based on simplicity, their
character of play is much
more modern.

With the team composition
being made up of five seniors

  

AShIey

Points

 

Ashley Mauldin
Angela Massa

Jessica Blankenship Junior
Alissa West
Jessica Maldanado Senior
Amanda Wilkerson Senior
Goldie Gollihue
Lauren Smith

64 [34 [21 |

and three juniors, they have
elected to use a 6-1 formation.
They line up three hitters up
front and a setter in the back
row. Allowing for the team

‘to rely on its aggressiveness

and a power game. With
their personnel it also allows
for the players to be able to
roam and switch positions.
Another advantage their
experience brings them. The
Eagles have two defensive
players on the court as well.
Perhaps the biggest factor in

Bronson’s success continuing *

into the 2006 season was how
well they replaced the starters
they lost. They lost one of
the state’s best hitters due to
graduation. She had been in

Varsity Roster

Senior
Junior

Senior

Senior
Junior

 

the program for five years.
They also lost one of the best
hitters in the state when her
family moved to Gainesville.
However, every player on
this year’s squad has played
junior varsity volleyball under
Schuller’s direction and they
were ready to fill the shoes.
All the players are capable
of playing every position and
everyone’s significance in
every aspect of the game is
equally important.

“We try to win the point
on the serve,” Schuller
said. “It sets up our hitting
and spiking. That is what
‘an aggressive’ game plan
needs to do to get,points and
win the match. We play an
aggressive, power game that
tries to win points before the
Opponent can adjust. We
have average height, but our
jumping ability is real good
and we use it.

“Becauseoftheirexperience
and time in the program they
do a lot of roaming,” Schuller
continued. “They understand
how toplay every position and
I want a team that spreads the
spotlight around. When you
hit and spike with our ability
it plays a huge role in being
able to have that flexibility.”

The Eagles have five
remaining games, including
the district finale against
Trenton and the season ender
against Williston. The Eagles

Bronson Eagle Stats Summary

September 22, 2006

Current Record 9-4
‘District Record 4-1

Games this week: Lafayette, Dixie County, Branford

Assists

suffered their own district
loss to Trenton on Sept. 7.
and with the two teams being
the best in the district, the,
game will probably be for the,
district regular season title. »
Even though the district
tournament is being held,
at Bronson this year, a,
number one seed could still ;
be important during § the,
championships. Trenton;
was able to slow down the,
match’s tempo during their,
first meeting and it will be,
key again on Oct. 5, as will’,
the opportunity to enter the),
district tournament with the,
momentum and confidence a
victory over the chief rival on ;
the road brings.

other team’s ,
ability to;
slow the
tempo down.
according to ;
Schuller was ;
the primary ,
reason for .
each, of the.,
Eagles’.
losses.
Tbe e3
team _ lost,

their focus | :
due to.

and consistency,
it. With two of the losses
coming during a stretch of

seven games in eight days, ,
which included the Keswick »

In fact.the »

Tournament, the coach felt ,
the team had trouble getting .,

into a rhythm and focus on.

the match due to the fact that ;

they did not have the depth to
avoid fatigue.

Among the other fieh
profile contests on the;

remaining schedule are return;
matches against Dixie County,
Chiefland and  Williston..,

Dixie County plays a similar

style to Bronson.and it will,

_be an opportunity to test their, ;

skills and readiness for the
post season.
The Eagles

defeated '

Chiefland the first time they ,
met, but lost to Williston. ,
The match against the Red ;
Devils was the final match ;

during their stretch of seven

games in eight days and the ;
coach specifically pointed .

it out as an example of the
team’s biggest weakness.

2

Williston: and Chiefland
are rivalry games and feature .,

bragging __ rights

within ,,

the county, but a victory ;
against the Red Devils in ,
the last game of the regular
season would also be a huge .
momentum. booster entering ,

post-season play.

  
 
 

   

     
 
 

    
  
   
 

  

  

   

Packers tie Seminoles 6-6

Football season started with a tie game
for the Bronson Packers 10 and under team
Saturday. The boys played hard against the
Williston Seminoles and went into over-
time, which gave each team an opportunity
to break the tie. Each team held its own and

was spurred on by the cheerleaders.
Highlights from the game include Brower

scored the touchdown to tie the game, Quinn

Submitted by Karen Brower

ran the ball and made a touchdown only to have °
it called back for being out of bounds, Tisdale :
retreived two fumbles with a few tackles to the ~
quarterback, Mercer did his share of tacklilng
and Jones had an awesome interception.

The game ended in a 6-6 tie.

Bronson Youth League Secretary

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