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State senator rallies allies in call to punish Fulton DA over election indictments

Demonstrators gather outside the Georgia Capitol to call for a special session to investigate Fulton DA Fani Willis. (Ross Williams/Georgia Recorder)

(GA Recorder) — One group of Georgia state lawmakers is calling for a special legislative session to defund, investigate, impeach, or otherwise punish Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis after she charged former president Donald Trump and 18 others with trying to overturn the 2020 election in Georgia. That group includes Republican Sens. Colton Moore of Trenton and Brandon Beach of Alpharetta, and Rep. Charlice Byrd of Woodstock.

Another larger and more powerful group has not signed on to do that. Its members include all of the state’s other 233 legislators, but Moore and his trio are not going away quietly, continuing their calls at a press conference and rally at the Capitol Thursday.

Republican Gov. Brian Kemp said going after Willis would “ignore current Georgia law and directly interfere with the proceedings of a separate but equal branch of government,” and House Speaker Jon Burns said the plan “flaunts the idea of separation of powers, if not outright violates it.”

It would also mean convincing two-thirds majorities in both chambers – meaning Moore and Beach would need to talk 36 of their fellow senators into joining in, and Byrd would have the heavy job of convincing 119 of her colleagues to defy the governor and speaker. More than a few Democrats would need to join their conservative GOP colleagues in the plan to exact punishment on Willis, who is also a Democrat.

But Moore said he’s not giving up that easily, firing back at Kemp at a Capitol press conference and rally Thursday.

“The governor has made some statements in his own press conference a week ago that are very disgraceful to the office, the most prestigious office in this state. He calls and references me a grifter and a scammer,” he said. “I represent 200,000 hardworking Georgians in Northwest Georgia. The people that I represent that duly elected me, they sweat hard for their tax dollars and they don’t want their tax dollars funding this type of corrupt government power.”

Sen. Colton Moore speaks before an unusually crowded press conference. (Ross Williams/Georgia Recorder)

Moore narrowly won a first term in the state Senate in 2022, tallying fewer than 15,000 votes in a primary that determined who would represent a reliably red district at the Tennessee border.

Moore said he wants his colleagues to use the power of the budget to direct dollars away from Willis’ office.

“The language would state, all of this money can be used at your discretion, except for Fulton County, and then, constitutionally, to my understanding, we do have to fund the office with something, but I’m proposing one dollar.”

In a gaggle with reporters, Moore indicated that he had not met with the Senate Budget Office or legal counsel to see if his plan is legally possible.

“What do you mean legally possible?” he asked. “I’m a member of the Legislature. I’m a member of the Republic. I don’t ask permission from the Office of Planning and Budgets as to how my constituents’ tax dollars can be spent.”

Moore also dismissed questions about how law enforcement would prosecute suspected criminals with a dollar from the state.

Sen. Colton Moore and Rep. Charlice Byrd. (Ross Williams/Georgia Recorder)

“She’s not fighting crime now, and that’s more the reason to investigate her,” he said.

“Fulton County will have to pay for it,” he added. “The Fulton County Commission will have to tax their citizens more, or they will have to reallocate their tax dollars and fund Fani Willis, but my citizens that I represent do not want their tax dollars going to Fani Willis.”

Moore may lack enough lawmaker support to deliver on his threat, but he did have the support of a crowd of several dozen believers who packed into the seats of a legislative conference room to hear his press conference, cheer him on, and at times, boo members of the media. Some of the crowd were members of the Tea Party Patriots.

Tea Party cofounder Jenny Beth Martin said Willis’ actions crossed the line into blatantly political.

“District Attorney Fani Lewis (sic) has abused her power of office for partisan political purposes, and that is wrong,” she said. “Her wrongful prosecution – which I actually think is a persecution – must be defunded, and an investigation must ensue. And if that investigation leads to an impeachment, so be it.”

Bruce LeVell (Ross Williams/Georgia Recorder)

Multiple audits, recounts and legal challenges found no evidence of widespread legal fraud in the 2020 election, but none of those auditors, recounters or challengers were in the crowd Thursday. Instead, most were convinced the election had been stolen and Trump was being punished for speaking up.

“It’s okay to challenge the election,” said Bruce LeVell, an ally and advisor to Trump. “The election was over. ‘Let me call Brad (Raffensperger, Georgia Secretary of State) up. Brad, I know I won. I know there’s 11,000 (votes). Go back and look.’ That’s called questioning. That’s called asking questions.”

The indictment alleges Trump led a criminal conspiracy to overturn his loss. Parts of that alleged conspiracy include trying to convince Raffensperger to illegally inflate his vote total, using fake electors to override votes, intimidating election workers into falsely admitting to miscounting votes and breaking into election equipment.

Some Republicans appear fed up with Moore’s goals and tactics – which include posting legislative colleagues’ phone numbers to social media and publicly disparaging those who disagree with him and using language some fear could incite violence against legislators, prosecutors or grand jurors.

Demonstrators rally in support of a special session to defund Fulton District Attorney Fani Willis. (Ross Williams/Georgia Recorder)

The unhappy atmosphere has led some to speculate he may face punishment, including being kicked out of the caucus, but Moore struck a defiant tone Thursday.

“We do go into caucus behind closed doors starting on Monday for three days. It’ll be the first time that the Senate Republican caucus has met officially as a caucus since this has went down. My answer to your question and my answer to my fellow Republicans is make my day. Vote me out of the caucus.”

Moore pledged to continue to make Republicans’ lives difficult up until the session begins in January, at which point he will continue making Republicans’ lives difficult.

“I’m going to continue to call, and I’m sure other colleagues are as well, to call for a special session up until we are in session, and at that point, I will motion to amend the budget and defund Fani Willis, and we will have a roll call vote,” he said.

Cornelia City Commission election canceled

Cornelia City Commission, from left, Mark Reed, Janice Griggs, Mayor John Borrow, Don Bagwell, and Tony Cook. (NowHabersham.com)

Cornelia voters will not cast ballots for mayor and city commission this year. That’s because the incumbents are the only ones who qualified to run.

Qualifying for write-in candidates ended on Friday, September 1. Since no one else put their name forward to be on the November ballot, the incumbents are running unopposed. Georgia law considers those candidates to have voted for themselves, so no election is required.

Cornelia Mayor John Borrow, Ward 1 Commissioner Mark Reed, and Ward 4 Commissioner Tony Cook will retain their seats on the city commission.

Cornelia voters will still go to the polls in November for a special election on a referendum question regarding the Redevelopment Powers Law.

Cornelia City Manager Donald Anderson explained the need for the referendum, “These powers are not automatically granted to cities, hence the need for the referendum. Redevelopment Powers allow municipalities to create redevelopment areas, create redevelopment plans, create tax allocation districts, and acquire and dispose of property for redevelopment purposes.”

According to Anderson, “While the city has no immediate plans to utilize any of the powers granted under the law, we feel it would be good to have them in case a need arises in the future.”

Alleged cocaine, fentanyl trafficker arrested after brief highway chase

James Sirnel Isaac (Habersham County Sheriff's Office)

An accused drug trafficker arrested following a weekend chase with Habersham County deputies remains behind bars. A county magistrate denied bond for James Sirnel Isaac. The 40-year-old Lilburn man is accused of trafficking fentanyl and cocaine.

Deputies arrested Isaac on Saturday, September 2, after a brief, pre-dawn chase on GA 15/US 441 north of Clarkesville.

According to the incident report, the arresting deputy said he attempted to pull over a northbound Chevrolet Trailblazer after it crossed over the solid white line on the right side of the highway. The deputy said he activated his patrol car’s emergency equipment, but the SUV driver, later identified as Isaac, refused to stop.

Another deputy joined in the pursuit. They chased the fleeing vehicle four miles north until the initiating deputy performed a PIT maneuver near Tugalo Short Cut Road. The PIT forced the Trailblazer off the road’s right shoulder.

The Georgia State Patrol responded to the scene to complete a crash report.

‘Large quantity’ of cocaine

After taking Isaac into custody, the reporting deputy said he found a “large quantity” of crack cocaine in the driver’s right front pocket, “and a large sum of currency was located in his left front pocket.”

Investigators reportedly seized illegal contraband and other associated items from the vehicle. The arrest warrants state Isaac had possession of 38 grams of cocaine and 9 grams of fentanyl at the time of his arrest. He was also said to have an NEF .32 caliber pistol.

In addition to the two felony drug trafficking charges, the sheriff’s office charged Isaac with failure to maintain lane and fleeing. They also charged him with possessing a firearm during the commission of a crime.

Deputies booked Isaac into the county jail where he remains in custody.

Northeast Georgia man charged with feticide in wreck that killed unborn child

A 23-year-old Hartwell man has been arrested and charged in connection with a wreck that killed an unborn child and injured seven people.

The wreck occurred on Labor Day west of Hartwell. A state patrol investigation found that speed contributed to the wreck. As a result, troopers arrested and charged Travis Johnson with five offenses, including feticide by vehicle, two counts of serious injury by vehicle, driving too fast for conditions, reckless driving, and a seatbelt violation.

On Monday, September 4, troopers say Johnson was driving a Volkswagen Tiguan east on Bethany Bowersville Road. He ran into the passenger side of a westbound Kia Optima that was turning into a private drive.

The Optima driver, 20-year-old Hollie Bryan of Canon, was 20 weeks pregnant and miscarried as a result of the crash, troopers say.

EMS transported Bryan by ambulance to Greenville Memorial Hospital for treatment. Two passengers in the Kia were injured, including 18-year-old Tristen Bryan of Canon who was airlifted to Greenville Memorial. A juvenile was taken to MUSC Shawn Jenkins Children’s Hospital in Charleston.

Johnson and three passengers in his vehicle were also injured.

EMS transported Johnson, 27-year-old Laucreesha Brawner of Royston, and a juvenile to AnMed Health Medical Center in Anderson with non-life-threatening injuries. Another juvenile was taken to Greenville Memorial Hospital with serious injuries.

Fire outside popular fishing lodge causes minor damage

(NowHabersham.com)

A popular trout fishing lodge on the Soque River near Batesville sustained minor fire damage Wednesday night. The owner of Brigadoon Lodge reported the fire to Habersham County E-911 around 7:30 p.m. on September 6.

The back deck of the fishing lodge was undergoing renovations, and officials say that contributed to the fire.

“It was a pile of oily rags that the construction workers had piled up before they left for the day,” says Habersham County Emergency Services Battalion Chief Dwight McNally. “They had been renovating the back deck and using wood stain. The rags were saturated with stains and other chemicals.”

McNally says the fire was accidental.

“Spontaneous combustion set them ablaze on the back deck of the lodge. The homeowner was able to quickly put out the fire with a water hose.”

Firefighters checked the lodge to make sure the fire had not spread and removed the rags from the porch. They remained at the scene for about an hour.

The lodge suffered only minor damage to the deck, some siding, and a window. No one was injured.

Heat forces cross country meet cancellation Friday

(Photo Piedmont University)

Piedmont University’s cross country teams have canceled their trip to compete in the GMC Brickyard Invitational this Friday due to the forecasted heat.

Coach Jamie Jimison made the call for student-athlete health and safety.

The teams will be back in action next weekend at the UNG Invite in Oakwood, Georgia on Friday, September 15.

United Way of White County sets $90,000 campaign goal

Unveiling the United Way of White County’s 2024 goal of $90,000 are, from left, volunteer officers and board members Dr. Mark Griffin; Donald Harris; Dean Dyer; Paul Scott Abbott, secretary; Gene White; Angie Jarrard; Carol Powell; Susan Knox Cremering; Taylor Thomas; Lauren Williams, vice president; and Nathan Eason.

The United Way of White County is aiming to raise $90,000 to support local not-for-profit agencies. The money will be used to fulfill the agency’s 2024 mission to enrich the lives of White County families and individuals.

“Having been blessed to deliver more than $3 million in funding over the past 40 years to not-for-profit organizations serving neighbors in need, the United Way of White County is most sincerely appreciative of the continuing selfless generosity shown by our community,” said United Way of White County President Stacy Gray.

Following a COVID-related hiatus, the United Way has resumed its voluntary payroll
deduction program with employees of White County Schools and is making board members available to provide presentations to other local employers. Those interested may phone 706-348-7067.

The United Way of White County’s annual bucket drive is slated for Saturday, Oct. 21, with
donations to be collected outside the Ingles Markets location at 55 Helen Highway, Cleveland, and at additional sites, including multiple highway crossroads.

RELATED: Habersham United Way kicks off annual fundraising goal

Meanwhile, plans are advancing for the 22nd annual Darrel Chaney Invitational, chaired by
former Major League Baseball player and 1975 World Series champion Darrel Chaney, to be held April 15-16 in Helen. The celebrity golf tournament and related functions traditionally constitute the United Way of White County’s leading fundraiser.

Proceeds from the 2023 edition once again received a grant boost from The Allstate Foundation Helping Hands in the Community program.

The current $90,000 campaign goal is up from the $80,000 awarded in February 2023 to 14 not-for-profit entities, including Catalyst Christian Learning Center, Circle of Hope, Cleveland Care Center, Community Helping Hands Clinic, Enota CASA, Family Promise of White County, Habersham Homeless Ministries, Habitat for Humanity of Northeast Georgia, Rape Response, South Enota Child Advocacy Center, White County Backpack Buddies, White County Caring & Sharing, White County Food Pantry and White County 4H.

Those wishing to learn more and/or make tax-deductible contributions to the current campaign may go to www.unitedwaywhitecounty.org on the Web.

The 2024 funding application is to be available this fall on the same website.

SEE ALSO

Habersham United Way kicks off annual fundraising campaign

Royston driver killed in head-on collision

(NowHabersham.com)

A head-on collision in Franklin County left one person dead and another hospitalized with serious injuries.

Mary Ann Baker of Royston died in the wreck Wednesday morning on Hale Crossing Road west of Royston.

State troopers say the 49-year-old Baker was driving a Dodge Ram 1500 west on Hale Crossing Road. The truck crossed the centerline in a curve and struck an eastbound Nissan Pathfinder driven by 40-year-old Megan McGarity of Royston.

Baker was pronounced dead at the scene.

An ambulance transported McGarity to Piedmont Athens Regional Hospital in Athens for treatment.

Driver accused of drug trafficking after powdery substance found in vehicle

Avery Garth Brendle (Habersham County Sheriff's Office)

A Franklin, North Carolina, man remains jailed in Habersham County following his Labor Day weekend arrest on drug charges. Deputies charged 25-year-old Avery Garth Brendle with trafficking fentanyl and possession of meth.

According to the arrest warrants, authorities found the suspected drugs during an afternoon traffic stop on September 2 on GA 15/US 441 North near Antioch Church Road.

While searching the vehicle, deputies say they found two glass vials in the sunglass holder. One reportedly contained a white crystal-like substance believed to be methamphetamine. The other had over 4 grams of a “blue powdery” substance suspected to be fentanyl.

Deputies also charged Brendle with DUI, open container, and a taillight violation. They booked him in the Habersham County Detention Center, where he remains without bond.

Other Labor Day weekend arrests

Brendle was the second drug trafficking suspect arrested in Habersham County over the long holiday weekend. A Lilburn man was arrested on trafficking charges after deputies say he tried to flee from a traffic stop on GA 15/US 441 North in the early morning of September 2.

Habersham County deputies issued 164 citations and 14 warnings and made six DUI arrests during the Labor Day holiday. Included in the citations were 102 for speeding and six for child safety seat violations.

Countywide, the sheriff’s office and municipal police departments arrested 15 DUI and 13 drug suspects. They booked 39 people into the county jail.

SEE ALSO

Alleged cocaine, fentanyl trafficker arrested after brief highway chase

Life in Motion: Happy beginnings

(Photo by Habersham County Animal Care and Control)

Severe overcrowding in local animal shelters has led to urgent calls for adopters and foster families. This week, Maggie found hers.

The water-loving Lab mix is back in a loving home after being returned to the shelter after a brief, failed adoption.

Wednesday was Maggie’s ‘Gotcha Day’ with her new owner at the Habersham County Animal Shelter.

Each week, Now Habersham features a Pet of the Week from the local shelter. If you’re looking for a new addition to your family, our POW page is a great place to start.

To read more uplifting POW stories and find your new best friend, click here.

Area matchups: Week 4

(Daniel Purcell/NowHabersham.com)

Region play is beginning for some in the area, while others still try to correct problems or keep the good times rolling in non-region games. Here’s where local teams are kicking off as Week 4 commences:

HABERSHAM CENTRAL (0-2) AT CENTRAL GWINNETT (2-1)

The Raiders will head back out on the road in Week 4, looking to notch one in the win column for the first time this season.

Central Gwinnett is coming off its first loss of the season, a double-overtime affair at Jackson County.

In their two wins, the Black Knights have posted 50 and 56 points against Discovery and Apalachee, respectively.

The win over Apalachee saw Central Gwinnett throw the ball six times, completing all six, for 84 yards and two touchdowns. Comparatively, they ran the ball 31 times for 323 yards and four scores.

The two will kick off at 7:30 p.m. Friday in the shadow of The Castle at Tally Johnson Field in Lawrenceville.

STEPHENS COUNTY (3-0) VS DAWSON COUNTY (0-3)

After back-to-back routs of their competition, the Indians will return home to The Reservation to welcome a winless Dawson County squad.

Stephens County junior running back Javin Gordon followed up a 196-yard performance against Rabun County with a 194-yard showing against Flowery Branch last week.

Through three games, Gordon has racked up 81 carries, 512 yards, and five touchdowns. Junior quarterback Tripp Underwood (28/56, 414 yards, four touchdowns) may be taking the snaps for the Indians, but Gordon is carrying the load.

Stephens County is averaging nearly 33 points per game while allowing just 12 per game defensively. Dawson County has scored a combined 25 points through their three contests.

The Indians and Tigers will kick off at The Reservation at 7:30 p.m. Friday in Toccoa.

BANKS COUNTY (2-0) VS FRANKLIN COUNTY (1-2)

Leopards coach Jay Reid got his team off to a hot start last year, winning the first four games, and he’s on his way to doing it again this year with a 2-0 record.

Banks County is coming off a bye week and will host the Lions for its first home game of the season. This matchup last year was a 43-6 win on the road for the Leopards.

Through three games, Franklin County has scored 42 points, but its losses have come at a combined 87-14.

In the Lions’ loss to Lumpkin County last week, they allowed 163 yards and five touchdowns on the ground. The Indians also threw for 170 yards and two scores.

The Leopards ran the ball well against Oglethorpe County in Week 2 with six rushers combining for 190 yards and three touchdowns. Aaron Scott accounted for one and Aucy Jacobs for the other two.

Jacobs also had two scores in the first game of the season at Johnson.

These two teams have only played six times with all of those matchups coming since 2014. The Leopards have emerged victorious twice.

The Lions will travel to Homer for the 7:30 p.m. kickoff Friday.

HART COUNTY (1-1) VS DANIEL (SC) (2-0)

After a 5-5 start in Year 1, Bulldogs coach Cory Dickerson is right back where he was a year ago going into the Daniel game.

The Bulldogs lost to Elbert in Week 1 and then beat Apalachee in Week 2. Mirror starts to seasons in consecutive years.

Last season, the Lions topped Hart County 38-17 en route to a 12-1 record, a region championship and a third-round playoff push in South Carolina.

The Bulldogs will try to even the series at one apiece with a victory Friday in Hartwell.

WALNUT GROVE (1-1) VS NORTH HALL (2-0)

Senior quarterback Tanner Marsh had a record-setting night for the Trojans last week in a big win against Dawson County and will look to help his team carry their successes into Friday’s contest against Walnut Grove.

Despite falling a close matchup in Week 1, Walnut Grove came out of the bye week to put together a 40-0 win over Chattahoochee County in Week 3.

The Warriors scored four times on the ground, with senior quarterback Reid Fagan and junior running back Emadd Howard combining for 24 carries and 193 yards and the quartet of point-scoring scampers.

Walnut Grove was opportunistic, taking a fumble recovery to the house and scoring on a punt return to boost its lead in the game.

In the win over Dawson County, Marsh set single-game school records for passing attempts with 31 and completions with 24. He also tied the record for passing touchdowns with three.

Senior receiver Ryals Puryear had nine receptions – another single-game school record – for 80 yards and a score. Zeke Harris and Ty Kemp hauled in the other touchdown passes.

With freshman Alex Schlieman getting some time under center, the team passing game set single-game records for passing attempts (38), passing completions (31), passing yards (288), and tied team passing touchdowns (3).

Senior running back Tate Ruth was also able to put up a strong performance of his own with 107 yards on 15 carries and two touchdowns.

Now, as region play kicks off, these two high-powered offenses could provide fireworks for those in attendance in Walnut Grove.

EAST HALL (1-1) VS CHESTATEE (0-2)

The Vikings will look to rebound from a close one-point loss to Johnson as the War Eagles are looking for their first win of the 2023 campaign.

If Chestatee is going to find its first victory, it’ll have to slow down sophomore quarterback Jamarcus Harrison who has averaged 17.2 yards per pass and 9.4 yards per carry through two games. The Vikings’ signal caller is responsible for five touchdowns (four passing, one rushing) this season.

Junior receivers Caden Daniels (10 rec, 214 yards, 3 TD) and Jevon Harrison (6 rec, 75 yards, 1 TD) along with sophomore Chasen Jones (7 rec, 134 yards, 1 TD) have been the top receivers for East Hall.

Chestatee has run into a pair of buzzsaw opponents through its first two games this season in Hebron Christian and White County. The War Eagles have been outscored 122-21 by the pair.

Hebron Christian held Chestatee to just 146 yards of total offense and White County held the War Eagles to 147.

Chestatee will be looking for a breakout performance against the Vikings as the pair meet Friday night at War Eagle Stadium in Gainesville.

CLARKE CENTRAL (2-0) VS GAINESVILLE (3-0)

The Gavin Hall show continued last week as the Red Elephants sent Coconut Creek back to South Florida with a 30-22 loss.

The senior running back finished the contest with 23 carries for 180 yards and a touchdown. Hall also caught six passes for 95 yards and a touchdown.

The Gladiators are also coming off a bye week but a win in their last contest. They’ll be looking to continue their undefeated season as well

In a 38-31 win over Oconee County in Week 2, Clarke Central relied heavily on the legs of junior running back Corey Watkins Jr.

Watkins Jr. carried the ball 22 times for 141 yards and two touchdowns. Senior Kendrick Curry also added 66 yards on seven carries for a score.

Senior receiver Jaylen Jackson hauled in the lone touchdown pass from senior quarterback Riley Berrong.

The Red Elephants knocked off Clarke Central 43-20 last season in this contest. The win increased Gainesville’s lead in the overall record against the Gladiators to 9-4.

Gainesville will travel to Athens, and the two will kick off in Billy Henderson Stadium at 7:30 p.m. Friday.

CHEROKEE BLUFF (0-2) VS MADISON COUNTY (2-0)

After being held to 160 and 241 yards of total offense in their first two contests, the Bears have just 14 points to show for their efforts in 2023.

In that time, they’ve allowed 61 points to the opposition.

The Red Raiders are outpacing the competition 96-42, leaving Cherokee Bluff with the uphill battle of slowing down an offense averaging 48 points per game.

This game last season came down to a 20-19 finish in the Bears’ favor.

The two will kick off in Danielsville at 7:30 p.m. Friday.

LAKEVIEW ACADEMY (1-2) AT CREEKSIDE CHRISTIAN (0-2)

The Lions are coming off a shutout loss to St. Anne-Pacelli after hanging 57 points on Athens Christian the week before.

Across the field, Creekside Christian is looking for its first win and points of the season. The Cougars have been shut out by both Loganville Christian Academy and Bethlehem Christian Academy by a combined score of 95-0.

Lakeview Academy will look to repeat last year’s result in this clash, a 42-6 victory for the Lions, and get back to .500.

Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. Friday in McDonough.

RIVERSIDE MILITARY (0-2) AT PROVIDENCE CHRISTIAN (2-0)

With two big losses on the schedule already this season, the Eagles are looking for their first win of the 2023 campaign.

Riverside Military has produced 270 yards of total offense through two games. In those two contests, the Eagles have been outscored 114-14.

The Storm have ridden a trio of seniors to their unbeaten record thus far.

Senior quarterback Ben Klassen has only thrown the ball 29 times this year, but he’s found his receiver 22 times for 498 yards, six touchdowns, and just one interception.

Senior receiver Matthew Miller has nine receptions for 240 yards and four touchdowns.

Senior running back Quinton Slaughter has done his part, amassing 519 yards on 41 carries for five scores.

Last season’s contest was a 52-0 win for Providence Christian, but the overall record belongs to Riverside Military with four wins in six meetings.

The game will kick off at 7:30 p.m. Friday in Lilburn.

LUMPKIN COUNTY (2-0) AT TEMPLE (3-0)

The Indians are off to a hot start, averaging 45 points per game and allowing 17 points per game.

A big reason Lumpkin County has been playing so well is senior running back Mason Sullens. The all-region back from a year ago has scored half of the team’s 14 touchdowns this year.

There are six others credited with rushes this season for the Indians, but Sullens has 60 percent of them. He’s touched the ball on 45 percent of the snaps without having caught a pass out of the backfield.

First-year starting quarterback Cal Faulkner has also been a big part of the Indians’ surge.

The senior signal caller has connected on 21-of-29 attempts for 311 yards and three touchdowns. Faulkner has also run for 123 yards and two touchdowns.

Senior receiver Luke Evans has been a top target for Faulkner with 10 receptions for 194 yards and two scores.

The Tigers are heavy in their run game, having thrown the ball just 20 times, they’ve run it 129 times for 1,076 yards and 15 scores. Temple has 10 different players credited with a rushing attempt.

Something has to give between these two unbeaten teams as they meet at 7:30 p.m. Friday in Temple.

Piedmont battles to full time draw against Berry

(Photo by Dale Zanine)

The Piedmont University men’s soccer team battled to a 1-1 draw against the Berry Vikings late Wednesday night. The Lions were first to strike but remained pinned back in their own defensive third after having to play a man down.

Freshman Nathan Jacome opened the scoring in the 24th minute, capping the opportunity in the bottom right corner. He connected with a beautifully served ball from Jason Aussin For his second goal in three games.

The momentum flipped near the 30-minute mark as Berry began applying pressure to the Lions back line. The team did its best to hang on but a Vikings header in the 43rd minute found the back of the net, leveling the game just before half time.

Out of half, reigning CCS Rookie of the Week DAVIS KNIGHT received his second yellow card, forcing the Lions to play a man down for the remainder of the game.

Berry got their best look in the 75th minute with a point blank look on keeper BOBBY WOOD off a cross that Wood turned away. Piedmont had a similar look just after that the Vikings keeper turned away as well.

As the rainfall increased, the game came to a close at a 1-1 draw.

Up next, Piedmont continues their home stand against Johnson & Wales on Sunday, September 10.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE:
– Nathan Jacome scored his second goal of the season.
– Bobby Wood made 8 saves for the Lions.
– Berry out shot Piedmont 20-8.
– The Vikings had 13 corners to the Lions 5.