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DWS Chorus sings for Kiwanis of Dougherty County

The joyous musical sounds of Christmas reverberated throughout the meeting room of the Kiwanis Club of Dougherty County November 30 as the talented Deerfield-Windsor School Chorus performed several holiday favorites for the club’s luncheon gathering.

Led by Diane Giddens and Lindsey Stewart, the performance was highlighted by both group numbers and solo vocals to usher in the Christmas season for the club, which annually counts projects such as Angel Tree, Salvation Army bell-ringing, and Toys for Tots donations among its Yuletide community activities.

The Kiwanis Club of Dougherty County meets every Monday at the Hilton Garden Inn in Albany.

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Deerfield: Area’s last man standing

Metro Albany’s last team standing not only will play for a shot at history the night after Thanksgiving, but also end the season with the same team that started it.

Deerfield-Windsor earned the right to play for back-to-back GISA Class AAA state championships with a 39-25 win over Pinecrest in state semifinal action at Webb Stadium last Friday. The Knights extended their winning streak to 11 straight games with the relatively easy win.

Now, D-W (12-2) will face the same team that opened the season back in August in the form of George Walton this Friday.

George Walton (10-3) punched its ticket to the state title game with a close 26-24 win over Tattnall Square in the other semifinal contest. The Bulldogs beat the Knights 16-6 in the season opener for both teams at Webb Stadium on Aug. 22.

Since that August season opener, the Bulldogs’ three losses were to First Presbyterian Day (FPD), Macon, (10-0), Tattnall (24-6), and Pinecrest (17-10). They enter the state championship game with four straight wins.

On the other hand, the Knights’ only other loss was to FPD on the road, as the Vikings won 24-21 on a last second field goal. D-W hasn’t lost since.

D-W defeated Mount Vernon Presbyterian (44-6), FPD (35-21), and Pinecrest to advance to the title game. In contrast, George Walton had an easy first round win over Southland (35-0), before pulling out close wins over another Macon team, Stratford (21-20), and Tattnall, to set up the re-match against the Knights.

If you can’t make it to the game this Friday, or even if you can, tune in to WEGC (107.7 FM). Or listen live online at mix1077albany.com for play-by-play action.

Airtime is at 7:15 p.m.; kickoff is at 7:30 p.m.

QUICK HITTERS: The team that beat out Monroe for the No. 3 playoff seed out of GHSA Region 1-AAA fell in the first round of the state playoffs. The Worth County Rams (5-6) ended their season just two weeks ago with a 34-0 loss to Woodward Academy of south metro Atlanta. Worth County has gone a combined 16-17 the last three seasons, including a playoff win in 2007.

As for the Rams’ former head coach — Harris Rainbow — his new Walnut Grove program in east metro Atlanta’s Walton County, finished its inaugural season at 2-3.

Walnut Grove is expected to compete in Class AAA during the next GHSA reclassification cycle that runs from 2010-2014. Perhaps Rainbow might make a few return trips to Worth County in the coming years.

ON THE WEB: southwestgafootball.wordpress.com, ghsa.net, ghsfha.org.

By Walter L. Johnson II

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The biggest fan: DWS William Rose

Fan may not be a big enough word to describe William Rose. Teammate might be a better fit. For the last three seasons he has run onto the football field with the team, endured long bus rides and stormed the sidelines yelling encouraging words to the Deerfield-Windsor School Knights

As he roams the sidelines prior to kick off he screams, “Let’s go!” The players slap his shoulder and call him “Main Man” as he runs past.

At age 20, William never played a snap, but his contribution to the Knights is significant.

“They see me and they get fired up. I see them and I get fired up. That is my job, get them focused and fired up, so they can take care of business” he says with pride. “The coaches like me to get on to them and make them work harder.”

As the Knights celebrated at mid-field after their semifinal victory over Pinecrest last week, William ran through the crowd screaming, “One more. One more!” His crutches moved faster than his legs as he wove in and out of players, parents and students. Cerebral palsy robbed William of the opportunity to play, but it doesn’t take away his chance to contribute to the Knights, who will try to defend their GISA AAA state championship Friday at home.

William’s younger brother, star fullback and defensive end Quinton Adkins, is a senior and will play his last game for DWS on Friday night. Next year may find Quinton on a college roster, but William may be a permanent fixture on the sidelines off Stuart Drive.

“He loves it down there,” said Quinton. “He really feels at home and is a part of something.”

“I am not really sure how this all evolved,” said DWS head coach Allen Lowe. “He started coming to watch practice when Quinton started playing, and ever since, he has been a huge inspiration to all of us.”

Now, three years after showing up at his first practice, William has his own locker, jersey, and helmet. His status as the team’s inspirational leader is unchallenged, and he is often heard fussing at and with players about their effort.

“They all really like having him around. If he misses a practice the other players and coaches ask where he is. There is less energy when he is not out there,” said Quinton. “Of course I love having him there because he is my brother, but you can tell the rest of the team feels the same way.”

William is so inner-woven into the fabric of the Knights that the players know not to bend down to help him after one of his many spills down the steps, on the field or in the hall. Hands coming down to lift him bring a growl of, “I can do it!”

After one recent fall, as William fought to successfully lift himself up from the ground a Knight fan walked by, grinned and said, “If everyone on our team has that much heart, we will never lose a game.”

Written by Mike Flynn.

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DWS one team on dream

As the world’s worst photographer, I have to admit, I got lucky with the shot just above this column. I snapped it as the defending state champion Deerfield-Windsor Knights were running onto the field for their first contest of the 2009 season.

Take a good look at this photo and you will understand what high school football, and DWS football in particular, is all about.

On the day leading up to the moment this picture was snapped there were violent lightning storms moving through our area. It was a very turbulent late August afternoon. If you look at the sky behind these boys you can see the wind stretching “Old Glory”.

You may be expecting me to tell a dramatic story of a come from behind last second victory, but that is not what happened. That first game was interrupted by yet another turbulent storm. Play was stopped and the team, referees and a few fans waited around until after midnight to finish. The game went on.

The storm eventually passed and “Old Glory” was still there.

The characters in this photo tell a story. Number 34 on the far left is our junior middle linebacker Rhett Cooper. The team was walking out slowly through the smoke in unison until Rhett could not stand it anymore. He broke free to run onto the field so he could kill someone. The look in his eyes says it.

Number 7 is Reggie Brown. He transferred to DWS from a local school that has won two games in three seasons. That team may have 50 fans at their games on a good night. He had never played in an electric atmosphere like this where the fans line up for the players to run through banners, streamers and smoke. He has never been on a team where winning and excellence are expected, and he loves it. Look at the smile on his face. It says it all.

Number 21 is Walker Lanier, a junior defensive end that does what is asked of him on every play. Somebody needs to tell Walker he only weighs 160 pounds, but if you did he wouldn’t believe you. Walker has been at DWS since he began going to school. It is his home. Notice how he is locked arm in arm with his new team mate Reggie, who at the time of this photo, had only been enrolled at DWS for a few weeks.

Once play resumed in the game, our guys got beat up by a physical George Walton team. We lost the contest 16-6. The next week we rebounded and beat our long time rival Tatnall Square 39-21. Then we lost another game to First Presbyterian for a 1-2 start to the season.

Everyone that has ever played this game has heard a coach talk about how “football is like life.” As a teenage boy, those words go in one ear and out the other. That old crusty coach doesn’t know anything when you are 17, but those words will become clearer to these young men in time.

If football is like life, learning to handle adversity is one of the more important lessons it delivers. Most of these boys don’t have the worries of a failing economy or getting laid off or having to lay people off. They don’t yet know of the pressures of providing for a family or the constant worry and concern for their own children. They have not yet experienced sleepless nights with the World tugging on their cape.

At the moment this shot was snapped, these boys were ten feet tall and bulletproof. They were worried about catching the pass, making the tackle, and being a good team mate. Their time will come for heavier burdens, but at this moment, as they run under our flag, they are football players.

After the storms cleared, the game went on. The storms came back, and subsided again. The game went on. Such is life. The wind may carry you from New Orleans to Albany. It may take everything you own, but the sun will rise again. Are you going to whine and cry about the past, or buckle it up and fight for today?

With that 1-2 record it would have been easy for these boys to quit, and let the adversity dictate their season. It would have been easy to point fingers and let jealousies get in the way. It would have been easy to take concern for the path of the individual over that of your team. It would have been easy to let the storm wash away your ambitions. Fighting back is harder.

So rather than let the turbulence end a promising path, our boys created their own Lightning and he bolted for over 2,000 yards. From the outside one might conclude that DWS football is all about Tony Zenon. He is no doubt the heart of our team, but he would also be the first man to tell you there are 51 other players that contributed to the season.

After all, a heart needs arms and legs and a brain to have any purpose. Lightning creates thunder and I can hear the rumble of Quinton Adkins, Justin Webb, Banks Kinslow, Reggie Brown, Davis Moore, Michael Michas, Trent Brown, Jordan Funderburk, Parks Pace, Ben Guillebeau, and Ian Porter rolling across the pine tops. They create the threat that opens the field, and you can feel the tension building in the atmosphere. A crack, we all watch eleven defenders chase the ghost again.

They didn’t stand a chance.

I can hear the clack as Rhett Cooper puts a hat on some poor soul, only to be followed by the sound of another, then another. Gaughf Ivey, Cooper Shoemaker, Walker Lanier, and Matt Miller all want their share. They take it personally.

Those moments were delivered to you courtesy of long hours in the heat with the cob squad getting treated like the tackling dummies they are. The price to pay for the chance to one day be on the field when they too will have a chance to create something special.

The picture was taken prior to a 16-6 loss on opening night to George Walton. Life is rarely symmetrical, and second chances are priceless. When given one, create your own lightning.

Written by Mike Flynn.

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DWS Knights: Outside the box

Box? What box?

As the Deerfield-Windsor School Knights prepared for their semifinal championship game against the Pinecrest Paladins, Bobby Joiner (thank you) came in and delivered the pre-game devotion. And what a devotion it was. Bobby discussed and shared scripture relating to being able to play “outside the box.” One needs to be able to get out of his comfort zone and take on the challenges that meet him and see what the world has to offer. When you have Christ on your side as a believer, you can rest assured the battles will not be fought alone. Be confident in your steps. Bobby read scripture from the Book of John.

Bobby gave some neat descriptions of us living in a “box,” if you will, while developing for birth. Then, after being born, we are placed in a crib. After the crib comes the play pen. Then we had the backyard. Then we go to school and college. Now, during this process, were you the kid that looked through the bars of the crib wanting to know what else was out there? Which one of you were in the play pen, not content with the toys in it, but wanting to know what was out there? When you got to the back yard, were you one of those looking over the fence or hedge, wanting to know what else was there to offer out there? Did you want out of the box?

The unknown can be scary to some. But to others, it is an adventure every day. Being confident enough to step outside that comfort zone takes some courage. Most want to stay in the “safe zone.” Those that step out are the ones that can make a difference. Several DWS players stepped outside the box and had fun playing out there last night.

As the game began, DWS knocked the side off of their “box” on their first offensive play, as Zenon goes 70 yards for a TD on play No. 1. DWS’ “swarming little guy DEFENSE” did a great job with three plays and out and the offense took the field once again. The econd play of this possession saw Zenon knock another side off of the “box” and go for another TD of about 50 yards. Before you can even warm your seat or get comfortable, DWS is up 13-0. Defense played well again, but we give up a field goal. Offense takes the field with great confidence. On the second play of this possession, Reggie Brown knocks the top off the “box” and catches a 70-yard TD pass from Banks Kinslow. Another “box”-flattening score from Quinton Adkins and the game is out of hand. Tony adds yet another score. And then J Webb adds the finishing touches late in the game. What “box?”

Now who all played outside that box last night? As I sat perched in the “box” above the stadium on the headsets, I would have to say every player that took the field at Webb Memorial played outside of the ”box.” Every Friday night, more young guys begin to believe and they take that step to see, “what else is out there?” Be strong and confident and take that step. It sure is comforting and reassuring when you have our Creator on your side.

Next step is George Walton. No stranger to DWS. I think our “box” has been flattened and we will play above our normal ability next Friday night and REPEAT as State Champs!

Thanks coaching staff for having the Knights prepared to step “out of their box.” No better staff anywhere! Only one more week to go. Prepare. Persevere. Perform. Play. Have fun!

Go Knights! Defend! Repeat!

Let’s talk again after we win state!

By Bubba Ivey

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Semi showdown: Deerfield vs. Pinecrest

The Deerfield-Windsor Knights will face the Pinecrest Paladins on Friday in the semifinals of the AAA GISA playoffs at Webb Memorial Stadium. The defending state champions need one more win to return to the finals on Nov. 27. Kickoff is at 7:30 p.m.

After avenging an early season loss to First Presbyterian last week, the Knights now face an 11-1 team that beat George Walton 17-10 in October. DWS lost to that same George Walton team 16-6 in the season opener on Aug. 21.

While the Paladins might not have the firepower that DWS does, they do have two solid rushers in Michael Cassandra (936 yards on 164 carries with 13 TD) and Jacob Carr (95-438, 7 TD). They also have a quarterback capable of managing the game in Eric Hegemen (58 completions, 764 yards, 10 TD).

Paladin linebacker E.J. Bueltel has been in on 87 tackles and picked off one pass.

Of course, the Knights have a small but tenacious defense anchored by middle line backer Rhett Cooper, who has been involved in 106 tackles. Cooper Shoemaker stepped in at the other linebacker spot last week to fill in for an injured Michael Michas and made several key stops. Davis Moore has been in on 69 tackles and recorded 5.5 sacks. Defensive end Walker Lanier has 48 tackles three fumble recoveries, three sacks and one interception. Gaughf Ivey has 77 tackles and one interception.

While the defensive unit has been impressive all season, they have struggled against big teams that run the ball straight ahead. FPD hung more than 400 yards on the Knights last week, and that early season loss to George Walton was to a similar offense.

Pinecrest will bring that straight ahead type of off tackle brutality to town.

“They are a very big team, and they run the ball extremely tough,” said DWS head coach Allen Lowe of the Knight’s next challenge. “We cannot allow them to hold the ball for long periods of time, and we need to force them into throwing.”

The Paladins will be forced to keep up with the high octane DWS attack. Senior tailback Tony Zenon will once again be the center of the defense’s attention. He has 1,940 yards and 23 touchdowns. In recent weeks, Lowe has used Zenon on play-action and misdirection to open up the field for his other weapons. Quarterback Banks Kinslow has stretched the field by totaling 856 passing yards on 43 completions. Dual threat Justin Webb has 301 rushing yards with four scores, and 351 receiving for five more touchdowns. Fullback Quinton Adkins has 391 rushing yards and seven scores. The Knights will also get wide receiver Reggie Brown and his 372 yards and five touchdowns back in the lineup this week after he served a one game suspension for getting ejected in round one.

If the Knights advance, they will face the winner of the George Walton-Tattnall contest the day after Thanksgiving.

By Mike Flynn

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DWS Coaching decisions key to Knights’ run

Just how far have the Deerfield-Windsor Knights come since that stormy August night that started the 2009 campaign?

Last Friday, we learned the answer to that question. The Knights advanced to the state semifinals with a 35-21 victory over First Presbyterian Day. This was the best game played by any DWS team since last season’s upset of Tattnall Square in the state semifinals.

Every facet of the game was well managed, and extremely well coached. Head coach Allen Lowe designed and executed a brilliant game plan. With his starting quarterback Banks Kinslow sideline in the Knight’s opening round contest against Mount Vernon, Lowe unveiled a Wildcat formation with star tailback Tony Zenon getting the direct snap.

A good chess move as FPD came into the second round contest crowding the line dedicated to containing the lighting. Even still, Zenon scorched them for two touchdown dashes of 51 and 57 yards, and gained 162 in total.

Incidentally, Lowe never used the Wildcat set against FPD. He showed it to them on film, then in the week between rounds, went back to basics. For his part, Kinslow played a gutsy game on a tender knee. With the Vikings crowding the line he threw for 118 yards and two touchdowns, and carried the ball five times on the Knight’s 86-yard, six minute drive. Twice he dove for fourth down conversions to keep the drive going.

An offense that has become very dependent on those bolts that leave 10 offensive players and the stands watching in amazement while No. 1 streaks away from 11 defenders chasing a ghost, turned into a physical grunt and push ball control team. Fullback Quinton Adkins slammed into the middle. Justin Webb jetted off tackle. Kinslow dove. Zenon from the eye. Run after run after run. The crack of the pads, then let’s do it again.

On the final play of the drive, the Knights lined up on the 15. Kinslow set Zenon in motion then took the snap. Zenon swooped by for the handoff. The Vikings chased the ghost. When Kinslow pulled the ball away from Lightning the entire FPD defense had already committed, and he hit a wide open Webb in the middle of the end zone to break the back of the Vikings.

Which brings me to excellent coaching job, phase two.

At the DWS prep rally on Friday, assistant coach Craig Rhodes called Zenon and junior tackle Trent Brown out in front of the student body.

Then he began to read quotes posted by FPD players on the Vent web site. He turned to Zenon and said “they say you don’t like getting hit.” The students went nuts. Zenon just grinned.

Next Rhodes turned to Brown.

At 6’8” and 285 pounds, Brown has all the tools to be the greatest player to ever suit up in the GISA. If he would apply himself he could play for any D-1 college in the country, and if he really dug deep he could play on Sundays.

His tools are that good. He just needs some help getting those tools out of the box and putting them to use. It has been a struggle to make the big fella understand exactly what he could do if properly motivated. Or it was, until Rhodes saw that post on the Vent.

Looking up at Brown, Rhodes poked him and said, “They said you are soft and slow!” The student body went nuts. Brown did not grin. For five long days he had seen that quote posted on bulletin boards, lockers and doors. The jabs emerged on the Monday prior to the FPD game, and that afternoon at practice a DWS coach was riding the seven man sled while Brown was firing out. The coach kept yelling, “They think you are soft!”

Brown would rattle the sled. Then again. “They think you are slow!” Brown had heard enough. He unloaded a forearm on the sled lifting it off the ground and breaking the steel bracing which holds the padding. The sled fell to the ground as the coaching staff and team stood silent in awe.

Rhodes had found his button.

Friday night, after five days of hearing it, Brown came out of his shell. Prior to a crucial third and long for the Vikings, defensive coach Rod Murray put the big guy in the game. Middle linebacker Rhett Cooper had been working overtime chasing down two big FPD running backs, but found the strength to start screaming in Brown’s face. Then another Knight did the same. Then another.

FPD broke the huddle. Brown lined up at nose guard. When the ball was snapped he exploded through a 6’2” 230 pound center, lifting his feet off the ground like he was a paper doll and carried him backwards as fast as the signal caller could retreat. Rather than be smothered by more than 600 pounds of beef, the FPD quarterback rushed his throw to the flat, and Webb was there to intercept.

Then came those critical fourth-down conversions on that 86-yard march. Each time, Lowe moved Brown from tackle down to guard, allowing the hobbled Kinslow to take the snap and follow the big guy forward.

Judging from the way this team played against FPD and the way the coaches put the right players in the right spots at the right time, the Knights have come far enough to turn that talent rich but raw team into a complete unit, and the squad to beat in the Georgia Independent School Association.

By Mike Flynn

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DWS Football Game Playoff Highlight Photos

Photos from the Deerfield-Windsor School Playoff Game against  First Presbyterian on Nov. 13.

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