Bulldogs Blow Past Bay

The Marianna Bulldogs improved to 2-0 on the young season with a 57-45 win over Bay High on Tuesday night. The Bulldogs placed four players in double figures and jumped out to a big early lead on the hot shooting of Quay Royster and Kendal Leeks. Leeks hit 6 points in the first quarter as Marianna took a 13-5 lead going into the second quarter. In that second quarter it was Royster that got the hot hand as he pumped in 10 points. The Bulldogs outscored the Tornadoes 18-7 in the second quarter to hold a 31-12 lead at the half.

In the third quarter the Bay began to battle back and the Bulldogs managed to slightly outscored them 20-18. But that gave Marianna a 51-30 lead as the final quarter began. The Tornadoes made a run and the Bulldogs got a little sloppy with their ball handling. Bay cut the Bulldog lead down to as few as 13 points but Kruize Pinkins, Tre Jackson and Leeks came up with baskets to keep the Bulldog’s lead safe.

Royster led the Bulldogs with 12 points and was followed by Jackson with 11. The two big men, Leeks and Pinkins, each chipped in 10 points in the win. The Bulldogs will next be in action on Thursday night when they travel to Malone to take on the Tigers in their annual rivalry. In JV action the junior Bulldogs beat Bay 52-37 to improve to 2-0 as well on the season. They were led by Anthony Speights with 11, Keymon Borders with 10 and Roderick Copeland with 9.

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FHSAA Board Expands Classifications; Creates Rural Division

The Florida High School Athletic Association Board of Directors recently voted to create a rural classification in most sanctioned team sports, and to increase the number of classifications in sanctioned team sports. “When the FHSAA originally went up to six classifications in team sports in 1999, we had 517 member schools, with 480 of those playing team sports. Now that we have 670 member schools and 650 of those in team sports, the number of teams in individual districts is too large,” said Executive Director Roger Dearing. “Moving to eight classifications allows for fewer teams in each district, which allows for more flexibility in scheduling for the season.” “We have a number of member schools that need issues addressed in terms of equitable competition,” added Dearing. “We need to make sure people know this is not a public-private issue. This is an issue of small rural schools that do not draw their student populations from larger urban areas or outside the state or country, and have a difficult time competing against those that do. There is a way for all schools to exist and succeed with the advent of this new division.”

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Friday Night Football Preview – 11/19/10

Cottondale (4-5) at Lafayette County – Mayo (9-1) 7 pm

It will be an all out Hornet fight on Friday night as Cottondale travels to Mayo to take on the Lafayette County Hornets in round one of the FHSAA Class 1B playoffs. Cottondale is coming off a rough outing against a very good Liberty County squad. This will be the first time in the playoffs for Cottondale since the 2005 season and on offense they will be relying on the legs of Dominique Webb (857 yards & 7 TDs) and Evan Davis (500 yards & 5 TDs). They’ll also need a solid performance from QB CJ Smith, who has thrown for 711 yards and 7 TDs. Defensively Cottondale has been led by Eli Jackson with 76 tackles followed by Ronnie Dixon (70), Davis with 67 and Cody Saye with 58. That defense will certainly have their hands full on Friday night as they will be trying to stop the high scoring attack of Lafayette County. The red and white Hornets of Mayo have averaged 40 points a ball game this year. And while Cottondale may be in their first playoffs in awhile, this is not the first rodeo for the Mayoians. Lafayette County has now made the playoffs six straight seasons and in those six season they have amassed a record of 58-9.

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Lady Pirates Claim District Title & 1st Round Playoff Win / Bulldogs Bite Tiger Sharks

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Marianna Falls In District Semi Finals

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Bulldog JV Football Goes For Undefeated Season

Not many sporting teams pull off an undefeated season but that opportunity lies ahead of the Marianna High School JV Football team. The Bulldogs travel to Panama City on Thursday night to take on Bay High and a win would give the Junior Bulldogs a perfect 5-0 record to complete the 2010 season.
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Sneads Downs Marianna in Volleyball

Two of the county’s top volleyball programs squared off on Monday night in Sneads as the Lady Pirates played host to the Lady Bulldogs of Marianna. The Lady Pirates came out on top as they swept the Lady Bulldogs in three games to pick up second win over Marianna this season.

Game one saw Marianna jump out to an early lead but Sneads came back to tie the game at 5-5.
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Lady Bulldogs Pick Up Win Over Lady Tigers

Meghan Hinson #22 of Marianna racks up a kill against
Graceville Monday night.  Photo by Clint Cox

By Clint Cox

GRACEVILLE – The Marianna Lady Bulldogs notched another win over a county rival this past Monday night as they swept the Graceville Lady Tigers in volleyball action. While Marianna swept the match in three games, the first game was anything but easy for the Lady Bulldogs. After Meghan Hinson’s kill gave the Lady Bulldogs a 6-4 early lead, Graceville came back to tie the game at 6-6. With Graceville #4 serving the Lady Tigers took a two point lead. Marianna battled back to tie the game at 8-8 and Michelle Bassin’s kill gave the Lady Bulldogs a one point lead. Graceville fired right back and took the lead and with Graceville #3 serving pushed their lead to as much as 14-11. Graceville kept a two point lead for the next few minutes but the Lady Bulldogs overcame that lead with Eron Milton serving. Porsha Morgan’s tap over gave the Lady Bulldogs a 20-18 lead and Marianna then pushed the lead to four points at 22-18. Graceville serving #4 managed to tie the game at 22-22 and 23-23. Whitney Lipford served out the final two points to give the Lady Bulldogs the two point win.

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Pirates De-Throne Royals

The Sneads Pirate offense lines up in action earlier this season.
The Pirate offense has averaged just over 28 points
per game in their last three outings.  File Photo by Clint Cox  

By Clint Cox
JAY – Sneads had to travel a long way to take on Jay but every mile was well worth it as the Pirates picked up their first win of the season in a 32-21 win over the Royals.  Xavier Eutsay had a big night as he rushed for 204 yards on 13 carries and found the end zone three times.

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Friday Night Football Preview – 10/8/10

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