Let's Go Devils!!!

 Ten first and second grade Freeman Elementary girls spent Monday afternoon practicing with the Screaming Devil Varsity and Junior Varsity cheerleaders in hopes of one day being a WCHS cheerleader themselves. Today marked the first day of cheer camp for the girls.

The young cheerleaders will spend four days learning cheers, jumps, arm movements, claps, and stomps. The camp will
culminate with the girls getting to cheer Friday night at the Lincoln County game alongside their varsity coaches.

Debra Swann is the head coach of the high school cheerleaders. Coach Swann stated, "It was a great first day. The girls were really excited and the varsity cheerleaders really enjoyed mentoring the younger girls." Swann hopes that this becomes an annual camp and is even considering holding a camp for the younger girls during basketball season.

Late TD Lifts Devils over Harlem

The Screaming Devils overcame a weather delay, a late 4th quarter defecit, and several questionable calls by the officials to earn their second victory of the season. The win was also the first victory on the road for Warren County since the 2011 season.

After three games of explosive offense, the night would be a defensive battle for both teams. Harlem would get on the board first with the only score in the first quarter. With 5:19 to go in the first, Tradaria Brown found the end zone after a 4 yard run. After the extra point, Harlem led by the score of 7-0.

Jermaine Berry would provide the lone score only other score in the first half. Berry put the Devils on the board with a 2 yard run with 6:49 to go in the second quarter. The extra point attempt by Seals was wide and the first half ended with the Bulldogs holding a slim 1 point lead by the score of 7-6.

The two teams would have to endure over an hour lightening delay at halftime. While some area games would be called due to weather at the half, the storms moved far enough away from Harlem to allow the teams to retake the field.

Neither team would score again until late in the fourth quarter. Warren County took their first lead of the night with 5:49 to go in the contest. Anquavious Hill punched it from the 1 yard line and Jermaine Berry scored on the 2 point conversion to give the Devils a 14-7 lead.

The Bulldogs wasted no time reclaiming the lead. Lane Phillips connected with Owen Price for a 53 yard pass completion to regain the lead. After the 2 point conversion, Harlem led 15-14.

Warren County went back on offense with 3:28 to go in the game. Devocea Lott would put the Devils ahead for good with a 22 yard run. The 2 point conversion failed and the Devils held just a 5 point lead by the score of 20-15.

Harlem had a final shot with 2:00 left in the fourth quarter, but the Warren County defense was up to the task and forced the Bulldogs to turn the ball over on downs, sealing the victory for the Devils.

Timothy Seals once again led the rushing for the Devils with 111 yards on 16 carries. Anquavious Hill carried the ball 7 times for 40 yards. Jermaine Berry had 20 yards on 8 carries and Devocea Lott had 25 yards on 3 carries.

Jermaine Berry was also 3-6 in passing. Berry threw for 80 yards with no interceptions. Berry connected with Devocea Lott for 49 yards, and Timothy Seals for 23 yards. In what is probably one of the strangest stats, Berry also completed a pass to himself for 8 yards. Berry's pass was batted back at the line of scrimmage into his own hands. Berry caught the ball and ran for an 8 yard completion.

Warren County was penalized more in the game than any other this year. The Devils had 19 penalties for 149 yards compared to only 5 penalties Bulldog penalties for 35 yards.

Coach Freeman was proud of the play of his team. Freeman stated, "We had to overcome a lot of adversity...we had things that didn't go our way, but the boys played through it all." Coach Freeman was especially proud of the way his team handled the pressure of a late Bulldog score and answered with one of their own to reclaim the lead.

The victory of Harlem pushes the Devils to .500 on the season with a 2-2 record. This week, the Devils travel to Wilkinson County to take on the Warriors. Kickoff is set for 7:30.

Missed Opportunities and Defense Plague Devils

Photos courtesy of Rasheeda Usry

Timothy Seals scores on the first play for Warren County.

Warren County entered Friday night's game against Tattnall Square Academy with hopes of building upon the momentum of the previous week's victory over neighboring Glascock County. The Devils struggled defensively and were unable to take advantage of scoring opportunities, resulting in a 51-18 loss.

Kelveonta Veasley blocks for
Dantavious Allen.

The scoring got off to a quick start for both teams in the first quarter. J.J. Battle of Tattnall Square wasted no time putting the Trojans on the board. Battle took the opening kick-off 92 yards for the first score of the game. Loftin Whiddon added the extra point to give the Trojans a 7-0 lead. Tattnall Square then kicked off to Warren County and the Devils took over on their own 38 yard line. On the Devil's first play from scrimmage, Timothy Seals  broke loose for 62 yards to put the Screaming Devils on the board. The extra point attempt by Seals was blocked and after only 29 seconds of play, Tattnall Square held a 7-6 lead.

The Trojans would score again just a little over two minutes later on a 13 yard run by Ahmad Barron,

Devocea Lott

making the score 14-6. It appeared that the Devils would match the Trojans score for score after the Devils completed a long pass to put themselves inside the Tattnall 15 yard line. The drive would end without a Warren County score due to a fumble just one play later however. The Trojans took advantage of the opportunity and marched 85 yards for yet another 1st quarter score. The period ended with Tattnall tacking on two more points with a safety. The first quarter ended with the Trojans leading by the score of 23-6.

Devocea Lott posted Warren County's only score in the second quater with a 5 yard run TD run. The Trojans added two more scores and went to the locker room at the half with a 37-12 lead.

Warren County started the third quarter with a scoring drive capped by a 5 yard run by Anquavious Hill. It would be the Devils final score of the night however. The Trojans scored twice in the third quater and neither team scored in the fourth.

Mykwan Loney

Timothy Seals once again led in the rushing department for the Devils with 142 yards on 16 carries. Anquavious Hill rushed for 91 yards on 8 carries and Devocea Lott had 21 yards on 5 carries.

Jermaine Berry went 3 for 8 through the air with 1 interception. Berry connected twice with Mykwan Loney for 42 yards and once with Kentarius Brinkle for 19 yards.

Coach Freeman said of his team's effort, "Offensively, we played well enough to win. We just need to get better at tackling in open space and taking care of the football." Freeman added, "We were very close to them stat wise. The turnovers and special teams just really hurt us this week." Warren County posted 237 yards of rushing compared to 288 yards of rushing by Tattnall Square. The Devils had 61 yards of passing while the Trojans posted 48 yards through the air.

Warren County will be on the road next week to take on the Bulldogs of Harlem.

Screaming Devils Radio Enters 9th Season

Photos courtesy of Kathy Hinesley

Tony Hill (left) and Trevor Roberson (right) call the action in the Warren County press box.

The start of the 2014 football season also marks the beginning of the 9th consecutive season that the Screaming Devils have been broadcast on the radio and internet. Each Warren County game can be heard live at www.wtho.com and on delay immediately following the Briarwood Academy Buccaneers on WTWA 104.9.

I originally had the idea to broadcast just one game in 2006 when Thomson High School had an open date. I asked Thomson High broadcaster Dennis Sanders if he would be willing to help me with the first broadcast, and he graciously agreed. That first broadcast generated a lot of excitement and Warren County superintendent Carole Jean Carey charged me with finding a way to keep us on the air for the rest of the season.

After talking with Mike Wall, we devised a plan to broadcast Warren County football on delay immediately following the Thomson High School football games. The broadcast later evolved to include the live internet stream. Response from listeners was overwhelming. Fans who were unable to attend games due to work, health, or other reasons tuned in weekly to the radio and internet broadcasts. Alumni away at college as well as those who may have moved out of the area or are even deployed overseas have used to internet broadcast to stay connected to Warren County. The broadcast has even helped to create some new Warren County football fans as many in the area now tune in after leaving their own games and are travelling home.

Just hours before kickoff of this year's first broadcast, I was rushed to the hospital with abdominal and back pain. What I thought was another case of kidney stones turned out to be acute appendicitis. I awoke from surgery that evening just in time to tune into the night's broadcast. Warren County High School principal, Trevor Roberson and assistant superintendent, Dr. Tony Hill stepped up to take over the reins in the press box during my absence. Both have done an amazing job broadcasting the games each week and do a great job painting a picture of the action for the listeners. My surgery has reminded me of how important the broadcast can be for people who are unable to attend the games in person.

The Screaming Devil broadcasting program is in need of help, however. Due to declining sponsor support, the program is in danger of going off the air. The faculty and staff of Warren County schools answered the call to fund the first broadcast of the season. The Warren County Booster Club funded the second game of the year and this week's game against Tattnall Square is being sponsored by Don and Lynn Pesek. Funding for the remainding broadcasts is uncertain however, and anyone interested in becoming a sponsor is encouraged to contact Mr. Roberson by calling the school at 706-465-3742 or calling Dr. Hill at 706-465-3383.

Warren County Pounds Panthers of Glascock

Photos courtesy of Rasheeda Usry

It took 11 games for the Screaming Devils to earn Coach Freeman his first victory as Warren County head coach, but Friday night's victory over Glascock County did more than avenge last year's 28-6 loss to the Panthers. Friday's victory marked a turning point for the Devils and gave Coach Freeman's team an opportunity to give him a long anticipated ice water bath.

Jaden Hawkins

The first quarter was an offensive slugfest, with both teams unable to stop the opposing team's offense. Glascock County struck first on the opening possession off a 46 yard pass from Nick Tyler to Tre Little for a touchdown. Little tacked on two more with the two point conversion to give the Panthers the 8-0 lead with 9:12 to go in the first quarter. Warren County answered right away with Timothy Seals on a two yard run for his first score of the evening. Seals kick for the extra point was good and the Panthers still held a slim one point lead.

Both teams would score again in the first quarter. Tre Little scored again on a 3 yard run and converted the 2 point conversion to give the Panthers a 16-7 lead with 2:14 to go in the first quarter. The Devils only took 28 seconds to answer however with a score of their own. Devocea Lott scored on a 16 yard run and Timothy Seals kicked the extra point to narrow the score to 16-14.

Devocea Lott

Both teams would score only once in the second period, and both scores would come in the closing seconds of the first half. With only 14 seconds left in the half, Tre Little connected with Brandon Radford for a 19 yard touchdown pass to put the Panthers up 22-14 after the two point conversion failed. Devocea Lott would not let the lead stand long however, and returned the ensuing kick-off 88 yards to draw the Devils to within 2. Quarterback Jermaine Berry ran the two point conversion in with no time left on the clock and the teams went to the locker room with the score tied at 22-22. Warren County Offensive Coordinator, Ricky Ellis, stated, "That kick return by Lott was key to our success in the second half. It made all the difference in the mindset of our team at halftime."

Dantavious Allen

The third quarter would be all Warren County. The Devils posted 14 unanswered points off of a 9 yard run by Lott and a 4 yard run by Seals. Seals' extra point attempt was good both times and the first quarter ended with Warren County holding a 14 point lead by the score of 36-22.

The Devils would stretch their lead to 21 in the fourth quarter when Jermaine Berry broke lose on a 51 yard run and Timothy Seals again kicked the extra point through the uprights. Seals added to Warren County's point total with a 4th quarter touchdown of his own and capped the scoring off for the Devils with his 6th extra point of the night. Glascock would strike twice themselves in the 4th quarter, but it would not be enough as Warren County led at the final horn by the score of 50-34.

Timothy Seals led all rushers for Warren County with 118 yards on 23 carries. Seals also rushed for 3 touchdowns and was a perfect 6-6 on extra points. Jermaine Berry rushed for 100 yards and one touchdown on 7 carries. Dantavious Allen carried the ball 4 times for 66 yards, Jaden Hawkins had 3 carries for 42 yards, and Devocea Lott rushed 5 times for 27 yards and 2 touchdowns. Lott also contributed with an 88 yard kickoff return for a touchdown.

Jermaine Berry

Jermaine Berry went 4-6 through the air with no interceptions and 32 yards passing.  Berry connected withDantavious Allen with a 17 yard pass, Devocea Lott for 16 yards, and Mykwan Loney for a 1 yard completion.

Coach Freeman couldn't be happier with the performance of his team. "I credit the win to all the hard work in the offseason by the players and the coaches," said Freeman. Freeman went on to say, "I said last week that we had gotten one leg over the wall and now we just had to get the other leg over and find a way to win. I think we might have just done that."

The Devils play host next week to the Trojans of Tattnall Square out of Macon. Tattnall Square is in their first year of GHSA play and openend the season last week with a 61-28 win over GMC of Milledgeville. Game time is set for 7:30 at Albert J. Massey field.