Harlem to honor its 1958 team

Members of Harlem's first football team will be honored this week at the Bulldogs' game against Butler.

The team, which debuted in the 1958 season, is celebrating its 50th anniversary, because its seniors graduated in 1959.

Members of the 1958 team will be introduced and recognized before Friday's game.

Harlem coach Jimmie Lewis was 6 years old when Harlem first fielded a team.

This year's Bulldogs are after their second win of the season against an opponent they have defeated four consecutive times.

SWITCH UP: Wednesday's furlough day for Richmond County schools sent some teams into a wacky mid-week practice schedules.

Hephzibah dragged its players out of bed for a morning workout at 9 and was finished well before noon.

"You just got to get up and get ready for the big game," Hephzibah senior Gary Robinson said.

NICE HANDS: Evans junior Austin Jackson is among the area leaders in interceptions, even though he plays linebacker and his primary responsibility is not to disrupt the pass.

Jackson has five interceptions in seven games, second in 3-AAAA to Hephzibah's Chris Owens (6).

"He can get under some throws," Evans coach Marty Jackson said. "He's had his hands on a couple of others, too."

THIS AND THAT: Hephzibah hasn't lost a region game in its new stadium, which opened last year. It dropped a nonregion game to Lincoln County and a playoff game to Jonesboro a season ago. ... Westside's Josh Davis might be the busiest player in the region. He's caught 10 passes for a team-best 131 yards, thrown four times, booted 14 extra points and is averaging 33.5 yards on 26 punts. ... Richmond Academy last made back-to-back playoff appearances in 1992-93.

Stephen Fastenau contributed to this story.