Varsity Wildcat Football

Annual Wildcat Football Banquet

Flint River Academy honored the Varsity and JV Football players and cheerleaders at their annual football banquet. The Wildcats celebrated an undefeated JV season and the Varsity making it to the playoffs.

Five graduating seniors were honored: Matt Montgomery, Dixon Smith, Dylan Talley, Trent Bishop, and Stephen Boykin. Head Coach J.R. Ragan remarked that he was very sad to see these talented players go.

Six players were recognized for making it to the All Region Team: Trent Bishop, Ben Gilson, Dallas Gibson, Chris Gregg, Ethan Rowe, and Chase Williams.

Trent Bishop was recognized for making the All-State Team and being selected as a captain.

Numerous awards were presented:
The Defensive Lineman Award went to Junior Chris Gregg.
The Defensive Back Award went to Junior Ben Gilson.
The Offensive Lineman Award went to Junior Dallas Gibson.
The Offensive Back Award went to high scoring Junior Ethan Rowe.
The Most Valuable Player award went to Quarterback Trent Bishop.
The Coaches Award went to Senior Stephen Boykin.
The Scout Team Award went to promising Freshman Stuart Gregg.

Junior Varsity Awards were also presented. JV Most Valuable Player was Seth Short, Offensive Award was earned by Allen Faulkner, and the Defensive Award went to Casey Clark.

The contributions and support of parents, managers, trainers, coaches, and Junior Varsity and Varsity Cheerleaders was also recognized and appreciated.

Head Football Coach J.R. Ragan remarked that he appreciated the dedication and hard work of these teams and is looking forward to the young talent coming up.

Left to Right: Chase Williams, Chris Gregg, Trent Bishop, Dallas Gibson, Ben Gilson,
Coach JR Ragan, Stephen Boykin, Stuart Gregg (not pictured: Ethan Rowe)

Trent Bishop is Captain of GISA All-Star Team

Flint River Academy is proud to announce that Senior Trent Bishop was selected for the GISA All-Star Game.  He started at Quarterback and Safety.  

Not only were his athletic skills honored, but his All-Star teammates also recognizing his leadership skills by naming him team captain.  Bishop was the Quarterback and Captain for the FRA Wildcats, leading them to a 9-2 season this year.

Trent is the son of Tammy Bishop and Bobby Bishop of Manchester.  He has attended Flint River Academy for 13 years.  Trent also excels at Basketball, Baseball, and Track.  He plans to attend Kennesaw State University in the Fall and major in Environmental Science.

Flint River Academy Ends Season with a 9-2 Record

The FRA Wildcats lost to Memorial Day School of Savannah 10-14 in the first round of the GISA Playoffs.

The game started optimistically for the Cats when the opening kick to Memorial Day was fumbled and recovered by Flint River. Chase Williams and Ethan Rowe steadily worked the ball up the field until quarterback Trent Bishop kicked a field goal, putting the Wildcats on the scoreboard first.

The Flint River defense was seeking revenge for last year’s loss to Memorial Day in the playoffs, and Dallas Gibson, Ethan Rowe, and Matt Montgomery successfully kept the Blue Thunder in check.

The Wildcats were on their way to the end zone again, when a pass from Bishop was intercepted by Memorial Day.

The FRA Defense rallied again. Chris Gregg, Ben Gilson, Dallas Gibson and Dixon Smith kept Memorial Day scoreless. The score remained 3-0 going into the second quarter.

The Blue Thunder stormed into the second quarter, scoring immediately. The extra point was good, and the Wildcats were now down 3-7. The rest of the quarter was a hard fought battle ending in a field goal attempt by Memorial Day that was blocked by Stuart Gregg. The score would remain 3-7 at half time.

Coach Ragan lit a fire under the Wildcats at half time. FRA quickly took control and outstanding Junior Ethan Rowe covered 66 yards for a touchdown. The extra point by Trent Bishop was good, and the Cats were in the lead again 10-7.

Memorial Day did not enjoy possession for long, when Matt Montgomery had a dramatic pass interception. Rowe and Williams tried to penetrate the Blue Thunder defense, but were not successful. Memorial Day maintained possession for the rest of the quarter, but penalties and the tenacity of the Wildcat defense kept them from the goal.

The fourth quarter was a game of inches until Memorial Day broke free and scored their second touchdown with 7 minutes to go. The extra point was good and the score was now 10-14 in favor of Memorial Day School.

Bishop, Williams and Rowe tried to make some progress for FRA, but the Blue Thunder defense had them completely shut down.

The Memorial Day offense was also frozen in place thanks to Williamson, Gibson, Montgomery, and Rowe.

With 3 minutes left in the game, the Wildcats were not ready to give up their State Championship dreams. Rowe ran the ball up the middle, then again up the left for a first down. Rowe gained another ten yards, and then Bishop took it up the left. Then a penalty for holding took the Wildcats back to the 50 yard line. Rowe ran for six more yards, but it wasn’t enough for a first down. A heartbreaking incomplete pass gave the ball back to Memorial Day, ending the game.

The 2009 season is over for the Flint River Academy Wildcats, but it was a very impressive year. FRA welcomed new head coach, JR Ragan, and the Cats enjoyed an undefeated season until losing their last two games. Seniors Trent Bishop, Stephen Boykin, Matt Montgomery, and Dixon Smith can be very proud of their final year. Flint River Academy will return next season with many experienced athletes in the lineup.

Coach Ragan summed up the season by saying how proud he was of this team and that they exceeded everyone’s expectations. He’s looking forward to next year, pointing out that FRA is only loosing four seniors and will be bringing back a strong and talented core.

FRA Wildcats Winning Streak Ends:
Griffin Christian Claims Region Championship

The undefeated Flint River Academy Wildcats lost to Griffin Christian Academy in double overtime Friday night. Griffin Christian has lost three games this season, but only one loss was within the 4AA GISA Region. FRA has only had one loss all season, but it was to Griffin Christian Academy. Therefore, Griffin Christian Academy claimed the Region Championship.

The first quarter began with the Wildcats receiving. Ethan Rowe, Chase Williams, and Trent Bishop steadily moved the ball down the field. QB Trent Bishop scored the first touchdown and kicked the extra point with 6:33 left in the first quarter.

Ben Gilson, Matt Montgomery, and Bishop did their best to hold the Crusaders, but it wasn’t long before Griffin Christian scored. The extra point was good and the game was now tied 7-7.

The Wildcats had possession for most of the second quarter, but the score remained 7-7 going into halftime.

The battle continued into the third quarter. Dallas Gibson, Dixon Smith, Ryan Williamson, Stephen Boykin, Rowe, and Williams worked hard to keep Anthony Lewis and the rest of the Crusaders scoreless. The sizable Crusaders shut down FRA’s big scorers Rowe, Williams, and Bishop. The score was still 7-7 going into the final quarter.

Ethan Rowe lit a fire early in the fourth quarter by recovering a fumble and taking it in for a touchdown. The extra point by Bishop was good and the Wildcats were in the lead again 14-7.

The Crusaders kept feeding the ball to Anthony Lewis, but Gilson and Chris Gregg were able to stop him for most of the quarter. With 2:50 left to go in the game, Lewis broke free and sprinted over 60 yards to score. The extra point was good and it was a tied game again.

Ethan Rowe made some tough attempts to get to the end zone, but The Wildcats could not score again in the final minutes. Sudden death was going to decide the Region Champions.

The coin toss gave first possession to the Wildcats. Rowe and Bishop were able to get the Cats within the 9 but they were not able to score. A field goal attempt was too far to the right and the Crusaders now had a chance to steal a win.

The four downs went quickly for the Crusaders, thanks to hard tackles and an incomplete pass courtesy of Dixon Smith. The Wildcats would have another chance.

The second overtime began with Griffin Christian in possession. Anthony Lewis immediately gained yardage and a personal foul against the Wildcats brought the Crusaders to the 5 yard line. Lewis was then able to score. There was a fumble on the field goal, the Crusaders attempted to turn it into 2 points but were blocked.

The pressure was now on the Wildcats. Williams tried to take it up the middle twice. Rowe tried the middle and Bishop tried the right, but the Crusader defenders crushed the Wildcats’ dream of a perfect season.

The loss to Griffin Christian does not destroy Flint River Academy’s chances at the state title however. The first round of the state playoffs will begin this Friday, November 6th.

Photo by Abby Lohman:

Senior Dixon Smith breaks up a play near the end zone in overtime

Flint River Academy Wildcats Beat the Heritage Hawks & Remain Undefeated!
by Linda Corley

The Flint River Academy Wildcats defeated The Heritage School Hawks 42 – 12. Friday night’s win brings the Wildcats’ record to 9 – 0. They maintain the lead in the GISA Region 4AA.

Last week was Homecoming Week for Flint River, culminating with the crowning of Homecoming Queen Claire Mameli. First Runner Up was Lauren Redmond, Second Runner Up was Hunter Connell and Third Runners Up were Libby Head and Amiee Welch. The Court was completed by Junior Princesses Jennifer Boatwright and Emily Chester, Sophomore Princesses Kaitlyn Roberson and Ayla Welch, and Freshmen Princesses Hannalee Flynn and Lacy Smith.

FRA welcomed their alumni with a Homecoming BBQ and a soggy but satisfying win. The first quarter began with a Wildcat fumble recovered by Heritage. The Hawks did not have possession for long though. Senior QB Trent Bishop scored a touchdown for FRA less than 4 minutes into the game. He also kicked in the extra point, starting the game off with a score of 7-0. Good defense from Stuart and Chris Gregg, Ryan Williamson, Ben Gilson, and Dallas Gibson made the rest of the quarter a game of inches and the score remained 7-0.

The second quarter proceeded quietly until Matt Montgomery stole the ball and ran it for 83 yards for the second Wildcat touchdown. Bishop’s extra point was good and the score was now 14-0. Chris Gregg, Matt Wilson, Gibson, Williamson, and Gilson kept the Hawks flightless. Then Ethan Rowe ran the ball for 35 yards, Bishop for another14, and Williams brought it home for Wildcat touchdown number three. The extra point was blocked and the score was 20-0 going into halftime.

Dedicated fans and alumni braved the rain and were rewarded in the third quarter with some hard tackles by Gilson, Gibson, Williamson, and Seth Strickland. Bishop then ran up the middle covering 31 yards. Rowe took it up the left, and Chase Williams ran it in for the touchdown. Williams also carried in a successful two point conversion, increasing the score to 28-0. Heritage was down, but not out. Stuart Brady scored for the Hawks, but Dallas Gibson then spoiled Heritage’s attempt at two points. The third quarter ended 28-6.

The fourth quarter exploded into action with Trent Bishop scoring a touchdown and extra point. The Hawks worked their way steadily down the field and were rewarded with their second touchdown. The attempt at a two point conversion was unsuccessful, making the score 35-12 with seven minutes remaining in the game. Williams, Rowe, and Bishop took turns working the ball up the field and this time it was Ethan Rowe scoring for the Wildcats. Bishop’s extra point was good bringing the score to 42-12. The Hawks had three and half minutes left, but thanks to some hard tackles by Stuart Gregg, Stephen Boykin, Gilson, Gibson, Strickland, Bishop, and Rowe; Heritage did not cover much ground and the Homecoming game ended 42-12.

The Flint River Academy Wildcats will play their last regular season game this Friday against Griffin Christian Academy in Griffin.

Senior Matt Montgomery ran a fumble recovery for an 83 yard touchdown Photo by Abby Lohman	Freshman Stuart Gregg prepares to kick off Photo by Abby Lohman

FRA Wildcats Winning Streak Continues…..
by Linda Corley

The Flint River Academy Wildcats flew past the Harvester Hawks Friday night, beating them soundly 63-28.

The first quarter began optimistically for the Hawks. They took an early 6-0 lead, but it wasn’t long before the Wildcats struck back. Quarterback Trent Bishop made a 34 yard pass to #9 Chase Williams, who ran it in for the first Wildcat touchdown. A failed 2 point conversion kept the game to a 6-6 tie. Two incomplete passes and some hard tackles from Ethan Rowe and Dallas Gibson, brought the ball back into the hands of the Wildcats. Chase Williams quickly scored again, giving the Wildcats a 12-6 lead. The extra point from Trent Bishop was good, bringing the score to 13-6. The Hawks scored again later in the quarter, but there was a flag on the play and the TD was called back. The first quarter ended with the Wildcats on top 13-6.

Williams scored again in the second quarter and the extra point by Bishop was good, bringing the score to 20-6. The Hawks forced the Wildcat defense to work hard- Dylan Couch, Matt Montgomery, Ethan Rowe, Stephen Boykin, and Trent Bishop had some impressive tackles and pass interceptions. Ethan Rowe then ran the ball for a 58 yard touchdown. The extra point by Bishop was good again raising the score to 27-6. Penalties against the Wildcats and an intercepted pass helped the Hawks score twice, but FRA rallied in the final seconds of the half and Williams scored again ending the half 35-20.

Ethan Rowe had the chilled crowd on their feet again in the third quarter, this time with a 50 yard touchdown. Bishop’s extra point was good again, increasing the Cat’s lead to 42-20. Williams added to that lead later with his fifth touchdown of the game, and Bishop had another successful extra point. Incomplete Hawk passes thanks to Chris Gregg and Stuart Gregg and sacks by Williamson, and Bishop kept Harvester scoreless in the third. Rowe scored his third TD of the game and Bishop added another point, ending the third quarter 56-20.

The fourth started with the FRA defense working hard. Seth Strickland, Chris Moore, Rowe, Gibson, and Montgomery all had impressive tackles, but Harvester scored one more time and had a successful 2 point conversion. Montgomery retaliated with a Wildcat touchdown and Bishop nailed another point. The cold damp night ended with a final score of 63-28.

Flint River Academy will celebrate Homecoming this week and take on the Heritage Hawks Friday night at home.

FRA Wildcats Remain Undefeated

The Flint River Academy Wildcats rolled over the young Colonial Hills Rams Friday night. The final score was 52 – 6.

Even without the high scoring Junior Ethan Rowe, the Wildcats dominated the Rams. At the end of the first quarter, the score was already 37 – 0 in favor of the Wildcats.

The Rams could not stop the Wildcat offense. Ryan Williamson had a two point conversion and two touchdowns. Chase Williams had a big interception plus a touchdown and a two point run. Quarterback Trent Bishop had a 13 yard touchdown run and 4 extra point kicks. Matt Montgomery had a 7 yard touchdown run and an amazing 43 yard touchdown run. Montgomery rushed for a total of 116 yards. Ben Gilson had a two point conversion and an interception that he ran in for a touchdown.

The Wildcat defense kept the Rams scoreless until the final minutes of the game. Freshman Jim Law had two big tackles for a loss.

Head Coach J.R. Ragan is proud of his undefeated team, “Overall we played a solid game offensively and defensively. Our young players got a lot of playing time, giving them confidence and experience to build on for the future.” He added that, “Friday we’ll be playing a talented Harvester team. Our remaining games are all region games and therefore very important.”

This Friday October 16th, Flint River Academy will host Harvester Christian Academy. Friday will be Senior Night, with festivities beginning at 7:00 pm to honor FRA’s graduating athletes.

#16 Senior Matt Montgomery	#12 Sophmore Ryan Williamson

FRA Wildcats Remain Undefeated

Flint River Academy defeated Arlington Christian School 37-22 Friday night, bringing their record to 6-0 and holding on to the top spot in the 4-AA GISA Region

The first quarter began optimistically for Arlington. FRA kicked off into the hands of Senior Eagle #15 Josh Cunningham. Cunningham sprinted 90 yards to score the first touchdown for Arlington. The extra point by #33 Dylan Vires was good, bringing the score to 0-7 in the first minutes of the game.

The quarter continued with Wildcats #35 Ethan Rowe and #20 Trent Bishop working their way steadily down the field. #3 Ben Gilson brought it home for a touchdown and Bishop ran in a two point conversion. The Wildcats gained confidence with the 8-7 lead.

Cunningham tried to run the ball again for Arlington, but this time Wildcats Dallas Gibson and Ryan Williamson were not letting him gain much ground. The Eagles tried passing the ball, but were frustrated by some incomplete passes thanks to FRA #52 Chris Gregg and #35 Ethan Rowe.

The second quarter began with some good Eagle offense, but Wildcats Stuart Gregg and Ben Gilson did not make it easy for them. Eagle #20 Charod Strickland eventually scored a touchdown bringing the score to 8-13. A successful two point conversion made it 8-15 in favor of Arlington.

The Eagles kicked it to the end zone and Wildcat #9 Chase Williams steadily worked his way up the field. Rowe took a turn up the middle, and then Bishop ran for 21 yards. Rowe carried it in for a touchdown with one of his amazing 45 yard runs. Williams completed a successful two point conversion and the score was now a nail-biting 16-15.

Tough FRA defense by Gilson, Moore, Wilson, Bishop, and Boykin kept the Eagles in check. The ball was back in the hands of the Wildcats with 4 minutes to go in the half. Teamwork by Bishop and Williams methodically worked the ball down to the Eagles 6 yard line. Flint River Freshman #44 Seth Strickland scored the touchdown, and Rowe delivered a two point conversion. The Wildcats then had a more comfortable 24-15 lead heading into halftime.

The third quarter was plagued by penalties. Impressive defense from both teams kept the crowd on its feet and the quarter scoreless.

The fourth quarter began with the Eagles in possession. Arlington #15 Josh Cunningham flew in for another touchdown bringing the score to 24-21. The extra point by Dylan Vires was good, and it became a two point game.

Wildcats Williams and Rowe worked together again to steadily bring the ball back to the Eagles 9 yard line, and Ethan Rowe brought home the touchdown. The extra point by Bishop was successful and the score was now 31-22.

Arlington only had possession for a few seconds when Matt Montgomery intercepted a pass and ran it to the Eagles 16. Williams ran it in for the touchdown. Unfortunately the extra point was no good, but the Wildcats had a healthy 37-22 lead with only two minutes remaining.

The Eagles didn’t make much progress in those last two minutes thanks to tackles by Chris Moore, Stuart Gregg, and Dallas Gibson. An interception by Trent Bishop brought the game to an end.

FRA head coach J. R. Ragan commented that “Overall, we beat a very talented Arlington team. To continue our success we will need to minimize mistakes that continue to put us in bad situations. I am very proud of this undefeated team and the possibilities that lie ahead of them.”

The Flint River Academy Wildcats will face Colonial Hills Christian School at Lithia Springs this Friday. Their next home game in Woodbury will be October 16th against Harvester Christian Academy. October 16th will be Senior Night, with festivities beginning at 7:00 to honor Flint River Academy’s graduating athletes.

FRA cheerleaders helped keep the Wildcat momentum strong. Photo by Pam Bergen

Trent Bishop slips through the Eagle defense. Photo by Pam Bergen

Ethan Rowe lifts the ball out of the clutches of an Eagle. Photo by Pam Bergen

Flint River Academy Pounds the Patriots

The Flint River Academy Wildcats soundly defeated the Strong Rock Christian School Patriots 0-34 on Friday. Strong Rock hosted FRA in their impressive stadium in Locust Grove, and it was a beautiful night for a football game. The Patriots are only in their third year, and the young team could not hold the defending state champ Wildcats.

The first quarter was a back and forth battle until Wildcat #9, Chase Williams, charged up the middle and scored the game’s first touchdown. The extra point kicked by #20, Trent Bishop was good and the 1st quarter ended with a score of 0-7.

Flint River Academy dominated the second quarter. Junior Ethan Rowe made an untouched 70 yard run early in the quarter for touchdown number two. The kick for the extra point was no good, so the score became 0-13. Good defense from #12 Ryan Williamson and #35 Ethan Rowe kept the Patriots scoreless. Bishop and Williams made some admirable carries, and then Rowe broke loose for another outstanding run – this time covering 45 yards for FRA’s third touchdown. Sadly the extra point was bobbled, so the score remained 0-19. Strong Rock had possession for a few minutes, then a fumble was recovered by Wildcat #82 Stephen Boykin. Bishop carried the ball up the side, and then the next play resulted in an amazing 91 yard touchdown by Ethan Rowe. Williams ran the ball in for a two point conversion, bringing the score to 0-27. An impressive tackle by Ryan Williamson and a pass interception by Williams brought the ball back to FRA on the Wildcat 45 yard line. Important tackles by Matt Montgomery, Ben Gilson, and Chris Gregg kept the Patriots scoreless going into halftime.

The Wildcats are historically stronger in the second half due to superior conditioning and strength training. They did not disappoint Friday night. #32 Dallas Gibson burst into the second half with a tackle and a fumble recovery. Bishop and Rowe covered some yardage, but kept getting stopped by Patriots Jake Bartram and Collier Sanders. Sanders recovered a Wildcat fumble, but Strong Rock made no progress. Chase Williams began an offensive rally with an interception and a 15 yard run. A pass to Montgomery earned FRA a first down, Bishop carried for another first down, and then Bishop was stopped by Patriot Collier Sanders just shy of the goal line. Williams took it the rest of the way for a Wildcat touchdown. The extra point by Bishop was good, bringing the score to 0-34.

Strong Rock started the fourth quarter with their best run of the game, a 20 yard gain by #8 Coleman Smith. But then a pass intended for Patriot #84 Jordan Barton was intercepted by Trent Bishop. Bishop ran up the side but was tackled by Sanders. Montgomery then took the ball up the middle for almost 30 yards, but then a fumble was recovered by Patriot Payton Jonson. Strong Rock tried to put some points on the scoreboard, but the defense of Matt Wilson, Dallas Gibson, Dylan Couch, Jim Law, and Chris Moore kept the Patriots from their goal.

The 0-34 win brings Flint River Academy’s record to 5-0, and places them solidly in first place in the 4-AA GISA Region. The FRA Wildcats will face second place Arlington Christian School at home on Friday, October 2nd.

Photo by Abby Lohman	Photo by Abby Lohman	Photo by Abby Lohman

Flint River Academy beats Tift Area 12-10

The Flint River Wildcats barely pulled off a 12 -10 win over the Tift Area Panthers Friday night in Woodbury, thanks in part to a crucial Panther fumble that some called luck, but others attributed to nothing less than “divine intervention.”
            Tift Area took offensive control first in the game. The Panthers ran the ball, but Ben Gilson was waiting and made the tackle. On 3rd down, the Panthers attempted a long pass but the receiver caught it out of bounds. Tift’s 3 and out gave Flint River control of the ball.
Trent Bishop took the quarterback option to the right for 1st and 2nd down but got little yardage. On 4th and 5, the Wildcats kicked from the 15 to give the Panthers another chance. At this point, it was clear that the game would be a defensive struggle.
            The Panthers ran right for the first play of the series to pick up 4 yards. With 6 yards to go for the 1st down, the Panthers quarterback ran the ball up the middle for a 1st and then was tackled by Chase Williams. The Panthers obtained another first down on 2nd and 1 with a throw over the top to Justin Brooks, who was tackled by Dallas Gibson. The Panthers attempted a sweep right on 2nd and 9 but Dallas Gibson was there again for the tackle and loss. On 3rd and 11, Chris Gregg and Ben Gilson pressured the Panther quarterback and forced him to throw early for an incomplete pass. The Panthers then drew first blood by booting a field goal for 3.
            Ethan Rowe returned the kick for 30 yards to get the Wildcat offense started again. Chase Williams ran the ball for a 3 yard gain on 1st and 10 and Ethan Rowe took 2nd and 5 as his chance to run the ball down the side before he was knocked out at the 2. Williams finished what Rowe started, making the score 6 to 3. The extra point was no good.
            Trent Bishop kicked off and the Panthers took over at their own 44. Justin Brooks took the ball 7 yards before being tackled by a host of Wildcats. The Panthers threw 19 yards down the sideline to Chandler Hammond, who was tripped up by Dixon Smith. In an attempt to swing momentum even farther to their side, the Panthers threw 30 yards again to Hammond but Dixon Smith was there for a thrilling interception.
The Wildcats took over and gave the ball to Chase Williams for 6 yards. On 2nd and 4, Chase Williams was handed the ball again the first down. Williams went for a wide left sweep for 7 yards. The  third down went nowhere and the Wildcats made a bold decision to go for it on 4th and 1. Chase Williams was there again to make the 1st and put the ball on the 30 in Panther territory. The 1st quarter ended 6 to 3.
            The 2nd quarter was dominated by the Wildcat offense. An offsides penalty on the Wildcats started off a 1st and 15, but Ethan Rowe made things more manageable by running right for 11 yards. The Wildcats took their time running 17 plays in a row to slowly take the ball down field and use up 10 minutes and 31 seconds. On a 3rd and goal Chase Williams was handed the ball for the touchdown. The 2 point conversion was unsuccessful and the score was in favor the Wildcats 12 to 3.
      The Wildcats kicked back to the Panthers with 1:29 left before the half. Tift Area ran left to pick 60 yards with the help of several missed blocks by the Wildcats. Chase Williams finally made the tackle. From the 23, the Panthers ran left but Ben Gilson was there to make sure no yardage was gained. Ryan Williamson made the tackle on Tift

Photo by Abby Lohman	Photo by Abby Lohman	Photo by Abby Lohman

Wildcats Waltz Past Windsor in Season Opener

   The beginning of football season in Woodbury could almost be considered a holiday as the Flint River Wildcats kicked off their season against the Windsor Academy Knights. There were few empty seats on the home side as Flint River defeated the Knights 41 to 6.
   Flint River kicked off and the Wildcat defense went to work. Windsor started off with a pass over the middle but was stopped by #44 Seth Stricklin. Windsor continued with a few short runs to pick up a first down. The Knights recovered their own fumble, which backed them up 5 yards. A 5 yard penalty on top of the fumble set up a 4th and 20. A missed snap by Windsor was recovered by Flint River’s #12 Ryan Williamson on the Windsor 23 yard line.
The Wildcats first offensive play of the season was a 23 yard pass to the newest team addition, #40 Dixon Smith. In heavy coverage, the ball bounced off his hands, but Smith proved himself as a valuable asset later in the game. Two plays later, the Wildcats’ #9 Chase Williams scored with #20 Trent Bishop adding the extra point.
Windsor’s next offensive try followed with a 4-and-out, giving the ball back to the Wildcats on the 38 yard line. #35 Ethan Rowe started the series with a 5 yard carry. After several plays, the Wildcats were left at 4th and 2, but put trust in Chase Williams, who picked up the 1st down. Trent Bishop sprinted left for the touchdown, but missed the PAT.  
Flint River’s Trent Bishop kicked off to the Knights, but FRA soon regained offensive control. A Windsor pass was tipped by #82 Stephen Boykin, setting up an impressive interception by Seth Stricklin. The 1st quarter ended with the Wildcats up 13 to 0.
   Flint River set up for the offensive series on the Windsor 24 yard line. Chase Williams took the handoff and was dragged down for a loss. Flint River was backed up even further by a holding call, which set up a 1st and 20. Williams was given the ball 2 more times for a total gain of 5 yards, setting up a 3rd and 15. Trent Bishop passed to Dixon Smith for a 1st down on the 1 yard line.  With a first and goal at the one, Ryan Williamson took it into the end zone, followed by a successful 2 point conversion by Bishop. Flint River kicked off again to the Knights. Windsor fumbled, giving it back to the Wildcats on the Windsor 34. A mishandled snap was taken up the middle for a 1 yard gain. Ethan Rowe then took the ball left for a 15 yard gain. A pass to #16 Matt Montgomery gained 7 yards. A 1st and goal was set up by Ryan Williamson. Ethan Rowe took the next 2 carries and then picked up a touchdown. Trent Bishop split the uprights for the extra point. The Wildcats continued to swing the momentum to their side when Windsor’s next series stalled with an incomplete pass on 4th down. The half ended with Flint River leading 28 to 0.
   Windsor kicked off to the Wildcats after the half and #3 Ben Gilson returned the ball 55 yards to the Windsor 12 yard line. The ball was thrown to #7 Matt Wilson for a few yards. The next play resulted in a first down up the middle by Chase Williams. With 3 yards to go until the end zone, Williams scored the touchdown. The extra point was no good, and Flint River led the game 34 to 0.
 On their most successful offensive series of the game, the Knights took it all the way down field with help from penalties on the Wildcat side. Windsor scored the TD, but failed on the 2 point conversion, and the score was 34 to 6. The Flint River offense started on the Windsor 47. Bishop handed to the ball to Chase Williams, who ran in for a touchdown. The touchdown was then called back because of a block in the back. The 3rd quarter ended with Flint River still up 34 to 6.
   The Wildcats picked up where they left off in the 3rd quarter by scoring quickly in the 4th by some long runs by Ethan Rowe and a touchdown by Chase Williams. Bishop boomed the extra point and set the score at 41 to 6.
The excitement wasn’t over yet, as the young Wildcats went in to finish the game. After Windsor failed at a 4th down attempt, Flint River took over on offense. #7 Matt Wilson went in as quarterback and did a fabulous job. The fans never would have known he has never practiced at that position. The Wildcats ran the ball several times for some good gains as frustrations mounted for the Windsor team. With 10 seconds left and nothing to gain or lose, the Wildcats took a knee and ended the game 41 to 6.
Head Coach J.R. Ragan was pleased with this decisive first win as head coach of the Wildcats. He also had high praise for his excellent coaching staff.
   Flint River travels to Dawson, Georgia, on September 4th to play the highly favored Terrell Academy Eagles.

Photo by Abby Lohman	Photo by Abby Lohman	Photo by Abby Lohman

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