Eighth grade football sees perfect season pay off with Championship

The Lumpkin County eighth grade football team closed out their undefeated season as Regional Champions last Tuesday.
The Tribe clashed with regional foe Clear Creek in a rematch of last year’s championship final, where the Bobcats came out on top.
The Indians, however, came into the game as the number one seed this year and wouldn’t be denied, defeating the Bobcats 14-8.
Head Coach Brenton Ruark was proud of the team’s performance.
“We had an awesome season, and I can’t say enough about the time and effort they put into the season,” said Ruark. “We battled through a lot of adversity. People were sick, we had people who were hurt, and we had to use the pit during the summer to practice. The kids didn’t flinch at all. They just continued to work their tails off and make plays,”
Ruark believes the season says a lot about the young athletes.
“I think that contributed to not only the kind of players they are but also the kind of young men they are, and I think that’s the biggest thing; they’re growing into young men. And we got to see that throughout the season,” he said. “That’s the coolest part, watching those kids grow and become who they are. To see them finish off a season like this, I couldn’t be more proud of a group of guys.”
This year was Ruark’s first year as the team’s Head Coach, but he quickly directed the praise to the athletes.
“It’s the kids,” he said. “It says a lot about the future of the program. I ask a lot out of them, but they respond. The future of the program is bright.”
The high school team is doing something that’s never happened before in Lumpkin County history, and they have a group of guys coming up after them.
Ruark said there is another group coming up that can step in and compete.
“I think the program has a bright future, and I couldn’t be more excited to be an Indian. That’s what it’s for,” he said. “It’s building these young men up to be ready for high school football and winning a championship along the way. That’s awesome.”

CRITICAL MOMENTS

In the final few minutes of the game, Clear Creek was driving the ball down the field, but a big interception by Martin Hulsey snapped the Bobcat’s momentum.
On a third down play, Caleb Yorkey powered his way for a first down to set up the victory formation for the Indians.
Ruark gave insight into those closing moments.
“We were thinking reverse and screaming reverse on the edge, and I looked up and thought they were gonna throw the ball,” he recalled. “Luckily, Martin does what he was coached to do. He reads the guy off the line of scrimmage. He goes back, he’s a playmaker. He’s a great athlete, and he just does what he does. I couldn’t have been more excited when I saw the play happen. The mindset was to flip the offense, then we had to get a first down.”
Hulsey reflected back on the big interception for the Indians.
“I was so excited I could get the ball back and help secure the game. It was one of the best feelings I’ve ever had. I was so happy and so excited that I got to celebrate it with my teammates when they all came up to me and started jumping up,” said Hulsey. “It was great. Amazing feeling. I loved it.”
Ruark continued reflecting on the final moments of the game.
“Our O-line on third down and 10, they bullied people in the box, which was what we preached to them all year. Yorkey’s last first down was probably one of the hardest runs he’s had all year. He fought through several defenders and got to the first down, and that was it; it was celebration time after that,” he said.
Lineman Ryan Roper gave insight into what inspired the offensive and defensive lines this season.
“It was a hard-fought victory. Our coaches preached to us all year that we needed to bully people up front in the trenches,” he said. “We fought long and hard since last year’s championship game to stand on top this year. All the hard work and dedication paid off in the end with a championship. Most of us worked an entire year to get here, and we did it.”
Yorkey, the star running back of the team, gave his thoughts on the game-winning first down for the Indians.
“It feels crazy. I never imagined it. I fought, and I pushed hard. I pushed myself to my limits,” he said.
Yorkey looks ahead to a potentially great high school football career and eventually hopes to play in college.
“The way I’m pushing right now, I can get to college. If I keep going like I am, I’ll make it to college, and anyone else can. That’s my dream, and I hope I can make it.”
Kolson Howell helped lead the team to their perfect season and shared his thoughts on the squad’s accomplishment.
“It’s amazing. Last year, we all felt it when we were crying, losing the finals, and now, this year, we get to hold it on our field. We were just amazed about how much work these guys put in and the dedication that we had,” said Howell.
Clear Creek took an 8-0 lead early in the game, and Howell spoke on what it was like to battle back and win the game.
“It showed how dedicated we are. We weren’t locked in the first quarter, and Coach Ruark talked to us and was like, ‘y’all have to get your heads together, and after that, we took control, and that’s when we started mashing the gas pedal,” he said.
Howell feels success breeds more success. “The high school is 7-0, and we finished undefeated. It just shows how we’ve changed the standards here,” he said.

SEVENTH GRADE

The seventh grade also saw a great season and battled into the finals. Unfortunately, they fell just short in a hard-fought game against Gilmer that was forced into overtime after neither team reached the endzone throughout four quarters.
Luke Nichols would tuck and run in the ball on the very first play of overtime to give the Indians a 6-0 lead. However, the Bobcats snuffed out the following two-point conversion.
The Bobcats then powered their way into the endzone and converted on their two-point conversion off a few strong running plays to come away with an 8-6 victory over the Indians.
Despite the loss, there’s a lot to be excited about with the young team. The group’s tough defense didn’t give up a touchdown until halfway through the season.
The team finds itself in a similar position to last year’s seventh-grade squad and will look ahead to a potentially great season next year.
This year’s middle school football team was made up of Martin Hulsey #2, Kolson Howell #4, Gannon Melanson #5, Tate Kirk #7, Trey Davenport #8, Aiden O’Brien #9, Mason Parrish #13, Levi Foster #14, Evan Yaughn #17, Devin Barker #18, Asher Adkins #19, Xander Nielsen #21, Austin Fortner #23, Aiden Mobley #26, Jordan Turner #27, Gage Schuch #29, Micah Popko #32, Dominick Banks #36, Joseph Alvarez #39, Sammie Ramirez #50, Remington Everett #52, Chase Reece #57, Wolfie Wight #58, Matthew Davidson #60, Ryan Roper #63, Tripp Scott #66, Hunter Cook #69,Dominick Alvarez #72, Jackson Forrester #73, Damon Walls #75, Joseph Sibenaller #76, Mason Gayton #77, and Kasen Tompkins #79.