NewsAthleticsUpper School
Tigers Triumph Over Injuries
Oct 25, 2000 8:00 AM
By Stefan Eady - Faculty
With five starters hurt, success has been coming hard this season for the Darlington Tigers, who moved to 5-0 in Region 6-AA with the team’s nine-point victory over the Coosa Eagles, Oct. 13. With an overall record by mid-October of five and one, the Tigers have won against Chapel Hill (27-0), Armuchee (26-6), Model (27-0), Dade County (14-6), and Coosa (9-0). Junior Stephen Whatley, place-kicker, kicked three field goals to give the Tigers the win over the Eagles during their homecoming game.
“We had five starters hurt coming into the game but the kids we put in stepped forward, and Stephen was one of them,” Head Coach Jerry Sharp said, as reported by Jim O’Hara, sports editor, in the Rome News-Tribune.
The Tigers’ clash with Dade County left five seniors with injuries: Matt Euler with a dislocated shoulder; Wyatt Mooring with a sprained neck; and Stiles Knight with a knee injury. Also, senior Ben Puckett had a slight ankle fracture and junior Ben Summerall turned his ankle.
A number of players have emerged as standouts. On offense, Summerall is the leading ground gainer. He has rushed 96 times for 640 yards and two touchdowns. Senior Scott Foss has carried 61 times for 424 yards and four touchdowns. He has also caught two passes for 23 yards. As quarterback, junior Frank Stegall has rushed 57 times for 202 yards and passed 32 times with 16 completions for 250 yards. Sophomore Drew Evans is the team’s leading receiver with three catches, 102 yards, and one touchdown. Puckett has caught three passes for 29 yards. Juniors Matt Arne and Robert Sturdivant have stepped in nicely for Euler and Knight to help the offensive line. Other offensive linemen that have been playing well are juniors Andy Babcock and Sean Hughes and sophomore Matt Ely.
“We had five starters hurt coming into the game but the kids we put in stepped forward, and Stephen was one of them,” Head Coach Jerry Sharp said, as reported by Jim O’Hara, sports editor, in the Rome News-Tribune.
The Tigers’ clash with Dade County left five seniors with injuries: Matt Euler with a dislocated shoulder; Wyatt Mooring with a sprained neck; and Stiles Knight with a knee injury. Also, senior Ben Puckett had a slight ankle fracture and junior Ben Summerall turned his ankle.
A number of players have emerged as standouts. On offense, Summerall is the leading ground gainer. He has rushed 96 times for 640 yards and two touchdowns. Senior Scott Foss has carried 61 times for 424 yards and four touchdowns. He has also caught two passes for 23 yards. As quarterback, junior Frank Stegall has rushed 57 times for 202 yards and passed 32 times with 16 completions for 250 yards. Sophomore Drew Evans is the team’s leading receiver with three catches, 102 yards, and one touchdown. Puckett has caught three passes for 29 yards. Juniors Matt Arne and Robert Sturdivant have stepped in nicely for Euler and Knight to help the offensive line. Other offensive linemen that have been playing well are juniors Andy Babcock and Sean Hughes and sophomore Matt Ely.
