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Manny Fils

Stories by Manny

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Alex Grady and Antwonette Thomas take Citizen cross country honors

COVINGTON -- Newton's Alex Grady and Rockdale's Antwonette Thomas proved that they were the ones to beat claiming the Boys and Girls Citizen's All-Area Cross Country Runners of the Year.. Grady averaged a time of 16 minutes, 32 seconds in his 11 races aided with a pair of sub

Eastside finishes strong to win season opener

COVINGTON -- Eastside's boys basketball team was shocked by the physical play of Greene County before regrouping in the second half to win the season opener 61-48 on Tuesday.. "That's why I wanted to play them, because I knew exactly what it was going to be," Eastside head coach

Eastside girls top Green Co. in home opener

COVINGTON -- The Lady Eagles played well enough to get a 61-53 win over Green County in their home opener on Tuesday.. Eastside (2-2) led by 10 points 51-41 before the Lady Tigers tied the game with less than four minutes to play. But the Lady Eagles were able to

Lady Tigers ready to finish what they started last season

COVINGTON -- The Lady Tigers made it to the Final Four of the Class AAAA tournament before losing in the semifinal game. With three starters coming back, they are ready to take it to the next level even though it will be harder this time around.. "I can't even come

Newton comes short of advancing to second round

Special team play proved to be the difference as East Coweta eliminated Newton in the first round of the Class AAAAAA playoffs with a 25-20 win on Friday at Homer Sharp Stadium. Poor punting on Newton's part allowed the Indians (5-6) to start their drive on the Rams (6-5) two times resulting in touchdowns each time. “We knew if we couldn't find a way to get some solid kicks we were going to have a hard time,” Newton head coach Cortez Allen said.

Special teams play could be deciding factor for Newton

COVINGTON -- Newton head coach Cortez Allen is hoping that the same up-tempo offensive style that helped the Rams win the last two games of the regular season will work against East Coweta in the first round of the Class AAAAAA playoffs today at 7:30 p.m. at Homer Sharp

Eagles need perfect game against Sandy Creek

COVINGTON -- The Class AAAA playoffs could not have given the Eagles a tougher opponent as they head to Tyrone to play No. 1 AP-ranked Sandy Creek on Friday.. The Fighting Patriots (10-0) started the preseason as the No. 1 ranked team and they never lost the spot, averaging

Newton grapplers have high hopes for 2012-13 season

COVINGTON -- Newton's wrestling team is hoping to head to both Class AAAAAA state meets as area champions with 12 returners from last year's team. However, its task got harder with Rockdale and Lovejoy coming to the area.. "But my biggest worry is Rockdale. Those coaches are great; I respect

Lady Rams take the court with many new faces

COVINGTON -- Experience is one thing the Lady Rams are not going to have as they return one starting player from last year's team that made it to the playoffs. However, a new and not-as strong region may give Newton an opportunity to fine tune its team, giving it

Eastside upends No. 4 ranked Monroe Area

COVINGTON -- The Eagles proved that they are ready to take on No. 1-ranked Sandy Creek in the first round of the Class AAAA playoffs with a stunning 35-0 defeat over No. 4-ranked Monroe Area on Friday at Homer Sharp Stadium.. It was apparent that the Eagles (7-3

Eastside beats top-ranked team 35-0

The Eagles proved that they were ready to take on No. 1 ranked Sandy Creek in the first round of the Class AAAA playoffs with a stunning 35-0 defeat over No. 4 ranked Monroe Area on Friday at Homer Sharp Stadium. It was apparent that the Eagles (7-3 overall, 5-2 Region 8-AAAA) gained confidence as the game went on. Of Monroe Area's (9-1, 6-1) 13 drives, Eastside forced the punt after three plays three times, turned the ball over on downs twice, and ended the drive because of turnovers four times.

Alcovy leads all-region softball team

COVINGTON -- Four players -- almost half of the All-Region 2-AAAAAA softball first team -- came from Alcovy, plus three more were named to the second team.. Rockdale also made its mark on the all-region team, with three players making the first team and one player on

Eastside faces postseason-level foe in Monroe Area

Eastside has balancing act to make. COVINGTON -- Even though Eastside would like to beat AP Class AAAA No. 4-ranked Monroe Area tonight, finishing the season healthy is probably a bigger issue.

Rams get ready for playoffs against Morrow

Rams get ready for playoffs against Morrow. COVINGTON -- Just because Newton is headed for the Class AAAAAA playoffs and Morrow ends its season on Friday, that doesn't mean that the Mustangs are going to roll over for the Rams when the two meet at Tara Stadium.

Eagles hoping to build on last season's success

COVINGTON -- The Eastside boys 2011-12 basketball season was the first time since their 2004-05 season, where they went 16-11, that they ended with a winning record. After going 15-14 last year, head coach Gregory Freeman is hoping to improve their record by at least 10 games.. Freeman, who is

Rockdale, Newton advance to state cross country meet

LOCUST GROVE -- Rockdale's Antwontee Thomas' second-place finish in the Region 2-AAAAAA cross country championship on Saturday at Luella gave the Bulldogs the runner-up team competition with 52 points while sending them to the state meet for the first time since 2003.

Eastside cross country squads finish fifth in region meet

COVINGTON -- Both Eastside squads just missed out on heading to the Class AAAA cross country meet with a pair of fifth-place finishes in the Region 8-AAAA meet at the Williams Mill Greenspace in Flowery Branch on Wednesday.

Grady repeats as region champion

LOCUST GROVE -- Alex Grady's repeat as region champion helped the Newton boys take the runner-up spot in the Region 2-AAAAAA cross country meet on Saturday at Luella High School.

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Tigers clinch playoff berth with 17-8 win over Rockdale

COVINGTON -- Alcovy took advantage of several Rockdale miscues to clinch one of four Region 2-AAAAAA playoff spots with its 17-8 win on Friday at Homer Sharp Stadium.

Tigers clinch playoff berth with 17-8 win over Rockdale

Alcovy took advantage of several Rockdale miscues to clinch a one of four Region 2-AAAAAA playoff spots with their 17-8 win on Friday at Homer Sharp Stadium. The Bulldogs (2-7, 2-3) put the first points on the board scoring on the 68-yard pass from Zuri Minnifield to Tajee Steele four minutes into the first period. But the game belonged to the Alcovy (4-5, 3-2) defense after that.

Newton Rams defeat Luella 34-21

COVINGTON -- The Rams showed their dominance early and never let up as they secured a home game in the first round of the Class AAAAA playoffs with their 34-21 win over Luella on Thursday at Homer Sharp Stadium.. Newton (4-5 overall, 4-1 Region 2-AAAAAA) did not waste any

Playoff destination on line for winner of Rockdale-Alcovy

COVINGTON -- Playoff hopes could depend on tonight's 7:30 game at Homer Sharp Stadium between Rockdale and Alcovy.. Lovejoy, who is ranked No. 7 in Class AAAAAA by AP, has secured the Region 2-AAAAAA championship with Newton also claiming one of the three remaining spots.. "It's a huge game

Playoff home field on the line for Newton

COVINGTON -- The Luella-Newton game has always been an important game, and tonight's 7:30 game at Homer Sharp Stadium isn't any different.

Lovejoy too much for Rams in blowout

Newton came out on fire against the AP Class AAAAAA No. 9 ranked Lovejoy. But the Wildcats quickly extinguished any hopes the Rams may have had of an upset scoring seven unanswered touchdowns in their 51-6 loss on Friday at Twelve Oaks Stadium. “We came out fired up and we had the momentum with some turnovers. But (Friday night) we just got outmatched,” Newton head coach Cortez Allen said. “They were just a little bit too much for us.”

Eastside shouldn't overlook struggling Walnut Grove

COVINGTON -- After losing to Chestatee 56-57 in double overtime to start Region 8-AAAA play, Eastside has taken care of business one game at a time to go 3-1 in the region. However, it cannot afford to look past a weak Walnut Grove team when the two clash at

Alcovy win could mean playoff berth

COVINGTON -- A win by Alcovy against Druid Hills at 7:30 p.m. on Friday at Avondale Stadium puts the Tigers in the Class AAAAAA playoffs. However, a win is not going to easy despite Druid Hills' record of 0-3 in Region 2-AAAAAA play.. Of course, Alcovy head coach Kirk

Possible Region 2-AAAAAA championship on line

COVINGTON -- Newton's football team has a chance to do something it has not done since 1987 -- call themselves region champions.. Before that can happen, the Rams (3-4 overall, 3-0 Region 2-AAAAAA) have a hard task on Friday as they take on AP Class AAAAAA No. 9 ranked

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Rams get 27-6 win in rival game over Rockdale

COVINGTON -- Newton's defensive front seven proved to be too much for Rockdale's offensive line to handle as it caused problems in the Bulldogs backfield in their 27-6 win in a big Region 2-AAAAAA game on Friday at Homer Sharp Stadium.. "Everything starts with the offensive line. We didn't

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Tiger win big over Morrow

COVINGTON -- Alcovy quarterback Cornell White welcomed Alcovy alumni with a 30-13 win over Morrow for homecoming on Thursday at Homer Sharp Stadium.

Newton, Rockdale renew rivalry in region play

COVINGTON -- The rivalry between Rockdale and Newton goes back to the mid-1950s, a game which Rockdale won 20-0, but this game has more meaning than a rival match with a possible playoff berth at stake.

Alcovy comeback ties series after 3-2 win

COVINGTON -- Alcovy's softball team forced Hillgrove to come back at 5 p.m. today for a deciding third game in the second round of the Class AAAAAA playoffs. After the Lady Tigers (28-5-1) lost the first game 4-0, the team regrouped to tie the series with a 3-2 win on

Alcovy refreshed after bye for Morrow

COVINGTON -- Alcovy's bye week could not have come at a better time as it hopefully gave the offensive line and other players time to heal before starting their run for a Class AAAAAA playoff berth at 7 p.m. tonight against Morrow at Homer Sharp Stadium.

10-17 Eastside-Lumpkin Co FBH

COVINGTON -- For the second week in a row, Eastside's football team find themselves in a must-win if they hope to control their own playoff destiny as they travel to the North Georgia mountains to take on Lumpkin County at the Burial Grounds in Dahlonega.. Even though the Eagles

Lady Tigers host second round in playoffs

COVINGTON -- Whoever plays the best defense between Alcovy and Hillgrove will more than likely advance to the third round of the Class AAAAAA softball playoffs in Columbus.. The first game of the doubleheader starts at 4 p.m. today with the second game starting 30 minutes after the first game

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Williams Alabama bound

COVINGTON -- Ashley Williams can be considered a basketball phenom. The Alcovy senior went from playing organized basketball for the first time in eighth grade to becoming Alabama's newest recruit five years later.. "When I came out of eighth grade I didn't think I was that good. I've grown so

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Longhorns give Eastside a scare as Eagles win 20-14

COVINGTON -- Eastside's football team narrowly escaped as they almost gave up a 20-point margin at Homer Sharp Stadium on Friday. However, the were able to hold off Lanier for the 20-14 win.. "We're lucky to come out of it. We played great the first half. I thought our

Eagles ready for Lanier after bye week

COVINGTON — The Eagles are not taking Lanier’s youthfulness as a weakness as they prepare for an important Region 8-AAAA game at 7:30 tonight at Homer Sharp Stadium.

Newton looking to go 2-0 in region

COVINGTON -- Coming off its first win of the season, Newton's football team is ready to make it 2-0 in Region 2-AAAAAA play as it travels to Adams Stadium to take on Druid Hills at 7:30 p.m. Friday.

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Alcovy scores 39 runs in sweep over Westlake

COVINGTON -- Alcovy made quick work of the Lady Lions in the first round of the Class AAAAAA softball tournament, winning both games by double digits and mercy ruling Westlake on Wednesday.. The Lady Tigers (27-4-1), who are ranked third in Class AAAAAA by GACA/PrepCountry.com, won the first game

Four local teams take next step in softball season

COVINGTON -- Hosting a state playoff on their home fields is a new thing for Rockdale and Alcovy, which both play in Class AAAAAA along with Newton, which will be on the road against No. 4-ranked East Coweta, while Heritage, which last hosted in 2010, will host a playoff game in the Class AAAAA tournament.

Bye week does not mean an off week for Alcovy football

COVINGTON -- Aside from giving those nagging injuries and bruises time to heal, Alcovy's football team has a lot of work to do during its bye week before worrying about the final four games of the season.. "Being an off week, we're going to work on ourselves a little bit

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Rams get first win of season in region match

COVINGTON -- Kemani Pittman helped get the job done on offense with Robbie Wallace doing it on defense as the Rams won their first game of the season besting Alcovy 14-7 in a Region 2-AAAAAA match-up on Friday at Homer Sharp Stadium.

County championship on the line

COVINGTON -- Tonight's 7:30 county-rival game at Homer Sharp Stadium between Newton and Alcovy have different meanings for each team even though they each want to same final result...a win.. A win by Alcovy (2-3 overall, 1-0 in Region 2-AAAAAA) means another county championship, having won the

Eastside hopes for rest, focus in its bye week

COVINGTON -- After struggling in one or two aspects of its game for two weeks where Eastside's football team went 0-2, including a 57-56 double overtime Region 8-AAAA loss to Chestatee, they turned it around, beating Madison County 42-14.

Tigers defense stops Luella in overtime for 24-21 win

COVINGTON -- Alcovy's Alyx Wilson had the biggest interception of the season so far ending Luella's scoring threat in overtime giving the Tigers a 24-21 win on Friday at Homer Sharp Stadium.. After hitting the right upright on his 45-yard field goal attempt in the final four minutes of

Penalties lead to Newton downfall in 10-0 loss

COVINGTON -- Once again Newton was its own worst enemy as penalties stopped the Rams more than the Langston Hughes defense did in a 10-0 loss on Thursday at Homer Sharp Stadium. Not including penalties that were declined or offsetting, the Rams were penalized 13 times for 120 yards.

Running game key as Tigers face Lions to start region play

COVINGTON -- Establishing a strong running game is going to be key as Alcovy begins its real season against Region 2-AAAAAA opponent Luella at 7:30 tonight at Homer Sharp Stadium, putting a 1-3 non-region start behind it.. "What we have to do is be able to run the

Season ends for Lady Eagles with 1-0 in region tournament

SUGAR HILL -- Eastside's softball team gave it all it had and left it all on the field in the deciding game against Lanier on Wednesday. Unfortunately it wasn't enough as the Lady Eagles were eliminated from the Region 8-AAAA playoffs with a 1-0 loss.

Newton hopes streamlined offense ends turnovers

COVINGTON -- Newton's offense is going through a minor reconstruction in hopes that an easier scheme will prevent it from turning the ball over so often when it plays Langston Hughes today at Homer Sharp Stadium.

Eastside splits with Lanier in Region 8-AAAA

Deciding game at 5:55 p.m. at Lanier

After losing 5-0 to the Lady Longhorns in the first game, Eastside's Reese Rogers took care of things in the circle to give the Lady Eagles a close 2-1 decision forcing a third game tonight at 5:55 at Lanier High School.