Sports

Players on the OCMS football team line up against each other at practice on Thursday, Sept. 5. The team has a record of 5-0 this season. (Audrey Pfitzner/The Oglethorpe Echo)

Players on the OCMS football team line up against each other at practice on Thursday, Sept. 5. The team has a record of 5-0 this season. (Audrey Pfitzner/The Oglethorpe Echo)

OCMS football on a roll with 5-0 start

Audrey Pfitzner
Wednesday, September 11, 2024
 The Oglethorpe County Middle School football team is on a win streak, one more than a decade in the making. Before head coach Steve Irwin moved from Oglethorpe County High School to OCMS, the middle school team hadn’t won a game in three years. They hadn’t had an undefeated season since 2012.
OCHS football announcer and Mt. Pleasant Community Church Pastor Levi Taylor calls the game between Oglethorpe County and Washington-Wilkes on Aug. 30. Taylor has been the PA announcer for the football program for eight years. (Saylor Williams/The Oglethorpe Echo)

OCHS football announcer and Mt. Pleasant Community Church Pastor Levi Taylor calls the game between Oglethorpe County and Washington-Wilkes on Aug. 30. Taylor has been the PA announcer for the football program for eight years. (Saylor Williams/The Oglethorpe Echo)

Taylor finds his voice behind the microphone

Saylor Williams
Thursday, September 5, 2024
 Oglethorpe County Superintendent Beverley Levine never forgot the moment a young Levi Taylor expressed his desire to be the next Larry Munson.  Years later, the Oglethorpe County Patriots found themselves in need of a football announcer.
Oglethorpe County defenders wrap up a Washington-Wilkes runner during the Tigers’ 20-17 victory over the Patriots. The Tigers won on a last-second field goal attempt.

Oglethorpe County defenders wrap up a Washington-Wilkes runner during the Tigers’ 20-17 victory over the Patriots. The Tigers won on a last-second field goal attempt.

Prep Roundup: Last-second field goal drops Patriots to 0-3

News Staff
Wednesday, September 4, 2024
  Washington-Wilkes kicked a 24-yard field goal on the last play of the game to defeat Oglethorpe County 20-17 at Patriot Stadium Friday night. The Patriots, who led 17-10 with 5:43 remaining in the game, fell to 0-3 heading into a game at Laney in Augusta at 7:30 p.m. Friday.
Oglethorpe County’s Justin Jackson (5) tries to stop East Hall quarterback Jamarcus Harrison (1) in the Vikings’ 40-7 win over the Patriots last Friday in Gainesville. Harrison threw for 202 yards and three touchdowns. (AMANDA LOGGINS/THE GAINESVILLE TIMES)

Oglethorpe County’s Justin Jackson (5) tries to stop East Hall quarterback Jamarcus Harrison (1) in the Vikings’ 40-7 win over the Patriots last Friday in Gainesville. Harrison threw for 202 yards and three touchdowns. (AMANDA LOGGINS/THE GAINESVILLE TIMES)

Prep Roundup: OCHS hosts Wilkes in search of first win

News Staff
Thursday, August 29, 2024
Staff ReportThe Oglethorpe County football team looks for its first victory of the season when it hosts Washington-Wilkes at 7:30 p.m. Friday.The Patriots are 0-2 after a 40-7 loss at East Hall on Aug. 23. Washington-Wilkes is also 0-2, with losses to Harlem and Hephzibah.
Head coach Jessica Ward checks the time as the first runner, freshman Dylan Minthorn, returns from his run at practice on Thursday, Aug. 22, 2024. The team rotates practice routes during the season to gain experience on different surfaces and with differing millage. (Audrey Pfitzner/The Oglethorpe Echo)

Head coach Jessica Ward checks the time as the first runner, freshman Dylan Minthorn, returns from his run at practice on Thursday, Aug. 22, 2024. The team rotates practice routes during the season to gain experience on different surfaces and with differing millage. (Audrey Pfitzner/The Oglethorpe Echo)

Ward goes through her paces during first meet

Audrey Pfitzner
Wednesday, August 28, 2024
New Oglethorpe County cross country coach Jessica Ward got caught up in the noise and excitement of her first meet. More than 218 athletes from nine schools raced for 3,000 meters on Aug. 20, and Ward soaked up every second. “I just ran around,” she said.
Darius Heard was one of Oglethorpe County’s top players in the opener. He rushed for 111 yards and three TDs on 19 carries and completed all four of his passing attempts for 40 yards. (Sarah Coyne/The Oglethorpe Echo)

Darius Heard was one of Oglethorpe County’s top players in the opener. He rushed for 111 yards and three TDs on 19 carries and completed all four of his passing attempts for 40 yards. (Sarah Coyne/The Oglethorpe Echo)

Patriots drop opener to Social Circle 48-41

Echo Staff
Wednesday, August 21, 2024
Darius Heard rushed for three touchdowns and Jordan Johnson returned two kickoffs for touchdowns, but Oglethorpe County dropped a 48-41 season-opening decision to Social Circle last Friday night.
Sophomore quarterback Hunter Hall launches a pass during Friday’s scrimmage loss to Lincoln County. Hall threw a touchdown pass to Darius Heard in the game. (Torin Smith/The Oglethorpe Echo)

Sophomore quarterback Hunter Hall launches a pass during Friday’s scrimmage loss to Lincoln County. Hall threw a touchdown pass to Darius Heard in the game. (Torin Smith/The Oglethorpe Echo)

Pats ready to get season underway

Torin Smith
Wednesday, August 14, 2024
Oglethorpe County is gearing up for its season opener against Social Circle at 7:30 p.m. Friday. “It’s a big game, a rematch, and they beat us three years in a row since I’ve been here,” senior receiver/defensive back Darius Heard said. “We’ve gotta get that get-back.
Photos of the members of the Oglethorpe County High School Sports Hall of Fame committee are displayed along a wall in the entry hall at OCHS. Eight more former athletes and coaches will be inducted this fall. (Torin Smith/The Oglethorpe Echo)

Photos of the members of the Oglethorpe County High School Sports Hall of Fame committee are displayed along a wall in the entry hall at OCHS. Eight more former athletes and coaches will be inducted this fall. (Torin Smith/The Oglethorpe Echo)

Eight to be inducted in OCHS Sports Hall of Fame

Echo Staff
Wednesday, August 7, 2024
Eight former Oglethorpe County High School athletes and coaches will be inducted in the school’s sports hall of fame on Saturday, Oct 26. The year’s group includes Harold Benson, Nicole Bonner-Grant, George Gresham, Michael Goolsby, James Haynie, Craig Mathews, Nichole Raines and Latange Wise.
O’Maury Huggs runs for a first down in the spring game against East Jackson. Huggs will be part of a tandem of running backs that will include Jordan Johnson and Payton Prince for OCHS this fall. (Torin Smith/The Oglethorpe Echo)

O’Maury Huggs runs for a first down in the spring game against East Jackson. Huggs will be part of a tandem of running backs that will include Jordan Johnson and Payton Prince for OCHS this fall. (Torin Smith/The Oglethorpe Echo)

Patriots plan to fill running back by committee

Jack Keys
Wednesday, August 7, 2024
Oglethorpe County must replace one of its most decorated running backs in program history this season.  Jake Turner’s 1,318 rushing yards in 2023 set an OCHS single-season record and earned him the title of Region 5-A Division 1 Offensive Player of the Year.
Oglethorpe County Sydnie Henderson rounds a bend on her way to winning the girls region title with a time of 20:07 at Social Circle last fall. She returns for her senior season to lead a deep girls team. (Cassidy Hettesheimer/The Oglethorpe Echo)

Oglethorpe County Sydnie Henderson rounds a bend on her way to winning the girls region title with a time of 20:07 at Social Circle last fall. She returns for her senior season to lead a deep girls team. (Cassidy Hettesheimer/The Oglethorpe Echo)

Henderson leads deep group of girls runners

Jack Keys
Wednesday, July 31, 2024
Runners are acclimating to new leadership as Oglethorpe County cross country prepares for its upcoming season.  Jessica Ward will direct the program after previous head coach Melissa McGarity stepped down.