By MICHAEL MURRAY
michael.murray@americustimesrecorder.com

MILLEDGEVILLE – Things have picked up for the Schley County Wildcats over the past two weeks, as the team, coming off of a long dry spell, has turned their luck around to earn a pair of blowout victories in their second and third match-ups of the 2016 season.
Most recently, on Sept. 9, the Wildcats traveled to Milledgeville to battle bitter rivals, the Military College of Georgia Bulldogs in what would turn out to be a very solid victory for the ‘Cats.
Led by Tyree Hawkins, who amassed 181 yards in the contest and broke through the goal line twice in the contest, the Wildcats improved their overall record on the season to 2-1 with the win.
The Wildcats exploded onto the field in the non-region match-up, determined to translate the momentum of the team’s previous win over Calhoun County into yet another victory.
Schley’s Reid Ragsdale opened the game’s scoring with seconds left in the first frame with a successful 32-yard field goal kick. Wildcat quarterback, Will Barry, wasted no time expanding the team’s advantage in the second stanza with a one-yard touchdown keeper three minutes into the action.
In the third and fourth quarters, Hawkins showed his chops, first taking off on a 54-yard jaunt 15 seconds into the bottom half of the match for a touchdown. Three minutes into the fourth frame, Hawkins struck again, showing the defenders his heels as he completed a 21-yard trek into the end zone for his second score of the night.
The Wildcats’ final score came halfway through the fourth quarter when running back, Clint Sellars broke through for a one-yard touchdown run as the visiting fans roared their approval. On the PAT attempt, Ragsdale missed his first kick of the night after contributing six points, leaving the ‘Cats up 30-0 until the final moments of the game.
The Bulldogs narrowly averted a shutout with 25 seconds remaining on the clock, booting a 23-yard field goal.
Hawkins set the bar high for the Wildcats, amassing 181 yards on 17 carries to accompany his pair of touchdowns. Calvin Sims followed with 41 yards on 18 totes.
Barry connected on three passes to add another 16 yards through the air, with Ragsdale on the receiving end of all three.
The Wildcats’ defense did a superb job of staving off their opponents’ attack, allowing only 232 yards, 175 of which were gained on the ground.
Dartavious Napper set the pace for the team’s defenders, stopping eight runners, including one tackle for loss. Zykievious Walker contributed three tackles in the backfield for the Wildcat cause. Walker racked up three solo tackles and seven assists in the game. Jake Hall and Demarco Cross also added sacks on four and two solo tackles, respectively. Clint Sellars assisted on nine stops and took down three opponents solo, recovering a fumble in the process. Calvin Sims broke up two pass attempts while he and Tra Sampson each snagged one interception.
The Wildcats will be returning to their home field on Sept. 16, looking to turn their string of wins into a streak as they open region play against the Hawkinsville Red Devils. The ‘Cats will be on the road for their following two matches, traveling to Dooly and Taylor Counties on Sept. 23 and Oct. 7 before coming home to Ellaville on Oct. 14 to battle Macon County.