PREPS: Class City Championship

I shot the big Athens rivalry game between the Clarke Central Gladiators and the Cedar Shoals Jaguars Friday night in what is coined the Classic City Championship. It rained for the majority of the 3 hours I was on the sidelines. Rain just strips all of the fun out of shooting for me. I was not the only soggy and miserable person leaving that field as this was the second straight year for the Jaguars to fall in the big game. It was a low scoring affair with the Gladiators quarterback Martay Mattox (interestingly enough a transfer from Cedar Shoals) scoring both the Gladiators' touchdowns giving his new team the 14-7 victory.


Cedar Shoals Jaguars warm-up before facing Clarke Central in the Classic City Championship.


A Georgia Army National Guard UH-60 Blackhawk helicopter flies over Billy Henderson Stadium.


A Georgia Army National Guard UH-60 Blackhawk helicopter lands at on the 50-yard line at Billy Henderson Stadium before the Classic City Championship game between Clarke Central and Cedar Shoals. The Chopper dropped off Iraq veteran Daniel Gade, honorary captain to do the coin toss for Clarke Central-Cedar Shoals game, as part of program to raise awareness for "Wounded Warrior Project" that helps injured servicemen and women.


Iraq veteran Daniel Gade delivers the game ball for the Classic City Championship via Georgia Army National Guard UH-60 Blackhawk helicopter Friday night at Billy Henderson Stadium.


The Captains of the Cedar Shoals Jaguars, left, and Clarke Central Gladiators meet midfield for the coin toss before the Classic City Championship.


A referee holds up the coin after Iraq veteran Daniel Gade, an honorary captain did the coin toss before the Classic City Championship Friday night at Billy Henderson Stadium.


Clarke Central fans watch the Gladiators beat Cedar Shoals 14-7 during a rainy Classic City Championship.


Cedar Shoals QB Shaquille Gatlin


Clarke Central QB Martay Mattox is sacked by Cedar Shoals' Gwendale Harris in the first quarter of the Gladiators' 14-7 victory over the Jaguars Friday Oct. 23, 2009, in the Classic City Championship.


Clarke Central QB Martay Mattox breaks through the middle for a first half touchdown in the Gladiators' 14-7 victory over the Cedar Shoals Jaguars Friday Oct. 23, 2009, in the Classic City Championship.


Cedar Shoals QB Shaquille Gatlin is brought down by Clarke Central's Ty Simmons in the first half of the Gladiators' 14-7 victory over the Jaguars Friday Oct. 23, 2009, in the Classic City Championship.


Cedar Shoals's Tracy Stephens is brought down in the 3rd quarter of the Gladiators' 14-7 victory over the Jaguars Friday Oct. 23, 2009, in the Classic City Championship.


Clarke Central QB Martay Mattox breaks a tackle to pass down field in the Gladiators' 14-7 victory over the Cedar Shoals Jaguars Friday Oct. 23, 2009, in the Classic City Championship.


Cedar Shoals Cheerleaders cheer on the Jaguars in the second half.


The Clarke Central Gladiators head back to the field as the halftime show performed by the Gladiators Marching Band ends Friday during the Classic City Championship.


Clarke Central Dimitri Holmes runs the ball in the 4th quarter of the Gladiators' 14-7 victory over the Cedar Shoals Jaguars Friday Oct. 23, 2009, in the Classic City Championship.


Clarke Central QB Martay Mattox bursts into the endzone with Cedar Shoals' Hagen Huggs in tow as the Gladiators' deafeat the Jaguars 14-7 Friday Oct. 23, 2009, in the Classic City Championship.


Clarke Central's Devante Appleby celebrates Martay Mattox's touchdown in the second half of the Gladiators' 14-7 victory over the Jaguars Friday Oct. 23, 2009, in the Classic City Championship.


Cedar Shoals defenders celebrate after recovering a Clarke Central fumble in the 3rd quarter.


Cedar Shoals' James Gordon breaks a tackle as he runs the ball in the 3rd quarter.


Clarke Central's Ty Simmons, left, and Devante Derricotte celebrate stopping the Cedar Shoals offense in the Gladiators' 14-7 victory over the Jaguars Friday Oct. 23, 2009, in the Classic City Championship.


Clarke Central Dimitri Holmes runs the ball in the 4th quarter of the Gladiators' 14-7 victory over the Cedar Shoals Jaguars Friday Oct. 23, 2009, in the Classic City Championship.


Clarke Central's Kadeem Combs, left and Derrick Smalls dance after the Gladiators' 14-7 victory over the Cedar Shoals Jaguars Friday Oct. 23, 2009, in the Classic City Championship.