Sports

NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- Quarterback A.J. Granger came back from a non-throwing bruised shoulder in the Homecoming game to lead the 'Cudas to victory over DeLand, 21-13, in the season finale with two running touchdowns in the second half.

And even as DeLand mounted a late rally with seconds left in the game, an interception by 'Cudas defensive back James Hill, his second of the contest, sealed playoff-bound DeLand's defeat to give New Smyrna Beach a 2-8 record for the season.

Perhaps, the DeLand coaching decision to hold out its starting quarterback and first-string runner to rest up for the playoffs was a factor. Regardless, it was the personnel on the field that counted and the 'Cudas made the most of their opportunities.

NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- With 5:52 left in the first quarter and the Cudas' scoring a field goal for a 3-0 lead in the Homecoming game against Merritt Island, things were looking up. The second half was a a different story. Turnovers. Lots of them, led to a 31-3 loss Friday night.

NSBNEWS.net photo by Sera King / New Smyrna Beach High Homecoming Queen Courtney Sempsrott poses with King Travis Kendrick.

NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- The mean snarl was replaced with a big smile when 'Cudas football nose tackle Travis Kendrick was named Homecoming King at halftime of Friday's game against Merritt Island.

Kendrick, the monstrous lineman who enjoys crushing opposing offensive linemen and running backs who try to run up the middle, drew loud cheers from the more than thousand spectators who filled the bleachers against Merritt Island.

Even though the home team lost, 31-3, the half-time show was rocking with Courtney Sempsrott joining Kendrick as Homecoming Queen.

To my readers, who expressed concern over a brief lapse in my column, the opening of the North Carolina deer season, Mother Nature beckoned to me requesting my presence there to do my duty of attempting to thin the herd. We did OK, but not as well as previous trips. The weather was a little tough for a Floridian as some mornings greeted us with layers of ice. However, as it has been said so many times before, all god things must come to an end. So it is back to business as usual.

DAYTONA BEACH -- The Ocean Center willone again play host for an NCAA men's opening season basketball tournament Nov. 21-23.

Teams from Marshall University, Morgan State University, University of Wisconsin-Green Bay, University of Utah, University of Mississippi and Rollins College will compete in the second annual three-day Glenn Wilkes Classic for the 2008-'09 season. The schedule is as follows:

Friday, Nov. 21
2 p.m. Marshall University vs. Morgan State University
4:15 p.m. Rollins College vs. University of Wisconsin-Green Bay

Part 1

NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- Barracudas sophomore running back Stephen Jackson is supposed to be the star of the future, but earlier tonight he showed why the future is now, wracking up 100 yards on the ground along with a pair of touchdowns for a 23-7 romp over district 7-4A foe Rockledge at home.

With the victory, New Smyrna Beach, now 1-5 overall, finds itself in a three-way tie in the district at 1-1 with Titusville and Seabreeze of Ormond Beach.

No Karenia brevis, the Florida red-tide organism, was detected this week in water samples collected from the Indian River Lagoon (Brevard and Indian River counties) nor were there any evidence of Karenia brevis, the Florida red tide organism, detected this week in water samples collected alongshore between Pinellas and Monroe counties. Offshore samples collected north of the Florida Keys also contained no K. brevis.