Your local online daily newspaper where community journalism counts

Henry Frederick
henryfrederick@nsbnews.net
Henry Frederick, Editor/Publisher of NSBNews.net
View Henry's Blog Archives here View full user profile here

NSBNEWS.net photos by Henry Frederick. At far left, 'Cudas quarterback A.J. Granger, who ran for a score, is all smiles after a 21-14 win at home tonight over the Palm Bay Pirates of Melbourne. Offensive/defensive tackle Grady Kerr and Principal Carol Kelley are ecstatic with the big win.

NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- 'Cudas quarterback A.J. Granger had his own version of the Wildcat offense in the 'Cudas 21-14 victory tonight over Palm Bay: The easpecially boisterous home crowd.

"We've been waiting four years for this kind of excitement," the senior signal caller said with a big smile.

Some players smiled and cheered. Others cried tears of joy.

Senior offensive tackle/defensive tackle Grady Kerr, 18, was among the happy-faced players as he posed for the media with New Smyrna Beach HighSchool Principal Carol Kelley, who congratulated the players on their victory.

"Oh, huge win," Kerr said, sweat dripping from his face. "So overdue. It was a great win all the way around."

Granger got the scoring going for the 'Cudas early in the second quarter with a 5-yard scamper into the end zone, capping a 96-yard drive over 15 plays, with kicker Steve Carraher's point-after kick that put the 'Cudas up 7-0.

Even the 'Cudas defense turned into instant offense when senior linebacker Zack Enamait intercepted a pass for a 7-yard touchdown a little more than 3 minutes to go in the third quarter. 'Cudas running back Stephen Jackson barrelled his way into the end zone on a 7-yard run of his own to make the score 21-7 with just over 5 minutes left in the game. But Palm Bay answered back less than a minute later when Nuel Merriel grabbed a passed that was tipped in his direction by not one, but two 'Cudas defenders for a 45-yard touchdown to make the score 21-14.

Jackson wracked up 102 yards on the ground and Granger wasn't far behind with 82 yards of his own.

Granger was 2 for 5 in passing for a mere 20 yards in a game that was dominated by the running attack of Jackson, with a team total of 230 yards on 40 carries.

With the win against Palm Bay, a district foe, the 'Cudas have a legitimate shot at winning their district and their win total for the season stands at three, which equals the squad's victories for the past two seasons combined.

Tonight's win also marked the first time NSB has defeated Palm Bay.

Coach Rocky Yocam said his players "worked hard" and the end result spoke volumes.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Candidates debate videos:

If you missed the third and final candidates debate at the Brannon Center or want to see it again, check out our extensive and exclusive video coverage. This is your last chance to see the candidates together in one setting before Early Voting starts Monday.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- NSBNEWS.net endorsements:

# Peter Mallory announces NSBNEWS.net's endorsed candidate for Zone 1 City Commission between incumbent Randy Richenberg and Primary winner Judy Reiker.

# Before the weekend is up, Mallory will announce NSBNEWS.net's endorsed candidate for mayor between incumbent Sally Mackay and Primary winner Adam Barringer.

# Share your views on our endorsements in our Speak Up reader's forum near the top of the home page. Remember, no personal attacks. All postings will be reviewed by NSBNEWS.net before they are posted publicly.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Check out our other blogs and stories posted on NSBNEWS.net:

# NSB firefighters rescue feline trapped 40 feet high in a tree in our exclusive video Friday night.

# Blogger Joe Glasse opines on Barack Obama's Nobel Prize.

# NSB's own Richard Lester and his son, Gary, gear up for a Saturday night 'paranormal' extravaganza at the Museum of Arts and Sciences.

# The jury in the capital murder trial finds Tomoka lifer Enoch Hall guilty in the murder of corrections guard Donna Fitzgerald.

# 75-year-old DeLeon Springs man tied up and robbed of his safe by two armed intruders.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

What we're working on:

# Mayor's race takes a nasty turn with "anonymous" supporter for Mayor Sally Mackay bashing her opponent, Adam Barringer, in a series of e-mail postings. We'll have reaction from both camps.

# Could this be NSB's Watergate? The City Commission voted to cut $14,000 from the budget for water and coffee for its 240-plus employees in the new fiscal year that began Oct. 1, yet the elected officials have sparkling cold bottled water for themselves. We'll have a report in our "Making the Grade" segment.

# We are continuing to develop our In-Depth Report: "Show Me The Money," in which we break down the salaries of the city's 247 employees. Some salaries have doubled and even tripled in just seven years.

# NSB Police Cmdr. William Drossman recalls the dedicated service of a K-9 unit killed in a traffic accident.

# Check out our revised rotating headline reports in U.S./World news, Hollywood Gossip and Sports Wire.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

LOWEST AD RATES

# Advertising is welcomed and appreciated to keep greater New Smyrna Beach's only daily on-line newspaper going. We recognize that with the recession, advertising dollars are limited, which is why we have the lowest rates of all media outlets serving this community and a powerful following in the community as demonstrated by the "hits" in excess of 1,200 daily on NSBNEWS.net, your around the clock Internet source "where journalism lives."

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ PAID POLITICAL ADS

Here are ads from the candidates running in the Nov. 3 general elections.

Newsletter

Breaking News

'Cudas defeat Palm Bay, 21-14, before boisterous home crowd

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Candidates debate videos:

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- NSBNEWS.net endorsements: