Evans High School year in review
Each week during the summer, The Columbia County News-Times will highlight a different high school with its five biggest stories from the previous school year.
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This week's focus is on Evans High School.
The Knights' year will be remembered for their success on the football field. Coach Marty Jackson's team finished at 9-3, the most wins for the school in more than a decade. The Knights opened 6-0 and finished as the No. 2 seed in Region 3-AAAA.
The Knights season ended in the second round of the Class AAAA state playoffs, but they were not done making headlines.
Eight players from last season's team will play football at the next level starting in the fall.
Receiver Jonathan Nicely will play at North Carolina Central. Cornerback Trey Henderson signed with Coastal Carolina University. Linebacker Ben Rouse will play for Chowan University. Offensive lineman Michael Heredia received a scholarship to Gardner-Webb University. And Kevin Millward will join Georgia Southern's squad as a preferred walk-on.
The defensive line is where Jackson will find the most holes.
Tim Tillman (Alabama A&M), Mykel Green (Morehouse College) and Trey Golston (Butler Community College) will all continue their football careers after Evans.
Three of the Knights girls soccer players received scholarships to play in college. Tarah Henderson will play at Mississippi State, Emily Belchyk will play at Brevard and Alyx Shultz is headed to Cumberland University.
The Knights boys soccer team reached the second round of the Class AAAA state playoffs.
Evans baseball earned a state playoff berth, and catcher Brandon Dominy received a scholarship to play for Paine College next year.
Here is a look back at the five biggest stories from the Knights' year.
Evans has best season despite loss
By Billy Byler
Nov. 30, 2007
Football season finally came to an end for the Evans Knights in a 26-0 loss to Northside in the second round of the state playoffs last weekend.
Northside is the defending Class AAAA state champion, from Warner Robins. It capitalized off four Evans turnovers to score three touchdowns and a pair of field goals to keep its record intact at 12-0.
The Knights' loss brought tears to the eyes of players, coaches and fans. It marked the end of Evans' best football season since 1995.
"This is my 20th year as head football coach, and I've never had a team I'm more proud of," Evans football coach Marty Jackson said. "I told them it is an honor to have coached them and to have given them ownership of the team."
Evans finished the season 9-3. That's the most wins in a season in 12 years, and more than the past two seasons combined.
Evans coach, players honored
By Stephen Fastenau
Jan. 30, 2007
When the roast chicken disappeared and the last crumbs of chocolate cake were gone at Thursday's 2007 All Area Football Teams banquet, Columbia County's schools were well-represented during the awards ceremony that followed.
Most notable among Columbia County's award-winners was Evans coach Marty Jackson, who was honored as Georgia Coach of the Year at the banquet, sponsored by The Augusta Chronicle and News Channel 6, WJBF TV.
Jackson's Knights finished 9-3 during the 2007 season, a five-win improvement over the year before. Jackson wasn't alone in carrying home the hardware for Evans. Three Knights seniors were named to the Georgia first team: defensive lineman Trey Golston, defensive back Trey Henderson and punter Kevin Millward.
"I'm real proud," Jackson said. "It's a good night for Evans."
Athletes sign with colleges
By Stephen Fastenau
Feb. 10, 2008
When given the chance ..., the Evans High center, who signed with Gardner-Webb University, had plenty to say.
"It probably ranks as one of the best moments of my life right here, knowing that I'm playing football at least four more years," Heredia said. "I love football. If I could, I'd spend the rest of my life playing football. So I'm pretty ecstatic about this. I'm speechless."
Heredia was one of four Knights who signed letters of intent on National Signing Day. One more, receiver Jonathan Nicely, is considering an offer from North Carolina Central University and will visit today.
Athlete Spotlight: Emily Belchyk and Tarah Henderson
By Stephen Fastenau
April 9, 2008
In response to the Evans soccer player's scoring slump, her mom agreed to buy her a pair of shoes for every pair of goals she scored.
For Belchyk, who recently signed a scholarship to play for Brevard (N.C.) College, the ploy worked.
"She bribed me back into scoring," Belchyk said.
Belchyk's teammate Tarah Henderson signed at the same time to play for Mississippi State University.
Dominy signs with Paine
By Stephen Fastenau
May 11, 2008
Brandon Dominy's signing party was hidden away in a corner, behind some cafeteria tables folded up and stowed to the side. A baby shower occupied the Evans High School media center where athletes typically sign.
But the Knights catcher still managed to draw a large crowd as he celebrated his athletic and academic scholarships at Augusta's Paine College, where he will play baseball next season.
The open atmosphere allowed more than a few non-baseball players to slip in, but Dominy welcomed them all.
"He's not going to meet anybody he can't get along with," Knights coach Ricky Beale said.
Dominy received a presidential scholarship worth $18,000, along with an athletic scholarship for baseball.
He led the Knights at the plate this season, batting better than .400 heading into Friday's first-round state playoff meeting at Lee County. He's also been a fixture behind the plate, where he positioned himself one day as a young travel ball player and never moved.