High School Football Rule Book

Locals can compete with top pro bowlers before Spring Hill Open

Pro bowlers will be returning to Spring Hill Lanes later this month for the 23rd annual Spring Hill Open.

A stop on the Professional Bowlers Association Southern Region Tour, the tournament, which takes place July 29-31, is the only regular professional event in Hernando County. In years past, it has featured some of the best bowlers in the sport, including Walter Ray Williams Jr., Jason Couch and Patrick Allen.

To start the weekend on July 29, local bowlers can compete alongside the pros in the 9-pin No-Tap Pro-Am.

For an entry fee of $17 for junior bowlers (youth league competitors), $25 for senior bowlers (age 55 or older) or $30 for all others, amateurs can bowl on the same lanes with three professionals. Winners will receive trophies, scholarships or cash prizes.

Starting July 30, about 125 of the tour's best will battle for the championship. The finals should start about 2 p.m. July 31. Last season, St. Petersburg native and Tallahassee resident Richard Langton won the tournament for the first time, and he is expected to return to defend his crown.

For information, call Spring Hill Lanes at (352) 683-7272.

FLAG FOOTBALL TOURNAMENT: The Hernando County Recreation Department is hosting the first Clint Hart Celebrity Air-It-Out Flag Football Tournament Saturday at Veterans Memorial Park in Spring Hill.

The games will start at 8 a.m. and run until 9 p.m. The cost is $200 per team, and all teams are guaranteed five games. Pool play and double-elimination will determine which team is crowned champion.

There will be an all-star game at 6 p.m. featuring former NFL safety Clinton Hart, former NFL wide receiver Ernest Givens, former Florida wide receiver John Capel and others. Participants must register by today.

For information, call Harry Johnson at (352) 540-6356.

ACE PERFORMANCE TENNIS: Ace Performance Tennis is hosting two events this summer.

QuickStart Drills will be offered from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Mondays at Delta Woods Park in Spring Hill. The cost is $10 per class. There will be drills and games designed for beginning players, using U.S. Tennis Association-approved strategies for 60-foot court players. Participants will learn to play tennis quickly with age- and size-appropriate equipment and modified courts.

Ladies Night Out will be offered from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Mondays at Delta Woods Park. The cost is $10 per class. Women of beginning and intermediate skill levels will learn to play in a social setting.

Football player points to heaven, team penalized - KLTV 7 News ...

By  Stephanie Springer  - bio | email

Fitzgerald, GA (WALB) - A simple gesture made at a high school football game is causing a whole lot of commotion in a small town.  The Fitzgerald Purple Hurricanes football team was penalized when a team member pointed to the sky and gave thanks to God.

Video shows how R. J. Davis reacted after he caught a touchdown pass at Friday night's football game.

"When I caught the ball I pointed my finger to give God thanks and allowing him to let me be open in the first place," said Davis.

But the gesture cost the entire team a 15-yard penalty, and some folks aren't happy.

"The reaction I had was really just non-belief because it was so brief gesture and it didn't serve anyone except for R. J. he did it because of his beliefs,"said Fitzgerald resident Walt Gordon.

According the High school football rule book, the rules state that no player should act in any delayed excessive or prolonged way in which a player attempts to focus attention on himself.

" I think that's the way that referee took it as he was bringing attention to himself but me knowing R. J. and coaching him that was not the case," said head football coach Robby Pruitt.

Coaches and fans say R. J. is very religious, and this gesture was nothing new.

"He's knelt down, he's pointed to the sky before this was kind of out of character for them to call a penalty on this,"said Gordon.

Now R. J.'s gesture is causing a whole lot of buzz in the community. Social networking sites, and football chat rooms are flooded with conversation about the 17-year old senior's move. Some folks even made T-shirts to wear during the next game.

"I wasn't jumping I wasn't hollering I just pointed my finger up and gave the ref the ball," said Davis. 

But penalty or not, R. J. says he'd do it again in a heartbeat. "I believe God deserves the thanks for all he does on the football field."

R. J. hopes if others see he is willing to stand up for his beliefs, maybe they will too.

More than 100 people are expected to buy the T-shirts and wear them to the next football game.

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