Banks falls to Union 20-48 for 2-8 record

Another Leopard gridiron season closed last Friday night, as Banks County ended the season 2-8 overall after falling to Union County 20-48.

While the 2009 season record will stand as the worst season, record wise, since 2006, coach Blair Armstrong was not that unpleased with the performance Banks County put forth during the season.

Throughout the season, Banks was on the short end of the stick battling injuries and illness. Armstrong was confident that many of the games might have gone into the Leopards favor if the team were at full strength.

“Other than the North Oconee game, we were in every game and had opportunities to win. I know it sounds strange but we could have just as easily been 8-2 this season.” Armstrong said, “When you look at the injuries and the circumstances … we were down to our fourth and fifth string by mid season.”

Armstrong added that the only game this season that Banks probably did not have a chance of winning was the North Oconee game, but if the Leopards were at 100 percent, it would have been a lot closer.

Banks played the top three teams in 8-AA right after another, while still missing key players.

“It has been one thing after another this year, and hopefully we have it all behind us now.”

The loss last Friday to Union County was not how Armstrong or the Leopards wanted to end the 2009 season.

“It was difficult,” said Armstrong. “We had them 14-0, and then had an onside kick and couple of other mistakes and suddenly it was like the kids were like, here it goes again, kind of thing.”

Union County overtook the Leopards and won the game 48-20 over Banks.

The Leopards wanted to end the season on a high note after a dismal season where many of the starters missed action time on the field due to injures or sickness.

“We played hard,” Armstrong said. “The biggies were that we finally got Clay Frink healthy after he missed six games being hurt and Dean Ewing was about at 90 percent healed.”

For more on the final Leopard 2009 game, see this week's The Banks County News.