The following is an excerpt from the July 21 edition of the Georgia High School Football Daily, an e-mail newsletter compiled by longtime Georgia high school football writers Todd Holcomb and Chip Saye:
Region Preview: 3-AA:
What it is: Region 3-AA consists of 11 southeastern Georgia teams in the triangle of Macon to Augusta to Savannah. Teams play no non-region opponents, so the strength of the region isn’t known until the playoffs.
Defending champion: Dublin
Best player: QB/DB Barry Bostic, Jefferson County
2008 STANDINGS
(Final 2008 Atlanta Journal-Constitution ranking included)
#7 Dublin (11-2, 9-1)
Jefferson County (9-3, 8-2)
Toombs County (9-4, 7-3)
Laney (7-4, 7-3)
Screven County (6-4, 6-4)
East Laurens (5-5, 5-5)
Swainsboro (5-5, 5-5)
Vidalia (4-6, 4-6)
Dodge County (2-8, 2-8)
Bleckley County (1-9, 1-9)
Southeast Bulloch (1-9, 1-9)
2009 PREDICTIONS
(Offensive/defensive starters returning)
Jefferson County (9/6)
Swainsboro (4/3)
Toombs County (6/4)
Dublin (2/2)
Screven County (4/6)
Vidalia (8/5)
Laney (1/4)
Dodge County (6/6)
East Laurens (4/4)
Southeast Bulloch (4/7)
Bleckley County (4/5)
TEAM BY TEAM
Bleckley County Royals
2008 record: 1-9, 1-9 (11th in region)
Average record this decade: 3-7
Coach: Sam Barrs (18-25 in four seasons)
Offense: Spread (coordinator Ted Belflower)
Defense: 4-3 (coordinator Brad Davis)
Returning starters: 4 on offense, 5 on defense
Best player: RB Roy Veal
Other top players: LB Jordan Purdue, DL Luke Darcy, OL BJ Long
Key losses: None
Outlook: Sam Barrs has coached at three schools and led each to the state quarterfinals, including Bleckley County. So 2008′s 1-9 finish was tough to take. With more starters lost than returning, a quick fix is not expected. The Royals can put hope in RB Roy Veal, who battled an ankle sprain but managed to rush for 1,008 yards. But don’t expect too much because Bleckley was not within 21 points of winning in any of its nine losses.
Dodge County Indians
2008 record: 2-8, 2-8 (ninth in region)
Average record this decade: 6-5
Coach: Lee Campbell (2-8 in one season)
Offense: I (coordinator: Adam Turner)
Defense: 4-3 (coordinator: Ray Hardin)
Starters returning: 6 on offense, 6 on defense
Best player: RB/LB Cyprin Burse
Other top players: TB/CB Laquan Hogue, TE/DE Leonard Floyd
Key losses: WR/DB Scotty Whitten
Outlook: With multiple injuries in head coach Lee Campbell’s first season with the Indians, it wasn’t quite the year Dodge County had hoped for in 2008. Campbell arrived with 2003 and 2004 state championships at Hawkinsville on his resume. This season, the Indians aim to stay healthy and keep their starters and backup players healthy and ready to go. Dodge has a special young player in sophomore TE/DE Leonard Floyd (started as a freshman, team’s MVP on defensive line). The Indians plan on moving people around to new positions. That includes RB Cyprin Burse (the team’s second-leading rusher and leader in passing) to running back exclusively on offense and linebacker on defense. RB/CB Laquan Hogue (700 yards rushing) will go to receiver. “Tough region from top to bottom,” Campbell said. “We had a lot of injuries last year. We have got to stay healthy to compete in this region.”
Dublin Fighting Irish
2008 record: 11-2, 9-1 (region champion)
Playoffs: Lost to Buford 44-10 in the quarterfinals
Average record this decade: 9-4
Coach: Roger Holmes (eighth Season, 74-18-1)
Offense: Wing-T (coordinator: Brad Harbor)
Defense: 4-3 (coordinator: Don Vandygriff)
Starters returning: 2 on offense, 2 on defense
Best player: DL Emanuel Gilmore
Other top players: TE/DE Tawaski King, RB Josh Jordan, DE Demartiz Johnson, OL/RB Nick Glenn
Key losses: P/K Briceton Canada, QB/S Rashard Smith (N.C. State), DE Jack Whittle (Georgia Southern), DB/RB Dontrey (New Mexico Junior Military College), WR Chris Smith (Mercer for basketball), DB/RB Michael Coffey (Georgia Southwestern for baseball)
Outlook: The four-time defending region champions will be rebuilding with the loss of nine players on offense and defense. Many of those started on both sides of the ball. Dublin’s biggest loss is the 2008 offensive and defensive Region 2-AA player of the year, Rashard Smith. The Irish also lost good athletes in all-state P/K Briceton Canada, WR Chris Smith and Michael Coffey. Some of the top seniors on the team include DL Emanuel Gilmore, TE/DE Tawaski King and RB Josh Jordan, who ran for more than 700 yards last season. Making up the top players in the junior class are DE Demartiz Johnson and OL/RB Nick Glenn. Defense is the team’s strength. Dublin’s streak of five seasons with at least 10 victories is threatened.
East Laurens Falcons
2008 record: 5-5, 5-5 (sixth in region)
Average record this decade: 5-6
Coach: Vic Thigpen (13-27-1 in four seasons)
Offense: Multiple I (co-coordinators: Randy Grace, Whitney Alligood)
Defense: 50 (co-coordinators: Shaun Pope, Terry Smith)
Starters returning: 4 on offense, 4 on defense
Best player: DB Chris Hudson
Other top players: DT Hakeem Cannon, LB C.J. Mitchell, OL Colby Morris, OL Brian Fountain
Key losses: RB Terrance Lewis (Tennessee State), WR Chris Cephus (Samford), WR Krys Thomas (Fort Valley State)
Outlook: A couple of early season losses (22-21 to quarterfinalist Toombs County and 14-7 to Vidalia) upended what could’ve been a second straight playoff season for East Laurens, which has improved steadily under Vic Thigpen. This season, only eight starters are back, and virtually all of the ball carriers, catchers and throwers are gone, including huge RB Terrance Lewis to Tennessee Tech. Lewis rushed for 1,463 yards and was a big force on defense at end, making 36 tackles, 13 of them for losses. Also gone is WR/QB/DB Chris Cephus (33 receptions). The lines of scrimmage should be among the region’s best. Expect two-way player Chris Hudson to be the leading rusher. A concern is quarterback, where Ryan Savage is graduated and senior Matt Steptoe (first year on the varsity) and junior Marquis Walker are unproven. Both are sprint-out types. On defense, the line should be solid. Hakeem Cannon is the leader. East Laurens also has outstanding kicking.
Jefferson County Warriors
2008 record: 9-3, 8-2 (second in region)
Playoffs: Lost to Brooks County 27-7 in the second round
Average record this decade: 6-5
Coach: Jerry “J.B.” Arnold (51-36-2 in eight seasons)
Offense: Multiple (coordinator: J.B. Arnold)
Defense: Multiple-D (coordinator: David Land)
Starters returning: 9 on offense, 6 on defense
Best player: QB/DB Barry Bostic
Other top players: WR/QB Chester Stone, OL William Dunn, DL Harvey Thomas, DL Maurice Jackson, DB Dontrelle Williams
Key losses: DE Chris Crenshaw (Georgia Tech), RB A.J. Nelson, DT Dexter Walker
Outlook: After a second-round playoff appearance last season, and with 15 starters returning, expectations are high for the Warriors. Quarterback Barry Bostic (rushed and passed for more than 1,300 yards last season) has accounted for more than 4,000 yards the past two seasons and is a Class AA player of the year candidate. Many players will be rotating onto the field, as coach J.B. Arnold can enjoy some of the best depth he’s had in years and a huge offensive line. Although not large overall, the team has great overall speed and will use it to its advantage. Defensively, the Warriors are solid with a good pass rush combo in Harvey Thomas and Maurice Jackson, and CB Dontrelle Williams (12 interceptions in two seasons) is dangerous patrolling the secondary. DE Chris Crenshaw, an all-state player, is off to Georgia Tech. Jefferson County will be a preseason Top 10 team by most accounts.
Laney Wildcats
2008 record: 7-4, 7-3 (fourth in region)
Playoffs: Lost to Henry County 34-25 in the first round
Average record this decade: 9-4
Coach: Lemuel Lackey (13-8 in two seasons)
Offense: Spread (coordinator: Rodney McFadben)
Defense: 4-3 (coordinator: David Griffin)
Starters returning: 1 on offense, 4 on defense
Best player: FS/WR Martin Epps
Other top players: DT Joe Tate
Key losses: QB/DB Cameron Stallings, RB/LB Eugene Moore (Carson-Newman), TE/DE DeMarcus Pryor, WR James Bing, LB Courtney Roundtree (Gardner-Webb), OL Arthur Hope
Outlook: Here’s a paradox: Laney is missing 17 starters from last year’s seven-win team. Yet coach Lemuel Lackey thinks this year’s team could be the most talented he’s had since being promoted from defensive coordinator in 2007. The Wildcats aren’t very experienced or battle-hardened, but they have the raw talent to win games, he says. On a team with little in the way of size or depth, it will be up to the speed of the skill players to get the job done. Gone are a handful of all-area team members in OL Arthur Hope, DB Cameron Stallings, WR James Bing, RB Eugene Moore (1,214 yards rushing) and DB Courtney Richards (91 tackles). Defensively, the team is led by Martin Epps (85 tackles) and Joe Tate (eight sacks). It will be the defense’s job to keep games close while the new offensive players settle in.
Screven County Gamecocks
2008 record: 6-4, 6-4 (fifth in region)
Average record this decade: 8-3
Coach: Pat Collins (19-13 in three seasons)
Offense: Wing-T (coordinator: Pat Collins)
Defense: Slant 5 (coordinator: Johnny Thompson)
Starters returning: 4 on offense, 6 on defense
Best player: LB/FB Rodderick Grace
Other top players: OL Murphy Frankhouser, OL Lorenzo Scarboro, DB/QB Ed Burns
Key losses: QB Michael Johnson, RB Travis Coles
Outlook: A day late and a dollar short was the theme of Screven’s 2008 season. The Gamecocks led playoff teams Jefferson County and Laney in the final two minutes but lost. They thought they had Dublin on the ropes, too. Graduation was harsh to the skill positions. Gone is three-time 1,000-yard rusher Travis Coles and multi-sport athlete Michael Johnson (539 yards rushing, 457 passing), the quarterback. The four returning starters on offense are linemen, so Screven knows how to block and tackle. Many might play two ways, though coach Pat Collins strongly prefers two platoons. If anybody goes both ways, it will be junior Rodderick Grace, the team’s best linebacker (99 tackles) and a good running back. (All four backs in the Wing-T are gone). Ed Burns, a two-year starter in the secondary, probably will be the quarterback, though that’s undecided. Like more than half the teams in Region 3-AA, Screven is thinking playoffs despite the losses.
Southeast Bulloch Yellow Jackets
2008 record: 1-9, 1-9 (10th in region)
Average record this decade: 5-6
Coach: John Kenny (3-17 in two seasons)
Offense: Multiple (coordinator: John Kenny)
Defense: 50-front (coordinator: DeWayne Newland)
Starters returning: 4 on offense, 7 on defense
Best player: RB/DB Dearious Odom
Other top players: OL Brandon Sullivan, FB/DT David Johnson, TE/LB Patrick White, FB/LB Josh Joiner
Key losses: RB Tharon Davis, DT Alex Knight, WR/SS Greg Wright, WR/CB Tharon Davis
Outlook: Remaining competitive in every game is coach John Kenny’s goal. The Jackets accomplished that only a couple of times in 2008. It’s still a remarkably young team (only six seniors) but with more experience than the past two seasons. Kenny is banking on a pretty good sophomore class to get the program back on good standing. And without older players, line play is always a concern. Southeast Bulloch has a good stable of running backs.
Swainsboro Tigers
2008 record: 5-5, 5-5 (seventh in region)
Average record this decade: 8-4
Coach: Scott Roberts (5-5 in 2nd season)
Offense: Multiple I (coordinator: David Johnson)
Defense: 4-4 (coordinator: Steve McDiffitt)
Starters returning: 4 on offense, 3 on defense
Best player: QB Malcolm Eady
Other top players: OL Hunter Gay, WR/DB Lynquez Blair, DE Eric Worthen
Key losses: WR Martez Brown, DE/TE Denzel Cheeks (Jacksonville State), S Randy Dekle (Concordia)
Outlook: Many coaches list Swainsboro among the region’s two or three favorites despite a mediocre finish in 2008 and limited numbers of starters returning. One reason is having coach Scott Roberts in his second season. Another is the nature of 2008′s 5-5 season – three losses by three points or fewer. And then there is QB Malcolm Eady, who leads the team after throwing for 1,640 yards and rushing for 1,060 last season. Eady also had 15 total touchdowns. Other key players include WR/DB Lynquez Blair (46 receptions for 1,450 yards), DE Eric Worthen and OL Hunter Gaye. The Tigers just missed the playoffs last season with a loss to Toombs County in the final game. Roberts believes establishing a running game and taking pressure off Eady will be critical.
Toombs County Bulldogs
2008 record: 9-4, 7-3 (third in region)
Average record this decade: 8-4
Playoffs: Lost to Calhoun 41-14 in the quarterfinals
Coach: Shane Williamson
Offense: Multiple I (coordinator: Bragg Thompson)
Defense: 50 (coordinator: Travis Ellington)
Starters returning: 6 on offense, 4 on defense
Best player: QB/CB CJ Scott
Other top players: FB/DL Kevin Dennard, OL/DL Maurice Hunt, OL/DL Will NeSmith, DE/TE O’Shea Hampton, TB/DB Marktavious Dasher
Key losses: LB/TB Demery Hawkins (Georgia Military College), TE/DE Neal Rogers (Furman), OL/DL Kyle Jonson (Shorter), C/LB Case Schofill, SS Bryan Benton, FS/WR/P TJ Smarts, OL/DL Taylor Dowd, CB/TB/KR Lonzo Skinner
Outlook: Losing 18 solid seniors can hurt any team, especially when several seniors were two-way starters and played big roles on special teams. So coach Shane Williamson talks of rebuilding after a quarterfinal run in the state playoffs in his first season. Key losses include the team’s best blocker, leading rusher and leading tackler. Defense is a major concern, but there are bright spots on the offensive line. Senior QB/CB CJ Scott is the team’s leading scorer and is being recruited by Tennessee and others. The Bulldogs want to establish the run on offense and create pressure up front on defense.
Vidalia Indians
2008 record: 4-6, 4-6 (eighth in region)
Average record this decade: 8-3
Coach: Lee Chomskis (9-11 in two seasons)
Offense: I formation (coordinator: Doug Huff)
Defense: 50 (coordinator: Rodney Garvin)
Starters returning: 8 on offense, 5 on defense
Best player: OL Parker Fletcher
Other top players: TB Izhia Roundtree, QB Zach Burton, DT Daquan Daniels
Key losses: LB David McLeod, LB Tavarus Beacham
Outlook: The Indians are changing offensive sets, going from a flexbone to the I formation. TB Izhia Roundtree and FB Ricky Johnson are the backfield starters. The massive offensive line, led by senior guard and college prospect Parker Fletcher (6 feet 3, 300 pounds), center Chris Hamilton (5-10, 265), and Darien Green (6-0, 290) returns almost intact. The return of Anthony Holloway (5-11, 240) from a broken leg is a big plus. Junior Zach Burton started two games last year at QB. Burton has a strong arm and moves well. Primary targets include Brandon Primus and William Oscar. Daquan Daniels (6-3, 295) is a college prospect at defensive tackle. Fletcher will man the other tackle spot. The Indians will have to replace two good linebackers, David McLeod and Tavarus Beacham. Roundtree, the running back, will man one of those spots. If the Indians stay healthy, they should be much improved. The team started 3-0 last year, but key injuries and some close losses hurt the team.
Region Preview: 4-AA:
What it is: Region 4-A consists of eight mostly Middle Georgia teams, including four from Macon. To the north, it spans from Henry County on metro Atlanta’s southside to Greene County between Atlanta and Augusta.
Defending champion: Henry County
Best player: WR Markeith Ambles, Henry County
2008 STANDINGS
(Final 2008 Atlanta Journal-Constitution ranking included)
Henry County (10-2, 7-0)
Southwest (8-3, 6-1)
Northeast (8-3, 5-2)
Central, Macon (5-6, 4-3)
Greene County (4-6, 3-4)
Monticello (2-8, 1-6)
Putnam County (2-8, 1-6)
Howard (1-9, 1-6)
2009 PREDICTIONS
(Offensive/defensive starters returning)
Henry County (2/3)
Central, Macon (6/6)
Southwest (4/4)
Greene County (3/4)
Northeast (4/3)
Howard (11/10)
Putnam County (6/6)
Monticello (6/6)
TEAM BY TEAM
Central (Macon) Chargers
2008 record: 5-6, 4-3 (fourth in region)
Playoffs: Lost to Dublin 17-6 in the first round
Average record this decade: 4-6
Coach: Anthony Hines (29-42 in eight seasons)
Offense: Split-back veer (coordinator: Brent Thornton)
Defense: 4-4 (coordinator: Andre Taylor)
Starters returning: 6 on offense, 6 on defense
Best player: QB Kelcey Butts
Other top players: G Kelvin Lawrence, WR Emmanuel Carter, DT Kelvin Lewis, DT Chavis Hollingshed, CB Kerrian Johnson, RB Jedarious Meadows
Key losses: DE Rashad Knight (Nicholls State), LB Brian Jones, RB/WR Adam Crump, OLB/DB Adonis Smith (Belhaven)
Outlook: The Chargers are coming off their first playoff appearance since 1997 and first under coach Anthony Hines. It was Central’s first year in Class AA after being in AAA for several years. The team will revolve around QB Kelcey Butts, whom Hines says is a cross between Georgia Tech’s Josh Nesbitt and Jaybo Shaw. Central runs the triple option, and Butts (580 yards passing, 600 yards rushing) is an athletic playmaker who can get Central points from anywhere on the field. Central lost a top RB in Adam Crump, but Jedarious Meadows had 600 yards rushing as a sophomore and could emerge as a top player in the region. Three starting linemen are back. On defense, a strong point of the ’08 team, the front eight will suffer without DE Rashad Knight and LB Adonis Smith, but the interior line should be strong. The secondary returns everyone.
Greene County Tigers
2008 record: 4-6, 3-4 (fifth in region)
Average record this decade: 7-5
Coach: Charlie Winslette (first season at the school)
Offense: Wing-T (coordinator: Charlie Winslette)
Defense: 4-3 (coordinator: Paul Carroll)
Starters returning: 3 on offense, 4 on defense
Best player: FB Sam Barnhart
Other top players: WB/SS Doug Jones, QB William Leslie, DE Ronald Blair
Key losses: WR Terrence Gaines, RB/DB Devonte Smith, RB/LB Fredrez Terrell (Tusculum)
Outlook: Charlie Winslette, a 248-game winning coach who won a state title in Greene County in 1993, is back for a second tour of duty. He was 47-18-1 in Greensboro from 1989 to 1993. He’ll scrap Larry Milligan’s spread offense and turn it into a Wing-T. The fullback will be junior Sam Barnhart, who ran for 745 yards last season. The offense will be guided by William Leslie, the first left-handed quarterback that Winslette has coached in his 35 years on high school sidelines. Greene lost two-thirds of its starters, so no one really knows what this team will look like. But rival coaches aren’t buying that Greene won’t be a contender right away. Henry County’s Mike Rozier says Winslette has the best talent and perhaps more returning starters than he’s admitting. Central coach Anthony Hines also touted Greene as a region contender: “They got an old pro, and he’s going to turn them around. They were loaded with athletes.”
Henry County Warhawks
2008 record: 10-2, 7-0 (region champions)
Playoffs: Lost to Fitzgerald 45-20 in the second round
Average record this decade: 4-7
Coach: Mike Rozier (31-53 in nine seasons)
Offense: Spread (coordinator: Rex Robertson)
Defense: 3-5-3 (coordinator: Doug Hustell)
Starters returning: 2 on offense, 3 on defense
Best player: WR Markeith Ambles
Other top players: C Bobby Taylor, LB Josh Couch, LB Dontarius Shannon
Key losses: QB Drew Little (Georgia State), RB Quan Jones (Jacksonville State), WR Jamal Patterson (Stanford)
Outlook: Henry County had remarkable talent on offense last season with WR Jamal Patterson (3,100 career receiving yards, 41 TDs), RB Quan Jones (765 yards rushing, 790 yards receiving, team MVP) and QB Drew Little (8,427 career yards passing, 80 touchdowns). Another 21 seniors graduated, and the new senior class has just nine players, perhaps only three who will play much. On the bright side, WR Markeith Ambles (40 receptions, 764 yards, four touchdowns on returns) is back and is one of the top 10 recruits in the state. The only other returning starter on offense is center Bobby Taylor. The defense returns a couple of linebackers and a cornerback. It sounds like a rebuilding year, but after watching his team in spring and summer, coach Mike Rozier isn’t sure. The team has done very well in passing leagues with new quarterback Dylan Shaddix, who transferred from Eagle’s Landing. He’s similar to Little – big, not that mobile, good arm. He’s also the region’s (if not the state’s) best punter. Also coming from Eagle’s Landing was WR Shavarez Smith, a converted tailback. He’s a sleeper college prospect with a 38-inch vertical leap who is getting interest from Tennessee and South Carolina. The new running back to replace Jones is a sophomore, Jean Bart, the fastest player on the team. “Considering what we lost, it’s going to be hard to be as good as in 2008,” Rozier said. “But we’re not as bad as I thought.”
Howard Huskies
2008 record: 1-9, 1-6 (tied for sixth in region)
Average record this decade: 1-9
Coach: Bobby Hughes (1-9 in one season)
Offense: Multiple (coordinator: Jason Respert)
Defense: 4-3 (coordinator: Quinnen Peavy)
Starters returning: 11 on offense, 10 on defense
Best player: RB/WR Aarion Palmer
Other top players: WR Terrell Goodson, QB Tyrone White, RB Reggie Carey, OL Albarra Younis
Key losses: None
Outlook: The Huskies will be in their second year of football and have a senior class for the first time. It includes some of the region’s better offensive players. The three main weapons are Aarion Palmer (a talented all-purpose athlete), QB Tyrone White, and jumbo-sized WR Terrell Goodson. The offense is coached by Jason Respert, a former offensive lineman at Northside of Warner Robins and the University of Tennessee. The defense was young and dreadful in 2008, allowing 40 points or more eight times. The head coach is Bobby Hughes, who took Macon County to the playoffs in each of his five seasons there. Some believe Howard could become another Westside if it gets some early momentum.
Monticello Hurricanes
2008 record: 2-8, 1-6 (tied for sixth in region)
Average record this decade: 2-8
Coach: Jimmy Hughes (4-16 in two seasons)
Offense: One-back option (coordinator: Andy Rewis)
Defense: 5-2 (coordinator: Ridell Jackson)
Starters returning: 6 on offense, 6 on defense
Best player: QB/P/FS Keldrick Davis
Other top players: FB Joe Standifer, LB Scooter Stewart
Key losses: OL Janson Peek
Outlook: After starting nine freshmen last season, Monticello will return almost all of its key players. Do-everything athlete Keldrick Davis returns to star in all three facets of the game, as he is a ballhawking defensive back and talented returner, not to mention one of the state’s best shooting guards in basketball. FB Joe Standifer and LB Scooter Davis should stand out as well. “The core of our team is back,” third-year head coach Jimmy Hughes said. It’s also a smaller school that doesn’t have great depth.
Northeast Raiders
2008 record: 8-3, 5-2 (third in region)
Playoffs: Lost to Jefferson County 24-12 in the first round
Average record this decade: 6-5
Coach: Bruce Mullins (26-26 in five seasons)
Offense: I formation/multiple spread (coordinator: Philip Vining)
Defense: 4-3 (coordinator: Tony Montgomery)
Starters returning: 4 on offense, 3 on defense
Best player: QB/DB Michael Palmer
Other top players: DE Derial Watson, C Jawari Glover, OT Michael Brown
Key losses: DB Sheldon Mays, RB AJ Cornelius, WR Deontae Gainey
Outlook: The Raiders will look to make the state playoffs for the second year in a row and third time overall under coach Bruce Mullins. Perhaps no team in the region had a more instrumental player than Northeast’s A.J. Cornelius. He rushed for 1,879 yards and scored 29 touchdowns but also had 40 tackles and 10 sacks on defense as a linebacker. Northeast is led by quarterback Michael Palmer, who will run the spread offense out of the I-formation and sometimes the shotgun. Junior offensive tackle Mike Brown made the Georgia Sports Writers Association all-state team as a sophomore. He and center Jawari Glover are the only returning starters on the offensive line. Senior DE Derial Watson will lead a defense that will miss all-state DB Sheldon Mays. The Raiders have strung together three consecutive winning seasons, but the streak is endangered in 2009.
Putnam County War Eagles
2008 record: 2-8, 1-6 (tied for sixth in region)
Average record this decade: 5-6
Coach: Ben Reaves (4-15-1 in two seasons)
Offense: Multiple pro I (coordinator: Nathan Koerner)
Defense: 4-4 (coordinator: Emmitt Clower)
Starters returning: 7 on offense, 6 on defense
Best player: DT Bernard Little
Other top players: QB Nick Burke, QB Travis Hatley, C AJ Nugent, FB Marquez Styles, T Jose Rocha, TB Martez Waller, LB Devonte Tennamon
Key losses: DT Tavares Butler (Savannah State), T Reginald Jones
Outlook: Putnam returns sophomore QB Nick Burke (375 yards rushing, 1,000 yards passing), leading rusher Martez Waller (875 yards) and four of five starting linemen, so there’s optimism on offense, especially regarding the run game. The defensive line lost three of four starters, but the best one, Bernard Little, is back and courting some small-college attention. The War Eagles should be better, but it’s a young team without much depth that needs to get better defensively after allowing at least 27 points in every region game.
Southwest Patriots
2008 record: 8-3, 6-1 (second in region)
Playoffs: Lost to Toombs County 13-0 in the first round
Average record this decade: 3-7
Coach: Carror Wright (9-12 in two seasons)
Offense: Multiple I pro set (coordinator: Hubert Hogan)
Defense: 4-3 (coordinator: Willie Batts)
Starters returning: 4 on offense, 4 on defense
Best player: FS/WR Andre Jefferson
Other top players: OL Albert Croft, OT Brian Mullen, DL Travis Bray
Key losses: QB Michael Johnson, RB Adrian Alexander, TE Josh Rousseau, LB/DE Khiry King, DB Calvin Jackson (South Carolina State for track)
Outlook: Head coach Carror Wright directed a remarkable turnaround last season as the Patriots soared to their best record in 21 years. After a rough first few years of the century, Southwest went on to an 8-2 regular-season record and hosted the first home playoff game in school history in Wright’s second season. Wright had come from Dougherty, where he made a state final in 2005. Most of the starters are gone, including star running back Adrian Alexander, who rushed for 2,165 yards and 27 touchdowns, averaging 10.3 yards per run. Southwest has experience on the lines of scrimmage. The top player there is Albert Craft, a three-year starter. Travis Bray is an all-region candidate on the defensive line. FS/WR Andre Jefferson, the region favorite next spring in the long jump, is a playmaker on both sides of the ball. Despite the low numbers of starters returning, Wright is established as one of middle Georgia’s best coaches, and it’s hard to imagine a giant step backward.
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