The following is an excerpt from the August 12 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: 1-AAAAA:
What it is: Region 1-AAAAA is home to eight middle and south Georgia teams stretching from Warner Robins to Valdosta. They play a round-robin schedule to determine their four playoff teams. Current Region 1-AAAAA schools have won 20 state titles since 1976 – Valdosta (8), Lowndes (5), Warner Robins (3), Northside (2), Colquitt County (1), Tift County (1).
Defending champion: Lowndes
Best player: OL Ed Christian, Lowndes
2008 STANDINGS
(Final 2008 Atlanta Journal-Constitution ranking included)
#4 Lowndes (12-1, 7-0)
#5 Northside, Warner Robins (10-2, 6-1)
Tift County (8-4, 5-2)
Coffee (9-4, 4-3)
Warner Robins (5-5, 3-4)
Valdosta (5-5, 2-5)
Colquitt County (4-6, 1-6)
Houston County (3-7, 0-7)
2009 PREDICTIONS
(Offensive/defensive starters returning)
Lowndes (6/5)
Northside, Warner Robins (4/5)
Warner Robins (6/6)
Tift County (5/1)
Valdosta (5/3)
Coffee (1/5)
Colquitt County (7/10)
Houston County (2/1)
TEAM BY TEAM
Coffee Trojans
2008 record: 9-4, 4-3 (fourth in region)
Playoffs: Lost to Peachtree Ridge 38-0 in the quarterfinals
Average record this decade: 6-5
Coach: Ken Eldridge (9-4 in one season)
Offense: Multiple option (coordinator: Shannon Shook)
Defense: 4-3 (coordinator: Myron Newton)
Starters returning: 1 on offense, 5 on defense
Best player: T Garrett Scott
Other top players: DB Pernell Williams, LB Pierre Moody, WR Tykeem Paulk
Key losses: WR DeMario Bennett (South Carolina), FB Melvin Loving (New Mexico), T Colt Kennedy (Jacksonville State), C John Roberts (Valdosta State), WR Mike Faulk (New Mexico), LB D’Juan Smith (Coastal Carolina)
Outlook: Coffee has renovated Jardine Stadium, but that’s not the only reason a lot of players won’t recognize it. There just aren’t that many left from last season, at least on offense. Ten starters are gone from a unit that scored 25.4 points a game, ranking second in the region. There’s a battle at quarterback between senior Carter Adams, a backup last season, and sophomore Will Gardner, who is 6 feet 3, 195 pounds, with a strong arm. At least three defensive players are being moved over to help. One is WR Tykeem Paulk, one of the team’s better athletes. T Garrett Scott (6-4, 285) has offers from mid-major schools such as UAB and Troy. On defense, the top players are DB Pernell Williams, (six INTs, offers from Clemson and Kansas State) and LB Pierre Moody (more than 70 tackles in 2008). The kicking game should be good. PK Jacob Moore is an asset.
Colquitt County Packers
2008 record: 4-6, 1-6 (seventh in region)
Average record this decade: 6-5
Coach: Rush Propst (4-6 in one season)
Offense: Spread (coordinator: Jeff Hammond)
Defense: 4-3 (coordinator: Jack Hines)
Starters returning: 7 on offense, 10 on defense
Best player: DT Cameron Irving
Other top players: WR Quinn Robertson, LB Nyneson Jeudy, DE Terrell Wright, FS Davis Durham, WR Jacob Propst, OL Chris Walsh, QB Tyler Brown, RB Tevin King
Key losses: OL R.J. Taylor (Henderson State), WR/DB/KR Eric Key (Georgia State), RB Traivon Littleton
Outlook: With 17 starters back and a state championship coach in his second season, Colquitt would figure to be the unanimous choice for most improved team this fall. It will start with defense. The Packers allowed 37 points per region game. Rush Propst, who won five state titles at Hoover in Alabama before coming to Moultrie last year, believes Cameron Irving, who has an offer from Florida State, has a chance to become the best defensive lineman in the state. Irving is moving from DE to DT, while Nyneson Jeudy (leading tackler in 2008, squats 510 pounds) is moving from DT to LB. The top guy in the secondary is probably FS Davis Durham, who has small college offers. On offense, QB Tyler Brown, a junior, started the last two games of 2008 and threw for 743 yards and five TDs (but five interceptions). He replaces John Michael Harrison, who led Region 1-AAAAA in passing in 2008. WR Quinn Robertson (40 catches, 612 yards) led the region in receiving as a junior and has mid-major offers. He might line up at quarterback occasionally. The special teams should be good. If Propst’s young defense grows up, this could be a playoff team. But most observers figure the Pack is still a year away. Remember that Colquitt has won only two region games the past two seasons, both against Houston County.
Houston County Bears
2008 record: 3-7, 0-7 (eighth in region)
Average record this decade: 5-6
Coach: Greg Robinson (3-7 in one season)
Offense: Pro style (coordinator: Lee Pope)
Defense: Split (coordinator: Rex Hodges)
Starters returning: 2 on offense, 1 on defense
Best player: LB Jalani Phillips
Other top players: OT Owas Khurshid, RB Robert Williams, OT Jeffery Arthur
Key losses: RB Garrick Davis, DE Justin Kitchens (Purdue), LB Tony Larkin, QB Hogan Robinson, G Chris Jackson, SE Craig Presley (Fort Valley State)
Outlook: Houston County is 0-13 in the region since its run to the state quarterfinals in 2006, and the ’09 Bears are going without a multitude of impact players from last year’s team. Among them is DE Justin Kitchens, a Purdue signee who was an all-region first-teamer. The replacement for QB Hogan Robinson is undetermined, with three players battling for snaps: Tyler Hall, Jacob Gunter and Taylor Ring. Hall, a junior, is the favorite to start. The two tackles will be the strength of the offensive line, as Owas Khurshid and Jeffery Arthur return as starters. LB Jalani Phillips is a college prospect and one of the leaders on an inexperienced defense. Many will be surprised if Houston County doesn’t run its region losing streak to 20 in the most unforgiving region in the state.
Lowndes Vikings
2008 record: 12-1, 7-0 (region champions)
Playoffs: Lost to Grayson 17-7 in the quarterfinals
Average record this decade: 11-2
Coach: Randy McPherson (78-13 in seven seasons)
Offense: Wing-T (coordinator: Randy McPherson)
Defense: 50 (coordinator: Randy Hill)
Starters returning: 6 on offense, 5 on defense
Best player: OL Ed Christian
Other top players: LB Telvin Smith, LB Michael Copeland, DL Jordan Black, DB/WB/QB Tyler Hunter, G Layne Grant, C Michael Miller, T Justin Browning, WB/QB Khary Franklin, WR Aaron Winston, QB Cole Parker
Key losses: WB/CB Greg Reid, LB Gerald Demps
Outlook: Talent? Check. Coaching? Check. Tradition? Check. Motivation? Double check. Can they complete a pass? Can they be as good without Greg Reid? Let’s get back to those. Lowndes’ quest for its fourth state title in five seasons ended with a bitter and embarrassing loss to Grayson in the quarterfinals last season. Lowndes’ desire and focus should be major plusses this season on a team that with many impressive features. One is an offensive line with four returning starters, including all-state tackle Ed Christian. Another is a handful of three-year starters who were sophomores on Lowndes’ 2007 state title team – G Layne Grant, DL Jordan Black (moving from offense), LB Michael Copeland, WB/QB Khary Franklin and Christian. T Justin Browning played a lot on that team, too. Lowndes also has the attention of Division I-A college coaches, which is more unusual than one might think for what’s been Georgia’s Class AAAAA team of the decade. Lowndes typically has more good players than its opponents, not necessarily the most major D-I guys. OL Christian (Florida State), LB Smith (Florida State), LB Copeland (offer from Vanderbilt) and WB/QB Franklin (Troy) are among seven that have a chance to sign mid-major or above. The issue of having a more diversified offense (Will Lowndes be able to throw the ball?) could be solved with promoted JV quarterback Cole Parker. To make room, coach Randy McPherson has moved two-year starter Khary Franklin to wingback. But expect Parker, Franklin and Tyler Hunter, a junior, all to man the position. “We’ve always played multiple quarterbacks,” McPherson said. “I love doing that, and I’m sticking with it.” And that brings us to Reid, the all-class player of the year in 2008. No player had a bigger impact on offense, defense and special teams than this Florida State freshman. “I don’t know about replacing him,” McPherson said. “But we’ve got guys that have been in our program who’ve got speed and strength. It’s their turn.”
Northside (Warner Robins) Eagles
2008 record: 10-2, 6-1 (second in region)
Playoffs: Lost to Camden County 28-20 in the second round
Average record this decade: 12-2
Coach: Conrad Nix (164-28 in 15 seasons)
Offense: Multiple (coordinator: Conrad Nix)
Defense: Multiple (coordinator: Kevin Kinsler)
Starters returning: 4 on offense; 5 on defense
Best player: DB Brison Williams
Other top players: QB Briar Van Brunt, DL Greg Clark, OL Sam Cherney
Key losses: DL Abry Jones (Georgia), RB Xavier Bacon (Tuskegee)
Outlook: This will be the least-talented Northside team in five years, but that’s no insult. The team has gone 54-3 since 2004. The Eagles once again should be one of the top teams in the region, but they must replace an all-state player on each side – RB Xavier Bacon (1,677 yards rushing, 23 TDs) and DT Abry Jones (Georgia). Briar Van Brunt is the frontrunner to replace Joe Scott at quarterback. Van Brunt attempted only one pass last year but was second on the team in rushing with 272 yards. The defense was special, allowing just 11.7 points (eighth in Class AAAAA), and there’s no reason to think it won’t remain the team’s strength. DB Brison Williams has committed to South Carolina, and DL Greg Clark will be one of the better interior linemen in the region. The biggest problem will be moving the ball. Without Bacon last season, Northside likely would not have been a Top 10 team. A playmaker must step up to keep Northside at the level it’s been the past few seasons.
Tift County Blue Devils
2008 record: 8-4, 5-2 (third in region)
Playoffs: Lost to Newnan 42-0 in the second round
Average record this decade: 6-5
Coach: Jay Walls (33-15 in four seasons)
Offense: Spread (coordinator: Keith Gosse)
Defense: 50 (coordinator: Ben Simmons)
Starters returning: 5 on offense; 1 on defense
Best player: QB Malcolm Dixon
Other top players: DB/WR Micah McCant, OL Lawrence Cooper, OL Dylan Gray
Key losses: LB Shayon Green (Miami), LB Josh Abbott (Alabama State), WR Jared Davis, K Jordan West
Outlook: Malcolm Dixon is the region’s best returning quarterback. The senior threw for 1,502 yards (120-of-231) and 11 touchdowns. He also rushed for 499 yards and 10 touchdowns.He’s the heartbeat of the team.A couple of good offensive linemen are back along with speedy WR Micah McCant, a three-year starter. He’llplay both ways and make some clutch catches, but his forte is the secondary. He does not lack for confidence, however, so expect to see him make some clutch offensive plays, as well. RB Jakiel McCray is quick out of the backfield and should get lots of chances to carry the ball. Now the sobering news: Only one starter returns on defense. And it’s not all-state LB Shayon Green (115 tackles) or four-year-starting LB Josh Abbott (111 tackles). The best thing going for Tift is Jay Walls, who hasn’t missed the playoffs in his four seasons with the Blue Devils. In fact, that’s the first time in history (which dates back almost 100 years) that the Devils have been in the postseason four straight times. Walls could have one of the better offenses in the state, but the defense – which struggled at times even last year, allowing 21.8 points – will decide whether the streak continues.
Valdosta Wildcats
2008 record: 5-5, 2-5 (sixth in region)
Average record this decade: 8-4
Coach: Rick Tomberlin (15-17 in three seasons)
Offense: Multiple (coordinator: Michael Pollock)
Defense: Multiple (coordinator: Jeff Arnette)
Starters returning: 5 on offense, 3 on defense
Best player: TE Jay Rome
Other top players: DB/WR Dontavius Sapp, DE Marcus Davis, OL Jordan Jenkins, RB Chad Prain, OL Taylor McQuaig, DB Gary Moore, QB Dashay March, LB Jermaine Holmes
Key losses: LB Mike Gilliard (Georgia), OL Antonio Foster (Georgia Tech), OL Allen Scruggs (Valdosta State)
Outlook: Rick Tomberlin says he expects his team to be better than the 2008 squad that missed the playoffs for the second time in his three seasons. Some key figures need replacing, as LB Mike Gilliard and offensive linemen Antonio Foster and Allen Scruggs were first team all-region. Most of the starters are gone. But Tomberlin played several sophomores last season that represent the future. Valdosta gets starting QB Dashay March back, and WR Jay Rome is a big-time college prospect as just a junior with offers from Georgia and Florida, among others. The team expects the running game to be strong behind senior RB Chad Prain, who can also fill in at QB if need be. Valdosta played Lowndes tight last season (14-7) but almost lost to Colquitt County (42-39), so there is no sign that the Wildcats are a region or state contender yet. But Tomberlin is banking on his junior class being special.
Warner Robins Demons
2008 record: 5-5, 3-4 (fifth in region)
Average record this decade: 8-4
Coach: Bryan Way (40-19-1 in five years)
Offense: Wing-T (coordinator: Stacey Harden)
Defense: Multiple 50 front (coordinator: David Bruce)
Starters returning: 6 on offense, 6 on defense
Best player: DT/NG Jeffrey Whitaker
Other top players: DT Andrew Lauritsen, RB Jonathan Jackson, RB Dominique Primus, OL Koory Esquibel, QB Maurice Dudley
Key losses: K David Clark (Georgia State), WR Rashad Wynes (UAB), DE Derek Stover (Iowa Wesleyan)
Outlook: Warner Robins hasn’t suffered consecutive seasons like the last two since the mid-1960s, and in a region as good as this one, there’s no guarantee of reverting to form, just a chance. But coach Brian Way, who won a state title in his first season in Warner Robins in 2004, is sounding confident in the preseason, and he has a pair of special defensive tackles in Jeffrey Whitaker (59 tackles, several ACC and SEC offers) and Andrew Lauritsen (60 tackles). The Demons’ defense should be fine. The offense is the question. Warner Robins was next-to-last in scoring offense in the region last season. Way will have a new quarterback in Maurice Dudley. He’s been on varsity for four years and is a good decision-maker, the coach says. RB Jonathan Jackson played only five games last season before suffering a broken foot. Jackson and RB Dominique Primus, his replacement last season, should make that position strong. Warner Robins could be down on special teams, as David Clark was perhaps the region’s best kicker. In most regions, this would be a playoff team. In this region, the Demons are going to need playmakers and must score more points. Taking advantage of home games against Tift County and Valdosta to open the region schedule will be important.
Class AAA Super 11:
On Sunday, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, in partnership with Georgia High School Football Daily, will release its 25th Super 11 team, a preseason list of Georgia’s 11 best senior football players.
This week, GHSF Daily will select its Super 11 for each classification. Today, it is Class AAA.
Remember that these are seniors only:
DE Henry Anderson, Woodward Academy: Had 70 tackles, 10 for loss, and six sacks last season. He’s a super student (4.1 GPA) who is going to Stanford.
DE/LB Neiron Ball, Jackson: Super fast defensive end, might play linebacker at Florida, to which he has committed. Scout.com reports Ball had 19 sacks in 2008 for a team that ranked No. 1 in scoring defense in Class AAA. The assessment of Ball’s coach, Mike Parris – “He’s good as hell” – is one of our favorite preseason quotes.
QB Terrell Brigham, Burke County: The Augusta Chronicle player of the year passed for 1,797 yards and rushed for 1,155 for an 8-4 team. He can become a sleeper recruit if he gets his academics in order.
G David Beasley, Carver (Columbus): Carver’s staff credited Beasley with 88 pancake blocks last season. Opponents have since learned to stay down, so those numbers might decrease in 2009. Beasley was an AJC first team all-state player last season. He’s committed to Clemson.
G Daniel Blitch, North Hall: Bob Christmas, his coach, says Blitch has the greatest potential of any lineman he’s coached, including Jake Grove, the starting center for the Miami Dolphins.
DE J.C. Copeland, Troup: Copeland made an early commitment to Tennessee. Class AAA rarely has had so many good defensive ends.
DE Corey Crawford, Carver (Columbus): Made 70 tackles, a high number for a junior defensive end on a team full of Division I-A players last season. Crawford has committed to Clemson.
RB Martez Eastland, Ringgold: Rushed for 1,621 yards last season and was the Chattanooga Times’ North Georgia offensive player of the year. He apparently lacks the burner speed to make him a major recruit and remains uncommitted.
WR Tai-ler Jones, Gainesville: Caught 81 passes last season. A consensus top 10 prospect in Georgia, Jones has committed to Stanford.
QB Connor Shaw, Flowery Branch: Committed to South Carolina, Shaw passed for 2,146 yards and rushed for 929 while leading his team to the Class AAA final last year.
QB Blake Sims, Gainesville: Sims, who has committed to Alabama, was the Region 8-AAA offensive player of the year in 2008. He threw for 2,453 yards and rushed for 822.
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