The following is an excerpt from the August 18 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: 4-AAAAA:
What it is: Region 4-AAAAA consists of 10 schools along Atlanta’s southern crescent. They play a round-robin schedule to determine their four playoff teams. Four Clayton County schools – Mundy’s Mill, Lovejoy, Morrow and Riverdale – are well below the enrollment cutoff for Class AAAAA and are expected to drop to AAAA in 2010.
Defending champion: Newnan
Best player: DB Alec Ogletree, Newnan
2008 STANDINGS
(Final 2008 Atlanta Journal-Constitution ranking included)
#5 Newnan (13-1, 9-0)
Chapel Hill (9-3, 7-2)
East Coweta (7-4, 7-2)
Creekside (7-4, 6-3)
Riverdale (5-5, 5-4)
Westlake (6-4, 5-4)
Lovejoy (3-7, 3-6)
Pebblebrook (3-7, 2-7)
Morrow (1-9, 1-8)
Mundy’s Mill (0-10, 0-9)
2009 PREDICTIONS
(Offensive/defensive starters returning)
Newnan (0/5)
Creekside (6/8)
Westlake (3/4)
East Coweta (3/3)
Chapel Hill (5/4)
Lovejoy (7/7)
Riverdale (3/4)
Pebblebrook (3/4)
Mundy’s Mill (3/2)
Morrow (3/1)
TEAM BY TEAM
Chapel Hill Panthers
2008 record: 9-3, 7-2 (second in region)
Playoffs: Lost to Coffee 35-14 in the second round
Average record this decade: 3-8
Coach: Chris Parker (9-3 in one season)
Offense: Spread (coordinator: Brad Carroll)
Defense: 4-4 (coordinator Michael Parker)
Starters returning: 5 on offense, 4 on defense
Best player: RB/WR/QB Trent White
Other top players: DE Dantavious Jeffery, RB Mario Cannon, RB Johnathan Parks, OL A.J. Williams, OL Tyler McWhorter, DB Chris Wilson, LB Tim Potate, DE Jordan Drake
Key losses: QB Rodney Castlin, WR/DB C.J. Dudley, OL Taylor Johnstone, OL Nick Harp, DB E.J. Belle
Outlook: Chapel Hill was Georgia’s Cinderella team of 2008 – winning nine games after finishing 0-10 the previous season. The school, which opened in 2000, experienced its first winning season and playoff victory. Parker believes his ’09 team will be more physical and more comfortable in his system, but the inexperience concerns him. Several players will be changing positions to accommodate the losses. The biggest loss is WR/DB C.J. Dudley (38 receptions, 89 tackles). Also gone are QB Rodney Castlin and OL Taylor Johnstone, who made all-region teams. All-purpose player Trent White (568 rushing yards, 509 receiving yards) probably will be under center. Other returnees were productive: RB Mario Cannon (687 yards rushing), DE Dantavious Jeffery (eight sacks), LB Tim Potate (90 tackles). “We will have to have a lot of breaks to be as good as last year,” Parker said, “but we probably have a deeper team than ’08, just more unknowns at the skill positions.”
Creekside Seminoles
2008 record: 7-4, 6-3 (fourth in region)
Playoffs: Lost to Camden County 49-0 in the first round
Average record this decade: 9-3
Coach: Johnny T. White (first season)
Offense: Multiple (coordinator: Reggie Stanley)
Defense: 4-3 (coordinator: Johnny T. White)
Starters returning: 6 on offense, 8 on defense
Best player: LB/RB Zack Amey
Other top players: LB Artavius Morgan, WR Cearies Driskell, LB/DE Karon Stanley, QB Tara Serwell, OL/DL Corey Redwine, OL/DL Marcus Robinson, OL/DL Josh Freeman
Key losses: DB Theo Bennett, FS Brian Odom, DL Justin Sharpe
Outlook: Johnny T. White, a Virginia native, was promoted from defensive coordinator to replace Kevin Whitley, who took the head job at Stockbridge. White is converting the offense to a multiple look to replace Whitley’s veer option. Whitley played for Paul Johnson at Georgia Southern and employed the offense that Georgia Tech now uses. Zack Amey and Newnan’s Alec Ogletree are probably the region’s best two players. Amey made first team all region on offense and defense last season and had 989 yards rushing on only 92 carries and made 136 tackles. QB Tara Sewell passed for 600 yards and ran for 400. WR Cearies Driskell had eight TD receptions. But it’s the defense that will stand out. Amey will line up at linebacker with Karon Stanley (15 sacks) and Artavius Morgan (112 tackles, 14 for losses). Creekside’s starting lineup will be one of the region’s best, but White concedes, “We are not very deep.”
East Coweta Indians
2008 record: 7-4, 7-2 (third in region)
Playoffs: Lost to Bradwell Institute 19-7 in the first round
Average record this decade: 8-4
Coach: Clint Wade (7-4 in one season)
Offense: Multiple I-formation (coordinator: Tom Gochenour)
Defense: 8-man front (coordinator: Clint Wade)
Starters returning: 3 on offense, 3 on defense
Best player: TB Tay Willis
Other top players: FB Cody Davis, QB Austin Ingram, LB Zach Fore, FS J.J. Miller, OLB Angel Santiago, G Cameron Smiley, C Corey Hamlett
Key losses: OL Ryan Storms, WR Jeric Woodall, LB Denzil Bass, DB Ryan Hudson
Outlook: East Coweta returns its QB, FB and TB in the I formation and no receivers and linemen on offense. Look for a pretty straight-forward approach – get the ball to TB Tay Willis (more than 1,400 yards rushing in 2008) as often as possible. He’s only 5 feet 7 and 165 pounds but is strong and has a quick initial burst. QB Austin Ingram is a good option runner with a decent arm who is dependable and consistent. On defense, the team also returns only three starters and lacks experience. Coach Clint Wade likes the talent but worries about size. “Our question will be our strength up front,” he said. “Some people may be able to bully us around a little bit, so we’ll need to play fast and hard.” East Coweta has the history of 20 consecutive winning seasons to suggest that might be enough for another good team.
Lovejoy Wildcats
2008 record: 3-7, 3-6 (seventh in region)
Average record this decade: 6-4
Coach: Al Hughes (53-36 in eight seasons)
Offense: Spread (coordinator: Craig Chatman)
Defense: 4-3 (coordinator: David Hughes)
Starters returning: 7 on offense, 7 on defense
Best player: LB Hondo Carter
Other top players: QB Vic Hardison, RB Rico McWilliams, RB Brandon Hope, WR Chris Catchings, WR D.J. Smith, WR Jevon Watson, OL Lamont Hardy, OL C.J. Mack, LB Robert Smith, LB Chris Appleton, DB Nick Smith, DB Leander Williams, DB Jermaine Hough, DB Justin Roundtree, OL Dante Ridgeway, RB Rayshaud Sammuel
Key losses: OL Andre Harris (Auburn), DB Lamarcus Hough
Outlook: Larry Hughes enters his ninth season at Lovejoy; no other team in the region has a coach who has been on the job longer than one season. Lovejoy also has the stability of 14 starters returning, but it’s still a youthful team that will be challenged to make the playoffs or reverse a trend of four straight losing seasons among declining enrollment. Only six seniors figure to start. One is LB Hondo Carter (5-11, 220), an all-county and all-region player last year. He has offers from several mid-majors. Hughes has an abundance of good young running backs, and his QB, Vic Hardison, started last year as a sophomore. But he and the other Lovejoy youngsters have a lot to prove.
Morrow Mustangs
2008 record: 1-9, 1-8 (ninth in region)
Average record this decade: 2-8
Coach: Larry Mortonson (1-9 in one season)
Offense: Multiple spread (coordinator: Adam Collins)
Defense: 4-3 (coordinator: Victor Stokes)
Starters returning: 3 on offense, 1 on defense
Best player: QB Charles West
Other top players: LB Michael Craig, WR C.J. Combs, T Damien Willis, LB Bernard Agurs, C Forrest Hill
Key losses: OL/DL Latrallis Boatright (Fort Valley State), OL/DL Patrick Neal (Friends)
Outlook: The facts are not encouraging – small enrollment numbers, four starters returning, one victory in 2008, only six touchdowns scored. Larry Mortonson, in his second season, is more optimistic than that. “We don’t have many starters returning, but they [the players he does have back] did get a lot of reps last year, so we’re not completely drained.” He also believes having a full year under the new regime helps. Mortonson is moving his best athlete, WR Charles West, to quarterback to get the ball in his hands more. The backfield is pretty good, and he likes his linebackers on defense. If Morrow gets better line play, the win total might go up. But don’t expect a vastly better record until Morrow gets to drop to AAAA, where it belongs based on enrollment, which has dipped to 1,679, well below the AAAAA threshold.
Mundy’s Mill Tigers
2008 record: 0-10, 0-9 (10th in region)
Average record this decade: 4-6
Coach: Peniel Dany (first season)
Offense: Spread (coordinator: Fredrick Sippial)
Defense: 4-4 (coordinator: Ryan Galloway)
Starters returning: 3 on offense, 2 on defense
Best player: LB Omari Jones
Other top players: SS Nikos Jackson, LB Emanuel Jones, T Eric Cortijo, TE Marcus Gillam, RB Kallil Thurmond
Key losses: RB/CB Tyler Mickens, DE Alonzo Williams
Outlook: Peniel Dany, a line coach last season at North Clayton, has experience at places that have struggled and then turned it around, including Baldwin and Creekside. North Clayton won a region title last season. Dany has compiled a young staff, as each coach is 32 or younger. Not many starters remain among Region 4-AAAAA’s winless, last-place team, but Dany likes what’s still around. “The challenge is to change the mentality and get kids to buy into a program. Once they do that, you should be fine,” he said. “We’re not going to go undefeated, but we’re definitely not going 0-10.” The strength of Mundy’s Mill should be the defense, with linebackers Omari Jones and Emanuel Jones and sophomore strong safety Nikos Jackson. Omari Jones is being recruited by small schools. On offense, QB Anthony Hammonds, a sophomore, has good potential as a drop-back passer, Dany says. He’ll be running the spread. Kallil Thurmond, a junior, should be the leading rusher. The team’s weak spot is the offensive line. Dany is worried about the depth. He hopes to get OL Kendall Johnson back by midseason from a summer injury. As many as three linemen might start both ways in the meantime.
Newnan Cougars
2008 record: 13-1, 9-0 (region champions)
Playoffs: Lost to Camden County 27-7 in the semifinals
Average record this decade: 8-3
Coach: Mike McDonald (first season)
Offense: Spread (coordinator: Kenny Morris)
Defense: 3-5 (coordinators:Jeffrey Bryant, Lavar Pearson)
Starters returning: 0 on offense, 5 on defense
Best player: DB/WR Alec Ogletree
Other top players: LB/RB Alexander Ogletree, LB Adam Strakose, CB/WR Jamal Ransby, RB Chris Robinson, OL Chris Beno, QB Zach Farmer
Key losses: QB Russell Powell (Jacksonville basketball),OL Ray Beno (Georgia Tech), LB Will Koran (Georgia Southern), WR Alan Bonner (Jacksonville State)
Outlook: Newnan promoted defensive coordinator Mike McDonald to replace the retiring Robert Herring, whose career ended with one of Newnan’s best teams ever. McDonald had been head coach at Union Grove from 2004 to 2006 and was 19-15 there, winning a round in the playoffs his last two seasons, before joining Herring’s staff. McDonald’s 2008 defense at Newnan defense led Georgia in fewest points allowed in 2008, at 4.1 per game, and five starters are back from what most feel will be another strong unit. DB Alec Ogletree is a GHSF Daily Super 11 player statewide. He has committed to Georgia and is perhaps the top defensive player in Georgia. On offense, one can only speculate because all 11 starters are gone, including region offensive player of the year Russell Powell (2,200 yards passing) and Ray Beno (first team all-state lineman). The new quarterback is Zach Farmer, a good drop-back player. Watch for some of the defensive talent, including Ogletree, to take turns on offense. WR/CB Jamal Ransby is an outstanding player who has been overshadowed by Newnan’s great talent the past couple of years. It’s mostly going to come down to blocking. It’s a young line, including junior Chris Beno, Ray’s younger brother. If Newnan can block and tackle in the trenches, the Cougars will be a Top 10 team again.
Pebblebrook Falcons
2008 record: 3-7, 2-7 (eighth in region)
Average record this decade: 6-5
Coach: Randall Smith (3-7 in one season)
Offense: Wing-T (coordinator: Randall Smith)
Defense: 4-3 (coordinator Preston Moses)
Starters returning: 4 on offense, 3 on defense
Best player: LB/FB Aaron Appleby
Other top players: FB/CB Jarvis Nolan, DL James Kirk, OL Joaquin Thompson
Key losses: RB/LB Michael Peeples, RB/SS Moses Mould
Outlook: Pebblebrook is weathering some shallow classes. Nine sophomores will start this season. “The positive is that the future looks bright,” coach Randall Smith said. “The negative is that if we get beat down early, how do we recover?” On offense, Jarvis Nolan figures to be the leading rusher in the Wing-T. The quarterback is a sophomore, C.J. Goodman, a good decision-maker who is not afraid to pull the ball down and run. On defense, Aaron Appleby will be the leader at linebacker. He’s the team’s best college prospect and has been getting some attention from Duke and Alabama. “We’ve got some talent,” Smith said, “but we’re going to make some mistakes.”
Riverdale Raiders
2008 record: 5-5, 5-4 (fifth in region)
Average record this decade: 6-5
Coach: Nick Davis (5-5 in one season)
Offense: Flexbone (coordinator: Marquez Thomas)
Defense: 3-5 (coordinator: Emmitt Jordan)
Starters returning: 3 on offense, 4 on defense
Best player: WR/DB Lavelle Westbrooks
Other top players: RB Deaunte Trigger, FB/DL Juwhan Arnold, OL/DL Edwin Walton, DL Dajon Stanley, OL/DL Kelly Blue, WR Demetrius Rogers
Key losses: WR/DB Hakeem Smith (Louisville), QB Michael Adams (Bethune-Cookman), RB D.J. Smith (Morehead State), LB Jordan Simmons (Mars Hill), DE James Williams (Dean)
Outlook: Behind Newnan, Riverdale could play with anybody in Region 4-AAAAA last season, but close losses to playoff teams Chapel Hill (21-19), East Coweta (41-34) and Creekside (21-14) derailed what could’ve been a special year. This team suffered big graduation losses and will be young, with two-thirds of its starters being underclassmen. The Raiders will go to a 3-5 defense to use their speed and overcome a lack of size. The offense could be pretty good with Juwhan Arnold (800 yards rushing) and Deaunte Trigger (400 yards rushing). WR/DB Hakeem Smith is off to Louisville, but coach Nick Davis calls WR/DB Lavelle Westbooks “kind of an identical player. Both are very physical with great ball skills. You try to get them in open space.” At quarterback will be sophomore Dequavious Martin or junior Lamont Knox. Both are athletic, option quarterbacks. It appears that Riverdale might be a year away, but winning a few close games could put the Raiders in the playoffs.
Westlake Lions
2008 record: 6-4, 5-4 (sixth in region)
Average record this decade: 6-4
Coach: Greg Minnis (6-4 in one season)
Offense: Spread (coordinator: Shannon Williams)
Defense: 4-3 (coordinators: Greg Minnis, Kenneth Green)
Starters returning: 3 on defense, 4 on defense
Best player: LB Mike Taylor
Other top players: CB Darius Robinson, OL Tony Jacob, QB Milton Artis, RB Charles Purnell, S Ronnie Harris
Key losses: OL Chance Warmack (Alabama), DL Dearco Nolan (Middle Tennessee), QB Louis Kindle (North Carolina A&T), WR Robert Jennings (Johnson C. Smith)
Outlook: The Lions lost 14 players who signed with college programs off a 6-4 team that missed the playoffs when beaten at Chapel Hill 24-19 in the final week. But Westlake will have as much high-end talent as any team in the region. Seven players already have college offers for 2010. It’s just a question of the depth surrounding it. Mike Taylor, who is committed to Tennessee, is considered by some to be the best linebacker in the state. CB Darius Robinson (Clemson commit) leads what coach Greg Minnis believes will be an outstanding secondary. On offense, a couple of transfers will fill big holes. QB Milton Artis comes from North Clayton, a team he led to a region title. He replaces Louis Kindle, who threw for nearly 2,000 yards. Quinton Rucker, more of a drop-back passer, will spell Artis at times. WR C.J. Boyd, who comes from Baldwin, is just a sophomore but has Division I talent. He’ll help ease the loss of Robert Jennings, who had more than 40 catches. Westlake will have a big offensive line, led by Tony Jacob (6-8, 310).
In The News
GHSF Daily picks all-time Super 11
GHSF Daily and the Atlanta Journal-Constitution came out with their preseason Super 11 team this week.
For MaxPreps, GHSF Daily’s Todd Holcomb compiled a list of the best Super 11 picks of the 25-year history of the preseason team.
One rushed for 2,000 yards in an NFL season. Another was a Super Bowl MVP. And another won a Heisman Trophy.
Check out this list.
Stephenson-M.L. King on ESPNU
The Stephenson-M.L. King game on Oct. 16 at Hallford Stadium will be televised by ESPNU. The game will start at 6 p.m. rather than its originally scheduled 8 p.m.
The change affects two other games. The new schedule for those games will be:
Cedar Grove vs. Clarkston, 5:15 p.m., at Avondale Stadium
Greater Atlanta Christian vs. Avondale, 8 p.m., at Avondale Stadium
Stephenson vs. M.L. King, 6 p.m., at Hallford Stadium
GISA down five schools from 2008
Westminster Christian’s decision last week to drop varsity football brings to five the number of Georgia Independent School Association schools that played football in 2008 but won’t be back. Central Fellowship of Macon and Crisp Academy of Cordele dropped football, and Loganville Christian will play a junior varsity schedule. Monroe Academy in Forsyth has closed. There now are 49 teams playing football in the GISA. Two of them – George Walton Academy of Monroe and First Presbyterian Day of Macon – plan to join the Georgia High School Association in 2010.
Recruiting News
Sandy Creek’s Neal, Davis commit
Sandy Creek teammates Rajion Neal and Jarrett Davis made their commitments last weekend. Neal, a running back, chose Mississippi State. He rushed for 934 yards and eight touchdowns in eight games last season. Davis, a wide receiver, chose Louisville, which previously got a commitment from another Sandy Creek player, defensive end Lacy Coleman. …
McEachern running back Rajaan Bennett, a guest on 790 the Zone’s “The Official Visit” show on Sunday, named Vanderbilt, Kentucky and Louisville as his favorites. But Bennett said he will wait until the end of the season to make a decision. … Also on the show, Heritage (Conyers) cornerback Garry Peters, who recently committed to Clemson, said he would take at least some of his five allotted official visits over the fall. He is close friends with Florida commit Mack Brown of M.L. King and will visit Gainesville as a result. He also plans to visit Alabama.
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