The Atlanta Falcons Coach of the Week program recognizes high school football coaches across the state of Georgia for their hard work and dedication to making a difference in the lives of student-athletes both on and off the field.
This season’s third winner is Lincoln County head coach Michael Pollock. The Red Devils introduced Pollock as head coach in 2018 and finished 4-6 overall. This year, Lincoln County dropped a 10-7 loss to Abbeville (SC) in its opener, but has picked up back-to-back shutout wins (41-0 McCormick, 24-0 Tattnall Square) heading into this Friday’s Region 7-A opener against Aquinas.
Lincoln County is one of the state’s all-time winningest programs, with 11 state titles won since 1970 and dozens of all-state selections. This year’s roster, however, is adding even more historic first to the proud program with a trio of females joining this year’s squad.
“These will be the first,” said Lincoln County historian Johnny Walton, who has chronicled Lincoln County football history going back 100 years, to the AJC. “Rarely have we even had a female student manager on the team.”
Sophomore Gianne Anderson and sophomore twins Kholi Carruth and Carly Carruth each came out to try out this summer as punters and place kickers. This trio each made the varsity team for fast pitch softball and soccer as freshmen, and have become three-sport athletes after completing their first offseason with the football team and successfully making varsity.
“They started coming out in the summer and made all the workouts, and they’re part of the team,” Lincoln County coach Michael Pollock said. “We did a significant amount of lifting and running, and they were out there stride for stride with everybody else. They showed me they were serious.”
As only sophomores, their youth will allow coach Pollock to give the girls reps with the JV team as they progress and develop their abilities. In the team’s intra-squad scrimmage this summer, all the girls got reps and Anderson made her extra point attempt.
“The boys were as excited about that extra point as anything else we did,” Pollock said. “They’ve been really supportive.”
If you know a varsity head football coach dedicated to making a different on and off the field, CLICK HERE to nominate them for the Atlanta Falcons Coach of the Week Award.
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