Repeating as state champion in any classification in the State of Georgia is a tall order, but the five winners from last year hope they have what it takes to bring home another title in 2008. We recently took some time to catch up with the reigning champs to talk about the new faces, new places, and new challenges that lie ahead for them this year.
Class 5A: Lowndes Vikings
In his six years at the helm of the Lowndes Vikings football program, coach Randy McPherson has brought four region championships and three state titles to the Valdosta-based powerhouse. The newly touted “Titletown” and good ol’ “Winnersville” will be well represented by the 2008 Vikings, who serve as reigning Class 5A state champs and are riding a 14-game winning streak into a first-game showdown with Woodland-Henry.
Last year’s state champs in Class 4A, Northside-Warner Robins, comes up a classification to make it a tougher road to the Region 1 title for Lowndes, but the Vikings are more than capable of equaling, or bettering, the 14-1 record of last year.
There are 14 returning starters, led by Florida commit Greg Reid and Florida State commit Gerald Demps. Both players feature in a secondary that is as good as any in the state. The quarterback duties are in the hands of Khary Franklin, who played in every game last season. The aforementioned Reid in the backfield can add some of the same electricity he provided on his tone-setting 91-yard jaunt in last year’s title game vs. North Gwinnett.
October will provide the champs with a titanic pair of key games this season. The huge game hosting Northside (Oct. 3) and the “Winnersville Classic” vs. Valdosta (Oct. 10) will go a long way in deciding the region champion. Ranked nationally in many preseason polls, Lowndes will have to stay focused during a grueling schedule in order to keep a top nationwide ranking. Then again, you don’t win titles by looking past opponents. Especially not at the clip the Vikings are winning.
By Corey Mitchell, who can be reached at mitchelltakes@yahoo.com.
Class 4A: Northside-Warner Robins Eagles
It’s nine months after the state championship game, and Northside-Warner Robins is still sitting on cloud nine. Out of the current five football state champions, they are the only team to have won back-to-back titles and have lost only one game in the last three seasons.
So what’s next for the Eagles? They are going to face new challenges this year by moving back up to Class 5A to play with the big boys. But that’s only half the fun – they’re in Region 1, where they will face the likes of Lowndes, Valdosta and cross-town rival Warner Robins.
“We are familiar with those teams since we have been customarily 5A through the years,” said head coach Conrad Nix. “It’s going to be a challenge, but it’s going to be exciting.”
In 2004, the Eagles moved down a class after being in 5A since the move to the five-class system in 2000. During those four years in 4A they compiled a record of 54-3 with two state titles. Now that they are back in the state’s highest classification, they are going to try to maintain their winning ways without quarterback Marques Ivory, running back Tijuan Green and receiver Nick Bass. However, defensive end Abry Jones and linebacker Eric Fields are back and will try to lead the Eagles to another title.
“Abry has had a really good summer, and Eric has had a good summer,” Nix said. “They are two good players, but we have other good players as well.”
Nix will need everybody on the roster to do his part if the Eagles want to keep the good times rolling and win their third consecutive title.
By Brian Jones, who can be reached at bjones@scoreatl.com.
Class 3A: Carver-Columbus Tigers
Head coach Dell McGee’s Tigers have a tough task in 2008 to repeat as state champions. The 2007 title season, in which the team went a perfect 15-0, was the first in school history. Losing great talents like quarterback DeRon Furr and wide receiver Jarmon Fortson, two players that were so instrumental in the Tigers’ playoff success, will not make things easier.
One player that still makes Carver fearsome is senior linebacker Jarvis Jones. He had 144 tackles, four sacks, two interceptions and five forced fumbles for the Tigers last year. He is also rated by many sources as the No. 1 player in the state and is being heavily recruited by many top schools. The defense will also be headlined by defensive tackle Jonathan Martin and DeRon’s brother, linebacker LeRon Furr. Jones is definitely the key component on this Carver squad. He runs the field and makes plays from sideline to sideline.
The Tigers get a chance to ease into their schedule with Spencer and Tri-Cities in the first two weeks. In the third week, however, Carver will face the two-time defending state champion from Class 4A, Northside-Warner Robins. Though not a region contest, this game will be a good test to see where the team stands. The rest of their schedule includes tough region games against Shaw and LaGrange. If they can get past the regular season unscathed, they can put themselves in position to play in the Georgia Dome in December. It’s always difficult to repeat, but when you are a first-time state champ that lost its top two offensive stars, it is more than a formidable task.
By Joe Deighton, who can be reached at joedeighton1@yahoo.com.
Class 2A: Buford Wolves
For the Buford Wolves, the biggest question is whether or not they can tread water early as they look to replace all but one starter on the offensive front.
On paper, what the Wolves lack in experience up front they more than make up for in size and beef. Each side of the offensive line is bookended with tackles approaching 300 pounds in Dallas Lee and Duvon Milsap. But the real surprise in the eyes of the coaches during summer workouts has been Kolton Houston. This 6-foot-5 junior and the rest of his linemates will look to use the beginning of the season to jell and build continuity in the trenches.
Making the plays offensively, and possibly defensively, for the Wolves will be junior Daunte Carr. Carr is a 6-3 junior who will get lots of time at wide receiver and will even double as a free safety. Joining him in the defensive backfield could be Jeffrey Gazaway, a senior who really surprised his coaches during the summer when he stepped into a newly opened starting position in the secondary.
But rest assured Wolves fans, your hopes for a repeat lie with the right person in head coach Jess Simpson. Simpson knows what it takes to repeat as state champions, as he was an assistant under Dexter Wood when the school won three consecutive titles from 2001-03. He and the rest of the coaching staff are guarding against complacency, but Simpson doesn’t see it as a problem. “I just haven’t sensed that our kids are satisfied,” he said, “and honestly, most of these kids have been waiting in the wings for their chance to play and prove themselves.”
So while the Wolves players and coaches may see this as a new year and a new team, the results may seem all too familiar for Buford opponents.
By Jason Boral, who can be reached at jboral@scoreatl.com.
Class 1A: Emanuel County Institute Bulldogs
After a dazzling 2007 state-championship season, the ECI Bulldogs will be hard-pressed to find ways in which they can improve on their last campaign. The 2007 team went 15-0 and won every game except one (Toombs County) by at least 16 points. The juggernaut from southeast Georgia rambled through the state playoffs, scoring at least 34 points per game and winning their five playoffs games by an average of almost 24 points per game.
Head coach Milan Turner knows his team will be the hunted rather than the hunter this year. “With the bull’s eye on our chest, we’re going to get everyone’s best game,” Turner said. “Our goal is to win championships, but a lot factors into that. We’re definitely going to have to get better every day in order to [repeat].”
The Bulldogs will play in a revamped Region 3-A this season as a member of the 3B subregion. The new region includes three programs that ECI did not see last year – Savannah Christian (Class 2A in 2007), Wheeler County and Montgomery County. However, last year’s toughest opponent, Toombs County, is not on the schedule.
The daunting task of approaching last year’s success will be aided by the return of several key players. Superstar running back and UGA commitment Washaun Ealey returns to try to equal his state-record 58 touchdown runs. On defense, the Bulldogs feature Georgia Tech commitment J.C. Lanier at defensive tackle (who plays on both sides of the line), UGA commitment Dexter Moody at linebacker and 2007 Region 3-A Defensive Player of the Year Mark Flott at cornerback.
By Stephen Black, who can be reached at sblack@scoreatl.com.
Check back here tomorrow for the fifth installment in our 15-day football preview, an exclusive interview with GHSA Executive Director Ralph Swearngin.
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