Emanuel County Institute has hired Chad Harper as its new head football coach and he replaces 14-year veteran head coach Chris Kearson. After 14 seasons as head football coach and 29 years total of teaching and coaching, Kearson announced his retirement earlier this month. Coach Kearson leaves ECI as the program’s all-time winningest coach with a 112-52 career record. Kearson also has an 84-25 record during his time as an assistant coach with ECI, serving mostly as a defensive coordinator and with his time on Peach County’s staff, he has a total coaching record of 252-94. Kearson helped lead ECI to their 2007 state championship as defensive coordinator and a runner-up finish in 2008. He also led the Bulldogs to the 2012 Class A state finals and a 14-1 finish.
Like Kearson, coach Harper has deep ties with ECI. “Please join us in recognizing Coach Chad Harper, Head Football Coach of the ECI Bulldogs,” wrote ECI Bulldogs Football in a breaking news post. “Coach Harper has been loyal to the ECI athletic program for many years. He led the ECI baseball team as Head Coach for 18 years, and he has been on the football coaching staff for 26 years. Coach Harp is a Bulldog to his core, his enthusiasm is contagious. We are excited for what is to come.”
Chattahoochee County (Bruce Figgins) and Greene County (Terrance Banks) join Schley County (Darren Alford) as remaining vacancies within Class A Div. II. Coach Banks accepted the head coaching position at Central Gwinnett, Alford retired and Figgins has left Chattahoochee County after just one season.
Around the Class Boys: The biggest matchup on the boys side to watch is going down this Tuesday with No. 1 ranked McIntosh County Academy travelling to No. 2 ranked Savannah. McIntosh County Academy won the last head-to-head matchup 48-47 on Jan. 7. Savannah head coach George Brown spoke with Savannah Now this week about how that loss has motivated his team, “”It showed that we can’t just be comfortable and we can be beat on any day if we’re not playing our best,” said Brown, in his second season leading the program. “That is going to serve as motivation because we want to be the last team standing when it matters most. We’re expecting it to be a different story when we meet up with MCA again.”
Around the Class Girls: No. 1 ranked Taylor County has just two regular season games left on its schedule. The Lady Vikings will host Central-Talbotton on Saturday and then will visit Chattahoochee County on Tuesday for its regular season finale. Taylor County (15-2) recently suffered its first loss of the season within GHSA competition in a 48-32 loss to Macon County. The Vikings’ other loss came to GISA school St. Anne-Pacelli (58-47) on Jan. 20. Taylor County split its two matchups with Macon County—previously winning 68-56 on Jan. 7 before suffering the 48-32 loss on Jan. 28. Taylor County won 51-34 the last time they faced Chattahoochee County.
Class A Division II
Boys Top 10 Upcoming Games
1. McIntosh County Academy—Friday at Portal, 7:30 p.m.; Saturday vs. Metter, 7:00 p.m.; Tuesday at Savannah, 7:30 p.m.
2. Savannah—Friday at Jenkins County, 7:30 p.m.; Saturday at Claxton, 5:00 p.m.; Tuesday vs. McIntosh County Academy, 7:30 p.m.
3. Randolph-Clay—Friday vs. Pataula Charter, 7:30 p.m.; Saturday at Calhoun County, 7:30 p.m.; Tuesday at Quitman County, 7:30 p.m.
4. Calhoun County—Friday at Terrell County, 7:30 p.m.; Saturday vs. Randolph-Clay, 7:30 p.m.; Tuesday at Stewart County, 7:30 p.m.
5. Manchester—Friday at Elite Scholar’s Academy, 7:30 p.m.; Saturday at Trion, 7:30 p.m.; Wednesday, at Atlanta Classical Academy, 7:00 p.m.
6. Taylor County—Friday at Furlow Charter, 5:30 p.m.; Saturday vs. Central-Talbotton, 6:00 p.m.; Tuesday at Chattahoochee County, 7:30 p.m.
7. Macon County—Friday vs. Crawford County, 7:30 p.m.; Saturday at Marion County, 3:30 p.m.; Friday vs. Chattahoochee County, 7:30 p.m.
8. Early County—Friday at Stewart County, 7:30 p.m.; Saturday vs. Seminole County, 7:30 p.m.; Monday vs. Miller County, 7:30 p.m.
9. Clinch County—Friday at Charlton County, 7:30 p.m.; Saturday at Turner County, 7:30 p.m.; Tuesday at Lanier County, 7:30 p.m.
10. Trion—Friday at Greenville, 6:30 p.m.; Saturday vs. Manchester, 7:30 p.m.; Monday at Atlanta Classical Academy, 7:30 p.m.
Girls Top 10 Upcoming Games
1. Taylor County—Saturday vs. Central-Talbotton, 6:00 p.m.; Tuesday at Chattahoochee County, 6:00 p.m.
2. Bryan County—Friday vs. Emanuel County Institute, 6:00 p.m.; Tuesday vs. Jenkins County, 6:00 p.m.; Wednesday vs. Metter, 6:00 p.m.
3. Wilcox County—Friday vs. Treutlen, 6:00 p.m.; Saturday vs. Hawkinsville, 6:00 p.m.; Monday vs. Dooly County, 6:00 p.m.
4. Telfair County—Friday vs. Montgomery County, 6:00 p.m.; Saturday at Dooly County, 3:00 p.m.; Tuesday vs. Dooly County, 6:00 p.m.
5. Early County—Friday at Stewart County, 6:00 p.m.; Saturday vs. Seminole County, 6:00 p.m.; Monday vs. Miller County, 6:00 p.m.
6. Macon County—Friday vs. Crawford County, 6:00 p.m.; Saturday at Marion County, 2:00 p.m.; Friday vs. Chattahoochee County, 6:00 p.m.
7. Seminole County—Friday vs. Mitchell County, 6:00 p.m.; Saturday at Early County, 6:00 p.m.; Monday at Quitman County, 5:00 p.m.
8. Brooks County—Friday vs. Echols County, 6:00 p.m.; Saturday vs. Irwin County, 6:00 p.m.; Monday at Charlton County, 6:00 p.m.
9. Screven County—Saturday at Jenkins County, 6:00 p.m.; Tuesday vs. Claxton, 6:00 p.m.; Friday at McIntosh County Academy, 6:00 p.m.
10. Randolph-Clay—Friday at Pataula Charter, 6:00 p.m.; Saturday at Calhoun County, 6:00 p.m.; Tuesday at Quitman County, 5:00 p.m.
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