The fourth annual Great Atlanta Bash returns with a two-day, four-game lineup that will feature top talent from the Atlanta Public School District, in addition to programs from Clayton County and Douglas County. The action kicks off on Friday, Aug. 26 with a primetime televised matchup between North Atlanta and Drew and returns on Saturday for a triple-header between South Atlanta vs. Chapel Hill, Riverdale vs. Carver-Atlanta and Mays vs. Douglas County. Here’s what to watch for in each matchup.
North Atlanta vs Drew
Game 1 of the Great Atlanta Bash kicks off August 26th at Midtown High School with Peachtree TV and the CBS46 app broadcasting live from Midtown Stadium. North Atlanta enters this matchup coming off a solid season. The Warriors opened 2021 with a strong 4-0 start, but dropped its next four outings and closed out its final two games victorious to finish 6-4. They eventually missed the postseason, despite a three-way tie for third place finish in their region. Drew comes in after another sub. 500 season and will have to carve out a new offensive identity after leading rusher Hakeem Hodges left to join Dutchtown High School.
North Atlanta coach Jamie Aull will be using two quarterbacks this season, who will both get meaningful playing time and a chance to showcase their abilities.
“We have two guys we really like at quarterback. Trey Lennon returned from last year,” said Aull. “Then we got a young man in Ian Reynolds as a sophomore that has been pushing him through spring and throughout the summer. We like the experience with Trey, and some of the intangibles with Ian. I think they are both going to play meaningful snaps this season.”
Coach Aull gave a preview of the matchup and how his team was preparing for Drew.
“We have been following our process. Doing the same things we do week to week to prepare for a game,” said Aull. “Obviously everybody studies their opponent via film. We try to give each other the best looks we can in practice.You have to go out, trust your process and work hard.”
This matchup should be a good one especially after both teams missed the postseason last year and have aspirations to be practicing after Thanksgiving and be a perennial contender.
South Atlanta vs Chapel Hill
The second game of the great Atlanta Bash kickoffs at 10 am Saturday, August 27th at Midtown Stadium. This matchup features South Atlanta vs Chapel Hill. South Atlanta went 11-2 last year under first-year head coach Michael Woolridge and is coming off of a quarterfinal finish. Chapel Hill is rebuilding after their 1st season under head coach Brad Stephens, who previously coached at South Atlanta.
South Atlanta is looking to expand their offense and give defenses different looks this season. They know a lot of the attention will be on electrifying all-state running back Keyjuan Brown, but they have a plan.
“We want to look to throw a little bit more because we know we are going to have loaded boxes with Keyjuan Brown rushing like how he is rushing and we know we are going to get 8, 9, 10 man boxes,” said Woolridge. “People are going to kind of force us to kinda put it in the air so we have been trying to improve our passing game during the offseason.”
Komari Frye, Chapel Hill’s leading rusher and quarterback from last season, is gone from the roster. Chapel Hill looks to replace his production and use other skill players to lead the offense.
South Atlanta has other weapons that may surprise some teams this year. One is an all-purpose athlete who can play multiple positions and is dangerous with the ball in his hands.
Coach Woolridge raved about him and what he brings to the team.
“TJ Summerall who is going to play the snickerback for us the aceback position, the slot, and even play a little bit of running back to give Keyjuan Brown a blow,” said Woolridge. “He is an exceptional athlete, and he is also going to be the starting safety on defense. This guy can do it all with the ball in his hands. He is kind of like Deebo Samuel on the 49ers.”
Brown is one of the top running backs in the state and recently committed to Purdue. The other key playmaker for the Hornets will occupy the safety role and looks to impose his will when the season gets under way and has a great football IQ.
“Taye Seymore is an East Carolina commit. He’s a safety, and he has been very impressive since he’s got here,” said Woolridge. “His football IQ and his speed is going to help us.”
South Atlanta plans to take another step forward this year by focusing on the weight room and conditioning. Instead of just the endurance, the focus is on making sure they are strong in those pivotal moments of the game ensuring they aren’t gassed and can outlast teams.
“We also instill them in the weight room this year. We were good in the weight room last year, but not as much as we should have been,” said Woolridge. “We have been putting a real emphasis on staying in the weight room during the season.I think strength is what hurt us against Callaway. We got a little tired and they were a little stronger than us. In the season, we are really, really run a more effective weight room than we did last year.”
Chapel Hill vs South Atlanta should be a fun matchup as both teams look forward to making a run this year.
Riverdale vs Carver Atlanta
The third game of the Great Atlanta Bash starts at 1:00 PM Saturday, August 27th. This matchup features a Riverdale team who had a hot start to the season and made it to the second round before losing to Dougherty. In contrast, Carver Atlanta went 11-3 and made it to the state championship before losing 56-26 to the eventual champion Cedar Grove.
Carver Atlanta looks to replace the production of their dynamic running backs, Jarveous Brown and Quintavious Lockett, who combined last season for 3,190 yards and 29 touchdowns last year.
“Shoun Bilal was the third team back last year. He’s going to enter the year as the starter,” said Carver Atlanta Coach Darren Myles. “Taurin Kemp, who starts at cornerback, will also be getting some carries in the backfield. He basically gives us that change in pace. We are probably going to try and go with four guys. It all depends on how the game is going.”
Riverdale boasts a lot of youth this year after losing many seniors and having a thin junior class. Riverdale will depend on its underclassmen to step up and fill the shoes of those who graduated and improve upon last season.
“We lost 17 seniors, we got 14 back, but our junior class is very small. We lost a lot of kids to transfers and stuff like that,” said coach Hackney. “We are going to be depending on a lot of sophomores this year to help us make it through the season.”
Keep your eyes on wide receiver Deandre Buchanon and quarterback Bryce Bowens for Carver Atlanta this year. The tandem last year hooked up for 737 yards and eight touchdowns. With Bowens improving and developing more as a passer and Buchanon’s speed and great route-running ability, this duo could be in for a phenomenal season and strike fear in defenses.
“Bryce has been doing an outstanding job of working hard in the weight room. Off the field, he’s been going to seven on seven camps and getting even more development,” said Myles. “We look forward to him having another big year.”
“Deandre Buchannon definitely will be one to keep an eye on. I am sure he will be drawing some double coverage,” said Myles. “Deandre Buchannon is fast, shifty, a good route runner, and has good hands. He’s been a starter since he was a freshman for us.”
One guy on offense that will carry the load this year for Riverdale is returning running back Autavious Ison. Ison looks to have a good season and has been putting in the extra work to become one of the best backs in region AAAA.
“Ison is really a sponge. He absorbs everything and is a very coachable kid. He is one of the kids you get every ten years, and they just come around,” said Hackney. “He really goes hard and puts in the extra effort you need to be a top-notch running back in these types of regions.”
This matchup features a lot of familiarity and continuity with the coaches facing off against each other before.
“Yes, we coached against each other when he was at Washington High School. Coach Hackney and his staff always do a great job of preparing his team,” said Myles. “His boys are well coached and disciplined, athletic, and physical. We are going to make sure that we match their physicality and intensity and make sure that we have our players coached up well.”
Hackney also chimed in on the matchup and his thoughts on going against coach Myles again.
“Carver is a big challenge. I’ve known coach Myles for years. I coached APS for over seven years,” said Hackney. “We have played against each other before. I know what type of team he will come in with, well-disciplined. We know we got our hands full with coach Myles and the Carver Panthers. It should be a good game.”
Both teams have high expectations for the season, and the coaches’ familiarity makes this matchup a must-see. These teams are physical and athletic, with players who fly around to the ball. Look for Saturday’s matchup to be hard-hitting and even leave a few bruises because both teams will give their all until the final whistle.
Douglas County vs Mays
The final game of the Great Atlanta Bash kickoff at 4:00 p.m features Douglas County vs Mays. Douglas County enters this matchup after a second round exit last year, and returns a good bit of their starters. Another year should bode well for Douglas County.
Mays enters this matchup in a transition with a new head coach at the helm Tony Slaton. Slaton is also a former quarterback for his alma mater Mays. Slaton graduated in the class of 92. Mays impressed in the Corky Kell 7 on 7 over the summer and hope to bring some of that momentum into the season.
Douglas County Sire Hardaway has been working this offseason and improving his game. Douglas County coach Johnny White expects Hardaway to have a good season.
“We won 8 games with him as a sophomore. He understands our offense. He knows where the ball needs to go,” said White. “He is starting to really pick up and understand coverages, so that is really going to help us out. I think he will have a dynamic football year.”
Leading rusher for Douglas County Latrelle Murrell will miss the Great Atlanta Bash and won’t be ready until region play, per Najeh Wilkins.
“Our running back Latrelle Murrell messed up his shoulder, so he is going to be out for three weeks,” said White. “That’s why he is not on the depth chart. He’s a 1,200 yard returning running back, so we will get him ready for region play.”
The injury occurred due to an awkward fall.
Douglas County is dealing with another significant injury headed into this matchup. Star defensive lineman Shakai Woods will be out for some time. Coach White gives details about the injury and when Woods is expected to be back.
“Shakai Woods partially tore his achilles in the spring, and he is not planning to come back until September,” said White. “He was all-state last year. He may be ready by Mays, but we aren’t 100% sure yet.”
Mays comes in with a stout defensive front. Three of their starters have been heavily recruited and they will be leaning on Troy Pikes to impose his will and be a defensive anchor. Mays coach Tony Slaton raved about his defensive line.
“Defensive line will definitely be our strength. We have four starters up front, three of those starters are highly recruited players,” said Slaton. “Troy Pikes anchors our defensive line along with Quintavious Johnson. Eliyah Hall is a sleeper. He’s a kid with great size. He created a lot of buzz for himself during the spring with a lot of coaches coming in just in awe about his size and his strength.”
Douglas County will look to be technique sound on defense coming into this matchup and making sure all the players are running to the football.
“I want us to be Technique sound and 11 to the football,” said White. “If we got 11 guys running to the football, then good things are going to happen.”
Mays will be leaning on their returning starting quarterback Saulamon Evans to shoulder the load offensively.
“Evans on the offensive side of the ball is definitely our most impactful player,” said Slaton. “He’s a very versatile too. He played a little wide receiver for us when we had Quintavious Johnson (current defensive lineman) at the quarterback position.”
The final matchup will be a great way to conclude the Great Atlanta Bash with both coaches having familiarity of coaching against each other and are friends outside of the football field.
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