The following is an excerpt from the July 27 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: 1-AAA:
What it is: Region 1-AAA consists of eight teams stretching in almost a straight line from Peach County and Perry in middle Georgia to Cairo near the Florida border. The teams play a full round-robin schedule to determine their playoff berths. Cairo and Peach County this decade have won state titles and rank among the top 10 in victories in Class AAA.
Defending champion: Cairo
Best player: LB Tommy Sanders, Crisp County
2008 STANDINGS
(Final 2008 Atlanta Journal-Constitution ranking included)
#1 Cairo (14-0, 7-0)
Peach County (8-3, 6-1)
Dougherty (6-5, 4-3)
Crisp County (6-5, 4-3)
Worth County (5-5, 3-4)
Westover (5-5, 2-5)
Perry (2-8, 1-6)
Monroe (4-6, 1-6)
2009 PREDICTIONS
(Offensive/defensive starters returning)
Peach County (8/6)
Cairo (2/1)
Monroe (8/8)
Dougherty (6/7)
Worth County (7/6)
Crisp County (5/5)
Westover (7/5)
Perry (5/6)
TEAM BY TEAM
Cairo Syrupmakers
2008 record: 14-0, 7-0 (state champion)
Playoffs: Beat Flowery Branch 28-14 in state championship game
Average record this decade: 9-3
Coach: Tom Fallaw (59-16 in six seasons)
Offense: Multiple I (coordinator: Greg Boyce)
Defense: 8-man front (coordinator: Jeff Littleton)
Starters returning: 2 on offense, 1 on defense
Best player: FS/WR Jermyrin Bodiford
Other top players: QB Brian Walker, RB/LB Terrell Cason, TE Lester Harrell, T Anthony Brown
Key losses: QB Angelo Pease (junior college), RB Reginald Bryant (junior college), DT Montavious Williams (South Alabama), DE Logan Bennett (South Alabama)
Outlook: Cairo has gone 10-2, 13-2 and 14-0 the past three seasons with perhaps the best senior class in school history. Only three starters return. Those departing include QB Angelo Pease (1,491 yards passing, 18 touchdowns, 0 interceptions, 871 yards rushing), RB Reginald Bryant (1,692 yards rushing) and DT Montavious Williams. Cairo has small junior and senior classes (35 players total, compared to 70 who are sophomores and freshmen), but talent isn’t an issue. It’s inexperience. QB Brian Walker is a dual-threat player in the mold of Pease. RB Laquinton Williams (6 feet 2, 205 pounds) is the junior expected to replace Bryant, and he’ll be a top prospect next year. The offensive line might be bigger and the defense as quick or quicker. “I’ve been here for 10 years, and Cairo is always quick on defense, and on offense, we’re going to have kids who can make a play,” said coach Tom Fallaw, who added that this team reminds him of the 2001 group that was coming off back-to-back semifinals but started 0-3 after heavy graduation losses. That team won eight straight and reached the second round. With the standard that Fallaw has set recently, Cairo would be disappointed not to do just a little better than that.
Crisp County Cougars
2008 record: 6-5, 4-3 (fourth in region)
Playoffs: Lost to Carver (Columbus) 28-0 in the first round
Average record this decade: 5-6
Coach: Tommy Walburn (14-18 in three seasons)
Offense: Wing-T (coordinator: Kesley Dalrymple)
Defense: Wide-tackle 6 (coordinator: Shelton Felton)
Starters returning: 5 on offense, 5 on defense
Best player: LB Tommy Sanders
Other top players: QB Chris Yowe, DE Otis Ray, FB Josh Waters
Key losses: WR Bo Carter (Georgia State), DB James Troutman, DB Eric Rogers
Outlook: All-state candidate Tommy Sanders, a 6-2, 205-pound linebacker who has committed to Central Florida, is the marquee player here. He had 120 tackles and three interceptions last season and will lead one of the better defenses in the region. Dual-threat quarterback Chris Yowe, a third-year starter, returns to lead the Cougars’ Wing-T. Yowe is being recruited as an athlete by Western Kentucky and Vanderbilt. The challenge will be the lines of scrimmage. All five on the offensive side are gone, and three of four on the defensive line. Crisp also needs to score more points. The 14.2 average of 2008 was dismal for a playoff team. Crisp also pulled out every close game in 2008, winning four times by seven points or less. That will be hard to reproduce.
Dougherty Trojans
2008 record: 6-5, 4-3 (third in region)
Playoffs: Lost to LaGrange 28-6 in the first round
Average record this decade: 5-5
Coach: Charles Flowers (9-11 in two seasons)
Offense: I-formation (coordinator: Kareem Sanders)
Defense: 4-4 (coordinator: Calvin Arnold)
Starters returning: 6 on offense, 7 on defense
Best player: RB/KR Arabian Williams
Other top players: OL Michael Bennett, OL D’Andre Williams, C Tommy Whaley, RB Ezekiel Knowles, LB Gerald Hooper, DL Tommy Walker, Marcus Williams, CB Jerald Byrd, FS Tomari Allen, TE Carlos Watson
Key losses: QB Elton Walls (Fort Valley State), OL Michael Baisden (Fort Valley State), DE Quontez Mallory (Georgia Military), DE Lakevius Riley (Georgia Military)
Outlook: Charles Flowers, who built Shaw of Columbus into a Class AAA power, got Dougherty in the state playoffs for the first time since 2005 in his second season in Albany. Another step forward is realistic. QB Elton Walls is off to Fort Valley State, but Flowers is pleased with the potential of Shawroski Griffin. All-region RB/KR Arabian Williams returns to round out a backfield with fellow RB Ezekiel Knowles. The Trojans’ offensive line returns three starters, including 305-pound Michael Bennett. Defensively, three starters return in the secondary (CB Marcus Williams, CB Jerald Byrd and FS Tomari Allen. The defensive line is the unproven spot.
Monroe Tornadoes
2008 record: 4-6, 1-5 (eighth in region)
Average record this decade: 5-6
Coach: Charles Truitt (28-27 in five seasons)
Offense: Pro-style (coordinator: Billy Glanton)
Defense: 4-3 (coordinator: Jesse Hunt)
Starters returning: 8 on offense, 8 on defense
Best player: WR/DE Larry Whitfield
Other top players: RB Dominique Lumpkin, QB Justin Pride, OL Early Mumphrey, OL Brian Chamberlain, LB Johnny Moore, DB Detrick Holly
Key losses: WR Tim Jackson (Albany State), DE James Lee (Valdosta State)
Outlook: Charles Truitt’s rebuilt Tornadoes took a wrong turn in 2008, suffering a losing season after consecutive seasons of having won a round in the state playoffs. This team should be much better as eight starters on each side return. RB Dominique Lumpkin was averaging more than 100 yards rushing when his season was ended in the sixth game due to injury. QB Justin Pride (1,600 yards passing) also returns, as does the entire offensive line. On defense, Monroe loses a couple of players in the secondary and a top defensive end, but the rest is back. Monroe should be closer to its 2006 and 2007 form this season.
Peach County Trojans
2008 record: 8-3, 6-1 (second in region)
Playoffs: Lost to Shaw 22-7 in the first round
Average record this decade: 10-3
Coach: Chad Campbell (16-6 in two seasons)
Offense: Multiple-I (coordinator: Todd Cooper)
Defense: 3-3-5 (Chad Campbell)
Starters returning: 8 on offense, 6 on defense
Best player: LB Jessie Lewis
Other top players: QB Patrick Taylor, WR Lamar Zanders, RB Travis Richmond, DE Randolph Williams, LB Luke Crowell, LB Octavious Hall
Key losses: DB Reggie Taylor (Auburn), WR/DB Tavarus Simmons
Outlook: Injuries conspired to hamstring Peach’s 2008 season. They slowed QB Patrick Taylor and RB Travis Richmond. Taylor, who’s receiving attention from several Division I-AA schools, and 5-5, 155-pound Richmond (4.39 40-yard dash) both return. In addition, hot WR prospect Lamar Zanders (offers from Troy and UAB) will team with those to give Peach County one of the better skill sets in the region. Zanders filled in at quarterback much of last season because of the injuries and threw for 812 yards and rushed for 445. On defense, senior LB and D-I prospect Jessie Lewis leads the way, along with the fast-improving DE Randolph Williams. Peach County’s main task will be replenishing a depleted secondary, which lost all four starters, including two to college football. But the front seven is essentially back from a defense that ranked No. 6 in Class AAA, allowing just 9.5 points per game. Peach also has an excellent kicker in Rustin Evatt (6-of-7 inside 40 yards with a long of 45).
Perry Panthers
2008 record: 2-8, 1-6 (seventh in region)
Average record this decade: 5-6
Coach: Andy Scott (26-20 in four seasons)
Offense: Multiple-I (coordinator: Bob Daughtry)
Defense: Multiple 4-3 (coordinator: Rod Harris)
Starters returning: 5 on offense, 6 on defense
Best player: DB/WR/KR Brandon Smith
Other top players: DT Quintin Stripling, TE Tyler Martins, QB Dardra Reagan, QB Brent Gentry, RB Brandon Grace, FB Kaderius Felder
Key losses: OL Johnnie Farms (South Carolina)
Outlook: Perry was probably the most disappointing Class AAA team in 2008. A top 10 team in preseason, Perry finished at the bottom in Region 1-AAA. But looks can be deceiving. Four of those losses came in the final two minutes. This season’s spring practices have been centered on finishing games late in the fourth quarter. WR/DB/KR Brandon Smith returns to spark the Panthers’ Multiple-I offense – the 5-9 speedster ran a 4.49 40-yard dash at Auburn earlier this year. TE Tyler Martins (6-5) is being recruited by Vanderbilt. But the staff will have to figure out who will be throwing the ball to him in a potential two-QB system. Massive DT Quintin Stripling returns to lead a pretty good front seven.
Westover Patriots
2008 record: 5-5, 2-5 (sixth in region)
Average record this decade: 4-6
Coach: Jeff Caldwell (29-37 in six seasons)
Offense: Multiple I formation (coordinator: Josh Caldwell)
Defense: 4-3 (coordinator: Danny Blaylock)
Starters returning: 7 on offense, 5 on defense
Best player: QB Rashad Jackson
Other top players: OL Jason James, OL Jay Kegler, DE Richmond Harrison, MLB Javontay Jordan
Key losses: WR Rashad Greene (transferred), LB Sedrick Rowe (Fort Valley State), SS Greg Green (Fort Valley State)
Outlook: In 2008, Westover had a good group of skill players and young lines of scrimmage. This season, it’s the opposite except that QB Rashad Jackson – who led 1-AAA in total yardage – is back. He threw for about 1,900 yards and rushed for another 600. He’s 6-3, 215, and getting college attention. It’s a shame that Rashad Green, perhaps the state’s best sophomore wide receiver last season, transferred to St. Thomas Aquinas in Florida. Westover’s season depends on whether QB Jackson has enough playmakers around him.
Worth County Rams
2008 record: 5-5, 3-4 (fifth in region)
Average record this decade: 4-7
Coach: Scotty Ward (first season)
Offense: Multiple/pro-style (coordinator: Ken Holland)
Defense: 4-3/4-4 (coordinator: Perry Pylant)
Starters returning: 7 on offense, 6 on defense
Best player: TE/DE Justin Tukes
Other top players: RB/CB Sudarien Smith, DL CJ Williams, DT Jonathan Brown, DT Sherrod Loud
Key losses: DE Meshak Williams (Kansas State, did not qualify), FS Matt Leonard (Alabama State), DT Jerrod Loud (Kentucky Christian), CB Charles Jones (Kentucky Christian), SS Jarvis Howard (Kentucky Christian)
Outlook: Scotty Ward is Worth’s new head coach, replacing Harris Rainbow, who left to start the Walnut Grove program in Walton County. The defensive line is Worth’s most conspicuous feature. Justin Tukes (6-4, 220) is drawing interest from Georgia State and Central Florida and provides an imposing presence off the edge. He also plays tight end. Defensive tackles Sherrod Loud (6-1, 285) and Jonathan Brown (6-1, 300) give the Rams an impressive run-stuffing combo. Gone is all-state DE Meshak Williams, who had a remarkable 23 sacks in 10 games. The defense must improve substantially to get the Rams in the playoffs. Worth had the second-worst defense in the region, allowing 26.1 points. The offense, which averaged 28 points and ranked No. 2 to Cairo, has seven starters back, but the starting quarterback broke his leg early in spring practice. RB Sudarien Smith averaged 11 yards per carry in limited action last year.
Region Preview: 2-AAA:
What it is: Region 2-AAA consists of seven teams around Columbus and LaGrange. They play a round-robin schedule to determine playoff teams. Shaw and LaGrange rank 1-2 in victories this decade among Class AAA schools, and Carver won the 2007 state title. The region has eight of Scout.com’s top 100 senior prospects in Georgia.
Defending champion: Carver
Best player: DE J.C. Copeland, Troup
2008 STANDINGS
(Final 2008 Atlanta Journal-Constitution ranking included)
#4 Carver, Columbus (11-3, 6-0)
#6 LaGrange (11-3, 5-1)
Shaw (5-7, 4-2)
Troup (4-7, 3-3)
Northside, Columbus (3-7, 2-4)
Kendrick (1-9, 1-5)
Columbus (1-9, 0-6)
2009 PREDICTIONS
(Offensive/defensive starters returning)
Carver, Columbus (4/6)
LaGrange (6/4)
Troup (5/5)
Shaw (4/4)
Northside, Columbus (N/A)
Columbus (9/7)
Kendrick (5/3)
TEAM BY TEAM
Carver (Columbus) Tigers
2008 record: 11-3, 6-0 (region champions)
Playoffs: Lost to Cairo 42-13 in the semifinals
Average record this decade: 7-5
Coach: Dell McGee (41-12 in four seasons)
Offense: Multiple spread
Defense: Multiple 3-4
Starters returning: 4 on offense, 6 on defense
Best player: DE Corey Crawford
Other top players: QB Devin Burns, T David Beasley, RB Isaiah Crowell, DT Gabriel Wright
Key losses: LB Jarvis Jones (Southern Cal), CB Ryan Campbell (Ole Miss), LB LeRon Furr (Oklahoma State), OL Chris Hubbard (UAB)
Outlook: Carver has reached the semifinals or better each of the past three seasons and won Class AAA in 2007. This year’s team lost most of its starters, but among those returning, six are major Division I-A prospects. They include DE Corey Crawford, QB Devin Burns, DE Brandon Smith and G David Beasley, all ranked among the top 65 senior prospects in the state by Scout.com. RB Isaiah Crowell and DT Gabriel Wright are Super 11 candidates in the class of 2011. On offense, Carver must replace four of five starters on the line (all except first-team all-state Beasley) because Clarence France is going over to defense. Coach Dell McGee is pleased with QB Burns and believes he’s greatly improved from last season. RB Crowell “provides a great security blanket for offense because every time he touches the ball he has the potential to take it the distance,” McGee said. Crowell (1,002 yards rushing on just 86 carries) will be more physical as a junior, McGee said. On defense, Carver lost to great inside linebackers in Jarvis Jones and Leron Furr. The secondary also must replace two starters. The defensive front should be among the region’s best.
Columbus Blue Devils
2008 record: 1-9, 0-6 (seventh in region)
Average record this decade: 3-7
Coach: Phil Marino (first year)
Offense: I formation (coordinator: Phil Marino)
Defense: Eight-man front (coordinator: Bobby Howard)
Starters returning: 8 on offense, 7 on defense
Best player: QB Greg Bingham
Other top players: RB/DB C.J. Jefferson, LT Ryne Holland, OT Jamie Starke, WR Demetrius Jackson
Key losses: C Carter Barrows
Outlook: New coach Phil Marino comes from East Columbus Magnet Academy, where he won three straight city titles in the middle school league. Unfortunately, not a lot of those players will be coming through Columbus High, but Marino does inherit an experienced (albeit still young) team. QB Greg Bingham (6 feet 4, 220 pounds) is a college prospect who missed half of 2008 with a broken foot and is flying under the radar. Leading rusher C.J. Jefferson (675 yards) also is back. The defense should be better than the unit that allowed 42 points per game. The front seven is more certain than the secondary, Marino says. Marino has bolstered the staff with former East Columbus coaches. Chris Church will be working with the offensive line and Chris Alexander with the wide receivers. They know they’ll need to roll up their sleeves because Columbus hasn’t seen the playoffs in 15 years. It’s going to take stability and an attitude adjustment to change that.
Kendrick Cherokees
2008 record: 1-9, 1-5 (sixth in region)
Average record this decade: 3-7
Coach: Jerry Dukes (1-9 in one season)
Offense: I formation (coordinator: Collins Jones)
Defense: 50 (coordinator: Jerry Dukes)
Starters returning: 5 on offense, 3 on defense
Best player: FB Kevis Pledger
Other top players: OL Corie Wilson, C Artavious Reynolds, QB Willie Farley, RB Jarvis Evans, OL Jarvis Perry, TB Wesley Worthing
Key losses: QB Alvin Hill, WR Tywon Myrick
Outlook: Most starters are gone from a 1-9 team that hasn’t seen a winning season since 1995. So improvement, rather than the playoffs, is the realistic goal. Coach Jerry Dukes said he likes the attitude on a young team trying to establish the belief that it can win. Kendrick lost its starting quarterback and best receiver (Tywon Myrick, six touchdowns), so expect the Cherokees to run the ball more. Kevis Pledger (6-1, 210) is a hard-nosed runner, and he’ll have big linemen in front of him. That should be the strength of the team. The defense returns just three starters from a team that allowed 40.3 points per game.
LaGrange Grangers
2008 record: 11-3, 5-1 (second in region)
Playoffs: Lost to Flowery Branch 28-0 in the semifinals
Average record this decade: 11-2
Coach: Steve Pardue (148-35 in 15 seasons)
Offense: Wing-T (coordinator: David Traylor)
Defense: Eight-man front (coordinator: Donnie Branch)
Starters returning: 6 on offense, 4 on defense
Best player: QB Jamius Gunsby
Other top players: K Joe Mansour, RB Ocie Salter, RB Xavier Heard, WB Matt Pauley, OT Johndarrius Lovett, OG Nathan Kindler, DT Jarrell Williams, DT LaMarcus Hardnett, CB Josh Manning, LB Devon Smith
Key losses: LB Qua Huzzie (Kentucky), DE Tristian Johnson (Kentucky), TE Ivan Dowell (Tuskegee), LB Demetri Merritt (S.W. Mississippi), DE Kobina Essandoh (North Greenville), CB Darrin Hairston
Outlook: Graduation losses are heavy, but that’s not unusual at LaGrange, which had six alumni on SEC rosters last season. LB Qua Huzzie was the AJC’s Class AAA defensive player of the year. He’s the biggest loss. The biggest returnee, literally speaking, is 6-5, 230-pound QB Jamius Gunsby, rated by Scout.com as the No. 2 prospect at his position in Georgia behind Flowery Branch’s Connor Shaw. Gunsby (41-for-77, 642 yards, 7 TDs) will have the position to himself after sharing last season with Rodney Tolbert. RB Ocie Salter (1,197), the team’s leading rusher in 2008, is back. LaGrange expects to be better on offense, but it will be a challenge to be so strong on defense with just four starters back. LaGrange was eighth in scoring defense in Class AAA last season. The team feels good about interior linemen Jarrell Williams and LaMarcus Hardnett. LaGrange has the best punter/kicker in AAA in Joe Mansour, who has committed to Kentucky. He put 78 percent of his kickoffs in the end, punted for a 41.0 average and made six field goals.
Northside (Columbus) Patriots
2008 record: 3-7, 2-4 (fifth in region)
Average record this decade: 3-7
Coach: Paul Cates (3-7 in one season)
Offense: Triple option (coordinator: Morgan Ingram)
Defense: Multiple3-5 (coordinator: Steve Sparks)
Starters returning: N/A
Best player: N/A
Other top players: N/A
Key losses: DT John Drew (Duke), RB, Stephen Jackson, WR Desi Prowell
Outlook: GHSF Daily was unable to reach Coach Cates over the past several days. We will run a complete Northside preview later this week.
Shaw Raiders
2008 record: 5-7, 4-2 (third in region)
Playoffs: Lost to Baldwin 29-19 in the second round
Average record this decade: 11-2
Coach: Scott Newman (15-9 in two seasons)
Offense: I-formation/spread (coordinator: Mikal Underhill)
Defense: 4-4 (coordinator: Brent Young)
Starters returning: 4 on offense, 4 on defense
Best player: DE Marcus Stetzer
Other top players: WR Jamie Sanks, WR/RB/FS Marquis Miller, DT Rakeem Nunez, LB Oskar Horne, LB Malcolm Upshaw
Key losses: RB/ATH Kyle Griswould (Duke)
Outlook: Shaw started 0-5 in 2008 but wound up winning a round in the playoffs. This season, Shaw will face the same early-season gantlet but without RB Kyle Griswould, the Columbus Ledger-Enquirer offensive player of the year. He rushed for 1,136 yards, caught 22 passes and signed with Duke. He’s not the only big loss, especially on offense. Only four starters return on each side. The defense should be in better shape. DE Marcus Stetzer is probably the top player. The front seven is sound. Shaw has new coordinators on offense and defense. Coach Scott Newman does not expect to deviate too much from usual. He did say the Raiders operate more from under center but line up primarily from the shotgun. There’s a gap between Shaw and the elite teams in this region, but there’s also one between Shaw and fifth place. So Shaw should be another ”you don’t want to play them in the first round” kind of teams after being toughened up by a good schedule.
Troup Tigers
2008 record: 4-7, 3-3 (fourth in region)
Playoffs: Lost to Cairo 48-0 in the first round
Average record this decade: 7-4
Coach: Bubba Jeter (17-15 in three seasons)
Offense: Wing-T/spread (coordinator: Bubba Jeter)
Defense: 4-3 (coordinator: George Brewer)
Starters returning: 5 on offense, 5 on defense
Best player: DE J.C. Copeland
Other top players: RB/SS Jacorius Cotton, FB Brandon Worle, CB Cadarious Sanders, FS Vondre Jackson
Key losses: OL Chris Burnette (Georgia), DL Tay Irvin (Central Florida)
Outlook: Troup is one of two Class AAA schools with three major Division I-A players who are committed. (The other is Gainesville). Troup’s trio is DE J.C. Copeland (Tennessee), FB Brandon Worle (LSU) and CB Cadarious Sanders (South Carolina). But Troup also is losing a couple of big recruits in OL Chris Burnette, an AJC Super 11 player in 2008, and DL Tay Irvin, both linemen. But if this team can win more close games, it will be a threat to go far in the playoffs. A year ago, Troup lost to playoff teams Baldwin 9-7, Shaw 8-7, Washington County 3-0 and Dunwoody 14-7. In other words, Troup needs more offense and breaks. The backfield is still stacked with Worle (6-1, 243) and Jacorius Cotton running the ball, so if Troup can block despite losing Burnette, this could be a big year. The defense is talented but worrisome since the front seven is young and depleted, but the secondary could be the region’s best with four seniors.
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