The following is an excerpt from the July 28 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: 3-AAA:
What it is: Region 3-AAA consists of seven teams in middle and east Georgia. Two are in the Augusta area, two are near Savannah and three are in middle Georgia. They play a full round-robin schedule to determine playoff teams. Thomson and Washington County are among the top six in victories this decade among Class AAA schools.
Defending champion: Baldwin
Best player: QB Terrel Brigham, Burke County
2008 STANDINGS
(Final 2008 Atlanta Journal-Constitution ranking included)
#3 Baldwin (12-1, 6-0)
Burke County (8-4, 5-1)
Washington County (8-3, 4-2)
Thomson (6-6, 3-3)
Liberty County (3-7, 2-4)
West Laurens (4-6, 1-5)
Richmond Hill (2-8, 0-6)
2009 PREDICTIONS
(Offensive/defensive starters returning)
Washington County (8/7)
Baldwin (7/6)
Burke County (5/3)
Thomson (5/3)
West Laurens (5/3)
Liberty County (4/6)
Richmond Hill (7/5)
TEAM BY TEAM
Baldwin Braves
2008 record: 12-1, 6-0 (region champions)
Playoffs: Lost to Flowery Branch 35-17 in the quarterfinals
Average record this decade: 7-4
Coach: Jesse Hicks (61-21 in seven seasons)
Offense: Pro-style I and spread (coordinator: Robert Cummings)
Defense: 4-3 (coordinator: Ronnie Baker)
Starters returning: 7 on offense, 6 on defense
Best player: OL Jadarius Dean
Other top players: QB Roshaun Milline, TB Javontae Edwards, OL Ryan Adams, WR D.J. Foston, FS Dennie Milline, OLB Kitray Solomon.
Key losses: LB Corico Hawkins (Clemson), OL Darius Nelson (South Carolina State), DB Cortney Ingram (South Carolina State)
Outlook: Baldwin won its first region title in 22 years last season and entered the playoffs ranked No. 2 with a 10-0 record. Region player of the year Corico Hawkins, a linebacker, signed with Clemson, but coach Jesse Hicks thinks this team could be just as good, but a little different. The defense – ranked No. 2 in scoring defense last season, allowing 7.2 points per game – might not be as stout, but Hicks thinks the offense could average 30-plus a game. That would be a touchdown better than last season when freshman QB Roshaun Milline ran the show. Hicks says Milline’s passing “is 360 compared to last year,” when Milline still threw for more than 1,000 yards and 14 touchdowns. The offensive line could be the region’s best, and watch for a breakout season from RB Javontae Edwards. He was a backup last season but rushed for 208 yards against Carver of Columbus.
Burke County Bears
2008 record: 8-4, 5-1 (second in region)
Playoffs: Lost to Cairo 41-28 in the second round
Average record this decade: 6-4
Coach: Eric Parker (16-7 in two seasons)
Offense: Spread gun, no huddle (coordinator: Jim Dye)
Defense: 4-3 (coordinator: Eric Luke)
Starters returning: 5 on offense, 3 on defense
Best player: QB Terrel Brigham
Other top players: WR Lonzie Lewis, SB Devonta Osborne, OL Devonda Cooper, OL Stephen Jordan, DL Alphonso Bray, DE Denzel Carter, DB James Robb
Key losses: RB Brandon Brown (West Georgia), RB/LB Rodney Moye, WR Bobby Burum, WR Tyrese Smith, OL Andrew Palmer, TE/DE Sam Collins
Outlook: Under Eric Parker, Burke County has put together its first back-to-back eight-win seasons since 1991-92. He had made a name for himself in 10 seasons at Laney, building that Augusta school into a state contender. The Bears must replace quite a few skilled players from a potent offensive unit (27.9 points per game) that helped them advance to the second round of the playoffs. Gone are leading rusher Brandon Brown and the top two receivers, Bobby Burum (48 receptions, 825 yards) and Tyrese Smith. Graduation also claimed three starters from the offensive line. The Bears do have QB Terrel Brigham (1,155 yards rushing, 1,797 yards passing, 33 total touchdowns). He was the Augusta Chronicle player of the year. On defense, Burke allowed 20.3 points last season, which isn’t good enough to win a region. And only three starters return from that group. That’s disturbing, but Parker likes the talent of his young players. They need to be more physical than in 2008.
Liberty County Panthers
2008 record: 3-7, 2-4 (fifth in region)
Average record this decade: 3-7
Coach: Kirk Warner (26-44 in seven seasons)
Offense: Spread option (coordinator: Kirk Warner)
Defense: 4-4 (coordinator: Jeff Daffron)
Starters returning: 4 on offense, 6 on defense
Best player: QB Julian Stokes
Other top players: CB Artavious Frost, CB Byron Johnson, LB Thomas Penny, LB Marcus Jefferson, LB Ducory Rhodes, DL Demetric Mothershed, OL Jordan Harper, OL Joseph Caldwell-Jones, OL Devin Walker
Key losses: RB Roderick Jones (Shorter), WR Jermaine Mitchum, DL Trier Bennett (Tuskegee)
Outlook: Despite a 3-7 record in 2008, the Panthers were only one game out of what would’ve been the 16-year-old school’s first state playoff appearance, and that was the 28-21 loss to Thomson. This season, the team will be looking to get over the hump with an experienced defense and a good offensive line. The main weakness is overall depth, head coach Kirk Warner acknowledges, but the top defenders are as good as anyone’s in the league, he contends. CB Artavious Frost returns for his fourth year as starter; he amassed 98 total tackles last season. On offense, QB Julian Stokes will run the option. He was 74-of-120 passing for 958 yards last season and rushed for another 600. Two running backs, sophomore Shadrach Thornton and junior Michael Rodriguez, should be able to step up and replace the production from Roderick Jones, one of two Liberty players who made the all-region team in 2008. The other was DL Trier Bennett, who also graduated. The kicking game will be a strength, with a four-year returning P/PK in Edward Chipple.
Richmond Hill Wildcats
2008 record: 2-8, 0-6 (seventh in region)
Average record this decade: 2-8
Coach: Brian Brocato (5-25 in three seasons)
Offense: Spread (coordinator: Lyman Guy)
Defense: 4-4 (coordinator: Rick Bond)
Starters returning: 7 on offense, 5 on defense
Best player: RB Zack Denny
Other top players: WR/QB Zack Groom, WR Shaquille Walker, LT Matt Wyatt, DE Josh Bryant, LB Mark Smith
Key losses: C Josh Davis (Savannah State), SS/LB Kevin Bodiford, S Tyler Mitchell, DB Vanquez Butler
Outlook: With more experience, team strength and depth, coach Brian Brocato and the Wildcats hope to make the playoffs (and win more than three games) for the first time since 1996. The centerpiece is Zack Benny, who broke 1,000 yards last season, not an easy feat on a 2-8 team. Brocato expects his team to be more balanced this season. In the passing game, it starts with QB/WR Zack Groom (500 yards receiving) and WR Shaquille Walker (400 yards receiving).Walker was the Class AAA runner-up in the 800 meters last spring. LT Matt Wyatt has been all-region two years in a row and is back to anchor the offensive line. On defense, LB Mark Smith leads a more experienced unit, returning with a team-leading 70 tackles.
Thomson Bulldogs
2008 record: 6-6, 3-3 (fourth in region)
Playoffs: Lost to LaGrange 34-7 in the second round
Average record this decade: 10-2
Coach: Luther Welsh
Offense: Spread (coordinator: Bobby Thomas)
Defense: 50 (coordinator: John Barnett)
Starters returning: 5 on offense, 3 on defense
Best player: RB Dontavis Brown
Other top players: G/DT Leroy Cummings, LB Denzell Burley, DE Anthony Moss, SE Nick Ray
Key losses: QB Brandon Turman, DB Darius Eubanks (Georgia Southern), LB Lonnie Harris (Louisburg College)
Outlook: The state has officially gone to the spread. Luther Welsh, the state’s oldest head coach at 78, and Thomson, the team that set the state record for rushing yards while winning a state title in 2002, are making the switch. The quarterback who will christen it is Phillip Anderson, who is 6 feet 5 and backed up first team all-region pick Brandon Turman last season. He’ll be leading a team that has only three senior starters back. The offensive line should be pretty good, with four players who’ve started at least one game in their careers. On defense, graduation was especially harsh. DE Anthony Moss is the only returner among six Thomson players who made first team all-region on offense or defense. Thomson hasn’t failed to have a winning season since 1998, the year before Welsh returned for his second tenure. That streak could be tested in 2009.
Washington County Golden Hawks
2008 record: 8-3, 4-2 (second in region)
Playoffs: Lost to Woodward Academy 21-7 in the first round
Average record this decade: 10-3
Coach: Joel Ingram (23-12 in three seasons)
Offense: I-formation (coordinator: Ron Bonner)
Defense: 4-4 (coordinator: Brad Wallace)
Starters returning: 8 on offense, 7 on defense
Best player: QB/DB Markeist Warthen
Other top players: RB Montravious Gladden, RG Chartavious Danzy, TE Jrametries Kirksay, C Jeremy Tillman, DE Wesley Evans, CB Arquentin Dixon
Key losses: LB Brandon Watts (Georgia Tech), RB Keith Swint
Outlook: Despite the loss of dynamic LB Brandon Watts, the 3-AAA defensive player of the year, the Golden Hawks’ defense should once again be stout. Returning to the unit that gave up just 99 points all year (including four shutouts) is DE Wesley Evans, a rising junior that head coach Joel Ingram predicts will be a high-profile recruit. CB Arquentin Dixon is the headliner in a deep secondary, and LBs Antonio Ingram and Terryhon Wright will try to become playmakers in Watts’s absence. On offense, senior QB Markeist Warthen is an honor student who is getting looks from N.C. State, Vanderbilt and several Division I-AA schools. RB Keith Swint (1,400 yards, 22 touchdowns) is gone, but Montravious Gladden rushed for more than 900 yards as his backup and should be able to increase that number greatly running behind a line that Ingram calls the strength of the team. First team all-region guard Chartavious Danzy, just a junior, is back, and Jrametries Kirksay is the region’s best tight end. Washington County will miss Ethan Jackson, the region’s best kicker. He was putting 90 percent of his kickoffs in the end zone and made four field goals from 40 yards or longer.
West Laurens Raiders
2008 record: 4-6, 1-5 (sixth in region)
Average record this decade: 3-7
Coach: Mark Pemberton (first season)
Offense: Wing Bone (coordinator: Mark Pemberton)
Defense: 3-4 (coordinator: Kevin Smith)
Starters returning: 5 on offense, 3 on defense
Best player: FB/LB Johnny Smith
Other top players: G/DT Drew Morris, WB/S Rodney O’Neal, QB Ross Miles, PK Dylon Smith
Key losses: LB A.J. Wright, DL Demario White, DB Tyler Pool, OL Mo Stanley
Outlook: West Laurens dipped into Tennessee to find new coach Mark Pemberton, who led Catholic High of Knoxville to a 15-0 record and the Class AAA title last year. Pemberton was 78-11 in his seven seasons at Catholic and won the past four Region 2-3A titles. He’ll import his Wing Bone offense, which is mostly a Wing-T with some triple option, similar to what Georgia Tech runs, but expect more passing. West Laurens had two quarterbacks last season, and both are back, but expect Ross Miles to get the majority of the snaps while Rodney O’Neal gets more work at wingback. He’ll also play free safety. FB/LB Johnny Smith rushed for nearly 1,000 yards, and lineman Drew Morris is an all-state candidate. The defense, which returns only three starters, might need more work. Pemberton talked his defensive coordinator of the past three seasons, Kevin Smith, into joining him. They believe they’ve found a good starting 11, but depth is an issue everywhere. Pemberton says he was surprised at the talent he saw. “The first time I saw them on film, I was pleasantly surprised at the athletes they had coming back,” Pemberton said. “I think we’re going to be very competitive in our starting 11 on both side of the ball.”
Region Preview: 4-AAA:
What it is: Region 4-AAA consists of 11 schools from south metro Atlanta to Macon generally along I-75. None has advanced past the second round of the state playoffs since 2003. Nine of the schools play a round-robin schedule to determine the four playoff teams. New schools Drew in Clayton County and Locust Grove in Henry County will play non-region schedules.
Defending champion: Jackson
Best player: LB Neiron Ball, Jackson
2008 STANDINGS
(Final 2008 Atlanta Journal-Constitution ranking included)
Jackson (10-1, 8-0)
Woodward Academy (8-4, 7-1)
Mary Persons (7-4, 5-3)
Eagle’s Landing (6-5, 5-3)
Woodland, Stockbridge (5-5, 5-3)
Spalding (4-6, 3-5)
Rutland (2-8, 2-6)
South Atlanta (1-9, 1-7)
Maynard Jackson (1-9, 0-8)
2009 PREDICTIONS
(Offensive/defensive starters returning)
Jackson (6/8)
Woodward Academy (5/5)
Woodland (10/8)
Spalding (7/6)
Eagle’s Landing (7/6)
Mary Persons (3/4)
Rutland (7/4)
South Atlanta (2/2)
Maynard Jackson (6/6)
*Drew (N/A)
*Locust Grove (N/A)
*New school not playing a region schedule
TEAM BY TEAM
Drew Titans
Coach: Jarrett Laws
Offense: Spread (coordinator: Jarrett Laws)
Defense: 4-4 (coordinator: Dorwyn Lyles)
Outlook: After leading Mount Zion of Jonesboro to a surprise quarterfinals appearance last season and a narrow loss to eventual runner-up Marist, coach Jarrett Laws made a move within the county to take over Clayton’s newest high school, Drew. Laws is no stranger to building a program from scratch, as he was head coach for the first two years at Freedom High School in Tampa. Eventually, Laws predicts, Drew will be a Class AAAAA school, as it has been planned out to be Clayton’s biggest high school. With Southern Crescent Stadium on campus and the best facilities in the county, according to Laws, the Titans should be competitive very soon. They will find out where they stand quickly, as the Titans will face some of the top Class A schools in the state. It’s early, but Laws sees rising freshman WR Sidney Scurlock as an impact player, along with FS Xavier Morris. Drew will play a full region schedule without a senior class next year.
Eagle’s Landing Golden Eagles
2008 record: 6-5, 6-3 (fourth in region)
Playoffs: Lost to Baldwin 28-3 in the first round
Average record this decade: 3-7
Coach: Joe Teknipp (6-5 in one season)
Offense: Spread/multiple (coordinator: Ron Quimby)
Defense: 4-4 (Joe Teknipp)
Starters returning: 7 on offense, 6 on defense
Best player: DE Lee Mungaro
Other top players: LB Cameron Hill, WR Pat Wiley, FS Isaih Hamm, WR/CB Sam Joseph, LB Lance Ellerbe, TB A.J. Hardy, FB Chasten Burns
Key losses: QB Justin “Jet” Williams (Eastern Kentucky), WR/CB Michael Lee (Massachusetts), TE B.J. Johnson (Miles), T/NT Shane Reed (Miles), K/P Justin Brantley (Georgia Southern)
Outlook: The Golden Eagles and second-year coach Joe Teknipp are out to prove last season’s playoff appearance was no fluke after turning around a 1-19 patch under the previous staff. The burden will be on the defense and experienced wide receivers and running backs. The main offseason chore was replacing QB Jet Williams, the region offensive player of the year. The job will go to a sophomore, Phillip Staples or Tyler Teknipp. Look for big years from RB A.J. Hardy (693 yards rushing in 132 attempts), DE Lee Mungaro (58 tackles nine sacks) and LB Cameron Hill (116 tackles).
Jackson Red Devils
2008 Record: 10-1, 8-0 (region champions)
Playoffs: Lost to Thomson 28-14 in the first round
Average record this decade: 8-3
Coach: Mike Parris (96-50 in 13 seasons)
Offense: I formation (coordinator: Todd Wells)
Defense: 50 (coordinator: Mike Eakin)
Starters returning: 6 on offense, 8 on defense
Best player: DE Neiron Ball
Other top players: DE Jamal Aquil, LB Dylan Smith, OLB Korey House, DB Austin Kimball, LB Mondarious Head, HB Quint McKibbon, TE Chris Head, FB Dusty Parris, QB Matt Cawthon, OL Miles Hamilton
Key losses: LB David Jenkins (Valdosta State), LB Chris Pope (Valdosta State)
Outlook: Jackson completed its first 10-0 regular season in its history in 2008. That’s a school that’s been playing football more than 60 years. The Red Devils also finished ranked No. 1 in scoring defense in Class AA, allowing 6.1 points per game. The scary thing is that the defense could be better in 2009. It’s led by DE/LB Neiron Ball, who committed on Monday to Florida. He’s one of the top 20 recruits in Georgia (see Recruiting in this issue for more on Ball). A couple of linebackers went to Valdosta State, but virtually everyone else is back on defense. On offense, Jackson has a 1,000-yard rusher in Quint McKibbon and a returning starter at quarterback in Matt Cawthon. The best player on offense (except when Ball gets spot duty) is TE Chris Head, who has an offer from South Carolina. The offensive line is the only question mark. “We’ve got to replace some linemen to give Quint some area to step up in there and do what he has to do because he’s pretty good,” coach Mike Parris said. If that happens, this team will rival Jackson’s semifinalist of 2000.
Locust Grove Wildcats
Coach: Clint Satterfield
Offense: N/A (coordinator: Jamie Reed)
Defense: N/A (coordinator: Craig Melton)
Outlook: The coaching staff at Locust Grove has an excellent pedigree, especially for a startup program. Head coach Clint Satterfield turned around a struggling Jonesboro program and took it to the playoffs last year in his third year as coach. Offensive coordinator Jamie Reed was a quarterback at Tusculum College. Slotbacks coach Ronney Daniels played wide receiver at Auburn and in the NFL; wide receivers coach Karsten Bailey played wide receiver at Auburn and in the NFL and CFL; and defensive coordinator Craig Melton played tight end at Tennessee Tech. The staff should have a lot to work with, as the school will draw talent from the Luella district, itself a newer school. Luella has had some excellent athletes come through its ranks since its first season in 2003. The schedule is typical, as the Wildcats will play eight games against first-year programs (two each against Arabia Mountain, Drew and North Murray, one each against Grovetown and Lambert) and two games against second-year programs (Mount Paran and Allatoona).
Mary Persons Bulldogs
2008 record: 7-4, 5-3 (third in region)
Playoffs: Lost to Burke County 42-14 in the first round
Average record this decade: 7-4
Coach: Rodney Walker (18-14 in three seasons)
Offense: Double slot (coordinator: Grant Chestnut)
Defense: 50 (coordinator: Brian Nelson)
Starters returning: 3 on offense, 4 on defense
Best player: FB Meshari Walton
Other top players: LB Tevin Davis, SB/WR Jonathan Majors, OG Nick Watson
Key losses: OL/DL Jaradeius Hamlin (Middle Tennessee), DT Devarick Jones (Tuskegee), WR Chris Bowden (Wingate), QB Drew Coleman
Outlook: Rodney Walker, a 278-game winner, has led his team to the playoffs 23 of the past 25 seasons, and that covers seven schools. But he’s got a real challenge this season as the Bulldogs will be painfully young, having lost more starters than most in the region. As many as nine sophomores might start. Walker is getting offensive coordinator Grant Chestnut to switch over the offense to a double slot base, which had been a staple of the program for years. Dustin Calder will be the new quarterback in place of Drew Coleman. FB Meshari Walton was a touchdown machine last season for a team that ranked second in the region in scoring (25.9 points per game). He’s back. Walker says the defense will be faster and more athletic, but he’s concerned about the defensive line, not to mention the three first team all-region players on defense (listed above) who graduated.
Maynard Jackson Jaguars
2008 record: 1-9, 0-8 (ninth in region)
Average record this decade: 3-7
Coach: Eric Williams (17-33 in five seasons)
Offense: Wing-T(coordinator: Eric Williams)
Defense: 3-5 (coordinator: Eric Williams)
Starters returning: 6 on offense, 6 on defense
Best player: TE/DE Antavious Earls
Other top players: G/LB Malcolm Jackson, WR/CB Patrick Gavin, LB/FB Mario McLain, HB/OLB Reginald Miller, HB Dexter Andrew
Key losses: ATH Miron McLain
Outlook: Eric Williams has managed to field competitive teams in his five seasons at Maynard Jackson (formerly Southside), a school that’s had one winning season out of 25, but in 2008, injuries and small senior and junior classes finally caught up with him. To make things simpler for a young team that still has only a half-dozen seniors, Williams is converting his offense to a Wing-T to feature Mario McLain (5 feet 7, 170 pounds), who made the all-region team last season as a freshman. Reginald Miller and Dexter Andrew will give the Jaguars a good set of running backs. Williams also says his team will be bigger along the lines of scrimmage, just from having freshmen and sophomore grow a year. On defense, McLain will be a linebacker. The top two-way player among six or seven who might start both ways is DE/TE Antavious Earls (6-1, 215), a senior and a college prospect. The quarterback duties will be handled by sophomore Demarcus Reeves and junior Derrick McQueen. Both have similar skills, Williams says. Maynard Jackson didn’t have many seniors last season, but it will miss Miron McLain (Mario’s brother), who scored 12 touchdowns running and receiving and started in the secondary.
Rutland Hurricanes
2008 record: 2-8, 2-6 (seventh in region)
Average record this decade: 4-6
Coach: George Collins (2-8 in one season)
Offense: Hybrid Wing (coordinator: Chip Stuart)
Defense: 50 (coordinator: Doug Johnson)
Starters returning: 7 on offense, 4 on defense
Best player: RB Michael Johnson
Other top players: OL Jaleel Brown, OL Tre’ Worriels, OL Patrick Williams, SS Dakota Toliver, CB Deon Pinkney, CB Gil Fruster
Key losses: QB Jamel Hickey, LB Dee Lundy
Outlook: In the school’s seventh year of football, the Hurricanes are looking to recapture the success they had in 2007 when they went to the playoffs for the first and only time. Head coach George Collins will rely heavily on the running game, led by RB Michael Johnson, a 1,000-yard rusher from a year ago. Johnson was a second team all-region player. Junior OL Tre’ Worriels leads the line at 270 pounds. The team will have to replace QB Jamel Hickey. Ryan Bartholomew played a good bit last year and should do fine. On defense, the secondary will be the strength. CBs Deon Pinkney and Gil Fruster are small but fast. But seven starters are gone, including LB Dee Lundy.
South Atlanta Hornets
2008 record: 1-9, 1-7 (eighth in region)
Average record this decade: 3-7
Coach: Julius Moses (first season)
Offense: Multiple (coordinator: Julius Moses)
Defense: Multiple (coordinator: Robert Martin)
Starters returning: 2 on offense, 2 on defense
Best player: DB/WR/QB Julius Moses II
Other top players: WR Rashad Bell, WR/DB/QB DeRico Byrd, RB/DB/WR James Roberson, DB Keithon Redding, RB/WR/DB JaTaurus Hughley, TE/DE Nathan Britton, FB/LB Joshua Davis, OL/DL Donald Phillips, DB Jacorey Crumbley, RB/DB Otis Lee, DB/WR Rico Hollis, OL Keith Simmons
Key losses: LB Desmond Wilson, CB Derrick Murray (Furman), QB Derrick McQueen (transferred to Maynard Jackson)
Outlook: South Atlanta doesn’t mind being known as a basketball school (Derrick Favors led the Hornets to the Class AAA title this year), but Julius Moses was hired to make it a football school, too. Moses is used to winning. He’s been on winning staffs at Grady and Mays the past 10 years. It won’t be easy at South Atlanta, though. Since opening in 1994, the Hornets have had only two winning seasons, and those were in the program’s first two years when it played non-region schedules. Moses brings his son, Julius II, to help. The junior will play quarterback and a little wide receiver and defensive back. He didn’t play last season because of a broken leg. His top target figures to be Rashad Bell, a first team all-region receiver. Bell has been playing basketball this summer. After losing all but four starters, and having only four or five seniors who will play, the Hornets will again struggle for wins, but Moses is an Atlanta native with a history of winning at city schools. The Hornets hope it’s a start.
Spalding Jaguars
2008 record: 4-6, 3-5 (sixth in region)
Average record this decade: 5-5
Coach: Clint Ashmore (4-6 in one season)
Offense: Run and shoot (coordinator: Rodney Ellerbee)
Defense: Defense: 50 (coordinator: Dale Wiggins)
Starters returning: 8 on offense, 7 on defense
Best player: DL Scoop Allen
Other top players: QB Casey Moody, WR Zae Fuller, OL Casey Chafin, DL Montae Williams, LB Grayson Jones
Key losses: DB Willie Hamm, H-back Travis Lee, OL Darion Ponder
Outlook: Clint Ashmore, a former offensive coordinator at Jackson, changed Spalding from a Wishbone team to a run-and-shoot with a freshman quarterback last season. The team got better as the season went on, but he hopes the second year in a system and eight returning starters mean good things. Sophomore Casey Moody (more than 1,500 yards passing) could be the best quarterback in the region this season, and he has a star receiver in Zae Fuller (28 catches). Moody and Fuller were second team all-region last season. On defense, Ashmore likes his front seven. He picked up 290-pound Chris Mays from the basketball team. DL Scoop Allen (6-1, 280) is the top player. If the defense performs – and it was a sturdy unit late in 2008 – Spalding can expect a winning season.
Woodland (Stockbridge) Wolfpack
2008 record: 5-5, 5-3 (fifth in region)
Average record this decade: 4-6
Coach: Scott Schmitt (7-11 in two seasons)
Offense: Spread (coordinator: Jeff Gulsby)
Defense: 3-5 (coordinator: Casey Wrye)
Starters returning: 10 on offense, 8 on defense
Best player: WR Tre Butler
Other top players: WR Alton Price, RB Josh Tookes, OL Josh Bishop, DE Alex Findura, LB Dillon Livecchee, LB Brandon Russell, LB Marquiste Mason, DE Shawn Robbins, LB Emmonds Thompson, S Darius Tookes
Key losses: QB/ATH Ray Lewis
Outlook: Woodland is in its third season of varsity football and poised to make the playoffs for the first time. It took a tiebreaker to keep the Wolfpack out last season, as Woodland tied for third place in the standings but got the short straw. Rising junior QB Brett Vance will take over the offense completely after sharing snaps with the dynamic Ray Lewis. He will have one of the top wideouts on the southside in Tre Butler, a second team all-region selection who has committed to Mississippi State. Butler caught 45 passes last season for 750 yards and 13 TDs. Joining him will be WR Alton Price, who racked up 350 yards and four TDs working in the slot. RB Josh Tookes returns his 584 yards rushing. On defense, the Wolfpack will be led by LB Marquiste Mason (104 total tackles). Three other linebackers with a combined 150-plus tackles are back, and that’s the strength of the defense. S Darius Tookes, brother of Josh, anchors the secondary.
Woodward Academy War Eagles
2008 record: 8-4, 7-1 (second in region)
Playoffs: Lost to Carver of Columbus 21-6 in the second round
Average record this decade: 6-5
Coach: Mark Miller (23-19 in four seasons)
Offense: Triple option (coordinator: Mark Miller)
Defense: Multiple 40 (coordinator: Greg Vandagriff)
Starters returning: 5 on offense, 5 on defense
Best player: DE Henry Anderson
Other top players: FB Juwan Thompson (Duke), RB Delino DeShields, LB Davis Elliott
Key losses: QB Greg Patton (Dartmouth), OL Brian Hollan
Outlook: Woodward has the best pair of running backs in the state in Delino DeShields (803 yards rushing, 83 carries) and Juwan Thompson (1,210 yards rushing on 171 carries). Thompson, who has committed to Duke, is the bigger back, and DeShields is the burner. They’ve been likened to Georgia Tech’s Jonathan Dwyer and Roddy Jones. Woodward runs a similar triple-option offense. Woodward also has another major Division I-A recruit in defensive end Henry Anderson(70 tackles, seven sacks), who has committed to Stanford. This team could make a run in the state playoffs if there’s enough cast remaining to help the big three. Coach Mark Miller believes QB Ryan Carter should be able to keep the offense rolling after the graduation of Greg Patton, but don’t underestimate the loss. Patton, the firstteam all-region quarterback, will be playing at Dartmouth this fall.
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