GHSF DAILY: Region 3-AAAA and 4-AAAA Football Previews

The following is an excerpt from the August 4 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-AAAA:

What it is: Region 3 consists of 11 Class AAAA schools in the Augusta area. Ten of the schools play a round-robin schedule to determine their four state playoff teams. Grovetown, a new school in Columbia County, will play a non-region schedule. Region 3-AAAA was 0-4 in the playoffs in 2008.

Defending champion: Evans

Best player: RB Jonathan Finch, Evans

2008 STANDINGS
(Final 2008 Atlanta Journal-Constitution ranking included)

Evans (10-1, 9-0)
Hephzibah (7-4, 7-2)
Glenn Hills (7-4, 7-2)
Richmond Academy (6-5, 6-3)
Lakeside, Evans (7-3, 6-3)
Harlem (4-6, 4-5)
Westside, Augusta (3-7, 2-7)
Cross Creek (2-8, 2-7)
Josey (2-8, 2-7)
Butler (0-10, 0-9)

2009 PREDICTIONS
(Offensive/defensive starters returning)

Richmond Academy (9/9)
Evans (8/4)
Glenn Hills (5/5)
Hephzibah (5/5)
Westside, Augusta (5/5)
Lakeside, Evans (6/6)
Cross Creek (N/A)
Harlem (3/3)
Josey (N/A)
Butler (6/5)
*Grovetown (N/A)
*New school playing a non-region schedule

TEAM BY TEAM

Butler Bulldogs
2008 record: 0-10, 0-9 (10th in region)
Average record this decade: 3-7
Coach: Ashley Harden (first season)
Offense: Wing-T (coordinator: Ashley Harden)
Defense: 3-5 (coordinator: Jason Anthony)
Starters returning: 6 on offense, 5 on defense
Best player: RB Hakeem Thompson
Other top players: QB Clayton Thompson, OLB Yasheem Coleman, LB Delonzo Harris, LB Jeffrey Menefee, OL Dontavious Ferguson, ILB Tiyre Thompson
Key losses: J.P. Ryans
Outlook: Ashley Harden, who has been an assistant at several South Georgia schools, takes over a program on a 31-game losing streak. Harden has fewer than 20 players left from last season, and five of his best seven players are sophomores, many of whom were part of a junior varsity team that went 6-1 and reached the city final. The quarterback on that team was Clayton Thompson, now the varsity starter. He’ll also start on defense, as lack of depth will force several players into going both ways. Hakeem Thompson, a rare senior, should be the leading rusher in Harden’s Wing-T offense. “Any time you start a program, you like to have young guys, and we’ve got some good, young, hungry players who are dedicated,” said Harden, who spent last season in his hometown as an assistant at Bradford High in Starke, Fla. “We’re going to coach them up and see what they can do.”

Evans Knights
2008 record: 10-1, 9-0 (region champions)
Playoffs: Lost to Mount Zion-Jonesboro 36-10 in the first round
Average record this decade: 5-6
Coach: Marty Jackson (33-31 in six seasons)
Offense: Spread (coordinator: Mike Bibee)
Defense: 50 multiple front (coordinator: Durward Sauls)
Starters returning: 8 on offense; 4 on defense
Best player: RB Jonathan Finch
Other top players: QB Troy Griffith, OL Wes Ivie, LB Darnell Jackson, K Jamie Galvin
Key losses: LB Nigel Charles, LB Reuben Faloughi (Georgia walk-on), DB Brandon McCladdie (Citadel)
Outlook: Coming off a 10-0 regular season, the Knights are ready to rebound after their first-round playoff loss that called into question the strength of this region. Evans’ offense is built around RB Jonathan Finch (1,620 yards rushing, 18 TDs, 8.2 yards per carry) and QB Troy Griffith (1,034 yards passing). Also back is first team all-region lineman Wes Ivie. Eight offensive starters return, so Evans should score points at a high rate, especially if it protects the ball as well as it did last season. The Knights committed only six turnovers. The defense – which ranked fifth in scoring defense in Class AAAA last season, allowing 9.3 points per game – needs an overhaul. LB Nigel Charles (102 tackles, 10 sacks) and DB Brandon McCladdie were among the region’s premier players. The best player returning is probably LB Darnell Jackson (83 tackles), a first team all-region player. Coach Marty Jackson also likes DL Brandon Ketchup. “It’s our defense that has to grow up early,” the coach said. “We really played mistake-free football last year. Now our kids are hungry, and when you are disappointed going 10-1, it’s a good feeling to have.”

Glenn Hills Spartans
2008 record: 7-4, 7-2 (third in region)
Playoffs: Lost to Griffin 26-0 in the first round
Average record this decade: 5-6
Coach: Ernest Tolbert (17-14 in three seasons)
Offense: Spread-I (coordinator: Ernest Tolbert)
Defense: 4-3 (coordinator: Vyus Downs)
Starters returning: 5 on offense, 5 on defense
Best player: LB Terrell Fitts
Other top players: WR/DB Justin Lord, OL Victor Moli, DB Jermaine Harris, QB/WR Chris Washington
Key losses: DE Jerico Brown (South Carolina State), LB Lonnie Moore (Tuskegee), RB Collin Bing (Morgan State)
Outlook: Glenn Hills made the playoffs for only the second time since 1990 last season, and despite losing most of his starters, coach Ernest Tolbert insists this team “is going back to the playoffs” again. He’s lost defensive juggernauts Jerico Brown (16 sacks) and Ronnie Moore (147 tackles). Both were first team all-state players by the Georgia Sports Writers Association. In fact, Brown was a rare three-time first team pick and perhaps the best player in school history. The coach is doing some juggling to compensate. Terrell Fitts is moving to middle linebacker to fill the void left by Moore. And with Brown gone, Tolbert said Desmond Smith, a threat off the corner, will play defensive end. Tolbert is moving quarterback Chris Washington to slot back, and junior Kendrick Armstrong will be taking the snaps. With last year’s leading rusher Collin Bing gone (Morgan State), Tolbert said they will rush by committee with the hope of sophomore Germaine Tate filling a big role in the backfield. With only 12 seniors on the roster and only six of them starting, the Spartans will lack depth compared to last year’s playoff team. “We have a lot of youth, but we are going to teach them to be physical,” Tolbert said. “We’ve put in a new offense, we have some new looks on defense, and the kids have adapted. We are going back, and this year we want to go further.”

Grovetown Warriors
Coach: Rodney Holder (first season)
Best player: RB Seth Hill
Other top players: TE/DE Marvin Danze, LB/DE Dominique Mingo
Outlook: The schedule is the most intriguing thing about Grovetown’s inaugural season. The Warriors, who will not play a region schedule, will meet Northside of Warner Robins and Buford. Former Greenbrier coach Rodney Holder isn’t starting from scratch with this new school, though. The Warriors will feature some talented seniors that played big roles with Harlem High, the school that Grovetown was built to relieve. RB Seth Hill amassed more than 1,400 yards and had 15 TDs as a junior and is being recruited by such schools as Georgia Southern, Wofford and Florida Atlantic. TE/DE Marvin Danze and LB/DE Dominique Mingo are two more seniors coming over from Harlem and are both college prospects. Holder had been an assistant at Greenbrier since 1999, the offensive coordinator since 2004.

Harlem Bulldogs
2008 record: 4-6, 3-5 (sixth in region)
Average record this decade: 4-6
Coach: Jimmie Lewis (46-83 in 13 seasons)
Offense: Shotgun triple option (coordinator: Adam Fulford)
Defense: 3-5 (coordinator: Lonnie Morris)
Starters returning: 3 on offense, 3 on defense
Best player: QB Zach Morris
Other top players: RB Forrest Christian, C Hunter Hamilton
Key losses: RB Seth Hill, TE/DE Marvin Danze, LB/DE Dominique Mingo
Outlook: The opening of the new Grovetown in Columbia County will put an ugly dent in Harlem’s talent pool and overall enrollment. According to head coach Jimmie Lewis, who has been at the school for 34 years, Harlem’s enrollment is now at 660, which would qualify it as a Class AA school. A handful of key seniors made the move to Grovetown, and to make matters worse, the program does not have enough players to field junior varsity or freshman teams, although the coaching staff is trying to talk more students into playing. The key players that Harlem retains, however, are QB Zach Morris, who will run the team’s special triple-option attack that is a blend of that of Georgia Tech’s Paul Johnson and the one run at the University of Charleston (W.Va.). B-back Forrest Christian will get the bulk of the carries and will also play ILB, and C Hunter Hamilton is back as a starter. Most of the starters will be playing two ways because of the depth problems.

Hephzibah Rebels
2008 record: 7-4, 7-2 (second in region)
Playoffs: Lost to Jonesboro 18-17 in the first round
Average record this decade: 5-5
Coach: John Bowen (14-27 in four seasons)
Offense: Multiple pro (coordinator: John Bowen)
Defense: 50 (coordinator: Pat Johnson)
Starters returning: 5 on offense, 5 on defense
Best player: WR Gary Robinson
Other top players: FB/MLB Bobby Liggins, C Martin Lawson, LT Cleveland Calloway, RG Lavert Screws, S Chris Owens, CB Marlon Jones, CB Joe Whigham, LB Divante Johnson
Key losses: WR Blake Bush, QB Connell Reddick
Outlook: The Rebels made just their second playoff appearance in school history, the other coming in 2001 when the team also suffered a first-round exit. This team will be relying on a new quarterback, speedy sophomore Terry Robinson, who will be counted on to throw quite a bit. In a recent 7-on-7 passing tournament, he threw just two interceptions in more than 200 passes. One of his targets is WR Gary Robinson, a 5-foot-11 wideout with 4.5 speed and an offer from Western Carolina. The offensive line returns three upperclassman starters. On defense, MLB Bobby Liggins, also the fullback, returns as a four-year starter and the school’s all-time leading tackler. The secondary should be excellent, with three returning starters. CB Joe Whigham is a college prospect with 4.5 speed and also will play running back. Hephzibah was excellent on defense last season but must rebuild its front seven.

Josey Eagles
2008 record: 2-8, 2-7 (eighth in region)
Average record this decade: 2-8
Coach: John Noah (first season)
Offense: N/A
Defense: N/A
Starters returning: 6 on offense, 6 on defense
Best player: WR Titus Jenkins
Other top players: TE Ross Noah, T Deandra Robinson, C Chris Bostic, G Kedrick Brown, FB Sheldon Norman, LB Mical Yedell, LB Jonathon Davis
Key losses: LB Tywain Brown
Outlook: John Noah, an assistant at Josey since 2004 and most recently the team’s offensive coordinator, was promoted in April to replace Barney Chavous, who was 15-55 in seven seasons. Noah also had been a head coach at Hancock Central and was with Josey as an assistant in 1995, when the Augusta school won a state title. “One of the things they used to have around here is tremendous community support,” Noah told an Augusta TV station when he took the job. “It kept the kids focused academically, and I think that’s something we haven’t had the last few years that I want to get back to, the years when the place to be on Friday night was Eagle Way and T.W. Josey High School.” It will take a little time, though. Josey finished the season with only 29 players last season, and 15 of those were seniors. Josey should have a pretty good front seven (five return) and offensive line (three return). Josey’s leading passer and rusher are gone, so Noah will need some playmakers and patience to get through 2009.

Lakeside (Evans) Panthers
2008 record: 7-3, 6-3 (fifth in region)
Average record this decade: 3-7
Coach: Jody Grooms (10-10 in two seasons)
Offense: Spread (coordinator: Jarrett Troxler)
Defense: 50 (coordinator: John Creager)
Starters returning: 6 on offense, 6 on defense
Best player: FS/WB Khadit Tshishiku
Other top players: LB/FB Chris Hartfield, DB/WR Chris Tynan, OL/DL Josh Dickerson, RB Ricky McMurtrey
Key losses: QB Chad Chandler (Randolph-Macon), FS Kyle Tudor (East Carolina), DT David Poole (Valdosta State)
Outlook: The biggest question heading into fall camp is at the quarterback position, where junior Ben Wilson and sophomore Mark Weidenhauer will fight it out for the spot vacated by Chad Chandler. FS/WB Khadit Tshishiku is the team’s most explosive player, making all-region as a junior last year. He is a college prospect with interest from several schools across the country as a defensive back. He will be joined in the secondary by senior Chris Tynan, who led the team in interceptions a year ago. If the quarterback position comes together, whoever the starter is will have some weapons in Tynan at WR, Tshishiku at wingback, FB Chris Hartfield and RB Ricky McMurtrey.

Richmond Academy Musketeers
2008 record: 6-5, 6-3 (fourth in region)
Playoffs: Lost to North Clayton 41-14 in the first round
Average record this decade: 5-5
Coach: Chris Hughes (6-15 in two seasons)
Offense: Multiple I/spread (coordinator: Gene Crislip)
Defense: 4-3 (coordinator: Andrew Stewart)
Starters returning: 9 on offense, 9 on defense
Best player: CB Evan Dansby
Other top players: DT D.J. Brooks, FS Drek Reid, LB Perry Richey, QB Mar-Quon Medlock, RB Jerrel Anderson, OL Jarrad Quarels, OL Joc Mitchell
Key losses: K/P Eric Osteen (Army)
Outlook: The Musketeers slipped into the playoffs last year despite losing their last two region games, then fell in the first round. But head coach Chris Hughes has 18 starters coming back, including every starter on both lines. Massive OL Jarrad Quarels (6-2, 310) and Joc Mitchell (6-3, 320) will pave the way for the running game, which will be in the hands of athletic QB Mar-Quon Medlock and RB Jerrel Anderson, both seniors. Medlock was converted from a running back before last season, and in his first year starting put up more than 1,400 yards passing and 900 yards rushing on the way to being named All-Augusta area first team. He is receiving interest from several Southern Conference schools. Anderson had 825 yards rushing with 13 total TDs last season. CB Evan Dansby is the team’s most dynamic player and is being recruited by ACC schools. Dansby led the area with eight interceptions (two for touchdowns). FS Drek Reid added six interceptions. Richmond Academy has not won a region title since 1976.

Westside (Augusta) Patriots
2008 record: 3-7, 2-7 (seventh in region)
Average record this decade: 6-5
Coach: Gerald Barnes (62-54 from 1997-2007; did not coach last year)
Offense: I formation (coordinator: Lyle Burns)
Defense: 5-2 (coordinator: Ivory Hugee)
Starters returning: 5 on offense, 5 on defense
Best player: RB Chris Hunter
Other top players: TE Matt Menger, OL Tim Burley, OL Terrence Lewis, DL James Stallings, LB Jamal Qadir, DB Josh Davis
Key losses: QB Josh Edmunds, OL Brian Lamarr, OL Ethan Gaddy
Outlook: Westside’s Gerald Barnes took a year off from the head coaching position that he had held since 1997 in order to take care of his ill wife, and the Patriots stumbled to a 3-7 record, their worst since 1993, under interim head coach Ivory Hugee (now the offensive coordinator). Barnes gets back RB Chris Hunter, who rushed for 1,558 yards and picked up another 208 receiving. (Hunter also blocked three kicks on special teams.) Hunter is up to 205 pounds and has an offer from Western Carolina. Under Barnes, who is old-school about the run, Hunter could threaten 2,000 if his line comes together. But only Tim Burley and Terrence Lewis return up front, and two first team all-region blockers are gone. The Patriots will be breaking in a new quarterback, as well, after the graduation of Josh Edmunds. Athletic sophomore Brandon Hill (6-2, 180) will take over the offense, and the coaching staff hopes he will be able to rely on his arm early on. The team will be very young, and the overall depth to compete may not be there yet.

NOTE: GHSF Daily was unable to reach the coaching staff at Cross Creek. We will run a complete preview for the Razorbacks later this week.

Region Preview: 4-AAAA:

What it is: Region 4-AAAA is made up of nine metro Atlanta schools south of I-20, with Alcovy in Covington and Griffin being loosely included in metro Atlanta. The other seven are in Clayton and Henry counties.

Defending champion: North Clayton

NOTE: GHSF Daily was unable to reach the coaching staff at North Clayton. We will run a complete preview for the Eagles later this week.