GHSF DAILY: Region 5-A and 6-A football previews

The following is an excerpt from the July 13 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 5-A PREVIEW

What it is: Region 5-A is made up of nine metro Atlanta private schools. It plays a round-robin schedule to determine its four playoff berths. River Ridge, a new public school in Cherokee County, and Cobb County private school Mount Paran Christian are also in the region but will play non-region schedules.

Defending champion: Whitefield Academy

Best player: LB/DE/TE Marcus Fairley, Eagle’s Landing Christian

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

Whitefield Academy (10-2, 8-0)
Eagle’s Landing Christian Academy (9-3, 7-1)
Holy Innocents’ (8-4, 6-2)
Landmark Christian (6-5, 5-3)
Fellowship Christian (4-6, 4-4)
Mount Pisgah Christian (5-5, 3-5)
Pace Academy (3-7, 2-6)
Our Lady of Mercy (2-8, 1-7)
Southwest Atlanta Chrisitan Academy (0-10, 0-8)
Mount Paran Christian (2-7, 0-0)

2009 PREDICTIONS
(Offensive/defensive starters returning)

Whitefield Academy (5/5)
Eagle’s Landing Christian Academy (6/6)
Landmark Christian (6/6)
Mount Pisgah (9/8)
Holy Innocents’ (5/2)
Fellowship Christian (3/3)
Our Lady of Mercy (4/5)
Pace Academy (7/6)
Southwest Christian Academy (9/10)
*Mount Paran Christian (11/11)
*River Ridge (new school)
*Playing a non-region schedule

TEAM BY TEAM

Eagle’s Landing Christian Academy Chargers
2008 record: 9-3, 7-1 (second in region)
Playoffs: Lost to Lincoln County 7-0 in the second round
Average record this decade: 6-5
Coach: Jonathan Gess (third season)
Offense: Spread (coordinator: Jonathan Gess)
Defense: 3-5 (coordinator: Jay Covington)
Starters returning: 6 on offense, 6 on defense
Best player: LB/DE/TE Marcus Fairley
Other top players: ATH Darrien Hudson, LB Tanner Rogers, DB Christian Reeves, QB Aaron Spratlin
Key losses: RB Van Jakes
Outlook: ELCA already had established itself in metro Atlanta as a solid program. The rest of the state found out last season when the Chargers gave perennial Class A power Lincoln County all it could handle in a 7-0 loss in the second round of the state playoffs. ELCA also beat region rival Landmark Christian Academy for the first time last season. The Chargers should be right back in the hunt for a region title this season. “The first time we went to Lincoln County [2006] we got best 38-0,” coach Jonathan Gess said. “Last year we had a chance to win and just didn’t make the plays when we had to. But we showed that we can play with anybody and I think we believe that now. The kids are working hard. We have 72 in our program and 62 are participating consistently in our workouts. We’ll be a little young. We’ll probably start four sophomores on offense and a freshman. But if our sophomores play up to the level of their talent, there’s no reason we can’t be as good as we were last season.”

Fellowship Christian Paladins
2008 record: 4-6, 4-4 (fifth in region)
Average record this decade: 5-6
Coach: Terry Luck (4-6 on one season)
Offense: Multiple I, spread (coordinator: Terry Luck)
Defense: 4-3 (coordinator: TBA)
Starters returning: 3 on offense, 3 on defense
Best player: WR D. J. Shirley
Other top players: WR/DB Josh Hart, C/LB Nathan O’Reilly
Key losses: QB Jimmy Stanback (Birmingham Southern), OL/DL Dillon Herbert, C/LB Drew Rollader, WR/DB/K Jake Philpotts (Georgia walk-on)
Outlook: The Paladins rode a senior-laden team to an 11-win season and a region title in 2007 but struggled after a mass senior exodus. This team also will be young with four sophomores and a freshman on the offensive line. Competing in one of Class A’s toughest regions will be tough with just seven seniors. “We talk to the kids a lot about who they are in Christ, and what better way to learn Biblical principles than to play the best sport ever invented and learn to overcome the challenges it presents,” coach Terry Luck said. “We’ve got to keep working hard and capitalize on any breaks that come our way.”

Holy Innocents’ Golden Bears
2008 record: 8-4, 6-2 (third in region)
Playoffs: Lost to Wesleyan 21-7 in the second round
Average record this decade: 6-5
Coach: Ryan Livezey (third season)
Offense: Triple option out of spread (coordinator: Ryan Livezey)
Defense: 3-5 (coordinator: Bill Railey)
Starters returning: 5 on offense, 2 on defense
Best player: FS/RB Peter Allen
Other top players: RB/LB Wills Aitkens, WR/DB Jordan Miller, QB/DB Will Allen
Key losses: LB Cameron Lougherty (Colorado State), TE Jack Farrell (Duke), DE/OL Connor Randall (Colorado State)
Outlook: The Golden Bears were one of just two teams (Darlington was the other) to defeat last year’s Class A champion, Wesleyan. Though they lost the rematch in the second round of the playoffs, the Golden Bears know they can play with anyone. Graduation was harsh, however. Gone are 15 starters, including three Division I-A signees and the region defensive player of the year, Cameron Loughery. The best returning player is probably Peter Allen, a first-team all-region selection in 2008. “Our younger players are understanding what it takes to be successful,” coach Ryan Livezey said. “They’re working hard in the weight room in our offseason program. In our region, you’ve got to be consistent and physically and mentally tough every Friday night.”

Landmark Christian War Eagles
2008 record: 6-5, 5-3 (fourth in region)
Playoffs: Lost to Bremen 41-14 in the first round
Average record this decade: 7-4
Coach: Kenny Dallas (ninth season)
Offense: Multiple (coordinator: Robby Ross)
Defense: 4-4 base, multiple (coordinator: Kenny Dallas)
Starters returning: 6 on offense, 6 on defense
Best players: DE Josh Gebhardt, DT/OL Phillip Garza, DT/OL Nate Terry, DE Cody Nichols, OL Chris Johnson, OL Sheldon Peters, OL Craig Abernathy, OL John Gables, QB Carson Barnett
Key losses: LB Andrew Glaize, QB Tanner Bryant, RB Blake Wyatt
Outlook: After winning at least a share of the region title every season since 2002, the War Eagles took a bit of a step back last season. Or maybe the rest of the region stepped it up. Landmark will look to get back into the region championship hunt on the strength of the team’s big, strong and experienced defensive and offensive lines. “I’m as excited about this group as I have been about any we’ve had, especially our players on both lines of scrimmage,” coach Kenny Dallas said. “I think they are as good as we’ve had since I’ve been here.”

Mount Paran Christian Eagles
2008 record: 2-7 (non-region schedule)
Average record this decade: 2-7 (2008 was first football season)
Coach: Mitch Jordan (2-7 in one season)
Offense: Wing-T with some elements of the spread
Defense: 4-4, multiple
Starters returning: 11 on offense, 11 on defense
Best player: LB David Ian (6-0, 220), Jr.
Other top players: QB Zack Greenwell, QB/WR Landon Bentley, C/DT Andy Flynn, OL/DE Brian Johnston, OL/DE Hunter Schiltz
Key losses: None
Outlook: Mount Paran is a new football program that is gaining momentum, on the field and in the community. Enrollment is up and an aggressive fundraising drive will pay for lights for the stadium. On the field, Mt. Paran went 2-1 against other first-year programs. After a loss to Pace Academy (30-13) in the season opener, the Eagles won their last two games handily against Hebron Christian Academy (18-0) in Dacula and North Cobb Christian (44-0), a budding rival school also located in Kennesaw. Mount Paran will play a non-region schedule again with two games against teams from larger classifications – at Locust Grove (AAA) and at Grovetown (AAAA). Coach Mitch Jordan played and coached at one of the state’s most successful Class A programs, Darlington. But he is modeling Mount Paran after another private school program, Marist. “We want our entire sports program to be like Marist,” Jordan said. “To me, they are the standard and that’s where we need to set our sights. I think we have a chance to be over .500 if we stay healthy, which is hard to do at the Class A level because you are so thin. We’re building a solid Christian foundation for our school and our program.”

Mount Pisgah Christian Patriots
2008 record: 5-5, 3-5 (sixth in region)
Average record this decade: 3-7
Coach: Doug Dixon (8-12 in two seasons)
Offense: Multiple I; spread, shotgun, single back (coordinator: Gary Downs)
Defense: 4-4 (coordinator: Chuck Conner)
Starters returning: 9 on offense, 8 on defense
Best player: RB/DB Fedale Hall
Other top players: WR/DB Danny Schneider, QB Kyle Sloter, OT/DT Alex Dixon, LB/OG Bryant Laursen, FB/OLB Ben Mozingo
Key losses: WR Brad Bostic, WR Danny Schneider,
Outlook: While the Patriots are young, most of their starters have tons of game experience. Sophomore QB Kyle Sloter threw for 1,400 yards and 20 touchdowns as a freshman. Also, they have one of the region’s best players in Hall, the 5-foot-8 running back who has an offer from Richmond. Though injured for parts of five games last season, Hall, who runs the 40 in 4.38, rushed for more than 1,500 yards. The Patriots averaged 28 points but gave up nearly as many. If the defense picks it up a notch, look for Mount Pisgah to be in the hunt for the school’s first GHSA playoff berth. “We just want to keep getting better,” coach Doug Dixon said. “We’re laying the foundation with a lot of hard work, and the kids are starting to believe in themselves and believe that the hard work will pay off.”

Our Lady of Mercy Bobcats
2008 record: 2-8, 1-7 (eighth in region)
Average record this decade: 2-7
Coach: Chad Flatt (second season)
Offense: Spread, multiple (coordinator: Chad Flatt)
Defense: Multiple, 8-man front base (Chris O’Bryant)
Starters returning: 4 on offense, 5 on defense
Best player: OL/DL Daniel Alexis
Other top players: LB/RB George Adams, LB Tracy Daniels, LB Brennan Sanders
Key losses: QB/RB William Pearl (Emery & Henry)
Outlook: The Bobcats have a long way to go in order to become a perennial playoff contender in Region 5-A. But there are encouraging signs. With just a couple of breaks here or there last season, the Bobcats could have been 5-5. Also, there is a new spirit of dedication, as illustrated by the nearly 50 players in the program. Most of them are participating in the offseason workouts. “When we got here it was a bad situation,” coach Chad Flatt said. “But going into our fourth season [second as head coach] I can see improvements in the overall effort and attitude. We’re going to have to be a stronger, more competitive football team and find a way to beat one of the better teams in our league, like Eagle’s Landing Christian Academy, Whitefield, Landmark Christian Academy or Holy Innocents’. But Fellowship is good as well, and Mount Pisgah, Mount Paran and SACA all have good players. Still, I think we’re closing the gap.”

Pace Academy Knights
2008 record: 3-7, 2-6 (seventh in region)
Average record this decade: 3-7
Coach: Matt Hall (3-7 in one season)
Offense: Spread (coordinator: Matt Hall)
Defense: 40 base (coordinator: Thomas Hattori)
Starters returning: 7 on offense, 6 on defense
Best player: QB/B Will Bruster
Other top players: QB/B Josh Swan, FS Billy Tutt, T Sam Wiskind, LB/C William Morse,
Key losses: RB D.J. Edler, MLB/FB Brooks Palmerton
Outlook: Pace won its opener, homecoming and finale in its first season of varsity football. This team should be improved in technique and execution. Leading rusher D.J. Edler (780 yards) and top tackler Brooks Palmerton are gone, and the lines of scrimmage are young, small and unproven. Pace’s assets are two experienced quarterbacks in Will Bruster, a drop-back guy, and Josh Swan, a sprint-out type. Both also play running back and slotback, and Bruster might be needed as a ball carrier to make up for losing Edler. The leader of the defense is William Morse. The new defensive coordinator is Thomas Hattori, who comes from San Diego.

River Ridge Knights
City: Woodstock (Cherokee County)
Coach: Robert Braucht (Pine Ridge, Fla., head coach)
First game: Aug. 28 at Lambert
Drawing from: Woodstock (60 percent), Sequoyah (40 percent)
Notes: River Ridge will open this fall with a ninth grade only, and the new high school facility won’t open until 2010. Robert Braucht got the job on the strength of turning around a wretched program at Pine Ridge in Florida and producing a 9-2 season in 2008, Braucht’s third year. River Ridge is the second new Cherokee school recently. Creekview opened in 2005.

Southwest Atlanta Christian Academy Warriors
2008 record: 0-10, 0-8 (ninth in region)
Average record this decade: 0-10
Coach: DeMarco Thompson (0-10 in one season)
Offense: Multiple (coordinator: DeMarco Thompson)
Defense: 4-3 (coordinator: Quinton Forehan)
Starters returning: 9 on offense, 10 on defense
Top players: QB Michael Murray, LB Joseph Jewsome, RB Lemuel Cooper, LB/FB Ronnie Calhoun
Key losses: WR Anthony Willis (Alabama State)
Outlook: The Warriors hope to maintain a pattern. They started football in 2006 with a 3-4 record playing a junior varsity schedule. The next season, SACA played a JV schedule again and went 7-0. After going winless as a varsity squad in 2008, coach DeMarco Thompson hopes his team will make a similar improvement, though going undefeated is probably out of the question. “Rome was not built in a day, and it became one of the greatest empires in history,” Thompson said. “We’re trying to build a tradition of winning with our program. Our motto is ‘Expect to win.’ The kids are working hard this summer and have really dedicated themselves. The key is continuing to work hard, knowing that it will pay off in the end.”

Whitefield Academy Wolfpack
2008 record: 10-2, 8-0 (region champions)
Playoffs: Lost to Wilkinson County 38-8 in the second round
Average record this decade: 5-6
Coach: Jimmy Fields (19-7 in two seasons)
Offense: Spread (coordinator: Matt Petersen)
Defense: Multiple (coordinator: by committee)
Starters returning: 5 on offense, 5 on defense
Best player: TE/DB Kennard Bachman
Other top players: RB/DB Christian Willis, LB Harrison Lowe
Key losses: QB Trey Miller (Navy); DE Chris Redding (Wake Forest); LB/C Conrad Quiros (Vanderbilt walk-on); DE/OL Marc Panu (Vanderbilt walk-on); LB Mike Johnson (West Georgia)
Outlook: A talented and deep senior class, including region MVP Trey Miller, propelled the Wolfpack to its second consecutive playoff appearance and its first outright region title. RB Christian Willis (1,007 yards rushing, 14 touchdowns) is recovering from a knee injury but will look to be one of the state’s most productive backs. TE/FS Kennard Backman, a junior, was first-team all-Cobb last season. He had 38 catches and 12 touchdowns on offense and 37 tackles and four interceptions on defense. Whitefield is known more for its basketball program, and Fields believes it will take another couple of years of success to establish football. But the Wolfpack must now be mentioned with the region’s other perennial playoff contenders. Fields says: “We want to be a physical team that comes to play every night. We want to take that next step of developing that certain mental confidence that it takes to go deep in the playoffs.”

REGION 6-A PREVIEW

What it is: Region 6-A is an eight-team region of Northwest Georgia schools that goes from Bowdon near I-20 on the Alabama line to Walker in Cobb County to Gordon Lee near Chattanooga. Many road trips are more than an hour. The teams play a round-robin schedule.

Defending champion: Bremen

Best player: OT/DE Connor Mays, Bremen

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

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