GHSF DAILY: Region 5-AA and 6-AA Football Previews

The following is an excerpt from the July 22 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: 5-AA:

What it is: Region 5-AA consists of nine teams in middle and west Georgia. A round-robin schedule determines the state playoff teams. Only Callaway advanced to the second round of the playoffs last season.

Defending champion: Callaway

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

#8 Callaway (10-2, 8-0)
Pike County (9-2, 7-1)
Heard County (6-5, 5-3)
Macon County (5-6, 5-3)
Manchester (5-5, 4-4)
Crawford County (4-6, 3-5)
Spencer (3-7, 2-6)
Jordan (2-8, 1-7)
Lamar County (1-9, 1-7)

2009 PREDICTIONS
(Offensive/defensive starters returning)

Callaway (7/5)
Heard County (7/8)
Crawford County (7/9)
Macon County (7/9)
Manchester (4/5)
Pike County (3/5)
Jordan (6/6)
Lamar County (8/8)
Spencer (3/6)

TEAM BY TEAM

Callaway Cavaliers
2008 record: 10-2, 8-0 (region champion)
Playoffs: Lost to Pepperell 40-20 in the second round
Average record this decade: 6-5
Coach: Pete Wiggins
Offense: Veer (coordinator: Matt Napier)
Defense: 4-4 (coordinator: Dusty Hubbard)
Starters returning: 7 on offense, 5 on defense
Best player: QB Quan Bray
Other top players: WR Quantavious Leslie, FS/TB D.J. Rutledge, LB/FB Randy Bailey
Key losses: QB Demetrius Heard, FB/DE Tharius Tigner
Outlook: Callaway, a rising program under coach Pete Wiggins, has improved its victory total each of the past four seasons, and another step forward is not out of the question. Replacing QB Demetrius Heard (704 yards rushing, 832 passing), the region’s offensive player of the year, and FB/DE Tharius Tigner (1,023 yard rushing), the 5-AA Ironman Award winner, won’t be easy for the defending region champions. But Callaway’s four other players nominated for all-state return. Wiggins will hand the offense to junior Quan Bray (1,103 yards rushing), who is moving to quarterback after playing tailback in his first two seasons. Bray will be behind an offensive line that returns four starters, anchored by guard Chaz Bowles. Callaway will be shifting players to different positions, including LB Randy Bailey (region defensive player of the year) to fullback, and FS D.J. Rutledge (86 tackles) to tailback. Rangy WR Quantavious Leslie (26 receptions, 11 for touchdowns) was first team all-region, and he’s the region’s most heavily recruiting player. This should be the region’s best team.

Crawford County Eagles
2008 record: 4-6, 3-5 (sixth in region)
Average record this decade: 5-5
Coach: Tony Byram (69-94 in 15 seasons)
Offense: Wing-T option (coordinator: Matt Gordon)
Defense: Multiple front (coordinator: Craig Puckett)
Starters returning: 7 on offense, 9 on defense
Best player: FS Artavious Preston
Other top players: DL Nick Nelson, LB Jerrod Barner, SS Cordias Howards
Key loss: R/CB/K Dontavis Lee
Outlook: Having missed the playoffs by one game each of the past two seasons, the Eagles have an obvious goal this season, and it’s plenty realistic. The Eagles should have one of the region’s best defenses, with virtually every starter back from a unit that was tough last season until injuries took their toll. They have two first team all-region defenders in FS Artavious Preston (six interceptions, 56 tackles, three kickoff returns for TD) and DL Nick Nelson (85 tackles). The core of the offense is back, too. The biggest loss is versatile Dontavious Lee (20 receptions, seven TDs), a first team all-region receiver and good kicking specialist. With 16 returning starters, this may be the year the Eagles get back to the playoffs for the first time since 1998 when Byram was in his first stint with Crawford County.

Heard County Braves
2008 record: 6-5, 5-3 (third in region)
Playoffs: Lost to Buford 56-21 in the first round
Average record this decade: 5-5
Coach: Tim Barron (55-24 in seven seasons)
Offense: Triple option (coordinator: Randall Kurbow)
Defense: 4-4 (coordinator: D.J. Kurbow)
Starters returning: 7 on offense, 8 on defense
Best player: QB Santez Emory
Other top players: LB Jeremiah Hill, LB Dusty Schwinn, WR/DB Ja’Quay Williams, LB Tyler Spradlin, LB Trey Johnson
Key losses: WR Clint Lowery, K/P Jake Yates
Outlook: Heard County has been a playoff contender since coach Tim Barron took over a winless team in 2002 and went 10-2. This season, look for the Braves to move up in the standings as they have most of their players returning, including first team all-region QB Santez Emory, a 6-foot-2, 180-pound dual threat who will be a fourth-year starter. Emory rushed for 1,054 yards and passed for 545 last season. Jeremiah Hill, a four-year starter on defense at linebacker, will be the fullback. Watch for junior WR Ja’Quay Williams, who has the talent of alumni Carlos Brown (Michigan) and Dontavious Jackson (Georgia) but remains raw. On defense, the linebackers and secondary will be outstanding. If the lines of scrimmage develop, this will be one of Heard’s better teams under Barron. “Skill-wise, we run better than we’ve run in the past as a team,” Barron said. “But it doesn’t matter unless you get it done up front.”

Jordan Red Jackets
2008 record: 2-8, 1-7 (ninth in region)
Average record this decade: 1-9
Coach: David Nurnberg (first season)
Offense: Spread (coordinator: David Nurnberg)
Defense: 4-3 (coordinator: Ken Wojciechowksi)
Starters returning: 6 on offense, 6 on defense
Best player: RB Marquez Cohen
Other top players: QB Safari Evans, WR/RB Dontavious Crocker, LB Galvin Harris, S Chandler Epps
Key losses: FB/LB Kendell Houston, SS Omar Kourouma, WR Kevin Irby, OL Pat Thompson
Outlook: Jordan, a school without a winning season since 1993, hired Troup offensive coordinator David Nurnberg, 27, to replace Gerald Turner, who remained as athletics director. Nurnberg is the Columbus school’s fourth head coach in four seasons. He is bringing the spread offense to Jordan, which ran an I formation-based offense last season. Perhaps he’s naïve, but Nurnberg believes a .500 season is realistic. If utility man Dontavious Crocker (WR/RB/KR/PR) can recover from the broken leg he suffered last season, the Red Jackets’ odds will improve. RB Marquez Cohen, a 5-9, 155-pound speedster, should be a team leader as a junior.

Lamar County Trojans
2008 record: 1-9, 1-7 (eighth in region)
Average record this decade: 5-5
Coach: Jason Strickland (1-9 in one season)
Offense: Spread (coordinator: Gus Condon)
Defense: 3-4 (coordinator: Biff Parson)
Starters returning: 8 on offense, 8 on defense
Best player: LB/RB/TE Rodnique Brown
Other top players: WR Samuel Smith, LT Lekevious Lyons, RB Nick Fambro
Key losses: RB/LB David Watts, LG Alan Shurling (Sewanee)
Outlook: Despite a one-victory season in 2008, second-year head coach Jason Strickland is setting his sights on the playoffs, saying that “anything less will be considered a failure.” His star on both sides of the ball will be junior LB Rodnique Brown, the team’s leading returning tackler with 74 stops. Brown also will play running back and tight end, as he caught 12 passes last season. Samuel Smith is the team’s leading returning receiver with 37 receptions for 400 yards and four touchdowns, and RB Nick Fambro will take David Watts’s place after moving up from the scout team late last season. LT Lekevious Lyons will anchor a strong offensive line that only lost one starter, Alan Shurling, from last season. Expect Lamar to run more this season because of the strength of the O-line and emergence of Fambro. The quarterback position will be strong, with the odd situation of brothers Mike (Sr.) and Maurice Bloodser (So.) fighting it out for the starting position. The Trojans have a new stadium this fall with artificial turf.

Macon County Bulldogs
2008 record: 5-6, 5-3 (fourth in region)
Playoffs: Lost to Lovett 48-12 in the first round
Average record this decade: 6-5
Coach: Matthew Lester (5-6 in one season)
Offense: Spread option (coordinator: Robert Yezak)
Defense: Multiple 4-3 (coordinator: Matthew Lester)
Starters returning: 7 on offense, 9 on defense
Best player: QB Iquan Deed
Other top players: WR James Keen, WR Corbin Brown, DB Brantley Pate
Key losses: RB Justin Redding, WR Cailon Shaw
Outlook: Macon County has missed the state playoffs only twice since 1991, most of that in Class A. As the third-smallest school in AA, Macon County likely will drop back down in 2010. In the meantime, second-year head coach Matthew Lester will be looking to build on the 2008 campaign that saw the Bulldogs make the playoffs despite a 1-4 start. The offense will be experienced with QB Iquan Deed entering his second year running Robert Yezak’s spread offense. Senior wideouts James Keen (second team all-region) and Corbin Brown will make Deed’s job easier, while coach Lester must wait to see who will emerge from a number of good running backs. The defense returns nine starters, including first team all-region DB Brantley Pate. There will be more depth on both sides of the ball, so a playoff berth is expected.

Manchester Blue Devils
2008 record: 5-5, 4-4 (fifth in region)
Average record this decade: 5-5
Coach: Greg Oglesby (114-45-2 in 13 seasons)
Offense: Splitback veer (coordinator: Randy Bishop)
Defense: 4-3 (coordinator: Tanner Glisson)
Starters returning: 4 on offense, 5 on defense
Best player: RB Greg Gates
Other top players: LB Jared Moyston, OL Ridge Henderson, OL Nick Ferguson, RB Chava Johnson, DB Jaleel White
Key losses: QB Marco Turner (Valdosta State), DL Kendale Brown (Mayville State), DB Gairachious Strozier (Mayville State), OL Carvenous Hobbs (Waldorf College), OL Deontae Holloway (Waldorf College), DL Blake Herman
Outlook: In 2008, three of the Blue Devils’ five losses were by four points or fewer, meaning the team was just inches away from a playoff berth after finishing one game out of fourth place. Longtime Manchester coach Greg Oglesby has won a state title at the school and will want to return his team to the playoffs for the first time since 2006. Lots of talent departed from the program, including several of the top linemen on both sides of the ball. Ridge Henderson and Nick Ferguson will be the anchors for the offensive line in what Oglesby refers to as a rebuilding year for the unit. The best news for Manchester is that it returns Greg Gates, arguably the most dynamic running back in the region. Gates ran for 1,491 yards and 13 touchdowns last season and is getting looks from Division I programs. If the line can hold up in front of him, he should again put up excellent numbers. Depth across the board, however, will be an issue.

Pike County Pirates
2008 record: 9-2, 7-1 (second in region)
Playoffs: Lost to Westminster 33-7 in the first round
Average record this decade: 5-5
Coach: Mac McMillen (12-19 in three seasons)
Offense: Pistol (coordinator: Clint Burton)
Defense: 3-5 (coordinator: Bobby Ramsey)
Starters returning: 3 on offense, 5 on defense
Best player: QB Kody Adams
Other top players: WR Jaz Wilson, RB Andricus Rogers, FS Bret Carter, DE Marcus Wilkins
Key losses: PK/P Dan Anderson (Valdosta State), LB/TE Jared Guy, NG/G Justin Brown
Outlook: Pike County won a school-record nine games and earned its second state playoff berth in 2008. “We spoiled three homecomings [in 2008],” head coach Mac McMillen said. “That’s not going to happen anymore. Now teams will be ready for us.” Pike lost 19 seniors, including every starter on the offensive line. WR Justin Gray, who also played linebacker and snapper, left the team to focus on baseball. QB Kody Adams (1,400 yards passing, second team all-region), RB Andricus Rogers (700 yards) and possession WR Jaz Wilson (20 receptions) are a solid trio of players for McMillen’s pistol offense. (The pistol is a mini-shotgun with a tailback lined up directly behind the quarterback, who is only 4 feet behind center, as opposed to the traditional 6 feet of a standard shotgun). The defense lost four of its five linebackers in the 3-5. FS Bret Carter was all-region, and DE Marcus Wilkins is the team’s only true college prospect. It hurts to lose PK/P Dan Anderson, who made four field goals of 40 or more yards. Pike, which won four games by a touchdown or less, would be pleased to make the playoffs again.

Spencer Greenwave/Owls
2008 record: 3-7, 2-6 (seventh in region)
Average record this decade: 2-8
Coach: Oliver Davis (8-12 in two seasons)
Offense: Spread option (coordinator: Oliver Davis)
Defense: 50 (coordinator: Ron Chambers)
Starters returning: 3 on offense, 6 on defense
Best player: DE Terrance Dennis
Other top players: DB Daekwon Holloway
Key losses: R/RB Darren McCray (Georgia State), LB Dustin Stewart
Outlook: Spencer’s Oliver Davis is touting his underclassmen, especially the freshman class. That usually means the future looks better than right now. Davis hopes to see the experienced players on his roster, such as DE Terrance Dennis (77 tackles, four sacks) and DB/P Daekwon Holloway (31 tackles, three interceptions), become the leaders of the program this fall. Spencer will have to minimize the effects of its weak offensive line, having graduated some key members of that unit. The team’s best player in 2008, Darren McCray, is off to Georgia State. He had a remarkable 2,443 all-purpose yards and 14 touchdowns.

Region Preview: 6-AA:

What it is: Region 6-AA, considered by many to be Georgia’s toughest region in Class AA, consists of metro Atlanta schools from midtown (Westminster, Lovett) to north Gwinnett (Buford).

Defending champion: Buford

Westminster Wildcats
2008 record: 9-3, 5-2 (second in region)
Playoffs: Lost to Calhoun 38-20 in the second round
Average record this decade: 8-4
Coach: Gerry Romberg (124-71 in 17 seasons)
Offense: Spread (coordinator: Russel Wrenn)
Defense: 4-3 (coordinator: Gerry Romberg)
Starters returning: 5 on offense, 8 on defense
Best player: OL/DL Andrew Bridges
Other top players: QB Jonathan York, RB Ralph David Abernathy IV, WR Rawson Haverty, OL/DL Jonathan Tanner, LB Malcolm Chester
Key losses: QB Tom Moak (Princeton), RB/DB Stephon Shelton (Wofford), OL/DL David Dorris (Rhodes)
Outlook: With 22 seniors and most of the defense returning, the Wildcats are aiming for the Top 10 again. If the Wildcats do fall back, it will be because of their inexperience on offense, as they lose their starting quarterback (Tom Moak) and running back (Stephon Shelton). The bright spot of the offense is the line of scrimmage, which will be led by senior Andrew Bridges. “We’re as big in the line as we’ve been since I’ve been here,” said head coach Gerry Romberg, the second-longest tenured head coach in Class AA.