The following is an excerpt from the August 5 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-AAAA:
What it is: Region 5-AAAA consists of 14 schools along I-85 and I-20 southwest of Atlanta. The most western is Villa Rica, and the most southern is McIntosh. The region is broken into north and south subregions. The subregion winners play each other in the final week for the No. 1 seed in the playoffs, while the second- and third-place finishers cross over and play for the final two playoff berths. Langston Hughes, a new school in south Fulton County, will play a non-region schedule.
Defending champion: Sandy Creek
Best player: S Isaiah Johnson, Sandy Creek
2008 STANDINGS
(Final 2008 Atlanta Journal-Constitution ranking included)
Division A
#5 Sandy Creek (11-1, 5-0)
Whitewater (7-4, 4-1)
Northgate (6-5, 3-2)
Starr’s Mill (3-7, 2-3)
Fayette County (1-9, 1-4)
McIntosh (2-8, 0-5)
Division B
Villa Rica (8-3, 6-0)
Banneker (6-4, 4-2)
Mays (7-3, 4-2)
Alexander (5-5, 3-3)
Tri-Cities (4-6, 2-4)
Lithia Springs (2-8, 1-5)
Douglas County (3-7, 1-5)
2009 PREDICTIONS
(Offensive/defensive starters returning)
Division A
Sandy Creek (9/6)
Whitewater (5/5)
Northgate (5/6)
Starr’s Mill (2/4)
Fayette County (8/5)
McIntosh (5/5)
*Langston Hughes
*New school playing a non-region schedule
Division B
Banneker (6/5)
Mays (7/6)
Villa Rica (6/5)
Alexander (3/8)
Douglas County (3/7)
Tri-Cities (5/6)
Lithia Springs (5/5)
TEAM BY TEAM
Division A
Fayette County Tigers
2008 record: 1-9, 1-4 (fifth in subregion)
Average record this decade: 3-7
Coach: Tommy Webb (18-43 in six seasons)
Offense: One-back spread (coordinator: Bart Phillips)
Defense: 3-5 (coordinator: Butch Prosser)
Starters returning: 8 on offense; 5 on defense
Best player: WR Eric Lauderdale
Other top players: QB Justin Murray, C Clarence Swain, RB Armani Cato, CB Corey Smith, CB Tago Smith, OLB Nick Mercer, DL Martinik Adamson
Key losses: LB Evan Reed (Birmingham Southern), LB Andre Columbus (Lincoln University), LB Josh Atwater, TE/DE Malcom Reed (South Carolina State)
Outlook: One year removed from a region title, undefeated regular season and trip to the second round of the playoffs (the school’s best season ever), Fayette County dropped to 1-9 last season. Expect something in between in 2009. The Tigers have some talent returning on offense, starting with senior RB Armani Cato, a college prospect who will be running behind a line that returns four of five starters. The Tigers’ QB, Justin Murray, won the starting job in midseason last year as a freshman. He’s a good inside runner with a good arm, his best attribute. Eight starters are back on an offense that scored a region-worst 9.0 points per game. The defense, which was decent last season, has a pair of speedy cornerbacks in Corey Smith and Tago Smith. Both run the 40-yard dash in the 4.4-4.5 range.
Langston Hughes Panthers
City: Fairburn
County: Fulton
Coach: Willie Cannon
Offense: I formation (coordinator: Glenn Farris)
Defense: 4-3 (coordinator: Willie Cannon)
Drawing from: Creekside (60 percent), Westlake (40 percent)
Notes: Langston Hughes has hired Creekside assistant Willie Cannon as its first head coach. A Miami native, Cannon is a former defensive back at Kentucky under Bill Curry, and he’s had luck coaching defensive backs in high school, including Tennessee All-American Eric Berry at Creekside and the Carolina Panthers’ Chris Gamble at Dillard High in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. Cannon came to Creekside in 2004 after stints at Deerfield Beach, Fla. (2001-03), Dillard (1996-2000) and Sunset of Miami (1994-95). The Panthers have about 60 players in the program right now, with a few seniors, and plan to play a full region schedule next year.
McIntosh Chiefs
2008 record: 2-8, 0-5 (sixth in subregion)
Average record this decade: 2-8
Coach: Glenn Griffin (2-8 in one season)
Offense: I formation (coordinator: Brad Campbell)
Defense: 3-3 (coordinator: Lee Belknap)
Starters returning: 5 on offense; 5 on defense
Best player: LB/RB Andrew Graham
Other top players: RB/DB Darius Miliam, WR/DB Clay Carroll, WR/DB Daniel Price, C Joey Giamfortone, DL/OL Sean Carney
Key losses: DL Taylor Peaden, RB/DB Daiyaan Epps, WR/DB Bradley Larson
Outlook: Second-year coach Glenn Griffin took his first head-coaching job after spending 22 years as offensive coordinator under current Starr’s Mill head coach Mike Earwood. He took the McIntosh job before last season because of its proximity and is trying to bring competitiveness to a program that only has four winning seasons since its inception in 1982. The coach feels improvement is already evident, but there’s no guarantee the record will reveal it yet. RB/DB Darius Miliam returns in the offensive backfield out of what was a four- or five-back rotation last season, and the wide receiver corps is fairly deep. LB Andrew Graham (114 tackles) will lead the defense, and the kicking game will have some continuity with the return of all the key specialists.
Northgate Vikings
2008 record: 6-5, 3-2 (second in subregion)
Playoffs: Lost to Marist 42-0 in the first round
Average record this decade: 6-5
Coach: Bill Luckie (17-24 in four seasons)
Offense: Wing-T (coordinator: Glenn Duff)
Defense: 3-3/4-3 (coordinator: Casey Smith)
Starters returning: 5 on offense; 6 on defense
Best player: LB Gordy Duncan
Other top players: C Hanson Sachs, FB Cody Gatewood, FS Payton Usher, WR/CB Malcolm Poindexter
Key losses: QB Jake Copeland (Lenoir-Rhyne), RT Anthony DiFelice (Maritime College)
Outlook: The Vikings made the playoffs for the fifth time in school history last season, which was a nice recovery from their ’07 campaign in which they went 1-9. This will be Bill Luckie’s 10th year on the staff and fifth as head coach. Northgate will be breaking in a new quarterback, senior Toby Slagle, who started at linebacker last season. His vacated unit – the linebacking corps – should be in good hands, however, as leading tackler Gordy Duncan returns to anchor the defense. FS Payton Usher is solid behind him. He intercepted three passes and blocked five kicks. The special teams will be strong, with three-year starter K Casey Baugh and P Brad Sweeney returning; Sweeney was second team all-region as a sophomore. The key, according to Luckie, is for the team to start the season fast. Last year, in his estimation, the team lacked confidence to begin the year but came on strong. The Vikings will miss QB/DB Jake Copeland, who had more than 1,000 total yards from scrimmage and was an outstanding defensive back.
Sandy Creek Patriots
2008 record: 11-1, 6-0 (subregion champions)
Playoffs: Lost to Rome 19-13 in the second round
Average record this decade: 8-4
Coach: Chip Walker (32-14 in four seasons)
Offense: Multiple I (coordinator: Jamie Glover)
Defense: 4-3 (coordinator: Eddie Householder)
Starters returning: 9 on offense; 6 on defense
Best player: S Isaiah Johnson
Other top players: DE Lacy Coleman, RB Rajion Neal, WR Jarrett Davis, OL Charlie Zemko, K/P Zach Lopez
Key losses: QB Rio Johnson (East Carolina), DE Brandon Putnam (Duke), DL James Hervey (Western Kentucky), LB Matt Solomon (Furman)
Outlook: A talented senior class graduated from Sandy Creek, but another group of seniors is ready to step up and become the Patriots’ marquee players. S Isaiah Johnson (seven INTs) is one of the state’s top defensive backs, and DE Lacy Coleman (six sacks) anchors the line. Both are going Division I-A, and they’ll try to keep the tradition of a defense that allowed 8.4 points per game (tied for second in Class AAAA). On offense, the loss of first team all-state QB Rio Johnson hurts, but the team has one of the region’s top weapons in RB Rajion Neal, who rushed for 800 yards in only eight games because of an ankle injury. Rivals rates him among the best 30 running back prospects in the country. He could have a monster year if Sandy Creek can complete some passes to keep defenses honest. WR Jarrett Davis is ready to become the next great Sandy Creek receiver after racking up 850 yards and seven receiving TDs. The team is not as big as last year’s version, said head coach Chip Walker, but it’s probably faster and more athletic. Four turnovers killed the Patriots in their second-round loss to Rome last year. Walker thinks that if the team can avoid those kinds of mistakes, this can be a deep-traveling playoff team.
Starr’s Mill Panthers
2008 record: 3-7, 2-3 (fourth in subregion)
Average record this decade: 8-4
Coach: Mike Earwood (84-43 in 11 seasons)
Offense: Multiple/spread (coordinator: Chad Phillips)
Defense: 4-3 (coordinator: Dennis Boguemill)
Starters returning: 2 on offense; 4 on defense
Best player: WR Jeffery Greene
Other top players: CB/RB Trenton Edwards, DE Ofumba Kamalu, RB Zach Laskey
Key losses: RB Steven Roberts (Middle Tennessee State), OT/DT Nick Garofalo (Union College), R Lontrell Anderson (Georgetown), P Chris Ward (N.C. State)
Outlook: Starr’s Mill lost its first six games last year and suffered only its third losing season since its start in 1998. The Panthers are working hard to get the foundation back in place and get back to their winning ways. Although Starr’s Mill is young and inexperienced with nine juniors to start on offense this year, the blend of talent seems promising. The Panthers look toward upcoming players such as QB Adam Holley, RB Zach Laskey and WR Jeffery Greene in their first year on varsity to bring the team out of its slump. Also watch for DE Ofumba Kamalu (47 tackles, one fumble recovery for TD), and CB/RB Trenton Edwards (400 yards rushing, three INTs, one returned for TD). Too many starters need replacing to think the Panthers will return to power this season, but three mediocre seasons in a row is unheard of.
Whitewater Wildcats
2008 record: 7-4, 4-1 (second in subregion)
Playoffs: Lost to Tucker 33-7 in the first round
Average record this decade: 8-3
Coach: Amos McCreary (38-14 in five seasons)
Offense: Hybrid Wing-T (coordinator: Wesley Hardin)
Defense: 4-3 (coordinator: Richard Penland)
Returning starters: 5 on offense, 5 on defense
Best player: OT/DT Andrew Dean
Other top players: FS/WR Jeffery Ashley, LB Blake Jurrique, OL Taylor Halpin, G Davis Hidalgo, RB Josh Clements
Key losses: QB Chase Penland (West Georgia), LB Zach Mann (Shorter College), Thomas Frierson (Iowa Western), FB Chris Wingate (West Virginia)
Outlook: After a 2-3 start, Whitewater was tough down the stretch and made the playoffs for the third consecutive season. Head coach Amos McCreary sounds optimistic for 2009 as his young program continues to mature. The Wildcats’ main concern is replacing QB Chase Penland, a former state champion wrestler who ran the Wing-T well. This position will fall to Renaldo Jenkins, also a standout basketball player. Whitewater also has talented players in OT/DT Andrew Dean (10 tackles for loss, second team all-region on offense), FS/WR Jeffery Ashley (four INTs, 250 yards receiving), and LB Blake Jurrique (74 tackles). After a big win against Mays to get into the playoffs last season was followed up by a shutout loss to Tucker (the eventual Class AAAA champion) in the first round of the playoffs, the Wildcats see how far they have to go to be an elite program. This is a team without conspicuous stars – only LB Zach Mann was first team all-region – but a program with a growing history of winning. No reason to think that’s about to change.
Division B
Alexander Cougars
2008 record: 5-5, 3-3 (fourth in subregion)
Average record this decade: 3-7
Coach: Kenny Palmer (11-19 in three seasons)
Offense: Spread (coordinator: Mike Bedosky)
Defense: 4-4 (coordinator: Dustin Deshon)
Starters returning: 3 on offense, 8 on defense
Best player: DE Shedrick Walker
Other top players: DT DeAngelo Ashley, LB Andre Carter, FS/WR Joe Gallegos, C Brian Holmes, SS Dion King, DE Andrew Evans, G Jeff Owens, T Nathan Detore
Key losses: OL Kevin Mitchell (Kentucky), OL Jabri Buckley (Western Iowa), RB/DB Darius Safford (Lafayette), QB Colton Harris (Mars Hill)
Outlook: Alexander won its last three games in 2008, including an upset against Banneker, so the momentum is right. DT DeAngelo Ashley was first team all-region last year, and DE Shedrick Walker is a candidate for that honor in 2009. With those and six other returning starters, the defense should be pretty good this season, but the offense took major hits. Alexander had three linemen who were 6 feet, 5 inches or taller. They’re gone, and that includes Kentucky signee Kevin Mitchell. So is QB Colton Harris, to Mars Hill, and most of the yardage-gainers. Unless the defense carries the day, another .500 finish will be difficult against such a demanding schedule.
Banneker Trojans
2008 record: 6-4, 4-2 (second in subregion)
Average record this decade: 6-5
Coach: Ed Gosa (6-4 in one season)
Offense: Spread/multiple (coordinator: Omari Green)
Defense: 4-2-5/3-3-5 (coordinator: Kevin Pope)
Starters returning: 6 on offense; 5 on defense
Best player: WR/DB Kowaski Kitchens
Other top players: WR/QB/DB Tres Houston, WR/DB Demetruce McNeal, WR/KR/PR Demarco McNeal, RB Derrick Williams, DE/TE Roderick Johnson, OL Antwane Johnson
Key losses: RB Alfred Moreland (Jacksonville State), MLB Milton Patterson (Jacksonville State), CB Emanuel Larte (Akron), CB Damien Walker (Fort ValleyState)
Outlook: Head coach Ed Gosa is very clear about his team’s goal for the 2009 season: Win the school’s first region title. He may be on to something, because this year’s Trojans are one of the more talented teams in the metro area. Auburn commits Kowaski Kitchens and Demetruce McNeal, both WR/DBs, roam the secondary and catch passes for Banneker. Demetruce’s brother Demarco has offers from Indiana, West Virginia, South Carolina and others. QB Tres Houston returns as a starter and fills many roles, including WR and DB. He holds offers from Indiana, Purdue and three others. The backfield should get a boost from the return of RB Derrick Williams, who rushed for more than 1,000 yards as a sophomore but missed all but the first game in 2008 with a torn ACL. He is a load at 5-9, 220 pounds. The defense’s strength is its speed, and Gosa and staff deploy a five-DB formation that allows more of the team’s best athletes to be on the field.
Douglas County Tigers
2008 record: 3-7, 1-5 (seventh in subregion)
Average record this decade: 7-5
Coach: John Oglesby (11-10 in two seasons)
Offense: Spread multiple (coordinator: Joby Boydstone)
Defense: 4-3 (coordinator: Jonathon Black)
Starters returning: 3 on offense, 7 on defense
Best player: T Kenny Preston
Other top players: LB Terrance Martin, DE Cory Brown, DT Semaj Allen, LB Veshon Revils
Key losses: QB Anthony Caldwell (Furman), NG DuVawn Wallace (West Georgia)
Outlook: Virtually every player credited with yardage on offense has moved on, including QB Anthony Caldwell (1,419 yards passing, 10 TD passes) to Furman. This was an offense that scored 21.1 points per game last season, good for third in a 13-team region. The defense, which ranked last in the region (28.4 points allowed per game), was another story, but five of the front seven return. This isn’t a team of star players. T Kenny Preston, who is being recruited by mid-majors, is one of the team’s few senior prospects. But if an experienced defense can show significant improvement, that won’t be such a problem.
Lithia Springs Lions
2008 record: 2-8, 1-5 (sixth in subregion)
Average record this decade: 3-7
Coach: Steve Horton (7-23 in three seasons)
Offense: Spread (coordinator: John Fulkerson)
Defense: 3-5 (coordinator: Scott Dean)
Starters returning: 5 on offense, 5 on defense
Best player: OL/FB Tyler Owens
Other top players: QB Myles Mitchell, FB Rodney Cross, RB/OL Merrick Robinson, DL Kristian Edwards
Key losses: QB Kelton Hill (Georgia State), WR/TE/DE Kevin Steed (Louisiana-Monroe), OL/DL Brian Davis (Boston College), DE Justin Marable (Louisiana-Monroe)
Outlook: Losing six games by one touchdown or less in 2008, it’s an understatement to say that Lithia Springs had a frustrating season. Now, the Lions must find some playmakers in the absence of QB Kelton Hill (1,946 yards passing, 989 yards rushing) and all-state TE Kevin Steed. Lithia Springs had one other all-region player, lineman Brian Davis, and he’s gone also, to Boston College. There’s talent left. OL/FB Tyler Owens (103 tackles total, two INTs, seven fumble recoveries and one field goal blocked) is one. One offense, the Lions might run a little more with FB Rodney Cross (512 yards rushing) and RB/OL Merrick Robinson (396 yards rushing). The new QB is Myles Mitchell.
Mays Raiders
2008 record: 7-3, 4-2 (third in subregion)
Average record this decade: 8-4
Coach: Dominic Callaway (7-3 in one season)
Offense: Multiple (coordinator: Dominic Callaway)
Defense: Multiple 4-3 (coordinator: Deon McGee)
Starters returning: 7 on offense, 6 on defense
Best player: OL Tim Wynn
Other top players: LB/FB Mario Turner, WR Acey Palmer, OL Mike Wilkerson, DL Darius Caldwell, DL Ladell Collins, S Tyrell Adams, WR Jordan Pearson
Key losses: RB Desmond Walker (Alabama A&M), RB Winston Broderick (Morehead State), FS Myer Nolan (Eastern Kentucky), QB Bobby Anthony
Outlook: It was a disappointing year for the Raiders in ’08, as they rose to the top of the polls only to miss out on the playoffs after slim losses to Banneker and Villa Rica in the subregion and a blowout loss to Whitewater (which they had beaten earlier in the season) in the region crossover game with the state playoff berth on the line. Most of Mays’ starters are back. The biggest losses are RB Desmond Walker (1,215 yards rushing in 10 games) and all-state FS Myer Nolan. The team has a rock on the offensive line in guard Tim Wynn (6-3, 270 pounds), who has a handful of Division I-AA offers. Coach Dominic Callaway believes his lines of scrimmage will be a strength. Behind Wynn will be first-year starting QB Homer Causey, a junior who makes smart decisions. It’s hoped he’ll provide more of a passing threat. Mays is traditionally one of the more difficult teams to forecast, and this year is as tricky as ever.
Tri-Cities Bulldogs
2008 record: 4-6, 2-4 (fifth in subregion)
Average record this decade: 4-6
Coach: Kenneth Miller (4-6 in one season)
Offense: Wing-T (coordinator: Lance Perlman)
Defense: 6-2 (coordinator: Chris Thomas)
Starters returning: 5 on offense, 6 on defense
Best player: QB Jonte Davis
Other top players: WR Josh Hines, DE Zachary Hodges, DB Deanthony Ridgeway
Key losses: LB Cuevas Dargon (Alabama A&M), OL Jordan Griffin (Alabama A&M), DE Demarcus Martin (Livingstone), Muhammad Saleem (Albany State)
Outlook: Tri-Cities improved by three victories in 2008 and got some confidence-building wins against Starr’s Mill and Fayette County under first-year coach Kenneth Miller. The program graduated a fairly talented senior class that sent a handful of players on to college. Miller still hassome nice pieces to work with in returning QB Jonte Davis (5-7, 160, but fast) and WR Josh Hines. DB Deanthony Ridgeway is the team’s lone returning member of the all-region team. Overall, the team remains inexperienced, especially along the lines and in special teams, where the team lost its starting return men. Tri-Cities’ first five games are pretty difficult with the likes of Carver (Columbus) and Creekside lined up as non-region opponents. It will be important to build toward the second half and not worry if the record is ugly at midseason.
Villa Rica Wildcats
2008 record: 8-3, 6-1 (first in subregion)
Playoffs: Lost to Southwest DeKalb 27-7 in the first round
Average record this decade: 5-5
Coach: Rob Cleveland (20-11 in three seasons)
Offense: Wing-T (coordinator: David Thrower)
Defense: 8-man front (coordinator: Rob Cleveland)
Starters returning: 6 on offense, 5 on defense
Best player: OT/DT Josh Talley
Other top players: QB Cody Sauls, DT Jeremy Springer, CB Mez Lowe, CB Curtis Mason, RB Antonio Mims
Key losses: DT Omar McLendon (Middle Tennessee), ILB Craig Allen (Middle Tennessee), RB Zay Foster (Eastern Kentucky)
Outlook: The Wildcats made the postseason for the first time in the new millennium, winning the subregion and getting the league’s No. 2 seed, a surprise to many. The loss of a big and talented senior class, however, may make it more difficult to get back to the playoffs in such a large and top-heavy region. The toughest loss is perhaps RB/DB Zay Foster (1,054 yards rushing, 50 tackles). Villa Rica also will miss two other Division I-A signees in LB Craig Allen and DT Omar McLendon. Each had more than 85 tackles. The most important player for the Wildcats’ success in ’09 is OT/DT Josh Talley, a two-way starter. The all-region performer will be joined by honorable mention all-region DT Jeremy Springer on the line. CB Curtis Mason (five INTs) headlines the secondary. On offense, senior QB Cody Sauls is ready to take another step forward. He took over the starting job after an injury forced him into the lineup. He learned a lot by being thrown into the fire last season, says head coach Rob Cleveland, and has really improved his throwing. The Wildcats will need some playmakers to emerge to match their magical 2008 season.
Region Preview: 6-AAAA:
What it is: Region 6-AAAA consists of 10 schools in northern and eastern metro Atlanta, with most schools in DeKalb County. They play a round-robin schedule to determine their four playoff teams. The region sent three schools to the quarterfinals last year and two to the final in Tucker and Marist.
Defending champion: Marist
Best player: DE T.J. Stripling, Southwest DeKalb
2008 STANDINGS
(Final 2008 Atlanta Journal-Constitution ranking included)
#2 Marist (13-2, 9-0)
#1 Tucker (14-1, 8-1)
Southwest DeKalb (9-4, 7-2)
Chamblee (6-5, 5-4)
Miller Grove (5-4-1, 5-4)
Forsyth Central (5-5, 5-4)
Stone Mountain (3-7, 3-6)
North Springs (3-7, 2-7)
Lithonia (2-8, 1-8)
Lakeside, Atlanta (0-10, 0-9)
2009 PREDICTIONS
(Offensive/defensive starters returning)
Southwest DeKalb (7/9)
Marist (6/7)
Tucker (3/3)
Miller Grove (4/6)
Forsyth Central (5/5)
Chamblee (2/4)
Lithonia (10/10)
Stone Mountain (6/6)
North Springs (3/4)
Lakeside, Atlanta (2/4)
TEAM BY TEAM
Chamblee Bulldogs
2008 record: 6-5, 5-4 (fourth in region)
Playoffs: Lost to Sandy Creek 14-7 in the first round
Average record this decade: 7-4
Coach: Michael Collins (6-5 in one season)
Offense: Multiple (coordinator: Michael Collins)
Defense: 8-man front/multiple (coordinator: Michael Collins)
Returning starters: 2 on offense; 4 on defense
Best player: DL Art Norman
Other top players: LB Frank Epps, RB Brett Jackson, DL/TE Brandon Rhodes
Key losses: TB Warren Norman (Vanderbilt), QB Garrett Williams, DL/OL Brian Sheppard (Presbyterian), FS Bryant Henry (Chattanooga)
Outlook: Expectations were high in 2008 when first-year coach Michael Collins, formerly of Pebblebrook, took over a program that had reached the semifinals in 2007 and returned many star players. But the move up to the state’s toughest Class AAAA region and injuries conspired to make it a disappointing campaign. Of course, there are those who remember when 7-4 was reason for a parade down Chamblee-Dunwoody Road. Now, expectations aren’t so high, as only six starters return. TB Warren Norman (1,010 yards rushing) is gone. Chamblee also must replace DeKalb County’s most accurate QB, Garrett Williams (56-for-88, 870 yards), with Aaron Dorsey or Ronald Herndon. There is still some talent here with DL Art Norman (78 tackles, eight sacks), LB Frank Epps (65 tackles), RB Brett Jackson (rushed for 600 yards, one TD), and DL/TE Brandon Rhodes (200 yards receiving). Chamblee’s 8.4 points allowed ranked tied for No. 2 in Class AAAA last season. Don’t expect Chamblee to go away during its rebuilding job, but if there’s a playoff berth to be had, the Bulldogs will be sweating it out in the final week, as they did in 2008.
Forsyth Central Bulldogs
2008 record: 5-5, 5-4 (sixth in region)
Average record this decade: 4-7
Coach: Chris Bennett (11-19 in three seasons)
Offense: Spread Wing-T (coordinator: Greg Dirst)
Defense: 3-5 (coordinator: Alan Slaughter)
Starters returning: 5 on offense, 5 on defense
Best player: OL/DL Kasey Morrison
Other top players: FB/LB Sean Mateer, RB/DB Josh Freese, RB/DB Drew Johnson, RB/LB Taylor Bradford
Key losses: QB/DB Dustin Canon, OL/LB Jason Wood, WR/DB Jon Freeman, RB/LB Michael Gravitt
Outlook: Without a winning season since 2001, Forsyth Central got dropped into Class AAAA’s region of death and nearly stole a playoff berth. The Bulldogs went 5-4 in region but lost on a three-team tiebreaker despite beating Chamblee, the team that got the bid. The loss of dual-threat QB Dustin Canon (1,200 total yards) is the main concern. Cameron Moore, a junior, gets the job. He’s not brand new, as he played a bit last season. Forsyth feels solid about a handful of two-way players, many who’ll carry the ball on offense and make tackles on defense. The offensive line lost three starters, but many backups got experience, so that also figures to be a strength. LT/DL Kasey Morrison, who has offers from Air Force and Samford, is outstanding. Coach Chris Bennett, in his fourth season, has two worries – depth issues that force some to start both ways and the strength of the region. “You hate to say you’re fighting for that fourth spot,” said Bennett, referring to Tucker, Marist and Southwest DeKalb as the big three. “But in reality, we are.”
Lakeside (Atlanta) Vikings
2008 record: 0-10, 0-9 (10th in region)
Average record this decade: 2-8
Coach: Thomas Cox (first season)
Offense: Spread (coordinator: Thomas Cox)
Defense: 3-5-3 (coordinator: Jason Davis)
Starters returning: 2 on offense; 4 on defense
Best player: RB/FS Jonathan Gibson
Other top players: LT Brent Riley, LB Lamar Castle, DE/TE Philip Koch
Key losses: RB C.B. Alexander
Outlook: Thomas Cox takes over a struggling Lakeside program after serving three years as an assistant at a school with a similar situation, Meadowcreek. Cox is not without athletes, but the going will be tough. He inherited 18 kids in the program and brought the numbers up to 50 in a short time (with no players lost to ineligibility). Coming back is RB/DB Jonathan Gibson, who was as all-county at LB last year and was converted this summer. LT Brent Riley is the team’s biggest player (6 feet, 5 inches and 290 pounds) and should be back from a foot injury that hampered him last year. Senior DE/TE Philip Koch is garnering some college interest. If Cox can get the community back on board and better numbers in the program, the wins might start to come in the next few years.
Lithonia Bulldogs
2008 record: 2-8, 1-8 (ninth in region)
Average record this decade: 2-8
Coach: Earl White (2-8 in one season)
Offense: Split-back veer (coordinator: Marcus Jelks)
Defense: 4-3 (coordinator: Earl White)
Starters returning: 10 on offense; 10 on defense
Best player: RB Zacchius Sumbry
Other top players: RB Cristobal Dinham, C Jimmy Kitchen, TE Chryston Floyd, LB Kierre Issac, CB Charlie Parks, CB Antonio Lee
Key losses: ATH Julian Bellinger (Toledo)
Outlook: Lithonia hadn’t won two games since 2005, so last year was an improvement. The team returns 20 starters, meaning every first-stringer except for two-way player Julian Bellinger, who spent time at every skill position and never left the field. This means both lines are back, as are the starting members of the backfield. RB Zacchius Sumbry (623 yards rushing) is a top track athlete and the fifth-leading rusher returning in DeKalb County. TE Chryston Floyd is a big target (6-5, 260) and has an offer from Savannah State. Junior QB DeAngelo Smith (6-1, 165) has some game experience and is a smart player with a good arm, according to coach Earl White. The coach, who took over for Rodney Hackey (now at North Clayton) last year, says his team is three deep at every position.
Marist War Eagles
2008 record: 13-2, 9-0 (region champions)
Playoffs: Lost to Tucker 15-3 in state championship game
Average record this decade: 11-2
Coach: Alan Chadwick (272-45 in 25 seasons)
Offense: Wishbone (coordinator: Paul Patrick)
Defense: 4-3 (coordinator: Jeff Duart)
Starters returning: 6 on offense; 7 on defense
Best player: FB Matt Connors
Other top players: RB Patrick Sullivan, RB/DB Sam McNearny, QB Andy Perez, LB Philip Wood, LB Cole Becker
Key losses: QB Kyle Farmer (Georgia baseball), C Joe Pfeffer, DL Jeff Ducote, MLB Spencer Mitchell, DE Jeff Ervin (Presbyterian), WR/DB Kevin Allman (Furman), P Chris Williamson (Georgia Southern)
Outlook: The Class AAAA runner-up lost a big senior class (about 30 players), although Marist is typically a senior-heavy team and has done magic with far fewer than 13 starters returning. In fact, the 2008 team returned only one starter on offense and did OK. The top losses this year are QB Kyle Farmer and playmaking WR Kevin Allman, but coach Alan Chadwick feels very good about junior QB Andy Perez. He’ll be the third Perez to start at quarterback for Marist in the past 25 years, joining uncles Rob and Dan. The rest of the wishbone backfield returns. FB Matt Connors (first team all-region) rushed for more than 1,100 yards. Another weapon is PK Justin Moore, who has committed to Miami of Ohio. On defense, seven starters are back, and the four missing are well spread out. LB/DE Philip Wood was first team all-region as a junior.
Miller Grove Wolverines
2008 record: 5-4-1, 5-4 (fifth in region)
Average record this decade: 3-7
Coach: Jasper Jewell (12-26-1 in four seasons)
Offense: Multiple (coordinator: Keevin Bell)
Defense: 4-4 (coordinator: Darrell Caldwell)
Starters returning: 4 on offense, 6 on defense
Best player: LB/SS Jonathan Brooks
Other top players: QB Roma Fulton, TB Celento Hairston, SB Blake Summers, CB Antoine Roberts, MLB Josiah Hanson, DE Antron Sanders
Key losses: WR Stephen Hill (Georgia Tech), RB Kenneth Gilstrap (Middle Tennessee), QB Kendrick Ings, TB Gerald Hatchett
Outlook: Miller Grove, entering its fifth season of football, appeared to be the front-runner for the fourth playoff berth in the region last season until falling to Chamblee in the 10th game. This year, coach Jasper Jewell believes he’ll have a better team despite losing WR Stephen Hill to Georgia Team and the top two rushers from the ’08 team. The running back issue could be solved by TB Celento Hairston, a midseason transfer from Stephenson last year. He could be a sleeper, and so could slotback/return specialist Blake Summers, the team’s best all-around athlete. And while Miller Grove won’t be better at receiver without Hill, expect new starting QB Roma Fulton to be an improvement as a passer because last year’s starter, Kendrick Ings, was hurt much of the season. On defense, LB Jonathan Brooks is getting mid-major offers. “We can be pretty good,” Jewell said. “We don’t have any standout superstars like we’ve had, but collectively, we feel like it’s the best team we’ve had. We have weapons on offence – four or five guys who can hurt you. On defense, we’re quick and fast.” Jasper’s concerns are youth and inexperience. Only 25 players have varsity experience.
North Springs Spartans
2008 record: 3-7, 2-7 (eighth in region)
Average record this decade: 2-8
Coach: Charles Parks (3-17 in two seasons)
Offense: Multiple I (coordinator: Charles Parks)
Defense: 4-4 (coordinator: Tyree Miles)
Starters returning: 3 on offense; 4 on defense
Best player: QB Mike Chance
Other top players: FB John Dixon, OLB Rory Daniels
Key losses: DE Ricky Lane (Furman), LB Chase Daniels
Outlook: Coming off back-to-back 0-10 seasons, last year’s 3-7 was a definite step forward for a program that has not had a winning season since 1998. Head coach Charles Parks thinks his skill players are good enough to succeed in the region, and QB Mike Chance is a 5-8, 150-pound leader who should improve going into his senior year. Chance will also get looks at everything from punt returner, kick returner, wide receiver, running back and just about every other skill position on the roster. He is being recruited by several schools as an athlete. Overall, the lines need to be better on both sides of the ball, as the Spartans probably lack the muscle needed to be a playoff contender.
Southwest DeKalb Panthers
2008 record: 9-4, 7-2 (third in region)
Playoffs: Lost to Griffin 10-7 in the quarterfinals
Average record this decade: 7-4
Coach: Buck Godfrey (240-77-1 in 26 seasons)
Offense: Multiple (coordinator: Buck Godfrey)
Defense: Multiple (coordinator: Damien Wimes)
Starters returning: 7 on offense, 9 on defense
Best player: DE T.J. Stripling
Other top players: RB Kendrun Malcome, CB Jonathan Mincy, S Sharrod Golightly, CB Marques Dixon, RB Gary Benton, QB Stephen Coates, DE Terrence Smith
Key losses: RB Michael Johnson (Western Carolina), WR Jacoby Mitchell (Western Carolina)
Outlook: It’s said that Southwest DeKalb always has talent, but it hasn’t been state-championship quality in several years. Now, longtime coach Buck Godfrey – who got a title in 1995 – believes he’s got the kind of players of old to make another run late in his career. The program has about 138 players, which means the biggest problem the Southwest DeKalb staff has is finding enough equipment for the massive roster. DE T.J. Stripling is the cornerstone on a talented defense. Pledged to Georgia, Stripling finished his junior year with 75 tackles and 15 sacks. The secondary will be strong as well with S Sharrod Golightly (87 tackles, two INTs) and CB Jonathan Mincy the top names there. Both are committed to SEC schools, giving the defense three big-time recruits and eight returning starters from a unit that allowed 8.8 points per game (ranked No. 8 in Class AAAA). Offensively, Godfrey has a quarterback that he calls his most talented since the 1990s (perhaps since Quincy Carter) in first-year starter Stephen Coates (6-3, 195). He will hand it off to big, physical RB Kendrun Malcome, a Georgia commit who rushed for 954 yards last season. If the Panthers can pass a little to keep teams from crowding the line on Malcome, this could be a special team. Note that it reached the quarterfinals last season and lost close ones to eventual finalists Tucker (10-7) and Marist (27-21).
Stone Mountain Pirates
2008 record: 3-7, 3-6 (seventh in region)
Average record this decade: 4-6
Coach: Dante Ferguson (first season)
Offense: Multiple (coordinators: Jatavious Sanders, Nyrere Brown)
Defense: 4-3 (coordinators: Greg Dillard, Clifford Browning)
Starters returning: 6 on offense; 6 on defense
Best player: RB Michael Gilbert
Other top players: RB Micah Collins, OL Dominique King, QB Jhyree Harris, QB Quinton Perry, WR D’antonio Murray, MLB Chris Gilzeane, CB Derrick Harris, FS Tamaric Johnson
Key losses: LB Robert Nelson (Tennessee), LB Milton Meeks (Lane College)
Outlook: Dante Ferguson takes over for Charles Reeves, who had coached the Pirates since 2005. Ferguson, who ran the middle school program for the past six years, inherits an excellent group of skill players, led by RB Michael Gilbert, who rushed for 1,104 yards (9.4 yards per carry) and nine TDs last year on his way to an all-county selection. The No. 3 returning rusher in DeKalb County, Gilbert is only a junior and will run behind an offensive line that returns three starters. The receiving corps is deep and is led by leading returning receiver D’antonio Murray (21 receptions, 342 yards). There likely will be a platoon at quarterback, with incumbent starter Jhyree Harris (656 yards passing) getting pushed by Quinton Perry. Both are juniors. Harris is bigger at 6-2 and faster but is better between the tackles and can take hits. Expect more throwing as Reeves and staff ran a Wing-T. The defense is led by MLB Chris Gilzeane, the Pirates’ strongest player.
Tucker Tigers
2008 record: 14-1, 8-1 (second in region)
Playoffs: Defeated Marist 15-3 in state championship game
Average record this decade: 11-2
Coach: Franklin Stephens (27-2 in two seasons)
Offense: Wing-T (coordinator: Toderick Malone)
Defense: 3-3-5 (coordinator: Brian Lamar)
Starters returning: 3 on offense; 3 on defense
Best player: RB/DB Devin Scott
Other top players: DE James Vaughters, DE/TE Quenton Brown, LB/FB Lorenzo Bryson, RB/DB Randall Wilder, WR/DB Seantavius Jones, WR/FS Chris Sanders
Key losses: RB/LB Jonathan Davis (Central Florida), RB/DB Drayton Calhoun (Louisiana State), DT Deion Roberson (N.C. State), LB Tevin Holliman (Western Kentucky), QB Chris Beck
Outlook: Tucker picked up its first state football title last season but graduated 32 seniors and finds itself with less depth than in recent years. Gone are RB/LB Jonathan Davis (the AJC’s defensive player of the year in 2008 and a 1,230-yard rusher on offense), RB Drayton Calhoun (1,211 yards rushing) and QB Chris Beck. Coach Franklin Stephens sees his latest group as talented but younger and less experienced. Back is RB/DB Devin Scott, who made some huge runs down the stretch in the state title game and is also a dangerous PR/KR. DE James Vaughters is just a junior but has an amazing list of college offers that includes Florida, Ohio State and Southern Cal. The team has another playmaker with DE/TE Quenton Brown, who has offers from Central Florida, Miami and Michigan State. For the second year in a row, the offense will have a new quarterback, as junior Norman Hayes, the returning long snapper, will have the starting job. He is a smart player (as evidenced by his 4.1 GPA) who will be asked to manage the offense in the beginning. Beck was also the punter, and the team also suffers a loss with the graduation of steady PK Ricky Peacock. It’s hard to fathom Tucker defending its title with so many major pieces missing, but the team’s talent level, albeit unseasoned, will be Top 10 material again.
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