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: 7-AA:
What it is: Region 7-AA is a league of 12 northwest Georgia teams split into North and South subregions. The regular-season winners of each subregion play each other in the final week to determine the No. 1 seed and the overall region champion. Teams finishing second and third must win games against the other subregion in the final week to make the state playoffs.
Defending champion: Calhoun
Best player: WR Da’Rick Rogers, Calhoun
2008 STANDINGS
(Final 2008 Atlanta Journal-Constitution ranking included)
North
#2 Calhoun (12-3, 5-0)
Sonoraville (7-3, 3-2)
Chattooga (6-4, 3-2)
Adairsville (4-6, 2-3)
Gordon Central (5-5, 2-3)
Dade County (1-9, 0-5)
South
#5 Pepperell (11-2, 5-0)
Rockmart (7-4, 4-1)
Coosa (6-5, 3-2)
Model (5-5, 2-3)
Armuchee (6-4, 1-4)
Temple (1-9, 0-5)
2009 PREDICTIONS
(Offensive/defensive starters returning)
North
Calhoun (5/6)
Chattooga (4/5)
Gordon Central (5/6)
Adairsville (4/4)
Sonoraville (3/5)
Dade County (6/8)
South
Pepperell (6/6)
Armuchee (7/6)
Rockmart (5/6)
Model (7/6)
Coosa (2/3)
Temple (7/7)
TEAM BY TEAM
North
Adairsville Tigers
2008 record: 4-6, 2-3 (fourth in subregion)
Average record this decade: 7-4
Coach: Jim Kremer (first season)
Offense: Multiple
Defense: 4-3
Starters returning: 4 on offense, 4 on defense
Best players: OL/DL Catlin Alford, LB Victor Beasley
Other top players: QB Tyre Brown, LB Tevin Pullum
Key losses: Niagel Curtis (transferred to Gordon Central), DL Khalis McConnell, SS Kaleb Harp, WR/DB Cymon Farmer, RB/LB Kenley Rogers, FB/LB Dylan Holtman
Outlook: Adairsville, a team with a couple of high-profile recruits, has hired Jim Kremer, the offensive coordinator from Mountain Brook High in Birmingham, to replace interim Johnny Gulledge, one of three Adairsville head coaches last season. Kremer had been an assistant under Hal Lamb at Calhoun from 1999 to 2006. Once aboard, Kremer said that he “worked on the trust factor and the chemistry.” That’s because of the turmoil of coach-switching a season ago that might’ve precipitated a four-game losing streak to finish the season. Kremer has some big names to work with in Catlin Alford, a lineman who has committed to Georgia Tech, and multi-position star Victor Beasley. QB Tyre Brown is a dual-threat player who also will play at the next level, probably as a defensive back. Adairsville has the kind of high-end players that tempt many to view it as a playoff team, but remember that Adairsville won a lot of close games last season and lost a lot of starters. And while Adairsville had one of the better offenses in the region, it had a terrible defense, allowing 32.4 points a game. That won’t be easy to fix.
Calhoun Yellow Jackets
2008 record: 12-3, 5-0 (region champion)
Playoffs: Lost to Buford 45-21 in state championship game
Average record this decade: 11-2
Coach: Hal Lamb (100-26 in 10 seasons)
Offense: Spread (coordinator: Michael Davis)
Defense: 50 (coordinator: Ricky Ross)
Starters returning: 5 on offense, 6 on defense
Best player: WR Da’Rick Rogers
Other top players: RB Kedron Aker RB Dustin Christian, QB Nash Nance, LB Cody Ralston, LB Josh White, DL Caden Parker, WR JT Palmer, OL Matt Warren, K Adam Griffith
Key losses: OL David Clemons, OL Rhett Jackson, WR Rhett McGowan, SR Eric McDaniel (Purdue)
Outlook: The Yellow Jackets will enter 2009 having won eight straight region titles, and this team reminds head coach Hal Lamb of the 2005 team that went 14-1. It’s a team with three Division I-A commitments. Darlington transfer Nash Nance (Vanderbilt) will replace Michael Johnson, the first-team all-state quarterback whose status is unclear. He’s a senior whose main sport is baseball. Calhoun must hope the quarterback switch doesn’t affect team chemistry. WR DaRick Rogers (Georgia) is regarded by many as the top receiver in the state. Another D-I commit is LB Cody Ralston. DL Caden Parker, a junior, is an all-state candidate. He had 14 tackles for loss last season. While Calhoun is unquestionably a loaded team and the clear favorite in 7-AA, it should be noted that the Jackets lost some pretty good players too, including Purdue-bound Eric McDaniel and perhaps the team’s best two offensive linemen, a pair of 270-pounders in David Clemons and Rhett Jackson. Having a new quarterback is always an issue, especially when the old one was a returning senior.
Chattooga Indians
2008 record: 6-4, 3-2 (third in subregion)
Average record this decade: 6-4
Coach: Brad Waggoner (first season)
Offense: Option
Defense: 4-4
Starters returning: 4 on offense, 5 on defense
Best player: S/RB Senorise Perry
Other top players: QB/CB Rashaad Ramsey, QB Jared Nelson, DL Taylor Hunter, CB/RB Olajuwon Blair
Key losses: OL/LB Ryan Hamilton, WR/FS Nic Perry, OL/LB Tyler Buice, RB/LB Charlie Starr
Outlook: Chattooga, which fired John Starr in mid-season last year, managed a 6-4 finish despite the turmoil and would’ve made the playoffs if not for a three-overtime loss to Rockmart. In the offseason, the school hired Brad Waggoner, a Landmark Christian graduate who has had head coaching stops in Alabama. He was 25-11 as former University of Alabama coach Mike Dubose’s replacement at Luverne High. Under the previous Chattooga regime, two quarterbacks were used, and both Jared Nelson and Rashaad Ramsey are seniors and can both run the new option offense. The duty of the QB will be to get the ball into the hands of Senorise Perry (three punt return TDs, 829 rushing yards, 1,135 total yards) and Olajuwon Blair. Both also start in the secondary. Chattooga has been a pretty consistent team this decade, reaching the playoffs six of the past nine seasons but never getting out of the first round. What’s returning is less important than the impact of the new coach. Chattooga believes it has the right man.
Dade County Wolverines
2008 record: 1-9, 0-5 (sixth in subregion)
Average record this decade: 1-9
Coach: Brad Warren (1-9 in one season)
Offense: Run-based
Defense: Multiple 50
Starters returning: 6 on offense, 8 on defense
Best player: RB/DB Michael Freeman
Other top players: LB/RB Tyler Wright, LB John Hampton, DL Zach Gaddis
Key losses: QB Nick Bowden, DL Boone Wheeler, RB Cody McNabb
Outlook: Brad Warren, former coach at Central Gwinnett and Gilmer, returned to his home town last season and found a rebuilding project that could take awhile. The only Georgia teams that Dade has beaten the past five years are Sonoraville, a new program, and Temple in the regular-season finale last season. RB/DB Michael Freeman is a nice player to build around as he scored 16 touchdowns and intercepted four passes. The quarterback, Nick Bowden, is gone, but the defense should be much better in ’09. Among the eight starters returning are LB Tyler Wright (four tackles for loss), LB John Hampton (90 tackles) and LB Zach Gaddis (84 tackles).
Gordon Central Warriors
2008 record: 5-5, 2-3 (fifth in subregion)
Average record this decade: 4-6
Coach: Chad Fisher (5-15 in two seasons)
Offense: Spread (coordinator: Barry Hall)
Defense: 4-3 (coordinator: Scott Cullifer)
Starters returning: 5 on offense, 6 on defense
Best player: QB Dre Prather
Other top players: RB Niagel Curtis, WR Diondre Curtis, ATH Jared Noland, WR Chase Chasteen, OL David Anderson
Key losses: WR Keidric Johnson, OT Caleb Jones (Bethel College), DL Dayton Luther (Bethel College), LB Mark Rhinehart.
Outlook: Head coach Chad Fisher’s offense could be ready to explode with QB Dre Prather (2,177 yards passing, 18 touchdowns) and Mr. Everything Jared Noland looking to impress colleges. Noland last season recorded four interceptions while racking up 88 tackles with his blazing 4.43 speed. Niagel Curtis, a transfer from Adairsville, has been tearing up summer camps, and the senior back should pick up chunks of yards with every carry this season for his new team. Prather will need to use his weapons on the perimeter, as well as his legs, for the spread offense to work. WR Kedric Johnson (39 receptions) is gone, but expect Chase Chasteen to do well in his stead. Gordon Central figures to go where its lines of scrimmage will carry it.
Sonoraville Phoenix
2008 record: 7-3, 3-2 (second in subregion)
Average record this decade: 3-7
Coach: Chuck King (8-22 in three seasons)
Offense: Option (coordinator: Roger Gentry)
Defense: 50 slant (coordinator: Matthew Rigdon)
Starters returning: 3 on offense, 5 on defense
Best player: QB Ryan Bess
Other top players: K Dalton Smith, LB Jacob Cook
Key losses: S Trent Payne (Shorter), DB Tevarious Washington, QB YJ Glover, TE Taylor Simms, WR Ethan McCarley
Outlook: After going 0-10 and 1-9 in its first two seasons of varsity football, Sonoraville started 6-0 in 2008 and would’ve made the playoffs but for losing to Coosa 17-8 in a region playoff game. Most of the top players who built the program are gone, however. Trent Payne (112 tackles, 18 for losses) and Tevarious Washington (six interceptions, 722 rushing yards) are the best among those. Ryan Bess is the new starter at quarterback. The lines of scrimmage should be solid. Sonoraville will need to develop some playmakers to replicate the success of 2008.
South
Armuchee Indians
2008 record: 6-4, 1-4 (fifth in subregion)
Average record this decade: 2-8
Coach: John Mullinax (15-35 in five seasons)
Offense: Triple option (coordinator: Preston Cash)
Defense: 3-3 (coordinator: Dean Ratledge)
Starters returning: 7 on offense, 6 on defense
Best player: LB Jake Schmidt
Other top players: QB T.C. Boyd, WB Davante Hudson, SE Jake Nix
Key losses: WR Taylor Evans, TE Kyle Davis
Outlook: Armuchee has improved steadily since 2004, when John Mullinax took over a program that had gone 1-29 the three previous seasons. The 6-4 finish in 2008 was the school’s first winning season since 1999. Mullinax is installing the triple option this season. With QB T.C. Boyd returning, the offense should have a capable captain, but the receiving options from 2008 won’t be there. Jake Nix and Davante Hudson will try and pick up the slack at that position. On defense, all-state LB candidate Jake Schmidt returns as a three-year starter. He has more than 200 tackles the past two seasons. Armuchee allowed 17.7 points per game last season, about the same as region champion Calhoun. If the Indians can score a few more points, or control the clock with their run-oriented offense, they could be considerably improved this season.
Coosa Eagles
2008 record: 6-5, 3-2 (third in subregion)
Playoffs: Lost to Jefferson 31-13 in the first round
Average record this decade: 6-5
Coach: Chad Perry (26-16 in four seasons)
Offense: Wing-T (coordinator: Todd Peugh)
Defense: 3-3 stack (coordinator: Nick Williamson)
Starters returning: 2 on offense, 3 on defense
Best player: TE/LB Desmond Curtis
Other top players: QB David Mattress, RB Coty Dodson
Key losses: QB/DB Shane Smith, K Michael Ray, FB Lebron Neal, RB Fatir Pillow, RB Quentin Hight, LB Nick Mitchell
Outlook: After making the playoffs for the first time since 2004, the Eagles may take a step back after losing 22 seniors, including their potent backfield. Do-it-all quarterback Shane Smith (signed a baseball scholarship to Gadsden State) must be replaced, as will one of the region’s best fullbacks in Lebron Neal. Replacing Smith’s 1,500 all-purpose yards will be senior David Mattress, a good player with a great attitude, according to coach Chad Perry. The offense will really look to junior RB Coty Dodson for its attack. With so many starters gone, Coosa is largely unknown this season. But it’s hard to bet against history, and Perry led the Eagles to winning seasons in each of his first four seasons.
Model Blue Devils
2008 record: 5-5, 2-3 (fourth in subregion)
Average record this decade: 3-7
Coach: Randy Surrett (first season)
Offense: Spread
Defense: Stack
Starters returning: 7 on offense, 6 on defense
Best player: DB Zack Baker
Other top players: QB Ryan Leonard, K Joel Poulicek, MLB Randall Cooper
Key losses: DT Nic Kernes, Blake Garab, Jamie Palmer
Outlook: Gordon Powers resigned after six seasons as head coach of the Blue Devils, and new coach Randy Surrett inherits a team that finished fourth in the subregion. Surrett most recently had been an assistant at Woodland of Cartersville (2006-08) but is a former head coach at Rockmart. QB Ryan Leonard will return after leading the team with 488 yards passing, but he will need to better his touchdown-to-interception ratio (2/9). Zach Baker will have to take over some of the rushing attack after the two leading rushers from last season departed. Four of Leonard’s top five receiving targets return in James Wells, Gabe Johnson, Josh Haywood and Branton Treglown. The defense, which allowed 35 or more points any time it saw a playoff team, must get better.
Pepperell Dragons
2008 record: 11-2, 5-0 (first in subregion)
Playoffs: Lost to Fitzgerald 41-19 in the quarterfinals
Average record this decade: 7-5
Coach: Jeff Shiflett (21-6 in two seasons)
Offense: Multiple (coordinator: Brian Henderson)
Defense: 3-3 (coordinator: Jeff Honeycutt)
Starters returning: 6 on offense, 6 on defense
Best player: QB Jonathan Watters
Other top players: RB Marcus Jackson, TE/OT/DE Drew Pearson, DL Dakota Ball
Key losses: RB Brandon Whitaker, WR Logan Osborne (Georgetown College), WR Rashan Smith, WR Kendric Cheeks, OT Michael Ozment (Shorter), DL Matt Kelley (Shorter)
Outlook: After two straight trips to the quarterfinals, the Dragons are looking to take the next step. QB Jonathan Watters (1,037 yards passing, 53-of-106) is a Division I-A recruit who led Pepperell to the No. 3 scoring offense (37.2) in Class AA last season. Coach Jeff Shiflett says to expect more passing now that Brandon Whitaker (2,072 yards rushing) is gone, but GHSF Daily isn’t convinced that will happen because Pepperell has four starters back from an outstanding line and a running back named Marcus Jackson who is getting I-A looks. Jackson was the Class AA champion in the 400 meters as a junior. The tight end, Drew Pearson, is the team’s best two-way player. The defense is more of a concern, especially at linebacker. The defense was outstanding last season until giving up 41 against Fitzgerald.
Rockmart Yellow Jackets
2008 record: 7-4, 4-4 (second in subregion)
Playoffs: Lost to North Oconee 28-21 in the first round
Average record this decade: 6-5
Coach: Dan Duff (39-35 in seven seasons)
Offense: Wing-T (coordinator: Corey Godfrey)
Defense: 4-3 (coordinator: Joe McCoy)
Starters returning: 5 on offense, 6 on defense
Best player: WR James Anderson
Other top players: RB Bo Peek, RB Tevin Clark, WR Terian Beavers, OL Josh Cates
Key losses: QB Brandon Haywood (Carson-Newman), OL Chris Campbell (Carson-Newman), DE Jesse Purser, RB Michael Ledbetter
Outlook: Losing a Wing-T quarterback like Brandon Haywood (1,100 yards passing, 1,189 yards rushing) always hurts. He directed an offense that averaged 31.5 points per game (third in the region and 11th in the state. LT Chris Campbell is joining Haywood at Carson-Newman. Top RB Michael Ledbetter (613 yards rushing) has graduated too, but coach Dan Duff feels pretty good about Bo Peek and Tevin Clark picking up those yards. WR James Anderson, a two-time Greater Rome Area second-teamer, returns. He was the leading receiver with 30 catches. Most of the top defensive players must be replaced, and it wasn’t that great of a unit in 2008, allowing 23 points per game (47th in the state). Gone is DE Jesse Purser (22 tackles for loss, first-team all-Greater Rome). Rockmart has won seven or eight games each of the past four seasons without winning a round in the playoffs. Some new starters will need to make a big impact, but that’s usually the case for this consistent program.
Temple Tigers
2008 record: 1-9, 0-5 (sixth in subregion)
Average record this decade: 3-7
Coach: Seth Rogers (1-19 in two seasons)
Offense: Multiple with I spread
Defense: 4-4
Starters returning: 7 on offense, 7 on defense.
Best player: S/RB Matthan Burton
Other top players: QB Matt Batruony, RB/DB Deijohn Tyler, RB Tony Ross, Joseph Flores, RB Craig Jacobs
Key losses: WR Darius Copeland, DL/P Jake Shirley, DB Tyler Cunningham
Outlook: With only five seniors on the roster, Temple will remain the subregion’s youngest team, but it is not without experience. The top player is Matthan Burton, who will go both ways and start at safety (66 tackles) and running back (615 rushing yards, six TDs). Coach Seth Rogers is taking advantage of the youth to instill his own values early – as in 6:45 a.m. That was the start of spring practice for several days this year. Temple is the region’s smallest school, and until Rogers gets a bigger senior class, the Tigers will struggle to stay out of the basement.
Region Preview: 8-AA:
What it is: Region 8-AA is an 11-team region of northeast Georgia schools from the Athens area to the mountains bordering Tennessee. Walnut Grove is a new school that won’t play a region schedule. The other 10 play a round-robin schedule to decide the four playoff teams.
Defending champion: Jefferson
Best player: WR Blake Gowder, Union County
2008 STANDINGS
(Final 2008 Atlanta Journal-Constitution ranking included)
Jefferson (11-1, 9-0)
North Oconee (9-3, 7-2)
Riverside Military (7-4, 6-3)
Banks County (6-5, 6-3)
Fannin County (7-3, 6-3)
Union County (5-5, 4-5)
East Jackson (3-7, 3-6)
Dawson County (3-7, 2-7)
Oglethorpe County (2-8, 1-8)
Rabun County (1-9, 1-8)
2009 PREDICTIONS
(Offensive/defensive starters returning)
Jefferson (5/7)
Union County (5/5)
North Oconee (6/6)
Banks County (4/4)
Riverside Military (5/5)
Fannin County (3/4)
East Jackson (6/4)
Dawson County (N/A)
Oglethorpe County (5/6)
Rabun County (N/A)
*Walnut Grove
*New school playing a non-region schedule
TEAM BY TEAM
Banks County Leopards
2008 record: 6-5, 6-3 (fourth in region)
Playoffs: Lost to Calhoun 63-0 in the first round
Average record this decade: 3-7
Coach: Blair Armstrong (10-11 in two seasons)
Offense: Wing-T (coordinator: Chuck Hudson)
Defense: 4-4 (coordinator: Paul Hoch)
Starters returning: 4 on offense, 4 on defense
Best player: DB Cain Duncan
Other top players: C/DL Nathan Mathis, RB/LB Clay Frink, RB/LB Matthew Patton, WR/DB Riley Nicholson
Key losses: RB Justin Beasley (North Georgia)
Outlook: The Leopards got their first playoff berth in 10 seasons last year under new coach Blair Armstrong, who won a state championship at Peachtree Ridge in 2006. There are only seven seniors, but this should be the last small graduating class in awhile, Armstrong says. The other immediate concern is the loss of RB Justin Beasley (2,161 yards rushing) and some big linemen on both sides who made the all-region team. Expect a committee approach to this year’s Wing-T offense. It will be tough improving on the 6-5 record this season, but a good foundation is being set. “The past still plagues the future of the Leopards,” Armstrong said. “Having little winning tradition over the last 10 years has taken its toll on the beliefs of the players. But earning a playoff spot this past year showed the spotted cats they can surprise some folks.”
Dawson County Tigers
2008 record: 3-7, 2-7 (eighth in region)
Average record this decade: 5-5
Coach: Jeff Lee (26-35 in six seasons)
Offense: Multiple
Defense: 5-3 base
Starters returning: N/A
Best player: QB Chase Gilreath
Other top players: QB/DB Ethan Brown, RB Eian Curry, OL Zach Johnson, OLB Stephen King
Key losses: C John Kanudensa, RB Evan Weatherford, WR/S Cody Tobias
Outlook: The Tigers have two returning players that switched off at quarterback last year in Chase Gilreath and Ethan Brown. Both are athletic and effective. Gilreath also plays receiver, and Brown was a first team all-region defensive back. RB Eian Curry returns along with mammoth lineman Zach Johnson to help lead the way in the run game. Johnson is earning a reputation as one of the top linemen in the state. On defense, Stephen King returns at outside linebacker to lead the unit. The loss of two-way standout Cody Tobias will be difficult to overcome, but the Tigers are continuing to build depth to compete in the region.
East Jackson Eagles
2008 record: 3-7, 3-6 (seventh in region)
Average record this decade: 2-6
Coach: Frank Caputo (4-12 in two seasons)
Offense: Wing-T (coordinator: Mike Teel)
Defense: 3-5 (coordinator: Davis Darling)
Starters returning: 6 on offense, 4 on defense
Top players: QB Evan Williamson, C Parker Wilson, WR Dillion Kemp, RB CJ Allen, DL Nick Fulks, DB Jermaine Davis, LB Scott Hill
Key losses: RB/FB Robbie King, RB Zach Gilbert, DL Willie Sanders
Outlook: The Eagles did well for their first full varsity and region schedule last season, picking up three wins. On offense, they have six players returning, including QB Evan Williamson. He might be passing more now that RB Zach Gilbert (605 yards rushing) is gone. WR Dillon Kemp is one of the region’s better receivers. RB CJ Allen will get a bigger role with the loss of Gilbert and Robbie King. On defense, LB Scott Hill was second team all-region, and junior DL Nick Fulks was one of the region’s best young linemen last year. The playoffs may be out of reach, but the Eagles plan to move up a couple of notches in the standings.
Fannin County Rebels
2008 record: 7-3, 6-3 (fifth in region)
Average record this decade: 5-5
Coach: Clark Drennan (31-21 in five seasons)
Offense: Wishbone double slot (coordinator: Greg Chambers)
Defense: Multiple 8 (coordinator: Donnie Hampton)
Starters returning: 3 on offense, 4 on defense
Best player: QB/FS Nick Dean
Other top players: OL Logan Daves, WR Kirk Cross, ILB Drew Thomas, CB Matthew Gray, DE Lukas Garren
Key losses: OL Bryant Meeks (Georgia Southern), OL Geoffrey Daves (Averett), OL George Salinas (Bethel)
Outlook: Fannin’s playoff hopes were doomed last year in a tiebreaker, and a 6-3 region record went to waste. The Rebels had three future college players on the offensive line that are gone along with leading rushers Josh Gaddy (969 yards rushing) and Devin Morris (580 yards rushing). One big lineman returns in Logan Daves, a 300-pounder who has Georgia Southern and others looking at him. The other good news is QB Nick Dean (669 yards rushing, 505 yards passing). Dean also plays defense and is the only returning starter in the secondary. Sixth-year coach Clark Drennan has a challenge to keep Fannin from dropping in the standings this season. “If we can get our shoes on and find helmets and get to the field, I’ll be happy,” he joked.
Jefferson Dragons
2008 record: 11-1, 9-0 (region champions)
Playoffs: Lost to Lovett 34-24 in the second round
Average record this decade: 7-5
Coach: T. McFerrin (first season)
Offense: N/A (coordinator: Ben Hall)
Defense: N/A (coordinator: Tom Parker)
Starters returning: 5 on offense, 7 on defense
Best player: QB Darius Minor
Other top players: OL Austin Przybysz, OL Cody Berryman, TE Hoytes Damons, WR Sky Parker, DL Cody Berryman, DL Sam Loggins, LB Kyle Mosley, LB Peter Ly, DB Lucas Redd, DB Caleb Meek, DE Zach Allen
Key losses: OL Patrick Allen (Valdosta State), ATH Zach Crosby (Fordham), WR Tab Martin (Savannah State)
Outlook: After an undefeated regular season and a competitive loss in the second round to powerhouse Lovett, the Dragons are looking for a deeper playoff run and might get it under new coach T. McFerrin, a 301-game winner. McFerrin, most recently of South Gwinnett, came out of retirement to replace Bill Navas, who left to become athletics director at Duluth. Most of the firepower returns, including the most important piece of its offense in QB Darius Minor (131-of-206 for 1,695 yards passing, 800 yards rushing). He led the Dragons to 38.6 points per game last year (fourth in Class AA). Two linemen, a tight end and a receiver are the other returners on offense. Minor will miss WR Tab Martin (43 receptions). On defense, Jefferson is returning seven players, including standout linebacker Kyle Mosley (team leader with 110 tackles, 11 for losses). Three on the defensive line are back. They will have an excellent secondary as well with returning starters Lucas Redd and Caleb Meek. Another region championship should be the goal.
North Oconee Titans
2008 record: 9-3, 7-2 (second in region)
Playoffs: Lost to Buford 44-7 in the second round
Average record this decade: 5-5
Coach: Terry Tuley (25-7 in three seasons)
Offense: Multiple I (coordinator: Jay Wright)
Defense: 4-4 (coordinator: Bob Krieger)
Starters returning: 6 on offense, 6 on defense
Best player: QB/CB Lane Thompson
Other top players: FB Marcus Alford, RB Brandon Whitlock, WR Levi Streets, LB/DE Jesse Webb
Key losses: TE Kevin Burris, NT Matt Carter, OG Jordan Crowe
Outlook: The Titans, in just their sixth year of football, are coming off a great season by making a trip to the second round of the playoffs before losing to the eventual state champion Buford. It will be tough matching that success as Terry Tuley’s team lost all three of its first team all-region players. The offense returns six starters, including leading rusher Brandon Whitlock (985 yards) and three linemen. Lane Thompson will replace Scott Zornig at quarterback. The defense, one of the better units in the state last season, lost both interior linemen and will start a pair of sophomores in the secondary but should remain a strength. MLB Taylor Maxey is North Oconee’s lone first- or second-team all-region player returning.
Oglethorpe County Patriots
2008 record: 2-8, 1-8 (ninth in region)
Average record this decade: 3-7
Coach: Larry Milligan (first season)
Offense: Spread (coordinator: Chris Williams)
Defense: 4-4 (coordinator: Bob Finch)
Starters returning: 5 on offense, 6 on defense
Best player: QB A.J. Perlotte
Other top players: RB Teaspoon Jones, TE Cody Erwin, C Burt Buckman, WR BJ Johnson, OL/DL Orlando Cunningham, OL/DL Jordan Ferguson, OL/DL Travis Hill, RB/DB Keeyon Nash
Key losses: TE/LB Anthony Spratlin
Outlook: Larry Milligan, hired to replace Buddy Cain, was 52-28 in seven seasons at Greene County and led the team to the 2005 Class AA semifinals with quarterback Josh Nesbitt, now Georgia Tech’s starter. A.J. Perlotte is no Nesbitt, but Oglethorpe’s incumbent quarterback is pretty good in his own right. He threw for 824 yards and scored nine touchdowns and also was a good defensive back, making 42 tackles. Milligan also will have the best name in Class AA football – Teaspoon Jones – as his fullback. Jones was honorable mention all-region. The strength of the defense should be the line. DE Orlando Cunningham was second team all-region. Jordan Ferguson and Travis Hill are multiple-year starters. Keeyon Nash headlines the secondary. There should be more talent than last year, but a playoff contender may be a year or two away.
Rabun County Wildcats
2008 record: 1-9, 1-8 (10th in region)
Average record this decade: 3-7
Coach: Danny Durham (1-9 in one season)
Offense: Pro-I (coordinator: Rob Stowe)
Defense: 4-3 (coordinator: Theo Caldwell)
Starters returning: N/A
Best player: RB/DB Daniel Campbell
Other top players: OL/DL Tad Brack, OL/DL Pete Warner, OL/DL Austin Gragg, RB/DB Paul Blackstock, LB/FB Jack Woerner, LB/FB Ryan Watts
Key losses: WR Luke Cross
Outlook: The Wildcats should have good experience on the lines this season with the return of three players who started both ways: Tad Brack, Pete Warner and Austin Gragg, who was second team all-region. Rabun County will be relying a lot on RB/DB Daniel Campbell (609 yards rushing, 19 receptions) to carry the load for it offensively. He was first team all-region last season. On defense, two of the three starting linebackers return in Jack Woerner and Ryan Watts. Despite the presence of a few standout players, overall depth is lacking.
Riverside Military Academy Eagles
2008 record: 7-4, 6-3 (third in region)
Playoffs: Lost to Pepperell 38-10 in the first round
Average record this decade: 7-4
Coach: Scott Sloan (first season)
Offense: Pro-style (coordinator: Darius Smiley)
Defense: 3-4 (coordinator: Oris Cotter)
Starters returning: 5 on offense, 5 on defense
Best player: LB Aaron Gambrah
Other top players: TE Brandon McKinney, CB Seth Sloan, DL Jahmel Ragin, WR Kiari Cephus, QB Lucas Bersin, SS Victor Frick, WR Marlin Veazie
Key losses: RB Julian Suber, LB Diego Osegueda
Outlook: RB Julian Suber (1,735 yards rushing) is gone, but the Eagles have some good talent coming back with two headliners. LB Aaron Gambrah (110 tackles, 13 for losses, eight sacks) is getting looks from small colleges in the Southeast. On offense, Brandon McKinney (30 receptions, 376 yards, six TDs) is a 6-foot-5, 250-pound tight end. He’s a Division I-A prospect. One area that suffered because of graduation is the offensive line, which lost four of five starters. That will make it hard to replicate Riverside’s offensive numbers. The Eagles put up 32.4 points a game (10th in Class AA) in 2008. The defense will try and improve after ranking 37th in the classification after giving up 21.8 a game.
Walnut Grove Warriors
Coach: Harris Rainbow
Offense: Wing-T (coordinator: Kenneth Sanders)
Defense: 40 front (coordinators: Jason Nash, Keith Mariakis)
Outlook: Walnut Grove will play its first season of football this year, its first as a school. The program will not take on a full varsity schedule until 2010, so this will be a year to build confidence and experience. The Warriors are going to be taking on fellow startup programs Arabia Mountain, Grovetown (twice), and River Ridge (twice). Walnut Grove will be the third high school in Walton County, Georgia’s ninth-fastest growing county this decade. Walton County schools have not won a state playoff game since 1991, but Loganville’s recent surge suggests the landscape may be changing. A Wheeler High graduate, coach Harris Rainbow was an assistant at Oconee County under Jeff Herron. He spent the past six seasons at Worth County and Riverwood. He had 80 players out for spring practice.
Union County Panthers
2008 record: 5-5, 4-5 (sixth in region)
Average record this decade: 4-6
Coach: Brian Allison (5-5 in one season)
Offense: Spread (coordinator: Howard McCombs)
Defense: 3-4 (coordinator: Brian Allison)
Starters returning: 5 on offense, 5 on defense
Best player: WR Blake Gowder
Other top players: QB Kolt Owenby, RB/DB Wesley Adams, OL/DL Gabe Miller, LB Michael Sossie, DB Caylan Tanner
Key losses: LB Justin Jarrett, WR Nathaniel Beaver, OL Harrison Garner
Outlook: At 5-5, Union County had its best season since the final year of Brian Allison’s first tenure as coach, in 2001. The team was 5-2 until QB Kolt Owenby (2,011 yards passing) went down with an injury and didn’t return. An overtime loss to Rabun County messed up what might’ve been a playoff season. Owenby is back, and so is his favorite target, Blake Gowder (77 receptions, 1,453 yards). Gowder, a first-team GHSF Daily preseason all-state player, also rushed for 164 yards. Union County must replace some of the linemen, but the majority of the skill-position players are back. Don’t be surprised if the team averages more than 30 points a game. On defense, the Panthers took a hit at linebacker – Justin Jarrett was the leading tackler – but should decent enough to give them a shot at a playoff berth. “Teams around here cycle up and down,” Allison said. “We happen to be on an up cycle. But who knows until you line up and play.”
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