The following is an excerpt from the August 6 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-AAAA:
What it is: Region 7-AAAA consists of 15 teams in northwest Georgia. They are split into subregions, one comprising teams from Cobb and Paulding counties, the other made up of teams further northwest to Dalton. 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.
Defending champion: Sprayberry
Best player: DE Jalen Fields, Dalton
2008 STANDINGS
(Final 2008 Atlanta Journal-Constitution ranking included)
Division A
#4 Rome (11-3, 6-0)
#7 Sequoyah (10-2, 5-1)
Dalton (7-3, 4-2)
Northwest Whitfield (6-4, 3-3)
Cass (4-6, 2-4)
Woodland, Cartersville (5-5, 1-5)
Murray County (1-9, 0-6)
Division B
Sprayberry (7-4, 5-0)
Hillgrove (8-4, 4-1)
Hiram (5-5, 3-2)
South Paulding (4-6, 2-3)
Paulding County (3-7, 1-4)
Osborne (1-9, 0-5)
Allatoona (3-3, 0-0)
North Paulding (2-8, 0-0)
2009 PREDICTIONS
(Offensive/defensive starters returning)
Division A
Rome (6/7)
Sequoyah (5/5)
Dalton (N/A)
Northwest Whitfield (4/5)
Woodland, Cartersville (6/5)
Cass (5/5)
Murray County (9/9)
Division B
Hillgrove (6/6)
South Paulding (6/7)
Sprayberry (5/4)
Hiram (7/6)
Paulding County (4/4)
Osborne (9/10)
*Allatoona (10/11)
*North Paulding (11/11)
*Playing a non-region schedule
TEAM BY TEAM
Division A
Cass Colonels
2008 record: 4-6, 2-4 (fifth in subregion)
Average record this decade: 4-6
Coach: Rick Casko (27-34 in six seasons)
Offense: Spread (coordinator: Rick Casko)
Defense: 3-5-3 (coordinator: Ryan Brady)
Starters returning: 5 on offense, 5 on defense
Best player: DE Albert Catron
Other top players: RB Michael Saunders, WR Tarris Batiste, QB/LB Alex Foster
Key losses: QB Brian Owens
Outlook: Rick Casko has elevated Cass to the level of consistently competitive in his six seasons. It’s a program that’s been in the shadows of the city school, Cartersville. It’s tough losing a good quarterback (Brian Owens) in the spread, but Alex Foster is among the team’s best athletes and got some all-region mention last season. So did WR Tarris Batiste. Casko believes Albert Catron and RB Saunders will be all-region players this season. The coach also expects the team to be more fit. Players are being trained by a local sports performance company. Cass should be a better team in 2009, but the Colonels won every close game last year (except the big one, vs. Cartersville), so reaching .500 will be a challenge.
Murray County Indians
2008 record: 1-9, 0-6 (seventh in subregion)
Average record this decade: 4-7
Coach: John Zeigler (first season)
Offense: Pro I (coordinator: Michael Hill)
Defense: 3-4 (coordinator: Greg Linder)
Starters returning: 9 on offense, 9 on defense
Best player: QB Austin Williams
Other top players: OT Brad Dillard, WR Luke Meaner, OLB Zach Dills, RB Dustin Anderson, FB Jake White
Key losses: K Michael Lopez
Outlook: The program is looking to get its bearings again after a 1-9 season, and returning 18 starters has got to help. Head coach John Zeigler (promoted after more than 20 years as an assistant) is looking to get the team back to competitiveness in Class AAAA, although with the opening of North Murray, the Indians most likely will find themselves in Class AAA after this year. QB Austin Williams leads the offense. He is a 6-foot, 170-pounder who has started since he was a sophomore. Two more seniors, WR Luke Meaner and OT Brad Dillard, are the team’s top returners on the offense. FB Jake White and RB Dustin Anderson are the two returning starters in the backfield. The team loses K Michael Lopez, who hit a school-record 50-yard field goal last season. With a big senior class this year and a big junior class behind it, expect improvement out of Murray County.
Northwest Whitfield Bruins
2008 record: 6-4, 3-3 (fourth in subregion)
Average record this decade: 6-5
Coach: Mike Falleur (46-29 in seven seasons)
Offense: Spread (coordinator: Brent Rickman)
Defense: 4-3 (coordinator: Josh Roberts)
Starters returning: 4 on offense, 5 on defense
Best player: DE/TE Nermin Delic
Other top players: RB Lance Andrews, QB/DB Chad Keppler, LB Jay Montley, OL Greg Weaver
Key losses: DB Dean Haynes (N.C. State), LB Zac Baker (Appalachian State)
Outlook: Northwest had its fifth consecutive winning season in 2008. That represents the school’s longest stretch of prosperity. But there were no playoffs this time, so eighth-year coach Mike Falleur is back to work on finishing better after a 5-1 start. The biggest question is how to handle the loss of all-state QB/DB Dean Haynes. He rushed for 878 yards, scored 18 touchdowns, passed for 782 yards and made eight interceptions – five vs. Dalton. Haynes was special, and with him, Northwest scored 25 points per game last season, even though in this high-octane region, that was just average. Now, only four starters return on offense. One of those, TE/DE Nermin Delic, is one of the best two-way linemen in the region and has committed to Maryland. The new quarterback will be Chad Keppler. Coaches are confident in RB Lance Andrews, who is a good runner between the tackles. On defense, the Bruins are without Haynes and LB Zac Baker, their two college signees. LB Jay Montley will try to lead the defense to another solid year. The Bruins allowed 16.9 points per game last year, third-best in the region. The first part of Northwest’s region schedule is a little lighter than the rest, so if the Bruins can hang in the region race until mid-October, when some players will have grown up, they’ll have a fighting chance.
Rome Wolves
2008 record: 11-3, 6-0 (first in subregion)
Playoffs: Lost to Marist 19-17 in the semifinals
Average record this decade: 10-2
Coach: Sid Fritts (42-9 in four seasons)
Offense: Wing-T (coordinator: Brandon Johnson)
Defense: 4-4 (coordinator: Franco Perkins)
Starters returning: 6 on offense, 7 on defense
Best player: RB Reggie Whatley
Other top players: OL Brandon Glanton, OL Demarcus Dean, OL A.J. Hall, OL John Seabolt, QB Malcolm Watkins, LB Teddy Lawrence, CB Stephen Gaylor
Key losses: QB Jamalcolm Griffin, RB P.J. Greene (Shorter)
Outlook: Rome appeared headed to the region title last season until an upset loss at Sprayberry in the final game, which was low-lighted by a scheduling-of-officials snafu that led to the game starting around 10 p.m. From that team, the Wolves lose the AJC’s Class AAAA Offensive Player of the Year in FB P.J. Greene (1,665 yards rushing), who also happens to be the school’s all-time leading scorer and rusher. But they return RB Reggie Whatley, who rushed for more than 1,200 yards with 18 TDs, including two on kick returns. Whatley is fielding mid-major scholarship offers. The offensive line will be one of the best in the region with four returning starters, but QB Malcolm Watkins is new after playing wide receiver for most of his career. The skill players other than Whatley, Fritts says, are talented but young and unproven. On defense, the Wolves have all-state selection LB Teddy Lawrence, a junior, back, as well as CB Stephen Gaylor, an all-region performer. LB Van Calhoun (112 tackles, 19 sacks) is a big loss, as he was the best defensive player in Rome’s history, but most of the starting defenders are back. Depth is a bit of a concern for Fritts, but the top 22 should be the class of the region.
Sequoyah Chiefs
2008 record: 10-2, 5-1 (second in subregion)
Playoffs: Lost to Marist 28-12 in the second round
Average record this decade: 8-3
Coach: James Teter (first season)
Offense: Wing-T (coordinator: James Teter)
Defense: Multiple 4 front (coordinator: Andrew Price)
Starters returning: 5 on offense, 5 on defense
Best player: RB Dominique Swope
Other top players: QB Ben Rogers, RB Dalton Trevino, C Eric Burchalter, OG Josh Rogers, OLB Brandon Alexander, OLB Tucker Adams, CB Kirk Medas, DL Seth Grummer, DL Jordan Basone
Key losses: LB Ben Farist, OL Trey Howell, DL Jon Rosemond, LB Ben Farist
Outlook: The Chiefs earned their second 10-win season in history last season under Six Maxwell, who left after the season to start the program at Lambert. Enter James Teter, who made the Dunwoody program a contender in Class AAA and will employ a similar option offense. Teter inherits perhaps the best RB duo in Class AAAA with junior Dominique Swope (1,460 yards rushing, 18 TDs) and Dalton Trevino (957 yards rushing, 226 yards receiving, 15 total TDs). The QB, Ben Rogers, also is back. On defense, DL Seth Grummer and OLB Brandon Alexander got all-region recognition, but three first team all-region players graduated. Sequoyah has the star power, so it’s just depth, chemistry under a new coach and developing good lines of scrimmage that will determine Sequoyah’s fate.
Woodland (Cartersville) Wildcats
2008 record: 5-5, 1-5 (sixth in subregion)
Average record this decade: 4-6
Coach: Steve Hamilton
Offense: Wing-T (coordinator: Tony Plott)
Defense: 3-4 (coordinator: Mike Candela)
Starters returning: 6 on offense, 5 on defense
Best player: RB/DB Evan Hilton
Other top players: OL Zach Sisk, OL Nick Phillips, OL Shelby Townsend, RB Ashton Shelton, DE Patrick Roper, DL Steven Waits
Key losses: RB Andre Watts (Cumberlands), QB Mike Janusek, LB Ryan Carney, LB Kodie Lentz
Outlook: Head coach Steve Hamilton makes it clear that this team is the deepest and fastest he’s had while at Woodland, as the team goes a solid two deep everywhere. The team will be breaking in a new QB, senior Tucker Weathers, and standout RB/DB/QB Evan Hilton will also fill in at the position. Hilton will do a little bit of everything, using his great quickness to his advantage at RB and DB as well. He is receiving Division I interest. DB Patrick Roper is also receiving some college interest. The defense must replace a pair of all-region linebackers in Ryan Carney and Kodie Lentz. The kicking game will be strong, as returning PK Guillermo Serrano was 100 percent on extra points and has a strong leg. Woodland is looking for its first winning season since 1999.
NOTE: GHSF Daily was unable to reach the coaching staff at Dalton. We will run a complete preview for the Catamounts at a later time.
Division B
Allatoona Buccaneers
2008 record: 3-3 (non-region schedule)
Average record this decade: 3-3
Coach: Gary Varner (3-3 in one season)
Offense: Multiple I (coordinator: Gary Varner)
Defense: 4-4 (coordinator: Troy Petersen)
Starters returning: 10 on offense, 11 on defense
Best player: OL Scott Lewis
Other top players: OL Cameron Sockwell, WR Jordan Cain, DE K.B. Maison, DE Darin Vasel, DE Bubba Green
Key losses: RB C.J. Best
Outlook: In its second year as a school, Allatoona has some good depth and size along the lines of scrimmage under coach Gary Varner, a former Roswell assistant. OL Scott Lewis (6-2, 255) and OL Cameron Stockwell (6-1, 250) will try to pave the way for a running game that unfortunately lost its leading rusher, RB C.J. Best, to transfer. QB Jared Harris returns for his junior year and another year of seasoning with a non-region schedule against the likes of North Paulding, South Paulding and Murray County, all region opponents, but in non-league games.
Hillgrove Hawks
2008 record: 8-4, 4-1 (second in subregion)
Playoffs: Lost to Tucker 48-15 in the second round
Average record this decade: 5-3
Coach: Phil Ironside (16-9 in three seasons)
Offense: Wishbone (coordinator: Phil Ironside)
Defense: Multiple 40 (coordinator: John Moson)
Starters returning: 6 on offense, 6 on defense
Best player: QB/S Synjyn Days
Other top players: OL Ben Peterson, DL Devereaux Scott
Key losses: DB Doug Ellis, DB Jejuan Smith
Outlook: A pretty good football program is rising up in West Cobb that is escaping notice because the Hawks play below the highest level, where most Cobb County schools reside. Hillgrove opened in 2006, cut from high-profile football powers McEachern and Harrison. It hired a rising young coach, Philip Ironside. The team flirted with a region title last season, won a round in the playoffs and now has perhaps the classification’s best QB in Synjyn Days (1,037 yards rushing, 398 passing, 21 total TDs) running the wishbone option. Experience and speed will be the key to Hillgrove’s success. The offensive line should be pretty good. OL Ben Peterson was second team all-region. The defensive front seven should be a strength, but the secondary took some hits with a couple of key starters gone. Besides Days, Jejuan Smith was the team’s MVP last season as free safety and kick returner.
Hiram Hornets
2008 record: 5-5, 3-2 (third in subregion)
Average record this decade: 5-6
Coach: Andy Dorsey (16-15 in three seasons)
Offense: Wing-T (coordinator: Wade Pilgrim)
Defense: 3-5-3 (coordinator: Chris Brown)
Starters returning: 7 on offense, 6 on defense
Best player: QB Jared McLain
Other top players: WR Dylan Cook, RB Trey Wesley, RB Charlie Sashington, RB Jovon Simon, LB Leighton Gasque, CB Tavaris Applebee, CB Cameron Wilson, FS/WR Mario Rolland, DE Tremonte Jackson
Key losses: FS Jerrel Benson (Valdosta State)
Outlook: The combination of emerging junior QB Jared McClain and first team all-region WR Dylan Cook should be a solid one, as McClain is beginning the season as a starter for the first time. He played a bit last season because of an injury to starter Mario Rolland (now a FS/WR). Cook (27 catches, 500 yards) could be the region’s best receiver. On defense, LB Leighton Gasque moves over from DE, where he was second team all-region. Gasque is a workout warrior with 4.5 speed and college potential. The problem for Hiram will be replacing depth on the lines (graduated four of five starting OL) and size.
North Paulding Wolfpack
2008 record: 2-8 (non-region schedule)
Average record this decade: 2-5
Coach: Heath Webb (4-11 in two seasons)
Offense: Spread (coordinator: David Jeff Williams)
Defense: 4-3 (coordinator: Wayne Groves)
Starters returning: 11 on offense, 11 on defense
Best player: WR Christian Conley
Other top players: QB Cain Campbell
Key losses: N/A
Outlook: The Wolfpack jumped right into things despite lacking upperclassmen and depth, playing a full varsity schedule last season against some tough smaller-classification teams (LaFayette, Armuchee, Warren County, Bowdon – all competitive losses) and startups such as region foe Allatoona (split two games). WR Christian Conley (70 catches, 959 yards, six TDs despite drawing every team’s double teams) has the frame, speed and hands to turn heads and has been doing so ever since he took the field. He will be one of the top wideouts in the state, if not the Southeast. QB Cain Campbell (2,254 yards passing, 17 TDs) has good numbers, too. The offense put up more than 3,100 yards last season.
Osborne Cardinals
2008 record: 1-9, 0-5 (sixth in subregion)
Average record this decade: 2-8
Coach: Troy Jones (4-36 in three seasons)
Offense: Multiple (coordinator: Troy Jones)
Defense: Multiple (coordinator: Sheldon Bulloch)
Starters returning: 9 on offense, 10 on defense
Best player: DL Quantavious “QT” James
Other top players: DL Kevin Tyson, QB Brandon Lowe, OL Cody Rodgers, OL Justin Iwezor, OL Mike Awua
Key losses: OL Ryan McKinney, OL Raymond Fauler
Outlook: Some believe it’s the toughest coaching job in the state. Troy Jones took the challenge in 2005, the school’s fifth coach in six seasons. His best move: Jones committed to staying through thick and thin. Thin hit a low point last season, when the team requested a forfeit in the final game rather than play Woodland with a team that was down to having to start several freshmen and sophomores because of several season-ending injuries. Osborne has won just four games in those five seasons, but the coach believes this could be his best team – if it stays healthy. The Cardinals will be strong up front as DL Q.T. James and DL Kevin Tyson will anchor the front seven that returns entirely. On offense, only two starters were lost, both on the line.
Paulding County Patriots
2008 record: 3-7, 1-4 (fifth in subregion)
Average record this decade: 5-6
Coach: Rick Sauls (28-45 in seven seasons)
Offense: Wing-T (coordinator: Scott Hamilton)
Defense: 4-4 (coordinator: Kelby Watts)
Starters returning: 4 on offense, 4 on defense
Best player: WR Rob Jobe
Other top players: WR Ronnell Hargrove, DL Keith Brown, QB Zach Munoz
Key losses: RB Vincent Burdette, RB George Lawrence, DL Chris Rowland, OL Alex Hicks
Outlook: The Patriots are looking to get back where they were earlier in the decade when they were winning around eight games and new schools weren’t cutting into their student body every couple of years. This season will be another challenge just to get to .500. On offense, they are very inexperienced except at wide receiver, where Bob Jobe and Ronnell Hargrove make up a good tandem. QB Brent Wheeling, who also played linebacker and punter, is a tough loss. QB Zach Munoz, an outstanding athlete, takes his place. The offensive and defensive lines should be strong, which should keep the Patriots in games. Head coach Rick Sauls had to move players around to different positions this year in order to get the best talent on the field. Paulding won’t overwhelm teams with talent, but reversing a couple of close losses from a year ago, especially against county rivals such as Hiram and South Paulding, would make for a nice season.
South Paulding Spartans
2008 record: 4-6, 2-3 (fourth in subregion)
Average record this decade: 3-5
Coach: Tim Glanton (8-14 in three seasons)
Offense: Multiple I (coordinator: Reggie Perkins)
Defense: 4-3/cover 2 (coordinator: Jamie Abrams)
Starters returning: 6 on offense, 7 on defense
Best player: FS Ryan Ayers
Other top players: RB Jared Jeter, OL Zach Hemmila, FB Brandon Black, WR/P Cody Hunt, WR Conner Varn, WR Matt Ayers, SS Reggie Davis, CB Jordan Ellison, MLB Broderick Sellers, DE Jackson Shaw, WLB Leonard Adger, DT Darrell Jones, DT Chase Watkins
Key losses: QB Chase Graham (Valdosta State), CB Denorris Brinkley, DE Latoris Ayers, C Jake Hilderbrand
Outlook: After beginning the program just four years ago, the Spartans may be ready to be a contender in the region. The program has its first all-state candidate in FS Ryan Ayers (38 tackles, three INTs), who will play corner at Georgia Tech. Also on that side of the ball, MLB Broderick Sellers was the team’s leading tackler with 71 stops. On offense, look for RB Jared Jeter (884 yards rushing, 16 TDs) to carry the load. He was the leading rusher last year. WR/P Cody Hunt is a talented pass-catcher and was all-region as a specialist. FB Brandon Black joins Jeter in the backfield, and QBs Reggie Davis (who doubles as a SS) and 6-5, 200-pound junior Tony Daniels will split time at QB after the departure of the very solid Chase Graham.
Sprayberry Yellow Jackets
2008 record: 7-4, 5-0 (region champions)
Playoffs: Lost to Cedar Shoals 11-8 in the first round
Average record this decade: 3-7
Coach: Billy Shackelford (13-9 in three seasons)
Offense: Shotgun spread option (coordinator: Robert Horn)
Defense: Multiple 4-4 (coordinator: Billy Blizzard)
Starters returning: 5 on offense, 4 on defense
Best player: QB Jerick McKinnon
Other top players: RB Robert Bailey, LT Robert Bryant, OL/DL Reese Bulmash, FS Devin Suttler, LB Blake Young, OLB Kevin Gill, C Brett Haley
Key losses: RB David Carter (Morehouse), QB Forrest Holt (Dean)
Outlook: The Yellow Jackets have to replace 90 percent of their offensive production and three of their top four tacklers from last year, so not many are predicting a successful defense of Sprayberry’s first region title since 1982. QB Jerick McKinnon continues to mature in the offense after moving from WR/DB in the past year. He’s merely replacing first team all-region QB Forrest Holt (759 yards rushing, 1,040 yards rushing, 21 total TDs). Then there’s the loss of four-year starting RB David Carter (1,295 yards rushing, 20 total TDs). Sprayberry does have the best offensive lineman south of Dalton in Reese Bulmash (5-9, 243), a world-class power who made first team all-region and also will start on defense. Also on defense, FS Devin Suttler is receiving college interest. It took some special players to take Sprayberry to a title last season. Now, we’ll find out where Sprayberry stands as a program with staying power with one of the better young coaches, Billy Shackelford, in his fourth season.
Loading ...
