The following is an excerpt from the August 7 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: 8-AAAA:
What it is: Region 8-AAAA consists of 11 teams in northeast Georgia that play a 10-game round-robin schedule, allowing no non-region games. The region stretches from Rockdale County east of Atlanta to Habersham Central near South Carolina.
Defending champion: Loganville
Best player: OL Morgan Bailey, Loganville
2008 STANDINGS
Loganville (9-2, 9-1)
Clarke Central (9-2, 9-1)
Apalachee (7-4, 7-3)
Cedar Shoals (7-5, 6-4)
Habersham Central (6-4, 6-4)
Heritage, Conyers (5-5, 5-5)
Rockdale County (5-5, 5-5)
Salem (5-5, 5-5)
Madison County (2-8, 2-8)
Winder-Barrow (1-9, 1-9)
Monroe Area (0-10, 0-10)
2009 PREDICTIONS
(Offensive/defensive starters returning)
Loganville (6/6)
Apalachee (8/8)
Cedar Shoals (7/7)
Clarke Central (N/A)
Rockdale County (4/7)
Habersham Central (5/5)
Heritage, Conyers (5/5)
Salem (6/6)
Monroe Area (5/5)
Madison County (5/3)
Winder-Barrow (6/6)
TEAM BY TEAM
Apalachee Wildcats
2008 record: 7-4, 7-3 (third in region)
Playoffs: Lost to Rome 16-8 in the first round
Average record this decade: 3-7
Coach: Shane Davis (20-24 in four seasons)
Offense: Wing-T (coordinator: Joel Miller)
Defense: 4-3 (coordinator: David Wagner)
Starters returning: 8 on offense, 8 on defense
Best player: RB Jon Lee
Other top players: RB/CB John Ansley, LB Jeff Haney, LB/RB Reggie Battle, OL/DL John Brown
Key losses: LB Chaun Gresham (South Carolina), CB Q. Ash (Presbyterian), K/P John Livesay (Chowan)
Outlook: Despite losing their best overall player, leading tackler and defensive leader in Chaun Gresham at linebacker, the Wildcats have the talent and depth to make a run at what would be the school’s first region title in the Barrow County school’s 10th season of football. RB Jon Lee (1,051 yards rushing) is a three-year starter with back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons. He sports offers from Air Force and a number of Division I schools. RB/CB John Ansley and LB Jeff Haney also are three-year starters with college prospects. The team gets a boost from two key transfers, RB/LB Reggie Battle from Clarke Central, a first team all-region performer last year who also has an Air Force offer, and QB Mike Norman from Gainesville, who will start. The kicking game likely will take a step back with K/P John Livesay signing on with Chowan after being named region special teams player of the year.
Cedar Shoals Jaguars
2008 record: 7-5, 6-4 (fourth in region)
Playoffs: Lost to Southwest DeKalb 13-0 in the second round
Average record this decade: 8-3
Coach: Xarvia Smith (7-5 in one season)
Offense: Wing-T (coordinator: Dico Thomas)
Defense: 3-5 (coordinator: Xarvia Smith)
Returning starters: 7 on offense, 7 on defense
Best player: DE Caleb Miles
Other top players: OL Jermaine Foster, DL Charmarcus Pittard, QB Chaquille Gatlin
Key losses: LB/FB DeDe Lattimore (South Florida), LB/FB Pike Goddard (South Carolina State), DB/WR Denuta Jennings (North Dakota State), DB Bubba Freeman
Outlook: Cedar Shoals got to the second round of the playoffs on defense last season. The Jags’ 10 points-per-game allowed was 10th best in Class AAAA. Four defenders were named first team all-region, not including DeDe Lattimore, who got something better: defensive player of the year. All are gone except junior DL Charmarcus Pittard, but seven starters overall return on that side. Offense was a struggle at times in 2008, and new faces in the skill positions will be counted on. Among them will be QB Chaquille Gatlin, RB Rodney Willingham and RB Jonathan Wright.
Habersham Central Raiders
2008 record: 6-4, 6-4 (fifth in region)
Average record this decade: 6-5
Coach: Stuart Cunningham (first season)
Offense: Pro style/shotgun (coordinator: Jeff Wilson)
Defense: 3-4 (coordinator: Greg Moore)
Starters returning: 5 on offense, 5 on defense
Best player: T Kalan Jones
Other top players: QB Austin Brown, WR/CB Dee Ellison, RB Kevin Ellison, RB D.J. Griffin, DL Zac Hart, LB Keylan Myers, S Avery Dodd
Key losses: WR/CB Zach Mayfield (Savannah State), TE Ty Fry, NG Josh Key
Outlook: Habersham promoted defensive coordinator and 1983 graduate Stuart Cunningham to replace Gene Cathcart, who moved on to become head coach in Greenwood, S.C. Cunningham was the defensive coordinator for Cathcart’s six seasons. Missing all-state receiver Tavarres King, Habersham missed the playoffs last season. A first-game loss to Cedar Shoals was the tiebreaker. This season, Habersham will build around QB Austin Brown (second team all-region), T Kalan Jones (first team all-region) and a two backs who split time and combined for more than 1,000 yards rushing last season. They are sophomore Kevin Ellison and junior D.J. Griffin. The center and both guards graduated along with Zach Mayfield, one of the region’s best receivers and return men. Perhaps WR/CB Dee Ellison can fill that role. On defense, he and LB Keylan Myers got some all-region recognition. This Habersham team doesn’t appear to have the firepower of those that made the quarterfinals in 2006 and 2007, but it’s a solid program that will contend for a playoff berth and will be a tough out for any opponent.
Heritage (Conyers) Patriots
2008 record: 5-5, 5-5 (sixth in region)
Average record this decade: 5-5
Coach: Chad Frazier (8-12 in two seasons)
Offense: Spread option (coordinator: Chris Pack)
Defense: 3-4 (coordinator: Andy Szatkowski)
Starters returning: 5 on offense, 5 on defense
Best player: CB/WR Garry Peters
Other top players: MLB Calvin Vann, QB Andre Wilson, DE Rufus Jenkins, RB Eian Williams
Key losses: DL Melvin Jones (Presbyterian), DE Justin Jones (East Carolina), MLB Cory Alford (Georgia Tech), DB Reggie Juin (Tusculum)
Outlook: Heritage got in a hole with a 2-4 start last season that included losses by five and two points and another in five overtimes vs. Clarke Central. The team felt it matched up with any team in the region but finished 5-5 and missed the playoffs. “We feel like we’re a strong enough team, a playoff team,” third-year coach Chad Frazier said of this year’s team. The most publicized player is Garry Peters, the super-fast cornerback who has signed with Clemson. He’ll move from quarterback (where he had about 1,500 total yards) to receiver to make room for QB Andre Wilson, a better passer. Eian Williams, a transfer from M.L. King, has been impressive at running back. So there’s the belief that the Patriots will have more weapons on offense. On defense, Heritage loses four college signees, each who made first team all-region last season, so there are major issues to be resolved there, especially along the front. MLB Calvin Vann (72 tackles) is one of the best players in the region, and CB Peters generally will be the fastest player on the field.
Loganville Red Devils
2008 record: 9-2, 9-1 (region champions)
Playoffs: Lost to Hillgrove 27-21 in the first round
Average record this decade: 5-5
Coach: Eric Godfree (26-25 in five seasons)
Offense: Multiple I (coordinator: Brad Bolemon)
Defense: 3-4 (coordinator: Mike Humphreys)
Starters returning: 6 on offense, 6 on defense
Best player: OL Morgan Bailey
Other top players: QB AJ Schmidt, RB Storm Johnson, LB Jonathan Cantrell, OL Cecil Mills
Key losses: LB Nick White, DE Clay Harris, DB Chandler Smith
Outlook: Coming off its first region title since 1991, and second in history, Loganville is well-positioned to repeat. OL Morgan Bailey and RB Storm Johnson, a transfer from Buford, are major Division I-A recruits, with Bailey headed to Georgia Tech and Johnson expected to sign with LSU. QB A.J. Schmidt, the first team all-region player at his position, also is a D-I prospect. It’s not a bad sign when a team might have the best quarterback, running back and lineman in the region. On defense, graduation was a little more severe as LB J.D. Smith and DB Chandler Smith were first team all-region, and the secondary needs rebuilding. There’s also the worry that Loganville’s 3-4 defense, which confused some teams last season, might be a little easier to decipher. Coordinator Mike Humphreys was known for out-scheming teams last season. But a traditional worry of Loganville – that it can’t match up athlete to athlete with some of the better teams – is gone. This is a talented team that now expects to win.
Madison County Red Raiders
2008 record: 2-8, 2-8 (ninth in region)
Average record this decade: 6-5
Coach: Randell Owens (28-24 in five seasons)
Offense: Spread (coordinator: Chris Smith)
Defense: Multiple 8-man front (coordinator: Mike Haynes)
Starters returning: 5 on offense, 3 on defense
Best player: QB Jacob Owens
Other top players: DE/OT Connor Boyett, WR/FS Bracken Turner, WR Patrick McCreary
Key losses: WR Aldreakis Allen
Outlook: The Red Raiders don’t return many starters in ’09 (just eight overall), but an abundance of experienced skill players should help the team improve its offensive production. QB Jacob Owens (1,567 yards passing) is back as the starter. He is a bigger quarterback at 6-4, 220 and is getting looks from a number of Division I schools. DE/OT Connor Boyett is another college prospect with good size (6-5, 235) and speed (4.7 40). The coaching staff hopes first-year football player WR Patrick McCreary (6-4, 195, 4.6 in the 40) can develop into a threat for Owens in the passing game. The offense should be improved, and the defense wasn’t bad last year, but the lines were a trouble spot. Madison County also must figure out a way to win close games. The Red Raiders were 0-3 in games settled by seven points or fewer.
Monroe Area Hurricanes
2008 record: 0-10, 0-10 (11th in region)
Average record this decade: 3-7
Coach: Matt Fligg (5-25 in three seasons)
Offense: I-slot (coordinator: David Keyes)
Defense: 3-4 (coordinator: Eric Thurston)
Starters returning: 5 on offense, 5 on defense
Best player: QB Demon Smith
Other top players: FB Treshard Burdette, SB Demeritrius Fuhr, SB/FS Mike Hendricks, C Caleb Nix, LB Dee Gooseby, OT Josh Rawlings, OT Jon-Mark Stumpf, DE Stephon Tuitt
Key losses: Three starting receivers, two starting defensive ends
Outlook: Monroe Area moved up to Class AAAA last season and finished winless for the first time in a history that dates back more than 60 years. The Hurricanes likely will drop back into AAA next year, but that doesn’t mean they’ve given up trying to compete in the bigger class. After splitting time with Christian Varnes last year, QB Demon Smith will have the position all to himself, and he’s been impressive in 7-on-7 tournaments. The junior put up some decent stats for being in a platoon, rushing for 801 yards and passing for 765. FB Treshard Burdette should be back after an injury-plagued season limited him to just 367 yards in his sophomore year. Speedy slotback Demeritrius Fuhr is back as well after missing eight games in ’08; he runs the 40 in the 4.4 range. On defense, leading tackler LB Dee Gooseby returns, but the star of the show could be junior DE Stephon Tuitt, a monster prospect at 6-5, 260 who should begin to make some waves as a sophomore. The Hurricanes have some nice pieces to work with, and head coach Matt Fligg is convinced that the offensive line will be the best the program has fielded yet, led by senior T Josh Rawlings, all-region the past two years.
Rockdale County Bulldogs
2008 record: 5-5, 5-5 (sixth in region)
Average record this decade: 5-5
Coach: Mike Etheridge (5-5 in one season)
Offense: Wing-T (coordinator: Jerrid Harris)
Defense: 3-5-3 (coordinator: Earl Jefferson)
Starters returning: 4 on offense, 7 on defense
Best player: LB Devin Washington
Other top players: LB Rashard Benz, LB Rashard Ferrill, QB Isaiah Gresham, DL Grady Jarrett
Key losses: RB Javon Lucas, WR Ryan Culbreath (Furman)
Outlook: Rockdale rebounded to 5-5 after a 1-9 finish in 2007. In fact, the Bulldogs started 3-0, winning a thriller against crosstown rival Heritage, but lost four games by six points or less to good teams down the stretch. The Bulldogs believe they’ll be stronger on defense, as all the starting linebackers are returning, including second team all-region pick Rashard Ferrill and Devin Washington. The unit allowed only 14.9 points per game last season. The offense, especially the line of scrimmage, will be the X-factor, as it will try to open holes for QB Isaiah Gresham and the rest of the skill players. Rockdale must replace three all-region linemen and top RB Javon Lucas.
Salem Seminoles
2008 record: 5-5, 5-5 (eighth in region)
Average record this decade: 7-4
Coach: Chad Estes (21-10 in three seasons)
Offense: Spread (coordinator: Joe Bryan)
Defense: Multiple 8-man front (coordinator: Stanley Allen)
Starters returning: 6 on offense, 6 on defense
Best player: RB Bradley Moon
Other top players: RB Tyler Askew, QB Jasijah Smith, LB DeJone Butler, DL Jeremy Holland, DL Jordan Jackson, SS Tyrel Wellington, SS Brandon Otey, FS Jarrett Brown
Key losses: C Sam Watts (Mississippi State), DL Nick Dennis, DL Brandon Hill
Outlook: The Seminoles lose standout C Sam Watts to the college ranks, and that will hurt the run game. However, RBs Bradley Moon and Tyler Askew are experienced and should be productive again. Salem will go with a pair of quarterbacks in Jasijah Smith and Jarrett Brown. Both have extensive varsity experience. They’ll try to boost what was one of the weaker offenses in the region last season (14.2 points per game). The defense should be solid again, and the Seminoles should be one of the faster teams in the region. The coaches are concerned about special teams and the need to replace two starting defensive linemen, Nick Dennis and Brandon Hill.
Winder-Barrow Bulldoggs
2008 record: 1-9, 1-9 (10th in region)
Average record this decade: 4-6
Coach: Ben Corley (1-9 in one season)
Offense: Spread (coordinator: Ben Corley)
Defense: 3-4 (coordinator: Gary Counts)
Starters returning: 6 on offense, 6 on defense
Best player: DE Jonah Huggins
Other top players: SS Rozzie Johnson, C Matt Harmon, OLB Hogan Anderson, QB Christian Davila
Key losses: QB Greg Dixon, DB/WR Reggie Riley, DB/RB Chandler Murphy, DB/WR Chris Wragg
Outlook: The coaching staff at Winder-Barrow expects the team to improve from its 1-9 showing a year ago, and a year in the system under second-year head coach Ben Corley should help. Senior DE Jonah Huggins is the anchor of the defense at 6-3, 215 pounds (76 tackles, seven sacks). He is joined on the defense by SS Rozzie Johnson, a senior who, according to assistant coach Krofton Montgomery, has been clocked at a 4.38 in the 40. QB Christian Davila will need to lead the offense after waiting behind the departed Greg Dixon, who was the team’s best player a year ago. The team has gotten stronger and more capable of withstanding the beating from the bigger teams in the region but is still a ways off (witness all nine losses by 12 or more points) from being a playoff contender.
NOTE: GHSF Daily was unable to reach the coaching staff at Clarke Central. We will run a complete preview for the Gladiators at a later time.
Teams We Missed:
Here are previews from four teams that we missed earlier this week in Class AAAA:
Region 1-AAAA
Harris County Tigers
2008 record: 6-5, 6-2 (third in region)
Playoffs: Lost to Statesboro 22-0 in the first round
Average record this decade: 5-5
Coach: Tommy Parks (24-28 in five seasons)
Offense: Wing-T (coordinator: Tommy Drew)
Defense: Multiple (coordinator: Zach Howard)
Starters returning: 7 on offense, 4 on defense
Best player: FB Sean Jeppesen
Other top players: QB Detavis Buggs, OT Trevor Burnett, CB Ben Klar, DT Jayson Perez, DE Jordan Jenkins
Key losses: LB Mike Eiland (West Georgia), LB Cody Graves, G Patrick Babin
Outlook: Harris County has made the playoffs in consecutive seasons for the first time in its 44-year existence. The 2008 team’s success was built around defense, as the team allowed 16.6 points per game (third in the region). That unit loses seven starters, including a good linebacker pair in Mike Eiland (141 tackles) and Cody Graves. What’s left is relatively inexperienced. The offense should be better from the group that struggled to put up points in 2008. The Tigers will look to senior FB Sean Jeppesen (980 yards rushing, seven TDs), an all-region honorable mention. QB Detavis Buggs started his high school career as a WR but was moved to quarterback last year as a sophomore. He’s an excellent athlete with sprinter speed.
Region 2-AAAA
Ware County Gators
2008 record: 6-6, 4-2 (third in region)
Playoffs: Lost to Mount Zion (Jonesboro) 19-0 in the second round
Average record this decade: 8-4
Coach: Ed Dudley (first season)
Offense: Spread (coordinator: Phillip Jones)
Defense: 4-4 (coordinator: Jimmy Francis)
Starters returning: 4 on offense, 4 on defense
Best player: QB Brian Hayman
Other top players: SB/FS Jimmy Wilkins, DE/TE Adrian Mack, OL/DL James Strickland, WR Willie Roach
Key losses: DL Galation King, DL Jimmy Staten
Outlook: Calling change the spice of life, Ed Dudley packed up last winter and left Walton, the symbol of high-achieving East Cobb, and took the job at Ware County, some 275 miles away in South Georgia. Dudley was an assistant years ago at Statesboro, so he knows about gnats and such. But he’s finding some speed in Waycross that he rarely had at Walton, which was known more for great line play and big strong kids committed to the weight room. To adapt to change, Dudley is going to a spread offense under the tutelage of Phillip Jones, Dudley’s offensive line coach at Walton. The QB, Brian Hayman, is a good thrower with experience, as he was thrown into a starting role last season because of injury. Willie Roach is one of the region’s top receivers, so Hayman should be able to throw it around a little. There’s a battle at running back. Edwin Grant and Joe Harris are the two that stand out. The team is thin and young up front. Two top defensive linemen graduated. Most view the hire of Dudley as one of the off-season’s best. But this has the look of a transition year, as most starters are gone from a team that started the year No. 1 but never rekindled the magic of the 2007 team that made the Class AAAA final.
Region 4-AAAA
North Clayton Eagles
2008 record: 10-2, 8-0 (region champions)
Playoffs: Lost to Statesboro 14-12 in the second round
Average record this decade: 6-4
Coach: Rodney Hackney (10-2 in one season)
Offense: Wing-T (coordinator: Rodney Hackney)
Defense: 3-5-3 (coordinator: Max Wiltz)
Starters returning: 5 on offense, 6 on defense
Best player: RB/LB Clarence Jackson (Ole Miss)
Top players: OL Torian Box (N.C. State), DB Coby Brown, WR Kyle Taylor
Key losses: DE Emanuel Dieke (Georgia Tech), DT Drew Thompson (Concordia)
Outlook: North Clayton was a surprise team in 2008, winning a region title in Rodney Hackney’s first year as head coach. It might be that no team had a better pair of defensive linemen than North Clayton’s Emanuel Dieke (Georgia Tech signee) and Drew Thompson (the region’s defensive player of the year). But North Clayton coaches see this team as having similar talent, plus the confidence that goes with being a defending champ. RB/LB Clarence Jackson (1,236 yards rushing) was the offensive player of the year in the region but also an elite linebacker. He has committed to Ole Miss. Torian Box is the best returning offensive lineman in the region. The team’s QB, Milton Artese, transferred to Westlake, but sophomore Dennis Johnson is just as athletic and is a better passer. Expect more balance in the offense. On defense, the question mark is the line. All three down linemen are gone from a team that allowed 10.2 points per game last season (eighth-best in Class AAAA). North Clayton also needs to re-establish chemistry. “Everybody knows North Clayton is good now,” Hackney said. “It’s not like last year when we walked into places and shocked some teams.”
Region 7-AAAA (Division A)
Dalton Catamounts
2008 record: 7-3, 4-2 (third in subregion)
Average record this decade: 9-3
Coach: Adam Winegarden (7-3 in one season)
Offense: Multiple I (coordinator: Chad Jordan)
Defense: 4-2-5 (coordinator: Kit Carpenter)
Starters returning: 7 on offense, 6 on defense
Best player: DE Jalen Fields
Top players: QB Stryker Brown, RB Shaquon Moore, C Nathan Edwards, DB Trae Washington, OL Watts Dantzler
Key losses: LB Garren Palmer, OL Alex Burse
Outlook: Dalton missed the playoffs for only the fourth time in 25 years last season. It was a good team to be sitting home as the Catamounts were fifth in scoring offense (30.3 points) in Class AAAA. They return QB Stryker Brown (1,231 yards passing, 13 TDs), RB Shaquon Moore (900 yards, 16 TDs), a pair of nice receivers in Chas Thomason and Tevin Collins and preseason all-state OL Watts Dantzler, a junior. This team will score. The question mark is defense. Dalton allowed 38 or more points three times, all losses (Sequoyah, Rome and Hillgrove). In other games, the defense held its own, and it has some college prospects to draw on in Jalen Fields (committed to Georgia) and DB Trae Washington (offered by Western Carolina). Coach Adam Winegarden prefers to two-platoon, but he’s been working Moore and the team’s second-leading rusher, sophomore Tre Beck, on defense in practice in hopes of getting more athleticism on the field.
Loading ...
