Lions, Wildcats seek fast start

The Peachtree Ridge Lions and Camden County Wildcats are no strangers to the Corky Kell Classic, but each will hope an early win kickstarts a successful 2012. Peachtree Ridge lost several outstanding playmakers from 2011 including Ray Buchanan Jr., Alex Gray, D’Aron Hill, Billy Best and Diandre Atwater, but head coach Mark Fleetwood still has some studs on the Suwanee campus. Tony Porter will anchor the defensive line with Dorian Pogman and Devin Davidson backing him up at linebacker. Look for Myron Burton to make plays from the secondary.

On offense, Walden Davis and Jordan Ellis have looked strong at running back according to Fleetwood as the Lions look to find Atwater’s replacement. The two key pieces on offense will likely be Joe Horn Jr. at wide receiver and Orlando Brown on the offensive line. Brown and Daniel Stephens form a very sturdy offensive line which the coaching staff believes is a strength.

Camden County brings a plethora of talent to the Georgia Dome for the Metro PCS Corky Kell Classic. Brice Ramsey leads the offense from the quarterback spot, and the future Georgia Bulldog has an arm that is always ready to fire. He passed for over 1,300 yards with 17 scores in a run-based offense last year. J.J. Green will join Ramsey in the backfield and will eventually join him in Athens. Green finished with 912 yards and 13 touchdowns in 2011, and he is a threat on special teams as well. Those two offensive threats do most of their work behind an offensive line anchored by Mikey Call at center and J.P. Vonashek, who will likely miss time early in the season following shoulder surgery.

Defensively, Rafael Hardee and Jarrad Davis rule the field from the linebacker position, but Davis may not play as he recovers from a broken leg. Look for Green to perhaps play some defensive back for the Wildcats.

Camden County head coach Jeff Herron has taken the Wildcats to great heights during his time in Kingsland. If he can engineer a win over the Lions, the Wildcats could find themselves in the middle of a special season.