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Mount Paran remains the only A-3A Private school still searching for a head football coach after Matt Ely stepped down as head coach four games into this season, citing personal reasons.
Ely was replaced by Connie Arnold, who helped lead the Eagles to their first playoff win since 2019.
The Eagles are a relatively new program, playing their first season in 2008. Under their first coach, Mitch Jordan, the Eagles became one of the premier programs in the state, reaching the quarterfinals or better six times between 2013 and 2019, including winning the 2014 Class A state championship.
However, since 2020, the program has not reached those same heights, with this past season being their best in that time frame. Coach Ely leaves after three seasons, compiling a 9-15 record. This past season was by far the best since 2019. The team started 3-1 under Coach Ely, while Coach Arnold led them to a 5-3 record over the final eight games, including a 32-29 victory over Greater Atlanta Christian for the team’s first playoff win in six seasons.
The next head coach will inherit a roster full of talent. On the defensive side, lineman Bennett Schwab returns after being named first-team All-Region last season, recording 39 tackles, 12 tackles for loss, three sacks, and eight quarterback hurries. In the secondary, freshman cornerback Cash Cauley had a breakout season with 32 tackles and three interceptions.
Additionally, Mount Paran returns three second-team All-Region players in running back Gavin Steele, offensive lineman Carter Levstek, and defensive backs Davis Cauley and Alejandro Torres. The team brings back significant production, including 1,090 rushing yards and 14 rushing touchdowns on offense, while the defense returns 364 tackles, 30 tackles for loss, five sacks, and seven interceptions.
With a strong core of players, the next head coach will step into a promising situation. The school also has the resources to make a high-profile hire and the ambition to return to the top of the sport.
Aside from Mount Paran, both Calvary Day and Savannah Country Day have also hired new head coaches.
Calvary Day brought in former Jenkins and Vidalia head coach Jason Cameron. In his six seasons as a head coach, Cameron has compiled a 49-22 record, along with a 7-5 playoff record and three region titles. Savannah Country Day hired Joey Blackmore following the departure of Roc Batten. Blackmore is entering his first year as a head coach after joining the program in 2021 as the offensive run game coordinator. He will be the school’s fourth head coach in six years and its third in three seasons.
Around the class Boys - Holy Innocents’ defeated ninth-ranked Lovett 92-66 to improve to 16-4 on the season. … North Cobb Christian defeated Sonoraville 69-61 to remain unbeaten in region play. … Mt. Bethel won its 12th game of the season, defeating Atlanta International 56-28. … Calvary Day defeated Beach 66-54 to move to 8-0 in region play. … Greater Atlanta Christian lost 76-50 to Pickens on Tuesday. … Paideia dropped its second straight game, falling to BEST Academy 74-68. … Walker won its ninth straight game, defeating Mt. Paran 76-61.
Around the class Girls - Hebron Christian secured its 11th straight win, beating Hart County 79-26 Tuesday. … St. Francis dominated King’s Ridge 92-27 to stay unbeaten in region play. … Galloway defeated Whitefield Academy 94-60 to improve to 9-1 in region play. … Athens Academy beat Oglethorpe County 62-32 to move to 16-5 on the season. … Greenforest Christian fell to Norcross 67-29 on Saturday.
See the boys and girls latest Class 2A basketball rankings schedules below.
Boys Top 10 schedule
1. Holy Innocents – Friday at Carver, 7:30 p.m.; Saturday vs. East Hall, 7 p.m.; Monday vs. Hapeville Charter, 7 p.m.
2. North Cobb Christian – Friday vs. Lakeview-Fort Oglethorpe, 7 p.m.; Tuesday at Coahulla Creek, 7:30 p.m.; Feb. 7 at Murray County, 7 p.m.
3. Greenforest – Saturday at Jasper County, 7:30 p.m.; Monday vs. Towers, 7:30 p.m.; Tuesday vs. Utopian Academy, 7:30 p.m.
4. GAC – Wednesday at Dawson County, 7:30 p.m.; Friday at North Hall, 7:30 p.m.; Tuesday vs. White County, 7:30 p.m.
5. Walker – Friday vs. St. Francis, 7 p.m.; Tuesday vs. Landmark Christian, 7 p.m.; Feb. 7 at Mt. Bethel, 7:30 p.m.
6. Calvary Day – Friday vs. Long County, 7:30 p.m.; Saturday at Johnson, 7:30 p.m.; Tuesday vs. Jenkins, 7:30 p.m.
7. Mt. Bethel – Friday vs. King’s Ridge, 7:30 p.m.; Tuesday vs. St. Francis, 7:30 p.m.; Feb. 7 vs. Walker, 7:30 p.m.
8. Lovett – Saturday at Westminster, 5 p.m.; Tuesday vs. Therrell, 7:30 p.m.; Wednesday at Washington, 7:30 p.m.
9. Paideia – Thursday vs. King’s Ridge, 5:30 p.m.; Saturday vs. Mount Vernon, 3 p.m.; Tuesday vs. Wesleyan, 7 p.m.
10. Mt. Vernon – Saturday at Paideia, 3 p.m.; Tuesday at Fellowship Christian, 7:30 p.m.; Feb. 5 at Kings Ridge, 2:30 p.m.
Girls Basketball Top 10 Schedule
1. Hebron Christian – Friday vs. Stephens County, 7 p.m.; Tuesday at Prince Avenue, 6 p.m.; Feb. 7 at Franklin County, 6 p.m.
2. St. Francis – Wednesday at Mt. Pisgah, 6 p.m.; Friday vs. Walker, 5:30 p.m.; Tuesday at Mt. Bethel, 6 p.m.
3. Mount Paran – Friday vs. Whitefield Academy, 6 p.m.;
4. Southwest Atlanta Christian – Wednesday at Social Circle, 6 p.m.; Friday vs. Utopian Academy, 6 p.m.; Monday vs. Towers, 6 p.m.
5. Holy Innocents – Friday at Carver, 6 p.m.; Monday at Hapeville Charter, 5:30 p.m.; Tuesday vs. Coretta Scott King, 6 p.m.
6. Galloway – Wednesday vs. Fellowship Christian, 6 p.m.; Tuesday at Mt. Pisgah, 6 p.m.;
7. Athens Academy – Friday vs. Commerce, 7 p.m.; Tuesday vs. Banks County, 6 p.m.; Feb. 7 at Rabun County, 6 p.m.
8. Whitefield Academy – Friday at Mt. Paran, 6 p.m.; Monday at Landmark Christian, 4:30 p.m.; Tuesday vs. King’s Ridge, 5:30 p.m.
9. Lovett – Friday at Coretta Scott King, 6 p.m.; Saturday at Therrell, 2 p.m.; Tuesday vs. Therrell, 6 p.m.
10. Greenforest – Saturday at Jasper County, 4 p.m.; Monday vs. Towers, 6 p.m.; Tuesday vs. Utopian Academy, 6 p.m.