The Jefferson County Warriors have had their fair share of collisions on the fast paced freeway of Georgia high school football. During the 2009 season, the Warriors went 12-1, the best in the program’s 18-year history. The brakes slammed on the Jefferson County bus, when Calhoun eliminated the Warriors 49-35 in the third round of the playoffs.
Last season, Jefferson County posted a seven-game winning streak, but Buford finished the Warriors’ season 31-0 in the second round.
The Warriors took the next step to heal the wounds by participating in a 7 on 7 competition at Central Gwinnett against a lineup including Kell, Collins Hill and Norcross last week. The new craze of high school football and recruiting, these no-pad showcases place unknown teams and players into the national football limelight.
Jefferson County went 2-4, but coach Jerry Arnold was pleased that the team could get some action in before two a day’s start in August.
“Jefferson County comes to these things to play big schools,” said Coach Arnold. “All day long we face Class AAAAAA schools. We came out and executed well. We are young at a couple of positions that need some work.” Arnold was pleased with the tournament, as well as with the competition.
Although the team lost a few defensive starters from last year’s squad to graduation, the Warriors should be strong this season in the secondary.
Arnold is excited about three juniors returning to anchor the secondary this season: BJ Clarke, LaDarrick Hammond and Talik Wise.
“I’d put their name against anyone out there they play,” said Arnold.
Coach Arnold also saw some positives from the offense in the recent 7 on 7 event. “Wide receiver Terry Lattimore had a pretty good tournament,” said Arnold. “For the most part we are solid, but we are young in some spots.”
Smaller schools like Burke County have ventured all the way to a state championship in the past years. Arnold referenced astrology when referring to how the breaks must go their way if they want to on the platform and accept the silver trophy come December.
“I’m not going to take anything away from Burke County,” Arnold said. “I give Coach (Eric) Parker all the credit in the world. Our principal says it better than anybody: you have to get the moon aligned with Mars and something tilted at a ninety degree angle. You have to have the breaks go your way and then you can win a state championship.”
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