Georgia High School Football Previews
School is back in. The days are slowly getting shorter and we approach the midpoint of August. That can only mean one thing…High School Football is back in the state of Georgia! Welcome to our weekly segment of our high school football previews that we like to call Eight Greats Around the State; where we preview 8 intriguing matchups across the state.
First up, the Rome Wolves host the Cass Colonels in the nightcap of the Corky Kell Classic at Barron Stadium. The Wolves and Reece Fountain look primed for another deep run in the state playoffs. Can the up and coming Cass Colonels shock the state and upset the perennial Northwest Georgia power? Staying in Northwest Georgia, we next go to the battle of Polk County as Cedartown will host rival Rockmart on a Thursday night. Cedertown lost a lot of talent to graduation from a state finalist team, but we wouldn’t call this a rebuilding year. Meanwhile, Rockmart and quarterback J.D. Davis will look to exact a measure of revenge and stake their claim as Polk County champs.
Down in South Georgia, Lee County will host middle Georgia power Warner Robins. Lee has plenty of experience back from a team that had a down season by their standards. Meanwhile Warner Robins and new head coach Shane Sams will look to get the Demons back to the state finals for a fourth straight season. Will Chase Reese and the Robins offense figure out how to score enough points on Lee’s vaunted defense? Finally, on a Saturday tilt, the Walton Raiders will play the Grayson Rams in the night cap of the Corky Kell Classic. Walton’s offense looks poised to put up big numbers this season behind Jeremy Hecklinski. But don’t forget about Grayson quarterback Jeff Davis as he seems primed for a big senior season for the Rams. Which standout quarterback will win this early season prime time matchup?
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Special thanks to the Georgia Helmet Project for providing each team’s helmet. You can find all of their work here: http://gahelmetproject.com
Historical records are provided by the Georgia High School Football Historians Association. (ghsfa.org)
Special thanks to the Georgia Helmet Project for providing each team’s helmet. You can find all of their work here: http://gahelmetproject.com
The Skinny
The Rome Wolves return plenty of fire power from a team that advanced to the semifinals last season. Reece Fountain returns for his senior season after throwing for 3,028 yards and 28-TDs. Fountain will have plenty of talent at receiver including D.K. Daniel who garnered the region POY award last season. Expect for Nic Hester and Toot Stallings to be primary targets for Fountain. The Wolves will have a stable of backs led by Chance Arthur and Javarius McDearmont. For all of Rome’s offensive prowess, their defense is just as good. While they will be without standouts like Stephylon Green and Alto Moore, don’t expect too much of a fall off. Justin Terrell and Trey Adams anchor the defensive line for a team that allowed just 10.6 points per game last season.
The Cass Colonels have steadily improved each year under head coach Steve Gates. Last year, they advanced to the second round of the state playoffs for the first time since 1983. This might be one of the Colonels more talented teams across the board. The versatile Devin Henderson will likely see action on both sides of the field. Sophomore quarterback Brodie McWhorter has seen his stock rise in the offseason and with weapons like Henderson and Sacovie White. We believe a special season could be in store for Cass. Cass also returns to talented young offensive linemen in Bear McWhorter and Kail Ellis. Meanwhile, Kaden Ellis is as disruptive as they come along the defensive line for Cass.
We like Cass and we beleive they have the talent to contend for a home playoff spot once region play comes around, Rome is a big step up in competition. We beleive Cass can keep it close for a half, but Rome is a little deeper. Wolves by 18.
The Skinny
The Cedartown Bulldogs lost a lot of their offense to graduation as their top 4 ball carriers and their quarterback have all finished their high school careers. Look for Demarcus Gardner to help fill the void in the backfield for Cedartown. Tae Harris is a big time defensive back who might also see some time on offense in the Bulldogs Wing-T alignment. All signs point to Drew Ledbetter to step into the starting role at quarterback for the Bulldogs. Meanwhile, the defense will feature the aforementioned Gardner, Harris and Tadji Neal in the secondary while Jakoby Diamond will anchor the defensive line. This is a Cedartown defense that allowed just 9.4 points per game a year ago.
The Rockmart Yellow Jackets made a run to the quarterfinals before they fell to Fitzgerald in overtime last season. The Yellow Jackets welcome back starting quarterback J.D. Davis who completed 58% of his passes for 905 yards a year ago. While the Jackets lose most of their production on the ground last year, they do return bruising back Brent Washington who rushed for 471 yards and 10-TDs. Tristan Anderson is the team’s leading returning receiver with 8 receptions for 183 yards and a touchdown.
Expect this game to have plenty of fireworks between Rockmart’s Davis and Washington. We believe they will help the game close, but Cedartown’s defense will be the difference. We like the Bulldogs by 5.
The Skinny
The Lee County Trojans will start their season looking to extend their playoff streak to eight straight seasons. All eyes will be on junior running back Ousmane Kromah who rushed for 1,504 yards and 20 TDs a year ago. Kromah is the physical back while Braxton Honer has shown the ability to be a good change of pace back with his speed and shiftiness. Quarterback Weston Bryan should have more command of the offense in his second year as a starter. Defensively standouts from a year ago for the Trojans include Jaydon Cory (50 total tackles), Temirez Williams (59 total tackles), Jase Angry (46 total tackles), Devin Collier (Georgia Southern commit) and Jacob White (41 total tackles).
The Warner Robins Demons started off 2022 slow and then reeled off 9 straight wins before falling in the state title game. The Demons will have a new head coach as the Shane Sams era begins in 2023. Warner Robins has made the state title game for the last three seasons. Quarterback Chase Reese will look to improve on his 1,517 yards and 17-TDs from a year ago. His primary targets include Isiah Canion and Cam Flowers. William “Trey” Gunnings should get the bulk of the carries in the Demons backfield. On the defense side of the ball, Isaiah Gibson will make things difficult on opposing offenses. The junior is the team’s sack leader fro a year ago and has picked up offers from schools such as USC and Auburn.
This Trojans are generally tough at home and should be improved with the maturation of Bryan at quarterback and the steady Kromah in the backfield. The Demons however seem to have a little more star power at quarterback and receiver. We believe that will be the difference in a close matchup. Warner Robins by 2.
The Skinny
The Walton Raiders will look to extend their state playoff streak to seven consecutive years as they travel to Atlanta to participate in the Corky Kell Classic. The Raider put up big numbers last season on offense, averaging 37.8 points per game. They will return their signal caller, Jeremy Hecklinski, who threw for 3,520 yards and 37-TDs. They also return all of their top receivers from a year ago including Cameron Loyd (50 receptions, 851 yards, 9-TDs), Wyatt Sonderman (42 receptions, 744 yards, 11-TDs) and tight end Hunter Teal (50 receptions, 970 yards, 4-TDs). Senior running back Makari Bodiford will look to build on his junior season when he rushed for 1,582 yards and 20-TDs. The Raiders will also welcome offensive lineman Daniel Calhoun who committed to Georgia earlier this summer. The physical offensive tackle should help ensure another 1,000 yard rushing season for Bodiford.
The Grayson Rams will have a new head coach for the 2023 season as Santavious Bryant takes over. Coach Bryant will inherit an offense that averaged 31 points per game and returns their starting quarterback Jeff Davis who threw for 2,242 yards and 15-TDs last season. John Cineas and Kylan Fox are the teams top returning receivers while Dylan Elder and Amari Alston should get the bulk of the carries at running back. Defensively, the Rams will lean on lineman Nasir Smith and defensive backs Jaylen Bell and Myles Woods. They are key pieces from a defense that allowed 13.3 points per game last season.
There is plenty of star power across the board in this game including a great quarterback battle between Hecklisnki of Walton and Davis of Grayson. By our account, Walton is 27-31 against teams from Gwinnett County all time. We believe coach Bryant will have his Rams playing at a high level and should make a push for a region title. But on Saturday, we like the Raiders in a shootout. Walton by 3.