River Ridge Knights Football Preview

Posted on August 10, 2018 by admin

 

 

**Stay tuned for our podcast interview with Coach Wynn..Scheduled to be released on Tuesday, August 14th.**

 

The Skinny

 

Like several teams across the state, the River Ridge Knights will be looking to fill some holes with the losses due to graduation. When we asked Coach Wynn about some of the biggest challenges of 2018,.

“Preparing our youth who will need to step in and fill some spots immediately,” he said.

The offense graduated all of their scoring from last season. So statistically, there are no points returning from last year’s team. Running Back Kofi Reeves-Miller could be one of the new faces on offense that can help provide production. Eric Bennett (WR) could be another weapon for the Knights in the passing game

 

 

The defensive unit for River Ridge also suffered heavy losses to graduation.

“We are returning 3 defensive starters from last year – Chico Ward (S), Chase Tomlinson (LB) , and Trenton McAllister (DL)”, he said.

Coach Wynn and his staff will certainly be working to getting the less experienced Knights prepared for a difficult schedule that includes county foe Etowah, defending Class-AA State Champ, Hapeville Charter, as well as a challenging region slate that includes Dalton, Harrison, Allatoona, Creekview and Sequoyah to name a few.

“Success will be defined through our ability to get better every week and how we handle the things we can control – Effort and Attitude.” Said Wynn.

 

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Sequoyah Chiefs Football Preview

Posted on August 10, 2018 by admin

 

**Don’t forget to check out our podcast interview with Coach Teter. The link for the interview is here: Coach James Teter Podcast Interview **

 

The Skinny

 

Coach Jim Teter enters his 10thseason as the head coach of the Sequoyah Chiefs.  Coach Teter has guided the Chiefs into the post-season in five out of the last six seasons. While folks in Hickory Flat have become accustomed to post season play, Teter knows that each season presents it’s own sets of challenges. We asked Teter about the biggest challenge that his team faces this season.

“Developing depth at each position,” he said.

While the Chiefs are busy developing that depth in the pre-season, they do return five starters on offense and six on defense.

The Chiefs Wing-T offense will have experienced ball handlers in Second Team All-Region quarterback Collier Pecht (1,117 yards passing, 12 TDs) and running backs Cole Jacobs (889 yards from scrimmage, 11 TDs) and Jackson Smith (274 yards rushing) all returning. Others working to earn a spot in the backfield are Mason Webster, DJ King  and D’Angelo Smith.

The Chiefs will need to rebuild an offensive line that returns two starters in Alex Majeed, a 6’4 290 tackle that was a First Team All-Region pick. Majeed was also awarded the 2017 Cherokee Gridiron Offensive Lineman of the Year this past season. Joining Maheed will be Wyatt Hampton, a 6’2 240 guard. Other players fighting for playing time on the offensive line will be Cole Stewart, Nick Balance, Spencer Clark, Connor Johnston, Matthew Meyer and Spencer Smith.

At Tight End and Wide Receiver the Chiefs look to replace two 3-year starters with the loss of Wesley Potter and Patrick Ballance. The Chiefs will look to Joshua Estrada, Adam LaSelva, Jordan Bowers and Shayne Smith. Emmanuel Jenkins, Myles McGee, and Christian Hodgins will compete at Wide Receiver.

 

 

Defensively for the Chiefs, Emmanuel Jenkins (37 tackles, nine pass breakups) has over 10 Division I offers.  The defensive line will be a strength with returning starters Spencer Clark, Connor Johnston, Jordan Bowers (six sacks). Several others could see time on the line including Cole Stewart, David Traynor, and the aforementioned Majeed.

The Linebacker corps should be another strong area for the Chiefs as they return their second leading tackler from last season, Adam LaSelva.  LaSelva was  garnered Second Team All-Region honors last season. He will be joined by Junior, Grant Gibson. Other players to watch for  at linebacker will be Jackson Smith and Tray Bray.

The aforementioned Jenkins, a Second Team All-Region selection, is the only returning starter in the Chiefs secondary. The Chiefs will look to Myles McGee, Mason Webster and Cole Jacobs to help fill the void left by Cam Stewart, Brooks Morris and Wesley Potter.

The kicking game should be solid with returning punter Tyler Price and Sophomore Jordan Campbell.

We asked Coach Teter if there were any games that were circled on the calendar this season.

He said, “(we are) not looking past the first game.”

We followed up by asking how success would be defined this season for the Chiefs.

His response was simply, “By getting along and working together.

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Woodstock Wolverines Football Preview

Posted on August 10, 2018 by admin

 

The Skinny

 

Coach Brent Budde enters his 9th season at the helm for the Woodstock Wolverines. Coach Budde has guided the Wolverines into the post season for the past two years. Budde’s Wolverines will have to replace several key pieces from last year’s team. Which featured not only the Region offensive player of the year (Noah Frith) but also the defensive player of the year, Latrell Bankston. We asked coach Budde what the biggest challenge would be this season.

Budde said, “Making sure the players know that just because we don’t have a lot of experienced players doesn’t mean we can’t be successful.”

While they Wolverines won’t return a lot of experience on offense, the do return First Team All-Region tackle, Trevor Stephens. Stephens will certainly be a key building block as the Wolverines break in several new players at the skill positions. Stephens will be joined on the line by fellow tackle, Jaylen Reid.

Dean Braxton is projected to take the reins at quarterback. Braxton did not have any pass attempts last season. Receiver Jabari Overton and tight end Drew Sheehan will look to fill some of the void left by Noah Frith and Louis Hall.

 

 

Ryan Martin is the most productive skill player that the Wolverines have returning. Martin rushed for over 460 yards last season.

On defense there will also be plenty of opportunities for a new crop of Wolverines to make their mark. Defensive back, Andrew Bartolero, a Second Team All-Reigion selection does return for his junior season. Bartolero was third on the team in tackles last season. He will be joined in the secondary by David Daniel. Line backers Caleb Conley and Campbell Price are projected as players that could make an impact on the Wolverine defense.

We asked Coach Budde if there were any particular games that were circled on the schedule this season.

“All of our region games are circled,” he said.

The Wolverines are quickly becoming accustomed to post season play, so it’s no surprise how Coach Budde described what a successful season would look like for his young Wolverines.

Budde said, “Qualifying for the play-offs for the 3rd year in a row.”

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Conversations with Coaches Kagan McClain West Laurens Raiders

Posted on August 10, 2018 by admin

The West Laurens Raiders advanced to the second round of the state tournament last season. As a matter of fact, the Raiders have qualified for the state tournament for 4 straight seasons. However, Coach McClain knows that each new season brings its own set of challenges. Tune in as Coach McClain talks about these challenges, his background, and gives us some insight about the Raiders for the 2018 season.

 

 

You can check out our West Laurens Preview here: West Laurens Football Preview

Please remember to visit our segment sponsor http://www.yourganizeit.com Make sure you tell them you heard about them from The Turd Furgeson Report!

Please feel free to share and follow us on Twitter: @turdfurgesonrpt and on the web at https://turdfurgeson.com

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Conversations With Coaches – Efrem Hill – Discovery Titans

Posted on August 9, 2018 by admin

The Discovery Titans are still a program in it’s infancy stage. The Titans will be playing only their 3rd year of varsity football. Coach Efrem Hill has been charged with starting the program from scratch. Coach Hill talked briefly about the biggest challenge as he and his staff prepare for the upcoming season. Tune in as we talk Titan Football.

 

 

 

Please remember to visit our segment sponsor http://www.yourganizeit.com Make sure you tell them you heard about them from The Turd Ferguson Report!

Please feel free to share and follow us on Twitter: @turdfurgesonrpt and on the web at https://turdfurgeson.com

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Allatoona Buccaneers Football Preview

Posted on August 9, 2018 by admin

The Skinny

 

Gary Varner begins his 11th season at Allatoona. Coach Varner has had the Bucaneers (Bucs) playing at a high level for all eleven seasons. Since starting region play in 2010, the Bucs have never missed the playoffs. They won a state title in 2015 and last season advanced to the 3rd round of the state playoffs. In spite of all of that success, Coach Varner told us about one of the biggest challenges his team will face in 2018.

He said, “breaking in new players to varsity competition.”

Danté Marshall returns at quarterback for the Bucs. As a sophomore in 2017, Marshall passed for 1,260 yards and 11 TDs. Joining Marshall in the backfield will be Daniel Parsons, as he looks to take over most of the carries. Parsons was tied for the eam lead in rushing touchdowns last season.

Fullback Mario Gambaccini also joins Parsons in the backfield. Gambaccin is a versatile back, who led the Bucs in receptions last season. Cameron Cook could also have an impact in the running game for the Bucs in 2018.

The receiving corps will be highlighted by tight-end Jaylan Williams and receivers Dawson Coltran and Asante Das.

 

 

Williams was a Second Team All-Region selection in 2017. Nick Lendeberg and Drew Lawrence will anchor the offensive line.

The Bucs lost Region 6-6A defensive player of the year Royce Francis to graduation. If there are any question marks for the Bucs, they would revolve around the defensive front. Returners on defense include Calvin Rucker (linebacker), Eric Carty (Linebacker/Defensive end), Cameron Carty (linebacker), Izaiah Taylor (Defensive Back) and AJ Thomas (Defensive Back).

Rucker, an All-Region Honorable Mention selection at linebacker, tallied 61 tackles and 7 sacks last season.  Both Thomas and Taylor earned All-Region Honorable Mention selections in 2017.

The Bucs have a very challenging non-region slate of games including a trip to Cartersville to open the season and a mid-season tilt with defending Class 2A champ, Hapeville Charter. While the team may be inexperienced at many positions, we certainly believe that the Bucs are one of the favorites to win the Region this year and could be primed for another run in the state tournament come November.

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Chattahoochee Cougars Football Preview

Posted on August 9, 2018 by admin

The Skinny

Coach Vince Strine guided the Chattahoochee Cougars back to the playoffs for the first time in six seasons. The Cougars finished third in the region behind Alpharetta and Centennial. The Cougars should be back in the mix with the return of some key players. However, Coach Strine addressed one of the biggest challenges he and his staff face going into the season.

“Keeping everyone focused on the Fall season and not get sidetracked with all of the 7v7 hype that summer tends to bring. Every day we have to get better with the purpose of playing great football in the Fall,” Strine said.

Coach Strine’s Cougars will get a boost with the return of  First Team All-Region running back Max Webb. We asked Coach Strine about his offense.

“Our OL is pretty much still intact from last season. Our RB, Max Webb rushed for nearly 1,300 yards last year, so I would say all of those things is pretty good to have return,” he said.

One of the key returners on the offensive line is Jake Green. Green garnered First Team All-Region awards in 2017.

Coach Strine also likes what he sees on defense.

“Our DL and Outside LB’s should be a strong point for us this year. We have some speed in our defensive backs as well. The defense is really going to have to play as a unit,” Strine said.

 

 

We asked Coach Strine about players that might be flying under the radar or poised for a breakout season.

“I think we have several guys that have worked really hard for a great season. Many times a guy has a breakout year and it comes completely unexpectedly,” he said, “our offense has been pretty good the past few years, and I really expect our Defense to have a great year.”

So what about games that are circled on the calendar for the Cougars?

“Game 1. I think it is really important to win your first game and build on that. We try really hard to keep our players focused on the first game, and then each one after that…One at a time. Too much can change week to week to worry about other games,” he explained.

Finally, we asked coach Strine how success would be defined this season.

He said, “We certainly want to build off the momentum of making the playoffs last year. Our succes comes in our progress and growth each week. We don’t want to be playing our best football week 1 and we want to continue to find new ways to challenge ourselves.”

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Grovetown Warriors Football Preview

Posted on August 9, 2018 by admin

 

 

** The link to our podcast interview with Coach Postell can be found here: Coach Postell Interview**

The Skinny

 

The Grovetown Warriors have reached the postseason in both of the prior two seasons under the leadership of Coach Damien Postell. The Auburn football product guided the Warriors to a 7-5 record last season that concluded with a second round loss to the eventual AAAAAA State Champion, Lee County.

It seems as if everything is trending upward for Grovetown. We asked Coach Postell about one of his team’s biggest challenges coming into this season.

“Finding depth at key positions,” said Postell.

On offense, the Warriors will lean on BaShon Morris and Mykel Santos to fill the void at receiver left with the graduation of Braxton Wharton and Emanuel Bryson.  On the offensive line, Coach Postell will look for leadership from lineman Trajen Graham.

Newcomer Jonquavous Brown looks to be primed to step into the starting running back role for the Warriors. One of the leaders making holes for brown on the offensive line will be Trajen Graham.

 

 

Defensive ends Simeon Barrow and Kyle Bryant will lead a defense that recorded 26 sacks and 22 QB hurries last season.  Jamir Malone will anchor the secondary for a defense that tallied 14 interceptions in 2017.

How would Coach Postell define a successful season for his Warriors in 2018?

“A winning season, winning our region, and making it past the 2nd round (of the playoffs),” he said.

Considering that Grovetown made the playoffs for the first time in school history in 2016, (Coach Postell’s first season) and advanced to the second round in 2017; a third round trip in 2018 seems like the next logical step.

In order to do that, perhaps they will need to knock of last season’s region champ, Evans. We know that that all games are important, but a game with Evans in the last week of the season could shape up to be a game that determines the region title.

 

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Lee County Football Preview

Posted on August 9, 2018 by admin

The Skinny

 

The Lee County Trojans claimed their first state title with a win over region rival Coffee.  Gone are the likes of  AAAAAA defensive player of the year, Otis Reese, fellow first teamers Ty Terrell (wide receiver), Griffen McDowell (offensive line) as well as other all-state selections Quin Geer (Linebacker), TJ Harris (Defensive Back) and Jase Orndorff (Quarterback). We asked coach Fabrizio what would be the biggest challenge going into this season.

“We have to realize that this is a new season. Last season’s state championship is over. With all the accolades and celebrations this off-season we have to refocus on this season.”, he said.

The Trojans will look to junior quarterback Kyle Toole to take over this season. Toole will have help from running back Shandarious Kimbrough and receivers Chauncey Magwood and Artavious Warren. Daveon Sanders is another player poised to have some opportunities to help the offense. Upfront, Griffin Carder, who was a second team all-state selection and a Georgia Southern commit, will anchor the offensive line for the Trojans.

 

 

There is no doubt, replacing a player like Reese on defense will be challenging, but the Trojans do return defensive backs Tay Mayo and DaShawn King. Upfront, defensive lineman Anthony Harvey returns for his senior season. While not a defensive player, kicker Austin Beaver, a first team all-state selection as a sophomore last season will certainly be a weapon that the Trojans can use to flip field position and put points on the board.

Coach Fabrizio said that the games that are most important are the region games. We completely understand that, as these are the games that determine if you get to the second season. While outsiders might be thinking the goal for Lee County is to get back to the state title game, Coach Fabrizio likes to keep it simple,

“We have the same goals as every year. Want to win as many games as we are capable of,” said Fabrizio.

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M.L. King Lions Football Preview

Posted on August 9, 2018 by admin

 

The Skinny

 

Coach Deante’ Lamar enters is second season as head coach of the M.L. King Lions. The Lions made post season appearances in 11 straight seasons but have not reached the playoffs in the last four seasons. Coach Lamar told us about one of his staffs biggest challenges coming into this season.

“The biggest challenge for the upcoming season has to be our depth,” he said.

While that seems to be a recurring theme throughout several programs, the Lions do have some pieces to build around on both sides of the ball. The Lions return starting quarterback Jacobi Haynes (662 yards, 7 TDs) and leading running back Marcellious Lockett (490 yards, 6TDs) for the 2018 season.

Antonio Smith will lead the Lions on the offensive line. As a junior last season, Smith was an All Region First-Team selection.

 

 

 

Defensively, Trezmon Johnson, (defensive back), and Jaden Wilkins, (linebacker), will pace the Lions.

While all of the region games are important to the Lions, the most significant might just be the rivalry game against the Stephenson Jaguars on September 28th.  (The Jaguars lead the series 8-4).

Not only should this be a competitive game on the field, but it will also feature two of the best bands in DeKalb County. (I can certainly attest to this as I’ve been in attendance at a couple of these matchups at Hallford Stadium.)

We asked coach Lamar how his team will define success this season.

“Success will be defined by continuous improvement throughout the season and finishing in the top 4 of our Region,” he said.

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