Conversations With Coaches – Episode 7 – Coach Baker Woodward – Savannah Christian Raiders

Posted on July 31, 2018 by admin

Coach Baker Woodward takes over as the head coach for the Savannah Christian Raiders. Previously, Coach Woodward was the offensive coordinator for the Benedictine Cadets potent offense. The Raiders return several players with game experience. However, that doesn’t solve one of the toughest challenges that the Raiders staff has preparing for the upcoming season; which is creating depth on both sides of the ball. Tune in and listen to Coach Woodward is he talks about the Raiders and the upcoming football season.

 

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Conversations With Coaches – Episode 6 – Coach Caleb Bagley – Coahulla Creek Colts

Posted on July 30, 2018 by admin

We had a chance to sit down and talk to Coach Caleb Bagley at Coahulla Creek. The newest school in Whitfield County has only been playing football since 2012. Coach Bagley’s Colts went winless last season, but don’t let that fool you. Coach Bagley said that expectations are higher than they’ve ever been this season.

They will be tested early and often this season as two of their first three games are against teams that qualified for the postseason last year, (Northwest Whitfield and Adairsville). They will also face a tough gauntlet mid-season and it won’t be much easier rounding out the season with games against perennial region 6-south bully, Calhoun and a tough Ringgold squad. Take a listen as Coach Bagley talks about his young up and coming Colts.

 

You can find our team preview write up for the Colts here.

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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Benedictine Cadets Football Preview

Posted on July 29, 2018 by admin

 

The Skinny

 

     The Benedictine Cadets move up one classification this season and will compete in Region 3-3A.  The Cadets have achieved much success under Britt’s leadership including seven consecutive trips to the post-season and two state titles. Perhaps outsiders expect the success to come naturally, but each season has it’s own set of challenges. We asked Coach Britt about some of those challenges.

“Replacing a large number of skill players and our Offensive Coordinator”, he said.

A few of those skill players include running back Travis Blackshear, quarterback Nick Iannone, and defensive back Jonah Griffin. Additionally, Coordinator Baker Woodward was plucked by Savannah Christian to lead the Raiders as their head coach.

The Cadets will return Second Team All-Region running back Rico Powers. Powers was second on the team in rushing with 842 yards and 11 TDs.  Powers was also second in receiving with 449 yards and 5 TDs through the air.

     The defense returns a pair of First Team All-State selections in lineman Eric Hicks Jr., and defensive back, Jakeen Harris. Harris lead the team in tackles and interceptions last season while Hicks lead the team in sacks. First Team All-Region selection Coleman Marini (defensive line) and defensive back Nashon Copeland are projected starters on the line and secondary respectively.

Coach Britt said all of the games are important. There is not one particular one circled on the calendar.

We asked Coach Britt how success will be defined for the Cadets in 2018.

He said, “Success will be determined by how we prepare and how we play. At times you can prepare well and play the right way but still lose the game. However, we will determine our success by that.”

 


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Adairsville Tigers Football Preview

Posted on July 29, 2018 by admin

 

The Skinny

     Coach Eric Bishop led the Adairsville Tigers back to the playoffs in 2017 after missing out in 2016. The Tigers have now qualified for post-season play in 7 of the last 8 seasons. The Tigers seem to have plenty of experience returning on both sides of the ball; perhaps a second consecutive playoff appearance is well within their grasps.

Offensively, success on the line will depend on the performance of three returning starters: Josh Brown, Seth Laughunn, and Cameron O’Neal. Dual threat quarterback Mason Boswell returns for his senior season. Boswell led the team in all-purpose yards and touchdowns last season.

Coach Bishop said, “Derrick Simmons and Chris Rodriquez also look to be contributors to the Tiger’s option attack.”

 

 

     Bishop is excited about the defense, as he said; “the defense looks to be more athletic with experience at key positions.”

“The defense will be anchored by the linebacking core that includes experienced inside linebackers in Nic Jackson and Kyle Martin and long, athletic outside linebackers in Malachi Gardner and Zach Ogle,” Bishop said.

Other starters returning on defense for the Tigers include Garrett Ellis and Chandler Shankles on the defensive line and Savaugn Henderson at safety.

While the Tigers look to be improved, the question looming will be whether they’ve improved enough to challenge Calhoun and Sonoraville in Region 6-3A. Only time will tell.

 

 

 

 

 

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Jackson County Panthers Football Preview

Posted on July 29, 2018 by admin

 

The Skinny

 

     The Jackson County Panthers reached postseason play for the 2nd consecutive season and for the fourth time in six years. Coach Brandon Worley also guided the Panthers to their second best finish in twenty-five years. But like many teams across the state, graduation has taken it’s toll on the Panthers.

So what is one of the biggest challenges that the Panthers face going into this season?

“Experience on the field,” Coach Worley said,  “We will be young in many positions.”

The Panthers do return Fullback L.T. Pecht and Lineman Jonathan Fountain.  The run game should get a boost from  Elijah Pierce and potentially Tyler Payne. All-Region selection Tyler Wester, who plays both ways, should provide some experience at receiver. (Although last season, the Panthers were a run dominated offense.)  Andrew King and Nate Vincent are a pair of tight ends who may also step in and fill some voids for Coach Worley.

On Defense, the Panthers return All-Region selection Justin Key on the defensive line. Key led the team in tackles (48) and was second in sacks (7) last season.

 

 

     Key will be joined on defense by linebacker Rayshun Dorsey, who led the team in sacks last season with 9. And of course, the aforementioned Wester returns to the secondary. Wester was tied for the team lead in interceptions in 2017 with 2 picks to his credit.

We asked coach Worley if there were any games that were circled on the calendar.

He said,  “None, the next game is the most important.”

Coach Worley explained to us how success would be defined for his team and the program.

“10 years from now when we see what kind of husbands, fathers, sons, brothers, and friends they become. Wins and losses will fade, but relationships will last forever,” he said.

With that said, we are certainly pulling for the success of the Panthers program

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Coahulla Creek Colts Football Preview

Posted on July 29, 2018 by admin

 

 

The Skinny

 

     Coach Caleb Bagley’s Colts went winless last season, but don’t let that fool you.

“Expectations are higher here than they have ever been,” said Coach Bagley.

Coahulla Creek is the newest school in Whitfield County and has only been playing football since 2012.  They will be tested early and often this season as two of their first three games are against teams that qualified for the postseason last year, (Northwest Whitfield and Adairsville).

The Colts also face a tough gauntlet mid-season and it won’t be much easier rounding out the season with games against perennial region 6-south bully, Calhoun and a tough Ringgold squad.

We asked Coach Bagley about his offense and who might we see break out for the Colts.

      “Michael King, had a solid year last year, (we are) expecting big things this year,” he said. “Coda Blackwell is a returning OL who has had a tremendous off-season.”

When the defense takes the field, look for Titus and Tim Underwood and Boone Creswell to lead the Colts. Tim (Underwood) led the team in tackles last season as a junior. There are several other Colts looking to step up and make their mark on the defensive side of the ball.

Is there a particular game circled on the calendar for the Coahulla Creek?

“We try to take things one step at a time, so right now the next game is Northwest Whitfield,” said Bagley.

With regards to how what will determine success, Bagley kept it simple saying “how much we improved from last year.”



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Appling County Pirates Football Preview

Posted on July 29, 2018 by admin

The Skinny

 

     Coach Rock Tomberlin returns home to Appling County to coach his Alma Mater. Tomberlin is in his 33rd season overall and has amassed 246 wins in his career. He inherits an Appling County team that qualified for the playoffs despite only winning three regular season games in 2017.

Tomberlin said, “ (Implementing a) new system on offense and defense, and teaching from the ground up,” are two of the biggest challenges this season.

Second Team All-Region selection Moses Eason will anchor the offensive line along with Thorne Bryant.  At the skill positions, dual threat QB Tyler Jones, (728 yards passing, 608 yards rushing, 19 total TDs) will lead the offense. He will joined by SB Matt Nails ( 340 yards rushing, 1 TD), and RJ Conaway is projected to add some additional depth to the backfield.

 

 

     Eason was also a Second Team All-Region selection on defense as well.  He will be joined by linebackers Zack Mayer (68 tackles) and Pete Ryals ( 42 tackles), both who were in the top 3 in tackles on the team last season. Chris Sanders returns in the secondary at the safety position.

While the Pirates won’t be overlooking anyone this season. Pierce County is a region rival that they will be looking forward to matching up against on October 26th.

Coach Tomberlin said “staying unified, (and) keep getting   better as the season progresses”, will help define success this season.

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Savannah Blue Jackets Football Preview

Posted on July 29, 2018 by admin

The Skinny

 

     Coach Rebel Green takes over as head coach of the Savannah Blue Jackets. Savannah did qualify for the playoffs for the second consecutive season. However Coach Green will be facing some new challenges this season.

Coach Green explained, “Youth – 90% of starters graduated or transferred from (the) previous year.”

While youth is being served in Savannah, coach Green will look to a handful of players with game experience.

On offense, Dellen Barnes is projected to be one of the go to wide receivers for the Blue Jackets. Jasheem Bratten is also a player that could emerge for coach Green.

 

 

     On defense, the Blue Jackets do return Second Team All-Region selection, MJ Williams. Williams was fourth on the team in tackles last season and also tied for the team lead in sacks with five. Messiah Pinkney and JaQuarie Allen are also projected to start on the defensive front seven.

Coach Green said that the rivalry games with Groves and Beach are definitely circled on the calendar. Not only are those games for neighborhood bragging rights, but they are also region rivals as well.

What will define success this season for the young Blue Jackets?

“With a lot of new players, if we make the playoffs, that would be huge,” Green said.

 

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Stone Mountain Pirates Football Preview

Posted on July 29, 2018 by admin

The Skinny

 

     Coach James Collier enters his third season as the head coach for the Stone Mountain Pirates. One of the biggest challenges for Coach Collier and the Pirates this season will be the overall number of players. To add to those challenges, the Pirates play in an extremely challenging region, which includes foes such as Pace Academy, Lovett, Cedar Grove and Westminster.

QB Shaheim Bailey is the projected starter. Things should be looking up for Bailey as he enters his second season. He will be joined by running back Kameron Amerson. The Pirates will be looking for a wide receiver to step up as one of last year’s leader has transferred to Southwest DeKalb.

 

 

     Defensively,  hard-hitting line backer Mujhid “Mojo” Towns  and defensive end Micah Ash, a long athletic player, will lead the charge for the Pirates. Look for Nashawn Hezekiah to also be in the mix on defense for Stone Mountain.

Coach Collier will certainly be looking forward to facing off against his alma mater, Cedar Grove on November 11th.

We asked how success will be defined for the Pirates, this season.

Collier said, “To see my young players mature and compete.”

 

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Haralson County Football Preview

Posted on July 29, 2018 by admin

 

 

The Skinny

 

     Head Coach Scott Peavy is in his second season as the head coach for the Haralson County Rebels. Coach Peavey previously had a three-year stint at Haralson from 2002-2004. The Rebels play in an extremely competitive region with the likes of defending state champion Calhoun, and the up and coming Adairsville and Sonoraville programs.

Coach Peavey said one of the biggest challenges for the Rebels this season will be the numbers. With lower total players, the Rebels will rely on many kids to play both ways.

On offense, running back Treylon Sheppard returns for his senior season. Sheppard is a speedy, shifty running back that has shown the ability to break away from defenders. He is also effective in the passing game and is a dangerous kick returner.

 

 

     Defensively, Phillip Haldeman will be called upon to lead the Rebels secondary. Haldeman had three interceptions last season and several pass break-ups. He is a sure tackler and will also play some receiver for the Rebels.

While Sheppard and Haldeman highlight the returning skill players. Both DJ Coffman and Beau Chaffin will anchor the offensive and defensive lines for the Rebels.

While all of the games are important to the Rebels, the Lakeview-Fort Oglethorpe game is one they have circled on the schedule.

We asked coach Peavey how success will be defined by his team this season.

He simply responded, “(a) playoff appearance.”

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