We are honored to have Coach Troy Hoff back to join us on our Conversations with Coaches Segment. In 2018 Coach Hoff led the Eastside Eagles to a historic season. The Eagles reeled off 12 consecutive victories before being upended by the eventual state champion. Join us today as Coach Hoff talks about last years run and gives us some insight to the 2019 Eastside Eagles.
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Coach Ashley Henderson enters his second season at the helm as head coach for the Thomas County Central Yellow Jackets. Coach Henderson won 3 GISA state titles at Valwood prior to coming to Thomas County Central.
On offense, Kalique Guyton and Persean Taylor should both see snaps at quarterback. Dondrell Green is the team’s leading returning running back. While Zendai Brooks and Carrington Robinson will be counted on at receiver. All-Region offensive lineman Garrett Harrell returns as well for the Jackets.
Defensively, All-Region selections Tykeem Wallace and Jordan Jones return to the Jackets secondary.
Safety, Tandis Wright also returns giving the Jackets an experienced secondary. Jordan Jones should also be a factor for the Jackets along with Wright and Wallace.
There are no particular games circled on the schedule for the Jackets. Coach Henderson said they are all circled.
How will Coach Henderson and the Jackets define success this season?
“Long term is check back in 15 years and see what kind of men we’ve raised. What kind of fathers they have become, etc,” he said. “Short term goals win 1 game a week.”
**Incase you missed it, you can check out our podcast interview with Coach Phillips Here: Starr’s Mill Panthers Podcast
The Starr’s Mill Panthers will be under the leadership of Head Coach Chad Phillips for the 10th season. Coach Phillips has guided the Panthers to five consecutive post season appearances. Last year, the Panthers ran away with the region to claim their 3rd consecutive region title. But the Panthers were upended in the first round of the playoffs. With a new season up ahead, we asked Coach Phillips what was his biggest challenge in 2019.
Phillips replied, “We must replace our defensive line and an all-state kicker (Michael Lantz).”
While the defensive line is being retooled, Coach Phillips does have some able bodies to plug in some holes. On the defensive line, look for Jonathan Molina and Dalton Koth to play a larger role this season. The Panthers also return All-Region linebacker Cole Bishop. Joining Bishop at linebacker are Logan Prince and Vee Holcomb. All-Region defensive back Wes Haney will patrol the secondary for the Panthers along with Nate Kearns.
On offense, Kalen Sims returns as the bell cow in the Panthers ground game. The All-Region player of the year in 2018, Sims rushed for 1,482 yards and 17-TDs.Joining Sims in the backfield will be Ben Bodne and Karson Kalen. Bodne and Kalen combined for 551 yards rushing and 7-TDs in 2018.
“All of our OL returns anchored by center Jeff Tiller and guard Cole Sanders,” said Coach Phillips.
Tiller and Sanders were All-Region selection last season. Meanwhile, quarterback Hunter Lawson will return to lead the team in his senior season. Regarding his senior signal caller, Coach Phillips said, “Lawson is having a great summer.”
Coach Phillips added, “Malachi Townson returns as receiving threat.”
We asked Coach Phillips if there were any games that are circled on the schedule.
“Our non-region schedule is brutal but prepares us for the most important part of our schedule- the region games,” he replied.
“Griffin, Riverdale and Jonesboro figure to be much improved and our county opponents (Whitewater, McIntosh, Fayette) are always a must win situation,” he added.
So, with that said, how will the Panthers define success this season?
Phillips said, “We feel we must continue to build on the past success here. We have won 3 consecutive region titles and are diligently working for another.”
Coach Van Spence is at the helm for the Paulding County Patriots for his 4th season. As year 4 approaches, we asked Coach Spence what some of the challenges were for his team in 2019.
“Creating depth in a very difficult region,” he replied.
Perhaps one of the more difficult regions in Class AAAAA, it is home to teams like, Kell, Rome and Carrollton. And if you throw in Villa Rica, Hiram and East Paulding, there really are not many “holes” in the schedule.
Some of the top returners for the Patriots include 4-star linebacker and running back, Smael Mondon, and wide receiver Keishon Jackson on offense.
In addition to Mondon, Linebacker Elliot Jones and linebacker/safety Jaylen Ellis will provide experience for the Patriots defense.
We asked Coach Spence if there were any games circled on the schedule.
“Hiram,” he said, “(the) first region game.”
How will the Patriots define success this season?
Coach Spence responded, “Our team goal is to make the playoffs.”
Coach Lee Belknap enters his 9th season as the head coach of the McIntosh Chiefs. We asked Coach Belknap what his biggest challenge is in 2019 as the season begins.
“(An) inexperienced backfield,” he said.
Robert Clark will anchor the Chiefs offensive line. Andrew Villiger is one of the team’s top returning receivers while Matthew Allum will look to help carry the load in the backfield.
Defensively, lineman Jefferey Burnell and linebacker Nathan Anderson are leaders that Coach Belknap will look for to help steady the defense. Ben Anderson is also a player that could be in for a big year in the Chiefs secondary.
The Chiefs won’t be looking ahead this season. We asked coach Belknap if there were any games circled on the calendar.
“Game #1,” he said. “Mundy’s Mill.”
How will the Chiefs define success in 2019?
Coach Belknap said, “Improvement each day hopefully leading to a playoff birth.”
Coach Eric Williams begins his 16th season at Maynard Jackson High School. His Jaguars have reached the post-season in 4 out of the last 5 seasons. We asked coach Williams what was the team’s biggest challenge coming into the season.
“Replacing a very productive group of seniors,” he said.
The Jaguars top returning weapons on offense include quarterback Charles Daniel and receiver Marques Neal. Daniel, an All-Region selection in 2018 threw for 1,586 yards and 13-TDs. He also led the team in rushing with 865 yards and 4 rushing TDs. Neal’s stat line includes 17receptions, 212 receiving yards, 236 rushing yards with 5 total TDs.
Raveon Moore and Jaquavious Hines are poised to see more production at receiver for the Jaguars.
The Maynard Jackson defense will be headlined by the imposing front line, which includes Jalan Davis, Chris Newby and Quemetrice Cain. These three accounted for 11 sacks last season. DeShane London is the team’s top returning tackler while Quinton Davis and Jeremiah Rowe will be called upon to provide leadership in the secondary.
We asked Coach Williams if there were any games circled on the scheduled.
He simply replied, “Carver Atlanta.”
When we asked Coach Williams about success and how it will be defined by the Jaguars, he replied,
“Returning to the play offs for a third consecutive year.”
Head Coach Pete Fominaya begins his 2nd season at the helm for the Hiram Hornets. As we have mentioned in other previews about Region-7, there are really no holes in the Hornets schedule. We asked Coach Fominaya about some of the challenges in 2019, (outside of the challenging schedule).
“Replacing seven starters on offense,” he said.
Jermaine Banks, the team’s leading receiver from a season ago is back for his senior campaign. Banks is probably the most experienced on the offense side of the ball.
The Hornets will look to Zander May to take over at quarterback while Malik Black should get plenty of opportunities at running back.
The Hornets defense is a little steadier than the offense, as they return lineman Charlie Sims and linebackers Josh Martin and Caleb Brewster. Brandon Maina should provide some additional depth on the defensive line, while Mahki Touray will be called upon in the Hornets secondary.
We asked Coach Fominaya if there were any games circled on the scheduled.
He said, “Hiram vs. East Paulding.”
When we asked Coach Fominaya about success and how it will be defined by the Hornets, he replied,
“How the new starters on offense grow and develop throughout the season.”
Head Coach Jamie Fox is in his second season at Harris County. The Tigers were bitten by the injury bug most of last season, but did manage to qualify for the playoffs. We asked Coach Fox what some of his challenges are coming into this season.
“(The Region) 2 of the teams in our region played for the state championship!!!!” he exclaimed.
Those two teams, Bainbridge and Warner Robins played in one of the more entertaining games of the State Finals.
Returning for the Tigers under center is quarterback Davion Mahone. Last season he passed for 595 yards rushed for 410 yards and had 6 total TDs. All-Region selection Tailique Williams returns as one of the team’s top receiving threats.
Meanwhile, Coach Fox will be looking for a replacement for Cal’von Harris. Senior back Xavier Richmond and sophomore John Austin Cochran could be poised for big seasons as they run behind an offensive line anchored by Colby Dumas, Ealan Chapman and Spencer Gasaway.
Defensively, All-Region selection Nick Richey will anchor the line for the Tigers. Richey was 6th on the team last season in total tackles. Linebacker Edmund Whitaker is the Tigers leading returning tackler. Javion Smith also provides experience at backer for the Tigers. In the secondary, Damon Willis and Josh Trice could be headed for big seasons.
What, if any, rivalry games are circled on the calendar for Harris County?
Coach Fox said, “We don’t have a natural rival, so we look at them all as being important.”
How will the Tigers define success this season?
Fox answered, “We have made the playoffs the last two years. Harris County has only made the playoffs 3 years in a row only once, 2012-2014. I think making the playoffs would be a great accomplishment 3 years in a row, since it’s only happened once in school history.”
Coach Sean Calhoun begins his 4th season as Head Coach for the Carrollton Trojans. The Trojans returned to the quarterfinals last season for the 3rd consecutive year; and have only missed out on post season play once in the last 30 years. With that tradition of success on the field, we asked Coach Calhoun what his biggest challenge was coming into the 2019 season.
He said, “Getting inexperienced kids ready.”
While Coach Calhoun and his staff get some of the inexperienced players ready, they do have some experience returning.
On offense, Myles Morris will return under center at quarterback. The Trojans also return their top two running backs from a season ago as Brandon Marenco (944 yards, 14-TDs) and Kodee Brewer (693 yards, 10-TDs). They will look to duplicate their success on the ground from last season. Leading the way for these two backs is fullback Chase Sippola and on the line, Micah Moten will be looked upon to provide leadership.
Defensively, the Trojans return perhaps a few of the best linebackers in the state and some might argue the country. Senior Kevin Swint (a Clemson Commit) and Junior Chaz Chambliss led the team last season in tackles and sacks. They both appear on national recruiting lists and should be in for another big season. Jerius Edwards joins Swint and Chambliss to make for one of the most formidable linebacker groups in the state. Look for Cyrus McClure and Derrick Witherspoon to have opportunities to be leaders in the secondary for Carrollton.
We asked Coach Calhoun if there were any games circled on the schedule this season.
He said, “Bremen Scrimmage (it is the first competition !)”
How will the Trojans define success in 2019?
Coach Calhoun responded, “Are we better at the end of the season than the beginning: on and off the field.”
Coach Robert Andrews enters his second season as head coach for the Walnut Grove Warriors. The Warriors region includes traditional powers such as Buford and Clarke Central, so that schedule presents some challenges in and of itself. We asked Coach Andrews what the biggest challenge was coming into this season.
“Inexperience and depth are at the top of the list,” he said.
Coach Andrews gave us some insight on some of the players on his roster that could be in for a big year. Guys like Dylan Nunn (LB), Preston Little (WR/DB) and Adam Head (OL/DL) are in a position to shine for the Warriors this season.
“We have several players with the potential to have quality seasons,” said Andrews.
The Warriors will lean on Tyler Lester at running back early on, while the aforementioned Little and Colin Evon will be leaders on the defensive side of the ball.
There are no games in particular that are circled on the schedule for the Warriors. Just one at a time as the old cliché goes.
How will the Warriors define success this season?
Coach Andrews kept it simple, “Giving maximum effort.”
