Southeast Whitfield Raiders Preview

Posted on August 5, 2018 by admin

 

The Skinny

 

 

Coach Sean Gray enters his 7thseason at the helm for the Southeast Whitfield Raiders. Coach Gray guided the Raiders to a 7-3 season last year and narrowly missed out on a playoff berth after falling to Pickens High in the play-in tiebreaker game. The seven-win tally was the most wins for the Raiders since the 1985 season.

This year, one of the biggest challenges for Southeast will be replacing the defensive line and First Team All-State  lineman Luke Johns.

Junior quarterback Adam Sowder takes over for Porter Johnson. Last season the Raiders passed for just under 2,000 yards. Receiver Zac Cole will look to step in and help replace the production of tight-end Oscar Gonzalez. Gonzalez was a First Team All-State selection last season, who led the team in receiving with 891 yards and 13 touchdowns.

 

 

 

While the Raiders fine tune the passing game, the run game looks to be in good shape with the return of Christian Gillespie. As a sophomore last season, Gillespie led the team in rushing with 845 yards and 10 touchdowns.

Gillespie will more than likely see time on both sides of the ball. Defensively, he will line up as linebacker. Cornerback Mike Zilbert is projected to lead the secondary.

As mentioned before, the Raiders had their best season in 32 years. Graduation however, has taken its toll on this squad. They lost 24 seniors off of the 2017 team. Matching last years win total will be a tall task.

Looking at the 2018 schedule, there is no question that the biggest game of the season for the Raiders is their county rival Northwest Whitfield.

 

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White County Warriors Football Preview

Posted on August 5, 2018 by admin

 

The Skinny

 

Coach Tim Cokely leads enters his second season at the helm for the White County Warriors. The Warriors had a reversal of fortunes in Cokely’s first season and returned the playoffs for the first time in four seasons. However, with a new season comes new challenges.

Cokely said, “creating depth,” is one of the biggest challenges that he and his staff will face as they prepare for the 2018 season.

The Warriors do return J Ben Haynes at quarterback for his sophomore season. Haynes was an All-Region Honorable Mention selection his freshman season.

Cody VerSluis is projected as one of the leading receivers for the Warriors. While Noah Hoersten is slated to help anchor the offensive line for Coach Cokely.

 

 

First Team All-Region linebacker Mike Mintz returns to lead the Warriors on defense. Minitz is a punishing tackler who always seems to be running downhill.

Jay Lepkoske and Deejay Fleming should give the Warriors experience on the defensive line. Karson Crow and Kurtis Havlen will lead the Warriors secondary.

While we don’t have a definition of success for the Warriors this season, we can certainly believe it would have something to do with coming into each practice and each game and competing to the best of their ability.

 

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West Laurens Raiders Football Preview

Posted on August 5, 2018 by admin

 

 

**Our podcast interview with Coach McClain will be released on Friday, August 10th. Stay Tuned as Coach McClain takes a deeper dive into the Raiders upcoming season.** 

 

The Skinny

 

 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. One of the biggest challenges this season, according to Coach McClain is youth.

“We are going to be very young” said McClain regarding the 2018 Raiders.

While the Raiders will be young, they do return Junior Quarterback AJ Mathis to lead the offense. Mathis passed for over 1,600 yards and 12 TDs as a sophomore in 2017. Mathis will not be alone in the backfield as West Laurens returns leading rusher Dorian Edmond. Edmond ran for 867 yards for the Raiders last season.

West Laurens lost their 3 top receivers to graduation, but EJ Holmes could be poised to step up and take a leadership role within the young receiving corps.

 

 

Defensively, D’Eryck Jackson is poised to improve on his 99 total tackles and seven sacks, from last season. He won’t be alone, as fellow defensive tackles Que Mack (4 sacks) and Spencer Dacus (5 sacks) look to make running the football difficult on opposing offenses.

There is no one ‘most important game’ for West Laurens. Instead Coach McClain said that all the region ones are circled on the schedule this season.

While the Raiders will be young, the goal seems to remain the same as last season.

“Our goal is to play hard, be physical, and compete for a playoff spot,” he said.

 

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Troup County Tigers Preview

Posted on August 5, 2018 by admin

(You can listen to our podcast interview with Coach Glisson here: Coach Glisson Podcast Interview)

 

The Skinny

 

Coach Tanner Glisson has quickly helped right the ship  for the Troup County Tigers. Last season, the Tigers won 9 games. The team found ways to light up the scoreboard, primarily through the air. Last year’s leading passer, Montez Crowe has moved on to Savannah State and he takes along with him his 3,984 passing yards. Coach Glisson knows that he has to continue to keep his team focused.

“Dealing with outside expectations”, that’s one of the biggest challenges that Glisson said his team will face this season.

Troup County does return their 3 leading receivers from last season. WR Jamari Thrash was a First Team All-State recipient. The rising senior caught 61 passes for 1,410 yards with 13 TDs. Rising Juniors Kobe Hudson (896 yards, 12TDs), Mark Anthony Dixon (577 yards, 4TDs) and Ja’Rell Smith (281 yards, 2 TDs) round out the WR corps. TE Luke Purnell is poised to get in the mix in the passing game this season.

 

 

 Alabama verbal commit King Mwikuta will certainly be one of the leaders on this Troup County defense. He was a consensus First Team All-State selection last season at his linebacker position. Mwikuta will be joined by fellow linebackers Joko Willis (1stteam All-Region in 2017) and Kevin Martin (second team All-Region in 2017).

Junior Andy Boykin, an Honorable Mention All-Region selection, will help to make this defense an extremely formidable force this season.

Coach Glisson has had the Tigers playing well over the last two seasons and you ‘d better believe they’ll be looking to improve on last year’s nine wins. There is no doubt they won’t be taking any opponents lightly either, but Cartersville has been the measuring stick in Region 5. The November 2nd matchup with the Canes could show how far the Tigers have come, or it tell how much further they have to go.

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West Hall Spartans Football Preview

Posted on August 5, 2018 by admin

 

The Skinny

 

The West Hall Spartans have qualified for the state playoffs for five consecutive seasons. New Head Coach Krofton Montgomery will look to guide the Spartans to their sixth consecutive playoff appearance this season. But the road to a playoff berth  in region 7 becomes a little more difficult, as Flowery Branch now joins a region which already boasts the 2017 state champion (Blessed Trinity) and runner-up (Marist).

Senior, Quenton Smith will lead the West Hall offense. He will have a talented weapon in the backfield alongside him in  Junior Michael Thompson. In 2017, Thompson passed for 529 yards and also rushed for 879 yards with 9 TDs. The Spartans were a run oriented offense last season and will no doubt look to capitalize on Thompson’s ability in the ground game.

Solomon Riley looks poised to help carry the load offensively as he joins Smith and Thompson in the backfield. Upfront, senior tackles Ricky Castillo and Matt Sinclair will anchor the offensive line tasked with making holes for the ground game.  They will no doubt get help from tight end Hunter Rainey.

 

 

On the defensive side of the ball, the Spartans sport two good-sized linebackers in Corey Dupree and John Stoecker. They will look to replace Cory Davis and Austin Sinclair who led the team in tackles last season. The defensive secondary will be anchored by senior corner, Jeremiah Prather.

Coach Montgomery said “(all of the games) are equally important”, but he added, “Johnson in the battle of Oakwood and will always be the number one game in our communities.”

So what would make a successful season for the Spartans?

“Growth day by day as young men, athletes, community members, sons, and overall citizens. If we work hard and follow the plan wins will come, but success is measured in players coming back 4-5 years from now as productive citizens, husbands, and fathers and realizing what football as game does for you in life,” Montgomery said.

We couldn’t agree more.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Thomas County Central Yellow Jackets Football Preview

Posted on August 5, 2018 by admin

 

The Skinny

 

Coach Ashley Henderson takes over as head coach for the Thomas County Central Yellow Jackets this season. Henderson’s Valwood teams won 3 GISA state championships in his six seasons there. TCC is a program steeped in tradition. They’ve won five state titles and have only missed the playoffs once since 1991.

Going into the summer and fall, Coach Henderson knows one of the challenges and keys to success will be to “establish relationships and trust between players and new staff.”

TCC has traditionally been a run oriented offense. Last season the Jackets only threw for 325 total yards. Kalique Guyton returns for his sophomore year and looks to be the projected starter at QB for TCC.

We have good reason to believe that Coach Henderson may integrate the passing game into the mix this season; and if that is the case players such as TE Ben Wilhelm, and WRs Zendai Brooks and Dee Wyche could be in store for productive seasons.

Defensively, the Jackets will look to make improvements from 2017 as the team surrendered an average of 32 points per game. Jaylen Dunbar is poised to be one of the leaders for the unit.  AJ Stephenson is also set to step up for the Jackets at the corner back position.

We asked Coach Henderson what game if any is circled on the calendar, he said the first game against Early County.

What does a successful season look like for Coach Henderson?

“Check back in 20 years and lets see what kind of citizens the players are,”  he said.

There is little doubt that not only is Henderson preparing his players for this season, but also trying to prepare them for success in life. We look forward to seeing the new look Yellow Jackets in 2018 and beyond.

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Montgomery County Football Preview

Posted on August 4, 2018 by admin

**Our podcast interview with Coach Bowen will be released on Monday, August 6th. Stay Tuned as Coach Bowen takes a deeper dive into the Eagles upcoming season.** 

 

The Skinny

Last season, Coach John Bowen led the Montgomery County Eagles to their first playoff appearance in 14 years and their highest win total in 28 years. Coach Bowen talked to us about some of the challenges this year’s Eagles will face.

“In a small school, depth is always a concern and this year at MCHS will be a classic example of this” he said, “The Eagles will have to find ways to rotate players enough to create some depth along the OL and offensive backfield. The Eagles must also break in a new QB to take over from the graduation of the school’s all time passing leader, Kris Daniels.”

While the team does lose Daniels at quarterback, there is some talent at the other skill positions. DaQuan Jackson and Randy Shomake return for the Eagles at running back. Each will look to break out of the shadow of graduated senior Clayton Harvey. Jackson was also second on the team in receiving yards last season. Matt Seward will look to fill the void left by the graduation of Shaw Robinson. Kam Wideman (Second team All-Region) and Blain Craft will lead the offensive line again this season.

 

 

 Defensively Shomake and Jackson return at linebacker and safety respectively. Both were First Team All-Region selections last season on defense. Upfront Ty Roundtree and First Team All-Defensive selection, Jaheim Wilson will anchor the line.

We asked Coach Bowen if there were any games circled on the schedule this season.

“Treutlen, as always due to the rivalry,” he said, “Other than that, Week 1 vs. Atkinson County is huge because the Eagles will need to get off to a fast start if they hope to try and repeat the success of the 2017 season.”

So what is one of the ways success will be defined by the Eagles in 2018?

“Competing night in and night out and handling adversity while developing some leadership,” Bowen said.

 

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Marion County Eagles Football Preview

Posted on August 4, 2018 by admin

 

The Skinny

 

The Marion County Eagles have qualified for post-season play in nine consecutive seasons. Coach Chris Kirksey is in his third season at Marion County and looks to continue the success that the Eagles have enjoyed. Coach Kirksey describes the biggest challenge that he and his staff faces coming into the new season.

“Always to develop as much depth as possible as the season goes,” Kirksey said.

The Eagles offense will certainly revolve around two of their leading skill position players, Trice McCannon and Travon Matthews.  Matthews was a 2017 All-State Honorable Mention selection at running back. He rushed for over 1,500 yeards and 25 TDs. McCannon is another playmaker for the Eagles that can line up at WR, QB or in the backfield. McCannon was second on the team in rushing with almost 800 rushing yards and 6 TDs.

Last year’s starting QB transferred to Northside Columbus over the off-season, so the Eagles will be looking for a new starter in 2018.

 

 

Junior Garrett Sheffield appears to be the heir apparent. Sheffield saw limited action in 2017. Senior Josh Rogers, a Second Team All-Region selection at receiver, will be another tool that the Eagles offense can use while the new starting QB gets settled in to the position.

Defensively, the Eagles will look to a pair of junior linebackers for leadership this season. Both Kendrick Hawkins (52 total tackles) and Dayterious Chinn (81 total tackles) were in the top 6 on the team in tackles last season.

The Eagles also return First Team All-State Punter, Kevin Umanzer.

We asked Coach Kirksey if there were any games that were circled on the calender for his team.

He said, “Game 1 vs. Schley County”.

We asked Coach Kirksey how his team would define success this season.

Kirksey said, “(winning a) Region Title and a deep run in the playoffs.”

 

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Trion Bulldogs Football Preview

Posted on August 4, 2018 by admin

 

The Skinny

 

The Trion Bulldogs tend to find themselves in the post-season more often than not, especially over the last  29 years, in which the team has only missed post-season play 6 seasons. But like the stock market or most investments, past results are not always indicative of future performance.

“Finding depth and game experience,” is how Coach Brown described one of the teams biggest challenges.

To Coach Brown’s point, the Bulldog’s graduated the Region 6 defensive player of the year as well as 8 first team all region players.

Hagan Willingham will be a weapon for the Bulldogs. The shifty back has shown the ability to make defenders miss in traffic and also has breakaway speed. Willingham, who also plays defensive back for Trion was a 2ndteam All-Region selection. Brett Brown, a 2017 Region 6 Honorable Mention selection, will look to provide additional production for the Bulldogs on offense at receiver.

 

 

Defensively,  Second Team All-Region line-backer, Braden Johnson will hope to duplicate his success from last season. Johnson is a sure tackler and should be a leader on defense. Clay Baker will join Johnson on defense. Baker himself, was a 2ndteam All-Region selection last season as a sophomore.

Trion also sports two two-way linemen in Jake Hayes and Tucker McCoy. Both Hayes and McCoy were All-Region Honorable Mention selections in 2017.

“(A) winning record and making the playoffs,”  is one of the way Coach Brown will define success this season.

That’s certainly something Bulldog fans have become accustomed to. While all games are important, you can bet the Bulldogs will be looking forward to their 84thmatchup with rival, Gordon-Lee on September 21st. We should see well before then if the Bulldogs are able to find depth and gain that, oh so important game experience.

 

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Towns County Football Preview

Posted on August 4, 2018 by admin

 

The Skinny

 

Last season, Coach John Cornett led the Towns County Indians to the their first playoff appearance in school history. If the Indians hope to duplicate their success, they will have to overcome the loss of 12 seniors.

“(These were some of) our better athletes,” said Cornett.

While the Indians will certainly be looking for their younger players to step up, they do return quarterback Trent Bradshaw this season. Bradshaw was a Region 8 Honorable Mention selection. Joining Bradshaw in the backfield will be Alan Gillis. Gillis also took some snaps at QB last season. The Indians also return two All-Region Honorable Mention lineman in Danny Reagan and Jake Parker

 

 

Shane Sparks and Hunter Frisk will lead the defense this season. Frisk was an All-Region Honorable Mention selection at the tight-end position last year. The aforementioned Gillis will also help bolster the Indians secondary from the safety position.

While coach Cornett did not lead on to the definition of success for this season, we have to imagine it will be improvement from his Indians day by day.  And you can bet Towns County isn’t taking anyone for granted this season. We asked which game is circled on the calendar this season.

Cornett simply responded “(the) first game”.

 

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