Marist Ware Eagles Football Preview

Posted on August 4, 2018 by admin

 

The Skinny

Coach Alan Chadwick enters his 34thseason as the head coach at Marist. No active coach has more wins than Coach Chadwick (364), and under his leadership,  Marist has never missed post-season play. Yet as with all programs across the state, each season holds its own set of challenges. We asked Coach Chadwick what he thought might be the biggest challenge this upcoming season.

“Replacing our entire offensive backfield and line backers, “ Chadwick said.

It was a backfield that churned out over 1,100 yards through the air and over 1,400 yards on the ground during the regular season.  The War Eagles do return their second leading receiver from a year ago, Kyle Hamilton.  Hamilton is two-way player who was also a first team All-Region selection at his safety position. Two way player Matthew Houghton  (WR/DB) should be poised to step in for the War Eagles and help fill the void left from graduation.

Joining Hamilton and Houghton on defense will be  first team All-Region defensive end Dean Colton and Honorable Mention selection Ryan Mannelly (defensive end).  Mannelly lead Marist in sacks last season with five.

 

Adam Pozzobon also returns on the defensive line for the War Eagles. This should make for a formidable front four. Look for this group to lead the way while the next crop of Marist linebackers learn on the go.

While we know that Marist won’t be overlooking any opponents this season. Blessed Trinity is a game that should be circled on their calendar. Marist lost to their region foe in the Finals of the AAAA state title game last season.

Under Chadwick, Marist has been a model of consistency when it comes to post-season play as we mentioned earlier. So it should come as no surprise how Coach Chadwick responded when we asked about goals for this season.

“Going deep into the playoffs,” he said.

The War-Eagles are also very active in the community. We asked coach Chadwick to name some of the teams All-Stars off the field. He said, “there are too many to name.”

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Christian Heritage Football Preview

Posted on August 4, 2018 by admin

The Skinny

 

Coach Jay Poag begins his third season as head coach of the Christian Heritage Lions. The Lions are in their seventh season of play at the GHSA level. The Lions will face a challenging slate of games in 2018 including a 3 game stretch of regional foes Mt. Zion, Carroll, Darlington, and Trion. All of whom made the playoffs last season.

Christian Heritage returns quarterback Matthew Neff on offense. Last season, Neff threw for over 1,600 yards with 13 TDs.  Additionally, Zach Gentry returns at wide receiver for the Lions. Gentry led the team in rushing last season and was also second in receiving with 663 yards. Evan Lester is also projected to contribute at receiver for the Lions as well. Lester is a big target at 6’2” 205lbs.

 

 

Defensively, the Lions will be led by linebackers,  Duane Jones, Mitchell Herndon and Syd Reece.

We asked Coach Poag if there were any games that were circled on the calendar.

“All of them,” he said,

What will success look like for the Lions this season?

Paog explained, “Being competitive and putting ourselves in position to win games in 4th quarter.”

 

 

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Chattahoochee County Football Preview

Posted on August 4, 2018 by admin

 

The Skinny

 

Last season, the Chattahoochee County Panthers recorded the 3rdmost wins in their 13-year school history. Third year head coach Drew Fowler knows that this season will present a new set of challenges however.  Fowler was not shy when being asked about the biggest challenge of the season.

“Replacing a large, experienced senior class,” he said.  (It was a class of 24 seniors.)

Fortunately for the Panthers, they do return 3 players on the offensive line with meaningful experience. Kendrick Harvey, Richard Sims and Chris Robinson. The Cougars averaged 238 yards per game on the ground in 2017, and in order to repeat those stats, Harvey Sims and Robinson will need to duplicate the success of last season.

While the team losses their leading rusher Ty Lucas to graduation, they do return their second leading rusher, quarterback Deandre Masten (568 yards rushing) and Kyjuan Harris (367 yards rushing) this season. Senior fullback Josh Geleney is a player that is poised to step up as well in the backfield for the Panthers.

 

 

 Defensively, the team graduated their leading tackler, Malic Bonner but do return defensive end Jontavus Walker who recorded 23 tackles, (including 4.5 sacks) and defensive backs Devion Dotson (59 tackles) and Nakia Delaine (29 tackles.) Dotson and Delaine also combined for 3 interceptions in the secondary in 2017.

Coach Fowler will be guarding against complacency for his young Panthers.

Fowler said “(success will be defined) by not being content with the success of last season”.

While the region games are extremely important, you can believe the Panthers are looking forward to their match-up with rival, Marion County on August 24th. It will be intriguing to see if Chattahoochee County can fill those voids and pick up where they left off last season.

 

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Central (Talbotton) Football Preview

Posted on August 4, 2018 by admin

 

 

The Skinny

 

Coach Cedric Stegall begins his third season as the head coach for the Central High Hawks. Coach Stegall’s Hawks increased their win total and statistical categories from a year ago. This season the Hawks biggest challenge is perhaps creating depth on both offense and defense. Like many smaller schools across the state, the Hawks will feature several player that play both ways.

Treymore Walker returns as the starting quarterback for the Hawks Walker. Walker was a Second Team All-Region Selection who passed for 990 yards and 13 TDs. He was also second on the team in rushing. Sophomore Arkevious Leonard is projected to get the bulk of the work at running back. He was tied for first last season in yards per carry at 5.7. Martavis Barber will anchor the offensive line.

 

 

The aforementioned Barber will also anchor the defensive line as well. Barber garnered Second Team All-Region honors in 2017. He will be joined by returners Arkeviosu Leonard at defensive back and Kanin Searcy at linebacker.

We asked Coach Stegall if there was any game that was circled on the calendar. He said that Manchester was a big game. The Blue Devils have been the measuring stick for Region 4 over the last few years.

Coach Stegall told us that,” a winning season,” will be how the team defines success this year.

 

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Gordon Central Football Preview

Posted on August 3, 2018 by admin

The Skinny

Coach Cory Nix begins year two as he continues his rebuilding up in North Georgia for the Gordon Central Warriors. Last season, the Warriors had their best season in terms of wins since 2012. Gordon Central still has a tough road ahead. Their region includes some of the AA powers such as Chattooga, Pepperell and Rockmart. We asked Coach Nix what would be the teams biggest challenge they faced this season.

He said, “Making sure my team is one. Our motto for the season is We over Me.”

Coach Nix will be leaning on players such as Dawson Lackey, Alex Abat and Nelson Gravitt to lead the Warriors on offense.  Lackey was a First Team All-Region selection in 2017 for the Warriors. Alex Abat returns to the backfield as the teams most experienced returning back. He and Nelson Gravitt (QB) are projected to lead the team in the backfield.

Other players that could be poised to contribute for the Warriors this season are backs Peyton Parker, Isaiah Wilborn, JoJo McDaniels and Carlos Escobar.  The Warriors also return two First Team All-Region linemen in Abraham Reyes and Luis Castillo.

Reyes will also line up on the defensive line and should be an anchor there for the Warriors. Other contributors at linebacker could be Christian Davis and John Victor Rainwater.

 

We asked Coach Nix if what games if any, are circled on the schedule.

“As far as rivalry games our scrimmage game against Sonoraville is a big one because of location and it’s our county rivalry, but on the other hand it’s just a scrimmage,” he said.

“To be honest with you every game this year on our schedule is circled because we are out this year to earn respect each and every week. This is year two for me and the culture change that is taken place at GC. We are excited about everything we have done this off-season and all the talent that is returning. “

Speaking to that culture change Coach Nix mentioned when we asked about rivalry games; we asked Coach Nix what success would look like in year two.

“Of course as far as our society goes we are going to be judged on our wins and losses as a team, but I want to define our team success based on how we improved each week in all three phases of the game. Also I think our success will be based on if we left it all on the field each time we went out there on Friday Nights. Off the field our success will be determined by how we served others and how we did in the classroom,” he said.

 

 

 

 

 

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Thomasville Bulldogs Football Preview

Posted on August 3, 2018 by admin

 

The Skinny

 

 

The Thomasville Bulldogs are a team that is steeped in Georgia high school football tradition. The Bulldogs have won 5 state titles in their storied history. Last season, Coach Zach Grage led Thomasville on their deepest playoff run in seven years. Coach Grage knows he and his staff have a couple of new challenges this season.

He said, “Not being complacent after a good 2017 season, and finding a kicker,” are two of the biggest challenges going into the 2018 season.

While Coach Grage battles complacency and is shoring up the kicking game, the offense returns quite a bit of experience from last season. Starting up front, linemen Javonte McGriff, Larry Williams and Tevin Rayford return. Last season, they helped pave the way for 191.6 yards per game average on the ground.

Tan Gelin looks to be the primary beneficiary of that returning offensive line. Gelin was second on the team in rushing in 2017 with 771 yards and 12 TDs. Meanwhile, Junior Kevin Cochran was electrifying last season. He led the team in receiving yards (879) and receiving touchdowns (8),  and garnered Second Team All-State honors.

Jay Tillman is the heir apparent at quarterback for the Bulldogs. However, whoever wins the job will have some big shoes to fill as Thomasville passed for over 2,800 yards last season as a team.

 

 

 

 

Other weapons on offense for Thomasville include running back Ma’lek Miller and receivers Sammy Morrow, Trey Florence and KD Johnson.

The Bulldog defense will be paced by First Team All-State selection Karey Lee at defensive back and All-State Honorable Mention Marc Davis on the defensive line.  Davis led the team in tackles while Lee picked off eight passes last season.

Chris Monroe joins Davis as an experienced lineman and Sedrick Robinson and Jeremiah Powell look to lead the linebackers. Jashawun Thornton (linebacker) and Payten Singletary (DL) are also projected to have an impact for Thomasville on defense.

It comes as no surprise that two of the biggest games on the schedule are longstanding rival Thomas County Central and region rival, Brooks County.

The goals are big for the Bulldogs. We asked Coach Grage how success would be defined this season.

He responded by saying, “Winning a state title.”

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Conversations with Coaches – Episode 10 – Chad Phillips – Starr’s Mill Panthers

Posted on August 3, 2018 by admin

The Starr’s Mill Panthers advanced to the 3rd round of the State Playoffs last season before falling to eventual State Champion, Rome. Coach Phillips had a veteran team last season. So it’s no surprise that Coach Phillips said, “Replacing all the veteran skill players from a 2 time region champion team,” is one of the biggest challenges for the Panthers this season. Coach Phillips talks to us about the upcoming season and how the Panthers are preparing for this season not only on the field but also in the community. You can listen here for the full interview:

 

 

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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Conversations with Coaches – Joe Scott – Landmark Christian

Posted on August 2, 2018 by admin

Joe Scott takes over as head coach of the Landmark Christian War Eagles. Coach Scott is excited about the upcoming season and talks a little about his journey to Landmark Christian, his players, and his expectations. Coach Scott also tells us how the War Eagles are involved off the football field as well, in and around the community. And of course, Coach Scott clues me in on some of the best places to get a pre-game meal down in Fairburn. Tune in and find out all of the details.

 

 

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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Swainsboro Tigers Football Preview

Posted on August 1, 2018 by admin

 

The Skinny

 

Coach Scott Roberts and the Swainsboro Tigers are looking to build on the success of last season. Swainsboro narrowly missed the playoffs in 2017 after falling to Jeff Davis in the Region mini-playoff game that settled a three-way tie for fourth place. Coach Roberts painted a good picture about expectations within the program.

“This is a program that has a lot of history and tradition but has struggled for the last several years,” he said. “We’ve got to understand the standard and expectations here and start living up to it.”

We asked Coach Roberts about the schedule and whether any game was more important than another.

Roberts said, “They all are (important). We started out quickly last year and faded off at the end. All of the teams on our schedule are good and we have to find a way to be more consistent.”

 The Tigers will be without their leading rusher from last season, Jalyn Williams. And will more than likely see new players at the skill positions on offense. KeSean Easterling (All-Region Honorable Mention) is one of the returners on the offensive line that the Tigers should be able to rely on.

Defensively, the Tigers return a few more players with experience. Players to watch on defense should be Armanie Sims, a Second Team All-Region selection, line backers RJ Phillips and Kennan Williams, as well as Second Team All-Region DB KJ Starnes.

The Tigers will have four weeks to get tuned up for region play. Coach Roberts has high expectations each year. We will keep an eye on the Tigers to see how they progress week-to-week.

 

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Putnam County War Eagles Football Preview

Posted on August 1, 2018 by admin

 

The Skinny

 

Coach Shaun Pope takes over as head coach for the Putnam County War Eagles. Putnam County narrowly missed the payoffs last season, losing in a mini play-in game to a Monticello team they had beaten earlier in the season. We asked Coach Pope about the biggest challenge for the 2018 season.

“Getting our young men to believe in themselves and their teammates,” he said.

It does appear that the War Eagles will have some experience returning on both sides of the ball. On the offensive line, Camden Mathis (First Team All-Region) Atticus Maddox, and Roduel Humphries will look to pave the way for running back Zack Waller. Waller could be poised for a big season for the War Eagles.

 

 

Putnam County returns two experienced lindebackers in Kevarious Brownlow and Marquez Maddox. Brownlow was a Second Team All-Region selection. Jaheim Smith will be called upon to provide leadership on the defensive line for Coach Pope.

We asked Coach Pope about the most important game on the schedule.

He said, “North Oconee because it’s the next one.”

While outsiders may measure success by wins and losses, Coach Pope had a different measure of success.

“If we compete to the very best of our ability on every play in every game,” he said.

 

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