Pepperell Dragons Football Preview

Posted on August 1, 2018 by admin

 

The Skinny

 

Last season, Head Coach Rick Hurst guided the Pepperell Dragons back into the post season for the 3rdconsecutive time. The Dragons, are a perennial playoff team. So while expectations probably remain high; Coach Hurst has a new set of challenges this season. We asked him about some of those challenges.

“Replacing an excellent group of players that were not only leaders on the field, but a group of young men that loved the game. Last years class loved to practice. They worked to be better each day,” Hurst said.

Graduation struck Pepperell hard as they lose 9 seniors that were the First Team All-Region selections.

Among those lost to graduation were All-Region offensive player of the year and All-State Honorable Mention QB Trevor Thomas and All-Region First Team selection Tae Hammond. Camron Miles is slated to be the heir apparent for the Dragons in the backfield. Miles was a Second Team All-Region selection for Coach Hurst and the Dragons. Miles is a two-way player who currently holds an offer from the Air Force Academy.

 

 

Defensively, Coach Hurst will depend on linebacker Jack Bennett to provide leadership for the Dragons. Bennett was a Second Team All-Region selection a year ago and he looks to build upon that resume in 2018.

When we asked if there were any games that were circled on the calendar, Hurst said, “Every game on our schedule is important. We have to treat them all the same and never underestimate or overlook anyone if we are to make a return trip to the playoffs.”

We asked Coach Hurst how success will be defined for the Dragons.

He replied, “Our destiny this year depends on how well our seniors step forward and lead our team. “

We will certainly keep an eye on the Dragons to see if this year’s senior class can duplicate the leadership of the 2017 seniors.

 

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Jeff Davis Yellow Jackets Football Preview

Posted on August 1, 2018 by admin

The Skinny

        In his first season, Coach Lance Helton guided the Jeff Davis Yellow Jackets back to the post-season for the first time in 16 seasons. However, the 2018 season is among us and Coach Helton has a new set of challenges. We asked him about the biggest challenge he and his staff will face this season.

“Replacing a great senior class,” Helton Said.

The Yellow Jackets do return quarterback Britt Metts, (All-Region Honorable Mention) along with Second Team All-Region running back, Jashaun Kirby. Kirby was second on the team in rushing yards last season and looks to be the feature back for the Jackets in 2018.

 

 

 On defense, the Jackets will sport an impressive defensive line that includes Cody Ewing, a First Team All-Region selection last season and Roderick Lewis, a Second team All-Region selection as well. (Lewis and Ewing weigh in at 270 and 293 respectively.) Emanuel Rumph, who was also a Second Team All-Region selection, will be back in the secondary for the Jackets.

We asked Coach Helton if there were any games that were circled on the schedule.

“All region games,” he said.

After returning to the playoffs last season, we asked Coach Helton how success would be defined for the Jackets.

He replied, “The growth of our young men as individuals, and the growth of our team as a family.”

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Conversations With Coaches – Episode 8 – Coach Bob Sphire – Camden County Wildcats

Posted on August 1, 2018 by admin

Coach Bob Sphire enters his second season as the head coach down at Camden County. Coach Sphire is looking to wake the sleeping giant of southeast Georgia. (Camden County has been a perennial power over the past four decades. There are certainly some pieces to build around for Coach Sphire and his staff. But there are challenges as well, as Coach Sphire discusses in the interview. Tune in to listen to Coach Sphire’s thoughts on the upcoming 2018 season.

 

 

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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Hephzibah Rebels Football Preview

Posted on July 31, 2018 by admin

 

The Skinny

 

 The Hephzibah Rebels enter the 2018 season with some holes to fill on both sides of the football. Coach William Harrell is in his 3rd season at Hephzibah and is holding his Rebels to a high standard. Coach Harrell was honored as the Region Coach of the Year in 2017.  This year, the Rebels drop down two classifications, but there are still some  questions to be answered. We asked coach Harrell about some of the biggest challenges this season for the Rebels.

“(We are) starting a new QB; (and) replacing half of our defensive starters,” Coach Harrell said.

While the Rebels will be looking for a new quarterback, they do return their top running back, Rayquan Riley (1,028 yards 10 TDs). Riley was a First Team All-Region selection in 2017. Riley will have a familiar face leading the way as fellow First Team All-Region offensive lineman Corby McIntyre returns for his senior season. Expect the offensive line to get a boost from MacKenzie Woodruff. The Rebel’s also return E’Shawn Mayes, their leading wide receiver from a year ago.

 

 

The Rebels return First Team All-Region linebacker Gregg Williamson. Williamson was second on the team in tackles last season. KaShawn Morris will help shore up the defensive secondary.

While all region games are important. The October 20thgame versus Laney is a game the Rebels will be looking forward to.  Laney has dominated the series, but this season could be a turning point.

With regards to goals and success for this season, we go back to our ‘high standards’ comment we made earlier. Coach Harrell told us how his team would define success this season.

“Playoff berth and going past the 1st Round of the Playoffs,” said coach Harrell.

The Rebels will have some tough competition in region play with the likes of Jefferson County and Screven County. But they could have just enough talent to achieve those goals.

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B.T. Washington Bulldogs Preview

Posted on July 31, 2018 by admin

 

The Skinny

 

     The Washington Bulldogs enter 2018 with high expectations this season. Coach Avery is very complimentary of his senior class. Yet, the Bulldogs do have a very challenging schedule this season, including a trip to Brunswick to take on Glynn Academy as well as region foes Douglass and defending AA state champ, Hapeville Charter.

Coach Avery told us a little about his offense.

“We have 9 returning starters of offense anchored by the O Line,” he said.

Among those returning starters are linemen Rashad Graham and Devonte Carter. Graham was a First Team All-Region selection last season. Ronald Mason returns to lead the Washington receiving corps. Quarterback Adrien Williams will be one of the newcomers on offense. If Williams can get acclimated with the Washington offense, then the Bulldogs could be in for something special this season.

 

 

     The Bulldogs defense will be anchored by South Carolina signee Rodricus Fitten. The defensive end was a First Team All-Region selection in 2017. Joining Fitten on the line is 5’11” 260 pound tackle, Rondarius Howard. Jordan Atkins will lead the defensive secondary. Atkins was an Honorable Mention All-Region selection last season.

Coach Avery said that all of the region games are circled on the calendar. For a team, those are the most significant in terms of reaching post-season play. We asked Coach Avery how will the team define success this season.

“How this group seniors respond because they have what it takes to get us back in the playoffs, “ he said, “they have been working since January to get us back to the top”

We will certainly be watching the Washington Bulldogs to see what kind of noise they will make in Region 6.

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Chattooga Indians Football Preview

Posted on July 31, 2018 by admin

 

The Skinny

 

      Coach Charles Hammon enters his 5thseason as the head coach of the Chattooga Indians. Under his direction, the team has reached the post season in each season in Hammon’s tenure. But if the Indians are to reach the playoffs for a fifth straight season, they’ll nee to develop depth at each position. Coach Hammon said this will be one of the biggest challenges going into 2018.

Coach Hammon said, “Quality leadership among players,” will be key as well entering the  2018 season.

Senior Devin Price was the teams leading receiver in 2017 with 363 yards and 5 TDs. Price is a versatile playmaker that can also line up at quarterback and running back. He was second on the team in rushing with 451 yards. That was second only to rising sophomore EJ Lackey. In his freshman season, Lackey led the Indians with 653 yards rushing and 6 TDs. Senior Clayton Johnson returns at quarterback for the Indians. Last season he passed for 590 yards and 9 TDs.

 

 

  The Indians could also get additional production from rising freshman Shaun Lester.

Malachi Mack (LB/DE), Jackson Lowenberg (LB) and Luis Medina (DL) enter the season as leaders from last year’s defense . They should also get some help from the aforementioned Lester who is projected to play linebacker as well for Chattooga.

There are no particular games circled on the schedule, as the Indians are taking things one practice, one game at a time. We asked Coach Hammon what would a successful season look like.

“Extending our state playoff streak to 5 years and improving on last year’s record,” he said.

There are certainly a few playmakers on both sides of the ball that can make that happen for the Indians.

 

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Dodge County Indians Football Preview

Posted on July 31, 2018 by admin

 

 

The Skinny

 

      Coach Rex Hodges returns to Dodge County for his 8thseason. Last year, the Indians won their 2nd Region title under Hodges and achieved their 4thconsecutive second round appearance in the state tournament.

We asked Coach Hodges what will be one of the biggest challenges going into the 2018 season for he and his staff.

“Developing linebackers,” he said.

Offensively, the Indians welcome back RJ Carr, an All-State Honorable mention selection at running back. Carr   gained 1,498 yards and 16 TDs on the ground in 2017.  Running back Erin Pitts will also return for the Indians for his senior season. Pitts rushed for 731 yards and 10 TDs. Paving   the way for Carr and Pitts will be linemen Ty Belflower and Ty Wallace.

 

 

     Defensively, First Team All-State lineman Jadin Johnson is also back for his senior season. Vince Mann and Jamal Mahan also join Johnson on the defensive line. Cornerback Keyshawn Smokes is back patrolling the secondary. This group helped lead a defense that  held opponents to under 18 points per game.

Coach Hodges is certainly not looking ahead. We asked if any game was circled on the schedule and he responded “ Bradwell Institute.” (The first game of the season.)

When asked about how success will be defined for the Indians in 2018.

“We would like to show improvement each day,” said Hodges.

 

 

 

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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.

 

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 – 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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