THE ALL-SCORE TEAM: DEFENSE KR/PR – Greg Reid, Sr., Lowndes

BY JAMES BUTLER
he 2008 high-school football season has finally kicked off in Georgia, but the action
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off the field has been non-stop since the end of last season. Nearly 100 schools hired
a new coach this past offseason, and some of the state’s biggest names in coaching have
decided to move to another school or walk away from the game. After compiling 219 wins in 24 seasons at McEachern (236 wins in 27 seasons overall),
Jimmy Dorsey decided to retire from coaching (but remains the school’s athletic director), while Ed Pilcher left Thomas County Central and the five state
championships he won there to become the new head coach of Bainbridge.
The sidelines of Coweta Field will not look the same this season because,
for the first time since 1989, Danny Cronic will not be roaming them. The 29year veteran of coaching high-school football in Georgia decided to retire. Tim
McFarlin left Roswell after winning 32 games over the last three seasons, including a share of the state title in 2006, and having never had a losing season in his 10
years as head coach. Also stepping away is Jimmy Chupp from Greater Atlanta
Christian; in nine seasons at GAC, he averaged nearly 10 wins per season and reached
the state championship game once.
Class 4A state runner-up Ware County no longer has Dan Ragle at the helm of
its program, so it will be interesting to see how the Gators’ new head coach John
Stephens handles one of the state’s most talented teams. Stephens is no rookie—his first
head coaching job came back in 1969—but he has only six winning seasons in his 20plus years of coaching. He retired in 2001, but later came out of retirement to become
Ware County’s running-backs coach, and now finds himself as a head coach once more.
Some other interesting new coaches to follow are Jim Showfety, who takes over
CLASS 5A
1. Lowndes (Region 1)
2. Camden County (Region 3)
3. Northside-WR (Region 1)
4. North Gwinnett (Region 7)
5. Peachtree Ridge (Region 7)
6. Newnan (Region 4)
7. Norcross (Region 7)
8. Walton (Region 6)
9. Grayson (Region 8)
10. Valdosta (Region 1)
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
CLASS 4A
Ware County (Region 2)
Tucker (Region 6)
Thomas County Central (Region 1)
Chamblee (Region 6)
Rome (Region 7)
Bainbridge (Region 1)*
Whitewater (Region 5)
Northview after a successful one-year stint at Chamblee; Chip Lindsey, the former offensive coordinator at Hoover (Ala.) who brings his high-flying passing attack to Lassiter; and
Lindsey’s former boss at Hoover, Rush Propst, who takes over at Colquitt County.
STIFF COMPETITION …
Coaches were not the only facet of Georgia high-school football in transition –
teams were as well. If Class 5A’s Region 1 was a beast before, it is undoubtedly Godzilla
now that Northside-Warner Robins has joined the region. The two-time defending Class
4A champ—currently riding a 30-game win streak—will now participate in the
state’s largest classification and must compete with the likes of Valdosta,
Coffee, Tift County and reigning 5A champion Lowndes just to make the
playoffs. This is familiar territory for the War Eagles, however, as they
made a couple of appearances in the state semifinals when they formerly
competed against the big boys.
Class 5A’s Region 7 is one of the top regions in the state, as North
Fulton’s Chattahoochee and Northview join a region already populated by
North Gwinnett, Peachtree Ridge and Norcross. And Westminster fought many
battles as a former member of Class 3A, so a move down to 2A should be a
breeze, right? Well, not when their new Region 6 mates include the two teams
that played for last year’s 2A state title in Buford and Lovett.
Pictured left is Jim Showfety, courtesy of Chris Smith/Chamblee High School.
Cover photos of (clockwise from top) Prince Kent, Philip Lutzenkirchen and Joe Scott
are courtesy of Photographic Arts. Butler can be reached at [email protected].
8. Habersham Central (Region 8)
9. Griffin (Region 4)
10. Cedar Shoals (Region 8)
CLASS 3A
1. Carver-Columbus (Region 2)
2. Cairo (Region 1)*
3. LaGrange (Region 2)
4. Stephens County (Region 8)
5. Flowery Branch (Region 7)
6. Shaw (Region 2)
7. North Hall (Region 7)
8. Perry (Region 1)
9. St. Pius X (Region 5)
10. Carver-Atlanta (Region 5)
CLASS 2A
1. Buford (Region 6)
2. Dublin (Region 3)
3. Charlton County (Region 2)
4. Thomasville (Region 1)
5. Fitzgerald (Region 1)
6. Calhoun (Region 7)
7. Pepperell (Region 7)
8. Henry County (Region 4)
9. Greater Atlanta Christian (Region 6)
10. Lovett (Region 6)
CLASS A
1. Emanuel County Institute (Region 3)
2. Clinch County (Region 1)
3. Lincoln County (Region 7)
4. Brookstone (Region 4)
5. Athens Academy (Region 8)
6. Wilcox County (Region 2)
7. Bremen (Region 6)
8. Savannah Christian (Region 3)
9. Wesleyan (Region 8)
10. Darlington (Region 6)
*Results of Monday night’s Bainbridge–Cairo matchup were unavailable at press time.
THE ALL-SCORE TEAM: OFFENSE
QB – Zach Mettenberger, Sr., Oconee Co. – The Georgia commit has the arm strength and poise to be a
star on the next level. Will try to improve his team’s 4-7 record from ‘07.
RB – Washaun Ealey, Sr., ECI – Ealey is capable of eclipsing the numbers he put up during his 2007 campaign, when he broke the record for rushing touchdowns in a season (58).
RB – D.J. Adams, Sr., Norcross – More of a bruiser than a burner, Adams ran for an impressive 1,462
yards as a junior last season. Also caught two passes for touchdowns.
TE – Philip Lutzenkirchen, Sr., Lassiter – Caught 46 balls a year ago, and will be an important pass catcher
in new head coach Chip Lindsey’s spread offense.
WR – Jamal Patterson, Sr., Henry County – Patterson puts up huge numbers in the Warhawks’ passhappy offense. He has received more than 40 D-I scholarship offers.
RB D.J. Adams
WR – Stephen Hill, Sr., Miller Grove – At 6-5, Hill is a great athlete and has the physical advantage over any defensive back trying to
cover him. Is also a state-champion long jumper.
OL – Johnnie Farms, Sr., Perry – The 6-foot-3 offensive guard makes Perry a contender in Class 3A. Is deciding among offers
from a slew of SEC powerhouses.
OL – Chris Burnette, Sr., Troup County – Headed to Athens after his senior season, Burnette has outstanding quickness and athleticism. Also sports a 4.0 GPA.
OL – Andre Harris, Sr., Lovejoy – Absolutely huge at 6-4, 325 pounds, Harris is tremendously athletic and a vicious blocker. Committed to Auburn over the summer.
OL – Antonio Foster, Sr., Valdosta – Foster has the versatility to play tackle or guard for the
Wildcats. Good at using leverage to fight off double and triple teams.
OL – Dallas Lee, Sr., Buford – Another future Bulldog, Lee is a two-way lineman for the Wolves.
Has great strength and the athleticism to get downfield as a run blocker.
THE ALL-SCORE TEAM:
SPECIAL TEAMS
OL Dallas Lee
K – David Clark, Sr., Warner Robins – A good overall athlete, Clark has great range and accuracy for the Demons.
P – Chris Ward, Sr., Starr’s Mill – Averaged just under 42
yards per punt and gets excellent hangtime. (continued on next page)
THE ALL-SCORE TEAM: DEFENSE
DE – Emanuel Dieke, Sr., North Clayton – A rangy defender with long arms, Dieke uses his 6-7
frame to fight off blockers and wreak havoc. Committed to Georgia Tech.
DE – Abry Jones, Sr., Northside-Warner Robins – The 6-4, 250-pound Jones is explosive and difficult to block. UGA fans can look forward to watching him grow into a tackle in college.
DT – Jonathan Martin, Sr., Carver-Columbus – At 6-5, 330, Martin is a space-eater on a stellar Tiger
defense. Paired with LB Jarvis Jones, he gives Carver a ferocious front seven.
DT – J.C. Lanier, Sr., ECI – A massive run-stuffer in the middle, Lanier also helps pave the way for
Washaun Ealey as an offensive lineman. Committed to Georgia Tech.
LB – Kevin Minter, Sr., Peachtree Ridge – A hard-hitting middle linebacker with excellent speed,
Minter registered 137 tackles last year. Will play for Les Miles at LSU next year.
LB – Jarvis Jones, Sr., Carver-Columbus – A great combination of smarts, instincts and raw athletic
ability, Georgia’s top-rated player will try to lead his team to a championship repeat.
LB Kevin Minter
LB – Jonathan Davis, Sr., Tucker – Perhaps the best two-way player in the state (he’s also a running back), the undersized Davis racked up
198 tackles last year as a junior.
CB – Branden Smith, Sr., Washington – Last year, this speedster ran the fifth fastest time in Georgia high-school history in the 100 meters
(10.5). Is also a receiver and return man for the Bulldogs.
CB – Prince Kent, Sr., Norcross – The Miami commit is big (6-3, 195) but has excellent speed for his size. Kent racks up the tackles on
defense, but is also a talented receiver.
S – Darren Myles, Sr., Carver-Atlanta – A smart player (his father is Carver’s head coach) and sure
tackler, Myles is the leader in one of the best secondaries in the state.
S – Gerald Demps, Sr., Lowndes – This Florida State-bound player teams with Greg Reid in the
defensive backfield to make one fearsome secondary. A great cover man from the safety spot.
KR/PR – Greg Reid, Sr., Lowndes – Not just a return guy, Reid
also is a kick-blocking terror, stuffing a PAT in the championship
game. Two of his ST touchdowns last year came on a 99-yard
kickoff return and a 63-yard punt return.
KR/PR Greg Reid
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he always-present feeling of hope: “There’s always next year,” cries the disillusioned
fan. That sentiment—that this may not be your year, but the next one could be—is precisely what makes being a sports fan special. Take, for example, the situation over at
Carver-Columbus.
Before Dell McGee was introduced as the head football coach at Carver in 2005, the
school had only made it past the first round of the playoffs once, and in McGee’s first year
the Tigers sputtered to a 3-7 mark. All the while, though, Carver fans knew that one of these
years would be their year.
In 2006, McGee reinforced that hope, out of nowhere turning things around and
leading Carver to an impressive 12-2 record before falling at the Georgia Dome in the state
semifinals. Then in 2007, the incredible turnaround was finally complete, as the
Tigers put together a perfect 15-0 season on their way to winning the state championship. While such drastic improvements are what keep struggling fans hanging around, those types of things don’t just happen.
“We emphasize the weight room a whole lot,” McGee explains. “I’m not
speaking bad about the previous coach, but that was not a great emphasis of his. To compete in Georgia you’ve got to make sure you have a
great foundation in the weight room and a great work ethic in the
weight room as well. I think that’s been the biggest change that has
happened thus far.”
DYNAMIC BUT HUMBLE …
While there is no doubt that McGee and his staff have
introduced a winning culture to Carver, there is no such
thing as winning without talent. McGee has a truly special
kind of talent at his disposal in the form of all-world senior linebacker Jarvis Jones. According to Rivals.com, the freakish athlete is
worthy of both a four-star rating and the 39th spot in their top-100 rankings. At 6-foot-3, 226 pounds, Jones is a physical specimen and an absolute
terror on the football field. But it is his off-the-field demeanor that most
impresses the head ball coach.
“He’s a very humble and quiet kid,” says McGee. “He’s taken all
this exposure and coverage, and he hasn’t gotten a big head. He’s not
very cocky or arrogant because he’s getting all this attention. For him to
stay humble and even-keeled is a tribute to his character and what his parents have instilled in him.”
And while college coaches are breaking down doors just for the chance
to land an athlete like Jones, he himself is quick to defer credit to those
BY SCOTT JANOVITZ
around him. While talking about his team’s championship run last fall, Jones was quick
to praise his teammates.
“We just had some great players on our team and Coach did a great job of coaching us up,” Jones said. “Everybody was on the same page and wanted to win. Every week,
no matter who we played, we had to fight, and that’s how we practiced.”
When asked what he would take away from his high-school career under McGee,
Jones cited this simple mantra: “Hard work, dedication and discipline.” It is precisely that
type of levelheaded wisdom, combined with his unique physical skills, that makes Jarvis
Jones a can’t-miss prospect. And college coaches couldn’t agree more.
THE CHASE …
You don’t become the top-rated football player in the State of Georgia, as Jarvis
Jones has, without gaining the attention of college coaches across America. And
with offers from virtually every big-time program in the land, including
Georgia, Auburn, Florida, Florida State, LSU, Miami, Southern California and
Texas, Jones has certainly caught the eye of a few.
Though he has the luxury of choosing from them all, Jones has cut his
list down to seven schools: Clemson, Georgia, Florida, Texas, LSU,
Southern California and Miami. With schools of such prestige filling
out his list, one would assume even a player like Jones will need some
time to adjust to the increased speed and talent at the collegiate level.
However, the man who gets to witness Jones’s skills most frequently would disagree.
“I can see him going in his first year and starting wherever
he decides to go to school,” McGee said. “It’s hard to start, especially in the SEC and at some of the other schools recruiting him,
but I think he is that talented and definitely has the physical attributes to do it.”
Of course, don’t expect the down-to-earth Carver linebacker to praise
himself as highly as most others do. “I want to get faster and stronger because
college athletes are much faster than in high school,” Jones says. “Wherever
they put me, I will just give it my all. I expect to play linebacker, but will line
up wherever the team needs me.”
Jones says he will choose his college destination based on, among other
things, quality of coaching. No matter where he goes, though his ego may
never grow, his skills and performance on the gridiron most certainly will.
Jarvis Jones: the humble, can’t-miss prospect.
Janovitz can be reached at [email protected].
Top Games Against Out-of-State Opponents
5 . C h a r l t o n C o u n t y v s . F i r s t C o a s t ( J a c k s o n v i l l e , F l a . ) ( S e p t . 5 – C a m d e n C o u n t y ) – Like Buford,
Charlton is another 2A school that is challenging itself with talented out-of-staters.
4 . C a m d e n C o u n t y ( p i c t u r e d r i g h t ) a t H o o v e r ( H o o v e r , A l a . ) ( S e p t . 1 2 ) – It will be a new-look Hoover team this
year, as former head coach Rush Propst is now at Colquitt County, but there is still talent at the Alabama powerhouse.
3 . B u f o r d a t M a n s f i e l d T i m b e r v i e w ( A r l i n g t o n , T e x . ) ( A u g . 3 0 ) – The Wolves laid the wood to a good
Class 5A Ohio team at last year’s Herbstreit Invitational, and will try to take out Mansfield, a team stocked with
college prospects, at this year’s Herbstreit showcase.
2 . N o r t h s i d e - W a r n e r R o b i n s v s . W a s h i n g t o n ( M i a m i , F l a . ) ( S e p t . 5 ) – The Eagles get the traditional
south-Florida power at home … This matchup is speed, speed, speed.
1 . N o r t h G w i n n e t t v s . B y r n e s ( D u n c a n , S . C . ) ( A u g . 2 9 ) – North takes on the reigning 5A champs in
South Carolina, who are ranked in the top 10 in just about every preseason national poll.
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Top Region Games
R o m e v s . D a l t o n ( O c t . 2 4 ) – The two best squads in a subdivided Region 7-AAAA will fight for the ‘A’ division title.
C h a m b l e e v s . T u c k e r ( O c t . 1 7 – A d a m s S t a d i u m ) – Talented Region 6-AAAA rivals are both preseason top-five teams in Class 4A.
L a G r a n g e v s . C a r v e r - C o l u m b u s ( O c t . 3 0 ) – Second to last game of the season could determine Region 2-AAA title.
N o r t h G w i n n e t t v s . N o r c r o s s ( S e p t . 1 9 ) – Norcross has won Region 7-AAAAA the last two years despite North’s postseason success.
L o w n d e s v s . N o r t h s i d e - W a r n e r R o b i n s ( O c t . 3 ) – Lowndes gets home-field advantage for what should be the game of the year in Region 1-AAAAA.
Top Rivalry Games
5 . S a v a n n a h v s . B e n e d i c t i n e ( S e p t . 5 ) – The state’s oldest rivalry dating back to 1902, these teams will
finally meet again for the first time since 2003.
4 . P a r k v i e w v s . B r o o k w o o d ( p i c t u r e d r i g h t ) ( N o v . 7 ) – Brookwood has owned this one the last few years.
3 . T h o m a s C o u n t y C e n t r a l v s . B a i n b r i d g e ( N o v . 7 ) – TCC’s rivalry with Thomasville is legendary, but head
coach Ed Pilcher’s offseason move from TCC to region rival Bainbridge means this one will be downright dirty.
2 . N o r t h s i d e - W a r n e r R o b i n s v s . W a r n e r R o b i n s ( O c t . 3 1 ) – Two programs with great histories, Northside
took the game last year in a rout.
1 . V a l d o s t a v s . L o w n d e s ( O c t . 1 0 ) – Lowndes is the reigning “Winnersville” champion, and will likely keep
that title this season.
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Top Nicknames
W a r r e n C o u n t y S c r e a m i n g D e v i l s – If the name wasn’t scary enough, the team plays in a stadium called Death Valley.
G l y n n A c a d e m y R e d T e r r o r s – Refers to a group of Scottish Highlanders who defended the coastal Georgia region from the Spanish.
C l a r k s t o n A n g o r a s – An angora is a type of long-haired goat that was typically kept by early residents of Clarkston.
J o h n s o n - S a v a n n a h A t o m S m a s h e r s – The basketball team plays in the “Reaction Chamber” and the football helmet features an atom.
C a i r o S y r u p m a k e r s – High-school athletic teams are named after the product that Cairo is most known for: syrup.
Best Stadiums
5 . C a n t r e l l S t a d i u m , M c E a c h e r n – The Indians are known for their top-notch facilities.
4 . M e m o r i a l S t a d i u m ( “ T h e S w a m p ” ) , W a r e C o u n t y – Located off campus, but game-day atmosphere is
among the best.
3 . M a r t i n S t a d i u m ( p i c t u r e d r i g h t ) , L o w n d e s – Nicknamed “The Concrete Palace,” it’s a rare occasion that
this behemoth stadium accommodates less than 10,000 fans on a Friday night.
2 . G r a d y S t a d i u m , G r a d y – Unique architecture and proximity to beautiful Piedmont Park are the trademarks
of this facility.
1 . B a z e m o r e - H y d e r S t a d i u m , V a l d o s t a – Originally built in 1922, the facility has undergone lots of changes
but has seen more wins than any other stadium in the state.
the new faces, new places, and new challenges that lie ahead for them this year.
tory. Losing great talents like quarterback DeRon Furr and wide receiver Jarmon Fortson, two
players that were so instrumental in the Tigers’ playoff success, will not make things easier.
One player that makes Carver fearsome is senior linebacker Jarvis Jones. He had
144 tackles, four sacks, two interceptions and five forced fumbles for the Tigers last year.
He is also rated by many sources as the No. 1 player in the state and is being heavily recruited by many top schools. The defense will also be headlined by defensive tackle Jonathan
Martin and DeRon’s brother, linebacker LeRon Furr.
The Tigers get a chance to ease into their schedule with Spencer and Tri-Cities in
the first two weeks. In the third week, however, Carver will face two-time defending state
champion from Class 4A, Northside-Warner Robins. Though not a region contest, this game
will be a good test to see where the team stands. The rest of their schedule includes tough
region games against Shaw and LaGrange. If they can get past the regular season unscathed,
they will have a good shot at repeating.
By Joe Deighton, who can be reached at [email protected].
Class 5A: Lowndes Vikings
Class 2A: Buford Wolves
CHECKING IN WITH
THE CHAMPS
epeating as state champion in any classification in the State of Georgia is a tall order,
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but the five winners from last year hope they have what it takes to bring home another
title in 2008. We recently took some time to catch up with the reigning champs to talk about
In his six years at the helm of the Lowndes Vikings football program, coach Randy
McPherson has brought four region championships and three state titles to the Valdostabased powerhouse. The newly touted “Titletown” and good ol’ “Winnersville” will be well
represented by the 2008 Vikings, who serve as reigning Class 5A state champs and are riding a 14-game winning.
Last year’s state champs in Class 4A, Northside-Warner Robins, move up a classification to make a tougher road to the Region 1 title for Lowndes, but the Vikings are
more than capable of equaling their 14-1 record of last year.
There are 14 returning starters, led by Florida commit Greg Reid and Florida State
commit Gerald Demps. Both players feature in a secondary that is as good as any in the state.
The quarterback duties are in the hands of Khary Franklin, who played in every game last
season. The aforementioned Reid will provide the same electricity he provided on his tonesetting 91-yard jaunt in last year’s title game vs. North Gwinnett.
October will provide the champs with a titanic pair of key games this season. The
huge game hosting Northside (Oct. 3) and the “Winnersville Classic” vs. Valdosta (Oct.
10) will go a long way in deciding the region champion. Ranked nationally in many preseason polls, Lowndes will have to stay focused during a grueling schedule in order to
keep a top nationwide ranking.
By Corey Mitchell, who can be reached at [email protected].
Class 4A: Northside-Warner Robins Eagles
Nine months after the state championship game, and Northside-Warner Robins is
still sitting on cloud nine. Out of the current five football state champions, they are the only
team to have won back-to-back titles, and have lost only one game in the last three seasons.
So what’s next for the Eagles? They are going to face new challenges this year by
moving back up to Class 5A. But that’s only half the fun – they’re in Region 1, where they
will face the likes of Lowndes, Valdosta and cross-town rival Warner Robins.
“We are familiar with those teams since we have been customarily 5A through the
years,” said head coach Conrad Nix. “It’s going to be a challenge but it’s going to be exciting.”
In 2004, the Eagles moved down a class after being in 5A since its inception in
2000. During those four years in 4A they compiled a record of 54-3 with two state titles.
Now that they are back in the state’s highest classification, they are going to try to maintain their winning ways without quarterback Marques Ivory, running back Tijuan Green
and receiver Nick Bass. However, defensive end Abry Jones and linebacker Eric Fields
will be back and will try to lead the Eagles to another title.
“Abry has had a really good summer, and Eric has had a good summer,” Nix said.
“They are two good players, but we have other good players as well.”
Nix will need everybody on the roster to do his part if the Eagles want to win
their third consecutive title.
By Brian Jones, who can be reached at [email protected].
Class 3A: Carver-Columbus Tigers
The Carver-Columbus Tigers have a tough task in 2008 to repeat as state champions. The 2007 title season, in which the team went a perfect 15-0, was the first in school his-
For the Buford Wolves, the biggest question is whether or not they can tread water
early as they look to replace all but one starter on the offensive front.
On paper, what the Wolves lack in experience up front, they more than make up for
in size and beef. Each side of the offensive line is bookended with tackles approaching 300
pounds in Dallas Lee and Duvon Milsap. But the real surprise in the eyes of the coaches during summer workouts has been Kolton Houston. This 6-foot-5 junior and the rest of his linemates will look to use the beginning of the season to jell and build continuity in the trenches.
Making the plays offensively, and possibly defensively, for the Wolves will be
junior Daunte Carr. Carr is a 6-3 junior who will get lots of time at wide receiver and will
even double as a free safety. Joining him deep in the secondary could be Jeffrey Gazaway,
a senior who really surprised his coaches during the summer when he stepped into a newly
opened starting position in the secondary.
Head coach Jess Simpson. Simpson knows what it takes to repeat as state champions, as he was an assistant under Dexter Wood when the school won three consecutive
titles from 2001-03. He and the rest of the coaching staff are guarding against complacency, but Simpson doesn’t see it as a problem. “I just haven’t sensed that our kids are satisfied,” he said, “and honestly, most of these kids have been waiting in the wings for their
chance to play and prove themselves.”
So while the Wolves players and coaches may see this as a new year and a new
team, the results may seem all too familiar for Buford opponents.
By Jason Boral, who can be reached at [email protected].
Class A: Emanuel County Institute Bulldogs
After a dazzling 2007 state-championship season, the ECI Bulldogs will be hardpressed to find ways in which they can improve on their last campaign. The 2007 team went
15-0 and won every game except one (Toombs County) by at least 16 points. The juggernaut
from southeast Georgia rambled through the state playoffs, scoring at least 34 points per
game and winning their five playoff games by an average of almost 24 points per game.
Head coach Milan Turner knows his team will be the hunted rather than the
hunter this year. “With the bull’s eye on our chest, we’re going to get everyone’s best
game,” Turner said. “Our goal is to win championships, but a lot factors into that. We’re
definitely going to have to get better every day in order to [repeat].”
The Bulldogs will play in a revamped Region 3-A this season as a member of the
3B subregion. The new region includes three programs that ECI did not see last year –
Savannah Christian (Class 2A in 2007), Wheeler County and Montgomery County.
However, last year’s toughest opponent, Toombs County, is not on the schedule.
The daunting task of approaching last year’s success will be aided by the
return of several key players. Superstar running back and UGA commitment Washaun
Ealey returns to try to equal his state-record 58 touchdown runs. On defense, the
Bulldogs feature Georgia Tech commitment J.C. Lanier at defensive tackle, UGA commitment Dexter Moody at defensive end and 2007 Region 3-A Defensive Player of the
Year Mark Flott at cornerback.
By Stephen Black, who can be reached at [email protected].
A New Era at Roswell:
Barker will keep
Hornets buzzing
everal decades ago, Bill Yoast (best known as the assistant to Herman Boone at T.C. Williams
High, which was depicted in the film “Remember the Titans”), arrived in Roswell, Ga., to make
Roswell High one of the most successful programs in the state. Fast-forward to today: RHS has a
new sheriff in town to uphold the unwritten law that states that Roswell High is an elite program.
His name is Leo Barker, and if you've never heard of him, you will. Barker has been coaching in
the north-metro area for years, but this past April he was appointed the 10th man to serve as head
coach of Roswell.
Originally from Panama, Barker earned a scholarship to attend New Mexico State without ever
having set foot on U.S. soil. From there, he was drafted in 1983 by the Cincinnati Bengals, where he
remained until his retirement in 1991. Barker brings many years of experience on the highest level to
a young Roswell team that lost many starters last year.
He, like many other great coaches, believes in taking care of the small details to facilitate
the win.
“I believe if they don’t score, they can’t win,” says Barker, and that statement perfectly sums
up his defensive mentality. We all know the mantra that defense wins championships, and that is
just what is expected at a program like Roswell.
On the offensive side of the ball, Roswell benefits from having great depth at the receiver
position. Mix that with a strong offensive line, and they should have no problem getting the ball
down the field this year. Barker will focus more on the defensive side of the ball during the game,
but he has made it known that they will be running at their opponents hard, fast, and often.
Barker feels honored to be in a position that carries so much prestige. He is only the 10th
man to be named head coach in Roswell’s long history of football. The men before him took the
program to the elite level and Barker fully intends on keeping it there. “The community is totally
behind this football team, totally behind this school,” Barker said.
Barker understands that at the high-school level, making a better individual player is far
more important than winning championships. He has great faith in his coaching staff that they will
all be able to successfully work together to build a better team.
Though Barker is very serious about making his kids work hard to become stronger and
faster, he knows that his athletes are students first.
“If [the players] can’t behave in a classroom and do what the teachers ask them to do, it’s
kind of hard for me to ask them to do something on the field,” Barker says. He believes that they
must carry themselves well off the field in order to be a good teammate because, as he says, “that’s
what you’re supposed to do.”
Despite the success that Roswell has had recently, the Hornets will be without many of their
top players from a year ago. Graduation hit Roswell hard, and the schedule is unforgiving early.
“In a perfect world you don’t have to open up your first football game as a head coach way
down in Tift County,” Barker said, referring to the Region 1 power that his team has to play on
Friday. Another intriguing game on the schedule will take place on Oct. 31 when Barker faces a
team he used to coach for: Walton.
Barker does not believe in talking about winning championships, he believes in talking
about working hard and getting better. It seems that even if Roswell’s players don’t go all the way
this year, they will certainly have the necessary tools to succeed at the highest level down the road
– whether that is on a football field or off it.
By Cranston Collier, who can be reached at [email protected].
S
CHATTAHOOCHEE COUGARS
Eight wins and a state playoff appearance is considered a fairly successful season
in Georgia Class 5A football. This was the 2007 season for Chattahoochee, ending with a
disappointing 34-0 loss to Grayson in the second round of the playoffs. The Cougars,
though rebuilding, hope to get back to the postseason in 2008.
Chattahoochee will be led this year by senior quarterback Brendan Cross, who is
the son of former NFL player Randy Cross. He completed almost 70 percent of his throws
last year, passing for over 1,000 yards and running for 400 yards as a junior. Brendan has
committed to play for Wake Forest next year.
Though they have an experienced signal caller in Cross, the Hooch lost three top
players from last year’s squad. Elton Ford (pictured above), Gary Grace and Justin Smith
will all be playing college football this fall. Their departures put tremendous pressure on
their senior quarterback to get the Cougars to the next level.
This past July, Chattahoochee competed in the national 7-on-7 tournament at
Lassiter. In the local competition they defeated North Gwinnett before losing to Norcross
in the finals. Going against top-notch competition from around the state in the offseason
should be good preparation for the young Cougars.
A change for Chattahoochee this year will be moving from Region 6 to
Region 7. Some tough challenges lay in wait, as they will face off
against Parkview, Norcross and North Gwinnett, among other strong
teams. It should be interesting to see how far Cross can take this team.
M.L. KING LIONS
M.L. King made a complete turnaround from its record five
years ago. After only winning three games in 2002, losing wasn’t an
option for the undefeated 2007 football team. Winning its first
region football championship in the school’s history last season, M.L. King has a lot to deliver this season after graduating
so many key players.
A lack of experience is the biggest concern on head coach
Corey Jarvis’s mind heading into the 2008 season. Losing 12 senior starters from last year—seven on offense, including wide
receiver Daniel McKayhan (pictured left), and five on defense—
the team has a big void to fill. The Lions, however, still have Joel
Kight, a bona fide defensive star at linebacker. Jarvis plans to pull
both from JV and backup players to beef up the roster. He believes the
experience and leadership from the departed seniors helped to get a lot of
the remaining players ready for the 2008 season.
The 2007 team’s winning streak ended in a quarterfinal playoff game
against Walton, a heartbreaking 20-19 loss.
“I would definitely say that game helped to humble the team,” Jarvis said.
Despite losing more offensive players, Jarvis believes the team still has as much
speed as it had last year. While many inexperienced players will have to step up to the
plate, Jarvis hints to a player he believes will have a breakout season. Cameron Myers, a
junior quarterback, has a lot to live up to but possesses great potential.
“The ultimate goal is to win the state championship,” says Jarvis, who encourages his team by focusing them on winning one game at a time.
One opponent that will be on the team’s mind as their biggest rival this season is
Stephenson. While game night is an affirmative rush for many returning varsity players,
for previous JV and backups on varsity this year, it may be a different story.
WALTON RAIDERS
Despite losing some key players from their 2007 squad, the defending Region 6
champion Walton Raiders will look to make the playoffs for the eighth consecutive year in
2008. Head coach Ed Dudley’s squad tied a school record last season by making their seventh straight postseason appearance. The team also tied school records with 12
wins and a state semifinals appearance.
The Raiders will be replacing many key players, including defensive end Chase Thomas (pictured right) and nine others who will be
playing college football this fall. However, the Raiders have several talented players returning who will try to help fill those holes.
Linebacker Scott Willoch led the team in tackles last
season with 66 and will help steady the Raider defense along
with defensive end David Paulsen, who is being recruiting by
several Division 1 schools and has been offered scholarships
by Tulane, Army, Navy and Air Force.
Quarterback Ray Rayburn leads the offense and will look
to get the ball to wide receiver Price Garrett through the air. Garrett
was second on the team last year in receiving yardage (411) and
touchdown catches (three). Fullback Dylan Tante will get most of
the carries in short-yardage situations.
Standing in the Raiders’ way this season will be many of the
same teams from last season’s schedule, with the exception of
Campbell. The Spartans move to Region 6 while traditional East
Cobb rival Sprayberry has been dropped to Class 4A. There are
no subregions this season, so the Raiders will play nine region
games starting this Friday after their close win over
Brookwood in the Georgia Dome at the Corky Kell Classic.
Joe Deighton, Keilah Johnson and Stephen Black contributed to this story.
aving spent most of my life in Georgia, I’ve been able to
see up close and in person some of the greatest players
from one of the best states for high-school football. Some I saw
before actually reaching high school myself. There were a few I
played against at Central Gwinnett, a couple of them I coached
while at South Gwinnett, and way too many I had to scheme
against when I was wearing a headset and they were wearing a
helmet. Among the greatest:
H
BY CHUCK OLIVER
as impressive was Elam REALLY cashing in on his ability by
turning a gift for kicking footballs into a four-year trip to the
beach – after graduating from Brookwood, he passed on the
opportunity to play in the SEC or ACC and instead accepted a
scholarship offer to the University of Hawaii. He took his tee to
the island, set numerous school and conference records for field
goals made and points scored, and has set several NFL records
during his 15-year NFL career.
• Hines Ward, Forest Park: When I was coaching, one of my
duties each week was to watch film of the next opponent and chart
their plays for tendencies regarding particular plays and formations in specific down-and-distance situations. Forest Park is the
only team I never completed the scouting report for because I really didn’t believe the coaches there were calling plays. They were
simply lining up Ward in the shotgun with four wide, snapping
him the ball and letting him kind of run around and make something happen. One of the most amazing things I’ve ever seen on
film, I’ve got to admit.
• George Rogers, Duluth: I was lucky enough to see Rogers
during his senior year when the Wildcats played Central. He wore
No. 20 for Duluth and was only one of several family members I
would encounter. Andre, Doby … there were plenty more Rogers I
either played with or against, but George was simply better than any
other high-school player I’ve ever seen. In 1980 he became the
University of South Carolina’s only Heisman Trophy winner.
• Chris Carpenter, Gainesville: While Carpenter eventually
made his living as a major-league pitcher with a nine-year career in
the bigs (not the guy currently pitching for St. Louis – different Photo courtesy of Jimmy Cribb/Altanta Falcons
dude), he was first known around these parts as a pretty good punter for the University of HONORABLE MENTION …
• David Greene, South Gwinnett: Greene (pictured below) later went on to win
Georgia. And before that he was a tremendously talented high-school quarterback for the
more games than any other quarterback in NCAA history.
Red Elephants. Shiloh, Meadowcreek, Peachtree Ridge, Collins Hill … those and sev• Orantes Grant, Dunwoody: A linebacker on the Dunwoody team that
eral other current Gwinnett County high schools weren’t even thought of in the early
beat us in the 1993 state-championship game. Later starred at UGA, then in the
80s, so the mighty mighty Black Knights of Central Gwinnett regularly played
NFL with Dallas, Washington and Cleveland.
Cedartown, Stephens County and, among others, Gainesville. Carpenter put on a clin• Mark Johnson, Warner Robins: Before the Chicago White
ic every time. He was an even better basketball player, teaming with future UGA star
Sox nabbed him with the 26th overall selection in the 1994 MLB
Patrick Hamilton to form one of the best backcourts in Georgia high-school history.
Draft, Johnson quarterbacked the Demons to the state semis –
• Chuck Smith, Clarke Central: Big Chuck didn’t wait until he got to
Knoxville to play great football. He was a sophomore on the 1985 team that
where he lost to the mighty Comets from Snellville. Johnson had
defeated Central 49-7 in the first round of the playoffs. That Gladiator team
the strongest arm I’ve ever seen on a high-school quarterback.
went undefeated and won the state title that season. Smith kicked quite a bit of
Chuck Oliver, also known as “The King of College Football,”
you-know-what for a 16-year-old.
played high-school football at Central Gwinnett and later
• Jason Elam, Brookwood: Elam (pictured above) blasted a
coached at South Gwinnett. He can now be heard on 790 The
49-yard game-winning field goal to beat Central in 1987 and the
Zone’s “Afternoon Saloon” weekdays from 4-7 p.m. and can
kick would have been good from another 10 yards out. Nearly
be reached at [email protected].
Photo courtesy of UGA