October 2015 South Georgia Edition by ITG Next Magazine

In this Issue

Lee County Trojans Chris Barnes Garet Morrell

+ 9

Publisher’s Letter

It’s Winnersville Time Again

Lowndes Alum Shines in Arena Football League

Moultrie Native Spreads Hope Across the Country

GHSA Reclassification

The Concrete Palace

Premature Season Upsets

Protect the Information on Your Smartphone

FCA Update

20 Tift County Running Back Personifies Strong Work Ethic Barry Bennett

40 In Thomas County, “Football is About Family” Robin Shaver

30 Colquitt’s Quarterback and His Favorite Target Have Lofty Goals for 2015 Chase Parrish & Kiel Pollard

44 Facts & Figures Maysoe Wiley

57 Moultrie 11-Year-Old Discovers – and Excels at – the Sport of Triathlon Case Gregory

49 Trio of Vikings Assistants Provide Link to Lowndes’ Past, Present

65 Hard Work, Dedication, Commitment, Perseverance: Tess Robinson is Ready for the Next Level

Tift County High School

Colquitt County High School

35 10 Questions Don Faircloth

Lowndes High School

Thomas County Central High School

Valwood School

Lowndes High School

54 Lead, Work Hard, and Stay Positive Todd Bradley Valdosta High School

Willie Williams Middle School

Coffee High School

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October 2015

From the Publisher Read more about this trio of Lowndes Vikings assistants on page 49

Be sure to grab a copy of our November issue to read about Cook High School’s Misty Triggs, an honorary member of the cheer squad with an inspiring story.

Tell us your thoughts! Email us at info@inthegamemagazine.com to let us know what you thought of the September edition of itg!

Contributors

It is here – probably the most exciting time of the high school sports year. We are into October, the weather has finally cooled off, and the gridiron playoff picture is emerging. Now we know which teams are serious contenders for postseason play, and we also know how the various region championships are shaping up. We’re just several weeks away from crowning the state football champions. Hopefully, we’ll have multiple South Georgia programs in the state title discussion. This time of the year is about more than football, however. Softball, cross country, and volleyball are all preparing for the postseason as well. It won’t be long before wrestling, soccer, basketball, swimming, and other sports will be getting

ready to play. It’s hard to imagine that we’re this far into the year already, but it’s here. And those of us here at In the Game High School Sports Network couldn’t be happier. We’ve got another excellent edition for you this month. We have tried to squeeze as many players and coaches into the magazine as we could. We have features on two Colquitt County players, wide receiver Kiel Pollard and his quarterback, Chase Parrish. We also spotlight three assistant coaches at Lowndes, all of whom played on one or more of the state championship teams of the mid-aughts – Brandon Moore, Jermel Demps, and Darriet Perry. Two of Lee County’s best, lineman Chris Barnes and quarterback Garet Morrell, are also on the pages of the October edition. But as the commercials on TV like to say, “but wait, there’s more!” Inside you will find stories on Lowndes County’s state champion archery team; Valdosta High’s linebacker Todd Bradley; our Academic Athlete

for the month, Tift’s Barry Bennett; Case Gregory, a pre-teen triathlete; and an overview of this month’s Winnersville Classic between Valdosta and Lowndes. It seems as though we have more and more talent every year in our area, and that includes coaches as well as players. As we’ve moved through the season, we haven’t begun to scratch the surface of the wealth of talent we have in our area. The gap between schools in the southern portion of the state and those in the metro area is narrowing. It’s going to take more work before we’re all on a level playing field but each year, we get closer and closer. I can’t wait to see what the future holds for all of our studentathletes and sports programs.

Publisher Mark Dykes Editors Mark Dykes Sarah Turner Graphics Sarah Turner Cover Photography Micki Krzynski Micki K Photography Feature Photography Micki Krzynski Micki K Photography Lindsi Jones Feature Writers Robert Preston Jr. James Washington Jon Nelson Copy Editor James Washington Advertising/Marketing Mark Dykes mark@inthegamemagazine.com Rachel Thrasher rachel@inthegamemagazine.com Website Manager Cole Parker

For advertising information call: 888-715-4263

Dykes Publishing Group, Inc. P.O. Box 812 Valdosta, GA 31603

In the Game is published monthly (excluding July). The contents of this publication may not be reproduced in part or in full without written consent from the publisher. Dykes Media Group, Inc. makes no representation or warranty of any kind for accuracy of content. All advertisements are assumed by the publisher to be correct. Copyright 2015 Dykes Publishing Group, Inc. All rights reserved. ISSN 1945-1458.

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October 2015

Fast Breaks Friday, Oct. 30, 2015. Martin Stadium.

It’s Winnersville Time Again What to Expect at the Annual Contest Between the Cats and Vikings by Robert Preston Jr.

The annual Winnersville Classic, the Valdosta-Lowndes County community’s version of the Hatfields and McCoys. Friend against friend. Co-worker against co-worker. Neighbor against neighbor. Family members against family members. It’s a unique experience, for sure. Few communities in Georgia (or anywhere else) have two teams in the highest classification that compete at such a competitive level. Everyone knows Valdosta’s winning tradition. While Lowndes sports neither the number of region or state championships, their success has come more recently, and despite a few lean years of late, the Vikings are still regarded as one of the elite programs in the state. Valdosta still can’t be counted out, but the Wildcats haven’t experienced much postseason success in the last few seasons. And neither the ‘Cats nor the Vikings have won a region championship in several years. It used to be that the winner between Valdosta and Lowndes had an almost open pathway to the region title. Lowndes last won the region title in 2010; that year, the Vikings defeated the Wildcats 24-17. The following year, Valdosta won its most recent region championship, thanks in part to a 21-17 win over Lowndes. The 2012 season saw Camden County come into the region. At the same time, Colquitt In the Game | 11

Fast Breaks October 2015 County was launching its rise to the top of Georgia’s football heap. What followed were two straight region championships by Camden and one by Colquitt. During that same time period, the Vikings have defeated the Wildcats twice. Over that same three-year period, Valdosta has made the playoffs every year but never advanced past the first round. Lowndes made the playoffs twice – in 2012 (first round) and 2013 (quarterfinals). Last year, the Vikings didn’t make the playoffs (and, interestingly enough, lost to Valdosta during the regular season). So what does this mean? Not much, except that Winnersville doesn’t carry the same postseason implications that it used to. That may mean that outside interest in Winnersville isn’t what it used to be. But that doesn’t mean that the game is any less important for the ValdostaLowndes County community. Emotions run high during Winnersville week, and while the community doesn’t come

to a complete stop, it does come pretty close. In this month’s edition, during my conversation with Valdosta’s linebacker Todd Bradley, he specifically mentioned that his biggest moment to date was beating Lowndes last year. “Beating Lowndes means bragging rights for a year. We all know each other personally and we see each around town a lot. It makes for a great year,” he said. He made that statement with a laugh but you could tell he was also very serious. And the guys at Lowndes feel the same way. The story of this year’s game will be Lowndes’s new spread offense against what has appeared to be Valdosta’s porous defense. Valdosta has a strong offense as well; it will come down to which defense can stop the other at the right time. In recent years, Winnersville has featured relatively low point totals. This year should be different and maybe, just maybe, the game will catapult the winner into a deep playoff run. ITG

Winnersville doesn’t carry the same postseason implications that it used to. That may mean that outside interest in Winnersville isn’t what it used to be. But that doesn’t mean that the game is any less important for the Valdosta-Lowndes County community. 12 | inthegamemagazine.com

Lowndes Alum Shines in the Arena Football League by James Washington

Greg Reid Cornerback, Jacksonville Sharks Height: 5’9” Weight: 190 lbs. Highlights/Awards 2008 GACA All-Star Game MVP (Lowndes High) 2009 NCAA punt return yardage leader (Florida State) 2010 Chick-fil-A Bowl Defensive MVP (Florida State) 2015 First-Team AllArena Team (Jacksonville Sharks) 2015 AFL Rookie of the Year (Jacksonville Sharks)

On Thursday, August 27, 2015, former Lowndes High defensive back Greg Reid was officially named the Arena Football League’s Rookie of the Year. He is the first Jacksonville Shark to win the award, and only the third defensive player in league history to receive the honor. His recognition was well deserved, as he led the Sharks in interceptions (nine) and ranked second in tackles (70.5) in his first season. His interception total led all rookies and also left him in a tie for the fourth highest in the entire league. What makes his stats even more impressive is that he accumulated them in less than a full season; he joined the team six weeks into the 2015 campaign. “This is amazing,” Reid said during his award presentation ceremony. “I just want to thank God for this opportunity. I’m so blessed to be here. And to the whole Jacksonville organization; I appreciate everything that you all do.” A 2009 graduate of Lowndes High School, Reid starred offensively, defensively, and on special teams, and he was a key component of a Vikings’ football program that won state championships in 2005 and 2007. During his time at Lowndes High, he also received numerous awards and honors, and his tremendous efforts eventually led to him being named the Class AAAAA Georgia Player of the Decade by Georgia High School Football Daily. ITG

Fast Breaks October 2015

Moultrie Native Spreads “Hope” Across the Country written by James Washington | photography courtesy of Wells family It is a common cliché that one can have too much of a good thing. One organization is out to prove that idea couldn’t be further from the truth. Between June and August of this year, members of the Pi Kappa Phi fraternity looked to spread the knowledge of their non-profit organization, The Ability Experience, to the public. And they did so

with a bicycle ride from one coast of the United States to the other. Reed Wells, a native of Moultrie, Georgia, is now a senior at Mercer University in Macon, Georgia, where he is studying electrical engineering. Earlier this year, he was selected as part of a 25-member team that would take part in the coast-tocoast cycling event known as The Journey

of Hope. “Members of our fraternity have been doing this for 28 years,” Reed says. “I’ve had some guys from my chapter participate in the past, and I wanted to be the next in line to take part.” The Journey of Hope is an annual event that is geared towards raising awareness of The Ability Experience. The Ability Experience,

originally known as PUSH America (which initially stood for “Play Units for the Severely Handicapped”, and later “People Understanding the Severely Handicapped”) is the official charity of the Pi Kappa Phi fraternity. In 1987, Pi Kappa Phi alumnus Bruce Rogers traveled across the country, by bicycle, to bring more attention to the charity’s mission.

The following year, a 21-person team, led by Jim Karlovec, took part in the inaugural event under the current name. Prior to this event, Reed’s longest trip had taken place at the regional team training for the Journey of Hope in March. During the training, he rode 85 miles in one day. During the actual event, the participants In the Game | 15

Fast Breaks October 2015

When asked about the most scenic place the team passed through:

averaged between 75 and 80 miles per on each day of his cross-country excursion. The Journey of Hope is conducted in three routes. The South route begins in Los Angeles, California, and the Trans route begins in Seattle, Washington. Reed’s team took the North route, which departed from San Francisco, California. Bikers would take approximately one day per week off to rest; In larger cities, the team would take an extra day off in order to spread awareness of their organization and meet with various groups that shared their mission. “In Milwaukee, we visited this organization called Girls First,” Reed says. “We took some of the girls out to the mall one night; me and a few of the other guys were assigned to one girl named Hailey. We made her day, just going into stores and 16 | inthegamemagazine.com

trying on funny hats, scarves, putting bows in our hair. It was an incredible experience.” When asked if he would be participating in the Journey of Hope again in the future, Reid said that, while a repeat cross-country trip was doubtful, he did have plans to continue in the charity of his fraternity. I plan on participating in ‘Gear Up Florida’ in the future,” he says. “’Gear Up Florida’ is an event similar to ‘Journey of Hope’, but on a smaller scale. It is a 17-day event, beginning in Miami, Florida, and finishing up in Tallahassee.” When an individual is passionate about a particular cause, he or she will go to great lengths to support their cause. In the case of Reed Wells and the Pi Kappa Phi fraternity, every journey provides a spark of hope in the world. ITG

“Loveland Pass, in Colorado, just a few days before Denver. We were at our highest point then, passing through the Rocky Mountains at about 12,000 feet. There was actually snow on the ground at some points; those were some of our best views.”

Toughest day of the trip: “Our ride from Fallon, Nevada to Austin, Nevada. That was our first ‘century’ ride; it was 112 degrees that day, crossing through the Nevada desert. The hard part; there’s a ton of mountains in Nevada. We would cross a mountain and you’d see the desert plains. Ten miles in the distance, you’d see another mountain. That was our routine all day.”

Best meal: “In Jackson, California, just before we hit the mountains for the first time, we hit a place called Mel and Fay’s Diner. They’ve been sponsoring us for over twenty-something years. It was delicious; we got some good ‘home-cooked’ food for the first time on the trip.”

Fast Breaks October 2015

A few thoughts on the upcoming GHSA reclassification Robert Preston Jr.

must confess that I’m not particularly well schooled in all the potential ramifications of the new GHSA reclassification plan that was approved in August. I also don’t understand all of the politics behind the plan, except that somebody, somewhere wants perennial state champion Buford to play in as high a classification as possible. I know that the plan, which calls for the largest schools in Georgia – the so-called Super 44 – to be grouped into one classification. The smallest classification would be the Public/Private class, and there would be five other classes in between – from A to 5A. The cutoff for the Super 44 is estimated to be somewhere around 2,000 students. According to Todd Holcomb’s blog on ajc.com, about 20 current 6A schools would play in 5A. Schools throughout the remaining classifications would also be affected but exactly which schools would be moving remains to be seen. This means more playoffs, more state champions, potentially more travel, and fewer region contests. And thanks to the “three percent” rule, schools that have more than three percent of their enrollment coming from outside of the schools’ home counties would have to play up in a classification. 18 | inthegamemagazine.com

The most notable school this rule would affect is Buford, which has been on a tremendous state championship winning streak in football (going back to 2007, Buford has won every state football title except one over three different classifications, from 2A to 4A).

While many may not agree with the plan and the various directions its planks may lead, the message is clear – the GHSA is attempting to level the playing field, no pun intended, with regard to high school athletics in Georgia. It’s something that needs to be done. Like it or not, numbers make a difference. Though there are exceptions, for the most part, schools with the most students are going to win the most games. And in the largest classification, there is tremendous disparity with regard to enrollment numbers. According to the AJC’s Todd Holcomb, Mill Creek is the largest high school in Georgia with 3,700 students. The smallest 6A school is our own Lee County, with about 1,800 students. While Lee County has competed favorably in its short time in 6A, it – and schools with similar enrollment numbers – are at a competitive disadvantage when playing larger schools. It wasn’t too terribly long ago that Georgia only had four classifications. I remember those days well. I also remember when the GHSA added 5A and 6A. Now we’re going to seven classifications, though there won’t be a specifically titled 7A. These changes have come quickly and could make for some confusing times in the near future. However, placing schools with similar enrollments in the same classification will be good for the competitive balance and will make for some interesting match-ups. It’s not perfect, and there’s no doubt that more tweaking will be on the horizon. But it’s a good start, and I’m anxiously awaiting the final region alignments. ITG

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Tift County Running Back Personifies Strong Work Ethic written by James Washington | photography by Micki K. Photography

A popular motivational quote tells us that “hard work beats talent when talent doesn’t work hard.” Most often, this quote is applied in the world of sports; but, quite regularly, it is in regards to one team being better than another. It manifests itself in competition, whether on the gridiron, on a court, or in some other athletic venue. But what people habitually ignore or underestimate is the preparation. Fans cheer for the final score, but they don’t think about the pregame speech. They don’t think about the countless hours of practice. They don’t think about the workouts, the time spent studying film, and the recovery from injuries and game nights. No one fully understands the road to glory until they have taken the trip for themselves. But in Tifton, Georgia, Barry Bennett is laying the perfect road map for those that come after him. “It’s all about your desire to play,” Barry says. “You have to figure out how bad you want to succeed. You have to decide how much of your time you will dedicate to what you love. Nobody else can do that for you.” Barry is the starting running back for the Tift County Blue Devils. But, as with anything else in life, his appointment

didn’t come easy. His first two years of high school were spent on the junior varsity squad, before finally climbing the ladder to the higher ranks in his third season. “If I had to sum Barry Bennett up in one word, it would easily be ‘character’,” says Ashley Anders, Tift County’s head football coach. “He’s self-motivated. I met Barry

In the Game | 21

“The coaching staff will often use Barry as the measuring stick. Once, we posed a question to our players. We asked them: if we had a team full of ‘Barry Bennetts’, how many games would we win? The team’s response was unanimous. They said ‘All of them’.” - Coach Ashley Anders when he was a freshman; I was the defensive coordinator at the time. His work ethic hasn’t changed a bit. He’s always first, no matter what we’re doing.” Barry is what many perceive to be the ultimate student-athlete. He always dedicates himself to a given task, whether it is running sprints or knocking out schoolwork. When it’s time to work out, he’s the first one in the weight room. After practices, he’s the player that you’re guaranteed to see helping the coaching staff organize equipment and ensure that the locker room is clean. It’s a certain level of pride that many possess, but only a select few display on the surface. “I love my coaches,” Barry says. “I love my teammates. This community; the people here look up to us, and I take pride in that. They help us out all the time. This community created who I am.” Barry’s work ethic extends well beyond the field and the classroom; he also made the time to work a job this past summer. And, as expected, his drive was on full display. So much, in fact, to the point where his supervisor personally called Coach Anders, just to let him know how determined and responsible Barry was.

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“He’s just an unbelievable kid,” Coach Anders says of Barry. “He’s a terrific player and an even better person. I have no doubt that he’s going to be successful, no matter where he goes or what he pursues.” Barry is in the midst of his final year as a Blue Devil, but when he graduates, his name will resonate in the halls and weight rooms of Tift County High School for years to come. He is undecided as to where he will attend college (during his interview, he mentioned that he was considering Georgia Tech and Kennesaw State University), but he knows that he will major in electrical engineering. Although his career path seems to be set, there is at least one person that would love to see him remain close to the game of football. “I would love for him to work for me one day,” Coach Anders says. “I’d hire him right now if I could.” So, as we’ve come to recognize, talent alone is meaningless when confronted with an opposing force of strong work ethic. In the case of Tift County’s Barry Bennett, it’s always better to have both. ITG

Lee County High School

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Who’s the underdog?

he Lee County Trojans have become the darling of the 6A classification. Or at least they were at the time of this writing, two games into the season. After playing well in 5A, the Trojans made the jump to Region 1-6A last year and made an immediate impact, finishing as one of the top four teams in the region and making the playoffs. The Trojans have a lot of weapons, but two of their most lethal are offensive tackle Chris Barnes and his quarterback, Garet Morrell. Both are Division I commits – Barnes to Georgia and Morrell to Marshall – and both have the physical ability and leadership skills to make Lee County one of the teams to watch late in the season.

In the Game | 25

Chris Barnes comes from a football family. His father, who is taller than Barnes and weighs about 450 pounds, played football at Albany State. The younger Barnes, who stands 6’5” and weighs 280 pounds, has started on the Trojans’ varsity squad all four of his years at Lee. He’s a big, strong, physical kid who can move and has great football instincts. Those qualities, coupled with his tremendous size, have made him an almost immovable object on Lee County’s line and a hot commodity on the recruiting market. Over the last couple of years, the Trojans have experienced a surprising level of success. One of the smaller schools in 6A, they’ve shown a tenacity and willingness to compete that have them on

everyone’s radar screen. And players like Chris Barnes are the reason why. “Every game, I tell myself to think, think, think. This is a hard game. It isn’t easy at all,” states Barnes. Barnes plays on the left side of the line. His primary task is to protect quarterback Garet Morrell’s blind side, a job he takes very seriously. And it’s one his quarterback appreciates. “Knowing I have Chris on my blind side is one thing I’ll always be thankful for. He’s a great person, great player, and one of my best friends. We go everywhere together. He’s a leader on and off the field. He’s vocal, he’s humble, and he’s one of those guys you just always want to be around,” says Morrell. Barnes’s ability on the line

attracted the attention of programs across the country. Listed as a four-star recruit,

just about everyone wanted Barnes. The Georgia Bulldogs ended up winning the

Barnes lottery. “When I met with the players, I just had a great time. I get along well with Coach [Mark] Richt, and I feel like the Georgia program can make me into a great offensive lineman,” he says. As far as Garet Morrell is concerned, Barnes is already a great lineman. Barnes isn’t the only reason – but he’s a big reason – why Morrell had the time and opportunity needed to put up some of the best passing numbers in the state last year. Morrell threw for over 2,700 yards and 27 touchdowns – stats that led Colquitt County head coach Rush Propst to call Morrell the best quarterback in Region 1-6A. “You know, the first thing I need to have is confidence in my receivers. Which I do. Friendship, brotherhood -- that comes first.

Everything else, I’ve been working on with my coaches since I was little. I’ve been getting ready to throw the ball,” he says. And throw the ball he does – in Lee’s spread attack, Morrell throws the ball about 70 percent of the time. This year, Morrell would like to throw for more yards and touchdowns than he did last season. He’d also like to see Lee County play more than 12 games this season. “I want to win region, and we’re working together for that to happen. The past three years, we’ve been to second round of playoffs. I want to break that this year. I want us to go farther,” he states. Morrel has a lot of eyes on him this year. Despite all the attention, he’s committed to remaining focused on his senior season and not getting

distracted by all the people who would like a little of his time. “To me, it’s a part of the game. It’s the maturity factor of it all. If you get to where people are constantly talking about you, it makes your head get big. I have to focus on not doing that. I want to go out and keep working and keep pushing harder. It’s great to hear people complimenting us and the team but it doesn’t mean we stop working. We want to work harder and make people know about us from all over. Now people look out for us. They are preparing for us, so we work harder,” he says. When he finishes his career with Lee County, Morrell will play for the Marshall Thundering Herd. He chose Marshall for several reasons – its offense, its coaches,

its community support. “I wanted to go there because of the family atmosphere, the great coaches, they made me feel at home, and I really got a good vibe from players and people,” he said of his future school. Both Garet Morrell and Chris Barnes have big futures ahead of them. They are tremendous talents who have opportunities awaiting them that most high school players can only dream about. Before they look too far ahead, though, they want to show the state that the Lee County Trojans are indeed for real. “We need to stay focused. What we need to worry about are the team and getting better. We don’t need to worry about the other stuff. I want us to worry about getting a ring,” says Barnes. ITG

The Concrete Palace | Home of the Vikings written by James Washington | photography by Lindsi Jones

n 1959, Lowndes County High School opened to an enrollment of 671 students. In 1966, the school was consolidated with Hahira High School to form what is now known as Lowndes High School. Today, LHS is one of the largest high schools in the state of Georgia, currently boasting an enrollment total of over 3,000 students and nearly 200 faculty members. The high school’s football team has seen its share of success, winning five state titles in the school’s history (1980, 1999, 2004, 2005,

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2007). The team also has 10 region championships to its credit. Also opening in 1966, “The Concrete Palace” is the nickname given to Martin Stadium, which serves as the home field for the LHS Vikings. While it is unknown exactly who coined the nickname, the stadium itself was named after longtime Lowndes County School Superintendent A.B. “Sonny” Martin. After a 10year stint with Hahira High School (where he served as a teacher, coach, and eventually principal), Martin would later spend two de-

cades in his superintendent position. Martin Stadium has served as home to some of South Georgia’s most prominent gridiron talent. LHS alumni such as Telvin Smith, Greg Reid, Randall Godfrey, Jay Ratliff, and Vincent Burns have all left their mark within the walls of “The Palace” and gone on to shine at the collegiate and professional level. Also sharing the field with the Vikings are the Georgia Bridgemen, the marching band of LHS. The Bridgemen are an equally talented group of indi-

viduals, usually boasting membership of nearly 500 members. They have competed and performed in parades all over the nation, including Chicago, New York City, Philadelphia, and Washington, D.C.. While the players and coaches may come and go, one thing remains the same: no opponent looks forward to facing a charged Vikings team within the walls of “The Concrete Palace”, especially when the stands are jampacked with over 12,000 of Lowndes County’s most faithful fans. ITG

Colquitt’s quarterback and his favorite target have lofty goals for 2015 These kinds of stories are hard to write. As I’m putting this together, it’s still August. It’s not even Labor Day. We’re one game into the football season (albeit one that Colquitt won 45-14 in dominating fashion over North Gwinnett). Thus far, nobody has a clear picture of how the teams in the region will fare. But by the time you read this, the season will probably be 70 percent over and everything will be much clearer. And we’re supposed to talk about two of the best players in the region when they have very little in the way of actual game time or statistics.

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by Robert Preston Jr. | photography by Micki K Photography

In spite of the fact that, at the time of this writing, 90 percent of the regular season had yet to be played, every football fan in South Georgia knows who Chase Parrish and Kiel Pollard are. Both seniors, they are at the heart of Colquitt County’s passing game. Parrish is the battle-tested quarterback, the leader of the defending 6A state champion Packers who threw for over 2,800 yards and 26 touchdowns last year (he rushed for over 400 more yards and scored another seven touchdowns on the ground). In the state title game, he completed 18 of 22 passes for right at 200 yards and three touchdowns. Pollard caught 68 passes for about 900 yards and nine touchdowns during the season. Also a return specialist who this year runs the ball out

of the wildcat package, Pollard is one of the premier offensive weapons in the region if not the state. They are best friends who share common goals – they both want to go undefeated again and repeat as state champions, they want to be leaders, they want to inspire their teammates to play harder, and they want to improve each and every week. They are also extremely coachable – both spoke of the important role their coaches have played in their development and the level at which they currently play. And both Parrish and Pollard are ferocious competitors; when they flip their switches, they are almost unbeatable. Thankfully for the Packers, and to the dismay of their opponents, their switches stay in the “on” position most

of the time. Parrish moved to Colquitt County from Thomasville when he was in the eighth grade. He came up in the Thomas County Central system and always played quarterback. Pollard has been in Moultrie his whole life and, at one time, was a quarterback in the Packers’ middle school system. He moved to linebacker in the seventh grade; then, in the eighth grade, he made the switch to receiver – with a little help from Parrish. When Parrish came to town, everyone knew he would eventually be the Packers’ quarterback. He and Pollard hit it off immediately and Pollard would often goof around with Parrish, running routes while he threw the ball around. As it turned out, Pollard could run the routes

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Last year, we didn’t have to be leaders. We had seniors who led us. Now it’s on our backs. People are looking up to us. The guys last year taught us that hard work pays off. You always work as hard as you can, every single day.” Kiel Pollard.

efficiently. He also had good hands and was an elusive ball-carrier once he made a catch. Parrish noticed this and put in a good word with the coaching staff. They liked what they saw and Pollard moved back to the offensive side of the ball. Ever since, Pollard has been one of Parrish’s favorite targets. The quarterback in Rush Propst’s system shoulders a tremendous load, more so than most high school quarterbacks are asked to carry. Parrish didn’t play much during his freshman and sophomore years; last year, however, Propst named him the starter. And Parrish made the most of the opportunity. “Coach Propst expects a lot from his quarterbacks. Being the quarterback of the Packers means a lot to me. I know I have to take leadership of the team,” he says. Parrish is a consistent, focused, and determined player. He has developed the ability to focus on the drive, the series, the play at hand and block out the rest. He neither looks ahead nor behind, instead locking in on the immediate task. His teammates have learned to trust him and he knows he must reward their trust with steady and stellar play. “When the game is on the line, he’s going to make the right decision. He’s going to make every play and lead our team. He’s a great leader,” says Pollard of his quarterback. Pollard comes from a proud Colquitt County Packer tradition. His father, Kelvin, was a defensive end on the 1994 state championship team. An older brother played on the 2010 team that finished as runner-up in the state. As proud as Pollard is of his championship, he wants one more. “Being on this team means everything to me. I’m the son of a state championship, the brother of a runner-up, and I have a ring of my own. I want to go undefeated and win another championship this year. Outside of that, I want to be a better player, a better person, and a leader for my teammates,” he says.

The key to repeating, according to both Pollard and Parrish, is to stay focused and work hard each and every day at practice. Coach Propst and the staff have been pounding that into them since February – they have the target on their backs, they are the team everyone else wants to beat, they are the ones to watch. Pollard also understands his role as a leader on the team. “Last year, we didn’t have to be leaders. We had seniors who led us. Now it’s on our backs. People are looking up to us. The guys last year taught us that hard work pays off. You always work as hard as you can, every single day,” says Pollard. Both players agree that the season is off to a good start – at least it was one game in. In the win over North Gwinnett, Parrish threw for 190 yards with a touchdown and an interception. Pollard had 137 receiving yards, 40 rushing yards, one receiving touchdown, and two rushing scores out of the wildcat. “I love the wildcat,” laughs Pollard. “It’s a lot of fun.” What does Parrish say about his favorite target? “When he gets competitive, he’s really dangerous. It’s special being on the field with him. I love getting the ball to him and then watching him drag people down the field.” Maybe, just maybe, the entire 2015 season will be another special one for every player on the field. All eyes are on Colquitt, and there are some hungry teams in the metro area whose players feel like they have what it takes to de-throne the champions. Parrish and Pollard, however, are committed to making that as difficult a task as possible. They have the talent, the competitive fire, and the attitude to lead the Packers to a second consecutive state title. Will they do it? By the time you read this, the picture will be much, much clearer. ITG In the Game | 33

10 Questions with

Don Faircloth Lowndes High

School Archery by Robert Preston Jr.

In April, the Lowndes 4-H archery team won the State Title at Camp Rock Eagle, just north of Eatonton. This was the teams 4th title. The state title was the culmination not just of a season’s worth of work but several years of practice, hard work, and attention to detail. Archery has a long tradition in the world of sports. Its history in the Summer Olympics dates back to 1900 and hundreds of countries throughout the world have recognized federations. Archery competitions are growing in popularity and many communities in South Georgia have teams through the local University of Georgia Cooperative Extension Office. Of those 4-H programs that offer archery, the Lowndes team is the best in the state. Don Faircloth, an assistant coach with the Lowndes program, took a few minutes to explain the sport and talk about the team’s state championship.

When does the archery season begin? Head coach Jim Barker likes to start early. We start practicing in October and we shoot two times a week. The first tournament is an indoor tournament in February. After that, there are three regional qualifiers then the state championship at Rock Eagle. There are no qualifying criteria for the state tournament. We average around 54 shooters in the program across the Cloverleaf, Junior, and Senior divisions. In the Senior division, there are 15 to 20 shooters. We take the highest average score from the regional qualifiers and group those with similar scores into four-person teams. Those teams then compete at state. It’s more than just the score, though. Attendance and leadership are also factored in. You have to be one of the best shooters, but you also have to be responsible and be a leader. can a county send more than one team to state? Yes. We sent multiple senior teams to state and took first and third. Also, shooters compete individually. Our shooters also placed first (Ben Bradford), second, fifth, and sixth individually. Dalton Faircloth, Levi Farmer, Ben Bradford, Brandon Barker are the four who made up the state championship winning team. All have been shooting since fifth grade, except for Levi, who just started shooting last year. What is the format of the state tournament? There are three different shooting disciplines: FITA, which

is the international format. It’s the discipline featured in the Olympics. There are also Field and 3-D disciplines. In FITA tournaments, archers shoot from 30, 40, and 50 meters. They shoot 72 arrows for 10 points each. So a perfect score is 720 points. The Field and 3-D rounds consist of 30 separate targets. What came after state? The national tournament in Grand Island, Nebraska. We were one of 32 states and approximately 128 shooters represented at the tournament. We finished in third place as a team. Dalton Faircloth was our highest individual shooter; he came in 10th and Brandon Barker finished 11th. That gave us two shooters in the top 15. What kind of equipment do the kids shoot? Do they provide their own or does the program provide the bows? Do they provide their own or does the program provide the bows? The kids furnish their own equipment and use compound bows. Their bows are professional quality. The make and model is up to them. There are a lot of different manufacturers out there. It just depends on their preference. To what do you contribute to the success of the team? A lot of hard work. The kids put in a lot of time and pay close attention to detail. Many kids shoot at practice and then go home and shoot for hour’s fine tuning their shot sequence and shrinking their shot group’s size. We also have quality coaches who really know what they’re doing. We have 12 active certified coaches that help the shooters at every level. What kind of certifications do the coaches hold? To get certified, prospective coaches attend a twoday training at Rock Eagle through 4-H. It’s a very thorough program that covers a lot of material in a short period of time. The head coach is Jim Barker, Brandon’s father. He and I took the kids to nationals this summer. What does it take to be a good archer? It takes good hand-eye coordination and a lot of mental fortitude. You’ve got to develop a certain amount of strength as well, but being the strongest or having the best hand-eye coordination doesn’t always mean you’re the best. You’re aiming at a In the Game | 35

Lowndes Archery October 2015 circle about 2 to 2 ½ inches at 50 meters. To place that arrow in that X, it takes an enormous amount of mental concentration. You’ve got to block out everything going on around you. Shot sequence is important. If you start thinking about what’s going on around you, you’re not thinking about your shot. Being able to block out the distractions and focus on each individual shot is vital to success in archer. What are future opportunities for shooters who would like to continue in the sport after high school? There are scholarship opportunities for college in FITA. There are also other independent competitions in Field and 3-D. Dalton and the other boys shoot competitively in various tournaments. For example, Dalton recently competed in the 3-D World Championships in Phenix City, Alabama. He finished tied for second in the world. Levi Farmer also shot at that tournament in a different class and finished fifteenth. Several of our shooters also compete in tournaments outside 4-H.

Tell us about the support the team has received from the community. Community support has been tremen-

dous. It takes a lot of money to do what we do and we’ve got to have help from parents, businesses, individuals, and organizations throughout Lowndes County. We have travel expenses and food for the tournaments. The jerseys we wear in tournaments are paid for by sponsorships sold on the jerseys. The community has been great about providing us with what we need. We also have several fund-raisers throughout the year and people have been very generous. This is a great program that teaches our youth important lessons beyond archery. Without the support of the community, this program wouldn’t be possible. We are very appreciative of all the assistance we’ve received.

The Life of a Coachâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Wife Thomas County Central High School

40 | inthegamemagazine.com

Robin Shaver Thomas County Central High School

written by James Washington | photography by Lindsi Jones

During her senior year of college at Georgia Southwestern, Robin Jones met a man by the name of Bill Shaver. She was completing her coursework to receive a degree in early childhood education and preparing to student teach; he was a graduate assistant at the school, coaching alongside legendary coach Jimmy Hightower. The two would constantly see each other, as the football facility and the education department shared the same parking lot. Fast forward to 2015, and Robin Jones is now Robin Shaver; the two have been married for 30 years as of June. Bill is now the head 42 | inthegamemagazine.com

coach of the Thomas County Central Yellow Jackets, and Robin is currently the Elementary Curriculum Coordinator for Thomas County Schools. They have two children; their son, Kyle, it 27 years old and is a Thomas County Central alum. After receiving his degree from Georgia Southern University, he now works for Flowers Foods and is the president of the Athletic Booster Club for Thomas County Athletics. Their daughter, Kaylee, is 20 years old and also a TCC graduate. She currently attends the University of Georgia, where she is studying sports medicine.

“I attend every TCC game – I coordinate our away games as well,” Mrs. Shaver says. “The coaches’ wives ride together to our away games – it is always a fun time for us to get together to talk, laugh, and share stories about our families. We sit together at every game and cheer on our Jackets.” As the action unfolds on game nights, the stands are jam-packed with wild, screaming fans. However; Mrs. Shaver doesn’t exactly fall into that mold. During the game, aside from the occasional high-five or cheer, she is locked in to the contest. “My demeanor during the

games is ‘focused’,” she says. “I am watching every aspect of the game – from kickoff to the offensive line, the snap, the handoff, the pitch, the pass – tackling, whatever.” Her love of football is far from newfound. As a student at Dodge County High School, Mrs. Shaver served as the editor of the yearbook committee, and part of her duties included covering all of the football games. Now, her excitement for the game grows daily, largely in part to her family. “Football is a part of our life. It is all about family to us,” Mrs. Shaver says. “I knew that I was a football fan early on in our married life, because when Bill isn’t even at home, I am watching a game; college or NFL, doesn’t matter. I have it on when he isn’t even at home. We just love the game!” The life of a football coach’s wife includes more than just a busy schedule. It includes often taking in “new” family, and many coaches find themselves treating their players as they would their own children. “Bill is compassionate about his players,” Mrs. Shaver says. “He works really hard to make sure that they know he cares about them on and off of the field; he helps them with their

academics (he is a math teacher) and tutors when they need assistance, he takes them on college visits; when the players are playing at the next level, we attend their games, and he calls them to encourage them weekly. We love having the players over to our home each season for supper too. They enjoy coming to our house, and we love having them over to eat and share funny stories.” In team sports, the most successful groups are the ones that find a special bond. They are dangerous on the field because they are united before they step on it. The Yellow Jackets are more than

a team, and they are more than a community. They are a family. And the Mrs. Shaver is extremely proud of her role within the system. “All of our coaches’ families sit together in the stands and cheer for our husbands and players. Following the home games, we have our family get-togethers when we gather and eat in one of our homes and watch the postgame sports shows on TV; we eat and fellowship until everyone is tired and ready to go home! It is a fun time for our coaching families and the children to have fun together. Football is about family; that’s what I enjoy.” ITG

“I knew that I was a football fan early on in our married life, because when Bill isn’t even at home, I am watching a game; college or NFL, doesn’t matter. I have it on when he isn’t even at home. We just love the game!”

written by James Washington | photography by Lindsi Jones

44 | inthegamemagazine.com

Valwood Wide Reciever Has Smooth Reception to Private School

Born in Adel, Georgia, Maysoe rose through the football ranks, eventually starting at receiver for Cook High School. About

a month into his junior year, his family decided to make the switch from the black and yellow to the royal blue and orange of Valwood School. And, thus far, the transition has been well-received. “There’s such a family atmosphere here (at Valwood),” Maysoe says. “I enjoy the college-like atmosphere, and being here has taught me to handle increased responsibility, both on and off the field.” The private-school life is proving to work out for

the Wiley family; Maysoe, especially. He is taking advantage of every chance given to him; he is often given opportunities to advance, whether it is in the classroom or on the gridiron. “Being at Valwood has taught me a lot,” he says. “One of the most important lessons I’ve learned since I’ve been here is the importance of time management. With the school having such a college feel, you have to budget your time accordingly.”

Looking to the Future

Maysoe would like to earn a four-year degree in either sports management or physical therapy; he would also like to continue his studies beyond a bachelor’s degree. Although offers are on the table, a final decision on his collegiate location has yet to be made. One thing, however, is certain. In a short time, Maysoe Wiley Jr.’s reception at Valwood School has been one made with open arms.

seventy-eight longest reception in yards | occurred in 2013 against Fitzgerald

Maysoe Wiley, Jr. College Offers (as of September 2015)

Wide Receiver / Safety, Valwood Valiants Parents: Maysoe Sr. and LaShandra Wiley Sibling: Gabrielle Wiley (older sister)

Height: 6’4” Weight: 210 lbs. Birthdate: July 28, 1998 Age that he began playing: Seven

13 Maysoe’s jersey

In the Game | 45

Did You Know... It is a hot, humid summer morning, and the Valwood campus is practically empty. There’s only a handful of cars in the parking lot; and Goddard Field is abandoned; a big difference from the typical jam-packed stands that are standard for Friday nights in the fall. In the middle of the field stands Maysoe Wiley, Jr., accompanied by his father. As staff members flank either side, the photographer proceeds to address the Valwood senior with directions for the shoot. He calmly switches helmets, switches jerseys, and stares into the camera lens with the most daunting gaze possible. The results of the session would eventually become the cover of the South Georgia Preseason Edition of In

the Game Magazine. Though the shoot, geared towards prepping the public for the 2015 football season, is intended to give off a tough, intimidating vibe, Maysoe can’t help but occasionally crack a smile or exchange laughs with everyone in attendance. His humble nature and demeanor is a solid balance of his talent and determination on the field; he is the perfect fit on a team that adopted the one-word mantra of “relentless” just prior to his arrival. Unless you know him personally, or took the time to ask someone, you may have never even realized that Maysoe was the cover athlete. It’s not something that he brags about; he is simply a willing participant supporting a sport that he loves. ITG

Trio of Vikings Assistants Provide Link to Lowndes Past, Present

written by Robert Preston Jr. | photography by Micki K. Photography

It’s a dream nearly all coaches entertain at one time or another – having the opportunity to return to his or her alma mater and coach in the same system in which he or she played. For three assistants on this year’s Lowndes Vikings staff, that very dream has come true. Brandon Moore, Jermel Demps,

and Darriet Perry all played for the Vikings during their run of three state championships in four years (2004, 2005, and 2007). Moore and Demps were members of the 2004 and 2005 teams, while Perry played on all three. Each played college football after their championship runs at Lowndes were

over – Moore played at Oklahoma Panhandle State University, Demps at Carson-Newman University, and Perry at Florida International University. Now they’re back together on the field at Lowndes, showing a new group of Vikings how to forge a championship legacy.

In the Game | 49

Brandon Moore, who currently teaches at the Horizon Academy, played at Lowndes from 2001-2004. A lineman during his years with the Vikings, he signed with Oklahoma Panhandle State University after graduation and played for two years in Goodwell, Oklahoma, before diabetes forced him to prematurely end his playing career. His head coach, the late Mike Wyatt, saw something in Moore that led him to make a unique offer. He asked Moore to help coach the team while he finished his education. Moore accepted and served as an assistant while he was still an undergrad. Moore coached the offensive line but was considering taking a position with Coach Wyatt in NFL Europe. Then, in late 2010, Coach Wyatt died suddenly of a heart attack. “I looked at that as a sign not to go to Europe. I decided to come back to Lowndes,” he says. Moore returned to Lowndes High in 2010, where he began as a ninth grade coach. Now he coaches the defensive line for the varsity

“I know the standards and traditions as a former player. That’s why I’m here – to uphold those traditions.” Jermel Demps 50 | inthegamemagazine.com

squad. “It’s been great coaching at my alma mater,” he says. “It’s been a blessing playing for the coaches who coached me. I learn something new every day and at every practice,” he comments. One of the keys to relating to the players is Moore’s age. He’s not that old, and it wasn’t that long ago that he was playing in Martin Stadium himself. The current players respect that and enjoy playing for Moore. “I can relate to them differently than the older coaches. I want to make sure they never forget the tradition. If they know the tradition and bring their own personalities to it, there’s nothing they can’t do. I talk to them about how we played, both the mental and physical sides of the game. They’re receptive to the stories about the past. They ask questions every day,” he says. Jermel Demps was a two-way player on the ’04 and ’05 Vikings, terrorizing opponents as a running back and a defensive back. Following his playing days at Lowndes, Carson-Newman signed him as a defensive back; he was a cornerback all four years there. While he was there, his teams won the conference three times. In his senior season, they advanced to the semi-finals of the playoffs, where they were beaten by Michigan’s Grand Valley State. Demps earned a degree in computer information systems and now teaches driver’s education at Lowndes. Demps always knew he wanted to coach. Since graduating from Carson-Newman, he’s coached at several different schools in the area. His first coaching job, interestingly enough, was as a ninth grade assistant at Lowndes. Then he took a varsity job at Berrien, followed by Worth County and later Pelham. After just one year as defensive coordinator at Pelham, Lowndes head coach Randy McPherson came calling again. “It was always a goal of mine, to come back to Lowndes. I wanted to be a varsity coach at my alma mater,” states Demps. When he returned to Lowndes, there was a bit of an adjustment period. “It was weird at first, coaching with my coaches. But I got used to it quickly. A few guys still looked at me as a player and not a coach. Now I fit right in. I know the standards and traditions as a former player. That’s why I’m here – to uphold those traditions,” he says. Like Coach Moore, he wants to use the winning legacy of the past to motivate the players of today. He says that the kids often ask questions – “Is this how y’all used to do it back then?” When he hears those questions, he’s honest with the players. Demps knows that the kids bring their own talents and attitude to the program. There is, however, a proven formula for success. “We tell them that if they do their job a certain way, there’s a good chance they’ll have success,” he says. Demps’s primary goal is to reach his players every day. As important as football is, he knows that there is a time limit to everyone’s career on the field. Once a player’s career is over, he needs to take the lessons he learned on the field and apply them to everyday life. “I want to go out and make a difference in someone’s life every day. I want to help these kids become men, fathers, productive citizens. I want help them be great men off the field by teaching them lessons on the field,” he says. Of the three coaches, Darriet Perry has had the most decorated career, both in high school and college. He was

the only player to start on all three state championship teams. A running back, he went to Florida International University where he enjoyed a fantastic four-year career. He was probably a pulled hamstring away from playing in the NFL. While at FIU, Perry rushed for 1,809 yards. He holds the Florida International record with 27 touchdowns. He also has the overall single-game rushing record (186 yards) and the freshman single-game rushing record (117 yards, two touchdowns). Perry graduated from Florida International in 2012 with a degree in physical education and a minor in criminal justice. After graduation, Perry went to work delivering candy, of all things, in Waycross. Then Coach McPherson gave him a call. “He helped me make up my mind to coach,” says Perry. He left his job in Waycross and took a position with the Lowndes County School System. Officially listed as a community coach, Perry is a paraprofessional at Moulton-Branch Elementary School and coaches running backs for the varsity. He is continuing his education and will soon have a teaching certificate. “This is my first year coaching. It takes a lot to be able to coach a team. When you’re a player, you don’t see the rest of the team, the other guys just jogging around or not understanding the plays. When you’re focused on your job, you don’t understand all that. But as

a coach, you see it all. It takes time to get the kids to understand what you want them to do and why you want them to do it,” he says. One advantage Perry brings to the table is his understanding of the spread offense. The players on this year’s team all grew up on the venerable wing-T offense. This season, under new offensive coordinator Tucker Pruitt, the Vikings have moved to the spread. It’s the same offense that Perry played in at Florida International. He knows the scheme front and back, and he’s been impressed with how the kids have picked up on the new offense. “From week one to where we are now, it’s been a complete turnaround. At first, it was like speaking Spanish to them. They’ve been running the wing-T ever since they were in middle school. But now they understand the spread, know the plays, and respond to it. They understand the game and the playbook. They’re paying attention to the details,” he says. Even though he’s new to the coaching profession, he has a firm grasp of what he would like to accomplish each time he steps on the field. “I want us to win one game at a time, one practice at a time, one day at a time. If we do that, we’ll have a shot at winning region and making a playoff run to the state title. I would love to coach in a state championship game,” he says. ITG

Jermel Demps

Brandon Moore

Darriet Perry

Okay, Show of Hands.... written by Jon Nelson, GPB Sports

ow many of you foresaw all the upsets happening in your weekly picks after the first few weeks of the 2015 high school football season? If you did, you certainly know your Georgia high school football. To see that powers like Sandy Creek, Kell, and Buford (who wouldsee a 42-game win streak come to an end), would have an early number to the right of the win-loss dash means only one thing to me, really: I have a gut feeling that it’s going to be one of those seasons! And, by that, I mean a season where we

need to expect the unexpected… I think it’s a good thing to have that in our range of thought every week. It keeps us all fresh and on our toes trying to figure out who goes where and what happens next. Because of that, I have a challenge: Give me the name of an athlete that isn’t in our normal conversation that should be (or will be) by the end of this season. (And tell me why...I like facts.) And, while we’re on the topic of nominations...I would also like the name of an athlete that best personifies your program. He or she doesn’t have to be a star (and I say “she” because there’s more than football going on right now), but that athlete is

the first thing you think of when you think of your favorite high school and the games that happen on the field. They could be an athlete that’s great in the classroom and in the community all at the same time… and those folks, really, are the backbone of the towns in which we all live. This is something that’s fresh on my mind, especially after visits to places like Elberton and Carnesville recently- to go with places like Roberta, Fort Valley, Rochelle, Tifton, Moultrie, Valdosta, Homerville, Waycross, Folkston, Kingsland, Brunswick, and Savannah. We see them do their job all the time- and I just think, for

once, they should get recognition… How do you do it: Go to the “In The Game Magazine” Facebook page or website, log on, “like” it, and start the conversation there. You can also use Twitter to let us all know what you’re thinking (if you can squeeze it into 140 characters or less). You can always follow me on Twitter @OSGNelson, go onto the GPB Sports Facebook page, or download the GPB Sports app. As we get into region play, I look forward to hearing from each and every one of you down the road…And I hope to see you there as well. Play it safe, everyone… I’ll see you on Football Fridays! ITG

In the Game | 53

Lead, Work Hard , and Stay Positive

Todd Bradley written by Robert Preston Jr. | photography by Micki K. Photography

he 2015 season hasn’t started out the way Valdosta High senior linebacker Todd Bradley wanted it to. When I spoke with him, the Wildcats were a little over 24 hours removed from their opening-week loss to Norcross. Bradley didn’t get to play; he was nursing a shoulder injury that had been bothering him for a couple of months. He had to stand on the sidelines of the Georgia Dome while his teammates battled the Blue Devils. The ‘Cats came up short by just three points, and Bradley had to wonder if he would have made a game-changing difference. Despite the question marks after Week 1, Bradley chose to stay positive and focus on making the most out of what was left of his senior year. “I want to keep everyone together; be the one who will lead and show the rest of the team the way. I want to be positive. I don’t like to be negative about things,” he says. Though he was still a little banged up early in the year, Bradley has a lot or reasons to be positive. He’s the anchor of the Wildcat defense, one of just five returning starters on that side of the ball. He’s a three-star recruit who had his choice of schools from which to pick. An AllRegion player last year, Bradley finished the year with142 tackles, 22 tackles for a loss, and three interceptions. Against archrival Lowndes, Bradley posted 19 tackles in Valdosta’s 13-10 win. “Beating Lowndes means bragging rights for a year. We all know each other personally, and we see each other around town a lot. It makes for a great year,” he says. This was supposed to be the year that Bradley added another facet to his game. Solely a defensive player for his first three years, Bradley was penciled in to play a little running back in 2015. He’s a powerful kid who loves contact – although he readily admits he’d rather be the one hitting than getting hit – and has great football instincts. He can play just about any position and play it well. First, though, he has to get healthy. “I’m supposed to get some reps at running back in practice, but I haven’t been able to because of my shoulder,” he says. A number of colleges have had Bradley on their radars for a long time. He had about 15 offers on the table and eventually chose Georgia Southern University in Statesboro. What made him want to play for the Eagles? “I liked the tradition. They’re winners, like Valdosta. Plus, I think I’ll be able to play early up there,” he says. With his college decision out of the way, Bradley is free to focus on his final year of football at Valdosta High School. The ‘Cats have had a rough go of it lately; during his time at Valdosta, the team has yet to make it out of the first round of the playoffs. Bradley would like to see that change this year. “I want us to have a good team and to have good team chemistry. Then we need to go out and win the region; then state,” he says. ITG

Todd Bradley is a football-only student-athlete. In middle school and during his freshman year, he also played basketball, but he developed a case of tendonitis in his knees that just wouldn’t go away. He didn’t play as a sophomore. Last year, he could see that his future would be in football, so he decided to stay off the hardwood in order to focus on football. It’s a move that has worked out pretty well for the future Georgia Southern Eagle. In the Game | 55

Case Gregory written by Robert Preston Jr. | photography by Micki K Photography written by Robert Preston Jr. | photography by Micki K Photography

Willie J. Williams Middle School In the Game | 57

“Yeah, my friends think I’m crazy. One of my friends calls me ‘weird’ because I exercise so much,” says Moultrie’s Case Gregory, 11, an aspiring triathlete who attends Willie Williams Middle School. Gregory discovered triathlons this year after spending several years swimming competitively and running at a fairly high level. When family friends who are triathletes realized what the youngster was doing, they encouraged his parents to buy Gregory a bike and let him get started in the sport. They obliged, Gregory entered his first triathlon, and was instantly hooked. A triathlon takes time. If you’re going to be good, you have to train every day – sometimes multiple times per day. And if you’re training that much, you’ve got to eat. It truly is a lifestyle as much as it is a sport. And that’s just fine with Case Gregory. “He’s very dedicated and driven. He wakes himself up to work out. He has a Garmin watch that he uses to track his miles. He follows a strict diet – it’s been over a year since he has had a Coke. We have to watch his calories for him. At one time, he was training too much and not eating enough. He’s unlike any kid I’ve ever seen with regard to diet,” says his father, Brad Gregory. The younger Gregory abstains from candy, white bread, sweet tea, and fried foods. He drinks water, milk, and a few juices. “It wasn’t easy at first but now it is. I feel better, and I’m getting better nutrients,” he says. So how much does Gregory do each week? He runs between 12 and 16 miles per week. These days, he does most of his running at cross country practice. He swims two miles per session, four times per week. And whenever he can fit one in, he goes for a bike ride. Of the three sports, Gregory’s passions are swimming and running. The bike is just the part of the triathlon that moves him from swimming to running. “The bike is the scariest for me. You’re out there by yourself. You just put your head down, watch the road, and hope you get back,” he says. This summer, Gregory completed three triathlons, all of which fall into the sprint triathlon category. Though 58 | inthegamemagazine.com

they’re called sprints, they aren’t really sprints at all. The length of sprint triathlons varies, but most feature swims of 400-600 yards, bike rides in the range of 10-15 miles, and 5K runs. Elites finish these in the neighborhood of an hour, mere mortals in 70-90 minutes or more. Despite their relative short length (compared to half-Ironman and Ironman races), they are still grueling suffer-fests that reward pacing, attention to detail, and careful race execution. That can be difficult for an adult competitor; for a pre-teen, it’s almost mind-boggling. Gregory, however, has proven, time and time again, that he is up to the task. His first race was the Jax Triathlon Series Race #1 in Fernandina Beach, Fla. The swim was in the ocean (400 yards), the 16mile bike ride on the heavilytraveled (and open to traffic) A1A, and the three-mile run on the relatively quiet roads of Fort Clinch State Park. Gregory finished the race in 1:36:18, posting the third-fastest swim in his age group and the fastest run (22:12), and ultimately placing second in his age group. And that’s after crashing on the bike. After he fell, he hopped back up, kept riding, and finished the race on the age-group podium. Gregory’s next race came on July 4th in Marianna, Fla., at the Freedom Springs Triathlon. The race featured a 400-yard swim, 10-mile bike ride, and a 5K run. This was Gregory’s favorite because the swim, which took place in a natural spring, was very cold. He finished third in his age group in 1:14:45. And this

time, he managed to keep the rubber side down on the bike. Gregory trained for another six or seven weeks before entering his third race of the summer, the Georgia Veterans Triathlon in Cordele. This race was the most difficult of the three he did – the bike ride, while not the longest at 13.6 miles, was hilly and technical, much more so than the pancake-flat 16-miler in Fernandina. The 5K run was exposed to the sun and brutally hot. Gregory cruised through to a 1:29:33 finish. He posted the second-fastest swim and third-fastest run in his age group, which was the deepest and most talented he faced all summer. At the moment, Gregory’s biggest weakness is on the bike. He knows this and has been working to bring his cycling up to speed, literally and figuratively. Fortunately for him, the bike is the easiest of the three disciplines in which to improve. Cycling for an 11-year-old isn’t really easy. Getting out on the roads is dangerous, and cyclists are still a bit of a rarity in South Georgia. Gregory rides with adults fairly often and also rides on Moultrie’s bike trail. Still, sending an 11-year-old out on his bike for a ride of an hour or more is unnerving for any parent. Recently, Gregory’s parents bought him an indoor bike trainer, which is an apparatus that turns a bicycle into a stationary bike. It’s a fantastic tool that offers cyclists the opportunity to get in a great workout on their own bike indoors in a controlled environment. Gregory has been using the trainer to work on his cadence and become more comfortable

with gearing. As he gets older and stronger, his cycling will no doubt catch up to his swim and his run. Regarding the future, Gregory would like to move up to Olympic distance triathlons (1.5K swim/40K bike/10K run) and eventually to Ironman races (2.4-mile swim/112-mile bike/26.2-mile run). At the moment, though, he just wants to keep training and learning the sport. He’s got plenty of time to mature and figure everything out. His family admires him for what he does, but they’re just fine with him doing the sprint races. “He’s just so dedicated. It really is a lifestyle to him. He also makes great grades, and he finds time to play the guitar. If he’s not exercising, he’s reading. He’s an amazing kid,” says his father. ITG Case Gregory is a very observant young man. Earlier this year, he visited a war museum and bought a book on combat tactics. In the book was a section on how to properly fall. When he got into trouble on the bike in Fernandina (another competitor got close to him and startled him, which caused him to fall) and realized a crash was imminent, he remembered what that book said about falling. He used the book’s technique and came out of the crash unhurt. He brushed himself off and completed the race without incident or injury.

In the Game | 59

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Always keep track of your phone, and don’t leave it out or carry it openly in crowded places. Use your phone’s lock screen feature. It’s like a padlock for the information inside. Don’t set up your phone to automatically log in to sensitive accounts, and be sure to log out immediately when you’re done using things like mobile banking or shopping online. Don’t store sensitive information on your phone. That means you shouldn’t have an easily accessible file listing your passwords. This includes information like; checking and savings account numbers and passwords, credit or debit card numbers, your Social Security number; or any data about you or people you know that

could be misused if your phone is lost or stolen. Avoid banking or making purchases over free public Wi-Fi networks. It’s safer to use your 4G or 3G networks or, wait until you get home and use your own Internet connection. Download apps from trusted sources such as the Apple Store or Google Play, and be sure to install updates when available because some fixes are made to improve security. Use software such as ‘Find My iPhone’ for iPhones, and Android Device Manager or Lookout for Android phones in the event that it is lost or stolen. Be sure to call your phone provider and let them know if your phone is lost or stolen. Don’t forget to mention if you did happen to store credit card, or other sensitive information. Contact your bank if that is the case.

Make the right call... guard the information on your smartphone to help protect yourself from identity theft. In the Game | 61

FCA Update We had a wonderful camp season this past summer and had campers from all areas of athletics attend, including basketball, baseball, soccer, football, and cheer, just to name a few. We had an outstanding response to the word of God being preached and taught and saw many souls come to know Christ on a personal level. We had leadership training on Saturday, September 26 at Wild Adventures Theme Park from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon. There was an opportunity for students/athletes and coaches to learn how they could get more involved in their FCA huddles in their

local schools and have fun while hearing the Word of Christ at the same time. Our area representative, Mr. Bobby Willis, along with our new staff member, Brian Gay, have been actively visiting and participating in our area schools, FCA meetings, and sports practices. We have so much local talent and are excited to see what the new season of athletics will produce in the way of student leaders and athletes. We are excited about some of our upcoming events, which are: Christ Makes Winners Rally on October 28th, The Brooks County Banquet on November 5th, and our

yearly Donor Appreciation Lunch on November 17th, which is our way of saying â&#x20AC;&#x153;thank youâ&#x20AC;? to our local donors and supporters of the FCA Ministry. We are looking forward to growth in all of our huddle groups, Bible studies, and

on our school campuses and are excited to see the work continue that has already been started. Souls are being saved, coaches and students are being reached, and the gospel is being spread throughout our local communities.

In the Game | 63

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Hard Work, Dedication, Commitment, Perseverance: Tess Robinson is Ready for the Next Level written by James Washington photography by Micki K Photography

hen you know what you want, no matter the situation, half the battle is already behind you. The only thing that lies ahead is making your goals and dreams come true. For Tess Robinson, the accolades are of the quality of an entire team of stars. But for the Coffee High School pitcher and shortstop, the awards take a backseat to the hard work that was required to make any of her accomplishments possible. “I believe my time at Coffee High School has taught me that good things come to the students that work hard and earn what they want,” Robinson says. “I also believe that the Coffee community will remember that I am a leader, and I set my goals high with plans on achieving them.” A four-year starter for the Trojans, Robinson began playing softball in recreational leagues at the age of 8. Her father, Ralph, wanted her to be ready for anything, so he actually taught her to play every position on the field (with

Tess Robinson | Coffee High School In the Game | 65

the exception of catcher). According to her father, familiarity with multiple positions would lead to more opportunities to succeed in the future. “Tess is, and has always been, in the pursuit of excellence,” Mr. Robinson says. “Her mindset from day one has always been that she is in competition with herself. She wants to be the absolute best ‘Tess’ she can be.” And, as the awards show, the “best Tess” is one that is a tremendous force on the softball field. In her first three years as a member of the Trojans, she has been named Varsity Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year, while also taking home First-Team All-

Region honors and recognition as a Scholar Athlete and for Honor Academic Achievement. Aside from Trojan softball, Robinson also competes with the East Cobb Bullets, widely considered to be one of the elite traveling softball teams in the state of Georgia. Last summer, the Bullets competed in The Sparklers tournament in Boulder, Colorado. It was here that her future began to take even more shape. “This is where (Austin Peay University’s) Coach Shane Showalter saw me play,” she says. “He got in contact with my head coach for the Bullets about coming for an unofficial visit. He gave my dad, my sister,

and I a tour of the campus, and ultimately I verbally committed to go there.” While Tess is extremely proud of her accomplishments, she is more proud of the sacrifices that went into making her dreams a reality. For most of her life, her father raised her and her older sister Tori (who currently attends Northwest Florida State College) on his own. “My father taught us to strive forward and to never give up,” she says. “He not only said things, he showed us with his actions. I am so happy to say that my father was married in December of 2014. With all of the time, effort, and sacrifices that he has made for my sister and me, he has now

been blessed with the most wonderful wife and mother that anyone can ask for. Our family has come full circle.” In the fall of 2016, Austin Peay (Clarksville, Tenn.) will be welcoming Tess Robinson to their campus. A lover of science (especially chemistry), Robinson has already carved what will be her path to a degree in pharmacy. “I want to provide Austin Peay with my athletic talents, but more so, my mindset of winning, having a great attitude, and being academically successful,” she says. “The school fits me, and it will allow me to have the opportunity to obtain a successful future in life.” ITG In the Game | 67

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