Georgia October/November 2020

ITG NEXT 100: The Top 100 Players in the State of Georgia Already A Star Essence Cody | Valdosta

Colquitt County’s Legion of Boom

THE EVOLUTION OF CHAUNCEY MAGWOOD Lee County

DESERVING VICTORY: OCT/NOV 2020

DuBose Gears Up For First Season With Vikings

• Hughston’s quality patient care has kept us #1 in orthopaedics for 70 years • Organizing preparticipation physicals since 1976 • Covering over 1,500 local sporting events each year • Saturday morning injury clinic • Researching and implementing concussion management software for local athletes

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Phenix City Thomaston Thomasville Valdosta

6262 Veterans Parkway • Columbus, GA 31909

1-800-331-2910 • 706-324-6661 www.hughston.com

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ITG Next “When you’re good at something, you’ll tell everyone.

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The Evolution of Chauncey Magwood Lee County

28

Deserving Victory: DuBose Gears Up for First Season With Vikings

46

Ready to Ripen Peach County Football Looks to Build on Program's Past Success With Young Team

39

Colquitt County’s Legion of Boom Colquitt County

Already A Star Essence Cody | Valdosta

54

65

ITG Next 100: The Top 100 Players in the State of Georgia

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More: 15

Get to Know Dougherty's Stantavious Smith + Something Is Brewing in Blackshear

19

Yellow Jackets Looking to Break Through

24

McCauley Takes Over for Trojans

12

Khristian Zachary | Carrollton

32

5 Sports We’d Like to See in High School

17

Omari Arnold | Brooks County

33

New Hammer, Same Swing:

22

Chrishon Stephens | Tift County

36

Hitting for the Moon: Luna Looking to Continue Breakout Success

28

Noah Collins | Grayson

Celena Luna | Northside (Warner Robins)

34

AJ Lofton | Crisp County

The Complete Player

41

Claire Cahalan | Northside (Columbus)

44

Johnerio Holt | Athens Academy

43

Player Profiles

Tykeem Wallace | Thomas County Central

Coaches With the Most Wins in Georgia

Trojans Gearing Up For 2020 Season

Harrison Hamsley | Valwood

52

'Tis the Life of a Kicker Noah Jones | Cairo

51

DaVontae Gadson | Brunswick

60

Changing the Culture

58

Makeil Kendrick | Perry

62

Rush Propst, Welcome to Valdosta

63

Jaylin Alderman | Valdosta

68

Kimberely Jo Brady | Crisp County

72

TJ Quinn | Lowndes

77

Billy Jack | Westfield

Phillip Ironside | Worth County

64

Valwood Valiant Volleyball Claims its First State Championship

74

Remember the Name:

76

X-Factor

78

Regions of Doom

Meet the Running Back Who Outran Nick Chubb and Outscored Hershchel Walker Amaad Foston | John Milledge Academy Freshman Chris Martin Is Looking to Make an Instant Impact at Fitzgerald

+ Staying Busy and Making Plans

More stories and player profiles can be found in our online extended edition at itgnext.com.

ITG Next | 9

Our Team Contributors Publisher Mark Dykes Editors Kyle Grondin Anna Limoges Graphics Mandy Douthit Cover Photography Micki Krzynski Micki K Photography Player Profile Photography Eric Vinson Dreaming Wild Photography Madison Tucker Feature Photography Micki Krzynski Micki K Photography Eric Vinson Dreaming Wild Photography Brandon Pham Juston Lewis Feature Writers Kyle Grondin Phil Jones Juston Lewis Advertising/Marketing Andrew Pipkin andrew@itgnext.com Mark Dykes mark@itgnext.com

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director of operations

Founder Mark Dykes is the entrepreneur and mastermind behind the In the Game vision. Back in 2007, Mark set out to create a company that captured the passion, intensity, and unrivaled commitment toward high school athletics in the South Georgia area. Today, that vision has become a reality, and he continues to be the leading influence in what lies ahead for In the Game, despite his annual prediction that UGA will win the National Championship.

As a Pine Mountain, Georgia, native, Mandy’s move to Valdosta has brought enhanced artistry and intricacy to the ITG design team. The University of West Georgia alum graduated with a Bachelors of Fine Arts in art with a concentration in graphic design. Her artistic nature has allowed her to use graphic design to win national and international design competitions, all of which are meant to serve as diversions and coping mechanisms for Alabama’s loss in the National Championship.

Anna became a member of the ITG Next team in 2016, serving as an intern for three semesters. After graduating from Valdosta State University in 2017, she remained with the team as an editor, devoting her editorial eye to the company for two years before becoming the Director of Operations. In her free time, Anna enjoys reading and writing. More importantly, although she claims to be a fan of the New Orleans Saints, there is fortunately no other sign of such irrational fandom.

Andrew Pipkin Account Executive

Kyle Grondin

Phil Jones

Born and raised in South Georgia, Andrew attended Valdosta State University where he obtained a degree in marketing and business. He is passionate about sports, especially high school football (Go Cats!). Andrew’s focus is to develop and cultivate relationships with businesses all around South Georgia. Like so many other Georgia Bulldogs fans, his hopes of a national championship increase every year, but in the end they are just long lost dreams.

Kyle is a senior at Valdosta State University working toward a Bachelor of Arts in English with a track in journalism. He transferred to Valdosta with his wife from UCF and hopes to become a world class sports journalist. Most days, Kyle is taking his dog Stella for walks or playing sports at the local gym. Kyle is a bigtime UCF Knight fan, so you know he’s willing to claim himself the national champion of everything with little evidence supporting his cause.

Phil Jones is a native of South Georgia and calls Valdosta home. He is a 19-year veteran of the newspaper business, during which time he served as chairman of the Georgia Press Association’s Sales and Marketing Committee. He was also recognized as the state’s top newspaper circulation and sales director in 2002. Phil has worked in the radio industry for the last 12 years as host of The Afternoon Sports Drive, a daily sports show devoted mostly to high school football and other local sports.

Tyrah Walker

Max Steel

Brandon Pham

Broadcaster

Videographer

Videographer

Born and raised in Jacksonville, Florida, Tyrah Walker is excited to join the ITG Next family as one of the on-air hosts. A graduate of the preeminent University of South Florida, she received her bachelor's degree in mass communications with an emphasis in broadcast news (Go, Bulls!).

Tyrah is also an author. She is looking forward to sharing sports stories with the community. When she's not hosting or blogging, Tyrah enjoys reading, photography, and spending time with family.

Originally from Decatur, Georgia, Max attended Valdosta State University and graduated with a degree in mass media.

A former college cross country runner, Max now works at ITG Next as a videographer. When not at ITG Next, Max enjoys working out and creating short films.

Brandon recently graduated from Valdosta State University with a degree in mass media. He is a sports videographer ready to get back into the action. He prefers to use Sony cameras. He currently uses a Sony 6300 but will be getting the new Sony A7siii. His dream is to be a videographer for the NFL or any sports team. His favorite sports team is Orlando City SC even though they’ve never been to the playoffs.

Contributing Writer

Broadcaster/Writer

Digital Manager Mandy Douthit

ITG Next is published bi-monthly. The contents of this publication may not be reproduced in part or in full without written consent from the publisher.

Dykes Media Group LLC makes no representation or warranty of any kind for accuracy of content. All advertisements are assumed by the publisher to be correct. Copyright 2020 Dykes Media Group LLC. All rights reserved. ISSN 1945-1458.

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Micki Krzynski

Contributing Photographer

Contributing Photographer

Eric Vinson is a native of Lowndes County and a graduate of Valdosta High School. He recently got his Bachelor’s of Fine Arts from Valdosta State University in mass media. Eric loves taking photos, watching sports, and producing music.

When it comes to loyalty to In the Game, it is hard to top Micki. Since the very beginning of In the Game, Micki has provided strong, creative, and highly professional photos. Consequently, Micki and her son/assistant, Jake, have become our go-to photo duo. With enough talent, equipment, and experience to make her dangerous, she continues to push ITG’s photography forward.

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Something Is Brewing in Blackshear Written by: Kyle Grondin Photography by: ITG Next

You may want to start paying attention to Pierce County, as the Bears are rolling.

For a team that is 23-2 over the last two seasons, it’s no surprise that they’re a great football team.

What is surprising is how they’ve dominated their first two games. The 3A football program is 2-0 through two weeks and has beaten teams above their weight class. Their opening win was thumping 6A program Brunswick by a score of 31-10. They followed that up by blanking 5A Wayne County 14-0.

Both teams that Pierce County played entered the season with high expectations for success, and both times the Bears brought their claws in shutting them down. It starts on the defensive end for head coach Ryan Herring and his club. They’re fast, they’re physical, and they’ll force you into a lot of mistakes.

Through two games, Pierce County has stifled opponents by getting eight sacks and forcing four turnovers. Both the Pirates and the Yellow Jackets struggled to move the ball on this defense, and they have a star in linebacker Austin Jernigan.

Jernigan is second on the team with 17 tackles, he has 1.5 sacks, plus he also has an interception. His brother enrolled at Auburn as an offensive lineman, but he’s making a name in his own right. Jernigan is the leader of this defense.

Offensively, the team brings back a lot of talent.

They’re smart, take care of the football, and have a budding star of their own. That’s sophomore D.J. Bell.

Bell took over at running back for the Bears and has dominated through two weeks, especially in Week 2 with 127 yards and a touchdown in the win over Wayne County.

This team is deep and talented and has to feel disappointed by their second-round exit last season, especially after making the semifinals in 2018. With a smart offense and physical defense, the Bears could be playing for a state championship.

Get to Know Dougherty's Stantavious Smith Written by: Kyle Grondin

Even as a freshman last season, Stantavious Smith stood out like a man among boys. Entering 2020, Smith's god-given abilities, work ethic, and charismatic attitude represent the optimism in the future of the Dougherty football program.

Not many players make an instant impact as a freshman. But then again, not many freshmen are 6-foot-3 and nearly 245 pounds.

While Dougherty High School struggled to get going in 2019, Smith was the definitive bright spot. The talented freshman possessed many traits, but not a lot of kids are blessed with his raw power. Smith caught the coaching staff’s attention early in the season and was named a starting varsity player midway through the season.

He’s quick off the line of scrimmage and uses that strength in his hands to outmuscle a lot of offensive linemen. If he can do that at just 15, we can only imagine what his ceiling might be.

“This offseason has been great for me,” Smith said. “I am just working on getting better every day. Every day is an opportunity to get faster and stronger, and I’m also working on developing more pass rush moves for this upcoming season.”

Of course that is the area where Smith can continue to develop. If he can refine his technique and develop a few go-to moves to get past offensive linemen, then the state of Georgia doesn’t stand a chance. Smith said he watches a lot of Denver Broncos star Von Miller, who has been one of the premier pass rushers in the league for a decade.

“He’s just been dominant for so many years," Smith said. "I love the way he can use a mixture of speed and power. That’s how I want to play the position.”

Smith is a rising star and has caught the attention of many major programs at the collegiate level. He already has nine offers from Power Five programs including Maryland, Tennessee, Georgia, South Carolina, Kentucky, Florida State, Nebraska, Arkansas, and Louisville. It isn’t just his game, but his overall joy on the field. College Football Today also releases a yearly class rankings and ranked Smith as the top defensive end in the class of 2023. Smith is one of those kids who enjoys doing what he does best: playing football. But he understands what the Trojans are trying to do to get better in 2020.

“When I played in middle school and growing up, all I really did was run up and down the field," Smith said. "My coaches at Dougherty are doing a great job of teaching me the game and how to be a man on and off the field.”

Dougherty went 2-8 last season, struggling to get going in the 4A classification. With a new look region, there’s reason for optimism in the Albany area.

The 2019 Trojans were a young team filled with inexperience. The 2022 class and Smith’s 2023 class are brimming with talent, and Dougherty is a team that can definitely surprise some people in the next couple of seasons.

“We’ve been working hard during the offseason," Smith said. "First it was just Zoom meetings, but now the line has been meeting and working with face masks to improve and get better. We’re all just working to improve our craft.”

Dougherty begins their season Sept. 3 at Spencer High School.

ITG Next | 15

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Yellow Jackets Looking to Break Through Thomas County Central Written by: Phil Jones | Photography by: Micki K Photography

With consecutive 5-5 seasons in his first two years at Thomas County Central, head coach Ashley Henderson is ready to take his Yellow Jackets team to new heights as he kicks off his third season. With realignment moving the Yellow Jackets from Region 1-5A to Region 1-4A, Henderson is hoping his Jackets can finish the drill this year, as his team has started fast out of the gate in each of the last two years with 5-1 records, only to lose their remaining contests, all region games, after that.

At first glance, it may appear that the first two seasons have yielded only mediocre results, but that doesn’t necessarily reflect the whole story of the job Henderson has done. In his first season at Central, his Jackets, while in a transition season, defeated a stout Brooks County team.

Then, there were the injuries to several of his key players last season, which even for the most experienced program would’ve been hard to overcome. Athlete, starting cornerback, and running back Pershean Taylor injured his knee in practice early in the season and was lost for the year. Athlete Tykeem Wallace then broke a bone in his foot on a long touchdown run in a victory over Monroe. He

missed four games with the injury.

“At the time Tykeem went down, he was averaging 17 yards per carry” Henderson said.

In the same game, a three-year starter at outside linebacker, Jordan “Jet” Jones, suffered a shoulder injury. That injury cost Jones seven games and the rest of the season.

“Those were three big guys to lose, a lot of experience and talent,” Henderson said.

Then, there were injuries to several members of the offensive line, including starting center Parker Harris. The O-line injuries forced Henderson and his staff to use 10 different line combinations last season. The good news is that everyone is healthy and has returned, except for Harris, who has graduated.

Henderson knows, however, that none of that stuff from the past matters. The fans are simply ready for the Yellow Jackets to start winning and returning to the playoffs. Nobody wants that any worse than the head coach and the players who have been through the transition process.

Those are the players who were freshmen and sophomores when Henderson took over.

“These guys have been with me from the

“These guys have been with me from the beginning and have put in a lot of hard work. They have worked hard to prove that they can get the job done, and I have complete confidence in them.”

— Ashley Henderson ITG Next | 19

“That day I received my first offer from Georgia, then Georgia Tech. Both offered me on the same day.”

— Gabe Harris

20 | itgnext.com

beginning and have put in a lot of hard work,” Henderson said. “They have worked hard to prove that they can get the job done, and I have complete confidence in them.”

In addition to the hard work, Henderson is hoping for a little good fortune too. The injuries served as a reminder to Henderson just how important depth is, so the head coach is doing something about it.

“We’re playing a lot of guys both ways,” he said.

In addition to the three players returning, Henderson will have returning quarterback Kalique Guyton back to run the offense, and athlete Adam Hopkins is also returning.

“I really like our team,” Henderson said.

“We’ll have a lot of firepower this year. We have several three- and even four-year starters that will serve as the foundation for our team on the field and in the locker room.

“Guyton is cool under pressure, which is what you look for in your quarterback.”

Hopkins, who figures to be one of Guyton’s top targets at wide receiver, is a “natural athlete,” according to Henderson. One player that Henderson is counting on this year is not one of his seniors. He’s not even

a junior. No, the player is Gabe Harris, a sophomore, but he's not just any sophomore. Harris is a top 100 nationally ranked player at his position of defensive end.

He’s all of 6-foot-4 and 230 pounds. And he’s just 16 years old.

“Gabe has really transformed his body over the last 12 months,” Henderson said. “He’s everything you want in a football player: He’s got a heck of a motor, a great attitude, and his grades have sky-rocketed, and he loves to study film. Gabe just loves and embraces all aspects of the game.”

Henderson said that the sophomore already has over 10 offers from college programs, but there will be more attention coming his way.

“He’s just getting started," Henderson said. "His best football is still ahead of him.”

Harris also plays basketball, but he said he’s all about football.

“I like to study film, and I watch old tapes of defensive ends like Michael Strahan,” Harris said.

Harris knows it’s the work he puts in on the field, the sweat equity, that’s going to make him better.

“I know I’ve got to work harder than my opponent if I’m going to get better,” Harris said.

Harris credited his head coach for making him a better player.

“Coach Hen sat me down when we first met and told me what he expected of me and how things would go," Harris said. "He told me what to expect with offers coming in, everything.“ Speaking of offers, Harris recalled a special day in December of 2019.

“That day I received my first offer from Georgia, then Georgia Tech," Harris said. "Both offered me on the same day.”

In addition to working with his Central teammates, Harris has attended offseason Under Armour camps to continue to build up his craft. Just as Henderson is looking to build up depth by having players go both ways (on offense and defense), Harris is working with the offense at tight end.

As far as his future goes, Harris has big goals. He is completely dedicated to football, hoping it takes him to a successful college and professional career.

“I don’t want to just make it to the NFL, but I want to be great,” Harris said.

One thing is for certain: As only a sophomore, he’ll have plenty of time to continue working toward that goal.

CHRISHON STEPHENS 22 | itgnext.com

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McCauley Takes Over for Trojans Written by: Logan Maddox

What do you do when you lose one of the top quarterbacks in the nation by transfer?

If you are Carrollton High School in West Georgia, it is quite simple: You add another top quarterback.

This was the situation in early August when news broke that M.J. Morris, a major SEC prospect with offers from Alabama, Auburn, Georgia, Florida, and LSU, was transferring from the Trojans program. Morris, who threw for 2,186 yards and 20 scores and rushed for 379 yards and eight touchdowns in 2019, announced via Twitter that he would instead suit up for Pace Academy this fall.

This could have been a massive loss for Carrollton. Coach Sean Calhoun and the Trojans enjoyed a plethora of success in Morris’s sophomore season, as the four-star athlete guided the Trojans offense to new heights en route to an undefeated regular season, a Region 7-5A championship, a trip to the Elite Eight, and a 12-1 finish.

Please note that I said “could have been.”

Days after Morris shared that he would be a Knight, the Carrollton football program picked up a huge transfer in junior James McCauley.

McCauley, a 6-foot-2, 190-pound pro-style quarterback, was a backup last season at Archbishop Stepinac High School in White Plains, New York. The Empire State resident reportedly made the move due to concerns about whether or not there would be a high school football season in his home state.

“Due to COVID-19 and the uncertainty of a fall football season in New York I am in a very tough position,” McCauley said in a tweet on Aug. 13. “With that being said, I will be transferring to Carrollton High School in Georgia.

“This was a very hard decision for me, but I feel very confident in making this decision. I can’t wait for this opportunity to compete and play for Carrollton this year!”

Luckily for McCauley, the GHSA made it very clear early on that there would be high school football in Georgia this year. This allowed for the 16-year-old to call Carroll County his new home, and the move will likely bring more scouting opportunities for the blossoming prospect.

Carrollton will be a recruiting hotbed this fall. The Trojans are home to numerous top tier prospects, including Georgia commit Chaz Chambliss, Florida pledge Chief Borders, future Memphis linebacker Jared Nedd, and NC State commitment Lyndon Cooper, among others.

McCauley was already impressing regional analysts in camps as soon as he touched down in the Peach State.The Class of 2022 gunslinger was named one of the top performers of the Infinit Football Camp in August, being praised with other star signal callers like Cherokee’s A.J. Swann, Putnam County’s Gerald Kilgore, and Christian Burks of Langston Hughes.

McCauley, an honor roll student at Archbishop Stepinac, was invited to the Elite 11 quarterback competition and earned a scholarship from Rutgers during his time as a Crusader. In the past week, he has received interest from FBS programs such as Temple and Marshall and Ivy Leagues like Columbia, Dartmouth, and Princeton.

Although he had a rough go of things in his Carrollton debut in Saturday’s loss to 7A Collins Hill (100 yards on 10-23 passing with one touchdown and three interceptions), the Division I bound McCauley will look for more success against opponents in similar classifications in the coming weeks.

24 | itgnext.com

Coaches With the Most Wins in Georgia ALL TIME Larry Campbell

Lincoln County 477 WINS Ranks #5 on US All Time List

ACTIVE Alan Chadwick Marist 386 wins

ITG Next | 25

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The Evolution of Chauncey Magwood Lee County Written by: Kyle Grondin Photography by: Eric Vinson

Chauncey Magwood’s accomplishments for Lee County High School look like they almost belong on a Wikipedia page.

Magwood isn't just know as a big-time player for the team; he's also known as a winner. He’s a two-time state champion and three-time district champion for the Trojans. He’s been one of the top wide receivers in the district the past two seasons. Last year, he finished third in the district with 567 yards and eight touchdowns during the regular season. But the numbers don’t tell the entire story.

Magwood is a weapon for Lee County.

He’s a player with passion and a drive to be a successful football player for a number of years. Starting since he was 6 years old, Mag-

wood has always been interested in the game.

He’s worked at it every day and uses his athleticism to make himself the best player possible.

“There’s nothing better than going out and being physical on the football field,” Magwood said. “I just want to go out there and have fun and make my teammates better. It’s something that has been a passion of mine.”

So far, Lee County has certainly reaped the rewards of his efforts.

Magwood has played 44 games heading into his senior season. Whether it’s a showdown like their win against Valdosta last season, where he caught the game-tying touchdown pass, or a blowout, or even the rare occasion when Lee County lost, Magwood has seen it all. Coach Dean

Fabrizio recognizes what he brings to the team.

“He’s a kid with a ton of experience, which is rare at the high school level,” Fabrizio said. "It’s really a luxury to have a kid that is that skilled, who works that hard, and is that unselfish to lead our team this season.”

Even with all of that experience, Magwood still remembers the times he took the field as a freshman.

“Those were the biggest moments for me, getting to play then, gaining that experience,” Magwood said.

“I learned so much off of that senior class, and I hope to do the same thing myself for my senior season.”

Indeed, while Magwood makes just about

“I just want to go out there and have fun and make my teammates better. It’s something that has been a passion of mine.”

— Chauncey Magwood 28 | itgnext.com

everything look easy on a football field (you should see some of his highlight reel grabs), his senior season is his toughest yet. A player who has done everything he can at Lee County and been a game-changing wide receiver and defensive back is now being asked to move behind center. That’s right, he’s the new Trojans quarterback for the 2020 season.

But those who followed his career aren’t necessarily surprised: Magwood was a standout quarterback in middle school and now will get to show himself at Trojan Field after Kyle Toole graduated this past season.

“He’s worked back there a lot in the past,” Fabrizio said. “He was our backup quarterback in 2018 and also back even before that, so he’s played the position a lot.

He’s just such a good athlete, and it has helped him play wherever on the field.”

It may seem like a risk, taking a star wide receiver off of the position and moving him to

quarterback, but so far everyone has been impressed with Magwood in practices, and the team is ready to move forward. Magwood has said he’s willing to do whatever it takes to help the team win.

“I want to leave Lee County with my third state championship,” Magwood said. “I know what I’m capable of on the field and think I can challenge a lot of defenses and give them a lot of trouble.”

After his three years of playing for the Trojans, the offers began coming in for the dynamic wide receiver. An athlete who stands over 6 feet tall and can get separation against any defensive back in the Peach State rose to a three-star ranking for the season, and he ultimately decided to go to the SEC and play for the University of Kentucky.

Coincidentally, Kentucky found themselves in a similar predicament to Lee County last season; due to quarterback injuries, they played dynamic talent Lynn Bowden Jr. at quarterback. He was a skilled

football player who could play running back, wide receiver, and also return kicks. Magwood and Fabrizio both saw a lot of similarities between Magwood and Bowden, who is now playing for the Las Vegas Raiders.

“The coaches drew my attention at Kentucky, and that’s what initially caught my interest,” Magwood said.

“The fact that they have a guy like me in Bowden was also nice to see. I’m willing to do whatever they ask me, whether it’s playing wide receiver, defensive back, or quarterback. I just want to win football games.”

Magwood is a special talent. Lee County recognizes it. Fabrizio recognizes it. And the state of Georgia is quickly realizing the same thing. With all of the changes and craziness this offseason, Lee County has gone under the radar to a lot of people heading into this season. A team that has been one of the most successful programs in the state over the last five years recognizes that and is willing to prove to everyone they’re still a force.

Magwood sees the potential and is focusing on the little things to get better.

“Every year I look back at the past year I had, and I know I could’ve been better if I was a little bit stronger, faster, or improved my route running a little bit,” Magwood said. “So I’m looking to grow my skillset and just focus on doing my job at a high level to help the team.”

If we haven’t seen the final evolution of Chauncey Magwood, the state of Georgia better watch out.

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Sports We’d Like to See in High School Written by: Kyle Grondin

Over the last handful of years, the GHSA has approved three new sports for official sanctioning. These sports include girls wrestling, esports, and girls flag football. With more and more sports being recognized at the high school level, here are five sports that we think should become sanctioned by the GHSA.

1. Water Polo Water polo is already approved by the FHSAA, and if you haven’t seen it, it’s a lot like soccer in the water. Teams take turns trying to move the ball down field and throw it into the opponent’s goal, all while treading in the water.

Water polo is a sport that requires peak endurance, conditioning, and flexibility in the water. It’s a great game of strategy that the GHSA should institute, as many high school sports already use pool facilities for swimming and diving.

2. Weightlifting This is another sport that feels fairly obvious, as a lot of other states already have competitive weightlifting in their ranks, and it should come to the Peach State. Many football programs have nice weightlifting rooms and facilities as it is, which would make for an easy place to host events.

Weightlifting is great for young athletes looking to get bigger, as well as athletes in sports such as baseball, football, and wrestling to continue workout programs during their offseasons. It also allows another opportunity for girls to compete. Florida has a competitive girls weightlifting program, and it’s a great chance to showcase strong athletes.

3. Boxing and MMA This is in more of the dream stage, as the GHSA will likely never bring more competitive fighting sports into the high school level. But boxing, MMA, and other fighting sports teach kids the importance of discipline, focus, strategy, and problem solving.

The worry for fighting sports is obviously the risk of serious injuries and concussions, but the advancement in head gear could make the sports safer than ever. There will always be some risk, which is why it most likely will never happen, but boxing is one of the most exciting sports out there.

4. Team Handball This sport is also kind of out there, but handball is one of the hidden gems of the Summer Olympics. It is widely popular in Europe and can simply be described as water polo and ultimate frisbee on a court. You pass the ball to your teammates as you move down the field, and you can only take two steps with the ball in your hand. So handball becomes a fast paced, high intensity sport with some incredible goals scored. Handball would be great if it were more popular in America, but it is an incredibly fun, athletic sport that I would love to see in high school sports.

5. Beach Volleyball Another Olympic gem is beach volleyball, the competitive two-on-two volleyball match played on sand. Every four years, the men’s and women’s tournaments are some of the best events for viewing during the Olympics, and the games are typically intense.

It would be a great opportunity for boys and girls to play more volleyball and also play on the beach. The GHSA currently doesn’t have a boys volleyball team, and this would be a great way to give some kids the opportunity to play. It would also be a great offseason sport for a lot of basketball players to work on their leaping ability.

Those are our five sports. Which ones would you like to see added?

32 | itgnext.com

New Hammer, Same Swing:

Trojans Gearing Up for 2020 Season Written by: Juston Lewis | Photography by: Juston Lewis

After being nailed in the 2019 2A state championship, head coach Maurice Freeman and the Brooks County Trojans are looking to bounce back.

Last season, the Trojans were 3-4 after losing to Thomasville on Oct. 11 before reeling off seven consecutive wins to make it to the state championship game against Dublin.

Brooks led the Fighting Irish at halftime but were outscored 33-18 in the second half in the 42-32 loss last December.

Brooks finished their season with a 10-5 record but were unable to claim the first state championship since 1994.

Now, the Trojans have reclassified to Class 1A Public football and will have to overcome sharing a region with two of the most dominant programs in the classification, Clinch County and Irwin County.

The Panthers or the Indians have won the state championship four out of the last five years with the two sides facing each other in the championship three out of the last five years.

“It’s the same deal for us, when you face Thomasville and you face Fitzgerald, it’s the same thing,” Freeman said on the

new region opponents. “We’re trading Thomasville for Irwin.

We’re trading Fitzgerald for Clinch. That’s all we’re doing, so it’s no big change to us.

We still have to play hardnose football.”

Physicality is a staple of Freeman’s Trojans, always priding themselves on their toughness on the field. With the potential season in constant flux due to COVID-19, the toughness and physicality that is normally built throughout the offseason was lost, leaving Freeman wondering if the team would be able to kick into gear as the season finally approached.

“It’s like getting your wisdom teeth pulled,” Freeman said on the team getting prepared for the season with the abbreviated offseason. “You know you’ve got to get it, you know it’s trouble, and you know it’s tough, but you’ll be a lot better off when you’re finally finished.”

The Trojans will lean heavily on senior quarterback Nitavion Burrus.

Burrus is the team leader and a large part of the reason why the Trojans made a deep playoff push last season.

This year he’s not taking anything for granted.

“We just have to come out and compete,” Burrus said about being a team leader. “You can’t take nothing personal with football. Everything is a game of learning with football, so I try to get my guys to a situation where they’ll have to think.”

Freeman enjoys his presence on the team and is hoping that he’ll be able to compete at the next level.

“He’s a middle linebacker that can play quarterback, that can probably play defensive back,” Freeman said. “He’s a coach on the field. He loves the game.

He enjoys being physical. He enjoys being a competitor. He’s got great morals and values. I love having him on the field.

I enjoy when I go in the locker room and get a chance to talk to him. He’s a great dude, and I really hope a college gives him a chance to play quarterback.”

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Hitting for the Moon:

Luna Looking to Continue Breakout Success Northside (WR) Written by: Justin Lewis Photography by: Brandon Pham

After a breakout season last year, Northside High’s Celena Luna has been working to duplicate the success that made her one of the top players in the state in 2019.

Luna was one of the top hitters in the state with a .512 batting average, 44 runs batted in, and 12 home runs during her sophomore campaign.

She was a threat every time she was at the plate but also saw success inside the circle as well.

Luna pitched 88 strike outs.

Luna has been striving to duplicate her efforts despite navigating the effects of COVID-19 and the many rain postponements this season.

"We work hard every practice,” Luna said about navigating the adversity. “We compete, we fight, we never give up.

My team has my back on

the mound.”

Luna already has 22 strike outs in 2020, bringing her career total to 135. She has laser focus and commands the respect off opposing players, but it wasn’t always this way, as her coach will attest.

“She has grown tremendously in three years,” Northside softball coach Kylie McHugh said about Luna. “When I got her, she was definitely somebody that I needed to prune up a little bit, but we’ve done some pruning in three years, and you can definitely tell she has grown into a competitor. She wants to go and play at the college level, and I really see that in her future.”

McHugh is an energetic coach who can be heard all over the field from the coaches box on third base or the dugout.

Her energy is contagious throughout the entire Northside team, especially to Luna, who has evolved into a leader for the Eagles.

During a game against Veterans, a fielding error allowed a player to get on base. Luna immediately asked the umpire for time and called her team in toward the mound. After a brief conversation where she motioned for teammates to relax, the Eagles retired the next batter without giving up another hit.

Luna finished the game only giving up two hits, and her team won 4-1, avenging a loss earlier in the season.

After the contest, her coach had high praise for her.

“The (Celena) that was out here tonight wouldn’t have been the

"We work hard every practice. We compete, we fight, we never give up.

My team has my back on the mound.”

— Celena Luna 36 | itgnext.com

(Celena) that was out here freshman year," McHugh said of Luna's growth. “She just competes and keeps fighting. That’s what I like about her.”

As she’s developed with her talent and leadership, one thing remains a constant for Luna: She’s a team player and will always go to bat for her teammates.

“She keeps her team-

mates up,” McHugh said about Luna’s personality. “She stays level headed and always attributes her teammates. She never get’s bigger than the team.”

Luna said she currently doesn’t have any offers but her dream school is the University of Florida.

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Already a Star Written by: Juston Lewis Photography by: Shane Thomas and Eric Vinson

Essence Cody is going into her sophomore year at Valdosta High but is an emerging star for the Lady Cats basketball program.

Cody is a 6-foot-3 forward who has already competed on an international level.

Cody was selected as one of three middle schoolers to represent the U.S. in the Basketball Without Borders competition in Canada in 2018.

Two years later, Cody is set to anchor the Lady Cats as a powerhouse for years to come.

It started when she was 6 years old and made the switch from soccer to basketball.

“I’ve been playing basketball ever since I was 6, and I just loved the game,” Cody said. “When I first started playing basketball, I was like ‘OK, I like it,’ and then I got more used to it and just started doing more things with basketball.”

Playing in Canada wasn’t easy for Cody, who was one of the younger and less established players there, but it helped her develop. It gave her a new experience and helped her gain skills that she displayed during her first varsity season.

“When I first heard that I was going to be playing in Canada, I was surprised,” Cody said. “It was hard fitting in because it was top players already there. I was like, ‘OK, I’ll try something new,’ and I liked it.”

As a freshman Cody played in all 31 games for Valdosta as they completed a 28-3 overall record and a Final Four appearance.

Cody led the team in rebounds with 256 and blocks with 78. She was second on the team in scoring with 314 total points, second in free throws made, and third in steals.

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These stats aren’t typical from a firstyear varsity player, but Cody had been waiting for her shot for more than a year.

“It was a great experience for me moving up,” Cody said. “In eighth grade I played with junior varsity, and (in) ninth grade I was ready to play varsity because I got to play with my sister for one year. It was a great experience, great teammates.”

Essence wasn’t the only Cody to fill the stat sheet for the Lady Cats last season; Jayla Cody, her older sister, had similar numbers to Essence.

The elder Cody played in all 31 games for Valdosta and was third on the team in scoring, second in rebounds, second in blocks, and fourth in steals. She was a consistent leader for the Lady Cats and finished her senior season with a trip to the Final Four.

The elder Cody was the standard for her younfer sister as she entered her first varsity season.

“She’s a great example,” Essence Cody said about her older sister. “That’s the reason why I wanted to play. She’s a great player. She was like the lead-by-example player. That’s what motivated me.”

Now, with Cody as the star of the Lady Cats, she and her teammates have to work to build upon the success of the previous team.

“Communicating more,” Cody said on what the team has been working on going into the new season. “Going to the gym more together. Building our relationship.

Just to work on our communication and bonding time.”

The Lady Cats are coached by E.A. Wilcox, who earned his 200th win as a head coach last season. In his 11 years as head coach of the Lady Cats, Wilcox strived to make his players better. Cody is no exception.

“He pushes me almost every day,” Cody said about Wilcox. “One day he complimented me saying that I’m a great player and keep working. Don’t stop and don’t let anyone ruin my dream. He’s a great coach.”

“She’s a great example. That’s the reason why I wanted to play. She’s a great player. She was like the lead-by-example player. That’s what motivated me.”

— Essence Cody on Older Sister Jayla Cody 40 | itgnext.com

Wilcox received the coach of the year honors for his team’s success in 2020, while Cody was named to the Region 1-6A Second Team in her first season and will possibly be a First Team shoe-in for the remainder of her career.

She has a four-star rating and a 94 scout grade by ESPN with evaluations dating back to 2018 when she was still in middle school.

She has three seasons of high school basketball remaining, and her best has likely yet to be seen.

Even with her high ranking and accolades, Cody said that she hasn’t thought about the legacy that she might leave. For now she’s just working on playing hard and being the top player, no matter where she is.

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ITG Next | 41

The ADC Team is Proud to Support Breast Cancer Awareness Month

We want to recognize a few members of our ADC family who are in different stages of beating breast cancer: Georgia Kelley, Julie Burt, Barbara Kirk, Angela Harrell, and Tracee Brown. Breast cancer has affected many others in our ADC family. We want to lift them all up in prayer and offer our continued love and support. Please join us in praying for all breast cancer patients, affected families , and survivors of breast cancer. We will be raising awareness for Breast Cancer Research the entire month of October. We hope that you will join us so that one day breast cancer will be eliminated.

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The Complete Player Valwood Written by: Phil Jones Photography by: Micki K Photography

Harrison Hamsley has a decision to make. The Valwood senior is an accomplished athlete in baseball and football and will certainly have options to continue playing either sport at the college level. Hamsley plays defensive end and tight end on the football field. On the baseball diamond, he pitches and plays shortstop. His football skills have prompted an offer from the University of Maryland, and, according to football head coach Justin Henderson, several others have expressed interest, including Valdosta State University, Samford, and Coastal Carolina. Henderson spoke highly of Hamsley.

“Harrison is dedicated to the weight room in an effort to improve his performance," Henderson said. "He displays excellent leadership qualities on and off the field and serves as a great example to our underclassmen.

The energy he brings to practice is the same as it is on Friday night. He is a very physical player, just a complete player.”

One glance at his performance in each sport tells you why there is so much interest in the standout three-sport athlete. (Yes, Harrison also plays basketball.)

In eight football games last season, he recorded 68 tackles, 21 tackles for loss, 8.5 sacks, six forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries, and two pass breakups.

His baseball stats are just as impressive. In his sophomore season, he batted .323, and on the mound he pitched 37.5 innings with 41 strikeouts, a 3.23 ERA, with a no-hitter. (His junior basbeall season was cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic.)

Harrison is the son of Jason and Heather Hamsley, and he has played baseball his whole life, but didn’t begin football until middle school. He talked about the challenge that playing each sport presents.

“Football brings a lot of physical challenges, including the conditioning and constant wear and tear on your body,” Harrison said. “Baseball is more of a mental sport that tests how quick you are to react to situations and whether you know what to do.”

So, which sport does he like the best?

“Football,” he said without hesitation.

But, he said he hopes to be able to do both in college.

“I want to play college football, but I want to go somewhere that will let me play baseball too.”

Decisions, decisions.

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Deserving Victory: DuBose Gears Up for First Season With Vikings Written by: Juston Lewis | Photography by: Micki K Photography

Lowndes High football is coming off of one of the most successful seasons in recent history, winning 14 games before losing its last contest in the state championship against Marietta.

The immediate thought after the championship game was that the Vikings would be poised for another run in 2020, but that was before long-time head coach Randy McPherson announced his retirement on Dec. 17.

McPherson coached the Vikings for 18 years and is the winningest coach in program history with a 181-46 record to go along with eight region championships and three state titles.

McPherson’s retire-

ment sent shockwaves through the region and opened the door for a new head Viking to be found. For weeks different names circulated, but after a search that included 90 coaches from 20 different states, Jamey DuBose was selected as the new head coach for Lowndes football.

DuBose coached at Central-Phenix City in Alabama for six years prior to coming to Lowndes.

He won 66 games, had six region championships, and had a pair of trips to the state championship, winning the 2018 7A title.

His hire at Lowndes was made official on Jan. 8 after an executive session by the Lowndes Board of Education. In

that meeting DuBose told supporters to “buckle up and enjoy the ride,” and two days later at his official press conference, DuBose told the Lowndes community that he came to win.

Both of those statements were made prior to COVID-19 rattling the world.

But even with the pandemic taking away a normal offseason, DuBose hit the ground running. He helped many players receive collegiate offers within his first two months as head coach, constantly communicating with college coaches about the talent inside the Lowndes locker room.He helped implement a training program so that play-

ers would be able to do home workouts weekly. He organized virtual meetings with coaches, players, and other personnel so that the entire team was on the same page. He and the Lowndes coaches partnered with the touchdown club to feed players while the team was quarantined.

DuBose did all of this before the Vikings were even given the green light to pick up a football.

It’s safe to say that his first months as head coach have been a whirlwind.

“Going from Zoom meetings and teaching football via social media or online to getting back on the field and trying to battle,” DuBose said describing the last several months for Lowndes football. “Trying to

figure out what we’re supposed to be doing every day. Trying to understand how we can keep our team safe and how we can progress to get on the field. To get the opportunity for this senior class, to get these guys to have a season. To get back to some close-to-normal setting in life that we can. … It’s been a long time it seems like, but it really hasn’t been that long. It seems

like it’s been an eternity since last March, but our guys have really listened to what we’ve said as coaches.

They’ve done whatever we asked them to do, and we’ve been able to progress far and come together as a team.”

After having the same coach at its helm for 18 seasons, it may take time for people to get a feel for DuBose.

Due to COVID-19, many supporters may not have had the same opportunities to meet DuBose in the community, at events, or at practices. Spring practices were cancelled along with the spring game, and summer workouts were abbreviated.

Regardless, the expectations will be set high for him because of the notoriety of Lowndes not just locally, but nationally.

The Vikings landed at No. 6 in the High School Football America poll, No. 9 in the MaxPreps High School Football rankings, and No. 13 in the USA Today Super 25 preseason poll.

While DuBose acknowledged the rankings, he feels that they’re an attribution to last season’s team.

As for the expectations, he knows the footsteps that he’s following, ITG Next | 47

but he can only be himself. That’s how he plans to continue the success of the Vikings.

“Number one, continue to be myself; I can’t be somebody else,” DuBose said on continuing the success of the program.

“Coach (McPherson) ran a tremendous program here. Look at the winning. He did a great job. I hope that if I can stay 18 years I can have the record that he had. But at the end of the day, I’ve got to be Jamey DuBose. I can’t be Coach (McPherson). There’s going to be some changes, and I have to make sure that the changes fit what I want to do in a situation because at the end of the day, I’ve got to make the calls and I’ve got to make the adjustments now.”

One of the biggest adjustments is reworking the offense to a more dynamic playing style, a playing style that will be sure to suit Jacurri Brown, the fourstar, highest ranked dual-threat quarterback in the class of 2022.

The now-junior playmaker had 2,902 yards during his sophomore season and 31 touchdowns to match. In DuBose’s offense those numbers could take a leap.

Brown was the heartbeat of the Lowndes offense, and with an improved group of receivers, he’ll be able to display his arm talent this season.

Even though he’s only known him for a few months, Brown spoke highly of the coach.

“He’s a great guy,” Brown said about his head coach. “Offensive minded coach. It’s not 48 | itgnext.com

really a rebuild. We’re just reloading. He’s coming in with the same intensity and playing fast, physical football. In our short time with each other, I love him. That’s my coach. I can say that.

He’s a good guy, and I feel like he’s got my back through anything.”

Supporting DuBose’s offense will be a Concrete Curtain defense that only allowed an average of 11.6 points per game.

The defense is returning Ramecia Burgman, who will see his first season as a starter. Returning starters include Tylar Belcher; Jalon Baker; three-star safety and Louisville commit T.J. Quinn; three-star defensive lineman Leon Williams, who committed to Kent State; Jacques Hunter, who recently committed to Vanderbilt; and Thomas Davis, who is a Miami commit and will be moving from the defensive line to linebacker this season.

With an emerging offense and a defensive unit that was the best in the state, it’s easy to see why Lowndes is ranked as high as second in most state polls.

The real mission isn’t achieving high ranks, though; it’s reaching the state championship and securing a victory.

“My record is 0-0 right now,” DuBose said.

“What happened in the past does not matter. I was a coach of a team that went to a state championship last year.

This program went to the state championship.

Both of us lost. You don’t get anything for second much. You have got to be the winner. Right now, what happened last year is not going to help us do anything this year. We have to go out and earn what we’ve got, and we’ve got to go out

and earn what we’re going to get at the end of the year.”

DuBose got his first real taste of Lowndes football when the team held its itrasquad scrimmage on Aug. 21. The Vikings had all the elements of a real game with fans, lights, and a public address announcer, and the team even performed their runout from the locker room.

It was a moment that meant a lot to DuBose, especially in this ever changing world.

“To go out there on a scrimmage night after being shut down and hearing the rumblings that there would be no football this year, it was a real good feeling for me,” DuBose said on his feelings officially be-

ing on the sidelines for Lowndes. “We ran out the back gate, and we had the call out by the announcer bringing the team out, and I wanted to do that because I wanted for our seniors … every opportunity we get to get those guys in a normal deal, where they can say that their senior year we got to run out.

I’m going to give it to them. I was excited by that more than anything.”

At the end of the day, success can be judged by wins and losses, but for DuBose, success will be judged by how much better he made his team — and vice versa. From the coaches to the training staff to the players, it’s about being better than you were when you started.

“You win with good people,” DuBose said about the team. “We’ve got really good players of high character. We’ve got to continue to evaluate and continue to grow kids in our character ed program, to continue to be good people and continue to work hard and have the same beliefs in our program every day.”

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The job of the kicker and punter on a football team can be a thankless one. They are thrust into the game for fleeting moments, only when their names are called to go out and do the job, which usually consists of one play, one kick or punt. Then, its right back to the sidelines until their numbers and names are called again. It can be a lot tougher job than it sounds.

Many times, the job of the kicker is to go out and attempt that long field goal to win the game for his team. In those scenarios, the kicker has the chance to be a hero or a very lonely guy. ‘Tis the life of a kicker.

No one knows this feeling better than Cairo’s Noah Jones. The Syrupmaker senior handles both kicking and punting chores for his football team and has been quite the weapon during his high school career. Jones is currently ranked as the No. 1 senior punter prospect in the country

by Kohl’s Kicking, the premier ranking organization for kickers and punters nationally. Head coach Steve DeVoursney, who has been a head coach in Georgia since 2001 and has coached a lot of kickers, heaps a lot of praise on his kicker and punter.

“He’s the best I’ve ever seen at the high school level, whether it’s been guys I’ve coached personally or coached against," DeVoursney said. "He is such a weapon who can do both (kicking and punting) so well.”

Does DeVoursney think he’s more of a weapon for his team as a punter or as a kicker?

“That’s a tough question because he’s so good kicking and punting," DeVoursney said. "But if I had to choose one, I’d say kicking is his biggest weapon for us because all of his kickoffs go into or through the end zone, his extra point is practically guaranteed, and so are his field goals. It seems like he rarely misses, so that’s 3 points when I send him out there to try.”

Noah Jones didn’t begin playing football until middle school.

“I was a soccer player, and in middle school, friends that played football began to encourage me to start kicking on the football team," Jones said. "I took too it (kicking a football) pretty quickly."

'Tis the Life of a Kicker CARIO

Written by: Phil Jones Photography by: Eric Vinson

52 | itgnext.com

Since joining the Syrupmakers, Jones has racked up stunning honors. In 2018 he was named the Region 1-4A Specialist of the Year and was an All-State selection as kicker and punter for Recruit Georgia, the AJC, and the GACA. Last year he was again recognized as the Region 1-4A Specialist of the Year, as an All-State punter by Recruit Georgia, and as an All-State kicker for the AJC and GACA. Jones' career stats at Cairo include 113 of 117 point after attempts and 32 of 53 field goals made. His career punt average is 38.8 yards per punt, with his longest punt at 74 yards net. His career longest field goal is 48 yards.

He currently has offers from San Diego State, Army, Navy, and the Air Force, with preferred walk-on offers from Georgia and Arizona. Jones said he isn’t in any hurry to make a decision and will probably decide around mid-season.

Jones is a soccer-style kicker and a conventional-style punter, although he says he is working on the rugby style of punting because so many colleges are utilizing that method.

Which does Jones like better… punting or kicking?

“Oh, punting, most definitely,” he said.

As far as staying mentally ready for when his name is called, Jones said the key for him is to always stay aware of what’s happening on the field.

“I keep up with where the ball is and what down it is," he said. "So when it’s third down, I’m getting ready, knowing I’m either going to be called on to kick or punt."

'Tis the life of a kicker.

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Ready to Ripen Peach County Football Looks to Build on Program's Past Success With Young Team Written by: Phil Jones Photography by: Brandon Pham

Peach County is the only place that head coach Chad Campbell has called home — not just his physical home address, but his football home as a coach.

It started in 1993 when Campbell joined the staff at Peach as an assistant under thenhead coach Neal Rumble. He toiled on as an understudy to Rumble first, then under Rodney Walker, who succeeded Rumble as the Peach head man. Biding his time, and observing how the head coaches handled things, Campbell finally got his opportunity to be the head coach in 2009.

His debut at the top was a rousing success, as he led the trojans to a state championship that season. That was Peach County’s third title in five years, with Campbell serving as an assistant coach on the 2005 and 2006 state championship teams. He has led the Trojans to four more title games, in 2011 and 2012, as well 54 | itgnext.com

as back-to-back appearances in 2017 and 2018.

Peach County has not suffered a losing season since 1987 and have made the playoffs every season since 1991 — 29 straight seasons.

This run of success has made Peach County one of the most successful and consistently-winning football programs in the entire state of Georgia. What is the reason for this good fortune? According to Campbell, it's not just one thing.

“I think its got to do with several things," Campbell said. "I believe you have to have the support of your administration, which we have.

I also think the great history of winning football sort of inspires all of the new incoming classes of players here at Peach.

They walk through the halls of that fieldhouse and see the pictures of all the great players who’ve played here before them, and they understand that to be a member of our team

means working hard and respecting their teammates who they line up alongside now, as well as respecting the legacy of those great players from the past.”

That group of Peach County greats Campbell refers to, and whose pictures hang in the halls of the Peach County athletic facilities, include Randy McMichael, DeMarcus Robinson, Greg Lloyd, Antoine Davis,

I also think the great history of winning football sort of inspires all of the new incoming classes of players here at Peach.

— Chad Campbell

and Jacquez Green, to name a few. All have played in the NFL. Campbell also mentioned the importance of keeping good assistants around the program, which Peach has done consistently over the last few years.

“I’ve got several of my coaches who have over 20 years of service with Peach County football," Campbell said.

"Ricky Wray is in his 27th

year, plus there’s Jeffrey Bailey, Bruce Mackey, and Todd Cooper, all with over 20 years as assistants here at Peach County. Plus, we have Sherwin Lyons, Deitrich Everett, Craig Johnson, Lee Campbell, Nick Searcy, and Justin Akin.

All of those guys are very valuable and important to me and our success here at Peach County. These guys are very loyal to me and to

this program. The know what they’re doing, and I think the players not having to adjust to a new position coach every time they turn around is important, too."

Lyons, Everett, and Searcy are all former players under Campbell at Peach.

“We are fortunate not to have had more turnover here at peach County," Campbell said.

"Again, I give credit to

I’ve got several of my coaches who have over 20 years of service with Peach County football...

These guys are very loyal to me and to this program.

— Chad Campbell ITG Next | 55

We are going from one extreme to another, losing

so many seniors to bringing back as few as we are this year. We’re going to be very young.

— Chad Campbell

56 | itgnext.com

our Board of Education and administration for ensuring these coaches are paid fairly, and that’s a part of our continued success here.”

Campbell said not having to hire new assistants year in and year out is one less thing to worry about.

“It's hard to hire new coaches,"" he said. "I’m glad we haven't had that problem here.”

Even with the long history of success at Peach County, Campbell acknowledged that winning a state championship is hard to do.

“Everything has got to fall in place at the right time, and that’s not always going to happen," he said. "We’ve had great players, great teams who didn’t realize their full potential. I think that’s what happened last season.”

Peach County won 12 consecutive games last year, losing to Cedar Grove in the semifinals. Then, there’s the 2017 and 2018 seasons, where it appeared that Peach was in a position to win the state championship both times, only to have it snatched away by two unfortunate sets of circumstances.

Two years ago, in one of the most controversial and much publicized scenarios in GHSA finals history, an apparent Peach touchdown was taken off the board, and Peach lost to Calhoun 13-6.

Then in 2018’s championship tilt, Peach led the entire game, only to have Cedar Grove score at the end of the contest to bring heartache to Campbell and his band of Trojans.

“We had two really good opportunities in each of those games, but things didn’t go our way,” Campbell said.

Heading into this

season could prove to be one of Campbell’s toughest challenges in his 28 years at the Fort Valley school. He loses 31 seniors, the biggest senior class loss ever at Peach County, and that includes 17 players who signed college scholarships. On top of that, Peach returns just 11 seniors, one of the lowest numbers of experienced upper classmen that Campbell said he’s ever had at Peach.

“We are going from one extreme to another, losing so many seniors to bringing back as few as we are this year,” Campbell said. “We’re going to be very young.”

Then, there’s the coronavirus pandemic.

While Peach certainly isn't the only school to have had issues with no spring football and lack of reps, the fact that there’s so much inexperience surrounding Campbell’s group this season makes it harder to determine who’s got the upper hand in battles for position depth charts.

Campbell addressed the offseason.

“We had one kid test positive, and that was coming off the July 4 dead week," he said. "So, we had to shut down for a week for the positive test, plus the dead week.

We’ve been fortunate since then.

"As coaches, we can only do so much. It takes everyone buying in and doing the right thing."

Doing the right thing seems to be the only way Peach County knows how to do things.

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Changing the Culture Written by: Kyle Grondin Photography by: Micki K Photography

It’s almost the plot from a movie.

One of the best coaches in the state of Georgia, Phillip Ironside coached at Hillgrove, a 7A football program in the Greater Atlanta area that just made the playoffs and had the top overall player in the state. Now, Ironside is taking his talents south to Sylvester, Georgia.

Ironside takes over a Worth County football program that’s had its fair share of struggles over the years. The 1987 3A state champions have a proud tradition of football success, but currently have three wins in the last three years. The hope was for a culture change, and Ironside was the best candidate on the market.

“It was a great opportunity for myself and my family,” Ironside said. “My wife and I both expressed interest in getting out of the metroplex and getting into a more calm environment. We heard good things about Sylvester and getting away from the transferring that has ruined high school football. We’re excited for the opportunity.”

Football in the major markets has changed drastically, as many of the teams become recruiting showcases for players. Many transfer on to new opportunities and look for new coaches. Sylvester is old school in that regard. It’s your classic small-town South Georgia feel. Coach said he’s been at small schools during stints in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and in Tennessee, and he enjoys the small communities. He thinks football is football no matter what.

Ironside said he’s enjoyed the community and meeting everybody and has enjoyed local favorites like Fat Guy’s Barbecue a few times a week. Getting to meet the people in the school and hearing from coaches who coached in Sylvester was all it took to convince him.

“It’s been great being here,” Ironside said. “The community and players are excited to be here, and they’re excited to turn things around. It’s going to take time, but we’re up for the challenge.”

Indeed, being a first-year head coach during COVID-19 is difficult for any team. The loss of spring practices and condensed scheduling for the league makes it tough for any team. But Ironside and the Rams are taking it in stride and looking to compete at the highest level.

“It’s harder to rebuild something,” Ironside said. “Hillgrove was a different sort of challenge, and I hope we can compete at the highest level right away, but it’s going to be a fight.”

Ironside is credited with changing the program at Hillgrove, but he stresses the differences. Hillgrove was a program he built brand new, while Worth County will be more of fixing the culture and bringing back winning ways. Both present different challenges in his eyes.

“I was looking to reset the culture at Worth County, and that starts with my staff,” Ironside said. “I brought in a lot of high character assistants who want to be here and want to compete. That sort of mentality will resonate with the kids and hopefully change things for years to come.”

Ironside has proven that he can undoubtedly succeed under all circumstances, and Worth County is another opportunity he’ll have to prove himself as one of the best coaches in the state.

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Rush Propst, Welcome to Valdosta Written by: Phil Jones

For the coach that many consider to be one of the top high school coaches in the country, Rush Propst spent a few anxious months wondering if he would ever be roaming a high school football sideline again. After he led the Colquitt County Packers to five state championship appearances and two titles, Propst was unceremoniously terminated under a cloud of allegations that were later found to be unfounded. His teaching certificate was reinstated, and Propst was eligible to teach and coach once again.

After first accepting a job and then resigning at USA Academy, Propst became a candidate for the head coaching position at Valdosta High School. After a two-month search involving numerous candidates, Propst was hired as the 17th coach in Valdosta football history.

“I’m so thankful to be back coaching high school football,” Propst said. “There’s nowhere I'd rather be than coaching high school football and especially here at the winningest high school football program in the United States. I’ve had some good jobs, but there’s none better than this one. This is my dream job.”

Propst said that as happy as he is to be in Valdosta, the circumstances surrounding the job have been tough.

“It’s been crazy,” Propst said with a chuckle. “In 31plus years of coaching, I’ve never been so overwhelmed.

There’s just so much to get done. I have a white board of things to do, and it’s a mile long."

The hiring process was a lengthy one, as the Valdosta Board of Education sorted through dozens of applicants, many of them with years of experience coaching high school football. Propst was hired on April 14, leaving him just a little under two months to hire a full staff of assistant coaches before players began reporting for offseason workouts.

62 | itgnext.com

“I spent 3.5 weeks working non-stop, night and day, trying to put a staff together,” Propst said. “I finalized the last hire of my staff, and we had our first meeting as a staff on June 1. One week later, on June 8, our players arrived to begin workouts. It's been a full, all-out sprint ever since. We were already way behind with me getting here so late. Coupled with the fact that there was no offseason work, it put our program even further behind compared to if I had been here from the beginning.”

How far behind?

“We are probably about three months behind everyone else,” Propst said.

Then, there’s the impact of COVID-19.

“We had to shut down for a positive test among members of our team and staff," Propst said. "That caused us to shut down for a period of time, which forced us to miss even more practice time.”

The veteran head coach also pointed to the lack of face-to-face time with players, which caused some uncertainty about which players were actually on the team and how many players Propst had to work with.

“There was a time where I only had 60 players responding to our Zoom meetings," Propst said. "But we quickly found the rest of the team, and now we’re up to about 105."

With a full staff and a full roster, Propst is now able to turn his undivided attention to doing what he loves best: coaching football. With several returning starters from last year, plus a handful of transfers who’ve enrolled at Valdosta in the offseason, the 2020 season and year number one for coach Rush Propst could turn out to be pretty special for fans of the ‘Cats.

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Valwood Valiant Volleyball Claims its First State Championship Submitted by: Chad Gallahan

The GISA AAA State Volleyball tournament was hosted at Creekside Christian Academy over the weekend. On Saturday, the Valwood Valiants claimed their first State Title since the inception of the program in 2013. In 2018, the Valiants came close by bringing home the state runner-up trophy.

This year it was obvious the Valiants wanted to prove they were the real deal. With a theme of Currahee inspired by the 101st Airborne, the Valiants went into the season rallying around the Band of Brothers’ example of determination, pursuit of excellence, and comradery.

The Valiants faced three opponents in two days and only dropped one set the entire tournament. Hitting on all cylinders, Valwood allowed

64 | itgnext.com

opponents to score an average of 17 points per set. Against the 8th ranked Atlanta Girls School (25-12, 25-11, 2514), three-time All State setter, Kennedy Kimbro distributed the ball evenly with Senior Makayla Yates and Junior Bailee Musgrove each earning 6 kills, followed closely

by Juniors Aiyana Matchett and Ellie Griner with 5 kills apiece and Freshman Annabelle Kerrigan with 4 kills. Combined, setters Kennedy Kimbro and Anna Alvarado gave 27 assists. The final blow to close out the game was a well-placed ball by Senior Charlotte Griner.

On Saturday, the Valiants found themselves up against the host school, Creekside Christian Academy. With powerful offense led once again

by Bailee Musgrove (11 kills), the Valiants

knocked out Creekside in straight sets (25-11, 25-17, 25-17).

For the Championship game, Valwood faced Dominion Christian, one of the few teams to hand Valwood a loss early in the season. “We knew Dominion Christian was going to be a formidable opponent, but this was the scenario we prepared for all season,” reported Coach Val Gallahan.

Against a highly talented Dominion Christian team, Valwood won a battle in 4 sets (25-23, 25-22, 21-25, 25-22) that also saw two different weather game delays due to tornado warnings. “Prior to the Championship match, the team reflected on Bryson DeChambeau’s recent US Open victory. He explained that we wouldn’t let himself

think about anything beyond the hole he was currently playing. We decided that no matter how the game was going, we weren’t going to get ahead of ourselves. As a team, we focused on giving our best effort for every ball being played and only allowed ourselves to concentrate on the current point.” In the fourth set, with the score tied 21-21, Ellie Griner earned two consecutive kills to give the Valiants a 23-21 lead. Senior Kennedy Kimbro confidently served a jump float ace advancing the Valiants to match point.

After Dominion scored from a well-placed ball, Kennedy Kimbro fed Ellie Griner, and once again Griner delivered.

The Valwood Valiants entire team contributed to the success on the court. Two time All State

outside hitter, Makayla Yates racked up 11 kills and 11 digs. Combined, the two middle blockers, Freshman Caylee Collins and Junior Aiyana Matchett earned 7 points from kills and 13 points from blocks. Of the balls that weren’t blocked, Valwood’s defense refused to let many drop. Junior libero Marleigh Carson, Makayla Yates, and Bailee Musgrove each tallied digs in the double digits.

“In the midst of COVID-19, we are so thankful to have the opportunity to play. Our team prayed diligently throughout the season, and we praise God for seeing us through.”

You can throw if you dare on the Colquitt County Packers. In fact, theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll dare you, with some of the top players in the state ready to force a turnover.

The legion of boom was for many years considered the benchmark for success in the NFL. The Seattle Seahawks were blessed with four standout players in the secondary: cornerbacks Brandon Brown-

er and Richard Sherman and safeties Earl Thomas and Kam Chancellor. Sherman, Thomas, and Chancellor gave the Seahawks something rare in the league: three all-pro players in one secondary for the 2013 and 2014 seasons. This also led to a Super Bowl XLVIII victory over the Denver Broncos.

Colquitt County has its own version brewing in Moultrie, with star cornerbacks Omar Daniels and

Colquitt Countyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Legion of Boom Written by: Kyle Grondin | Photography by: Micki K Photography

ITG Next | 65

“I feel we are the leaders of the defense.”

— Omar Daniels

Colquitt County has its own version brewing in Moultrie, with star cornerbacks Omar Daniels and T.J. Spradley, paired with safeties Jaheim Ward and Traveon Tuff. Daniels, Spradley, and Ward are all three standout players for the Packers and have gathered multiple scholarship offers from Divison I football programs.

They’ve become the strength of their team, and the Packers will look to limit all aerial attacks in the state of Georgia with this group.

They’ve played together for a lot of years and now will hope to make an impact on the field this season.

“The secondary we have is smarter and faster than it has ever been,” Spradley said. “On the field we keep each other going after every play.

Not only that, but we have very good chemistry together, and we trust each other highly.”

This group led the Packers to nine interceptions and 29 pass deflections on the season.

They’ve got a lot of speed and should once again be one of the top pass defenses in the state.

The top-rated player is Daniels. A three-star recruit heading to the Big 12 next season to play for the Kansas State Wildcats, he’s got great length and is a willing tackler in the run game, as evidenced by his 31 tackles last season. He thinks highly of this group.

“We are coached by one of the best secondary coaches in the country in Coach (Dextra) Polite,” Daniels said. “He gets us ready to go each week, and we as a group always work on our craft to get better and never 66 | itgnext.com

become complacent.”

Daniels made many All-State preseason lists for the state of Georgia before, and last year made the All-Region team at the defensive back position. He views this group, by far the most experienced on the defense, as the tone setters for the rest of the roster.

“I feel we are the leaders of the defense,” Daniels said. “We are four senior all returning from last season. We know what needs to be done to see success this season, and we carry great expectations for our team.”

Ward is transitioning from cornerback to safety and carries on the tradition of Wards at Colquitt County. His brothers, Johnny and Jay, both played in the secondary at Colquitt County previously and earned college scholarships doing so. Johnny went on to attend the University of South Florida, while Jay is in the SEC at LSU. Jaheim views that legacy not as a burden, but a token of pride.

“I look forward to carrying on that legacy,” Ward said.

Ward wears No. 4 like his brothers did previously.

“My goal is to end up with more interceptions than Johnny and Jay, and that way I can help my team win a state championship,” Ward said.

Ward emphasized the work ethic of this secondary. He said that himself, Spradley and Daniels were working every day during the quarantined offseason to get better and be ready to

go for the season.

“We want to be the best secondary in the state,” Ward said. “We go out and work on press, man, and zone coverages during the offseason to achieve those goals.

We still have some work to do, so we go and get more work done on our days off.”

The last, but certainly not the least, player of this legion is Spradley.

He may be the smallest in stature in the secondary, but packs a punch.

Recruit Georgia referred to him as “just pure energy” that does a good job of hustling on every play.

That hustle made him the leading returning in interceptions from last season, along with recovering a fumble, forcing a fumble, and blocking a punt on special teams.

Working with Ward and Daniels throughout the last few seasons, his work ethic has rubbed off on the defense, and their combined leadership has brought a level of togetherness to the secondary.

“I will always remember the family I have in this program,” Spradley said.

“Also, what we accomplished together, all the good times we had as a whole.

We can and will be the best this season, hands down. I have too much confidence in my family this year.”

Colquitt County had a lot of changeover from last season, but with this group leading the Pack, any opponent will find victory hard to come by.

KIMBERELY JO BRADY Crisp County Softball 68 | itgnext.com- Catcher

Listen at: itgnext.com/podcast

ITG Next | 69

Travis Hunter, Collins Hill, CB/WR

ITG Next 100: The Top 100 Players in the State of Georgia

hudl.com

Hunter is a lockdown cornerback at Collins Hill. His 247Sports rating is the highest among all Georgia defensive backs and showed it with seven interceptions last season. I forgot to mention his production at wide receiver, where he finished with over 900 yards and was one of the top receivers in the state as well. Hunter is an athlete who can do it all and likely will do it all for the Eagles.

Written by: Kyle Grondin

Who is the best of the best?

Who runs the Peach State? We bring you the ITG Next 100, the 100 players who will have the biggest impact this season.

An offseason that has felt longer than Brett Favre's retirement saga and The Rolling Stone's retirement tour(s) put together is finally coming to a close. From coaching searches to no spring football to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Friday night lights are at the end of the tunnel. While your Friday nights will surely look a lot different in 2020, I'm sure we can all be happy in saying football is back. And in the Peach State, that means it's time for some bragging rights.

Georgia football breeds talent. In the NFL, Georgia currently sits in fourth among states that produce talent that reaches the league. The Peach State currently sits behind Florida, California, and Texas, three states with significantly higher populations.

With excellent production comes excellent talent. Georgia certainly never lacks in that, and the classes of 2021 and 2022 mean that Georgia will stand out among the best in the country once again. Here are the ITG Next 100, the top players who will have the most impact in the 2020 season.

Amarius Mims, Bleckley County, OT Mims is a freakish athlete who is a monster on the offensive line for the Royals. Not many people are blessed with his frame. At 6-foot-7 and well over 300 pounds, he can still move well. He is rightfully rated as the top offensive lineman in the country.

hudl.com

Brock Vandagriff, Prince Avenue Christian, QB Mims is a freakish athlete who is a monster on the offensive line for the Royals. Not many people are blessed with his frame. At 6-foot-7 and well over 300 pounds, he can still move well. He is rightfully rated as the top offensive lineman in the country.

247sports.com

Smael Mondon, Paulding County, LB

hudl.com

Terrence Ferguson, Peach County, OT Another offensive lineman with terrific size, Ferguson plays big and plays mean on the football field. A devastating run blocker who has committed to Alabama, it doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t get much better than this Peach County all-world talent in the trenches.

hudl.com

70 | itgnext.com

Mondon is a terrific linebacker for the Patriots; he collected 48 tackles and over 1,000 all-purpose yards for a team that struggled last season. Mondon has great length, as evidenced by his three blocked field goals last season, and he competes in five different track and field events.

That should tell you all about his athleticism at the linebacker position.

6. Deion Colzie, Athens Academy, WR

38. Khari Gee, Woodward Academy, S

70. Hugh Laughlin, Athens Academy, OT/DT

7. Gunner Stockton, Rabun County, QB

39. Sirad Bryant, Crisp County, S

71. Trevin Wallace, Wayne County, LB

8. Barrett Carter, North Gwinnett, LB

40. Jake Johnson, Oconee County, TE

72. Martez Thrower, Wilcox County, LB

9. Jacurri Brown, Lowndes, QB

41. Caleb McDowell, Lee County, RB

73. Jakiah Leftwich, Westlake, OT

10. Cody Brown, Parkview, RB

42. JaDarian Rhym, Valdosta, CB

74. Demarko Williams, Westlake, CB

11. Micah Morris, Camden County, OT

43. Janirian Bonner, Cedar Grove, WR

75. Cedric Seabrough, Swainsboro, TE

12. Deyon Bouie, Bainbridge, WR/CB

44. Weston Franklin, Wayne County, OG

76 Jaron Willis, Lee County, LB

13. Daniel Martin, Marietta, LB

45. Khristian Zachary, Carrollton, DE

77. Samuel Mbake, Brookwood, WR

14. Nyland Green, Newton, CB

46. Addison Nichols, GACS, OT

78. Kaleb Edwards, Dacula, S

15. Jake Garcia, Valdosta, QB

47. Bryson Estes, ELCA, C

79. Shaun Hardy, Camden County, WR

16. David Daniel, Woodstock, WR/S

48. Antonio Martin, Langston Hughes, RB

80. Antario Brown, Beach, RB

17. CJ Washington, Cedartown, DE/RB

49. Chauncey Magwood, Lee County, WR/QB

81. Baron Hopson, Lee County, LB

18. Carlos Del Rio-Wilson, Grayson, QB

50. Lemeke Brockington, Colquitt County, WR

82. Jackson Hamilton, Blessed Trinity, LB

19. Chazz Chambliss, Carrollton, LB

51. Miles Campbell, South Paulding, TE

83. West Weeks, Oconee County, S/WR

20. Tyre West, Tift County, DE

52. Victoine Brown, Grayson, DE

84. Kani Walker, Douglas County, CB

21. Nathaniel Wiggins, Westlake, CB

53. Tyler Morehead, Clinch County, RB/QB/S

85. Frederic Seabrough, Swainsboro, TE

22. Cane Berrong, Hart County, TE

54. Jamie Felix, Camden County, RB

86. Ty Furnish, Blessed Trinity, OG

23. Daejon Reynolds, Grayson, WR

55. Amaad Foston, John Milledge Academy, RB

87. Amari Wansley, Buford, S

24. Dacari Collins, Westlake, WR

56. Elijah Pritchett, Carver (Columbus), OT

88. Ronnie Hamrick, Parkview, CB

25. Jayden Thomas, PACE Academy, WR

57. Josh Moore, Marist, S

89. Omar Daniels, Colquitt County, CB

26. Dylan Fairchild, West Forsyth, OG

58. Marlin Dean, Elbert County, DT

90. Quincy Bryant, Parkview, CB

27. Sam Horn, Collins Hill, QB

59. Justice Haynes, Blessed Trinity, RB

91. Noah Collins, Grayson, DE

28. Jaquez Smith, Westlake, WR

60. Zamon Ross, Schley County, S

92. Patrick Tukes, Telfair, DT

29. Malaki Starks, Jefferson, S/WR

61. Khalil Anderson, Riverwood, CB

93. Gabriel Benyard, Irwin County, CB/RB

30. MJ Morris, PACE Academy, QB

62. Javonte Sherman, Valdosta, WR

94. Jayden Johnson, Cedartown, CB/QB

31. Aalah Brown, Valdosta, WR

63. Bubba Chandler, North Oconee, QB

95. Leo Blackburn, Westlake, TE

32. Phil Mafah, Grayson, RB

64. Stantavious Smith, Dougherty, DE

96. Michael Mincey, Ware County, LB

33. Trenilyas Tatum, Mount Zion, LB

65. Christen Miller, Cedar Grove, DT

97. TJ Quinn, Lowndes, S

34. Chief Borders, Carrollton, LB

66. Chris Paul Jr., Crisp County, LB

98. Jaylin Alderman, Valdosta, LB

35. Gabe Ervin, Buford, RB

67. Jaden Slocum, Alpharetta, S

99. Royce White, Troup, OT

36. Mykel Williams, Hardaway, DT

68. Colten Gauthier, Hebron Christian Academy, QB

100. Ahmad Walker, Warner Robins, LB

37. Thomas Davis, Lowndes, DE/LB

69. Cameron Ball, Tri-Cities, OT ITG Next | 71

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Meet the Running Back Who Outran Nick Chubb and Outscored Hershchel Walker Written by: Kyle Grondin

There wasn’t much Amaad Foston didn’t run past. Or run over. Or run through. Or run around.

When you finish with back-to-back 2,000-yard seasons, you’re generally pretty unstoppable. He’s one of the best running backs in the state and probably the best player nobody talks about.

Foston led the state in rushing last season, finishing with 2,772 yards and 46 touchdowns. This topped the 2,199 yards and 27 touchdowns he put up in his sophomore season by a landslide. While the Georgia High School Football Historians website doesn’t include GISA statistics, his rushing yards ranked ninth all time, 52 yards ahead of Nick Chubb’s best season. His 46 touchdowns were good for third all time, one better than the great Herschel Walker’s best season.

“To be even put in the same sentence as guys like that is humbling,” Foston said. “I look up to those guys.

I loved watching Nick Chubb on Sundays.”

His coach, former Bulldog J.T. Wall, credits his work ethic for his ability to perform at a high level.

“Amaad just works constantly,” Wall said.

“It’s always the little things that make good players great. When he arrived as a freshman, he was our best pass blocker from day one, which is typically something that keeps freshmen running backs off the field. He excelled at it.”

The three-star running back’s ability to continue to work out and add to his game has made him one of the most complete running

back prospects in the state. Wall mentioned that he seemingly adds a piece to his game almost weekly. Even the people spectating notice the development over his high school career. Gil Pound, the John Milledge Academy beat writer for the Union-Recorder, has noticed the evolution.

“When people ask about player ‘growth,’ they usually want to know how that individual has improved his game over the years,” Pound said. “The biggest growth that has taken place in Amaad is actually in his physical size. I’ll sometimes go months without seeing him during the offseason, but every time I do bump into him, I can tell he has gotten noticeably bigger and stronger. The skills and tools a running back needs have been there as long as I’ve

watched him, though he has continued to focus on improving those as well.”

Pound also said that Foston reminds him of Frank Gore in his running style, but taller. It stands out on tape; he’s a physical runner that isn’t afraid to engage in contact, but is difficult to bring down because his balance and pad level is already at the college caliber.

“GISA isn’t at the same level it was a decade ago, but top-tier talent is top-tier talent, no matter who he or she is playing,” Pound said. “Success is usually based on a combination of skill, the ability to work hard and learn quickly, all things Amaad has in surplus.”

GISA football often goes unnoticed by many high school football fans, but John Milledge Academy is generally always near the top. In the last four years, Wall has led

“Every time I touched that ball, I wanted to make something happen. I wanted to get that state championship for the team.”

247sports.com

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— Amaad Foston

the Trojans to the state championship game three times in the last four years, and in 2019 they won their second title in that span.

The 2019 state championship game was a clash of titans. John Milledge was loaded with talent, while Valwood was going for their fourth state championship of the decade.

Foston knew it was a chance for himself, and the team, to do something special.

“I knew that coach was going to feed me the ball that night, and I knew I needed to do something special to win the game,” Foston said.

“Every time I touched that ball, I wanted to make something happen. I wanted to get that state championship for the team.”

Foston certainly saved his best of an incredibly successful season for last. He was given the ball 42 times in the state championship game and ran rampant on the Valiants as the Trojans left nothing to chance, winning 62-19.

Foston’s statistics that night: 423 yards and eight touchdowns. That was the eighth highest yard total ever in high school football history, and his eight touchdowns was tied for second most all time in one game – in the championship nonetheless.

Wall knew the moment was special when

You need a 2-point conversion to win the state championship. Who are you taking?

Cody Brown Parkview

Caleb McDowell Lee County

Phil Mafah Grayson

Amaad Foston John Milledge Academy

they scored their first touchdown to get the game going.

“It was a special moment for our kids, but to hear about the records, it was great because Amaad isn’t really a numbers guy,” Wall said. “He sat out our last regular season game of the season because we didn’t want to risk injury. And if he cared about the numbers, he would’ve been upset about it. To get a kid who’s a great player, a 4.0 student this past year, and a great teammate, he’s a coach’s dream.”

It’s much more than the game of football for Foston. He’s a student with a 3.8 GPA in high school and committed to the University of Virginia to play college football.

Along with being the reigning ACC Coastal champions, Virginia typically has some of the highest graduation rates in the country and was founded by President Thomas Jefferson. Getting an offer from such a prestigious institution was all Foston needed to make his decision.

“It’s such a great university that made me feel right at home when I was there,” Foston said. “The

campus, environment, and meeting and talking with Coach Mendenhall and his staff made all the difference in the decision. It’s great to feel welcomed at such a great university.”

If Foston continues progressing at the same pace his senior season, he would break the single season rushing yard and touchdown records in the state. It would also give him the most yards and touchdowns in the history of the state of Georgia.

“I guess that’s the goal now,” Foston said with a laugh.

“I’m just trying to have fun my senior season, get ready for college, and help John Milledge Academy go back-to-back.”

To reach that goal, Foston needs to finish the season with 3,173 yards and 59 touchdowns. It’s a daunting task, but he’s proven time and time again that not many things in his path stop Amaad Foston.

unionrecorder.com

“To be even put in the same sentence as guys like that is humbling. I look up to those guys. I loved watching Nick Chubb on Sundays.”

— Amaad Foston

hudl.com

ITG Next | 75

X-FACTOR Freshman Chris Martin Is Looking to Make an Instant Impact at Fitzgerald Written by: Kyle Grondin | Photography by: Max Steele

At just 14 years old and having not started his freshman year of high school yet, Chris Martin has certainly gathered a lot of attention.

How could you miss him? As an eighth-grade quarterback, he’s already at roughly 6 feet tall, or 5-foot-11 as he says humbly.

But being tall isn’t all Martin has going for him. He was already starting for the Fitzgerald High School junior varsity football team this past year.

He’s no common eighth-grader, as he was recognized as ITG Next’s Youth Male Athlete of the Year. The whole country has taken notice, as he’s already appeared on national boards for the class of 2024.

“I WORK HARD TO GET BETTER EVERY DAY,” MARTIN SAID. “I’VE BEEN WORKING HARD ALL OFFSEASON TO IMPROVE MY GAME AND LEARNING FROM MY TEAMMATES TO GET BETTER FOR THIS NEXT SEASON.”

Martin moved to the South Georgia community from New York, and when his family was looking for a place to live and a school to attend, he immediately liked the idea of working with Fitzgerald head coach Tucker Pruitt.

“He’s a really great coach and knows what he’s talking about,” Martin said. “When I first met him, I told my dad I wanted to play here because I felt like he was going to help me develop into the kind of player and kind of quarterback I want to be.”

Tucker Pruitt has long been considered one of the brightest offensive minds in South Georgia football. His father, Robby Pruitt, was his head coach at Fitzgerald back when Tucker was the quarterback himself. After that, he was a successful offensive coordinator under his father at Coffee High School and a state champion offensive coordinator at Valdosta High School when his offense averaged over 30 points per game.

Pruitt has been around the high school football circuit, and he quickly recognized the talent that Martin had. He believes it goes beyond the young signal caller’s undeniable skills.

“The first thing that stands out about him is him,” Pruitt said.

“He’s growing so quickly. Every time I see him he’s growing, and he’s continuing to get bigger, faster, and stronger. Not many athletes grow and accelerate quite like he has.”

76 | itgnext.com

Martin can already throw over 50 yards as he enters the ninth grade. But his most impressive attribute is how much he studies the game. He mentioned breaking down film and learning from greats like Dan Marino and Florida State’s Charlie Ward. That’s not your typical film session for a teenager.

“HE IS EXTREMELY MATURE FOR HIS AGE,” PRUITT SAID. “HE’S LEARNED OUR PLAYBOOK REALLY WELL. HE WATCHES FILM AND ASKS GOOD, ENGAGING QUESTIONS. IT’S VERY IMPRESSIVE THE POISE HE SHOWS FOR HIS AGE. HE’S KIND OF A PERFECTIONIST AND HAS THE ARM TO PLAY LIKE THAT.” The world is beginning to take notice of Martin as well. During this offseason, he’s caught the attention of high profile athletes and even been able to work out with players like Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver and Super Bowl champion Tyreek Hill.

“That was a great experience, and I am grateful to Tyreek for allowing me to work out with him,” Martin said. “He’s as fast as they say, and it was a lot of fun.”

When asked about starting his freshman year, Martin said that his first goal was to work hard and focus on the team first.

“I’ll contribute however they need me to,” Martin said. “I’m not too worried about what role I’m going to play. I’m just thankful for the opportunity. I’m just working on getting better, talking with my receivers on where they like the ball, and then going out to play some football.”

Not a lot of freshmen get the opportunity to start on the varsity team, particularly at the quarterback position, where it takes years of work to master the craft. But it’s clear that Chris Martin is no ordinary freshman.

"We’re excited about his future and happy we get to have him in a Fitzgerald uniform for four years,” Pruitt said. “He’s competing for the job. We’ve got our returning quarterback in Rashad Davis, one of our top athletes in Chance Gamble will get to play more quarterback, and then you have Chris. At the very least we feel very confident all three guys will be able to go in and do a great job.”

BILLY JACK

Westfield Football - QB/RB/CB

Regions of Doom Written by: Jon Nelson

I admit that it’s a term I use that is selective.

There are a few of them in high school football here in Georgia, but one is a new creation thanks to reclassification. Region 1-5A is an absolute bear for this season and next: Coffee, Veterans, Ware County, Warner Robins, and Wayne County. And one of those teams won’t make the playoffs. I would maintain that the team that finishes fifth would make a playoff run on their own if allowed to do so.

Region 1-7A didn’t change personnel, but Camden County, Colquitt County, Lowndes, and Tift County are hands full for anyone, everyone, and themselves.

The 6A version is the same kind of handful with Houston County, Lee County, Northside (Warner Robins), and Valdosta. Add the subtext of new head coaches in the two schools in Lowndes County, and that’s an entirely different level of intensity.

Class 1A Private has a number of their regions that are four teams in depth, but remember power rankings and math are part and parcel to their success and seeding in a postseason. Because of that, I want to take you to the new Region 2-1A Public for a minute.

Brooks County has dropped a classification, and last year’s Class 2A runner-up is now paired with Atkinson County, Charlton County, Clinch County, Irwin County, Lanier County, and Turner County.

Region 4-1A has another school that has left Class 2A in reigning champ Dublin. Wilcox County moves from Region 2 to the new Region 4 as a part of the reorganization and will create some fun football Fridays this year and next.

At the same time, I have to tip my hat to all the coaches and athletic directors who have stayed on their phones, e-mails, and texts to try and keep their schedules as whole as possible in this new normal. I haven’t been of a mind that every single school in football here in Georgia would have a full 10-game grid to get them ready for the playoffs and a run for a title.

I know some schools that were happy with nine games. I know some that went to seven and seem okay. And, then, there’s some that just focus on their region schedules to get healthy, stay ready, and chase wins in this environment.

Schools have rescheduled games on hours — hours! — of notice to keep schedules intact. That is an amazing part of all of this for me.

We all know what this time of year means on multiple fronts.

It is my hope that, in whatever part of the state you’re in, you’re enjoying the action in front of you and that your communities, student bodies, and schools are as safe and healthy as possible this season. Covering it has been an amazing education for me all along.

You all have my unending love and respect. We couldn’t do this without each and every one of you.

Play it safe, everyone. I’ll see you soon.

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Staying Busy and Making Plans At Fellowship of Christian Athletes, we are staying busy and continuing to make plans for the future. Our biggest news to share is that we are having Benjamin Watson come as our guest speaker for the Annual Spring Banquet, which will be held on Feb. 27, 2021.

Watson was a first-round draft pick and Super Bowl Champion who played 16 years of professional football. He played for the University of Georgia while in college and is a dedicated Christian who spends his life helping others. He is the author of the book "Under Our Skin." We are so excited to have him come be a part of our banquet.

We have been busy the last couple of months with various projects. Devotions are being sent out on Tuesdays and Thursdays as a way to keep in touch and share a moment of encouragement with everyone. Football teams in our area have appreciated us delivering water and snacks to them during practice. We have been able to provide lunch for some of our coaches and have a time of prayer and devotion with them. Also, we have been to the Valdosta Police Department and Lowndes County Sheriff’s Office to have prayer with them during shift change. We will continue to be at the Sheriff’s Office on Thursday mornings for prayer.

Things have definitely been different these last several months, but we are making the best of it. We are continually praying and looking for new ways to reach out to our students, coaches, schools, and community.

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