UR Football Preview 2021

2021

football preview BALDWIN • GMC PREP • JOHN MILLEDGE ACADEMY HANCOCK CENTRAL • JOHN HANCOCK ACADEMY • WILKINSON COUNTY PUTNAM COUNTY • GATEWOOD • GREENE COUNTY LAKE OCONEE ACADEMY • NATHANAEL GREENE ACADEMY

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Football Preview 2021 3

2021 football preview 2021

from the editor Gil Pound | Sports Editor

I

t’s been a long, strange 18 months, hasn’t it?

Football preview 2021 Publisher Keith Barlow editor Natalie Davis Linder Layout and design editor Brandon Park sports editor Gil Pound advertising representatives Amy Budrys Terri Stewart Tiffany Dixon circulation manager Melissa Miller A publication of

&

165 Garrett Way | Milledgeville www.unionrecorder.com www.lakeoconeebreeze.net

When I first started kicking around ideas for this “Welcome to our high school football preview magazine” piece, I thought I would be able to write about us being near the end of this dark tunnel through which the world has been traveling. But we’re not there yet. As I write this, COVID case numbers are spiking again and decision-makers are having to choose whether it’s time to increase safety protocols or not. In many respects, we’re right where we were at this time in 2020 when there was just so much uncertainty.

Through that uncertainty though, we still somehow got a full high school football season in Georgia. Sure, schedules were shuffled and some games had to be canceled, but the campaign came to its intended conclusion with state champions earning the right to hoist their respective championship trophies. It wasn’t easy, but we got there.

I’m hoping that last year taught society a lesson it can take into the 2021 season, which is to not take anything for granted. Football players, work hard, listen to your coaches, and give it your all every single down. Coaches, get the most out of your players while teaching them a thing or two about football and life. Cheerleaders, scream so loud it takes all weekend to get your voices back. Band members, bang those drums, make those tubas low and trumpets wail. Parents, savor every moment. For the vast majority of kids, football is only a temporary part of their lives. Their final high school game will likely be their last game ever. Don’t sour the experience by stirring up drama on social media or being salty about things like playing time. And for goodness sake, take it easy on the referees. Their jobs are hard enough as it is.

Gil

Pound Sports Editor

4 Football Preview 2021

Football Preview 2021 5

2021 football preview 2021

table of contents

6 Football Preview 2021

BALDWIN BRAVES.................................................PAGE 10 GMC PREP BULLDOGS...................................PAGE 24 JMA TROJANS................................................................PAGE 34 HANCOCK CENTRAL BULLDOGS...........PAGE 46

JOHN HANCOCK REBELS...................PAGE 50

WILKINSON COUNTY WARRIORS............PAGE 54

PUTNAM COUNTY WAR EAGLES.......PAGE 58

GATEWOOD GATORS.................PAGE 62

GREENE COUNTY TIGERS....................PAGE 66

LOA NEW FIELD UPDATE..................PAGE 70

NATHANAEL GREENE PATRIOTS...............PAGE 74

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Football Preview 2021 7

2021 football preview 2021

2021 region alignment AAAAAAA 1-AAAAAAA (4) Camden County Colquitt County Lowndes Tift County 2-AAAAAAA (5) Campbell East Coweta McEachern Newnan Pebblebrook 3-AAAAAAA (6) Harrison Hillgrove Marietta North Cobb North Paulding Walton 4-AAAAAAA (5) Brookwood Grayson Newton Parkview South Gwinnett 5-AAAAAAA (6) Alpharetta Cherokee Etowah Milton Roswell Woodstock 6-AAAAAAA (7) Denmark Forsyth Central Gainesville Lambert North Forsyth South Forsyth West Forsyth 7-AAAAAAA (7) Archer Berkmar Discovery Duluth Dunwoody Meadowcreek Norcross 8-AAAAAAA (5) Collins Hill Mill Creek Mountain View North Gwinnett Peachtree Ridge AAAAAA 1-AAAAAA (4) Houston County Lee County Northside, Warner Robins Valdosta 2-AAAAAA (7) Bradwell Institute Brunswick Effingham County Glynn Academy Richmond Hill South Effingham Statesboro

8 Football Preview 2021

3-AAAAAA (6) Alcovy Evans Grovetown Heritage, Conyers Lakeside, Evans Rockdale County 4-AAAAAA (7) Hughes Lakeside, DeKalb Lovejoy Morrow North Atlanta Tucker Westlake 5-AAAAAA (8) Alexander Carrollton Dalton Douglas County East Paulding Paulding County Rome South Paulding 6-AAAAAA (9) Allatoona Kell Kennesaw Mountain Lassiter Osborne Pope South Cobb Sprayberry Wheeler 7-AAAAAA (8) Cambridge Centennial Chattahoochee Creekview Johns Creek River Ridge Riverwood Sequoyah 8-AAAAAA (7) Buford Central Gwinnett Dacula Habersham Central Lanier Shiloh Winder-Barrow AAAAA 1-AAAAA (5) Coffee Veterans Ware County Warner Robins Wayne County 2-AAAAA (7) Griffin Harris County McIntosh Northgate Northside, Columbus Starr’s Mill Whitewater 3-AAAAA (8) Banneker Creekside Drew Forest Park Jonesboro Mundy’s Mill Tri-Cities Woodward Academy

4-AAAAA (8) Dutchtown Eagle’s Landing Jones County Locust Grove Ola Stockbridge Union Grove Woodland, Stockbridge 5-AAAAA (10) Chamblee Clarkston Cross Keys Decatur Lithonia M. L. King Northview Southwest DeKalb St. Pius X Stone Mountain 6-AAAAA (7) Chapel Hill Grady Jackson, Atlanta Lithia Springs New Manchester North Springs Villa Rica 7-AAAAA (6) Blessed Trinity Calhoun Cartersville Cass Hiram Woodland, Cartersville 8-AAAAA (8) Apalachee Clarke Central Eastside Greenbrier Jackson County Johnson, Gainesville Loganville Walnut Grove AAAA 1-AAAA (6) Bainbridge Cairo Dougherty Monroe Thomas County Central Westover 2-AAAA (9) Carver, Columbus Columbus Hardaway Jordan Kendrick LaGrange Shaw Spencer Troup County 3-AAAA (4) Benedictine Islands Jenkins New Hampstead 4-AAAA (7) Baldwin Howard Perry Rutland Spalding West Laurens

Westside, Macon 5-AAAA (7) Fayette County Hampton Luella McDonough Mt. Zion, Jonesboro North Clayton Riverdale 6-AAAA (7) Arabia Mountain Druid Hills Hapeville Marist Mays Miller Grove Stephenson 7-AAAA (7) Cedartown Central, Carroll Heritage, Catoosa Northwest Whitfield Pickens Ridgeland Southeast Whitfield 8-AAAA (7) Cedar Shoals Chestatee East Hall Flowery Branch Jefferson Madison County North Oconee AAA 1-AAA (5) Appling County Brantley County Long County Pierce County Tattnall County 2-AAA (8) Central, Macon Crisp County Jackson Mary Persons Peach County Pike County Sumter County Upson-Lee 3-AAA (8) Beach Groves Johnson, Savannah Liberty County Savannah Savannah Arts Academy* Southeast Bulloch Windsor Forest 4-AAA (7) Burke County Cross Creek Harlem Hephzibah Morgan County Richmond Academy Thomson 5-AAA (9) Carver, Atlanta Cedar Grove Douglass, Atlanta Greater Atlanta Christian Innovation Academy* Redan Salem

Sandy Creek Westminster 6-AAA (9) Adairsville Coahulla Creek LaFayette Lakeview-Ft. Oglethorpe Murray County North Murray Ringgold Rockmart Sonoraville 7-AAA (8) Cherokee Bluff Dawson County East Forsyth Gilmer Lumpkin County North Hall West Hall White County 8-AAA (6) East Jackson Franklin County Hart County Monroe Area Oconee County Stephens County AA 1-AA (6) Berrien Cook Early County Fitzgerald Thomasville Worth County 2-AA (7) Bacon County East Laurens Jeff Davis Swainsboro Toombs County Vidalia Woodville-Tompkins* 3-AA (7) Bleckley County Dodge County Jasper County Lamar County Northeast Southwest Washington County 4-AA (11) Butler Davidson Fine Arts* Glenn Hills Jefferson County Johnson, Augusta* Josey Laney Oglethorpe County Putnam County Technical Career Magnet* Westside, Augusta 5-AA (5) Bremen Callaway Haralson County Heard County Temple 6-AA (12) Columbia Coretta Scott King Acad* Elite Scholars Academy* KIPP Atlanta Collegiate

Webster County*

Lovett McNair Pace Academy South Atlanta Stilwell Arts* Therrell Towers Washington

2-A Public (8) Atkinson County Brooks County Charlton County Clinch County Echols County* Irwin County Lanier County Turner County

7-AA (7) Chattooga Coosa Dade County Fannin County Gordon Central Model Pepperell 8-AA (5) Banks County Elbert County Rabun County Riverside Military Union County A Public 1-A Public (12) Baconton Baker County* Calhoun County Miller County Mitchell County Pataula Charter Pelham Quitman County* Randolph-Clay Seminole County Terrell County

3-A Public (11) Bryan County Claxton Emanuel County Institute Jenkins County McIntosh County Academy Metter Portal Savannah Classical Academy* Savannah Early College* Screven County Steam Academy*

Furlow Charter* Greenville Macon County Manchester Marion County Rainey-McCullers* Schley County Stewart County Taylor County

Greene County Lake Oconee Academy* Lincoln County Social Circle Towns County Washington-Wilkes Woody Gap*

6-A Public (11) Armuchee Atlanta Classical* B.E.S.T Academy Bowdon Dalton Academy* DeKalb School of the Arts* Drew Charter School* Fulton Leadership Academy* Gordon Lee Mt. Zion, Carroll Trion

1-A Private (6) Deerfield-Windsor First Presbyterian Mount de Sales Academy Stratford Academy Strong Rock Christian Tattnall Square Academy

4-A Public (9) Dooly County Dublin Hawkinsville Johnson County Montgomery County Telfair County Treutlen Wheeler County Wilcox County

7-A Public (11) ACE Charter Crawford County Georgia Academy for Blind* Georgia Military College Glascock County GSIC* Hancock Central Taliaferro County* Twiggs County Warren County Wilkinson County

5-A Public (11) Central, Talbotton Chattahoochee County

8-A Public (9) Barrow* Commerce

A Private

2-A Private (10) Atlanta Jewish Academy* Ben Franklin Academy* Eagle’s Landing Christian Greenforest Christian* Landmark Christian Our Lady of Mercy Paideia* Southwest Atlanta Christian* W. D. Mohammed* Whitefield Academy 3-A Private (5) Aquinas Calvary Day School Savannah Christian Savannah Country Day St. Vincent’s Academy* 4-A Private (4) Brookstone

Heritage, Newnan St. Anne-Pacelli Trinity Christian 5-A Private (7) Atlanta International* Galloway* Hebron Christian Academy Holy Innocents’ Mount Vernon Providence Christian Wesleyan 6-A Private (9) Brandon Hall* Fellowship Christian King’s Ridge Lakeview Academy Mt. Bethel Christian* Mt. Pisgah Christian Pinecrest Academy St. Francis Weber School* 7-A Private (6) Christian Heritage Darlington Excel Christian* Mt. Paran Christian North Cobb Christian Walker 8-A Private (6) Athens Academy Athens Christian George Walton Academy Loganville Christian Prince Avenue Christian Tallulah Falls*

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Football Preview 2021 9

2021 football preview 2021

ghsa Region 4-4A

Head Coach

Jesse Hicks 5th season) “I really like the fact that we have that many people coming back on both sides of the ball. ”

BHS stacked with returning talent Stories and photos by Gil Pound Opponents might feel a sense of déjà vu when they take the field against the Baldwin Braves in 2021.

Head coach Jesse Hicks has 16 starters returning from last year’s region runner-up finish that saw BHS football lose narrowly in the second round of the Class 4A state playoffs. Those returners are another year faster and another year stronger as they are now ready to try and make a deep postseason run that puts the rest of the state on notice.

“I really like the fact that we have that many people coming back on both sides of the ball,” Hicks says. “We were a good football team last year. We lost Javon [Bullard], but the cupboard’s definitely not bare.”

More on replacing Bullard later, but first, the returners are split evenly between the offense and defense at eight players apiece. The nearly 80-player roster is spread almost evenly among the four classes with the freshmen making up the largest number. Over half the players routinely took part in offseason workouts after the Braves’ 2020 second-round playoff exit. The rest

were busy winning Baldwin’s first boys basketball state championship in 40 years or playing other sports.

Senior Derrick Lewis returns to quarterback the offense. When he takes his first regular season snap in 2021, he will have taken a starting snap in at least one game every year of his varsity career.

“I can’t even put a price tag on that,” Hicks says. “He’s a great leader who’s grown into one of the better players in our region and in this area. He’s one of the most consistent guys we have, and that’s what you look for in a leader.”

Lewis brings stability to a unit that scored 28 points per game a year ago, and he knows the offense inside and out, per his head coach. The returning signal-caller was a Second Team All-Region selection as a junior, and completed 57% of his passes (82-of-144) while totaling 14 touchdowns against only four interceptions.

As is the case with Baldwin football just about every year, there is no shortage of playmakers to get the ball to. The running back tandem of shifty senior Jeramiyah

baldwin braves CONTINUED ON PAGE 10

10 Football Preview 2021

2020 record: 5-2 Scott and sophomore Micah Welch return, giving the Braves offense a couple of dynamic options at that position. Scott routinely makes defenders who think they have an angle on him look silly by speeding or juking away. Welch is more of a bruiser, breaking tackles as he fights for big gains. He was just a freshman last year, but quickly showed that he deserved the right to share the load at RB. The duo combined for over 1,000 all-purpose yards and 12 touchdowns last season despite Baldwin’s shortened region-only schedule due to COVID. Region 4-4A opponents thought they were done with BHS wideout Shatavious Hogan, unluckily for them they still have two more seasons of dealing with the junior.

Hogan catches nearly everything that comes his way, and his 23 receptions for 378 yards and six touchdowns were enough to earn him First Team All-Region recognition as a sophomore. Hicks pointed to senior Kemond Elum, who was hurt last year but has had a good offseason, as another viable option out at receiver. Senior Kirtavious Hightower was an All-Region honoree as a defensive back in 2020, but was also reliable at wideout as he was often Lewis’ go-to on third downs.

All those options (and more) and only one football. It will be BHS offensive coordinator Jamoski Ward’s job to get the ball into the right player’s hands in the right situations.

“That’s what I love about Coach Ward,” says Hicks. “He can figure it out and evenly distribute the ball around.”

Up front the Braves get back basically every starter along the OL minus one who stepped in for an injured starter a year ago. Junior Jermon Simmons was the best performer there last year with an 85% lineman grade. Only two expected offensive lineman starters are seniors, so Baldwin football is fairly set there for the next two years.

Over on the defense, coordinator Willie Chester lost his two most productive players to graduation in the defensive back Bullard and last year’s Region 4-4A Defensive Player of the Year, outside linebacker Antonio Reeves. But Coach Hicks doesn’t feel any cause for alarm since nearly everyone else is returning. The defense is led by big senior linebacker Gavin Davis.

“Gavin’s just like Derrick,” Hicks says. “He’s been starting since he was a sophomore and is the captain of our defense. He’s also extremely intelligent and gets everybody lined up correctly.”

Davis totaled 47 tackles last year, and he really showed his nose for the football as over a quarter of those tackles went for a loss.

Ahead of him is a strong defensive line that includes junior Nasir Robinson and sophomore Tyrecus Harrison, both

All games: Friday at 7:30 pm

2021 game SCHEDULE Date

Opponent

Location

8/20

Liberty Co.

Away

8/27

Washington Co.

Away

9/3

Ware Co.

Away

9/10

Southwest

Home

9/17

OFF

OFF

9/24

Westside-Macon

Away

10/1

Rutland

Home

10/8

West Laurens

Away

10/15

Howard

Home

10/22

Spalding

Away

10/29

OFF

OFF

11/5

Perry

Home

Biggest games

1. Perry 2. Ware Co. 3. Washington Co.

Head Coach Jesse Hicks Football Preview 2021 11

2021 football preview 2021

“With the amount of talent we have, I think we have a shot

12 Football Preview 2021

to play for it all.”

of whom were giving the Baldwin offense fits during the team’s spring intra-squad scrimmage.

The back of the Baldwin defense is very experienced with guys like Hightower and Dexter Ricks Jr. The main question mark was who would replace Bullard at safety, but Hicks believes he’s found his guy in junior Jacobi Nixon who played forward on the Braves’ basketball state championship team. This will be Nixon’s first year participating in varsity football, but not his first time playing the sport altogether. He has apparently shown some real flashes in the lead-up to the 2021 campaign.

“He’s learning back there, but he’s an athlete that can cover the field in seconds,” says Hicks. “The light’s flickering right now, but when it comes on he’s going to be something special.”

The Baldwin head coach called his current roster one of the most talented top-to-bottom he’s ever had, which is really saying something for the program that he’s steered a combined 13 years.

“With the amount of talent we have, I think we have a shot to play for it all,” Hicks says. “It’s going to be up to us to keep these kids healthy and continue to put them in the right positions so they can make plays for us.”

Before the team can worry about competing on high school football’s biggest stage, it has a regular season and Region 4-4A schedule to tackle. Rutland, Spalding, and Howard remained outside the playoff picture last year.

Rutland has a new head coach and lost its best player.

Howard, who had to cancel its game against Baldwin last year due to COVID, is a bit of a question mark. Hicks believes that Spalding could be the surprise team in the region. Westside-Macon lost its best skill guys, but like Baldwin seldom has trouble replacing them. West Laurens lost a lot to graduation minus a couple of talented linebackers. But the game Baldwin fans have circled is the Nov. 5 matchup versus last year’s region champion Perry High School. The Panthers defeated the Braves for the region championship under questionable circumstances last season. The game was tied late and Perry lined up for a field goal to attempt to take the lead. The kick by almost all accounts — except the one that really counted — looked like it sailed wide right. The official under the goalposts signaled “good,” however, and that kept the game from going to overtime. Perry took the region title and went one round further into the postseason than Baldwin did.

“They are the defending region champs,” Hicks says. “No disrespect to anybody in our region, but I think we’re the two best teams in the region again. I like the fact that it could come down to us and them. This time they’ve got to come to 110 N. ABC St. to play us.”

Baldwin’s 2021 season kicks off Aug. 20, at Liberty County. Region play begins Sept. 24, at Westside-Macon.

A FULL SCHEDULE The COVID-19 pandemic wreaked havoc with 2020 high school football schedules.

Baldwin High School officials opted to have the Braves play only region opponents in most fall sports, football included.

That forced BHS to begin its season more than a week into October when the normal opening week is usually around mid- to late August. Baldwin finished its shortened regular season at 4-1, taking second in Region 4-4A behind Perry.

A comeback win against Thomas County Central to open the playoffs propelled BHS into the second round where the team lost 8-0 at Carver-Columbus. Though short of the ultimate goal, head coach Jesse Hicks’ team did get at least into the second round for the fourth time in four tries in his second tenure here.

The only changes from last year’s original schedule come in the first couple of weeks. Baldwin’s preseason scrimmage will be Thursday, Aug. 12, at Dacula before the Aug. 20 season opener versus Liberty County. The Panthers of southeast Georgia have largely been a winning program since 2006, but were just 2-4 last season. The 3A school was knocked out of the playoffs by Central-Macon in the first round. According to the Georgia High School Football Historians Association, this year will bring only the third meeting between Baldwin and Liberty, and the first since 2009. The Braves won both prior contests.

The remainder of Baldwin’s 2021 schedule is made up of opponents the team was scheduled to face last year. The rivalry with Washington County (6-5 last year) continues Aug. 27, in Sandersville. Coach Hicks often likes to schedule teams that will prepare his team, not just for region play, but for the postseason, and he will have that in back-to-back weeks against the Golden Hawks followed by a Sept. 3 game at Ware County. The 5A Gators were 10-2 in 2020, including a run to the quarterfinals where they lost to Cartersville by just a field

goal. Ware’s only regular season loss came against 2020 5A champion Warner Robins, 22-19.

The Braves’ non-region slate concludes Sept. 10 against Southwest-Macon for BHS homecoming 2021. The AA Patriots of Macon were just 1-5 last year and missed the playoffs.

Baldwin gets an off week before heading to Macon Sept. 24 to face the Westside Seminoles, who were 5-5 and fourth in the Braves’ region a year ago. BHS won last season’s meeting 35-28 at home in the game that served as its opener following the delayed start. Rutland comes to Milledgeville Oct. 1 to continue region play. The orange-and-green clad Hurricanes won only one ballgame last year, and that came against single A ACE. The Braves will have West Laurens on the road that following week. That matchup last year went 19-13 in Baldwin’s favor thanks to some late-game heroics by current University of Georgia Bulldog Javon Bullard. West Laurens was 5-5 overall last year, taking third in the region before losing to Cairo to open the postseason.

BHS will host Howard Oct. 15 to keep the region slate rolling. Those two teams did not meet last year due to COVID concerns on Howard’s part, marking the only region cancelation Baldwin experienced. The Braves then travel to Spalding (a 35-0 win for BHS last year) for their penultimate game of the 2021 regular season.

After a strategically-placed off week, Baldwin is set to host Perry High School for Senior Night on Nov. 5. That’s a game the Braves will surely have circled following last year’s debacle on the road. The Panthers’ go-ahead field goal late appeared to sail wide right, and video shows the entire Perry team reacting as if it did. The referee ruled the kick good, though, giving Perry the 23-20 victory and the region championship.

The Panthers (8-5 last year) went on to the state quarterfinals where they lost to Marist 36-7 while BHS was knocked out in the second round.

Football Preview 2021 13

2021 football preview 2021

Lewis and Ricks bring a lot of experience When a team has so many returning starters on either side of the football like the 2021 Baldwin Braves do, it can be tough to nail down which players are going to make the biggest impact.

That’s especially true on an offense that gets back nearly every starting skill player it had a year ago, but distributing the ball to those talented playmakers falls mainly on one man’s shoulders — the quarterback’s. Luckily for BHS, it has a pretty good one in returning trigger man Derrick Lewis. The senior’s story started his freshman year after he was thrust into the starting role when the then senior starter got hurt. Lewis went on to split time behind center as a sophomore, but has had a firm grasp on the job since the start of last year. The quarterback job is not the only thing he’s got a firm grasp on as he’s very well-versed in coordinator Jamoski Ward’s offense.

Lewis showed that last season as his play as a junior landed him a Second Team All-Region selection. He completed 57% of his passes for 1,141 yards and threw 14 touchdowns versus

only four interceptions. Lewis now seems poised to take that First Team All-Region QB honor in his final year. He’ll have a lot of help with which to do it with an experienced O-line and exceptional group of running backs and wideouts at his side.

The Baldwin defense is a similar story with its high number of returning starters, but senior defensive back Dexter Ricks Jr. is one name that sticks out among that group. Primarily a corner, Ricks’ college recruitment began picking up steam back in the spring following a productive — although shortened — junior season. He totaled 21 tackles and showed he wasn’t afraid to stop the run as five of those takedowns went for a loss. Ricks wasn’t just an asset on the defense, but on special teams as well, and figures to be so again. He helped the Braves by blocking multiple field goals/extra points last year, showing college recruiters that he can help their programs in more than just one facet of the game. It’s players like Lewis and Ricks that have Baldwin head coach Jesse Hicks excited about what his team could possibly accomplish in 2021.

2021 IMPACT PLAYERS

Derrick Lewis 14 Football Preview 2021

Dexter Ricks Jr.

Baldwin High School 2021 Football Schedule ***All games 7:30 p.m. *** Liberty County

***AllAugust games 7:30 p.m.County *** 27 Washington

Good Luck Braves!

Good Luck

Home

7:30PM

Away

7:30PM

August 20 13 September

Liberty County Ware County

Home Away

7:30PM

August 27 10 September

Washington County Southwest-Macon (Homecoming)

Away Home

7:30PM

September 13 24

Ware County Westside

Away

7:30PM

September October 1 10

Southwest-Macon (Homecoming) Rutland

Home

7:30PM

September October 8 24

Westside West Laurens

Away

7:30PM

October 1 15

Rutland Howard

Home

7:30PM

October 8 22

West Laurens Spalding

Away

7:30PM

October 155 November

Howard Perry (Senior Night)

Home Home

7:30PM 7:30PM

Baldwin High School Braves!

155 Hwy. 49 West • Milledgeville, GA • 478 453-6429 October 22

Spalding

Away

7:30PM

November 5

Perry (Senior Night)

Home

7:30PM

www.baldwincountyschoolsga.org/baldwin-high • FOLLOW US ON: Baldwin High School 155 Hwy. 49 West • Milledgeville, GA • 478 453-6429 www.baldwincountyschoolsga.org/baldwin-high • FOLLOW US ON:

520227-1

August 20

520227-1

Baldwin High School 2021 Football Schedule

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2021 football preview 2021

synthetic turf ... COMING SOON The natural grass field inside Baldwin High School’s football stadium saw its last action this past spring.

The school board voted in April to approve a $1.1 million purchase for a new synthetic turf field to be installed during the summer months. The project is being paid for by E-SPLOST (education special purpose local option sales tax) funding, and will bring Baldwin County in step with a trend many other school districts across the state are following. The AJC reported in August 2019 that more than half of Georgia High School Association (GHSA) members would be playing their home football games on a synthetic surface that season, and the number has only grown since then.

Baldwin High School head football coach Jesse Hicks says that moving to an artificial field was something he would have questioned a few years back, but he’s now fully on board.

“The top-notch field turf right now is the safest, most cost-efficient, and stable thing we can do — not just for football — but for all the other sports and different things we want to do inside the stadium,” Hicks says.

Baldwin High’s future playing surface was purchased from FieldTurf, a company whose references include the Atlanta Falcons and many other NFL franchises. Company representatives told the local school board in March that they have done over 170 fields for schools across Georgia. Jones County was a recent client as the Greyhounds received the synthetic turf treatment prior to last season. Local school officials visited both Jones and Bibb counties to get a feel for the two main products that are on the market.

“At the end of that process, we were all in consensus agreement that FieldTurf was the product we thought was best to meet the needs of our student-athletes,” BHS Principal Jason Flanders said in March.

The initial $1.1 million investment includes base and drainage work below the actual playing surface.

16 Football Preview 2021

FieldTurf’s Josh Keown, regional sales manager for Georgia, told board members that the average life for the field itself is 10 years and nothing needs to be done to the base unless problems are noticed during surface replacement. A replacement surface costs around half the initial installation price, so over $500,000. School officials say the change will save man hours for the maintenance department, who has to cut and line the existing field, and money for watering upkeep.

The FieldTurf reps also touted their product as a safer option, featuring just the right amount of give for players’ joints. Keown added that the field includes a cooling system that can cool it by 35 degrees in peak temperatures, bringing to within 10 degrees of a natural grass field on those hot days early in the football season.

As Hicks mentioned, the artificial turf’s durability and versatility are part of what makes it so attractive to school systems. The synthetic field does not need time to recover from rain like a natural surface does, so the Braves can play on Friday night and then host events such as band competitions the next day. Hicks also envisions the new field as a way to bring the community together to watch youth sports.

“We’ve got too much division around here,” he says.

“Something like this can magnify our abilities to come back together with us being able to do that now as we get ready to move into some sense of normalcy … I see a day on Saturdays where our guys are here in their jerseys holding the down markers while our rec league teams are here having their day.”

The new field’s design will also incorporate Baldwin High logos and school colors.

“I thank the board of education, I thank our principal and our athletic director and everybody who had a piece in trying to do this,” Hicks says. “I’m excited about it and I can’t wait to play our first game on it. I think it’s a great, positive move in the right direction.”

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2021 football preview 2021

2021 bhs band of the braves The Baldwin High School Band of the Braves has returned to work after the COVID-19 pandemic completely put a stop to its 2020 season.

The unit, led by fifth-year band director James McMillan and assistant director Chris Ryles, has been drilling, playing and sweating to prepare for this year’s show titled, “Into the Darkness.” Humanity hit a brick wall last spring when the pandemic clamped down on the world, and that’s the moment the band is trying to capture.

“It feels like we’re finally starting to come out of it and into normal life, but we’re trying to depict the way everything just shut down so suddenly with the virus,” McMillan said. “A lot of people were in their homes and went to a dark place mentally. That’s the idea we’re trying to get across.”

The song selections fit perfectly within the show’s theme. Works featured include hits by music duo Simon & Garfunkel and rock band My Chemical Romance.

“It usually starts with a song idea,” said McMillan. “This year started with ‘The Sound of Silence.’ The quote that opens that song, ‘Hello darkness my old friend…,’ led us to our entire show. We wanted to come up with something new and fresh instead of recycling the idea for last year’s show.”

“The Sound of Silence” experienced a revival about five years ago when metal group Disturbed put out a cover of the 1966 hit. The Band of the Braves is also bor-

rowing My Chemical Romance’s “Welcome to the Black Parade” to really snatch audiences “Into the Darkness.”

Bringing the show to life is a group of more than 50 Band of the Braves members. McMillan said it’s the smallest group he’s had, but that’s not the biggest hurdle his band is facing this year. He has the pandemic to thank for that.

“We’re extremely young,” the director said. “We not only have one group of freshmen, but we also basically have two sets of new marchers. I want to say we’re between 70 and 75% of kids who it will be their first time marching. It is a challenge, but it also gives us a nice clean slate. We didn’t have a rookie camp. Everyone showed up at the same time. We’re learning to crawl before we learn to walk before we learn to run. Slow and steady wins the race.”

Work will continue (as weather allows) in the lead-up to the start of the 2021 high school football season this month. The Band of the Braves will get a few halftime performances under its belt before competition season begins with the locally-hosted Oconee Classic Saturday, Sept. 25. The band will follow that up with three road competitions to see how well its show stacks up against schools from around the state.

“The band world is ready to come back,” McMillan said. “That’s the vibe I’ve gotten from band directors.

We’re diving right in and trying to get back to normal for the kids.”

Football Preview 2021 19

2021 football preview 2021

Bullard is a Georgia Bulldog For Javon Bullard, the college football recruiting process started after his sophomore season when he landed his first offer from Troy University.

That journey came to its official end two years later when the Baldwin High School defensive back signed to play football for the University of Georgia. While the signing marked the completion of the recruiting process for Bullard, he says it was really all over when he verbally committed to UGA last August just before his senior season at BHS. “Once I committed I was pretty locked in from the getgo,” Bullard says. “I feel like I shouldn’t say I’m 100 percent for somewhere and then back out of it.”

Bullard’s on- and off-the-field resumé made him an extremely appealing football recruit. He was rated as a three-star prospect and ranked 55th overall in the state of Georgia at the time of his signing. In the classroom, Bullard boasted a 3.7 GPA along with a very impressive 1250 SAT score. With numbers like that, it’s easy to see

why many big-name college football programs had their eye on the DB/athlete. Baldwin head football coach Jesse Hicks pointed out one other thing about his star player during the December 2020 signing ceremony.

“Javon Bullard is a great student. Javon Bullard is a great athlete. But the most important thing that I’m proud of about Javon Bullard is that he’s a heck of a person,” says Hicks.

College football recruiting in 2020 was unlike any other year thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic. With between 20 and 30 scholarship offers placed before him, Bullard was looking forward to taking some campus visits during spring 2020, but that all got shut down once the coronavirus became prevalent. His recruitment became a virtual experience limited to Zoom interactions with coaches, but UGA head coach Kirby Smart and his staff were obviously still able to make a good impression through the unconventional avenue. That and a sign from above factored heavily into Bullard’s selection.

JavonBullard

20 Football Preview 2021

BHS WHERE ARE THEY NOW: Tylan Davis hopes to inspire others through music

By Branyan Towe When he was younger, Tylan Davis figured that he would probably end up in a sports-related career. However, once he reached middle school, life began pulling him in another direction. Davis tried out for his middle school’s band in fifth grade, with the trombone being the only instrument that he was able to play.

That is where he says his love of music truly began.

“I wasn’t 100 percent into it, but I knew that I enjoyed it,” Davis explains.

Today, he is a music education major at the University of Georgia and a member of the University of Georgia Redcoat Band.

Growing up in Milledgeville, Davis took note of the support the community had for the arts.

“I feel like the arts are appreciated here,” he says, adding that the support made him feel like what he was doing as a part of the middle and high school bands was meaningful.

That support and inspiration also extended to his home.

Even though his parents weren’t really musicians, Davis explains that his father made sure he had everything he needed when he started playing the trombone. In addition, his father also made sure that if Davis was going to start playing music, he would be serious about it and see it through.

“He really inspired me to pursue music,” he says.

When he got to Baldwin High School, Davis says that he was considering quitting band entirely at one point before changing his mind.

“Something told me to just go ahead and do it, so I did, and I ended up loving it,” Davis explains, “From there on, I moved up in the band and started doing leadership. So, I was section leader for my sophomore and junior years, and I was band captain my senior year.”

Being in these leadership roles in the high school band led Davis to find that he was having the most fun he’d ever had.

“I just really enjoyed it, because I got to see students go from barely being able to play a note to playing scales, playing music, and whatnot,” Davis explains. “Just the whole process was fascinating to me.”

That joy he felt in band during his junior and senior years of high school ultimately led him to want to teach music even though he had other options available to him. During his high school days in the Baldwin High band, Davis says that he had the most fun participating in competitions, although he admits that it was hard work.

Since getting to college, he’s also gotten into the art of practice.

“Taking a look at how people get better and that process has been fun, because you can take it and apply it to almost anything in life. It all comes down to repetition and focus and dedication to the small details,” Davis explains “Applying those things to my daily practice, it just really helps me with other things in life that I want to get better at. It’s a really cool thing that I get to do every day, figure out how to get better.”

There’s a piece of advice that Davis has for those young people that might be considering joining band.

“Do it. If you have money or even if you don’t have money and can make a plan, do it,” he says, “especially if you’re into music because band teaches you so much about music and lets you have a way deeper appreciation for it.”

He says that he believes that music connects everyone.

He hopes to inspire other people, whether they are his students or otherwise.

“Whether that be through education or through my playing, I just want to be an inspiration to other people,” Davis says, “because if I had not had my middle school band director or my high school band director or my college professors to inspire me, I wouldn’t be who I am. I just want to be that person for other people.”

Football Preview 2021 21

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2021 football preview 2021

ghsa Region 7-A public

Head Coach

Lee Coleman 3rd season) “I feel a little more confident coming in this year, but there is more pressure coming off a playoff season for the first time in 18 years.”

Bulldogs hungry for seconds Stories and photos by Gil Pound The 2020 season was one that featured many firsts for the Georgia Military College Prep School football program.

Not all were traditional firsts though since some actually came as “first time in a long time” occurrences.

The Bulldogs finished the campaign a successful 6-5, which was the team’s first winning record since 2011. On Oct. 15, 2020, GMC defeated region opponent Wilkinson County 7-6, giving the ‘Dogs their first win over the Warriors in 55 years. That Thursday night victory was enough to propel GMC football into the postseason for the first time since 2002, giving Lee Coleman his first taste of the playoffs as a high school head coach.

Now Coleman and his Bulldogs are hungry for seconds.

The young third-year head coach has a mixture of emotions heading into the 2021 schedule. There’s increased confidence after the improvement shown from year one to year two, then there’s that other thing most all coaches feel in the face of added expectations.

“I feel a little more confident coming into this year, but there is more pressure coming off a playoff season for the first time in 18 years,” says Coleman.

GMC Prep football has more than a couple items in the positive column that should help combat that pressure.

The 28-man roster is the biggest Coleman has had in his tenure, and he gets back seven starters on either side of the ball. Offensively, the skill position players are almost all returning. That includes All-Region quarterback Tyler Saunders who is a junior this season.

“I think he’s grown significantly,” Coleman says of his signal-caller. “Last year was a huge test for him starting as a sophomore. His preparation this offseason has been great and he looks terrific. Hopefully we can carry that on into the regular season. There’s definitely more trust there between us now. He used to be shy and nervous, but now he’s opening up and communicating. I think that’s a big positive.”

Back for Saunders on the outside is his classmate Caleb Bush whose varsity career so far has unfortunate-

gmc prep bulldogs CONTINUED ON PAGE 10

24 Football Preview 2021

2020 record: 6-5 ly been riddled with season-ending injuries. He broke his collarbone midway through his freshman year then broke his ankle the first game of last year. Bush is one of the most talented players on the GMC roster, now he’ll hopefully get to show that on a consistent basis when the team takes the field on Friday nights.

“He’s a great security blanket,” Coleman says. “He’s one of those talented guys that can make things happen. His career’s been unfortunate so far because he’s only played half a season through his first two years. But he’s passionate about football and is a good leader, so he helps us significantly.”

One loss the ‘Dogs did suffer at the skill positions is at running back. Yasir Saleem, a 1,000-yard rusher a year ago, transferred to Tattnall in Macon. Sophomore Jessie Washington has been tabbed as Saleem’s replacement to begin the year along with Jonathan Roach.

The line is where lack of experience comes into play. The two tackles return in Cam Bentley and Riley Prosser, while two other expected starters got some time in the trenches last year, it just wasn’t extensive. Despite that, Coleman, who calls the plays, says his team won’t shy away from the middle of opposing defenses because he doesn’t want to be one-dimensional.

The GMC defense has a similar story to the offense. The returning starters are spread through the middle and back of the unit headlined by linebackers Travion Woods and Washington. Last year, the senior Woods led the team with 83 tackles and was an All-Region selection along with the sophomore Washington who totaled 80 tackles his first year playing varsity football. Bush and Roach will hold down the safety spots while Noah Williams and senior Alex French will be at the corners. The defensive line has some growing up to do, but Coach Coleman says he has some players that he trusts for those jobs.

Will those components add up to a return trip to the playoffs? The Bulldogs’ record against region opponents ACE Charter, Crawford County, Hancock Central, Warren County and Wilkinson County will determine whether they gain admission to the postseason a second consecutive year. ACE and Crawford were the two teams left outside the playoff picture a year ago. Crawford has a new head coach after a winless 2020, and ACE is still a relatively new program, but has shown improvement. Warren is probably the 2021 region favorite after defending region champ Hancock graduated several key guys. But Hancock in recent years has not had trouble finding athletes to field its football team with. One thing is for certain, the Wilkinson County Warriors will look for revenge after last year’s one-point loss to GMC on Davenport Field. GMC finds itself likely in the middle of the pack once again following last year’s third-place region finish.

Coleman of course hopes a return to the playoffs is the

All games: Friday at 7:30 pm

2021 game SCHEDULE Date

Opponent

Location

8/20

Creekside Christian

Home

8/27

Central-Talbotton

Away

9/3

OFF

OFF

9/10

Riverside Military

Away

9/17

Hancock Central

Home

9/24

Twiggs Co.

Home

10/1

Wilkinson Co.

Away

10/8

Crawford Co.

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10/15

Glascock Co.

Away

10/22

Warren Co.

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10/29

ACE Charter

Away

11/5

OFF

OFF

Biggest games

1. Warren Co. 2. Wilkinson Co. 3. ACE Charter

Head Coach Lee Coleman Football Preview 2021 25

2021 football preview 2021 26 Football Preview 2021

end result this season, but gradual improvement is the main goal.

“I think we’ve made great strides, and I think we’re better this year than we were at this point last year,” he says. “We’re not a surprise team anymore. Nobody expected us to do what we did last year, so now we’re going to get everybody’s best shot, especially the teams from our region that missed the playoffs. We have to stay on the path of elevating and getting better.”

The Bulldogs kick off the 2021 season with a home game against GISA AAA school Creekside Christian Academy. The region portion of the schedule begins Sept. 17, versus Hancock Central, also at home.

Bulldogs looking to start

a playoff streak

Head coach Lee Coleman’s third year as head football coach at GMC Prep will look quite similar to his second opponent-wise, but there are a couple of notable changes for when the Bulldogs take the field in 2021.

The program saw its first state playoff action in nearly two decades last year, finishing the regular season at 6-4 and third in Region 7-A Public. The ‘Dogs earned that third-place finish by defeating Wilkinson County for the first time since 1965, and it was also their first region win since 2014. The 2020 campaign ended after GMC lost its postseason opener 56-0 to Gordon Lee. This fall, the Bulldogs’ 10 regular season opponents were a combined 30-45 a year ago, which comes out to a .400 win percentage. Here’s a look at those opponents week-by-week, including how they finished last year and how GMC has performed against them historically.

The season kicks off Friday, Aug. 20, versus the same opponent as last year — GISA AAA school Creekside Christian Academy out of McDonough. The Cougars handed the ‘Dogs

a 51-0 loss in that first-ever meeting, so the Bulldogs will be looking for revenge on Davenport Field in the ’21 opener.

Creekside finished last year 6-4 and had its season ended by John Milledge in the state playoffs.

Next up for GMC is a trip to Central-Talbotton, which came as a 34-0 win for Coleman’s ‘Dogs last year. Central is one of two teams on the GMC schedule that finished 2020 winless.

The Bulldogs get an early off week following the matchup at Central.

Coming off the bye the Bulldogs get Riverside Military Academy, who chose to forego football last year due to the pandemic. GMC filled that hole in the schedule with AAA Cherokee Bluff, but Riverside is expected back this year to renew the military school rivalry. Riverside holds the alltime series lead against GMC 17-10-3 and has won the last three meetings, the most recent of which came in a 2017 35-7 decision. Riverside was 5-5 the last time the team competed in 2019.

That will basically end the Bulldogs’ 2021 non-region schedule as they are slated to hop into Region 7-A Public play at home Sept.

17 versus Hancock Cen-

Football Preview 2021 27

2021 football preview 2021

“We’re not a surprise team anymore.”

tral. The Bulldogs of nearby Sparta went undefeated in their shortened 2020 schedule, including a 36-7 home win over GMC. Hancock (7-1 last year) went on to be knocked out in the second round of the postseason by Lincoln County. The Sparta school is 8-3 versus GMC and hasn’t lost in the series since 2014 discounting a 2019 forfeiture due to having fielded an ineligible player. Hancock has lost a lot to graduation, but never seems to be short on athletes for such a small school.

Region play for GMC Prep continues Sept. 24 with another home game against Twiggs County. Like Riverside, Twiggs opted out of the 2020 season. The Cobras were 1-9 in the 2019 campaign, and that sole win came in the season finale versus the ‘Dogs. Twiggs also holds a commanding 8-1 lead all-time against GMC with the only loss coming in a 2013 56-0 drubbing.

The month of October kicks off with GMC facing Wilkinson County on the road. The Warriors wearing blue-and-yellow have to be looking forward to this matchup after having lost last year’s meeting 7-6 on Davenport. Wilco had won 16 straight games versus the Bulldogs until that loss. The Warriors (2-7 last year) made the playoffs as the fourth seed thanks to their 2-3 region record, but fell to Bowdon in the postseason opener 35-6.

The other 2020 winless team comes to town Oct. 8 as Crawford County is set to make the trip from Roberta.

28 Football Preview 2021

The Eagles were cumulatively outscored 92-473 a year ago, which includes the 46-18 home loss to GMC. That was just the seventh meeting between the two schools who are now region foes, and the Bulldogs will look to level the all-time series 4-4 this season.

Next is a step back out of region competition with the Oct. 15 game at Glascock County, who is actually a member of Region 7-A Public but opts to play a non-region schedule. The Panthers of Gibson were 4-6 last year and lost to GMC Prep 42-0 for the Bulldogs’ homecoming. GMC is 25-3-1 all-time versus Glascock, and hasn’t lost in the series since back-to-back losses in ’07 and ’08.

The competition level takes a big step up from there with the Oct. 22 matchup versus last year’s region runner-up Warren County. The Screaming Devils (9-3 in 2020) may have finished second in region, but made it further in the playoffs than any 7-A Public team as they lost to Metter in the quarterfinals. Former GMC Prep head football coach and current Warren County head Steven Simpson will bring his Devils to Davenport in search of something similar to last year’s 44-0 win over the ‘Dogs.

The regular season closes out Oct. 29 against ACE Charter of Macon. GMC has yet to lose to the Gryphons (3-0 all time), and will look to keep that streak going in what Coach Coleman’s team hopes will not be its last game of 2021.

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2021 football preview 2021

2021 IMPACT PLAYERS Trevion Woods

Woods, Bush to lead Bulldogs GMC Prep head football coach Lee Coleman gets almost every offensive and defensive skill position player he had a year ago.

All will be valuable in getting the Bulldogs back to the postseason for a second consecutive year, but two players are especially expected to make significant impacts on both sides of the ball. Senior team captain Travion Woods is known for his prowess with a baseball bat in the spring, but he certainly started making a name for himself on the football field his junior year as well. He’s back to lead the GMC defense at linebacker. The 2020 All-Region selection was tops on his team in tackles last year with 83, and added one interception, a forced fumble, and four tackles for losses to further pad his season stat sheet. Another big year is likely in the cards for Woods, especially if the Bulldogs’ first preseason scrimmage versus Treutlen County was any indication. The big linebacker was everywhere stopping the run and also looked good versus the short passing game. If a ballcarrier needed tracking down, Woods was often the one doing it, and he also hauled in an interception to give possession over to his offense where he also spends time at tight end.

Speaking of two-way players, junior Caleb Bush is looking to piece together his first full varsity season after injuries have hampered him the last two years. He broke his collarbone about midway through his freshman season then suffered a broken ankle the very first defensive series last season at Creekside Christian. He’s shown to be a great playmaker at wide receiver out on the practice field, and like Woods had a strong showing in the Bulldogs’ Aug. 6 scrimmage. Bush totaled over 80 yards and one touchdown on two catches alone in that preseason dress rehearsal. If he can remain healthy, he’ll be a huge weapon in Coach Coleman’s offense and on the defensive side as well where he lines up at safety.

With players like Woods and Bush leading the way, GMC Prep football could be looking at its first playoff berth streak in almost two decades.

Caleb Bush 30 Football Preview 2021

2021 bulldog brigade travels the globe

Things look to be returning to normal for the GMC Prep Bulldog Brigade Band this season.

All considered, the group was one of the luckier ones across the state last year, as it did get to perform at home football games and travel to two competitions.

That’s not to say the COVID-19 pandemic did not present challenges, however. The coronavirus limited indoor rehearsals and kept the Bulldog Brigade from supporting the football team on the road. Still, band director Clint Raburn says that kids getting to come to GMC face-to-face last year has paid off in 2021 as marching band participation is now up to 60 students, which is an increase of 20 over last year.

“Being in school every day last year helped,” Raburn said. “I think a lot of relationships have been built and the students operate as a family together. That’s what’s very exciting about it. A lot of life change happens while we’re playing music and marching. That’s the main reason I do what I do.”

Raburn added that another factor has played a big role in the participation uptick.

“Our administration supports what we’re doing in marching band, concert band, and performing arts in general. The kids see that support, so that drives them to participate.”

Those 60 students will be marching to the beat of this year’s show titled “One World,” an idea that was mostly born out of the pandemic.

“The entire world went through this pandemic

together,” said Raburn. “Through that, we’ve also seen a lot of hope.”

The show features music representative of many different cultures and music genres heard around the world, starting with a Middle Eastern-flavored number followed by a percussion break heard in Marvel’s 2018 megahit film “Black Panther.” Next up is the Bulldog Brigade’s ballad “Reflections” from Disney’s Mulan before the show heads into “One Love” by reggae pioneer Bob Marley. The final piece is one ‘80s music lovers should easily recognize, “We Are the World,” which was originally recorded by a veritable who’s who of artists popular throughout the decade.

Raburn estimated that his Bulldog Brigade had learned over 75% of the show throughout its two weeks of full band camp and ensuing/ongoing rehearsals.

“The kids just worked so hard through camp,” he said.

“We’ve had a lot of great music and marching rehearsals. I’m feeling good about it right now. Hopefully the weather will be good to us so we can continue practicing.”

At least with COVID restrictions relaxed, the GMC Prep marching band has been able to practice the music portion indoors much more than last year. Football season kicks off Aug. 20 and competition season begins in late September. Competitions start locally at Baldwin High School’s Oconee Classic set for Sept. 25 before the group travels to Carrollton and then Warner Robins to close out the season.

Football Preview 2021 31

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2021 football preview 2021

gisa region 4-AAA

Head Coach

JT Wall 9th season) “This time last year, we were ready to play a ballgame.

It’s a different feeling now.”

High turnover giving Trojans A fresh start Stories and photos by Gil Pound Graduating a program record 21 players has a way of leveling the playing field really quickly.

After setting new high marks for roster counts in the 50s and 60s the last couple years, John Milledge Academy football has around 40 players on the team this season. For the first time in a few years, the 2021 Trojans will actually closely resemble their Friday night GISA counterparts in terms of roster size. While the number of bodies on the opposing sidelines may look similar, Trojan head coach JT Wall hopes his guys can find a way to be different once the whistles blow. Different like the school’s last two teams that combined to win 24 straight ballgames on their way to consecutive GISA AAA football state championships. Different like the program has been basically ever since the 2016 season when it won

its first ever state title. John Milledge is 60-3 since the start of that landmark campaign, but must now put all that success behind it and start almost completely fresh as Coach Wall welcomes back only four starters — one on offense and three on defense.

“This time last year, we were ready to play a ballgame,” the JMA head coach said in late July. “It’s a different feeling now. You’ve got to take the good with the bad after having such a big graduating class last year where so many seniors were starters and No. 2 guys. You enjoy it while it’s happening, but you know it’s going to be rough trying to find their replacements.”

Senior Marcus Prestwood is the lone offensive returning starter, but he brings back a ton of varsity experience. The athletic, slim Prestwood had his best outing

john milledge trojans

34 Football Preview 2021

2020 record: 11-0 ever in the Trojans’ 49-0 state championship win over Frederica last December. He caught just four balls, but totaled 170 yards and half his receptions went for touchdowns.

“He had a big day and he’ll be a four-year starter for us at receiver,” says Wall. “He knows what’s going on, and he’s a matchup nightmare for other teams if we can figure out a way to get him the ball. More times than not, that’s probably going to end in a good situation for us.”

JMA defensive coordinator Justin Mills gets Prestwood back at corner as well, along with senior inside linebacker Dawson Smith and junior outsider ‘backer Banks Eady.

Smith had his own big moment in the championship game with a pick-six that put the first points on the board. Eady, though small in stature, is the team’s returning leading tackler after totaling 63 his sophomore season. Smith and Eady each earned All-Region recognition last year while Prestwood made it into the All-State ranks.

Besides senior kicker/punter Tommy Collier, that’s it as far as returning starters go for the 2021 Trojans. The remaining roles must be determined throughout preseason practices and scrimmages ahead of the Aug. 27 season opener at Brentwood.

One of those open roles is the position that touches the football on every offensive play — the quarterback. Wall says junior Briggs Eady and freshman Kolt McMichael are “battling it out” for the starting job at practice this summer.

Each candidate brings a unique skillset and looks very different from the other behind center. Whoever gets the job, it will be his first time starting on a Friday night.

Prestwood is the obvious pick for top returning weapon after putting up 560 yards and seven touchdowns a year ago. Outside of the veteran wideout, a big cast of characters will be expected to carry the burden of moving the offense down the field. Speedy senior receiver Chaze Goddard, whose limited touches last year included scoring on a reverse against Frederica, returns along with the sophomore running back tandem of Javian Butts and Jeremiah Hill.

“Both of those guys got action last year, so they’re not 100% raw,” Wall says. “They both showed some flashes.

Javian’s more of a downhill power back while Jeremiah’s more of a speed guy on the perimeter. Both of them have great hands and are getting better at their craft each week.

They’re taking the weight room seriously and it’s shown.

They know that the time is now for them.”

While the Trojans figure to be well-equipped at the skill positions, the offensive line is where the big question mark lies. Last year’s unit was so strong in the trenches that it was collectively named The Union-Recorder’s All-County Offensive Player of the Year. All of those players, many multi-year starters, now have to be replaced.

“It’s a constant work in progress,” Wall says of his OL. “I think 2019 was the year we did not find the right combination on that offensive line until the end of the regular

All games: Friday at 7:30 pm

2021 game SCHEDULE Date

Opponent

Location

8/27

Brentwood

Away

9/3

Pinewood Christian

Home

9/10

Savannah Christian

Home

9/17

Bulloch Academy

Away

9/24

Gatewood

Home

10/1

Valwood

Away

10/8

Community Christian

Home

10/15

OFF

OFF

10/22

Bethlehem Christian

Home

10/29

Creekside Christian

Away

11/5

Westfield

Away

Biggest games

1. Savannah Christian 2. Gatewood 3. Westfield

Head Coach JT Wall Football Preview 2021 35

2021 football preview 2021

“Big bullseye

36 Football Preview 2021

on our backs. It is what it is... season. Now we’re mixing and matching and plugging guys who never really thought they would play offensive line. They’re learning and picking it up. We know they’re going to make some mistakes, we just want them to make those mistakes at 1,000 miles an hour.”

That’s a nice segue over to the defensive line that also has no returning starters due to graduation and one player deciding not to participate this season. Wall pointed to sophomore Ameir Glenn as someone who has stood out among the D-line group in the lead-up to this season. Andrew Mullis and Bud Veal are stepping into the vacant linebacker spots while the secondary will be new beyond Prestwood. Some of those offensive skill guys will have to contribute defensively as well.

“Except last year, I think depth has always been an issue,” Wall says. “I felt like last year we were as blessed in the depth category as we ever have been at almost every position.

This year, we’re not as blessed, but we’ve got a lot of guys that are learning.”

The learning curve is steep in order to keep the program operating at the level it has been. Several GISA AAA foes — namely Pinewood, Bulloch, and Westfield — are looking to unseat the Trojans from their lofty perch atop the league. Those schools get a lot of their big playmakers back and they all remember what happened last year. John Milledge shut out Pinewood 35-0 early on then did the same to Westfield in the regular season finale, 41-0. The Trojans met the Hornets of Perry again in the state semifinals and blanked them 31-0 to advance to the championship. Bulloch dodged the JMA bullet by having to cancel their regular season meeting due to COVID, but will get its shot this year on Sept. 17.

“I think everybody’s looking to get back at us every year,” says Wall. “We know we’re not really well-liked by our opponents, and that’s OK. Our guys play hard, which people can read the wrong way. We know there’s a big bullseye on our back. There has been for a while. It is what it is and we’ve got what we’ve got.”

The 2021 Trojans will see exactly they have with a couple of preseason scrimmages before the regular season kicks off Aug. 27 at Brentwood in Sandersville.

path to the playoffs a familiar road The John Milledge Academy football team ran roughshod over every opponent that was placed before it in 2020.

The Trojans have the same slate of opponents as they did at this time last year, but other teams’ complications with COVID-19 caused a couple schedule alterations. Conditions will hopefully be better this time around, and head coach JT Wall won’t have to scramble to find any fill-in opponents.

Play begins Aug. 27 in Sandersville versus last year’s AA runner-up, the Brentwood War Eagles. The Trojans enjoyed an easy 43-7 win in the ’20 matchup, and hold a commanding 31-15-1 all-time series lead against the smaller school.

The touchdown scored by the Eagles in the most recent series loss was one of only three scored on the JMA defense all last season, although it did come against Coach Wall’s defensive reserves in the second half. Week 2 will serve as the Trojans’ home opener as they welcome Pinewood Christian Academy to town Sept. 3. John Milledge has won six straight versus the Patriots, including a 35-0 result a year ago. The schedule spices up Sept. 10 when GHSA Class A-Private school Savannah Christian makes the trip to MIlledgeville. Last year when the Trojans earned an impressive 52-13 road victory was the first meeting between the schools since 1987. Savannah Christian holds a 5-2 advantage all-time against JMA. Week 4 brings a matchup that was supposed to happen in 2020, but never did. Bulloch Academy had to postpone due to COVID concerns, and the game was never made up. Now John Milledge has to travel to Statesboro Sept. 17. The Bulloch Gators were 7-3 last year, and their season was ended by the eventual state runner-up Frederica. JMA will close out September at home against a very well-known foe. The three-time defending GISA AA state champion Gatewood Gators are set to make

the short drive from Eatonton Sept. 24. The Trojans are 3611-2 against the Gators all-time, and have won the last three meetings by a combined score of 122-7. Both teams lost a lot to graduation but still figure to be strong again once play resumes.

October opens with a road game at Valwood down near the Georgia-Florida border. John Milledge has won four of the last five matchups versus the Valiants, including a lopsided 62-19 2019 championship game blowout. The Trojans followed that up with a 56-0 win on their home field last year. Next up is another game that did not happen last year as Community Christian is JMA’s Oct. 8 opponent.

Wall’s team has won the only two meetings in that series, having given up just one touchdown across both contests.

After seven consecutive weeks of play, the Trojans get their regular-season open week Oct. 15 before heading into the region portion of the schedule.

Region 4-AAA competition begins for John Milledge Oct. 22 at home against Bethlehem Christian, an opponent that has given the Trojans no trouble in the past. JMA owns a 6-0 record versus the Knights, and has not surrendered a point to BC since 2015. Creekside Christian, a foe John Milledge saw twice last year, plays host to the Trojans Oct. 29. The Cougars of McDonough fielded an athletic, yet undisciplined squad last year as JMA won both games by a combined score of 87-7. The 2021 regular season closes out against another opponent the Trojans saw twice in ’20 — the Westfield Hornets. The Perry school holds the 19-14 all-time edge versus JMA, but has lost the last six meetings dating back to 2015. The Nov. 5 matchup at Westfield could very well determine whether or not John Milledge wins a fourth-consecutive region championship.

Football Preview 2021 37

38 Football Preview 2021

at cornerback last season, finishing with 22 tackles, three interceptions, one forced fumble, and a fumble recovery.

Those stats earned him All-Region and All-State recognition, something he’s looking to duplicate his final year at JMA. Looking to join Prestwood in the All-State ranks is his classmate Dawson Smith. The linebacker was an All-Region selection as a junior after finishing with 44 total tackles (six for loss), one sack, one interception, and six quarterback hurries. That lone interception was a big one as he too enjoyed a big moment in the state title game at Mercer. He stepped in front of a Frederica pass and took it to the house for a pick-six, giving the Trojans their first points of the night. Look for Smith’s tackle numbers to take a big leap this season now that last year’s talented senior class is gone.

If the Trojans get to hoist the GISA AAA football state championship trophy for a third consecutive year, Prestwood and Smith will be two big reasons why.

Daw son Sm ith

Almost every starter is gone from John Milledge football’s steamrolling of every opponent last season.

Almost.

The few returners that head coach JT Wall has back were all pretty dang food for him, chief among them seniors Marcus Prestwood and Dawson Smith. Prestwood was a state champion in every season for the Trojans throughout last school year. There was the football title in the fall, basketball in the winter, and track in the spring, and he had a big hand in each. In football, he led Baldwin County last season with 29 receptions for 560 yards and seven touchdowns. More than a quarter of that yardage total all came in the state championship game versus Frederica where he had four catches for 170 yards and two touchdowns. Even a third down and extremely long yardage situation did not stop the then-junior from taking the top off the Frederica defense. Prestwood was equally as reliable

Ma rcu s Pr estw ood

2021 football preview 2021

Prestwood and Smith to lead the way

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Football Preview 2021 39

football preview 2021

Foston finds a home at UVA

Amaad Foston

Amaad Foston is a straightforward kind of guy.

He’s known for often taking the shortest route from handoff to the end zone, even if it means running over a few would-be tacklers along the way.

It should come as no surprise then that the two-time All-State running back from John Milledge Academy already has his eyes on his next challenge. He said as much last December after he signed to continue his football and academic career at the University of Virginia in Charlottesville.

“It’s been a long process, but I’ve still got a long way to go,” Foston said. “I’m glad this has passed and I can move on to the next chapter.”

The wait from verbal commitment to putting pen to paper was a long one for the 6-foot, 210-pound running back. He visited the UVA campus over a weekend in January 2020 and pulled the trigger on his commitment only a day or two later. Foston had plenty more time to play the field since the day he signed marked just the start of college football’s early signing period, but he really liked what he saw from the Cavalier coaching staff during his visit. He felt there was no need to drag out the recruiting process any longer, despite having offers from other D-I schools like South Carolina, Tennessee and Kentucky.

“I felt at home in that environment and the coaches treated me well,” Foston said of UVA. “I knew it was the place for me and the perfect situation to go and show my abilities to the world.”

40 Football Preview 2021

The two-time All-County Offensive Player of the Year enrolled early at Virginia in January, giving him an extra spring and early start with the program.

Looking back on his high school career, Foston was among the best ever to lace up his cleats and put on his pads in the GISA. A preseason practice injury kept him out his entire senior year, but in the three years prior he had already accumulated 5,215 rushing yards and 75 touchdowns for the Trojans. Better than one out of every 10 of his carries went for scores, and many were highlight reel-worthy. He saved his best high school performance for what turned out to be his last game. In the 2019 GISA AAA state championship game between JMA and Valwood, Foston ran for a whopping 423 yards and eight touchdowns to help the Trojans win 62-19.

Both yardage and touchdown totals are thought to be football state championship game records in the state of Georgia.

John Milledge head football coach and offensive play caller JT Wall already knew well he had something special in Foston, but that knowledge was reinforced throughout the 2020 season while the player was out hurt.

“He’s been my security blanket the last three years,” Wall said. “I knew on fourth-and-2 or fourth-and-3 that we were going to give it to Amaad. Not having that this year was hard to get used to for us.”

The Trojans of course did overcome that obstacle to win back-to-back state titles without Foston, but everyone will always be left wondering just how much damage No. 20 would have done in 2020 had he been healthy.

“That was a rough day when he suffered that injury,” Wall added. “Where he was physically in August compared to where he was [in 2019] when he ended the season was unimaginable. He had picked up more weight, more speed and more strength. It would have been unreal to see what he could have done [last] year.”

Foston kept his nose to the grindstone though, continuing workouts and attending practices to help his team out where he could. It’s that work ethic and dedication that have the 10th-year head coach believing big-time college football is just the next step for his player on a much longer journey.

“The highest achievable goal is there,” said Wall. “I think he’s got one of the highest ceilings of any player we’ve had. He’s the most polished high school football player I’ve ever coached. Amaad’s known what he wanted from day one, and this is just another step towards that goal.”

MORE THAN JUST REPORT CARD

JMA believes in a balanced educational experience. Teachers educating students at the highest level is our top priority.

We recognize that athletics is a great way to build a student’s self-esteem and to show the importance of teamwork.

Experiencing electives, such as STEM, Fine Arts, and Mass Communication, ensures that our students are well-rounded.

Ultimately, active service instills in each student the importance of serving others and giving back to our community.

It is not just students minds we pray over, it is their hearts, too.

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Football Preview 2021 41

2021 football preview 2021

Roberts earns his DI dream

JeMazinRoberts

Upon transferring to John Milledge Academy before his junior year, Je’Mazin Roberts found not only a new school to call home, but also a new position on the football field.

Having played primarily defensive line and even some tight end before becoming a Trojan, Roberts was asked to make the move to middle linebacker beginning in his 11th-grade season.

“Most young guys would balk at the notion of changing positions, thinking it was all about them, but he understood it was all about the team,” JMA head football coach JT Wall says.

Some players are so talented they just cannot be denied, and Roberts is one example. A position switch midway through high school did not stop him from garnering multiple Division I football offers. Last month he verbally committed to The Citadel in South Carolina, and he made good on that promise by signing his national letter of intent to attend the DI FCS military college in Charleston.

“It’s a great place,” Roberts says of his college home. “It’s a family-oriented place, and everybody’s close there. They all strive for one goal — to get better as young men and as student-athletes.”

The 6-2, 240-pound defensive player will find out when he gets to campus whether he’ll remain as a middle linebacker or move to the outside. He did great for the Trojans as an MLB in the 2019 and ‘20 seasons where he earned GISA All-State and All-Region nods as well as All-County recognition from The Union-Recorder. Roberts had a team-

42 Football Preview 2021

high 75 total tackles in 2020 and was second on the team with 11.5 tackles for loss. His numbers would have been higher but he and his defensive starter teammates got to take a lot of second halves off as John Milledge obliterated every opponent it faced on the way to back-to-back state championships. On-the-field production wasn’t the only thing the middle linebacker brought to the table.

“He has a presence that makes people want to gravitate towards him, and he has an uncanny ability to get the best out of his teammates,” Wall says.

Roberts is one of many high school student-athletes whose recruiting journey was complicated by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Potential college destinations really ramped up communications with Roberts after his junior season, but then the coronavirus hit and shut many traditional recruiting practices down. That includes invite camps where standout players can attend and show how well they stack up against other elite athletes. Lack of camps may have kept even bigger offers from rolling in, but Roberts believes he has landed in the best situation for him. He was able to take an academic visit to The Citadel campus, and he made his verbal commitment the very day after he received his scholarship offer.

“This is a blessing and a great opportunity,” he said. “It’s one of the best things to ever happen to me in my life. …

The Citadel was one of the biggest offers I had, and I could not pass it up. It’s the place I wanted to be.”

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Football Preview 2021 45

2021 football preview 2021

gHsa region7-A PUBLIC

Head Coach

marleau blount

6th season) “I think our issue will be mainly replacing those big-time seniors we lost last year.”

Bulldogs look to

dominate the region

By Andrew Hansen Last season the Hancock Central Bulldogs arguably had their best season in history, going 7-1 and winning their first region championship. However, their success did not carry over far into the state playoffs as they were knocked out in the second round. This season, head coach Marleau Blount hopes for continued success, however he lost some high-impact seniors due to graduation.

The offseason looked different than in the past. Blount said that COVID-19 punched a hole in everything they are doing but they are still managing. Individual workouts took the spotlight this offseason.

“The good thing about the team we have coming up, they are very close knit group of guys and as far as continuity I don’t think that will be an issue,” Blount says.

“I think our issue will be mainly replacing those big-time

seniors we lost last year.”

Blount named three key players who he expects to step in the shoes that the seniors left last year. Junior Deonte Lowe played a pivotal role as a receiver and a cornerback while making the All-Region team. Junior Kumasi Washington, played defensive line and also made the All-Region team last season. Blount said that he looks for Washington to do a lot on offense this year.

Junior Ce’Darius Ingram will anchor the offensive line as he has been a two-year starter for the Bulldogs.

Due to COVID-19, the Bulldogs had a late start to the 2021 season. However, Blount had a veteran group of seniors that were able to come in a pick up where the team was the year before. With this team being younger, Blount hopes they learned from last season and have the desire to win.

Hancock cen bulldogs

46 Football Preview 2021

2020 record: 7-1 “This year, I am hoping that those young guys remember and take hold some of that stuff those seniors left and keep it going,” Blount says. “Hopefully that taste of winning is still in their mouths and we can keep going.”

Blount expects five starters to return on each side of the ball, but he understands that replacing the seniors he lost will be no small feat. However, Blount believes in the group he has this year and expects to be really competitive in the region and repeat as region champions.

Blount as of late July about 40 players to be on the roster for the 2021 season.

Region 7-A public houses teams such as Warren County and Georgia Military College Prep School. These two teams are on Blount’s radar with Warren County being the main focus. Blount said that Warren County always has a strong team so they will be the toughest in the region. Blount also says that GMC is going to be a lot better this year due to the team being older and more experienced.

Blount pointed out two non-region teams, Richmond Academy and Burke County, as teams that will test the Bulldogs early in the season. They have not played either of those schools in the past. In addition, Blount looks to his team’s matchup with Washington-Wilkes as a good challenge and expects to see them late in the playoffs.

“We are going to be battle tested before the region,” Blount says. “Hopefully we can make another playoff run.”

The Bulldogs of Sparta kick off their 2021 season Aug. 20 at home versus Richmond Academy. Region play begins Sept. 17 just 30 minutes down the road on GMC Prep’s Davenport Field.

All games: Friday at 7:30 pm

2021 game SCHEDULE Date

Opponent

Location

8/20

Richmond Academy

Home

8/27

Washington-Wilkes

Away

9/3

Burke Co.

Away

9/10

Greene Co.

Home

9/17

GMC Prep

Away

9/24

OFF

OFF

10/1

Warren Co.

Home

10/8

ACE Charter

Home

10/15

OFF

OFF

10/22

Twiggs Co.

Away

10/29

Wilkinson Co.

Away

11/5

Crawford Co.

Away

Biggest games

1. Warren Co. 2. Wilkinson Co. 3. GMC Prep

Football Preview 2021 47

2021 football preview 2021

Lawrence, Robbins sign to the next level Hancock Central High School had a couple of Class of 2021 graduates sign to continue their football careers in college. Running back Keveon Robbins signed to Southeast Missouri State and Marquavious Lawrence signed to North Carolina Wesleyan College. Both were 2020 All-Region selections and helped the Bulldogs win their first ever region championship in football last season.

Marquavious Lawrence

48 Football Preview 2021

Keveon Robbins

HER MAJESTY 1881 Hancock

Courthouse

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Good Luck Bulldogs & Rebels

“Have a great Season Hanock County Central High School and Go Mighty Bulldogs”

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Football Preview 2021 49

2021 football preview 2021

gisa class A

Head Coach

4th season)

Ricky Worsham “The biggest thing I want to see is us stay healthy and also constant improvement”

Rebels are back in the GISA Stories and photos by Gil Pound This year will see the Rebels of John Hancock Academy make a return.

Following a few years in the Georgia Independent Christian Athletic Association (GICAA) and a couple more in the Georgia Association of Private and Parochial Schools (GAPPS), the small Sparta private school is moving back into the Georgia Independent School Association (GISA) where it has been a member for the majority of its over 50-year history.

The GISA’s attempt at growing its single A classification drew JHA back into the fold.

“We got a lot out of our relationship with GAPPS, but we felt like there was more of a promise of the GISA expanding and being able to play more schools like us,” John Hancock head football coach Ricky Worsham said.

“One thing that pushed us over the top was a lot of the schools that were in GAPPS made a decision to go GISA, which would have put us in a tough situation had we

stayed in GAPPS.” Since this is the second of the two-year scheduling cycle, it will likely be next year before a true Class A is created with its own regions. For now, the GISA will stick to having the smaller schools play in AA regions and then break off on their own for a six-team state playoff this November.

In its final year competing in GAPPS, Worsham’s Rebels were able to take advantage of some happenstance and play for a state championship versus Lafayette Christian.

John Hancock fell to the larger school 38-0 in the title game, but finishing as a state runner-up was a nice way to go out.

When it comes to the 2021 Rebel roster, it’s a case of good news mixed with some bad. Worsham gets back eight starters on either side of the football (good news), but the bad news is those happen to all be the same guys. Conditioning will play a big role in whether or not

john hancock rebels

50 Football Preview 2021

2020 record: 2-8 JHA can make a splash in its first year back in the GISA. There is another positive. Because this is the head coach’s fourth year with the school, most all his seniors will have played under him for the entirety of their varsity careers.

“Even though we’ve got low numbers, the large majority of them are upperclassmen that have played in the same system going on four years now,” said Worsham.

Included in that group is senior quarterback Hayden Brake who will have started a game every year of high school when he takes his first regular season snap. He was pushed into the role as a freshman when the 2018 starter was out due to injury. It’s safe to say Brake’s gotten a lot more comfortable at QB since then.

“It’s huge because he knows the system so well that it’s like having another coach on the field,” Worsham said. “I know a lot of people say that, but he’s a very intelligent quarterback that understands what we’re doing and is pretty coachable. Having somebody like that gives the other players a lot of confidence in his ability.”

Brake will lead the hybrid Rebel offense that will line up primarily in the single wing as well as the stacked I-formation (three backs behind the QB). Senior Cade Wells, who will carry the football from his fullback position, is another established playmaker for the Rebels.

“He’s not that big for a fullback, but he runs the ball hard,” said Worsham.

Up front are a couple more longtime contributors in center Hunter Johnson and right guard Britton Reagin, both seniors as well.

“I look for big things from those two because they’ve got so much experience,” the head coach said.

Defensively the Rebels will mostly show a 5-3 or 4-4 look depending on what opposing offenses give them.

Other than the stamina factor due to low numbers, Worsham said the team also needs to improve on its tackling.

That’s another problem brought on by the small roster. It’s hard to work on tackling at practice when one injury could so drastically affect everything the team does. Reps have to be managed in a way that balances getting work in with keeping everyone as healthy as possible. The Rebels had a couple of preseason scrimmages scheduled, so the hope was to mainly get their tackling work in there.

Asked what he’ll be looking for from his team its first year in the new league, Worsham said, “The biggest thing I want to see is us stay healthy and also constant improvement.

Because of our experience we’re a little ahead of where we have been in the past at practice, so I’m hoping we get off to a good start. With the way the league is set up you want to be peaking at the right time, which is the state playoffs.”

The GISA Class A state playoffs are set up to where all six teams get in automatically, and the top two teams receive a first-round bye. The road to those playoffs begins Aug. 20 with a home game against Thomas Jefferson Academy.

All games: Friday at 7:30 pm

2021 game SCHEDULE Date

Opponent

Location

8/20

Thomas Jefferson

Home

8/27

Briarwood Academy

Away

9/3

OFF

OFF

9/10

Piedmont Academy

Home

9/17

Harvester

Away

9/24

Augusta Prep

Home

10/`1

OFF

OFF

10/8

Glascock

Away

10/15

Georgia Christian

Away

10/22

Central Christian

Home

10/29

OFF

OFF

11/5

Fullington Academy

Home

Biggest games

1. Thomas Jefferson 2. Briarwood Academy 3. Piedmont Academy

Head Coach Ricky Worsham Football Preview 2021 51

52 Football Preview 2021

2021 football preview 2021

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2021 football preview 2021

GHSA Region 7-A Public

Head Coach

4th season)

Keldrick Burke “We expect to get in the dance... and we expect to play for a championship.”

Warriors in hunt

to compete for region Stories by Andrew Hansen Photos by Gil Pound The Wilkinson County Warriors finished with a 2-7 record in the 2020 season and did not make the playoffs.

COVID-19 caused participation to dip, but head coach Keldrick Burke has already seen participation rise as the summer has progressed.

Burke hopes to have around 30 to 32 players on the roster, which will look drastically different from last season. The Warriors finished with only 21 players on the roster in ‘20 and Burke expects it to take a few years to get the numbers back to what they were prior to COVID-19.

“I had 16 freshmen coming up and out of those 16 freshmen I only had four to come out last season because of COVID,” Burke says. “Trying to get those kids back here and because we were really waiting on that middle school class to come up, but between this year and last we want to get our numbers back to where they used to be a couple years ago which is about 45 to

50 kids.”

The offseason saw the Warriors work a lot as a team, but as of late July Burke was not satisfied with the shape his athletes were in. He says that it is very important for every player to be in shape due to lack of depth. The players are going to have to play a lot and stay on the field. The team is young, but Burke has no worries that they will be ready to play four quarters in their home opener.

Burke has a good number of new athletes on the team this year, so he has only four returning starters on each side of the ball. He said that the coaching staff is excited to watch the young players develop as the years go on.

As far as players who Burke expects to step up this season, junior defensive end Jordan Jackson earned a shoutout. Jackson is coming off of an ACL injury and will be fully cleared Aug. 16. Last year he was the Warriors starting running back and defensive end. Burke says he

Wilkinson Co. Warriors

54 Football Preview 2021

2020 record: 2-7 will play defensive end, tight end and a little bit of fullback however, his main focus will be on defense. Burke also said that junior middle linebacker Siconius Sinkfield will help lead on defense after starting last year as a sophomore.

Burke says that his offensive line will be very important because the Warriors are so young in every other aspect of the team. Senior center Jaden Stevenson, senior guard Luke Miskimen and junior Brashawn Grimes all will play an integral part in the offense, the Wilkinson County head coach says.

Expectations are high for this young group. Although it is not something that is talked about a whole lot, the coaching staff expects to be right in the thick of things in the region. Burke says they are not lowering their expectations simply because the group is young.

Building culture has been a focus for Burke this offseason.

He wants his players to come in a be the best version of themselves.

“We want the focus to be on the process of just taking care of everything, building our culture and just making sure they are putting forward the best version of themselves everyday at practice,” Burke says.

Even with the group being young overall, a region championship is always the priority coming into the season. There will be tough competition to accomplish this goal, but Burke is not wavering from his high expectations.

“We expect to get in the dance, we expect to play at the end of the season and we expect to play for a region championship,” Burke says.

“We’re not budging off of that.”

The Warriors are scheduled to open their 2021 season Aug. 27, at home versus Twiggs County. Region play begins Sept. 24 at ACE in Macon.

All games: Friday at 7:30 pm

2021 game SCHEDULE Date

Opponent

Location

8/20

OFF

OFF

8/27

Twiggs Co.

Home

9/3

Johnson Co.

Away

9/10

Irwin Co.

Home

9/17

Creekside Christian

Away

9/24

ACE Charter

Away

10/1

GMC Prep

Home

10/8

Twiggs Co.

Away

10/15

OFF

OFF

10/22

Crawford Co.

Home

10/29

Hancock Central

Home

11/5

Warren Co.

Away

Biggest games

1. GMC Prep 2. Hancock Central 3. Warren Co.

Football Preview 2021 55

56 Football Preview 2021

2021 football preview 2021

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Football Preview 2021 57

2021 football preview 2021

GHSA Region 4-AA

Head Coach

shaun pope 4th season) “With...kids getting familiar with what we’re doing we feel like we’ve got a great opportunity this year. ”

War Eagles want to keep building Stories and photos by Gil Pound Putnam County High School football had its best season in a decade last year, and kept up the trend of annual improvement under head coach Shaun Pope.

His tenure has seen the War Eagles rise from a three-win team to one with a .500 regular season record all the way to a 9-2 2020 campaign. The program will look to keep building upward in 2021 and accomplish the two main feats that eluded it a year ago — a region championship and at least one win in the state playoffs. Either achievement would be Putnam’s first since 2010 when this year’s seniors were not far at all into grade school.

“Having all of our young men in our strength and conditioning program started paying off,” Pope says on what led to last year’s success. “When I got here we only had about 15 or 16 kids in weight training. With the administration’s support, we were fortunate enough to get all our guys in, and they build a lot of chemistry in our weight room. We’re also very fortunate to be going through a good run of

athletes coming through right now.”

A lot of those athletes from last year’s region runner-up finish are returning to see if they can get the War Eagles to new heights. They welcome 18 total starters back, eight on offense and 10 on defense. Included among them is electrifying lefty quarterback Gerald Kilgore, who transferred to Putnam from Baldwin High School prior to last year. The senior has shown he can move the offense with his arm or his feet, and colleges are really taking notice. Kilgore holds offers from Georgia Southern, Gardner-Webb, Austin Peay and Eastern Kentucky, and has been in contact with a couple more similar-sized programs. Some are seemingly waiting to see his senior film, but if the offseason is any indication they will like what they see.

“He’s really developing as a quarterback,” Pope says.

“He’s always had a strong arm and been really athletic, but reading defenses and knowing where to put the ball were learning processes last year. I was really impressed with him

putnam co. war eagles

58 Football Preview 2021

2020 record: 9-2 in the spring game as far as his composure. When plays didn’t work out he did a much better job of managing the game and being a quarterback, not just an athlete playing quarterback. I think he’s going to have a really good senior year.”

Kilgore leads a unit chock-full of returning playmakers to spread the ball around to. Joining him in the backfield is classmate Cedrion Brundage who was vying for starting QB snaps along with Kilgore last year. Brundage had played running back before, so the decision was ultimately made to place him there, though the team does have some packages that put him behind center. He finished last season with around 900 yards rushing despite missing five games with turf toe, so coaches are hoping to have his abilities full-time this year. The team’s top wide receiving threats are expected to be Jalon Kilgore, DJ Bland and Malik Thornton. Up front, Chris Haynes and Dre’lyn Lockhart are the two returning starters while the remaining OL spots will have to be earned in preseason practice.

Multiple Putnam players will be needed to play both sides of the ball. Michael Crumbley and Unique Reid start on the defensive line while also lending a hand at tight end, and some of those offensive skill guys also hold down positions in the secondary. Middle linebacker is the only defensive loss from a year ago, and Pope says there are several athletes who will compete for that starting spot on a defense that allowed just 13.5 points per game in ’20.

Schedule-wise, the War Eagles will keep things fairly local early as they open up with Morgan County, Jasper County, and Social Circle, respectively. Then Region 4-AA play begins with a away game against Westside of Augusta, the team that finished third in the region behind Putnam a year ago. Putnam won that matchup 37-14 in what was its first game as part of the mostly Augusta-centric region. The War Eagles proceeded to win every region contest onward except one, a 50-12 loss to region champ and state semifinalist Jefferson County. If Pope’s team wants revenge against the Louisville school, it will have to do so on the road. Jefferson was senior-heavy in 2020, but has a firmly-established program that has posted only one losing record in the last decade.

“Jefferson County’s always going to be solid,” says Pope.

“They’re physically big, strong, and fast. I think a lot of the other teams in our region are going to be stronger based on what they should have returning this year.”

Despite that, the fourth-year Putnam head coach also feels really good about what he has back and thinks his team can counter its slated opponents.

“I like our chances,” he says. “I hope that we’re fortunate enough to be in a position to play for a region championship again. We want to be playing our best football around games 8, 9, and 10 and then into the playoffs. With another year in the weight room and kids getting familiar with what we’re doing, we feel like we’ve got a great opportunity this year. ” Putnam County is scheduled to kick off the 2021 season Aug. 27, at Morgan County. Region play begins Sept. 17 in Augusta versus Westside.

All games: Friday Night at 7:30 pm

2021 game SCHEDULE Date

Opponent

Location

8/20

OFF

OFF

8/27

Morgan Co.

Away

9/3

Jasper Co.

Home

9/10

Social Circle

Home

9/17

Westside-Augusta

Away

9/24

Laney

Home

10/1

Oglethorpe Co.

Away

10/8

Glenn Hills

Home

10/15

OFF

OFF

10/22

Jefferson Co.

Away

10/29

Josey

Away

11/5

Butler

Home

Biggest games

1. Jefferson Co. 2. Westside 3. Butler

Head Coach Shaun Pope Football Preview 2021 59

60 Football Preview 2021

2021 football preview 2021

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Football Preview 2021 61

2021 football preview 2021

GISA Region 1-AA

Head Coach

Jeff Ratliff 9th season) “If you concern yourself too much with what you did in the past, I don’t know how good you’re going to be moving forward.”

Gators are still

the standard in GISA AA Stories and photos by Gil Pound Three different teams have tried now, but no one has been able to knock the Gatewood Gators off their football state championship throne.

The Eatonton private school was 12-1 a year ago and celebrated a third straight state title inside Mercer University’s football stadium after beating region rival Brentwood 34-14.

Jeff Ratliff, who is entering his ninth season as Gatewood’s head coach, said heading into last year that the focus was to win one state championship. Only then could talk begin of three-peats, back-to-back-to-backs, and designing a ring decked out with three trophies.

The Gator coaching staff is instilling that same mentality in the team again as the green-and-yellow machine looks to continue adding to its trophy case in 2021.

“Each year is different,” Ratliff says. “You focus on the guys you have. If you concern yourself too much with

what you did in the past, I don’t know how good you’re going to be moving forward. We’ve had some successful teams the last couple years, now it’s this year’s team’s turn to step up and try to make their mark because they haven’t accomplished anything yet.”

This season’s Gatewood football team has a couple of significant positives going for it. First, there’s the 15 seniors, which is a large number for the school found on Phillips Drive. Among that group are two returning AllState players, seniors Garric Embry and Landon Wilson.

Embry was the team’s leading tackler as a defensive lineman last year. That’s an extremely rare feat in the game of football.

“Garric runs pretty dang good, so he can make tackles sideline to sideline,” Ratliff says.

Embry also lends his talent to the offensive line, which is expected to be the second key strength for the Grid-

GATEWOOD GATORS

62 Football Preview 2021

2020 record: 12-1 iron Gators. All five blockers are back from the 2020 state championship team.

“That’s huge because we had to replace all five of them last year,” Ratliff explains. “Early on we didn’t know what we were doing or who to block, but they started working together as a unit and got better and better. It obviously paid off down the stretch because those guys wound up being pretty good.”

One question heading into this year is who the line will be blocking for in Gatewood’s triple-option scheme. Three-year quarterback starter Luke Haley is gone, as is athletic tailback Bryce Johnson. Everything runs through the QB in the option, so his decision-making and athleticism need to be among the top on the roster. Wilson, who was selected AllState for his play at safety, and classmate Blake Haley (cousin to Luke) are competing for starting snaps this preseason.

“Landon’s probably one of the best athletes on the team. Blake is fast and he’s done it before. He brings some experience because he’s come in on mop-up duty,” Ratliff says comparing the two QB candidates. “They’re both great athletes, and they’ll probably be playing both sides of the ball somewhere no matter who gets the QB job.”

A third hat was expected to be thrown in the ring as sophomore Evan Bennett was also slated to compete.

He played fullback last year, but a long-lingering — now healing — shoulder injury is going to keep him out possibly until October. Bennett placed third at state in the 100-meter dash this past track season, so speed like that is clearly going to be missed when the team takes the field those first four games or so.

“Evan’s a big piece of our puzzle,” the Gatewood head coach says. “Hopefully, we get him back midseason and maybe he’ll be fresh and ready to run over folks.”

Ratliff has tabbed senior LJ Herron and junior Justin Jameson to handle the backfield duties until Bennett returns. Depending on how the quarterback competition shakes out, one of those guys could wind up taking handoffs instead of giving them.

Defensively the three-time defending state champs allowed just 11.6 points per game last year, which is their best output throughout their current reign atop GISA AA football. The Gators welcome back six defensive starters, headlined by Embry up front. Senior Austin Johnson returns at linebacker, as does Cole Hudson who missed last year with an ACL injury. Both aspiring QBs are adept in the secondary, so Gatewood has returners at every level including what Ratliff referred to as “quality depth” on the line.

Outside of the offensive skill positions, there is one other question mark hanging over the program — kicker.

All games: Friday at 7:30 pm

2021 game SCHEDULE Date

Opponent

Location

8/27

Edmund Burke Acad

Home

9/3

Trinity Christian

Away

9/10

Terrell Academy

Home

9/17

OFF

OFF

9/24

John Milledge Acad

Away

10/1

Briarwood

Home

10/8

Southland Academy

Away

10/15

Westfield

Away

10/22

The King’s Academy

Home

10/29

Piedmont Academy

Away

11/5

Brentwood

Home

Biggest games

1. Brentwood 2. JMA 3. Briarwood

Head Coach Jeff Ratliff Football Preview 2021 63

2021 football preview 2021 64 Football Preview 2021

The Gators have been set in that department the last few years, but need a new solution now that Jayson Burner has graduated. Ratliff says a couple of players have tried their feet at kicking and punting this summer, and he hopes to have those roles figured out come Aug. 27 when Gatewood tees off against Edmund Burke at home.

Will the team be as reliable at kicker? Who will be the Gators’ starting QB come the regular season?

Can the new offensive backfield jell and be as dangerous as past iterations? Can another GISA AA team meet the standard set by Gatewood in recent years?

Depending on those answers, Gatewood players, coaches, and supporters may be presented with another question come the end of this season: can a ring design accommodate four state championship trophies?

“It’s all about developing leaders,” says Ratliff.

“My seniors have to develop that leadership.

The summer has been part of that process.

Preseason practice is the second stage. They need to make sure the team responds well and stays positive. I feel good with our team because of that solid group of seniors.

How that materializes, we’ll see. The goal is to be back at Mercer playing in that final game.”

Gatewood cheer hopes for continued success

By Andrew Hansen The Gatewood cheer team reached the pinnacle of success last season, taking home its second state championship in school history. Former head coach Tammy Joiner says it took a lot of hard work to win multiple state championships.

“It took a lot of hard work and dedication on the part of the team each and every year as we watched seniors come and go every year,” Joiner says. “It took getting them to believe they can do this and just seeing the hard work was eventually paying off.”

Gatewood took home its first state championship in 2017 and reclaimed its title in 2020. The program is not yet a decade old, but the storied success of the program opens a new chapter this upcoming season.

After seven years at the helm of the program, Joiner moved on as the head coach of Gatewood cheer.

“I really do want to thank Gatewood and everyone who gave me the opportunity to come there and be a part of the great school, community and family,” Joiner says. “It is not anything I particularly have done by myself, it is something we all did together. I truly want to thank them; it was definitely a year for the record books.”

The upcoming 2021 season will be coached by interim head coach Libby Rainey, who is also the admissions director.

Rainey will be the interim head coach for this season as Gatewood searches for a full-time head coach.

According to Rainey, this is a rebuilding year. The team lost three seniors, which is a huge blow to the team that only consists of 12 athletes.

“The team is young, we don’t have any seniors, which is

good as far as that goes,” Rainey says. “We will be rebuilding, but we are very excited. What we have coming back is very talented obviously.”

In the first week of August, the team will work with choreography instructor Frank Middleton, who worked with the team for the past few years. Rainey says the coaches and team are excited to see what Middleton conjures up for that week.

Rainey has seen certain athletes step up and take on leadership roles as the team has participated in some bonding and other activities leading up to choreography in August.

This season is a fresh start for Gatewood cheer and Rainey says that bringing in new athletes drives them to their main goal; repeating as state champions.

“I think a fresh start is good and it helps keep them thirsty for something new, that title,” Rainey says. “You know as well as I do when you’re on top everybody wants to knock you off.

You know that going into it, you have a target on your back.”

The first GISA (Georgia Independent School Association) competition starts at the beginning of October. This gives Gatewood ample time to prepare to compete for a state title once again. There are a handful of competitions prior to the start of the season that Gatewood will participate in to prepare for the season. Around the middle of November, the state championship will take place.

“Any team can walk away with that title, it really depends on whose day it is how all the pieces fall into place that day,” Rainey says. “You hope for consistency and what you’ve worked for all season peaks at the right time.”

Football Preview 2021 65

2021 football preview 2021

GHSA Region 8-A Public

Head Coach

4th season)

Larry Milligan “We keep preaching, take the word I out of their vocabulary and replace it with the word we in everything we do”

TIGERS READY

to bounce back in 2021 Stories by Andrew Hansen Photos by Gil Pound The 2020 season for the Greene County Tigers saw them finish with a dismal 1-8 record, which placed the Tigers at last in the region. Last year’s team was sophomore heavy, so with roughly 90% of the athletes returning to the squad this year head coach Larry Milligan expects his sophomores and juniors to lead the pack.

“I think our strength is in our juniors and our sophomores as far as leaders go,” Milligan says. “I think they’re the group that is going to lead this team forward.”

Out of those leaders Milligan expects, junior starting quarterback DJ Smith should take a large leadership role this upcoming season. In addition, Milligan said that the returning junior receiver Arkiyus Wright should join Smith as the Tigers leaders offensively. On defense, Milligan said that junior middle linebackers Johnny Kilpatrick and Kentarius Reid will lead the defensive unit.

Through offseason workouts and training camp this

summer, Milligan said that the workouts really tested his players so they can better face adversity.

“It was putting them through the ringer,” Milligan says.

“It just helped us develop because we are still quite a young team, we only have six seniors on the team out of those six only two of them played last year.”

During camp the players slept at the gym and woke up at 5:15 a.m. to lift weights, work on conditioning and get time on the field to work on football-related activities.

COVID-19 put a dent into the Tigers’ roster numbers last year. The 90% of the team that is returning is only 12 players. In addition, Milligan says that the highest number of players on the sideline last year was 19. So far this summer there are 48 athletes on the roster, not including junior varsity. Milligan hopes to have around 60 players total between junior varsity and varsity once

Greene co. tigers

66 Football Preview 2021

All games: Friday Nights at 7:30 pm

2020 record: 1-8 the season begins.

Milligan feels that the program is going in the right direction with the hope that there are about 15 to 18 athletes per senior class each year. Although that total took a hit due to COVID-19, for the next five to six years Milligan hopes there will be around that number of seniors on the team.

“That is where you want to be,” Milligan says. “You want to be graduating somewhere around 15-18 kids a year then you know your program is pretty well settled and you can be successful.”

As far as returning starters on each side of the ball, Milligan says that it is hard to tell because the numbers were so low last year players played both sides of the ball often.

On average, eight players should be returning starters on offense and about seven should be returning starters on defense. Milligan and his coaching staff have worked to bring this team closer and fight collectively rather than individually.

“We keep preaching, take the word I out of their vocabulary and replace it with the word we in everything we do,” Milligan says. “I think they are learning and they are going to be a good bunch to coach.”

Different GHSA regions are traditionally strong across certain sports. You have your regions known for their strong basketball programs and others that stand out in baseball.

Well, Region 8-A Public is undoubtedly a football region.

It houses teams like Commerce, Washington-Wilkes and Lincoln County. Although those are the top teams in the region, Milligan says that there is tough competition everywhere due to it being a football region. His team will have to slide into the top four of that difficult competition in order to get back to the postseason for the first time since 2018 when the Tigers reached the state quarterfinals.

Greene County is scheduled to kick off the 2021 season Aug. 20, at Westside of Augusta. Region play begins Oct. 1 at home versus reigning region champ Commerce.

2021 game SCHEDULE Date

Opponent

Location

8/20

Westside-Augusta

Away

8/27

King’s Ridge

Home

9/3

Twiggs Co.

Home

9/10

Hancock Central

Away

9/17

Jasper Co.

Away

9/24

OFF

10/1

Commerce

Home

10/8

Washington-Wilkes

Away

10/15

OFF

10/22

Towns Co.

Away

10/29

Lincoln Co.

Home

11/5

Social Circle

Home

Biggest games

1. Commerce 2. Washington-Wilkes 3. Lincoln Co.

Head Coach Larry Milligan Football Preview 2021 67

2021 football preview 2021

“I think our strength is in our juniors and our sophomores as far as leaders go.”

68 Football Preview 2021

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The perfect concoction for THE LOA football PROGRAM

By Andrew Hansen In December 2020, the Lake Oconee Academy Board of Governors and the Lake Oconee Academy Foundation announced that the school moved forward with the redesign of the Tucker Park softball field into a soccer and football facility.

As the LOA Titan football programs inches over the horizon, the facility that will house the inaugural season of the program and the facility has taken shape.

“The field is in Tucker Park is being worked on right now as we speak,” says Otho Tucker, LOA CEO during a phone interview June 17. “It should be done at the same time school starts.”

With the growth of LOA over the past few years, the possibility of a competitive football program came to fruition. As enrollment increases, the Titan football program will start with a middle school team and a junior varsity team to feed the high school program. The program will expand into a full-fledge varsity program after a couple of years, according to Tucker.

Although there was interest in the past to create a football program, the funding was the main component.

“I think there is significant interest, but it all costs money to build facilities,” Tucker says. “Even though there was interest, we needed to make sure that the finical program and the student life program followed in that path.”

Another reason for the timing of the football program was that there were not enough students are LOA to create a complete and competitive football program. The past graduating senior class ranged from 45 to 60 students, while Tucker projects that number will jump into the 70s and 80s.

“Filling of those classes has also given us the population we felt like we needed to be able to have and sustain … a competitive football program,” Tucker says.

The program will be led by coach Drew Anthony, who comes to LOA with 27 years of coaching experience in the Georgia High School Association. Prior to his hiring at LOA, Anthony served as an assistant coach and special teams coordinator at Camden County High School. Anthony also served as the special teams coordinator and tight ends coach at Buford High School for 14 years.

During his tenure at Buford High School, Anthony won Assistant Coach of the Year along with 13 Region championships and eight state championships.

Joining Anthony on the sideline is defensive coordinator and middle school head coach Patrick Stewart. Stewart played college football at Middle Tennessee State University. After college, he was a defensive assistant at the University of Georgia. Stewart moved on from UGA and served as the head coach at Loganville Christian Academy as the team finished as the runner-up in the region and reached the second round of the state playoffs. Most recently, Stewart served as the running backs/linebackers coach and the special teams/ recruiting coordinator for George Walton Academy in Monroe, Ga. Joining Anthony and Stewart is offensive coordinator Ezra Namkoong.

Namkoong graduated from the University of Georgia. He served as a varsity assistant coach at Prince Avenue Christian School where he coached the tackles and tight ends. In addition, Namkoong was the defensive line coach for both the JV and varsity teams. Namkoong also coached at Parkview High School, Briarwood Academy and Riverwatch Middle School.

Overall, the football program will follow the same ideologies as all the athletic programs at LOA. Tucker envisions a football program that plays hard, is well coached, is respectful to the game of football and bottom line; wins games. The goal of the LOA athletic programs is to develop students into good leaders and use what is learned on the field and translate that into life skills. “…Bottom line is we want to win,” Tucker says. “We are going to put the things in the program we need and hire the coaches we need to hire to give our students the chance to be as successful on the athletic fields as they are in the classroom.”

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2021 football preview 2021

GAPPS Region 2-A

Head Coach

Doug Brown 1st season) “I want to make football fun for them, and I’m going to work hard and be dedicated...”

Patriots excited

to be back on the field Stories and photos by Gil Pound Something was missing last fall in the small Greene County community of Siloam.

Driving along Highway 15 past Nathanael Greene Academy on Friday nights, you would not have seen lights shining on two opponents battling it out for football supremacy. The small private school opted not to field a football team last season, but Friday night lights are back in 2021 as Nathanael Greene returns to the gridiron.

The Patriots are reentering the arena with a new head coach as North Oconee High School and University of North Georgia alum Doug Brown is breaking into the teaching/coaching ranks this year with NGA. At 23 years old, he very well may be the youngest high school football head coach in the entire state.

“I feel like I bring excitement and a youthful attitude of just trying to have fun and enjoying these kids,” Brown says on what he brings to the table. “I want to make foot-

ball fun for them, and I’m going to work hard and be dedicated to help Nathanael Greene in any way I can whether that’s as a coach or as a member of this great community.”

Brown will lead the green-and-black clad Patriots onto the field as they resume playing eight-man football just as they were prior to last year’s hiatus. NGA competes in the Georgia Association of Private and Parochial Schools (GAPPS) league with other mostly small private schools across the state.

The new head coach’s first order of business upon accepting the post was recruitment, not from other schools, but from within his own. Once Nat Greene decided to field a football team again and brought Brown on board, he says he called the parents of every eligible player to try and get them to come out. His efforts landed him a handful of guys over the minimum needed to play eight-man football, so he and his staff have set off working with this

Nat Greene Patriots

74 Football Preview 2021

2020 record: N/A year’s group, most of which have prior playing experience.

The senior and junior classes have just two players apiece while the rest are underclassmen, something that isn’t fazing Coach Brown.

“That’s really exciting because we can stand on the shoulders of those who have come before us,” he says. “I’m good with being a young team. That means we can build.”

Senior Brandon Chambers will handle the quarterbacking duties while his classmate Dane Amerson has been pegged as a “jack of all trades” type by the head coach. Other players named by Brown were Nick Crews and sophomore lineman Tucker York, the biggest player on the roster by a safe margin unless someone else shows up.

“That boy is fast,” the head coach says first of Crews. “I’ve enjoyed watching him run around the field. He’s also exciting to be in the weight room around. I think he has a lot of potential.

“The sky is the limit for Tucker,” Brown adds of his big lineman. “He has the ability to do a lot of great things, and I’m really excited to see what he blossoms into.”

As expected with a new head coach, there is a bit of a learning curve as Brown gets to know his players and what they can do well. The curve gets even steeper since this will be his first year associated with eight-man football, an altered form of the game meant to accommodate smaller rosters. Other than the number of players on the field, the field itself is also slightly different in eight-man. It still measures 100 yards from goal line to goal line, but is only 40 yards wide instead of the customary 53 and 1/3 used in traditional football. For help in learning the nuances Brown is leaning on some coaching colleagues to get him acquainted with the schemes and which teams to watch out for come the regular season.

The good news for Patriots fans is that the unknown is doing little to discourage the rookie head coach.

“My expectations are for us to go out there and play hard,” Brown says. “If we go out there and give everything we’ve got on Friday night, I think we can do good things. For me it’s about learning the ropes and becoming familiar with this school and these people. I also have to give everything I’ve got on Friday nights. If I give everything I’ve got and the players give everything they’ve got, we’ve got a chance to be really good this year. I truly believe that.

“I’m just excited to be here and work with these boys to see what we can do. At the end of the day we’ll give God the honor and the glory and celebrate these boys for all their hard work and dedication.”

Nathanael Greene kicks off its season Sept. 3 versus region opponent Covington Academy. The Patriots are in a five-team region, and the top three teams earn a spot in the GAPPS Class A eight-man football playoffs set to begin Nov. 12.

All games: Friday Nights at 7:30 pm

2021 game SCHEDULE Date

Opponent

Location

9/2

Kings Way

Home

9/10

OFF

OFF

9/17

OFF

OFF

9/24

Holy Ground BA

Home

10/1

David Emanuel Acad

Home

10/8

OFF

OFF

10/15

Vidalia Heritage Acad Away

10/22

Grace Christian Acad

Away

10/29

People’s Baptist Acad

Home

11/5

Young American CS

Away

Biggest games

1. Grace Christian 2. Vidalia Heritage 3. People’s Baptist

Head Coach Doug Brown Football Preview 2021 75

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2021 football preview 2021

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