SENIOR DEFENSIVE BACK RISES ABOVE ALL OTHERS Michael Freightman, Richmond Hill
ECHOLS LEADS THE WAY
IN THE
GAME SOUTHEAST GEORGIA
September 2018
Logann Echols, Wayne Co.
Southeast Georgia’s ONLY Three-Time President’s Award Winner
2825 Memorial Drive (912) 283-3131 Waycross, Georgia 31501 robbierobersonford.com 4 | itgnext.com
e u s s I s i h t T n I 8.
FIREPOWER
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Faith, Family, & Football
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Camden Defensive Back Hits ‘Em Hard
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Wayne County Volleyball
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Echols Leads the Way
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Early Road Warriors are 2-2
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In The Game Media Day
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Geoff Cannon, Brantley Co. High School Cade Loden, Camden Co. High School
Logann Echols, Wayne Co. High School Brings Us One Step Closer to the New Season
Senior Defensive Back Rises Above All Others Michael Freightman, Richmond Hill High School
Assistant Terror
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Wayne Co. High School Ware Co. High School
Wicker Builds Bears for Strong Season Pierce Co. High School
Making Gains at Caney Bay Brantley Co. High School
Jayden Drayton, Glynn Middle School
Thank you American Legion Post 166 for allowing In the Game to shoot the Firepower Cover at their post on St Simons Island. In The Game | 5
FIREPOWER Written by: Rob Asbell | Photography by: Michael Brinson
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They bring excitement to the game. They are the offensive firepower that brings crowds to their feet on Friday nights — strong, speedy athletes who can break open a game in an instant. And all of them have at one time or another, whether it was a few yards to put the team ahead or a big play that demoralized the opponent and led to victory. Each has had his explosive play when he could not be stopped short of the end zone. Raykwon Anderson of Charlton County, Kevin Harris of Bradwell Institute, John Jones of Pierce County and M.J. Fuller of Wayne County: All of them were listed among In the Game's Top 10 Players to Watch in 2018. Some of them have been on recruiters’ radars since they started high school, while others have just started to make names for themselves. Like most young men, each got started in the recreation leagues before the days of high school glory. “I started playing football at the YMCA when I was 5 years old, and it all began from there,” said Harris, a power running back who is also known as “The Train.” After graduation his future lies in Columbia at the University of South Carolina. All have attended camps to show their abilities to college coaches and have generated a great deal of interest. Two are already committed to Power Five conference schools, and the other two are still being considered for college offers. For now they have completed summer practices and are in the meat of their regular season schedules, each of them focusing on the task at hand: winning football games. “As the huddle breaks, scoring is the mission,” Jones said. “I’m ready to do whatever it takes to put points on the board for my team — rushing, blocking, receiving — any way possible.” Coaches count on that drive to give their teams the advantage on game day. Because once they get on the field, it is their time to shine as they provide the firepower to light up Friday nights.
Kevin Harris — “The Train” Senior Running Back Bradwell Institute Tigers Hinesville, Georgia
Height: 5’11” Weight: 229 pounds 40-Yard Dash: 4.56
Academics:
Harris broke Bradwell Institute’s single-game rushing record last season with 306 yards (four TDs) in a victory over Southeast Bulloch. Two weeks later, he broke his own record by rushing for 331 yards (two TDs) against Tattnall County. “Thanks to my linemen,” Harris said.
Coincidence:
He is not the only highly-recruited Kevin Harris in Georgia. The other plays defensive end for Grayson and is committed to Alabama.
Coach’s View:
“Kevin is the kind of player you want in your program," said Ross Couch, Bradwell Institute head football coach. "He works his butt off in the classroom and on the field, and he is just an all-around great kid. On the field, he is the epitome of a power back, and he loves to get downhill fast. He has a high football IQ, and his motor doesn't quit. When we need a big play, he steps up and makes it.”
What is your favorite part of playing football?
“I like the big crowds and the doubters. It’s fun to prove people wrong. I like getting the ball, so I stay ready.”
Senior Running Back Wayne County Yellow Jackets Jesup, Georgia
Height: 5’9” Weight: 210 pounds 40-Yard Dash: 4.5
Academics:
GPA: 3.6 Intended Major: Architecture
Factoid:
Morris Fuller — “MJ”
GPA: 2.8 Colleges looking: Kentucky, South Carolina, Middle Tennessee, Citadel, and Albany State Intended Major: Undecided
Most Explosive Play:
February 10, 2018 — War of the Border — Folkston, Georgia “I was playing in an all-star game, and it was about 7 or 8 yards to score, but I broke like four or five tackles,” Harris said. The film of the 2017 Georgia-Florida all-star game shows Harris taking the ball and trying to go right, only to be hit in the backfield. He bounces off but stumbles and is hit again. He regains his balance and continues charging, but is hit again and again before springing free to score.
5 Things to Know About Kevin Harris
1. Committed to the University of South Carolina Gamecocks 2. Last year, rushed for 1,691 yards and 16 touchdowns 3. Became a starter the third game of his freshman year against Richmond Hill 4. Wears No. 3 because No. 20 was already taken 5. Had college offers from Army, Tulane, Navy, Air Force, Cornell, Wofford, The Citadel, Elon, Furman, Mercer, Kennesaw State, and Middle Tennessee
How It Began:
“I played in middle school, and I started in rec football,” Fuller said. “It has been in my life since I was a baby.” After middle school, he became a starter for the Yellow Jackets his freshman year and ran for more than 1,200 yards as a sophomore. He was All-Region his junior year.
Most Explosive Play:
“I’ve got to score or get positive yards."
Sept. 1, 2017 — Valdosta Wildcats — Valdosta, Georgia Fuller’s most explosive play came on the hallowed ground of Bazemore-Hyder Stadium on the road against the Valdosta Wildcats. “It was 95 yards, and I scored, and what made it so explosive was because it was a hook and lateral,” Fuller said. A quick pass to Cooper Martin turned into a big play as the receiver pitched the ball to Fuller coming around the left side. Fuller took the ball and outran the secondary, barely breaking a shoestring tackle at the 10-yard line for a Jackets touchdown.
Coach’s View:
Why do you wear #29?
What goes through your mind when you know the ball is coming to you?
“M.J. Fuller is a 5'9", 210-pound beast with vision and elite top-end speed," said Ken Cribb, Wayne County head football coach. "I'm really excited to see this kid take his game to another level his senior year. M.J. is confident and hungry. Expectations are extremely high.”
On the Field:
In high school, Fuller has rushed for 1,690 yards and 16 touchdowns. He averages 5 yards per carry.
“That’s the number the coach gave me and I kept it.”
5 Things to Know about MJ Fuller 1. He loves to go hunting. 2. He eats Skittles before every game. 3. Returned two kicks for touchdowns last year. 4. First team All-Region running back in 2017. 5. He runs the 100-meters and 4 x 100 relay for the Yellow Jackets’ Track team.
In The Game | 9
Echols Leads the Way
Written by: Rob Asbell Photography by: Jennifer Carter Johnson
It was a classic David versus Goliath battle on the softball diamond. Looming large was Buford, winners of 10 straight state championships. Across the basepaths was Wayne County, led by shortstop Logann Echols.
That day, the Lady Jackets played giant-killer with an 8-2 victory over the Buford Lady Wolves thanks to strong hitting, great pitching, and a team and coaching staff who pulled together in the aftermath of defeat. “We had just gotten beat by Locust Grove 14-2, so turning around playing Buford and coming out with a win was big for Wayne County,” said Echols, shortstop and lead-off hitter for Wayne County. Now a senior, Echols will serve as the Lady Jackets captain this season and hopes to lead the team to another deep run in the state playoffs.
“The bigger the game, the brighter she shines,”
Dave Madray, softball coach, said. “Logann is loaded with God-given athletic abilities, and over her career she has polished a skill set that is second to none.” A no-nonsense, hardnosed player who competes to win, Echols enjoys playing softball and works hard year-round to always improve and be at her best come game time. She is versatile and has played several positions on the diamond, including catcher, third base, shortstop, and even outfield. “The summer of her eighth-grade year, I asked Logann to consider transitioning to the catcher position,” Madray said.
The Lady Jackets had immediately excelled. two catchers set to gradHer first big hit came uate, and they needed as a freshman against Peran athletic catcher who ry High School. In a Game could get it done at the 3, winner-take-all situation plate. in the state playoffs, she “Logann earned the slapped a game-winning starting spot behind walk off hit to beat the the plate and excelled Lady Panthers 5-4 and there for two seasons,” advance to the Sweet 16. Madray said. She gave a repeat perAs a junior she moved formance the following to shortstop, where she season when, as a sophled Wayne County to the omore, she hit a two-run shot to beat Woodland state finals. While she stands out High School and, once defensively, her efforts again, advance the Lady in the batter’s box are Jackets to the Sweet equally impressive. She 16. Last season it was a has a .405 career bat- walk-off homer in the sevting average and led the enth inning to beat Ware Lady Jackets last year County 5-2 in region play. in slugging percentage But the semifinal at .668, total bases, and game of last year’s state home runs with 11. When playoffs against Buford is she steps up when Echols, to bat, she is and the concentrating. Wayne Coun“Stay foty team, really cused and hit shined. strikes,” Echols The Buthinks to herford softball self. team had won With her a state title in dad working each of the as director of past 10 seathe Wayne sons across County Recrefour classifiation Departcations. The ment, Echols Lady Wolves got an early were the epitstart playing ome of domsoftball. inance and “I grew up seemed un— Logann Echols at ball fields beatable once and gyms,” again. All that she said. stood in their way of an Echols played all three unprecedented 11-peat years of middle school, was a group of young lathen became a varsity dies from Jesup, Georgia. starter for the Lady JackThe Lady Jackets ets her freshman year and faced the daunting chal-
“I like competing and winning. I believe sports also teaches life lessons. You might fail at something, but it's how you handle it and make yourself better.”
5 Things to Know About Logann Echols: West Georgia, Georgia Southern University, and College of Coastal Georgia are recruiting her.
She helps with “Buddy Ball,” a program for special needs children at the Wayne County Recreation Department.
She has traveled to New York, Colorado, Pennsylvania, and Missouri to play for the Gold Coast Hurricanes.
She wears No. 13 because it was her dad’s number.
She started playing softball at 3 years old.
In The Game | 25