SOUTH GEORGIA BASKETBALL PREVIEWS
Dynamic Duo Riley Blampied & Megan Bloodworth Crisp Co. High School
Mann on a Mission Emmanuel Mann Jordan Vocational High School
IN THE
GAME
Trezman Marshall, Clinch Co. High School
OCT/NOV 2018
NEW! School Pages
Panther Great Headed to Athens
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4 North Carter Street Lakeland, Georgia 31635 (229) 482-3585
202 W. Washington Ave. Nashville, Georgia 31639 (229) 686-9451
3303 Inner Perimeter Road Valdosta, Georgia 31605 (229) 244-3585
978 Valdosta Highway Homerville, Georgia 31634 (912) 487-1200
www.fmb.net Member FDIC
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1201 S. Patterson Street Valdosta, Georgia 31603 (229) 244-3585
IN THIS ISSUE 19 32 35 36 38 41 44 47 48 50 51 54 56 61 78 79 80 82
Player Profiles South Georgia’s Top Athletes
Progression with a Purpose Rod Redding, Tift Co. High School Is the Gap Closing?
Pop Warner Thrives In Its 6TH Year In Titletown Panther Great Headed to Athens Trezman Marshall – Clinch Co. High School Great Work Done in the Summer, Greater Work to be Done in the Fall FCA
Dual-Enrolled Athlete Combines Love of Academics and Softball Emily Holmes, Northside High School Sunset Farm Tailgate Winners Where He Wants to Be DeMario Jones, Valdosta
School Pages
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Crisp Academy Tiftaera Academy Valwood School Cairo High School Thomas Co. Central High School Valdosta High School Colquitt Co. High School Lowndes High School Tift Co. High School
Mann on a Mission Emmanuel Mann, Jordan Vocational High School A Spike in Volleyball in South Georgia Sharks Roll Over Limitations Houston Co. Sharks
South Georgia Basketball Previews Dynamic Duo Riley Blampied & Megan Bloodworth, Crisp Co. High School 10 Questions With Amanda Hefner Columbus High School Does Garoppolo Deserve It?
Recipe for Success Essence Cody, Valdosta Middle School Offseason Moves
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Progression with a Purpose Written by: Dominic Ligon Photography by: Micki K. Photography
The true test of character begins with the ability to persevere through the highs and lows of any situation, and only the best are able to survive the road to success. Rod Redding has proven this statement to be true. “Football gave me life and life lessons,” said Redding, a senior at Tift County High School. He has had a football in his hands since before he could remember, and now is proving that through hard work, determination, confidence, and consistency anything can be obtained on and off the field. Redding is the definition of a leader. He said that during his younger days being surrounded by older friends and family inadvertently gave him leadership skills when he transitioned back to being around kids his own age. Blue Devils head coach Ashley Anders gave Redding high praise when describing his interaction with his teammates. “Rod leads by example; he
constantly pays his dues and works harder than the average Joe,” Anders said. “He makes the extra effort to go above and beyond for the little things. His attention to detail gives him the respect of the team and staff. Every time he speaks, his fellow teammates listen due to his ability to radiate such genuine emotions for what he is discussing. When you talk about accountability, Redding is the first name that pops up in the coaching staff’s minds. He puts his all into his craft and is a pure workaholic. I don’t think he’s ever missed a practice ever since his freshman year, and if that’s not reliable, I don’t know what is.” Redding is an adaptable defensive threat who consistently finds a way to impact the game. “Rod is a true student of the game and is a defensive back by trade,” Anders said. “His talents also allow him to play nickelback, strong safetyn and free safety. He can play anywhere for us with no hesitation and has a strong foot-
Every time he speaks, his fellow teammates listen due to his ability to radiate such genuine emotions for what he is discussing. — Ashley Anders
Panther Great Headed TO ATHENS Written by: Phil Jones | Photography by: Micki K. Photography
Trezman Marshall is the latest in a long line of college-bound football superstars who call Clinch County home. The senior plays basketball at Clinch in addition to his football accomplishments, but make no mistake, it’s what he’s done on the football field that’s got the attention of everyone around — especially college recruiters nationwide. He plays quarterback and running back on offense and linebacker on defense, a position that seems to be where colleges prefer him.
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Many stars have come out of Jim Dickerson’s Homerville football factory, yet Marshall is the first Clinch County player ever nominated as an AJC Super 11 player, an honor recognizing the top 11 players in the state of Georgia. Dickerson also admitted that with all of the great players who have come from Clinch County, it would be tough to put any one of those players above Marshall. “We’ve certainly had guys that have garnered attention, but nothing like Trezman,” Dickerson said. “What he’s able to do from anywhere on the football field — offense or defense, it doesn’t matter — it is just incredible.” Marshall was born and raised in Homerville, Georgia, and is the son of Marlina Lacey and Marcus Burton. His football journey began when he started playing rec league football, then he moved on to the middle school level. This is where things started coming together for Marshall and his future in football. Dickerson said he was watching the Clinch County Middle School football program in 2014 when he noticed a running back who stood out among his teammates and opponents. Dickerson remembers one game in partic-
ular: “It was a playoff game b e t w e e n our middle school team and Dooly County’s middle school program,” he said. “It was an exciting game with an electric atmosphere that night. There “It was an exciting game with was a young an electric atmosphere that man running night. There was a young man the ball on of- running the ball on offense, and fense, and no- nobody wanted to tackle him. body wanted He looked like a man amongst to tackle him. boys out there.” He looked — Jim Dickerson like a man amongst boys son games and the first out there.” The young man was playoff game, Marshall returned to score a rushMarshall. Seeing Marshall’s tal- ing touchdown in the ent on display in middle GHSA Class 1A Public Championship school, Dickerson knew State he had something spe- game, leading his Pancial and elevated Mar- thers squad to the title. In fact, despite playshall to the Panther varsity squad in his freshman ing in only a handful of season. Marshall’s im- regular season and playpact was felt right away off games, Marshall finas a starting running ish ed his first season of back on offense and as varsity football with nine touchdowns a linebacker on defense. rushing Then in Week 4, Marshall on 108 carries with 817 suffered a broken collar- yards rushing. From his limited time bone in practice, sidelining him for the rest of at quarterback, he comthe regular season. The pleted 15 of 37 passes only way he would play for 232 yards and three again was if Clinch was touchdowns. In a limited to make it to the playoffs, role on defense, he finished with three tackles. which they did. Despite missing all That 2015 season also but three regular sea- marked the first of two
state championships attempts for 679 yards that Marshall played a and 14 touchdowns. He major role in. He was made 70 tackles on denow well known in the fense. state of Georgia as “one As a sophomore, Marto watch.” shall hoped for another That offseason, Mar- state championship, but a shall attended a camp familiar opponent stood in Athens at the Univer- in the way. Macintosh sity of Georgia. It was County Academy and at this camp that the Clinch played in the regDogs became the first ular season, with Clinch team to extend an offer winning that game, but to the Clinch County in the state championship ninth-grader, but that game, Marshall suffered only got the recruiting an injury at some point ball rolling. in the first There were “If you want to talk half. subsequent Accordabout one game where offers from ing to Dickthe impact of Trezman erson, the Florida, F l o r i d a was felt, it was that Pa n t h e r s State, Al- state game against weren’t exa b a m a , Macintosh. We were actly sure Ole Miss, a completely different when the Michigan, team without him.” injury ocArkansas, — Jim Dickerson curred, but Tennessee, still, the and several team trainothers. er approached him in In the 2016 season, the locker room at halfClinch once again made time with bad news: Mara deep run into the state shall had suffered a torn playoffs, and Marshall labrum. Clinch would be was a big part of his forced to play without its team’s success, this time star recruit in the second mostly on defense. Still, half. The Panthers were even in a limited role on not the same team withthe offensive side, he out him. finished with stats that “If you want to talk rival those of a full-time about one game where player: 91 carries for the impact of Trezman 595 yards rushing and was felt, it was that state nine touchdowns. When game against Macinhe threw the football, he tosh,” Dickerson said. completed 33 of 72 pass “We were a completely In The Game | 39
Mann on a Mission Written by: Beth Welch Photography by: Jennifer Jones
Jordan Vocational High School’s football program had challenges in recent years. With a revolving door of head coaches moving in and out of the program, three in the last four years to be exact, the Red Jackets have been considered an easy win for some opponents. One athlete has a plan to change that. Emmanuel Mann is a senior at JVHS and the varsity’s starting quarterback. The 18-year-old is zoned for attendance at the Columbus school, but Mann had options. He chose Jordan.
“People always talk bad about Jordan,” Mann said. “They say you can’t make it out of Jordan (to the next level). I just wanted to see if I could try to make it out of Jordan.” Ever since arriving as a freshman, Mann had a goal of restoring respect to the football program while playing a game he dearly loves. The 6-foot-
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tall, 170-pound athlete hasn’t been all talk, either. As a junior, Mann passed for 1,062 yards and is credited with 13 touchdowns. He is listed as a three-star recruit by several recruiting websites and is No. 32 on the 2019 Top Dual-Threat Quarterback Recruits list by 247Sports.com. Last year was tough for the Red Jackets, though. The team went 0-10, and head coach Justin Newman was relieved of his duties after just two seasons. The coaching change meant Mann started out his freshman year with one coach, was under the direction of Newman for his sophomore and junior seasons, and is now playing for new Jordan hire Joe Kegler. Still, Mann has found a way to push ahead. “Developing relationships with the coaches is important,” Mann said. “It’s not anything (coaching changes) I have control over. I have to com-
plete the mission.” The Jordan quarterback’s mission actually got started at the age of 9 when he found a passion for playing football. Mann continued football throughout middle school, but had a slow start with the sport his freshman year at Jordan. When Newman came on staff, Mann said he was singled out by the new coach to play quarterback for the first time. “Newman fell in love with me,” Mann said with a laugh. Just when things began to look up for the sophomore, he broke his right arm in a scrimmage game. Mann missed several games due to the injury, but healed in record time to come back as the starting quarterback. During his junior season, despite the lack of wins, Mann excelled, which led to attention from recruiters. Among those schools who have expressed interest are Alabama, Georgia, and Tulane.
It can be a lot of pressure to be a top recruited athlete. It also can lead to an egotistical attitude if you’re not careful. Emmanuel Mann is handling the pressure, and his mother is making sure his ego stays in check.
“My mom is always telling me to stay humble and to be grateful for the talent God has given me,” Mann said with a smile. “I hear that all the time. Like, every two days I hear that.” In January he attended the Army National Combine in San Antonio, Texas. To date, only one school has made an offer, but Mann is more concerned about playing his best game than who might be in the stands watching. Perhaps a bit unusual for a three-star athlete is that Mann is a multiple-sport athlete at Jordan. He plays basketball and is a member of the Red Jackets track and field team. Fleet of foot, it’s no surprise Mann runs relays, but the natural athlete also participates in the long jump and high jump events. Because there is no pit for Mann to practice high
jumps prior to a meet, his actual competition performances are the only time he ever jumps. Mann has received track offers because of his speed (40-yard dash in 4.4) and has a personal best in the high jump of 6.6 feet. While he weighs offers and plays his best in three sports, Mann is always thinking of the mission to get recruited and regain school respect. “When people see Jordan on the schedule, they automatically put a ‘W’ on that game,” Mann said. “I’m tired of that. Coach K really knows what he is doing. This is the year we change some things.”
A Spike in Volleyball in South Georgia Written by: Kaylee Kopke Photography by: Dezmond Kimbrough
High school volleyball is growing in popularity in South Georgia. Although that spread has been slow, it’s been consistent. Many schools in the area have grown their programs in recent years, with some even winning region or state championships. Several South Georgia athletes even participate in club ball to keep their skills sharp in the offseason. Even schools that had not previously offer volleybll as a sport have started their own programs. Per the request of many of their student-athletes, Colquitt County High School jumped on the volleyball train. About 220 ladies initially showed interest in the arrival of competitive volleyball in the Colquitt County School System, and the school began its first volleyball season last fall. Ronald and Sarah Fowler, a married coaching duo, took the reins of the Colquitt volleyball team this season.
“I was well aware of Colquitt County High School’s athletic tradition,” Ronald Fowler, a Bainbridge, Georgia, native, said. “Colquitt County has first-class facilities, an amazing fan base, and a very supportive administration. When my wife and I noticed the opening in November of 2017, we knew we had to apply.” With previous experience in Jackson County — taking the team from five wins the previous season all the way to a school record of 33 wins, achieving the first area championship in 21 years, and making an Elite Eight appearance — Colquitt County is in good hands this season with the husband-and-wife team. “The new standard for Colquitt County volleyball is that we are going to work hard and compete for every point,” Ronald Fowler said. “If a team beats us, our goal is to make them earn every point. We have a saying, ‘If the ball hits the floor, we hit the floor.’ This simply means that if the ball lands on our side of the net, we expect bodies to be laying out and girls doing everything in their willpower to not let the ball drop. Another core value for Colquitt County volleyball is communication. Teams that do not communi-
In the coming years, I want people to mention Colquitt County when discussing volleyball in the state of Georgia.
— Ronald Fowler
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