CampusNews Coach Mike Muschamp and team captains Charlie Ingram and Grant Haley accept the 2013 AA State Championship trophy at the Georgia Dome. Muschamp, Ingram, and Haley were all recognized for their efforts, the former as AA Coach of the Year, the latter as Defensive and Offensive Players of the Year, respectively.
On the season, Haley rushed for 1,558 yards on 155 attempts, averaging 10.1 yards a carry, and scoring 24 touchdowns. He also caught 13 passes for 84 yards and two more touchdowns. Haley returned nine punts for 251 yards, including one for a 95-yard touchdown. On defense, Haley led the Lions’ “No Fly Zone” secondary with six interceptions.
Football Takes it All First time since 1970 When the new region alignments were announced two years ago, offering the football Lions only four region games, Coach Mike Muschamp developed a plan to schedule ranked, higher-classification opponents, essentially making the entire regular season preparation for the playoffs. The schedule the Lions would face during their 2013 campaign was ranked by many media outlets the most difficult of any team in Georgia, in any classification. With wins over Woodward, Blessed Trinity, Marist, St. Pius, and Alabama perennial powerhouse Fort Payne all in the season’s first month, the 2013 “Band of Brothers” began to realize the season was shaping up into something that could be very special. Only an overtime loss, 36-33, to eventual AAA finalist Washington County, would slow the Lions momentum. Ultimately, the team made it to the AA championship game in the Georgia Dome on December 14. Several thousand supporters from “#LionNation” arrived hours in advance of the game. The Lions opponent, Lamar County, had 34
Lovett
eliminated Lovett on the Riverbank the previous season in the quarterfinals, 35-28. During the 2013 regular season, the Trojans had again been one of the highest-scoring teams in the state, and had carried the state’s number-one ranking most of the year. But, the Lions had not blinked in the face of strong opposition all year, and were not going to begin one game away from their ultimate goal. The goal was met, with a win by Lovett over Lamar County, 14-7. “Our kids came out and executed very well from the opening kickoff until the final buzzer,” Coach Muschamp said. “We felt their efforts, all season, made them very deserving of the championship.” Lovett’s claim of the AA State title broke a 43-year drought for a football championship, the last being in 1970 under the late coach Bill Conley. Haley’s 27 touchdowns in 2013 rank second for most in a season, behind Bill Lummus’s 28 scores in 1970. Post-season recognition flowed from various media outlets, highlighting the efforts of several individuals involved in Lovett’s success. Players recognized at the All-State and All-Area level included Grant Haley, Charlie Ingram, Tej Suber, Patrick Keough, and Willie Candler.
Cross Country Girls Cross Country had another strong showing at the 2013 GHSA AA State Meet, finishing third. Freshman Serena Tripodi was second overall in the AA State race, with senior Hailey Branch finishing sixth. Junior Melissa Houghton was 13th, freshman Mara Davis 16th, and junior Tess Allen finished 24th. Tripodi continued her competition through December, when she competed in the USA Track & Field National Junior Cross Country Championships, held in San Antonio, Texas. In running a personal best 15:04.12, Tripodi placed 21st at Nationals, giving the Lions a great deal to look forward to in future seasons. Serena Tripodi