BETWEEN T LINES 2025 THE
PUBLISHER’S NOTE
AS WE GET READY TO EMBARK UPON YET ANOTHER HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL SEASON, it’s time to get excited about our busy schedules including Friday nights spent at our local stadiums cheering on our friends and family on the gridiron. We are fortunate to have so many great venues filled with the support of the vibrant communities in which these schools serve the youth in Northwest Georgia.
As I prepare for this issue every year, I get to hear all about the hard work the coaching staffs and players put in to get ready for the season. It really starts as soon as the previous season ends, making it a year-round commitment for both coaches and players. While many of these athletes participate in other sports, they continue to grind in the weightroom, classroom, camps and get together individually
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#51 CASON WADE (LB)
#4 TYLER WARREN (S)
#2 LOGAN WELLMAKER (LB)
ROSS
IT WAS TOUGH SLEDDING FOR ARMUCHEE LAST YEAR. After winning their first three games of the season, they entered an extremely hard region slate, losing every game from there on out. The Indians finished the 3-8, winless in the region.
Enter new Head Coach Aaron Avery. Coming from the Bolles School in Jacksonville, Florida, Avery brings in a strong resume, as he was the offensive coordinator of an offense that was ranked extremely high in Florida High School Football.
“Everyone has been super welcoming. Everyone that I have talked to has been extremely supportive and incredible, whether it has just been checking on me and my family or asking whatever they can do to help,” said Head Coach Aaron Avery. “I know my family has really embraced the opportunity to ingrain ourselves in this community. This is where I feel like I am called to be; everything lined up perfectly.”
“We did a padless spring. We wanted to ingrain our middle school program with our high school program. I want to develop kids for seven years instead of four years, so getting them involved was huge for us, and where they could get used to me. We have a bunch of new bodies out, and I want to give them the freedom to have a fresh start.”
As Coach Aaron Avery has made his way to Rome, he has implemented his own culture and expectations for how he wants his players to commit to excellence.
“The pillars of our culture here are gonna be relentless efforts. Giving everything that you’ve got from point A to point B is going to be competitive greatness and the constant pursuit of being the best version of yourself. I want our kids to kick down the door to greatness. Our challenge is making sure we can continue to do everything we can day in and day out to be slightly better to prepare ourselves. We have to promote as players and coaches all the right things. I want us to be so committed to each other that people on the outside think that we are crazy with the amount of connection that we have to each other.”
So far, the seniors have led the way for the vision that Coach Aaron Avery wants to instill back within the program. Tyler Warren, Jonas Ross, Logan Wellmaker, and Layne Rampley are some guys that are “buying into” what Aaron Avery wants to do. Junior Aidan Williams and sophomore Ryder Atkins are expected to be great on the offensive line. At linebacker, senior Cason Wade has been a tremendous leader throughout the offseason and has gone above and beyond. Sophomore Eston Collins has had an amazing offseason so far for the Indians at tight end.
“I’m excited for every day. Every day is a new experience, every day, there's a different trial that challenges us to kind of overcome as a team to get better. Tomorrow is our next opportunity to accomplish the little things we need to accomplish.”
With a new head coach that brings a lot of joy and excitement, the Armuchee faithful should be ecstatic about the new vision and look about the program.
COOSA FINISHED LAST SEASON 4-7, WINNING ONLY TWO OF THEIR REGION GAMES IN A TOUGH CONFERENCE. Coosa still was able to make the playoffs regardless of their performance in the region, credited to a massive upset win at Chattooga that bolstered them into the postseason for the first time in 10 years.
‘I feel like we had a great year considering it was year one with new standards and expectations. We had no business beating Chattooga. They had the state's leading rusher, and that win got us into the playoffs. We were very excited about it, and the next step is to make the playoffs and do it consistently,” said Head Coach Geoff Cannon. “The community was excited about it, and we were thrilled about the season that we had. The community has answered the bell, and I’ve been able to take the offseason to develop relationships with past teams and our own community.”
“We have been continuing to develop personnel-wise, and figure out who is going to take the place of the 11 seniors who graduated. Having the spring was big, since we didn’t go through it last year. We are developing personnel-wise, and getting to dial down some new formations and concepts. As a coaching staff, we are trying to figure out what we can add and shift scheme-wise to help our upcoming personnel.”
“Our standards take no talent. We take into account your effort, your attitude, and if you show up on time. Those are things that will help you forever. Are you going to line up right? Are you going to know what to
do and execute your job at a high level? A football play is only four to six seconds long, so are you playing with relentless effort for your teammates and as hard as you can go?”
Coosa will have a squad filled with playmakers from top to bottom. Quarterback Charlie Cannon, who already broke the school passing record, will run it back. Xander Sledge, senior running back, will handle a larger workload this year. Vanye Millsap will contribute on both sides of the ball, as well as Timbo Mitchell. Jordan Scott will also be versatile as a slot receiver and linebacker. Bradyn Turpen, Gavin Holt, and Drew Smith will be the backbones of the offensive line. Brody Thomas and Kevin Weaver will both look to fill out a tight end role while playing defensive line and linebacker. Jaylen Hazzard, an upcoming freshman, turned heads during the spring at running back. Kelin Jackson will line up at receiver and corner. Sophomores Jaxson Shell and Keelan Buffington look to have some significant minutes at secondary and receiver. JJ Buffington is going to see time at receiver and DB in the fall as a junior.
“I am excited to see our kids take the next step. I may have the best seat in the house, but I can’t play anymore. We are going to have to take some chances to be successful, and I’m really excited to see what that looks like.”
With a decent mix of seasoned veterans and younger guys, the Coosa community should have a lot of fun watching Coosa football this year.
2024 RECORD: 4-7, overall (2-5, region 7-A D 1)
HEAD COACH: Geoff Cannon 25-48 ALL TIME RECORD: 729 games - 352-361-16 TOTAL SEASONS: 71 first season, 1955
BETWEEN THE LINES 2025 | HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL
THE TIGERS FINISHED YET ANOTHER PLAYOFF-MAKING SEASON, MARKING THE 18TH YEAR IN A ROW OF A POSTSEASON BID. Darlington placed third in Region 6-A D1 behind Temple and Heard County. They would lose in the first round to Kings Ridge Christian, putting the lid on another successful season.
A heartbreaking and nightmarish injury would occur during the Temple game, as starting quarterback Sammy Kuncewski would go down for the rest of the season, leaving the Tigers in a ridiculously hard spot. Darlington would lose their last three games of the season without him, including their state playoff game on the road.
“If you are a two on the depth chart, you have to consider yourself a one on the depth chart. You’re only one broken chin strap away from being in the ballgame full time. Our kids have done a good job coming together as a brotherhood this offseason, and I think we have a good amount of toughness, and our kids are preparing very well,” said Head Coach Wayne Groves.
Spring ball is optional and Groves always opts in.
“I’m always going to choose the 10 padded practices for our kids. We worked on us, our fundamentals, and some installments. We had a bunch of kids playing in tennis and track during the spring, so it gave younger guys an opportunity to get reps. We want to teach them how to practice, and the tempo of our practices.”
The expectation at Darlington is growth in all areas. “We want our kids
2024 RECORD: 5-6, overall (3-3, Region 6-A D1)
HEAD COACH: Wayne Groves 11-11
to push each other and to go as hard as they possibly can. Our kids work hard, and they understand that the only way we’re going to be our greatest is if we get better individually. We push our kids to be great.”
“It’s just a matter of getting our fundamentals down. For some, it is their first time putting on a helmet. We want to get better at our fundamentals and understanding of our scheme. We are going to learn; We will watch film to improve our knowledge of what we are doing whether it's drawing on a whiteboard or practicing. We want to get 1% better everyday.”
Coach Groves has a lot of returning guys that he and his staff have at their disposal. Myles Twyman, who has been a 1000 yard rusher multiple years in a row, will return at B-back. Jayce Donaldson, who can play anywhere, is back for his senior campaign. Lane Brasington, Brysen Jones, Evan Parton, Colten Momon, and Ty Wood will all anchor the offensive line. Henry Ledbetter, a “gamewrecker,” is back for his senior year. Rising junior Nate Kuncewski, who had a great year last year, will be entering his junior year, as well as Brooke Temple, who will play corner and running back. Matias Selle, Mike Barron, and Sawyer Sorrells are all freshman who will look to see some action come fall.
“Being around the kids is the best part of my day. They do everything that we ask of them, and being around the kids and being able to coach and develop them makes it fun for me.”
Chris Hunter stadium will see a lot of familiar faces. Hopefully, Darlington can continue the streak and make it 19 straight playoff appearances in 2025.
ALL TIME RECORD: 1060 games - 640-382-38
TOTAL SEASONS: 115 first season, 1910
REGION CHAMPIONSHIPS: 12 (2022 last)
STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS: 1 (1998 last)
#24 COLLIN WATSON (RB,
LAST SEASON, MODEL ENTERED A BRAND NEW REGION DOWN THE LINES OF HIGHWAY-27. It was tough sledding for the squad in Shannon, as they would finish 1-5 in the region and miss the playoffs. While it was not the season desired in terms of record, there was still an abundance of positives that came out of an extremely competitive schedule.
“I think that we constantly progressed last year. When we played the two best teams in our region outside of Cass, I felt like our kids showed up; I thought that we played well against the tougher teams on our schedule towards the end of the year,” said Head Coach Jeff Hunnicutt.
Nothing has changed for the pedigree and standard that the coaching staff challenges their players to live up to. “We just want to take it one game at a time. I like for our team to be player-led and have leadership. It has to continue to grow, but if we want to live up to our goal of being competitive in the playoffs, and not having leadership will not pay dividends on a Friday night.”
While Model does not utilize a spring practice window, the summer is used to amp up the players and get them ready for a typical Friday night.
“We are still building a 2025 team. We still need leadership; it just has to happen. Once we hit July, we are in acclamation and in scrimmage league. We can do all the 7on7 and whatnot in June, but once July hits, it’s basically starting from ground zero. Coaches are still implementing their philosophies and what we are doing schematically.”
“Things are still never going to be about me. I’ve been blessed with an opportunity to build relationships and teach kids the core values. This group has grown a lot, and I am excited to see what they are going to do.”
The Shannon faithful will hear a lot of numbers called under the Friday Night Lights. Chadon Woodley, an upcoming sophomore, will contribute at both DB and WR. Rance Cunningham and Malachi Shelley will be juniors, along with Collin Watson at linebacker, who look to step up as upperclassmen. Jesse Ayers, a junior, and Cooper Henderson, a senior, will anchor the offensive line. Ridge Hardaker, a senior, will be prominent in the backfield and linebacker core. Brysen Bell, a senior, looks to be more of a possession receiver and play a little bit of safety. CJ Walker looks to be the next starting signal caller for the Blue Devils.
If there is one thing for certain, the Model community will always show up and be proud, and all signs point towards excitement in Shannon underneath the Friday night lights.
#2 MADOC GARCIA (RB)
#10 MOSS TANT (QB)
#6 SAM ROSS (WR, OLB)
PEPPERELL FINISHED LAST SEASON 2-8, HAVING BOTH OF THEIR WINS IN THE REGION. The majority of their games were close, but the Dragons were unable to close out games, missing the playoffs for the first time in almost 10 years.
“Last year was year zero. We had to rebuild a culture, and we are going to have a new philosophy. We had to build trust. We had four games where we lost by a total of 14 points, and that can swing your season. I let the players hear it as much as possible, so they can have some motivation. We truly were extremely close,” said Head Coach Brandon Haywood.
Spring practice went very well for the Dragons. “We had a good turnout for spring. There was a lot of conditioning, and summer was the first time we had everyone. We are doing things completely different scheme-wise, and our kids and coaches are picking up and running with it. We are doing amazing strength-wise, and are much stronger than we were a year ago. We are off to a good start.”
In order to turn things around for his squad, effort needs to be maximized in all phases. “We don’t need you to skip that rep in the weight room. Your effort is the difference between losing and winning a game; it is not a mantra to me, but “refuse to lose” is plastered everywhere. Whether it's a football player, regular person, student athlete, or in the weight room, I am trying to shift the way that we think and make it a constant mindset of how we are in life.”
2024 RECORD: 2-8, overall (2-4, region 6-A D 1)
HEAD COACH: Brandon Haywood 5-25
The summer has been busy, but there are a few takeaways from the course of time during the offseason.
“These kids picked up our scheme fast; they’re smart. It is a resilient bunch, and we run a lot. I am trying to practice with a sense of urgency and create the tempo of a game. The only thing that will get us ready for game one is game one. Our coaches and players are preparing well, and everything we are doing is good for all parties. We are trying to make our kids become students of the game and make them learn why and how things are supposed to work.”
Pepperell returns a lot of talent and leadership that should pay dividends come fall. Stephen Sapp will anchor the defensive line, as well as Hayden Wheat. Jace Poe, Chris Alphin, and Sam Ross highlight the linebacker core. Madoc Garcia and Tucker Glenn will disrupt offenses. Moss Tant will take over QB duties. Freshman Chance Hopper will contribute as safety and quarterback, and Trey Chatman will play running back and defensive back. Hayden Newberry could see minutes in the backfield and linebacker core. Tyler Barkley could see some good minutes at tight end.
“Lindale is a special place. We want to get back to the standard; we underachieved last year. I want to give results to our kids, and everything that I’m going to invest and commit to is to our overall team success.”
The Dragons have what it takes to have great success in 25-26. They will certainly have a say of the top spot in the region.
ALL TIME RECORD: 794 games - 426-354-14
TOTAL SEASONS: 75 first season, 1951
REGION CHAMPIONSHIPS: 4 (2016 last)
STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS: 1 (1990 last)
DARNELL COLLINS (WR, S) #5 DASH KINNEBREW (DE) #11 JJ WINSTON (WR)
BETWEEN THE LINES 2025 | HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL PREVIEW
ROME PUT THE LID ON THEIR 24-25 WITH YET ANOTHER REGION CHAMPIONSHIP, marking the fourth region title in a row and 8 out of 10 years under John Reid. Their season would come to an end after falling to Thomas County Central in the Sweet 16.
“We got off to an absolutely terrible start. We had championship teams the first two games in Toombs County and Carrollton and had to cancel the Corky Kell game. The rest of the season went pretty well, we got our bearings and feet back underneath us. However, losing in the second round of the playoffs isn’t something we do around here,” said Head Coach John Reid.
“Every year is a different year. We have to evaluate what this team can do and can’t do. It is a hard and long process from the starting game to where we want to be at the end of the year. We come here with a plan that's strategic and in depth, and that can be a lot for a kid.”
“Right now, we are trying to develop situational awareness. When it’s 3rd and 3, we don’t just need three, we need four. If you don’t do it right, we are punting the ball. We can have big enough and fast enough kids, but it is a matter of playing together and managing situations and playing together.”
For a program like Rome, having rigorous expectations is guaranteed. “We want our kids to be tough. We teach our kids to be loyal, dedicated, and tough, and that's what we expect out of our players. Everyone comes from unique situations, and it is a necessity to focus on the big picture and develop these young men. Our kids strive to reach a high level.”
“When it’s a Friday night, you can put it however you want, but it's our work versus their work. We are gonna get after it. However, it’s bigger
2024 RECORD: 8-3, overall (7-0, region 5-AAAAA)
HEAD COACH:
John Reid 222-68
than football. I love seeing the kids' faces. You want to see the people you work with and teach go out and be successful, so I’m always excited to see what we can do as one.”
Talent is never lacking for a John Reid-led Wolfpack. Georgia Tech verbals JJ Winston and Darnell Collins spotlight a talented secondary and receiving core. Nasir Jones, Coastal Carolina commit, highlights a massive offensive trench core, with Brooklen Spivey and Ulysses Nicholson being the interior guys. TJ McClain and Josh Reynolds are guys who will play tackle. For the defensive side, Dash Kinnebrew, reigning region DPOY, will be back. Jyquice Mccrary has been racking up some noise this offseason. Jaden Clowers looks to fill the shoes of Jaedon Harmon, and Shauntavious Worfford will see minutes at safety.
The quarterback room is deep, as Braxton Anderson and Aidan McPherson shared time last season, with a new face in Zach Parker, an extremely talented freshman.
The norm of Rome has become talent and depth at every position. Don’t be surprised if the Wolves are playing in December in Atlanta again.
ALL TIME RECORD: 389 games - 276-112-1
TOTAL SEASONS: 34 first season, 1992
REGION CHAMPIONSHIPS: 14 (2024 last)
STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS: 2 (2017 last)
UNITY FINISHED OUT LAST SEASON 8-4, FINISHING 4TH IN THE REGION. They would end up making the playoffs and were in search of going back to back, but would lose to Pinecrest Academy in the state championship.
“We kind of started off bizarre. We played a game, and then we were off for three weeks. We took nearly a month off, so some teams had a few games on us. We were still practicing and trying to make it fun and creative and not hitting as much, as well as trying to make the time special for the guys, but our timing was off. I was very proud of the way that our guys handled it, and we as a team were not on edge as much” said Head Coach David Humphreys.
“We had a lot of reps during the spring, and we are returning a bunch of guys. I believe in getting stronger; June is the month where we do a bunch of weights and let kids have fun with their families. Once July comes and we transition into getting ready, that's when the running will come and it's go time.”
Coach Humphreys uses a lot of creative ways to keep his players on track; one of the ways is by using the acronym of WIN and NOW, which means “what’s important now,” and “now’s the time.”
“What I challenge my kids to do is make the right decision at this time, don’t worry about tomorrow; all we are asking you to do is get through today. Everything we do is in the now. Don’t be looking for the next place,
2024 RECORD: 8-3, overall (4-2, region)
HEAD COACH: David Humphreys
wherever you’re at, that is where you need to be at. When it comes to playing, our focus will be the team that we are playing next week.”
Unity Christian has a lot of athletes at their disposal, and an abundance of experience and playmakers. Sophomore Miles Schwartz should take over QB duties following in the footsteps of Evan Whiteside, who was a three year starter. Seniors Davis Blankenship and Elliot Whiteside are the true cornerstones of that offensive line who will have massive expectations. Ondreo Sawyer will be a huge piece to Unity as a DB and receiver, as well as Isaiah Giddens who will be a junior. Sophomore Brady King will be electric. Freshman Beau Matson and junior Cooper Mathis are primed to fly all over at linebacker. Junior William Wilson will be the MIKE, and senior Blake Hall will be a guy that could play literally any position on the field. Freshman Xander Leonardi could see time at offensive line, as well as junior Landon Stevens and senior Wyatt Crowley. Senior Joel Simms has been unbelievable in the weight room, and senior Tyler Ford will be back at running back.
“I am looking forward to seeing our kids mature a lot. These guys have made the big change, and they are going to be a whole lot faster physically and mentally. We can advance their knowledge, and it will be very exciting to see our group mature.”
Unity Christian will have a lot of familiar faces and a surplus of experience. The expectation is state championships, and the Lions look primed to win another one.
TOTAL SEASONS: 15 first season, 2010
REGION CHAMPIONSHIPS: 4 (2023 last)
STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS: 2 (2023 last)
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ADAIRSVILLE FINISHED LAST SEASON 6-5, 3-3 IN THE REGION. They would place fourth behind Calhoun, Heritage, and Northwest Whitfield, giving them a playoff spot. However, they would go on to lose to Sandy Creek on the road.
“We had a lot of resilience. We tried to figure a lot of things out last year, and one of them was the fact that we can do things better not just individually, but as a team. I think it took us a while to figure it out but I think once we did, it definitely played a big part,” said Head Coach Jon Cudd.
Just throughout the spring and summer, there are few things that are notable about Adairsville for this upcoming year.
“We are going to be young on both sides of the ball. We have a lot of guys that we think we can play, and we had a lot of guys step up this spring. I’m looking forward to seeing what these guys can do as the season gets started here soon. Replacing these guys is really by committee; we are gonna have to get used to a lot of these guys playing.”
As far as expectations go, Jon Cudd and his staff expect to get the most out of his kids in order to achieve success.
“We got back from lineman camp, and that kind of sets the tone for us year in and year out. We have to practice at a high level every single day, and
2024 RECORD: 6-5, overall (3-3, 7-AAA)
HEAD COACH: Jon Cudd 24-10
everything we do has a purpose. We want to get good quality reps, but we also want to make sure that we understand what we are doing.”
Getting kids bought into the culture and expectation is another staple of the Adairsville program. “Our kids can see that we can compete. That’s a big part of it, when you believe you can do it. In the past, we’ve been guilty of going into games and maybe some of our kids didn’t really believe that we could compete. We want our kids to believe and fully buy into what we are doing here.”
The Tigers, while graduating a lot of talent, look to reload in 25-26. Colt Sanford, who played both ways, returns. Barrett Fuller, a guy who made a ton of catches last year, is going to be back, including Weston Crisp. CJ Gardner is going to be a starter upfront, and Zay Gilbert has been picking up some offers. Javeon Carson has had a good spring in the backfield, as well as Ezekiel Carter. Thomas Duncan will play all over the place, including quarterback. Braxton Elrod will also see time as a signal caller for the Tigers.
With some new faces and seasoned veterans, the Tigers will always be a contender for that region championship and a spot in the playoffs.
ALL TIME RECORD: 730 games - 403-316-11
TOTAL SEASONS: 70 first season, 1956
REGION CHAMPIONSHIPS: 10 (2023 last)
BETWEEN THE LINES 2025 |
CARTERSVILLE ROUNDED OUT ANOTHER SUCCESSFUL SEASON IN 24-25, marking the 12th year in a row having double-digit wins. Their season would come to an end in the Elite 8, after falling to eventual state champion North Oconee by two points.
“Anytime we don’t reach the end goal of winning a state championship, there is going to be some disappointment. Those games are why we play here; these kids want to represent the community at the highest level. We played incredibly tough and battled through a lot of injuries and adversity, but there's a lot of credit to our development and preparation for the next group. I am really proud of our group for hanging in there and continuing to get better every week,” said Head Coach Conor Foster.
Cartersville had numerous guys playing in the state championship for baseball and track, so the spring window may have looked a little different.
“With a lot of our guys out, we really got to develop and pour into some of the younger guys. It was a lot of fun. It was a different feel working with more young players and allowing them the opportunity to grow and have trial and error. I think it will pay dividends when the season starts.”
“We are always intentional about always developing leadership. We had some turnover on our staff for the first time in a long time, and have had some guys rejuvenate our weight room and add some new blood. I’m excited about developing relationships, and adding some new pieces to the program.” With big goals being the norm every season, it is crucial to get the most
2024 RECORD: 12-1, overall (6-0, region 7-AAAA)
HEAD COACH:
Conor Foster 71-8
out of the players. “We want to make sure we are doing the most with what we have. We want to get the most out of our young kids, especially to be successful in life after football. As far as our infinite goal, I think we will measure our success down the road to see how these young men turn out.”
The Purple Hurricanes routinely have all kinds of talent riddled on the depth chart, and this year is no different. Braylon Hill, upcoming senior, will be a tremendous add on at running back. The sophomore class got thrown into the fire as freshmen, but certain names will blossom such as Kylan Pope, Cooper Melvin, and Tripp Chatmon, Maddox Davis, Kayden Kent, and KT Blackwell. Georgia verbal Brady Marchese is primed to have a monster senior campaign, as well as Nate Russell, who has been a three year starter. All five starting offensive lineman are back, led by Tulane commit Langston Hogg. Cole Crawford and Brayden Logan will be juniors who are heating up on the recruiting trail. Grayson Vilar will be big up front, and Grayson Womack will see significant time as a junior safety.
“The first thing that comes to my mind is running out of the smoke of Weinman Stadium, and getting to serve our community. It’s what gets you through those long spring and summer days, and I’m so excited for our community; they always do a great job.”
Talent is never insufficient at Cartersville. Always expect the Purple Hurricanes to be in the running to play come Christmas time in the Benz.
ALL TIME RECORD: 1105 games - 742-333-30
TOTAL SEASONS: 113 first season, 1909
REGION CHAMPIONSHIPS: 24 (2024 last)
STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS: 4 (2016 last)
CASS WOULD PUT THE LID ON THEIR SEASON LAST YEAR BY FINISHING 6-5, 3-3 IN THE REGION. Things were going well for Cass; however, a crucial injury to star quarterback Brodie McWhorter against Hiram would leave the Colonels thin, as they would lose the majority of their remaining games, including a loss to Blessed Trinity in the playoffs.
“It obviously was devastating in more ways than one. We were more worried about him as a person. I was worried about Brodie McWhorter. We had to replace him with our leading WR in Elijah Slocum, so we technically lost him,” said Head Coach Steve Gates.
It was certainly a hard dilemma to overcome for Gates and company. “We had to fight and claw to make the playoffs. The injury changed everything. It was just not a good situation; kids and coaches had to adapt. Credit to our coaches, they figured out a way to get things done.”
Fast forward to this season, with a healthy roster going into the offseason. “A lot of our kids have to grow up, and that’s just the bottom line. Even during the summer, we have been trying to figure out who is tough upfront. Replacing guys upfront is not easy, but it will be a telltale tape of who is physical and who isn’t.”
The expectations for Cass are higher than they have ever been. “My expectations for these coaches, players, and myself are higher than they’ve ever been. The expectations of being a good person are just as high as being
a good football player. It’s also how our community deals with these kids on and off the field; all these things must happen or else these kids won’t play. We shoot for the top spot; we schedule hard to get our guys prepared.”
Coach Gates has a significant amount of talent returning for the 25-26 season. Wide receiver Elijah Slocum did the ultimate team sacrifice last year, but will now return to WR. Brodie McWhorter, a Mississippi State pledge, returns off of a season ending injury. Bear McWhorter, Michigan commit, will be the anchor and star of the offensive line. Naz Fleurine will play outside at linebacker and a little bit of receiver. Josh Love, who has had a great offseason, is back at safety. A running back tandem of Kalil Charles and Jerome Sanders will wreck defenses as a one-two punch. Chase Tatum, Kennesaw State verbal, is back. John Abernathy, who is picking up some steam, will be really good. Malachi Harris is back and healthy at linebacker. Jah Anderson is expected to rack up yards at wide receiver. Noah Rogers will be the backup quarterback as a true freshman. Kalel Charles is going to start at outside backer, as well as Zach Styles. Marcus Daniels will get reps at safety.
“Everything feels like it’s back to normal. Having the pieces back together is what is happening, and players and coaches are smiling from ear to ear.”
#6 SOLOMON JAMES (RB)
#11 CAM COLLINS (DE, TE)
#4 KORBYN JARRETT (TE, LB)
BETWEEN THE LINES 2025 | HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL PREVIEW
WOODLAND FINISHED LAST SEASON 3-7, 2-5 IN THE REGION. The region is nothing short of a gauntlet, but they were able to pick up two of their last three games to ride some momentum into this season.
“I think the biggest thing is learning the players and learning our system. We won 2 out of our last three, and we improved. Our kids really made a commitment and we went back to work. We had a really good offseason, with nine really good days of practice,” said Head Coach Andy Scott.
“From our kids' standpoint, we focused on a lot of fundamentals. We, as a staff, noticed that we had to become a better fundamental team. Our kids really bought in, and the way we practice and workout is now all fundamentals. We need to be a little bit more consistent, and I think that we are improving upfront. It goes without saying, every win comes down to your line play and your secondary play.
The playoffs are an expectation and goal for the Woodland Wildcats. “We want to become a playoff caliber team. We play in one of the toughest regions in the entire state, and the expectation of our kids is to make the playoffs and that every single year, we are in contention for and competing in the postseason.”
Expect Woodland to have significant contributions from their upcoming sophomore class.“We made a commitment to play our best players. We will have the opportunity this year to start five to seven sophomores, and we have a really good group of 9-12 players. The majority of our returners are going to be sophomores who played good minutes.
2024 RECORD: 3-7, overall (1-5, region 7-AAAA)
HEAD COACH: Andy Scott 59-97
Cam Collins will be back at defensive end, as well as Corbin Jarrett at linebacker and tight end. Solomon James has been getting recruited heavily at running back. Evan Torres returns and will contribute heavily at linebacker. RJ Martin and Clayton McCartle had a good spring and are expected to see a larger role at DB and receiver. Cooper Shedd, Aidan Holt, and Nathan Jenkins, will all be back and will anchor the offensive line. Cameron Broome has played really well during the summer. Cameron Quinn will play quick and early, as well as Traeshon Brown at defensive line. Mitchell Sheppard can fly, as well as Bryson Lowe, adding towards depth in the backfield.
For the Woodland Wildcats, everyone is upheld to the same accountability, regardless of grade.‘Everybody is on the same level. Our rising upperclassmen are no different than our seniors; model the way. The standard is the standard. Every single player is expected to live up to them; every one has to match that.”
“I love to see our kids work and compete, and see the fruits of their labor. We work extremely hard every day, and do all the little things that bring success. I hope that our kids are able to experience that success.”
With a lot of youth leaders and talent, look out for Coach Scott and his Wildcats to start making some waves in 25-26.
ALL TIME RECORD: 269 games - 77-192
TOTAL SEASONS: 28 first season, 1998
NEED FRAMES?
CHATTOOGA ROUNDED OUT LAST SEASON WITH A RECORD OF 6-5, 3-4 IN THE REGION. They would start out 5-0, before a tough region gauntlet where they would lose four out of the last five region games. They made the playoffs but had to go on the road, where they fell short against a tough Dodge County team.
“We grew as a team as the year went on. We lost to Coosa, but we really wanted to get a home playoff game. We had to go to Dodge County and play a really tough team, but unless you are that one team that ends up winning the whole thing, you know your season ends on a loss. That loss did not take away from the success our season held, and we are excited about the next,” said Head Coach Rune Gable.
Next season could look a little different, Coach Gable said. “We are gonna look totally different. We are obviously losing Zayden Cook, who broke all kinds of rushing records and a bunch of starters. We are still young, but our size is the staple, and we are changing up our offense. We need repetition and practice, and our guys are going to continuously improve.”
For Rune Gable, having expectations and goals are keys to translate success. “Our goal every year is to win a region championship. We are talking small sometimes, talking about hosting a game, and finally winning a playoff game. It’s exciting to see our kids grow. We are going in the right direction. I tell our guys to compete; it’s about how they compete in everything. We are going to take everything one game at a time, and see what happens come Saturday morning.”
The Chattooga Indians will have a lot of talent upfront and a decent amount of new faces. Luke Reece at left tackle will be a four year starter. Brock Cooper will be a first time quarterback. Aidan Fletcher will be new at running back, as well as Chris Adams. Kane Baker and Jayden Foster will see time at fullback. Koi Dodd and Kaden Fife are picking up some pretty heavy fire on the recruiting trail, on the offensive and defensive lines. Jovanni Hill has shown promise, as well as Javion Cotton at running back and linebacker.
“Our younger guys have to show some good growth, and be ready to play when their number is called.”
“I love seeing our kids mature. I enjoy seeing our kids putting in the work to succeed, and it’s rewarding when that happens. I think our staff takes pride in it, and watch our guys develop and have their fun and hard work pay off. Our schedule isn’t easy; we get some hard opponents at home. We have to come every Friday night ready to play.”
With a tough region schedule and different look, The Indians will have their work cut out for them this upcoming season. With a lot of size upfront, expect the Indians to make things hard for opponents.
6-5,
BETWEEN THE LINES 2025 | HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL PREVIEW
TRION FINISHED LAST SEASON 10-3, 2-2 IN THE REGION. Both region losses were to Bowdon and Manchester, both reaching the final four and beyond. They would make the quarterfinals, before falling to Irwin County in the Elite 8.
“We had a really experienced group. We had a lot of all state kids and starters come back. We had high expectations; every team that we lost to went to the state semifinals. Our kids never got rattled; they played mature in everything,” said Head Coach Sean Patrick.
Trion loses 18 starters from last season to graduation, which is an extremely high number.
“I think we have to be consistent and patient. We have to be leaders and teachers, and we are trying to put these kids in game-like scenarios. Sometimes, things don’t go according to the script. We have to adjust on the fly, and that is a part of being a football player.”
The spring and summer has been very physical for the Dawgs. “We had to go back to the drawing board with the lack of experience we had. We had to beat on them this spring. We know that we have inexperience; there are a lot of question marks, and it has been cool to see our kids grow just throughout this time. We have to continue to get better daily.”
With a program that has consistent success, there comes high expectations. “We have to strive to get better as a program and team everyday. Being consistent and finding ways to get better is needed. There is a standard in this program, no matter how many kids graduate. We have to know who we are as a program and achieve our full potential.”
“At the end of the day, we work so hard. Fridays in the fall should be fun. If it ever gets to the point where it's not fun, I’ll find something else to do. These are long days, and I hope our kids have fun in the fall as well. I want people to see kids that have fun playing football, and that they love each other and play for each other, and to reach their full potential.”
While there is a lot to replace, there are a lot of guys who could take the next step and be “put in the fire.” Christian Henderson is going to be back and healthy at linebacker and running back, and Bryson Roberts will be back at receiver and defensive back. Mike Lee is going to be a leader in the trenches. Clayton Lawford will be a leader, and Link Allen will take over at quarterback; the first new starting quarterback in four years. Gavin Stivers, Staven Gardner, JC Morales, will all fill in huge voids that are certainly needed after last year.
While there is a plethora of youth for Coach Patrick and his squad, one thing is for sure; they are a scrappy bunch, and will certainly be competitive in all phases.
ROCKMART FINISHED LAST SEASON 11-3, CLAIMING YET ANOTHER REGION TITLE, marking the 8th in a row. After losing their first two games to Cedartown and Cartersville, the Yellow Jackets would win 11 games in a row before making the final four, falling to Burke County.
The region was ridiculously competitive, and the Yellow Jackets had to dig deep to find their way out of games. At Ringgold, Rockmart would win on a walkoff field goal, regardless of the 500 yards of offense. At North Cobb Christian, the Jackets found themselves down 21-3 before a miraculous second half comeback.
“We have played 29 games over the past two years, so we have played a lot of football. We feel like we always get to reload, and break in a new quarterback. We were young up front. We stunt together; we found out who we were. The early adversity helped us, and we believed in each other. It helped us gain success in tough games, and down the stretch, we were playing some really good football.” said Head Coach Biff Parsons.
The summer is very scripted for the Yellow Jackets in order to prepare for the season, and break in some of the younger players. “The strength of our team is going to be in the trenches. Our experience is in our offensive and defensive lines. Some guys, their time is now; we are still trying to break in some of our skill guys.”
The guys in the trenches have taken initiative, and look to be the leaders that will help lead the Yellow Jackets. “We have a lot of our experience
2024 RECORD: 11-3, overall (8-0, region 7-AA)
HEAD COACH:
Biff Parson 104-41
upfront and a big upcoming junior class. They’ve played a lot of football, and they have handled the locker room really well. We feel comfortable depth wise there.”
As always, championship teams have championship expectations. “A lot of us want to go out and win Game 15. I schedule hard so that we can. We want to represent Rockmart, and the community and the culture. We have to be physical upfront. We are trying to build our team, and make sure that they want to represent and play for Rockmart football. Be happy for your team if they get any success.”
Once again, Rockmart has a plethora of guys that have upside. While there aren’t that many seniors, Nate Davis, reigning region player of the year, has returned from injury and will be back. Max Ware will add depth to the backfield. Jaiden Thompson will be back this time as an upperclassmen. Gavin Greene will take on a larger 2-way role, as well as Ryder Brinkley at end and tight end. CJ Burch will see a significant amount of time for Rockmart.
“The power is in the present. We are still evaluating and getting as many reps as possible, and putting these kids in the best position possible to be successful.”
While they may be young, Coach Parsons has some aces up his sleeve. As always, expect Rockmart to be playing in the better half of November and December.
ALL TIME RECORD: 929 games - 505-398-26
TOTAL SEASONS: 102 first season, 1923 REGION CHAMPIONSHIPS: 17 (2024 last)
STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS: 1 (1950 last)
CEDARTOWN FINISHED LAST YEAR 9-2, with their only regular season loss coming to Cartersville in the de facto region championship. They would obtain the second seed in the region, but would have a ridiculously tough draw, losing to Cambridge at home to end their season.
Now, Tommy Atha has stepped into the role as Head Coach of the Cedartown Bulldogs. Having previously served as the offensive coordinator of the state champion Calhoun Yellow Jackets and head coach of Darlington for a very long time, he brings more than enough to the table.
“I’m unbelievably excited to have the opportunity to be here. It is such a football rich community, and has had a track record of being successful. It is a tremendous honor to lead this football program,” said Head Coach Tommy Atha.
The spring and summer has been very busy but beneficial, and has provided opportunities for growth and relationships. “Calhoun allowed me to come in two months before spring practice started; it has been really good to be in the weight room and be around the kids in the halls. We have some really hard working kids that are committed to the program.”
“Anytime that there is a transition there is going to be some differences. We want to be fundamentally sound in all phases of the game, and we are trying to put kids in all kinds of different situations to gain experience, and I think that's extremely important to try and develop our fundamentals. We try to see how our kids handle adversity, and how they are going to
2024 RECORD: 9-2, overall (5-1, region 7-AAAA)
HEAD COACH: Jamie Abrams 65-19-1
respond to certain situations. Both the positives and negatives are going to make us better. I think the biggest thing is spending the time teaching the kids the fundamentals, and making it the cornerstone of everything we do.”
While expectations can be demanding under Tommy Atha, one thing is for certain; he wants his players best.
“Just control the controllables. Do you show up every day? Do you show up ready to work? How do you handle adversity? I want our kids to strive for excellence in everything that they do and be the best version of themselves. We are going to practice the right way, and I’ve always believed that if you focus on being just a little bit better everyday and every game, the rest will take care of itself.”
The Bulldogs have once again reloaded with talent and toughness. Wyatt Mosley is projected to be the starting quarterback under Coach Atha. Winning upfront is crucial, and having senior tackles such as TJ Walker and Tyler Wade will be massive. Chris Johnson will play around the field, as well as Jacoby Dorsey. Will Worthington saw some minutes last year, but will play a larger role this year. Bryant Waddell and Davian Smith will be good outside on defense, along with Rohan Kent as defensive playmakers.
Cedartown is always going to be a force to be reckoned with. The sky is the limit for the Dawgs this upcoming season.
ALL TIME RECORD: 1081 games - 657-388-36
TOTAL SEASONS: 117 first season, 1907
REGION CHAMPIONSHIPS: 16 (2022 last)
STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS: 1 (1963 last)
