2018 Friday Night Lights by Appen Media Group

NORTH FULTON & FORSYTH COUNTY 2018 SEASON PROGRAM

YOUR COMPREHENSIVE GUIDE TO THE 2018 FOOTBALL SEASON

Highlighting the team history, rosters, schedules, rivalries and coaches for the areaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 20 public and private football programs

Letter from the editor Editor Joe Parker

Publishers Ray & Christina Appen General Manager Hans Appen Advertising Mike Dorman Paul Flowers Wendy Goddard Susan Hernandez Dean Larkin June Michaels Steve Neese

Soon the smoke and smell of hamburgers on the grill will permeate the air on Friday nights. The drumlines and bands of local schools will fill the stadiums and the ears of anyone in it. The sight of freshly polished helmets, crisp jerseys and some of the state’s most talented athletes will streak across the green turf so quickly as to be near a blur. Fans, players and coaches will all feel the relentless Georgia evening heat and humidity, which thankfully gives way to the night sky, and its cooler temperatures, as the stadium lights pop into life. Yes, Friday night high school football in Georgia is an onslaught to the senses. And of course that includes the bitter taste of defeat and the sweetness of victory. I am very excited to put out the first edition of Appen Media Group’s Friday Night Lights publication, which covers the 20 public and private schools of North Fulton and Forsyth County. In this program, you will be able to read about each team’s history, learn more about their head coach and biggest rivalries, view their schedule and roster, and see standout players to watch this season. As we enter the 2018 season, also look out for our annual football preview section, as we discuss with coaches and players the outlook for the new season. The preview will run as a special section in Appen Media’s weekly publications. For football coverage throughout the season, visit NorthFulton.com where each week we will provide game coverage and a recap of all local games each week. My special thanks goes out for our Appen Media Group’s sales team which made this publication possible, and to AJ McNaughton, our production and newsroom manager who made this program look remarkable. I must also thank the Georgia High School Football Historians Association who provided us with the historical information for each team. And I would be remiss if I did not thank you, our readers, for your continued support of local teams and Appen Media Group’s sports coverage. We are excited to bring you Friday Night Lights and hope we can continue to be your go-to for football coverage in North Fulton and Forsyth County.

Editorial Carson Cook Patrick Fox Julia Grochowski Kathleen Sturgeon Production David Brown AJ McNaughton Suzanne Pacey Reproduction of the content of the Friday Night Lights 2018 Season is prohibited without expressed written permission. All efforts have been made to verify content. Appen Media Group publishes the Herald Newspapers, Northside Woman, the Answer Books and the Winners Guide. Online versions are accessible on NorthFulton.com. Contact us at 770-442-3278 or email advertising@appenmediagroup. com.

Joe Parker joe@appenmediagroup.com

ON THE COVER, PLAYER TO WATCH: Kevin Watkins Alpharetta Running back, Senior 2017 stats: • 112 rushes for 553 yards (4.9 yards per carry) • Five touchdowns • One fumble • Eight receptions for 72 yards Scholarship offers: Ohio Wesleyan PHOTO BY JIM CLACK

319 North Main Street, Alpharetta NorthFulton.com

4 • Friday Night Lights 2018 Season

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770-442-3278 www.northsidewoman.com Friday Night Lights 2018 Season • 5

Class 6A:

Alpharetta Overall record: 84-66 (2004-17) 2015: 5-5 (5-4) 2016: 7-4 (6-2) 2017: 11-2 (8-0) Region championships: 2011, 2013, 2014, 2017 State championships: 0 Coach’s Bio Jacob Nichols enters his 10th year with the Raiders and fifth as head coach. Nichols served as a freshman coach, offensive line coach and offensive coordinator before beginning his tenure as head coach in 2014. The Raiders are 33-13 under Nichols, including two region championships and the program’s only 10-plus win seasons. The Raiders repeated as region champs in Nichol’s first year at the helm and reached the second round of the state playoffs. After a 5-5 mark in 2015, Nichols has led the Raiders to two straight winning seasons. Alpharetta went 7-4 in 2016 before capturing their fourth region title last season with an 11-2 record.

Rivalries: Alpharetta vs. Centennial Years series has been played: 2006-current Series record: Alpharetta 8-4 Number of region games in series: 12 Last meeting: Sept. 8, 2017 (Alpharetta 34, Centennial 31) Longest winning streak: Alpharetta (2010-current) Largest margin of victory: Alpharetta 39, Centennial 0 (2014) Closest margin of victory: Centennial 31, Alpharetta 30 OT (2016) Just two years after Alpharetta’s inaugural season, the Raiders took on Centennial— located just seven miles from the Raiders campus — for the first time. The series now spans 12 consecutive seasons with all meetings coming in region play. After the teams exchanged wins over the first four meetings, Alpharetta put together a string of five straight wins from 2010-14. The series has been marked by close games, especially in recent years. The past three meetings between the teams have been decided by a field goal or less. Centennial downed the Raiders in 2015, 38-35, and stopped an Alpharetta two-point conversion attempt in overtime to win 31-30 in 2016. The series produced another thriller last season, with Alpharetta

6 • Friday Night Lights 2018 Season

PHOTO BY Keith Major/ SportsShooters

Team history Alpharetta began its football program in 2004 under then head coach Bill Waters. After winning a single game in their inaugural campaign, the Raiders went 5-5 and 6-4 in 2005, but won just six games over the next two seasons. Former NFL player Jason Dukes led the Raiders to their first playoff appearance in 2010, followed a season later by their first region championship. After compiling a 7-4 record in 2012, the Raiders reeled off two straight region titles, including in 2014, Jacob Nichols first season as head coach. After a disappointing 5-5 campaign in 2015, the Raiders reached the playoffs for the sixth time in seven years in 2016. Alpharetta enters 2018 coming off its best season in program history. The Raiders went 11-2 and reached the quarterfinals of the state playoffs for the first time last year. They also captured the program’s fourth region championship with an 8-0 record in region play.

Wide receiver Robbie Ruppel will complete his senior season with the Raiders this year. He made 17 receptions for 198 yards with two touchdowns last season. erasing a 17-point Centennial lead and tying the game with under three minutes left. After a Centennial interception, Alpharetta converted a field goal as the clock expired to end the Knights’ series win streak. Schedule 8-24 Milton 8-31 @Lanier 9-14 @Pope* 9-21 @Dunwoody* 9-28 Centennial* 10-5 @North Atlanta* 10-12 Chattahoochee* 10-19 @Northview* 10-26 Johns Creek* 11-2 Cambridge*

No.

Name

Grade

Position

No.

Name

Grade

Pos.

Kevin Watkins

RB/LB

Jordan Leslie

LB/DT

Bailey Stahl

Vito Perri

Jacob Fragle

DB/WR

Aaron McAlhany

Jaden Slocum

DB/WR

Logan Rosenbluth

Jared Rumph

DB/WR

Shawn Jackson

Jack Stanton

DE/TE

Kameron Ward

Jiquez McCurdy

DB/WR

Riley Kenealy

Griffin Sanders

Brandon Pippen

Joseph Warren-Lewis

DE/WR

William Wagner

OL/DL

Jackson Michaels

DL/TE

Breon Smith

DL/OL

Kent Cherry

RB/LB

Nathan Cole

DL/OL

Robbie Ruppel

Jamal Ellis

Cam Dorsey

Steven Fidlon

Will Gerdes

Jias Vidal

Brandon Wright

Enrique Perez

Dylan Merrell

RB/LB

Ronnie Lopez

OL/DL

Whitman Sperry

David Oxman

Cam Foster

WR/DB

Nicholas Haven

WR/DB

Josh Chandler

CJ Dobard

WR/DB

Jose Lozada

Martin Webster

DB/WR

Fernando Xi

Austin Frazier

WR/DB

Donnell Thompson

Dane Motley

LB/RB

Vernon Ogundepo

Jayson Gilliom

WR/DB

Justin Bagger

Azari Brown

Jude Moore

LB/OL

Matthew Ashe

K/P

Kamau Williams

Anthony McCoy

Elijah Fils

Carlos Moreland

Jevan Parara

CJ McFerrin

Sam Agudelo

Jaidon Randolph

John Jenness

DL/TE

John Ramos

Ethan Leonard

Sanath Kamath

Joshua Grant

WR/DB

Soham Jamloki

Alexander Lidback

DL/TE

Alessio Ferro

Bryce Troutt

K/P

Chiranjeevi Chmimili

Kordell Brown

Landon Linn

Reda Vanden-Bossche

K/P

Friday Night Lights 2018 Season â&#x20AC;¢ 7

PHOTO BY JOE PARKER Blessed Trinity captured its first football state championship in 2017, defeating region rivals Marist 16-7 in the finals.

Class 4A:

Blessed Trinity

playoffs both years. The Titans began their four-year run of region championships in 2013. During that time they put three 10-plus win seasons, including a state runner up finish in 2015. After a run to the quarterfinals in 2016, the Titans were back in the state title game last year. BT won the program’s first state title with a win over region rivals Marist.

Overall record: 124-65-1 (2001-17) 2015: 13-1-1 (5-0) 2016: 10-3 (4-0) 2017: 13-2 (3-1) Region championships: 2005, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016 State championships: 2017 (2015 state runner up)

Rivalries: Blessed Trinity vs. Marist Years series has been played: 2016-current Series record: Blessed Trinity 2-1 Number of region games in series: 2 Last meeting: December 15, 2017 (Blessed Trinity 16, Marist 7) Longest winning streak: split each meeting Largest margin of victory: Blessed Trinity 16, Marist 7 Closest margin of victory: Marist 25, Blessed Trinity 24

Coach’s Bio Tim McFarlin enters his 18th season as a head coach and eighth with the Titans. Under his direction, McFarlin’s teams have compiled a 156-53-1 record, putting him near the top of the list for the best winning percentage among active GHSA coaches (74.41 percent). McFarlin was tapped to lead Roswell in 1998 and spent ten years with the program, earning a playoff berth in all but two seasons. During that time, the Hornets went 82-34-1 and captured two region championships and were co-state champions with Peachtree Ridge in 2006. McFarlin resigned following the 2007 season but returned to the Roswell area to take over the BT program in 2011. Under McFarlin, the Titans have captured seven straight playoff berths, four region titles and the program’s first state championship in 2017. BT is 82-42-1 with McFarlin at the helm.

Blessed Trinity and Marist have only met on three occasions, but in the newly-formed region rivalry, a championship has been at stake in each contest and all have gone down to the wire. The Titans captured the 7-AAAA championship with a thrilling 28-26 win over Marist in the first meeting of the programs in 2016. A year later, the War Eagles scored in the final minute to deny BT’s its fifth-straight region championship in a 25-24 thriller. Two months later, the teams met again, this time for the 2017 Class AAAA state title. The Titans entered the game on an incredible playoff run, downing four teams ranked in the top-10 in the state, including two-time defending state champs Cartersville. Meanwhile, Marist entered the state title game with an unblemished record. In their third championship-deciding meeting in just 14 months, the Titans won another tightly-contested battle in the series, downing Marist 16-7 to earn BT its first football state title.

Team history Blessed Trinity began its program in 2001 under the direction of current athletic director Ricky Turner. The Titans showed their winning ways early with a 7-4 record and playoff appearance in 2002 playing their first full varsity schedule. The Titans failed to have winning seasons in 2003 and 2004, but earned their first region championship the next season. The Titans went 30-20 over the next four years but were shut out of the playoffs. Tim McFarlin began his tenure in 2011. In his first two seasons the Titans won 18 games and reached the second round of the

Schedule 8-17 @St. Pius X 8-24 South Forsyth 8-31 @Woodward Academy 9-7 Benedictine 9-21 West Hall* 10-5 @Denmark* 10-12 @Flowery Branch* 10-19 @Chestatee 10-26 Marist* 11-2 White County*

8 • Friday Night Lights 2018 Season

No.

Name

Grade

Position

No.

Name

Grade

Position

Jackson Hamilton

RB/DB

Mitch Reynolds

Carson Harof

WR/DB

Wesley Smith

Ethan Chauvin

K/P

Matthew Franke

Alex Poma

Luke Hammelrath

TE/LB

Duncan Reavis

QB/DB

Myles Weaver

Ryan Davis

WR/DB

Ryan Koelsar

RB/LB

Clay Ellis

QB/DB

Michael Wright

JR Bivens

Jack Erbs

Jake Smith

QB/DB

Trent Schweizer

Alex Massey

Austin Burns

OL/DL

David Coltrane

WR/DB

Johnny Ryan

Banks Atkins

Dom Marcoccio

11/OL

Jake Nevle

Jack Filipowicz

OL/DL

Payton Kennedy

Ethan Davila

Danny Muir

Donnie Roch

JD Bertrand

RB/LB

Noah Grillo

RB/LB

Quinton Reese

WR/DB

Chris Turner

Michael Mitchler

TE/LB

Regan Smith

Alex Baur

Landen Byars

OL/DL

Charlie Heller

Tad Furnish

OL/DL

Elijah Green

Jake Lyons

OL/DL

Steele Chambers

RB/LB

Jack Jacobs

Luke Elliott

Andrew Genone

OL/DL

Englan Williams

RB/LB

JT Carney

Henry Carlton

Ty Furnish

Nic Mitchell

Sam Koelsch

TE/DE

Sam Oresko

James Bryant

TE/DB

Danny Muccio

Justin Cellilli

Stephen Long

John Allen Riordan

Andrew Polakowski

Owen Bagwell

Matt Turner

RB/LB

Ben Adrian

Ryan Dupont

RB/LB

Grayson Gilder

TE/DL

James Ashton

Patrick Riordan

WR/DB

Joseph Chambers

TE/DE

Aaron Werkheiser

K/P

Ryan Attaway

RB/LB

Graham Leslie

Friday Night Lights 2018 Season â&#x20AC;¢ 9

PHOTO BY JOE PARKER Cambridge will remain under the direction of head coach Craig Bennett this season. Bennett has led the Bears since their program started in 2012.

Class 6A:

Cambridge Overall record: 28-33 (2012-17) 2015: 7-3 (5-1) 2016: 6-5 (6-2) 2017: 4-6 (4-4) Region championships: 0 State championships: 0 Coach’s Bio Craig Bennett continues his tenure as the only head coach of Cambridge. The 2018 season will mark his seventh leading the Bears. Prior to Cambridge, Bennett coached at Milton, the Darlington School and Pope. Bennett has led the Bears to a 28-33 mark in six seasons that includes three winning seasons and a trip to the 2016 state playoffs. Team history The Cambridge program began in 2012 under current head coach Craig Bennett. The Bears went 4-16 in their opening two seasons. In the 2014 and 2015 campaigns, the Bears earned their first winning seasons, compiling a 7-3 record in both years. However, Cambridge was shut out of the playoffs by competing in a subdivision of Region 7-AAAAA. In 2016 the Bears moved to Class 6A and had their third straight winning season (6-5) and earned their first and only playoff berth by placing fourth in Region 7-AAAAAA. The Bears struggled in the opening half of 2017, dropping their first five games, including tight contests with Chattahoochee and Centennial. The Bears closed out the season with a 4-1 record but missed the playoffs due to their loss to Pope, who captured the No. 4 seed in the region.

10 • Friday Night Lights 2018 Season

Rivalries: Cambridge vs. Alpharetta Years series has been played: 2016-current Series record: Alpharetta 2-0 Number of region games in series: 2 Last meeting: Oct. 20, 2017 (Alpharetta 14, Cambridge 6) Longest winning streak: Alpharetta (2016-17) Largest margin of victory: Alpharetta 14, Cambridge 6 Closest margin of victory: Alpharetta 21, Cambridge 19 Considering the Cambridge was created just seven years ago and only joined Class 6A in 2016, the Bears don’t have a long list of opponents to create rivalries. However, they certainly have a budding rivalry with their region and local foes, Alpharetta. Though the teams have met just twice, both have been settled by a single score and have had crucial implications in the region standings. The teams first met in 2016 in a back-and-forth affair. The Raiders led by 21-19 in the final minutes and escaped with the narrow victory when Cambridge missed a field goal and the Raiders ran out the clock. Last season’s matchup was another tight contest. Cambridge took a 6-0 lead on two field goals but Alpharetta scored a touchdown in the final minute of the first half to take a lead. The Raiders added another touchdown in the third quarter. Leading by eight, the Raiders ran out the final eight minutes of the game to secure the win. Schedule 8-17 @Creekview 8-31 Woodstock 9-7 @Dunwoody* 9-14 Centennial* 9-21 @North Atlanta* 9-28 Chattahoochee* 10-5 @Northview* 10-12 Johns Creek* 10-19 Pope* 11-2 @Alpharetta*

No.

Name

Grade

Position

No.

Name

Grade

Position

Evan Kurtz

DB/WR

Chris Bowers

RB/LB

Stratton Tripp

Brenden Boyd

RB/LB

Nick Owens

WR/DB

Ben Creasy

Ridge Polk

Bubba Sasdi

Christian Graham

Kyle Romano

DB/WR

Daniel Graham

LB/DL

Brian Dwane

Josh Bodunrin

Jake Ittell

Garrett Cotnoir

Charlie Ciardullo

Hayden Gardella

Connor Borowski

OL/DL

Zach Harris

Andreas Quesada

OL/DL

Ryan Counts

DB/WR

Joseph Bernhardt

OL/DL

Lance Bradford

WR/DB

Billy Judge

OL/DL

Jack McHale

WR/DB

Fernando Araujo

OL/DL

TJ Mowery

WR/LB

Charlie Goodell

LB/OL

Mike Hudson

LB/RB

Julian Petty

OL/DL

Luke Kramer

DB/WR

Joseph Martin

OL/DL

Phillip Michael Collins

Andrew Chishom

OL/DL

Marc Gustafson

Eric Kuykendall

DB/WR

Davis Pittard

OL/DL

David Cherwonuck

LB/RB

Eric Howell

OL/DL

Ben Werth

DB/WR

Luke Dibiase

OL/DL

Luke Ritter

RB/LB

Kasra Bojnordi

OL/DL

Andrew Longo

Christian Phillips

OL/DL

Garrick Kourany

DL/TE

Jordan Winnett

OL/DL

Graham Browning

WR/DB

John Servine

OL/DL

Jonathan Banks

DB/RB

Zach Gatewood

OL/DL

Carter Carew

DL/RB

Zach Frazier

OL/DL

Luke Ritter

LB/RB

Gavin Shytle

OL/DL

Kaden Warner

WR/DB

Bennett Long

WR/LB

Jackson Woods

WR/DB

Jake McIlvain

WR/TE

Ryan Beck

WR/DB

Will Petit

WR/DB

Christian Wong

RB/LB

Gavin Gardella

WR/DB

Christian Vanderford

Marcus Veazie

TE/LB

Harrison Clement

WR/LB

Cade Ellington

WR/DB

Thomas Boyd

RB/LB

Chris Beck

WR/DB

Noah Petrick

Jackson Morley

OL/DL

Jackson Dickman

Gavin Shytle

Friday Night Lights 2018 Season â&#x20AC;¢ 11

Ridge Polk

PHOTO BY BEJA BARNETT

Cambridge Wide receiver, Senior 2017 stats: • 62 receptions • 974 yards • (15.7 average) • 13 touchdowns • 904 all-purpose yards Committed to Army

12 • Friday Night Lights 2018 Season

Class 6A:

Centennial • 1st Orthodontist in Alpharetta • Served Over 20,000 New Patients • Diplomat of American Board of Orthodontics • Convenient Office Hours

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Winner 4 years in a Row Voted Best Orthodontist in North Fulton & South Forsyth

JEFFREY W. JORDAN, DMD, MSD, PC

4205 North Point Parkway • Alpharetta, GA 30022

770-751-1240 • www.jwjordan.com 14 • Friday Night Lights 2018 Season

Overall record: 95-121 2015: 5-5 (5-4) 2016: 8-3 (7-1) 2017: 8-4 (7-1) Region championships: 2002 State championships: 0 Coach’s Bio Michael Perry returns for his second season with the Knights after a successful first year at the helm in 2017. Prior to leading Centennial, Perry was the offensive coordinator with Gainesville. Perry led the Red Elephants offense, along with quarterback DeShaun Watson, to a state championship in 2012. In 2016, Perry joined Coffee County as the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach and led the Trojans to their first appearance in the state quarterfinals. Centennial chose former head coach Lenny Gregory over Perry in 2014, but Perry earned the job after Gregory left the program following the 2016 season. In his first year as a head coach, Perry led the Knights to an 8-4 record, including their first playoff win in 15 years. Team history Centennial began its football program in 1997 under Mike Cloy, who led the program for eight seasons. After winning just seven games in their first four years, the Knights had their first winning season in 2001 with an 8-4 record and trip to the second round of the playoffs. In 2002, the Knights won their only region championship and completed an undefeated regular season before again falling in the second round of the postseason. Despite an 8-2 record the next season, the Knights fell short of a playoff berth in subdivision play. After three straight winning seasons, the Knights won just seven games over the next three, including two years under their second head coach, Xarvia Smith. Jeff Measor took over the program in 2007 and led the Knights to a 24-28 record and two postseason appearances in five seasons. Jeff Carlberg began his three-year tenure as head coach in 2012 but the Knights failed to compile a winning season. Lenny Gregory was tapped to lead the program in 2015. After a 5-5 season, the Knights went 8-3 in 2016 and reached the playoffs for the first time in five years. Current head coach Michael Perry led the Knights to an 8-4 record last season. Centennial won its first playoff game since their region championship season in 2002. Rivalries: Centennial vs. Chattahoochee Years series has been played: 1998-2007, 2012-current Series record: Centennial 9-7 Number of region games in series: 14 Last meeting: Sept. 29, 2017 (Centennial 45, Chattahoochee 28) Longest winning streak: Centennial: 2002-05/2014-current, Chattahoochee: 1998-2001 Largest margin of victory: Chattahoochee 56, Centennial 0 (1998) Closest margin of victory: Centennial 14, Chattahoochee 13 (2004), Chattahoochee 23, Centennial 22 (2013) Just six miles separate Centennial and Chattahoochee, and their football programs were both added to North Fulton in the 1990s. The teams have met 16 times, making Hooch Centennial’s most contested program. The series has been marked with streaks, including at its outset

PHOTO BY JOE PARKER Defensive tackle Mark Mason compiled 45 total tackles, nine tackles for loss and two sacks in his junior season with the Knights. and currently. Hooch took the first four games while the Knights won the next four. Currently, Centennial has a four-year win streak over the Cougars. After 10 straight meetings the rivalry was put on hold following the region realignment in 2008, but the teams were both placed in Region 6-AAAAAA in 2012. The rivalry renewal began with two straight wins from Chattahoochee, including a 23-22 win in 2013. Since then, the Knights have controlled the series, winning four straight. Schedule 8-17 Northside, Warner Robins 8-31 @Roswell 9-7 Pope* 9-14 @Cambridge* 9-28 @Alpharetta* 10-5 @Chattahoochee* 10-12 Dunwoody* 10-19 @Johns Creek* 10-26 North Atlanta* 11-2 Northview*

Friday Night Lights 2018 Season â&#x20AC;˘ 15

No.

Name

Grade

Position

No.

Name

Grade

Position

Drake Mason

Hughes Adrian

Freddie Fairley

WR/DB

Stephen Chastain

De’Amare Chambers

Kaleb Black

WR/DB

Preston Powell

Jordan Barbas

LB/RB/K

Grant Blevins

Christopher Humprey

WR/DB

Rekevian Mathis

WR/RB

Max Able

LB/OL

Jayden Young

RB/LB

Brandon McGinnis

Kevon Angry

Matthew Jacobson

Jack Barton

DE/HB

Mark Mason

Max Brosmer

Peyton Major

DL/OL

Julian Nixon

WR/DB

Sebastian Orcozo

Richard Shaw

WR/DB

Justin Jaillet

Parker Speirer

Matt Wilbanks

Luke Van Dresser

Sean Mayville

Cal Dickie

WR/RB 70

Keyon Merrit- Sams

Stanely Clevereaux

DB 71

Joesph Quezada

Marc Flemming

DL 72

Will Edwards

Justin Wright

Slyvester Mathis

Jeffery Player

Jaiden Lewis

Evan Walker

Ryan Siracusa

Kevin Nichols

Malachi Cleveland

Walker Garrison

Nate Miles

Jake Wlibanks

Darius Johnson

Jameslee Clereveux

Leroy Macon

Derrick Petithomme

Caesar Fernandez

DB/RB

Malik Hill

Daiquan James

Agady Laventure

WR/DB

Brandon Smith

Andrey Clereveaux

WR/DB

Jake Winokur

Jair Cantu

Monta Barnes

Gus Shipman

Clayton Forsten

Colby Dobson

Freshman

Jimmy Doyle

Jackson Brennan

Freshman

Dexler Benjamin

Montino Bradley

16 • Friday Night Lights 2018 Season

Max Brosmer

PHOTO BY JOE PARKER

Centennial Quarterback, Senior 2017 stats: • 3,750 yards passing (313 YPG) • 30 touchdowns • 11 interceptions • 171 yards rushing • 5 TDs Scholarship offers: Yale, Dartmouth, Northern Colorado, Columbia

Friday Night Lights 2018 Season • 17

PHOTO BY Keith Major/ SportsShooters Marcus Stephen and the Cougars earned Chattahoochee’s first winning season and first playoff berth since 2012 last year.

Class 6A:

Chattahoochee Overall record: 172-127 (1991-2017) 2015: 1-9 (1-8) 2016: 5-5 (4-4) 2017: 7-4 (6-2) Region championships: 1997, 1998, 2000, 2001, 2003, 2010, 2011 State championships: 2010 Coach’s Bio Vince Strine will lead the Cougars for the fifth year in 2018. Strine spent multiple seasons with West Hall and Flowery Branch before joining the Cougars as head coach in 2014. The Cougars posted a 3-7 season in his first year at the helm ahead of a 1-9 mark in 2015. The Cougars narrowly missed a winning season and playoff berth in 2016. Last season, Strine led the Cougars to their first winning season (7-4) and playoff berth since 2012. Team history Chattahoochee has one of the longest running programs in North Fulton with the Cougars beginning play in 1991 under their first head coach, Milo Mathis. After two seasons, Bill Waters, the Cougars’ winningest coach, took over the program. Waters led Hooch to its first winning season in 1994 and first playoff appearance a year later. In 1997 the Cougars captured the first of their seven region championships and reached the quarterfinals in the state playoffs. Over the next six years under Waters, the Cougars went 54-19 and captured four region titles and reached the playoffs each season. Terry Crowder took over the program in 2004 and led the Cougars for nine seasons. From 2004-12, Hooch went 60-40. In 2010, the Cougars captured their first region championship in seven years before completing an undefeated season and capturing the Class 4A state championship. Hooch captured their last region title in 2011 and went 10-2 overall. After a 7-4 season in 2012, Michael Owens led the program to a 4-6 record in 2013, his only season at the helm.

18 • Friday Night Lights 2018 Season

Vince Strine has led the Cougars to a 16-25 record the past four seasons. After winning just four games in the 2014 and 2015 seasons, Hooch has been on the upswing. The Cougars were 5-5 in 2016 before reaching the playoffs and posting a winning record for the first time in seven years last season. Rivalries: Centennial vs. Chattahoochee Years series has been played: 1998-2007, 2012-current Series record: Centennial 9-7 Number of region games in series: 14 Last meeting: Sept. 29, 2017 (Centennial 45, Chattahoochee 28) Longest winning streak: Centennial 2002-05, 2014-current, Chattahoochee 1998-2001 Largest margin of victory: Chattahoochee 56, Centennial 0 (1998) Closest margin of victory: Centennial 14, Chattahoochee 13 (2004), Chattahoochee 23, Centennial 22 (2013) Just six miles separate Centennial and Chattahoochee, and their football programs were both added to North Fulton in the 1990s. The teams have met 16 times, making Hooch Centennial’s most contested program. The series has been marked with streaks, including at its outset and currently. Hooch took the first four games while the Knights won the next four. Currently, Centennial has a four-year win streak over the Cougars. After 10 straight meetings the rivalry was put on hold following the region realignment in 2008, but the teams were both placed in Region 6-AAAAAA in 2012. The rivalry renewal began with two straight wins from Chattahoochee, including a 23-22 win in 2013. But since then, the Knights have controlled the series, winning four straight. Schedule 8-17 Riverwood 8-24 @Lambert 9-7 Northview* 9-14 @Johns Creek* 9-21 Pope* 9-28 @Cambridge* 10-5 Centennial* 10-12 @Alpharetta* 10-26 @Dunwoody* 11-3 North Atlanta*

No.

Name

Grade

Position

No.

Name

Grade

Position

Max Webb

Jeff Tharpe

DB/RB

Tucker Heaton

Zach Laney

DB/WR

Eli Price

Preston Rivers

DB/WR

Gianluca Jones

DB/RB

Somawina Onogwu

Ryan Amason

Cole Henderson

Nathan Moon

Peter McVay

Jordan Johnson

Jaden Gaines

OL/DL

Chris White

Jax Henderson

OL/DL

Andre Banks

Jack Ryan

Jaylen Smith

DB/QB

Zach Johnson

OL/DL

Jahmal Smith

DB/WR

Jake Seubert

OL/DL

Jordan Coleman

DB/WR

Blake Levy

OL/DL

Jordan Palmer

DB/WR

Nick Foitek

OL/DL

Tim Matthews

DB/WR

Nathan Bukovich

OL/DL

Ethan Montgomery

DB/WR

Jake Whatley

LB/WR

Garrett Glass

Isaac Walker

OL/DL

Mason Kaplan

Tanner Coleman

DB/WR

Damon Stewart

Nick Han

OL/DL

Danny Massaroni

OL/DL

Rashard Montaque

DB/WR

Jensen Taylor

OL/DL

Ian Ortloff

Ryan Radek

OL/DL

Kevin Howard

DB/WR

Miller Anderson

OL/DL

Ben Lawrence

DB/RB

Ben Maples

OL/DL

Matthew Stephen

DB/WR

Kregg O’Sullivan

OL/DL

Amarie Provosty

DB/WR

Zi Yang Feng

OL/DL

Tyran McCoy

LB/RB

Billy Waters

OL/DL

Zain Habashy

DB/WR

Jake Green

OL /DL

Billy Spradlin

LB/WR

Brennen Henderson

OL/DL

Seth Kiser

DB/WR

Ahmad Stephens

OL/DL

Chris Williams

Connor O’Sulliven

OL/DL

Branden Sulliven

DB/WR

Chris Pettrocco

OL/DL

Omer Ohayon

DB/WR

Jacob Chaleff

LB/WR

Ian Wise

Spencer Anderson

DB/WR

Sean Mikolajewsli

DB/WR

Ian Smith

DB/WR

Will Johnson

DB/WR

Mason Kaman

Ben Godwin

DB/WR

Tristen Matthews

DB/WR

Parker Jenkins

Kevin O’Neil

OL/DL

Friday Night Lights 2018 Season • 19

MAX WEBB

PHOTO BY Keith Major/ SportsShooters

Chattahoochee Running back, Senior 2017 stats: • 219 carries • 1344 yards (6.1-yard average) • 13 touchdowns • Six 100-plus yard games • Four fumbles

20 • Friday Night Lights 2018 Season

PHOTO BY Paul ward Ze’Vian Capers will be a player to watch for Denmark this season after being redistricted from South Forsyth.

Class 4A:

Denmark Overall record: inaugural season Coach’s Bio Denmark may be embarking on its first season, but the Danes head coach is a seasoned veteran. The 2018 season will mark Terry Crowder’s 15th as a head coach. Crowder led the Chattahoochee program for nine seasons beginning in 2004. Under his direction, the Cougars compiled a 60-40 record, captured two region championships and went 15-0 in 2010 and won the Hooch’s only state championship. In 2013, Crowder was named the head coach at Creekview. In his five years at the helm, the Grizzlies went 31-22 and earned three trips to the state playoffs. Crowder led Creekview to a 6-4 record last year. Team history Denmark’s inaugural season will feature former West Forsyth and South Forsyth players as a result of redistricting. That could bode well for the Danes with West and South reaching the playoffs last season, but youth will undoubtedly be a factor. Denmark’s first team will field zero seniors under the redistricting guidelines.

22 • Friday Night Lights 2018 Season

However, the Danes will be under the direction of an experienced coach in Terry Crowder who has led Chattahoochee and Creekview for the past 15 years. The coaching staff also featured multiple former offensive and defensive coordinators. Rivalries With the Danes entering their first season, no rivalries have been created for the new school, and with the growth of Forsyth County, the question remains how long the Danes could spend in Class AAAA. In their first campaign, the Danes will take on Cherokee Bluff, also in their first season. On Sept. 7, the Danes will play their first game against a fellow Forsyth County team when they take on Forsyth Central. Denmark will complete in an expanded Region 7-AAAA, which now includes the Danes and Flowery Branch, as well as defending state champions Blessed Trinity and Marist, the state runner up. Schedule 8-24 Cherokee Bluff 8-31 @North Springs 9-7 @Forsyth Central 9-14 Dawson County 9-21 @Chestatee* 9-28 West Hall* 10-5 Blessed Trinity* 10-12 @Marist* 10-19 White County* 11-2 @Flowery Branch*

No.

Player

No.

Player

Emmaneul Foutner

Zach Burchfield

Teddy Davenport

Jeremy Burchfield

Andres Herrada

Nolan Hale

Joshua Champ

Om Amin

Malachi Harris

Nick Carozza

Adonis Tolbert

Trey Patterson

Andrew Harvey

Justin Hunter

Elijah Noles

Mohammed Alam

Joshua Stephens

Ron Conley

Jordan Rhodes

Nick Cimeno

Devin duCille

Hunter Cole

Nicholas Kelly

Garrett Street

Drew Clare

Hayden Songer

Tyler Kloda

Arthur Marsden

Manav Patel

Chris Armenta

Prem Amin

Evan Kloda

Carson Brandonisio

Samuel Lemos

Treston Jordan

Pratham Patel

Ross Howard

Trey Garmon

Jake Swart

James Jenkins

Jacob Brown

Luke Kimel

Clayton Horner

Nate Roche

Ben Whitlock

Alex Castro

Ben Cripe

Noah Mallard

Tyler Mullin

Dontrae Mann

Josh Robinson

Will Hequembourg

Mason Harris

Jake Seubert

Ethan Culbreth

Alvi Daniyal

Khaalid Smith

Will Purdy

Liam Beguiristain

Kourtland Tolbert

Zach Bowen

Ryan Tallent

Zeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Vian Capers

Aidan Cowan

Asher West

Jack Madden

Eli West

Mason Haigler

Tyler Williams

JC Mauk

Matthew Cassandra

Sam Lawrence

Davis Klepchica

McAndrew Okwei

Jake Brown

Michael Vincent

John Mau

Zachariah Bell

Michael Blasco

Trey Glymph

Ryan Ayala

Leo Molina

Kaden Henley

Xavier Anderson

Dee Kunthy

Nathan Wingard

Lane Grayson

Harrison Halder

Colin Scott

Dae Han

Hayden Fox

Kade Magh

Jay Pugh

Hayden Smith

Friday Night Lights 2018 Season â&#x20AC;˘ 23

Class A:

Fellowship Christian Overall record: 72-80 (2004-2017) 2015: 5-5 (3-2) 2016: 13-1 (7-0) 2017: 7-5 (3-4) Region championships: 2007, 2016 State championships: 0 (2016 runner up) Coach’s Bio Al Morell enters his 13th season as a GHSA head coach and his sixth with Fellowship Christian this year. Under Morell, the Paladins are 34-22 and earned a region championship and state championship berth in 2016, their best season in program history. Fellowship has just one losing season under Morell (2014) and has earned two straight playoff appearances. Prior to joining the Paladins, Morell was the first head coach of the Creekview program and led the team for seven season from 2006-2012. The Grizzlies were 48-25 under Morell and earned three trips to the postseason.

Rivalries: Fellowship Christian vs. Mount Pisgah Years series has been played: 2004-current Series record: Mount Pisgah 8-6 Number of region games in series: 14 Last meeting: Oct. 20, 2017 (Mount Pisgah 45, Fellowship 37) Longest winning streak: Mount Pisgah (2009-2013) Largest margin of victory: Mount Pisgah 55, Fellowship Christian 0 (2012) Closest margin of victory: Mount Pisgah 20, Fellowship Christian 17 (2016) The Mount Pisgah and Fellowship Christian football programs began just one season apart, and since Fellowship Christian’s inaugural 2004 season the two programs have met every year. The Paladins held the edge early in the series, winning four of the first five meetings. However, Mount Pisgah then had a fivegame win streak. The two teams have split the series each year since 2014 with three games decided by one score. Fellowship secured its 2016 subregion title by beating the Patriots 35-21. Current head coaches, Mike Forester with Mount Pisgah and Al

24 • Friday Night Lights 2018 Season

PHOTO BY JOE PARKER

Team history Fellowship began a full varsity schedule in 2004. The Paladins completed two seasons as an independent school before joining the GHSA in 2006. The Paladins quickly found success competing in Class-A Private, capturing a region championship and quarterfinals berth in 2007 under then head coach Bob Lord. However, Fellowship struggled over the next nine seasons, failing to compile a winning record. Under current head coach Al Morell, the Paladins had a breakout season, and their best in program history, in 2016. With a large and talented senior class, Fellowship went undefeated in the regular season and reached the Class-A Private state finals where they lost an overtime heartbreaker to Eagle’s Landing Christian after leading late in the fourth quarter. FCS enters the 2018 season after a 7-5 campaign in 2017 where they reached the second round of the state playoffs.

Fellowship quarterback Brooks Bryant will lead the Paladins offense this season. In his junior year, he threw for 1,826 yards and rushed for 210 yards with 22 total touchdowns. Morell with Fellowship, both began their tenures in 2013. Forester holds a one-game edge after five meetings. Schedule 8-17 @North Springs 8-24 @Pinecrest Academy* 9-7 Walker* 9-14 Stratford Academy 9-21 @Mount Paran* 10-5 St. Francis* 10-12 King’s Ridge* 10-19 Mount Pisgah* 10-26 @Whitefield Academy* 11-2 TBD (Region 6-A crossover)

No.

Name

Grade

Addison, Parker

Albee, Charlie

Bott, Reed

Bryant, Brooks

Cochran, Cam

Gill, Cameron

Hardwick, Ford

Kreikemeier, William

Nardone, AJ

Powers, Jack

Tapley, Cody

Eppinger, Brett

Jordan, Andrew

Kroeber, Cole

Paul, Bryce

Rogers, Ben

Scott, Blake

Webb, Braden

Albee, Jackson

Archer, Joey

Brewer, Jordan

Broyles, Kristof

Chapman, Cole

Guven, Josh

Haigler, Lawson

Hildebrandt, Eli

Kammerer, Cade

McClung, Caleb

Nardone, Nathan

Niblock, Brady

Patterson, Charlie

Reeves, Murphy

Robinson, Reid

Rodgers, Matt

Cole, Josh

Gibson, Patrick

Long, Wilson

O’Connor, Jack

Stevens, Kohl

Wagner, Garret

Friday Night Lights 2018 Season • 25

Class 7A:

Forsyth Central Overall record: 228-392-11 (19952017, including as Forsyth County High) 2015: 4-6 (1-5) 2016: 3-6 (0-5) 2017: 0-10 (0-5) Region championships: 1996, 1997, 2000 State championships: 0

Team history In 1955, Forsyth County High School, now Forsyth Central, began its first full season. The fledgling program won just 51 games in its first 20 seasons. In 1978, the Bulldogs compiled their third winning season, but it wasn’t until 1984-85 the Bulldogs compiled two straight winning seasons with a 7-3 and 8-1-1 record. The Bulldogs went 17-21-2 in four seasons under Phil Knight in the early 90’s before Bob Herndon, the program’s longest tenured coach, took over the program. In 1996, the Bulldogs captured their first region championship with an undefeated region run and earned their first berth in the state playoffs. The Bulldogs repeated as Region 7-AA champs in 1997 and won their first playoff game. Herndon led the program to its third and last region title in 2000 before Matt Hollis stepped in to lead the program in 2002. The Bulldogs won just five games Hollis’ three seasons and failed to compile a winning season until a 6-4 mark in 2014 under Shane Williamson. The Bulldogs moved up to the state’s highest classification under current head coach Frank Hepler in 2016. Central went 3-16 the past two seasons and are 0-10 in region play. Rivalries: Forsyth Central vs. South Forsyth Years series has been played: 1992-2003, 2006-07, 20102013, 2016-current Series record: South Forsyth 14-5-1 Number of region games in series: 14 Last meeting: Oct. 27, 2017 (South Forsyth 43, Forsyth Central 10) Longest winning streak: South Forsyth (11 games) Largest margin of victory: South Forsyth 38, Forsyth Central 0 (2016) Closest margin of victory: Forsyth Central 18, South Forsyth 15 (1993) (1992: tie)

26 • Friday Night Lights 2018 Season

PHOTO BY PAUL WARD

Coach’s Bio Frank Hepler will lead the Bulldogs for his third season in 2018. The long-time head coach made his return to Forsyth County after serving as the first head coach of West Forsyth. Hepler’s head coaching career began in Florida in 1991 when he was tapped to lead Plantation High School, his alma mater. Hepler led Plantation to 12 appearances in the state playoffs and won over 130 games. Hepler got the West Forsyth up and running in 2007 and led the Wolverines to an 8-2 record in their first full season. He remained at the helm for the next six seasons, compiling a 51-18 record with five playoff appearances and a region championship in 2012. Hepler was tapped to lead Lawrenceville’s Discovery High in its inaugural 2015 season, but left the program to return to Forsyth County and lead the Bulldogs in their first season after the program made the jump to Class 7A. Under Hepler, Central is 3-16 in the past two seasons and still looking for their first region win in their new classification.

Dalton Edmunds returns for his senior season this year with the Bulldogs. He made 36 receptions for 248 yards and a touchdown in 2017. Forsyth Central’s run as the county’s only football program ended with South Forsyth’s first season in 1989. Since then, the two teams have met 20 times, often moving together in region realignments or classification changes. Though South Forsyth has dominated the series, winning the past 11 meetings, Forsyth Central had the early edge over their crosstown rivals in the early years. After a 14-14 tie in their inaugural meeting in 1992, Forsyth Central won three of the next four contests. South won the next two meetings, including Central’s only regular season loss in 1997. The Bulldogs responded with wins in 1999 and 2000, but the War Eagles long win-streak began in 2001. In the last 11 meetings, a single game in the series has been decided by a one score. Schedule 8-17 Chamblee 8-31 Cass 9-7 Denmark 9-14 @Lakeside, Atlanta 9-21 @Clarkston 10-5 @North Forsyth* 10-12 West Forsyth* 10-19 @Milton* 10-26 South Forsyth* 11-2 @Lambert*

No.

Name

Grade

Position

No.

Name

Position

Grade

Van Uum, Ryan

Malone, Bryce

Raftin, Tyreese

Clapper, Chris

Redecker, Branden

Page, Michael

Landreth, Bronson

QB/DB

Forrester, Nick

Weber, Mitchell

LB/WR

Dees, Matt

Long, Graham

Persichetti, Anthony

Nicholson, Nathan

Souza, Paulo

Mowen, Caydin

DB/SB

Moran. Merek

Whatley, Ben

Pilkinton, Josh

Carver, Garrison

Noto, Joseph

Bedora, Christian

Curtis, Elijah

Walker, Warren

Andrews, Logan

Thiltgen, Chris

Brown, Blake

Rose, Tristen

Rabensdorf, Haygen

Edmunds, Dalton

Green, Darius

Zifchak, Kyle

Garmon, Jason

Cagle, Hunter

QB/DB

Cruzado, Alex

Hosonitz, Owen

Mcdaniel, Brandon

OL/DL

Mccarthy, Cody

Coon, Brandon

Rodriguez, Carter

Stever, Ricky

Ruis, Eli

Otegui- Palladini, Inaki

Stephens, Jake

Willi, Andreas

Mattis, Dylon

Ranke, Ben

Dover, Brandon

Morton, Luke

Sherman, Tyler

OLB/K

Snyder, Dylan

Gates, Solomon

Mullvain, Davis

Algarin, Luis

Mcmahon, Brandyn

Leathers, Patrick

Nash, Garrett

Jeppson, Payton

Cappelletti, James

Davison, Riley

Bautista, Ricky

Partridge, Dallas

Naverrette, Javier

Taylor, Devon

Bretz, Jake

Davies, James

Manus, Max

Piper, Bailey

Garcia, Angel

Orsan, Devran

Mcglumphy, Kade

Young, Ethan

Rosa, Alex

Wilkes, Emerson

Hill, Devin

Palmer, Brody

Pellini, Richard

Hawthorne, Kyle

Redecker, Zac

Johnson, Matt

Nix, Joseph

Leak, Jackson

LB/TE

Martinez, Fabian

Azar, Conner

Shipley Matt

Hernandez, Issai

Schreiber, Noah

Bedora, Andrew

Shipley Mason

Chol, Noah

Ramirez, Marco

OL/DL

Coats, Davis

Cribbs, Nick

Platzke, Keaton

Quinn, Matt

Brown, Isaac

Clark, Canaan

Szakacs, Alex

Kuhns, Bradyen

Mckinzie, Austin

Mejia. Jordi

Owenby, Kyle

Friday Night Lights 2018 Season â&#x20AC;¢ 27

Class 6A :

Johns Creek Overall record: 40-50 (2009-17) 2015: 4-6 (4-5) 2016: 8-3 (7-1) 2017: 3-7 (3-5) Region championships: 2016 State championships: 0 Coach’s Bio Matt Helmerich will lead the Gladiators for his second season this year. Helmerich cut his teeth with national powerhouse St. Thomas Aquinas in Florida, spending six seasons at the defensive coordinator. With Aquinas, Helmerich won four Florida state championships. Helmerich took his first head coach job with Fort Pierce Central in 2016 before joining the Gladiators as their third head coach. The Gladiators went 3-7 in his first season.

Rivalries: Johns Creek vs. Chattahoochee Years series has been played: 2010-current Series record: Chattahoochee 5-3 Number of region games in series: 8 Last meeting: Oct. 6, 2017 (Chattahoochee 38, Johns Creek 31) Longest winning streak: Chattahoochee 2010-11, 2013-14. Johns Creek 2015-16 Largest margin of victory: Chattahoochee 48, Johns Creek 14 (2010) Closest margin of victory: Chattahoochee 19, Johns Creek 16 OT (2011) Crosstown rivals Johns Creek and Chattahoochee have met each year the Gladiators have played a full varsity schedule beginning in 2010, and each contest has been in region play. Chattahoochee took the first two games against the newly-formed Gladiators, including a 19-16 overtime win in 2011 that denied Johns Creek their first region championships. The Gladiators earned their first win in the series in 2012, but Hooch took the next two meetings. Johns Creek earned the next two wins of the series in 2015 and 2016, but Hooch won the latest meeting 38-31 last October. Schedule 8-25 @St. Johns Prep (DC) 9-7 @North Atlanta* 9-14 Chattahoochee* 9-21 Northview* 10-5 Pope* 10-12 @Cambridge* 10-19 Centennial* 10-26 @Alpharetta* 11-3 @Dunwoody*

28 • Friday Night Lights 2018 Season

PHOTO BY Keith Major/ SportsShooters

Team history Johns Creek’s football program played its inaugural season in 2009 and began a full varsity schedule the next year under head coach Mike Cloy, who also served as the first head coach for Centennial. In just their second full season, the Gladiators posted a 9-1 regular season and lost the region championship on a tiebreaker with Chattahoochee. Johns Creek also made its first playoff appearance that season. After another winning season and playoff berth in 2012, Johns Creek won just a single game in the 2013 and 2014 seasons. In 2015, former Pope head coach Matt Kemper took over the program and led Johns Creek to a 4-6 record. In 2016, the Gladiators captured their first region championships and reached the playoffs for the first time in four seasons. They finished the season with an 8-3 overall record. After Kemper left to take over the Roswell program, Matt Helmerich led the Gladiators to a 3-7 record last season.

Wide receiver Yong Min Lee had 27 receptions for 275 yards with a touchdown last year. He returns to the Gladiators for his junior campaign this season.

No.

Name

Grade

Position

No.

Name

Grade

Position

Neil Ilenrey

S/RB

Tremonte Barnett

Nate Hope II

Miles Younger

Jared White

OLB/RB

Isaac Edmonds

OLB

Tre’Vaughn Barnett

Will Watson

Nicolas Willis

CB/WR

Jon Ross Maye

Jake Beck

Matt Geuss

LB / RB

Josh Davis

LB/RB

Reese Linne

OLB

Nick Valentino

WR/S

Brian Proctor

Dalton Pearson

Grey Geer

LB/C

Quincy Darnell

OLB/TE

Kurtis Robinson

Giovanni Dyer

WR/CB

Charlie Leon

DL/OL

Quinn Teeples

Carter Simpson

Matt Casey

WR/CB

Julian Quintero

Yong Min Lee

Ben Millman

TE/DE

Zach Gibson

Zak Karesh

OL/DL

Jack Yensel

QB/S

Aaron Hamilton

DL/OL

Caen Gress

OLB

Colbert Lu

DL/OL

Coln Raad

Preston Greenlee

DL/OL

Marcus Wilson

Trey Sentell

Patrick Taylor

Bryce Honore

OL/DL

Dominick Ledesma

Ryan Clapper

DL/OL

John Stegenga

Sammy Sikora

OL/DL

Cameron Hinson

Evan Quinn

OL/DL

Justice Brown

Spencer Terragno

Jack Linne

K/WR

Aidan Malone

Ibrahim Ndiaye

Ethan Storey

Kyle Neely

Garrett Gauthreaux

Mason Finley

Cole Nelson

Friday Night Lights 2018 Season • 29

PAID ADVERTISEMENT

RISKS OF SPORT SPECIALIZATION When’s the last time you drove through a neighborhood and saw a pack of kids playing a pickup game of the season’s favorite sport? Getting in another at-bat before the street lights come on is a rare find these days because the culture of youth sports has changed. Today’s kids—starting as young as preschoolers—have moved to adult-organized teams playing on fields, courts and in gyms far from the neighborhood. Training, practicing and competing in one sport year-round has also become the norm. Watch a grainy video of 2-year-old Tiger Woods showing off his early golf skills or families celebrating college scholarships on National Signing Day, and the upside of specializing in one sport seems obvious. Risks of sport specialization However, according to David Marshall, MD, a sports medicine primary care physician and Medical Director of the Sports Medicine Program at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, there are downsides to specializing in one sport that can affect your young athlete—yes, even your soccer superstar who’s happiest when she’s on the field or juggling a soccer ball through the house. Increase in injuries More time spent practicing and playing puts your child at greater risk of getting injured. According to Dr. Marshall, 80 percent of the injuries he treats are from overuse (tendonitis, bursitis, stress fractures), and 20 percent are from trauma (fractures, sprains, concussion, etc.). “Thirty years ago, those numbers were flipped,” Dr. Marshall says. “The year-round repetitive motion of playing one sport doesn’t give the body the time it needs to rest and repair. Factor in growth spurts, bad form or body mechanics, and your child’s body becomes a playground for injuries.” A pediatric sports medicine specialist understands growing kids and teens. If your child is active in sports, a sports medicine primary care physician is important to not only keep them healthy and playing strong, but to help them heal as quickly and safely as possible after an injury, too. Where you take your child matters. At Children’s, our pediatric-trained team only works with kids so we know how to communicate with them and customize treatment based on their needs. Kids get burned out According to the National Alliance for Sports, 70 percent of kids who play competitive sports burn out and drop out by the time they’re 13. Overuse injuries and a sports focus that leaves little time for anything beyond school take their toll. Pressure from coaches, teammates and parents to perform well and rack up wins adds emotional stress, too. What started as fun becomes work. Once-active kids who have burned out on athletics often become adults who swear off recreational sports and exercise, leading to health problems like heart disease and obesity. How to reduce the risks of specializing in a sport The age of sport specialization is here and likely not going to change. Dr. Marshall says the following guidelines can help your child reap the benefits of playing a sport, even if they want to specialize in one. 1. Delay specializing Marshall recommends that children don’t specialize before age 12. Focus instead on free play and teams that emphasize fun and learning fundamentals. From infancy to age 12, you see the biggest changes in the development of your child’s motor, social and thinking skills. A 5-year-

30 • Friday Night Lights 2018 Season

old baseball player has much better luck—and interest— tracking a butterfly in center field than he does a fly ball, for instance. Free play—those pickup games in the neighborhood and on the playground—teaches kids how to make decisions, think on the run and improvise while their bodies and minds continue to develop. Playing different sports throughout the year also allows them to learn and use different skills. Take breaks between seasons If your child specializes in a sport, Dr. Marshall recommends taking off four weeks three times a year to give the body needed rest. Even cross-training with a different sport—swimming after cross-country season, for example—helps reduce overuse injuries and may improve overall performance. Put your child’s health first Make sure your child has a physical at least six weeks before the season begins. A pediatric sports medicine primary care doctor who specializes in treating young athletes can check for body mechanic weaknesses that need to be addressed. Talk with your pediatrician about your child’s physical and social development and what cues to look for to know they’re playing at an age- and ability-appropriate level. It’s easy to let fast-food dinners and late-night homework become habits. Make sure your child is eating a healthy diet and getting eight to nine hours of sleep a night—basics to good health and sports performance. Watch for burnout Your child may not tell you that she’s feeling burned out, but some signs can tell you what she’s not saying. Frequent complaints of aches and pains are usually legitimate, but they can also be a burned-out athlete’s ticket to some time off. Battles to get to practice or games are also signs the fun of playing has run dry. Be your kid’s biggest fan Be realistic about your child’s playing ability, emphasizing improvement over winning. Be a positive role model, supporting the entire team and respecting coaches and officials. Dr. Marshall says the important thing is that “your child knows—win or lose—you love him no matter how he plays.”

David Marshall, MD, is a pediatric sports medicine primary care physician and Medical Director of the Sports Medicine Program at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta. His expertise lies in the diagnosis and management of nonsurgical musculoskeletal injuries in young athletes. The Sports Medicine Program at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta is one of the few programs in the country dedicated to the care of young athletes. The team develops specialized treatments that return young athletes to playing their sport as safely and quickly as possible. This is general information and not specific medical advice. Always consult with a doctor or healthcare provider if you have questions or concerns about the health of a child. In case of an urgent concern or emergency, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency department right away.

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Zach Gibson

PHOTO BY Keith Major/ SportsShooters

Johns Creek Quarterback, Senior 2017 stats: • 1,989 yards passing (221 yards per game) • 13 touchdowns • Eight interceptions • 87 yards rushing • One touchdown Scholarship offers: Georgia State, UT-Chattanooga, Morehead State

32 • Friday Night Lights 2018 Season

PHOTO From King’s Ridge Linebacker and running back Kaleb Harris (10) returns to the Tigers for his senior season after having an impressive showing on both sides of the ball in 2017.

Class A:

Overall record: 29-57 (2008-2017) 2015: 1-9 (1-4) 2016: 4-6 (2-5) 2017: 2-8 (1-6) Region championships: 0 State championships: 0

Rivalries: King’s Ridge vs. Pinecrest Academy Years series has been played: 2010-current Series record: 4-4 Number of region games in series: 6 Last meeting: Oct. 6, 2017 (King’s Ridge 14, Pinecrest Academy 7) Longest winning streak: King’s Ridge (2011-13), Pinecrest Academy (2014-16) Number of games decided by one score: 3 Largest margin of victory: King’s Ridge 45, Pinecrest Academy 7 (2012) Closest margin of victory: King’s Ridge 21, Pinecrest Academy 18 (2011)

Coach’s Bio After serving as the program’s first head coach, Jeff Pickren is back at the helm for the Tigers in 2018. Pickren began the King’s Ridge program in 2008 and served as head coach through 2015 before Jimmy Chupp took over for the 2016 and 2017 seasons. Under Pickren’s direction the Tigers went 23-43 in their first eight seasons. Before starting the King’s Ridge program, Pickren was the first head coach at Mount Pisgah, compiling a 10-22 record.

King’s Ridge and Pinecrest Academy have squared off each season since the Tigers began competing in a full varsity schedule in 2010. The two teams have split their series after eight contests. Each team has compiled win streaks over their rival. The Paladins won the first meeting before King’s Ridge reeled off three straight 2011-13, including two lopsided wins. Pinecrest dominated the next three meetings, winning by a combined average of 32 points. King’s Ridge evened the series last year with a 14-7 win, quelling a last-minute comeback attempt by the Paladins.

Team history King’s Ridge began its football program in 2008 and ran a limited varsity schedule for two years. In 2010, the Tigers joined the GHSA and played their first 10-game season, compiling a 5-5 record. The program also finished 5-5 in 2011 and 2012. In 2016, Jimmy Chupp became the program’s second head coach and led the Tigers to a 4-6 record in 2016 and a 2-8 mark in 2017. Pickren was tapped to lead the program again this season. The Tigers are still seeking their first winning season.

Schedule 8-17 @Riverside Military Academy 8-24 Providence Christian 9-14 Mount Paran* 9-21 @Mount Pisgah* 9-28 Whitefield Academy* 10-5 @Walker* 10-12 @Fellowship Christian* 10-19 Pinecrest Academy* 10-26 @St. Francis* 11-2 TBD (Region crossover game)

King’s Ridge

34 • Friday Night Lights 2018 Season

Name

Grade

Position

Dyer, Evan

WR/DB

Harrel, Jack

OL/DL

Harris, Kaleb

LB/RB

Higginbotham, Ryan

WR/DB

Kurtz, William

OL/DL

Mason, Vincent

OL/DL

Patti, Joseph

Smith, Christian

LB/RB

Moore, William

WR/DB

Chadwick, Braxton

QB/LB

Davis, Mike

OL/DL

Forsten, Jack

OL/DL

Garabadian, Lucas

WR/DB

Joseph, Julian

RB/DB

Larkin, Trey

OL/DL

Rich, Jackson

WR/DB

Smith, Nick

RB/DL

Cowart, Colby

QB/LB

Hankins, Jackson

WR/DB

Harrell, Clay

WR/DB

Kaiser, Mason

WR/DB

Maddux, Parker

OL/DL

Peyroux, Nathan

WR/DB

Speight, Jordan

WR/DB

Sullivan, Quinn

OL/DL

Van Buren, Drew

OL/DL

Bowling, John

LB/RB

Dennis, Mason

WR/DB

Garabadian, Jacob

WR/DB

Giacobbe, Dean

LB/OL

Johnson, Ryan

WR/DB

Jones, Charlie

QB/DB

Joseph, Ethan

WR/DB

Morris, Matt

WR/DB

Payne, Ryan

OL/DL

Strain, William

RB/DB

Vantieghem, Henry

QB/DB

Hewlett, Logan

QB/DB

Smith, Noah

OL/DL

Fiorillo, Paul

RB/LB

Drescher, Cole

WR/DB

*Numbers were not assigned at time of publication.

Friday Night Lights 2018 Season â&#x20AC;¢ 35

Class 7A:

Lambert Overall record: 56-35 (2009-17) 2015: 8-3 (8-1) 2016: 7-5 (4-1) 2017: 3-7 (1-4) Region championships: 2016 State championships: 0

Team history Lambert’s football program began in 2009 with the opening of the school under head coach Sid Maxwell. The Longhorns played just four games in 2009, all against programs also in their inaugural season. In 2010 the Longhorns played their first full varsity schedule and immediately found success with the team compiling an 8-3 overall record and reaching the playoffs. The Longhorns matched that record the next season. Lambert missed out on the playoffs in 2012 with a 5-5 record, but returned to the postseason in 2013. Louis Daniel was named head coach in 2014 and the Longhorns posted a 7-4 record in his first season at the helm. The Longhorns made their third straight playoff appearance in 2015, but once again took a first-round exit. After falling just short of region titles in multiple seasons, Lambert finally clinched a championship trophy in 2016 after the region realignment that put all of Forsyth County’s public schools into Region 5-AAAAAAA. The program’s playoff jinx also ended that season with the Longhorns beating Central Gwinnett in the first round. After four straight winning seasons, the Longhorns struggled to a 3-7 record in 2017. Rivalries: Lambert vs. South Forsyth Years series has been played: 2010-current Series record: Lambert 5-3 Number of region games in series: 8 Last meeting: Oct. 6, 2017 (South Forsyth 38, Lambert 0) Longest winning streak: Lambert (2010-12) Largest margin of victory: Lambert 48, South Forsyth 7 (2011) Closest margin of victory: South Forsyth 21, Lambert 14 (2013) When Lambert opened its doors in 2009 to alleviate overcrowding at South Forsyth, it led to many future War Eagles donning Lambert’s maroon instead. Since the Longhorns first full schedule in 2010, the crosstown rivals have met every year with the winner of the matchup taking the region championship for the past three seasons. The newly formed Lambert program earned wins in the first three matchups between the programs. In 2013, South Forsyth won its first game of the series, 21-14. Lambert was back on top the next season in what proved a

36 • Friday Night Lights 2018 Season

PHOTO BY Kevin O’Brien/Split Second Images

Coach’s Bio Louis Daniel will continue to lead the Longhorns in 2018, his fifth season at the helm. Daniel’s coaching career began at his alma mater, Sequoyah, in 2000. Daniel spent nine years the Chiefs. In 2009, he was named the offensive coordinator for the newlyformed Lambert program. The Longhorns averaged 22 points per game under Daniel from 2009-13. He was named the program’s second head coach in 2014 and has led the Longhorns to a 25-19 over the past four seasons, including a region championship in 2016 and three playoff appearances.

Rising senior receiver Blake Nichols had eight receptions for 83 yards with 75 all-purpose yards in 2017. Defensively, he compiled 17 total tackles and an interception. crucial win to earn the No. 2 seed over the War Eagles for the state playoffs. In 2015, South Forsyth was seeking its first region title in 18 seasons while the Longhorns were chasing their first, and it all came down to the winner of their rivalry series in the final week of the regular season. With the Region 6-AAAAAA title on the line, South earned the title with a 31-6 win. It was a similar storyline for 2016 with the newly-formed Region 5-AAAAAAA title coming down to the War Eagles and Longhorns. Lambert won that year’s meeting 28-20, and with both teams finishing with 4-1 region records, it proved to be the difference for the Longhorns first region title. South Forsyth dominated the most recent meeting, 38-0, on their way to a second region championship in three years. Schedule 8-17 Wheeler 8-24 Chattahoochee 8-31 @Gainesville 9-7 @Peachtree Ridge 9-21 Lanier 10-5 South Forsyth* 10-12 @North Forsyth* 10-19 @West Forsyth* 10-26 @Milton* 11-2 Forsyth Central*

No.

Name

Teddy Davenport

Position

Grade

No.

Name

Position

Grade

Arrison Cole

T/DE

Logan Wire

Ethan Anderson

G/C

Zack Ansari

WR/CB

Slaton Horton

OL/DL

Terance Paul mathis jr (tj)

WR/SS

Blake Bibb

CB/WR

Drew Dockter

RB/K

Ben Matray

WR/DB

Peyton Rich

Jacob Guy

WR/DB

WR/CB

Blake Nichols

Nicholas Pasonski

Nathan Smith

DE/OLB

Evan Gackeler

Aryan Talla

Nalan Annadurai

WR/DB/K

Brentan Newberry

Nik Shelley

DT/G

Gallil Guillaume

DE/RB

Sonji Powell-mumphery

Hunter Gore

WR/OLB

Jack Wise

Tyler Wright

WR/SS

Alex Terry

Jake Rising

RB/FS

Julian Yee

10 OL/DL

11 10

Anthony Newton

WR/CB

Khalil Burgess

MLB

Jeff Benjamin

SS/FB

Andrew Skelly

So.

Ben Asher

OLB, FB

TE/DL

Braden DeBow

10 10

Braden Bamburowski

Jorren Vanderzanden

Chris Taylor

MLB/TE

Carlos Caballero

Derek Ramirez

RB/CB

Chaniel Lee

Bryan Nichols

WR/LS

Daniel Carlson

Nick Milcarek

Darren Guy

10 DE

Drew Surio

FS/WR

Ethan Thibodeaux

Bennett Shoemaker

Greg Steckel

Lucas Moore

RB/FS

Jack McClure

Kaalum Jones

RB/LB

Jackson Fullam

FB, MLB

12 10

Anthony Nasah

TE/DE

Jackson Miller

Maximilian Proels

TE/DE

Jack Stewart

Daniel Kim

CB/WR

James Cash

Lee Troutman

Jason Lu

Zach Ogbogu

RB/DB

Joey Kim

Patrick Deans

TE/LB

John Thompson

Kobe Haynes

Kade Bullard

Jacob Keenan

WR/DB

Kaleb Thibodeaux

Michael Hart

Kenneth(Tre) Drewery

Grant Ward

OL/DL

Kyle Flood

Brian Pickering

C/DE

Kyle Hill

WR, CB

Daniel Park

OL/DL

Leonardo Silvestro

Kinser Borner

Lokesh Podamekala

Jacob Pulliam

T/NG

Maddie Franz

Harrison Stang

G/NG

Matthew Corsaro

Matthew Taylor

Michael Ackerman

Josh Mullininx

Justin Schneider

T/DT

Dylan Mckinney

NG/DT

Brandon King

Nick Meade

Rahul Menon

RB, TE

Will Calhoun

OL/DL

Robert Riddle

Camden Sagues

OL/DL

Rushang Patel

Eugene Kim

Rushang Patel

Chris Desroches

DL/OL

Sam Wilinski

Ryan Mills

OL/DL

Seth Malay

Paul Kim

OL/DL

Shreyash Jha

Brendan Bibb

T/NG

Stephen Erb

Jonathan Hemings

DT/G

Sudarshan Dhanabalan

Ross Mitchamore

OL/DL

Will Wood

Friday Night Lights 2018 Season â&#x20AC;¢ 37

Class 7A:

Milton Overall record: 314-369-13 (1950-2017) 2015: 4-6 (4-4) 2016: 5-6 (3-2) 2017: 9-3 (4-1) Region championships: 1952, 2014 State championships: 0 Coach’s Bio Adam Clack will lead the Eagles for his second season at the helm in 2018. Prior to joining Milton, Clack was instrumental in getting the West Forsyth program running in 2007. The Wolverines posted three straight winning seasons and in 2011 Clack was named offensive coordinator. Under Clack, the Wolverines offense continued their streak of winning seasons, including the 2012 region championship. In 2014 Clack was again promoted in the West program to head coach. He spent three years at the helm, guiding the Wolverines to two playoff appearances and a 20-12 record. Following the 2016 season, Clack joined Milton, West’s region foe. The Eagles posted one of their winningest seasons in program history (9-3) and reached the second round of the state playoffs. Team history Milton enters its 69th season this year, tied with Roswell for the longest running football program in North Fulton. The Eagles played their first full season in 1951 under head coach Gus Letchas, who led the program for its first 16 seasons. In just their second full season, the Eagles went 10-0 in the regular season and captured their first region title. Milton reeled off four more consecutive winning seasons but hovered around .500 until 1962. Over the next four seasons, Lutchas’ last years at the helm, the Eagles won just five games. Mike Anderson was named the program’s second head coach in 1966, but Milton had just one winning season in his eight-year tenure. Jim Burson led the Eagles from 1974-1985, compiling a 54-64-3 record, including a 9-2 record in 1980 which saw the Eagles fall just short of the first region title in 28 years. However, the Eagles struggled over next eight seasons, including three straight winless years from 1984-86. Milton turned things around beginning in 1989 with five winning seasons over the next six years, including playoff appearances from 1992-94. Peter Paul, who led the Eagles for 11 seasons, was replaced by Ronnie Jackson in 1998. The Eagles went 22-19 during his tenure. After failing to compile a winning record for the 11th straight season, Milton went 6-4 under Scott Walker in 2007 and reached the postseason for the first time in nine seasons a year later. Howie DeCristofaro took over the program in 2011. After going 4-6 in his first year, the Eagles won 24 games from 201214, including a program-best 11-2 in 2014. The Eagles also won their second region title that year and made their only run to the quarterfinals of the state playoffs. Under DeCristofaro, the Eagles were 9-12 in the next two seasons before Adam Clack was named the program’s 10th head coach ahead of the 2017 season. Last year, the Eagles posted a 9-3 record and reached the second round of the state playoffs for just the second time in program history.

38 • Friday Night Lights 2018 Season

Rivalries: Milton vs. Roswell Years series has been played: 1950-1963, 1970-1997, 2000-current Series record: Roswell 37-25-1 Number of region games in series: 32 Last meeting: Sept. 29, 2017 (Milton 40, Roswell 7) Longest winning streak: Roswell (1983-1995) Largest margin of victory: Roswell 49, Milton 3 (2015) Closest margin of victory (non-tie): Roswell 3, Milton 2 (1977), Roswell 28, Milton 27 (1993), Milton 20, Roswell 19 (2008). No other rivalry in North Fulton/Forsyth County can compare to the length, history and arguably, the sheer amount of “love to hate” sentiment between Roswell and Milton, evident by the fact the series has been suspended due to a fight between the Hornet and Eagle faithful. Both programs began in 1950 and have met 63 times since, making the rivalry one of the most contested in the state. Milton dominated the series in the infancy of the rivalry, winning the first 12 games after the programs began full seasons in 1951. The series was suspended following Milton’s 14-0 win in 1963, but the two programs met again in 1970 after both being placed in Region 5-A. When the series back in action, Roswell put together a win streak of their own, winning the nest five contests. The Eagles won five of the next seven meetings, but Roswell would dominate the series over the next decade, winning every meeting from 1983-1995. The Hornets put together another win streak from 2001-07. However, the Eagles captured three wins from 2011-13, and fell just short of a fourth-straight when Roswell scored in the final minute of their 2014 meeting. Roswell dominated the next two matchups, but Milton earned a lopsided, 40-7 victory at Ray Manus Stadium last season.

Wide receiver and cornerback Syaire Waters returns for his senior campaign with the Eagles this year. As a junior, he had 20 receptions for 348 yards with four touchdowns and rushed for 74 yards with a touchdown. He also had 19 total tackles and an interception. Schedule 8-17 Archer (Corky Kell Classic) 8-24 @Alpharetta 8-31 Cardinal Gibbons (FL) (Freedom Bowl) 9-14 Roswell 9-21 @Parkview 10-5 West Forsyth* 10-12 @South Forsyth* 10-19 Forsyth Central* 10-26 Lambert* 11-2 @North Forsyth*

Friday Night Lights 2018 Season • 39

No.

Name

Grade

Position

No.

Name

Grade

Position

Rock, Tyreek

CB/WR

Colvin, Sam

Leonard, Dylan

WR/CB

Black, Daniel

WR/DB

White, Micah

WR/DB

Taylor, Carter

ILB/ILB

Waters, Syaire

WR/CB

Michaels, Stephen

ILB/H

Davis, Jordan

MLB/RB

Reyes, Harrison

DL/OG

Edwards, Josh

WR/ILB

Bicknell, Mason

ILB/H

Rhodes, Jack

OLB/WR

Tooley, Alex

S/S

Cox, Jordan

TE/S

Barnett, Zander

DE/OG

Walker, Allen

OLB/CB

Minella, Anthony

C/C

Sandoval, Jose

ILB/DE

Dye, Cameron

Jones, Chandler

WR/S

Doyle, Brendan

DE/OG

Mellem, Uriah

CB/WR

Pittman, Jonathan

DL/OT

Yates, Jordan

QB/QB

Phillips, Jack

C/DE

Keeney, Charlie

OLB/S

Tchio, Paul

LG/NG

Martinez, Amari

WR/DB

Johnson, Alvin

OL/DE

Shaw, Holden

WR/CB

Rangel, Jose

C/C

Connell, Miller

QB/QB

McClellan, Reid

Weaver, Jackson

QB/QB

Owens, Marius

Anderson, Caron

CB/CB

Rangel, Marcos

DE/OL

Olagoke, Jeremy

RB/CB

Michailovs, Aleks

Gallagher, Malcolm

Hutchinson, Alec

Haviland, Ricky

RB/ILB

Wong, Cody

Stax, Will

WR/OLB

Mulligan, Will

OT/ DE

Taylor, Demarrie

CB/DB

Bentley, Will

Walter, Jake

WR/DB

Woodcock, Max

Spooner, Bennett

WR/DB

Gorman, Sean

Canouse, Holden

WR/OLB

Williams, Jeffrey

Charleston, Joseph

WR/B

St. Vrain, Max

X/A/QB

Belasick, Peter

CB/S

Marinich, Will

WR/DB

Armistead, Christian

ILB/OLB

Smith, TJ

CB/Z

Slaton, Jackson

OLB/ILB

Sandoval, Benji

Echols, Ahmad

RB/CB

Mellem, Elijah

Albright, Brandon

OLB/ILB

Zettler, Blake

Brown, Kyle

OLB

Nickel, Jack

OLB

Hairston, Hayden

Edwards, Dayne

OLB

Sliger, Matt

S/OLB

Augello, Carson

WR/DB

Artis, Troy

RB/OLB

Smalley, Garrett

WR/DB

Evert, Matthew

WR/OLB

Sturrock, Sean

WR/DB

Swords, Brandon

Gay, Connor

OT/DE

Tumminia, Zack

NG/ILB

Ffrench, Dervon

40 â&#x20AC;¢ Friday Night Lights 2018 Season

Jordan Yates

PHOTO BY JOE PARKER

Milton Quarterback, Senior 2017 stats: • 2,011 yards passing ( 15.5 yards per reception) • 10 touchdowns • Seven interceptions • 144 rushes • 893 yards (6.2 per carry) • Nine touchdowns • Three 100-plus yard games Committed to Georgia Tech.

Friday Night Lights 2018 Season • 41

PHOTO BY Bill Brown/whitelakestudio.com

Class A:

Mount Pisgah Overall record: 79-83 (2003-17) 2015: 6-5 (4-1) 2016: 6-5 (4-3) 2017: 8-3 (6-1) Region championships: 2013 State championships: 0 Coach’s Bio Mike Forester returns to lead the Patriots for his sixth season. Forester coached at Briarwood Christian School in Birmingham, Alabama, before joining Mount Pisgah in 2011 as defensive coordinator. He was hired as head coach in 2012. The Patriots have earned a winning season each year under Forester’s direction. The team compiled its best overall record, 121, in his first season. Team history Mount Pisgah’s program began in 2003 with a full varsity schedule as an independent school. In the first three years, the Patriots went 8-26. In 2006 Mount Pisgah joined the GHSA under third-year head coach Jeff Pickren. After the inaugural season with the GHSA, Doug Dixon took over the program for six seasons, compiling a 29-32 record and leading the Patriots to their first playoff appearance in 2012. Current head coach Mike Forester was named head coach in 2013, the Patriots winningest season in program history. During the 2013 campaign, Mount Pisgah captured its sole region title

42 • Friday Night Lights 2018 Season

and reached the semifinals of the state playoffs. The Patriots have compiled winning seasons and reached the playoffs every year under Forester, including a quarterfinals run in 2014 and second round appearances the past two seasons. Mount Pisgah went 8-3 last season. Rivalries: Mount Pisgah vs. Pinecrest Academy Years series has been played: 2004-05, 2010-11, 2014-current Series record: Mount Pisgah 5-3 Number of region games in series: 6 Last meeting: Sept. 22, 2017 (Mount Pisgah 55, Pinecrest Academy 24) Longest winning streak: Mount Pisgah (2005, 2010-11, 2014) Largest margin of victory: Mount Pisgah 35, Pinecrest Academy 3 (2011) Closest margin of victory: Mount Pisgah 8, Pinecrest Academy 7 (2010) The Mount Pisgah and Pinecrest rivalry began before both teams joined the GHSA, and in recent years the series has been marked by close games. Pinecrest Academy took the first meeting in 2004, but the Patriots then reeled off four straight wins, including two by a single score. Pinecrest captured series wins in 2015 and 2016, both by just three points. The Paladins captured the 2015 region title with their defeat of Mount Pisgah. The Patriots earned a lopsided, 55-24 victory last season. Schedule 8-17 Holy Innocents’ 8-24 @Mount Vernon Presbyterian 8-31 @St. Francis* 9-7 Whitefield Academy* 9-21 King’s Ridge* 9-28 @Mount Paran* 10-5 @Pinecrest Academy* 10-19 @Fellowship Christian* 10-26 Walker* 11-2 TBD (Region crossover game)

No.

Name

Grade

Position

Connor Norwood

QB/DB

Nick Speros

RB/DB

Michael Aliff

RB/DB

Cole Spence

WR/LB

Matthew Aliff

RB/LB

Brad Spence

WR/DB

Tristan Freyre

RB/DB

AJ Crawford

TE/LB

Coleman Smith

QB/DB

Will Pascucci

RB/DB

Mikey Nardella

RB/LB

Micah Gay

RB/DB

Greyson Stevens

WR/LB

Chase Grande

RB/DB

Payton Broaddus

Bowen Harris

WR/DB

Jake Harvey

WR/DB

Brady Natoli

WR/LB

Harrison Clark

WR/DB

Jack Anderson

RB/LB

Happy Chane

RB/DB

Garrett Sutherland

WR/DB

Camdyn Hendricks

WR/DB

Luke Harvey

WR/LB

Jakob Wooten

WR/DB

Jack Weintraub

Ole Djalleta

WR/DB

John Hilburn

WR/DB

Owen Lindsay

Aaron McCoy

OL/DL

Lukas Aden

OL/DL

Nick Jackson

TE/DL

David Bertrand

OL/DL

Matthew Buckis

OL/DL

Noah Swift

OL/DL

Nick Barnes

OL/DL

Sam Huntington

OL/DL

Robby Saye

OL/DL

James Wickline

OL/LB

Miller Anderson

OL/LB

Matthew Davidson

OL/DL

Chase Bishop

OL/DL

Chase Walker

OL/DL

Branan Rountree

OL/DL

Linger Gao

OL/DL

Reece Sams

OL/DL

Sean Ainsworth

OL/DL

Matt Trujillo

OL/DL

Steven Wood

OL/DL

Friday Night Lights 2018 Season â&#x20AC;¢ 43

CLASS 7A:

North Forsyth Overall record: 105-150 (1994-2017) 2015: 2-8 (2-7) 2016: 4-6 (1-4) 2017: 5-6 (2-3) Region championships: 2001 State championships: 0

Team history North Forsyth began its football program in 1994. After a winless first full season, the Raiders compiled three straight seasons with a 3-7 record. Under then head coach Bruce Miller — who replaced Ken Townley in 1997 — North won 30 games over from 1999-2001. The Raiders won their only region championship in 2001 and reached the semifinals of the 3A state playoffs. Their 12-2 record that season is still their winningest in program history. Jeff Hollis took over the program for the next five years, compiling a 22-31 record with two postseason berths. The Raiders went 18-24 under Jared Zito from 2007-10 ahead of two straight losing seasons under Blair Armstrong. Jason Galt led the Raiders beginning in 2013 and put the Raiders back to the playoffs in his first season. However, North won just three games the next two seasons ahead of Robert Craft’s tenure, which began in 2016. Under Craft, the Raiders are 9-12 and made their first playoff appearance in four seasons last year. Rivalries: North Forsyth vs. South Forsyth Years series has been played: 1994-2003, 2006-2009, 2012-current Series record: South Forsyth 14-6 Number of region games in series: 16 Last meeting: Oct. 20, 2017 (South Forsyth 47, North Forsyth 10) Longest winning streak: South Forsyth (1994-98) Largest margin of victory: South Forsyth 55, North Forsyth 3 (2014) Closest margin of victory: South Forsyth 13, North Forsyth 12 (2002) Dubbed the “Civil War,” South Forsyth and North Forsyth will meet for the 21st time this season in a rivalry where South has had the upper hand. The series began in 1994, North’s inaugural season. The War Eagles set the tone for the rivalry early, winning the first

44 • Friday Night Lights 2018 Season

PHOTO BY Lily McGregor

Coach’s Bio: Robert Craft returns to North Forsyth to lead the Raiders for his third season. After shattering passing records as the quarterback of Tennessee Tech, Craft began his coaching career at Colquitt County as the QB coach and offensive coordinator. Craft then moved south of the Georgia border to take his first head coach job at North Florida Christian in Tallahassee, Fla. Under his direction the program went 49-21, won five consecutive district championships, three region championships and a Class 2A state championship. Craft was named North Forsyth’s head coach in 2016 and led the Raiders to a 4-6 season. The Raiders reached the playoffs for the first time since 2013 and went 5-6 overall last year.

Senior receiver Charlie Aiken had 40 receptions for 721 yards with five touchdowns in 2017. five matchups. From 1999-2001, North Forsyth had the advantage, including a 34-17 win in 2001 that gave North the Region 7-AAA championship over South. The War Eagles won the next four matchups, which included a two-year halt in the rivalry in 2004-05. North took the next two meetings before the series was put on hold again after the 2009 season. Since 2012, the teams have met every year with South Forsyth winning the past four matchups. Schedule 8-17 Cherokee 8-24 @Gainesville 8-31 Northview 9-14 @Kennesaw Mountain 9-21 @Woodstock 10-5 Forsyth Central* 10-12 Lambert* 10-19 @South Forsyth* 10-26 @West Forsyth* 11-2 Milton*

No.

Name

Grade

Postion

No.

Name

Grade

Position

Peyton Wagner

Noah Macias

Jonathan Fleming

Max Bryant

Honus Wagner

Carson Brown

Charlie Aiken

Kohnor Martin

Jumel Lewis

Lukas Swygman

Carter Mullikin

Ethan Kimbarl

Tucker Hartsfield

Dylan Lurie

Nicky Dalmolin

Will Barton

Tyler Hogan

Slade Gravitt

Brady Meitz

Jackson Romero

Caleb Vercek

Josh Monroe

Miles Hartsfield

Blake Gibson

Austin Colon

Bryce Golden

Jared Lucero

Samuel Tompkins

Mason Mulnix

Zachary Allison

Trevor Morone

Ryan Foust

Andrew Mersberger

Connor Ramey

Jaiden Davis

Thierry Souffrant

Elijah Byrd

Jack Duckwall

Blake Edwards

Riley Alston

Auston Gadison

Bryson Trigg

Jason Kingsley

Giovanni Gomez

Stiegal Brock

Jason Oppenheim

Zachary Salvador

Bryce Touchstone

Mason Butcher

Mike Benjamin

Austin Kimbarl

Tucker Todd

Harrison Allen

Cade Constable

Justin Chavez

Zack McKinzie

Jeremy James

Colin Blackwell

Nate Smith

Rodney Parry

Caleb Crozier

Kolten Dickerson

Joshua Sexton

Nicholas Viens

Jackson Rosebush

Cameron Wiggins

Josh Grindle

Aaron Griffin

Cayce Aldridge

Jacob Musulman

Grayson Busse

Blaine Kirkland

Cole Cagle

Jaten Sunkara

Nick Janik

Thor Billstrom

Grant Sarbon

Jack Tucker

Ian Kermicle

Grant Scalia

Josh Swearingen

Brent Grab

Jared Costello

Friday Night Lights 2018 Season â&#x20AC;¢ 45

Class 6A:

Northview Overall record: 48-114 (2002-17) 2015: 6-5 (5-4) 2016: 2-8 (2-6) 2017: 2-8 (2-6) Region championships: 0 State championships: 0

PHOTO BY Keith Major/ SportsShooters

Coach’s Bio James Thomson returns this season to lead the Titans after his first year at the helm in 2017. From 2004-15, Thomson served as a coach in Florida. In 2010 at the age of 25, he became the youngest head coach in Florida when he was hired to lead Cornerstone Charter. After one year, Thomson left the school to take over as head coach of Gainesville (FL), where he compiled a 25-3 record in two seasons and was named the 6A Florida Coach of the Year and the SunPreps Coach of the Year. Thomson spent two seasons at DeLand High where he went 12-16 before moving to California to work with his uncle, then UCLA offensive coordinator Kennedy Polamalu, at UCLA. He joined the Titans for the 2017 season and led them to a 2-8 record. Team history Northview’s program began in 2002 and has struggled to just two winning seasons in 16 years. The Titans went 0-20 in their opening two seasons before two straight 4-6 seasons. After a 5-5 year and another 4-6 campaign, Jim Showfety took over as the program’s second head coach in 2008. However, the Titans won just two games in two seasons under Showfety. Chad Davenport led the program for seven seasons beginning in 2010. After three straight losing campaigns and a 5-5 record in 2013, the Titans had their first winning season in 2014. The Titans went 7-4 and earned their first playoff berth. Northview reached the playoffs again in 2015 and posted a 6-5 record. Davenport’s last season at the helm, 2016, ended with a 2-8 record. James Thomson took over the program last season where the Titans again finished 2-8. Rivalries: Northview vs. Alpharetta Years series has been played: 2004-07, 2010-11, 2014-current Series record: 5-5 Number of region games in series: 8 Last meeting: Sept. 15, 2017 (Alpharetta 42, Northview 17) Longest winning streak: Northview 2004-07 Largest margin of victory: Northview 55, Alpharetta 0 (2004) Closest margin of victory: Northview 13, Alpharetta 7 (2006) The local Northview/Alpharetta rivalry is not steeped with a multitude of tight games, but the two programs have plenty of history. Alpharetta’s program began just two years after the Titans and the two teams have faced off 10 times since, making them one of the most common opponents for each school. Northview earned its first-ever win by beating the Raiders 55-0 in Alpharetta’s inaugural game. The Titans won the next three contests. Alpharetta took its first win in the series in 2007 before a region realignment separated the teams. Three years later, the teams battled again with the Raiders taking both wins.

46 • Friday Night Lights 2018 Season

Will Caylor returns to the Titans for his senior season after leading Northview in rushing yards last year. The teams did not play in 2012 or 2013, but the Raiders extended their series win streak to three games win a 17-0 win in 2014. The teams have met every year since, with Northview earning a lopsided victory in 2015. However, the Raiders have earned the last two straight wins. Schedule 8-24 Lakeside, Atlanta 8-31 @North Forsyth 9-7 @Chattahoochee* 9-14 Dunwoody* 9-21 @Johns Creek* 9-28 North Atlanta* 10-5 Cambridge* 10-19 Alpharetta* 10-26 @Pope* 11-2 @Centennial*

No.

Player

Grade

Postion

No.

Player

Grade

Postion

Jaylon Beasley

Edge/WR

Logan Tolnai

Beau Lark

Ian Rival

Christian Watson

DB/WR

Nayef Masum

Evan Smith-Rooks

Cole Michel

Shak Mullings

WR/DB

Maddie Bernard

Collin Ferguson

WR/DB

Jayden Lee

Jonathan Baker

WR/DB

Zack Bursaw

K/P

Liban Ismael

John Irwin

Mac Bolton

WR/DB 51

Kyle Warmack

OL/DL

Jack Armstrong

OL/DL

Sam Ryan

OL/DL

Davon Benjamin

OL/DL

Derek Flannary

OL/DL

Alex Wright

Jackson Stiltner

OL/DL

Timmothy Gonzalez

OL/DL

Dwayne Stokes

Conner Anderson

OL/DL

Michael Stokes

OL/DL

Eddie Omiye

OLB

Trevion Robinson

Colby Mayer

WR/DB

Travis Buchanan

DB/WR

Jackson Cronier

WR/DB

Marcus Godbey

RB/DB

Dylan Bell

Zach Billings

LB/FB

Patrick Hester

Joshua Wehner

WR/DB

Caden Dickey

John Oglesby

DB/RB

Sam Babadele

Will Caylor

Mason Taylor

TE/LB

Josh Brown

Taye Fall

Brendan Rivera

Jaron Jackson

Jack Fletcher

WR/DB

Bryson Manns

Wilmer Perez

Justin Watson

OLB

Friday Night Lights 2018 Season â&#x20AC;¢ 47

Class A:

Pinecrest Academy Overall record: 81-72-1 (2014-17) 2015: 10-2 (5-0) 2016: 8-4 (5-2) 2017: 1-9 (0-7) Region championships: 2007*, 2009*, 2015 (* denotes nonGHSA championship) State championships: 0

Team history Pinecrest began its football program in 2004 as an independent school. After two seasons and just five wins, the program developed into a top-tier independent school. The Paladins won two region championships in 2007 and 2009, compiling a combined 20-5 record in those seasons. Pinecrest joined the GHSA in 2010 and went 3-7 in consecutive seasons. In 2012 Todd Winter replaced head coach Charles Wiggins, who led the team from its inception. Under Winter, the Paldains had two winning seasons and their first GHSA playoff appearance in 2014 before a breakout 2015 campaign. In 2015, the Paladins won their only GHSA region championship and reached the quarterfinals of the state playoffs, compiling a 10-2 record. The Paladins went 8-4 and reached the second round of the state tournament in 2016. The 2017 campaign proved frustrating for the Paladins as they went 1-9 under first-year head coach Terence Mathis. Their only win, against South Forsyth, was a result of a forfeit due the War Eagles fielding an ineligible player. Rivalries: Mount Pisgah vs. Pinecrest Academy Years series has been played: 2004-05, 2010-11, 2014-current Series record: Mount Pisgah 5-3 Number of region games in series: 6 Last meeting: Sept. 22, 2017 (Mount Pisgah 55, Pinecrest Academy 24) Longest winning streak: Mount Pisgah (2005, 2010-11, 2014) Largest margin of victory: Mount Pisgah 35, Pinecrest Academy 3 (2011) Closest margin of victory: Mount Pisgah 8, Pinecrest Academy 7 (2010) The Mount Pisgah and Pinecrest rivalry began before both teams joined the GHSA, and in recent years the series has been marked by close games. Pinecrest Academy took the first meeting in 2004, but the

48 • Friday Night Lights 2018 Season

PHOTO BY Bill Brown/whitelakestudio.com

Coach’s Bio Terence Mathis returns to lead the Paladins for his second season in 2018. Mathis played in the NFL from 1990-2003, including eight seasons with the Atlanta Falcons. During his professional playing career, he was selected to the Pro Bowl, played on the 1998 Falcons NFL Championship team and racked up over 8,000 yards receiving with 63 touchdowns. Prior to joining Pinecrest last season, Mathis was the offensive coordinator at Savannah State and wide receivers coach at Lambert. In his first season, Mathis dropped the Paladins triple-option offense and implemented a pro-style of play. Pinecrest went 1-9, their only win coming by forfeit.

David Stubbs returns to the Paladins for his senior season. Patriots then reeled off four straight wins, including two by a single score. Pinecrest captured series wins in 2015 and 2016, both by just three points. The Paladins captured the 2015 region title with their defeat of Mount Pisgah. The Patriots earned a lopsided, 55-24 victory last season. Schedule 8-24 Fellowship Christian* 8-31 Mount de Sales 9-7 @Athens Christian 9-14 @Whitefield Academy* 9-21 @Walker* 10-5 Mount Pisgah* 10-12 St. Francis* 10-19 @King’s Ridge* 10-26 Mount Paran* 11-2 TBD (Region crossover game)

No.

Names

Grade

Position

Patrick Sullivan

RB/MLB

Mark Wutschel

Hogan Palmer

RB/FS

Sawyer Huffstetler

CB/WR

Alfonso Cantu

MLB/FB

Tripp Hochman

CB/FS

Hunter Hawk

FB/MLB

Troy LaPlaca

Ryan DiFazio

QB/CB

Tony Novo

RB/OLB

Peter Haynes

Joey Kiernan

MLB/OLB

Stone Brown

DE/T

Zach Schechtman

G/DE

Matthew del Balzo

DE/P

Billy Bear

G/DT

David Stubbs

TE/OLB

Bosco Sanchez

Branden Redecker

Conner Sassine Ethan Massey Gianna Papa Jackson Mueller

Jesus Villarreal Joe Metz

Mackenzie Stockslager Matt Stone Nate Roche Peter Hoover

Tyler Schmidt

WR/DE

William Bradford Zach Haynes

Friday Night Lights 2018 Season â&#x20AC;¢ 49

Class 7A:

Roswell

Coach’s Bio After coaching in Ohio and Florida, Matt Kemper relocated to Georgia in 2008 to lead Pope. In his first season, Kemper led the Greyhounds to a 4-6 season, surpassing their win total for the previous two seasons. Pope continued its turnaround under Kemper and had its first winning season in nine years with a 7-4 mark in 2010. Kemper led the Greyhounds to a region championship in 2011 and reached the second round of the state playoffs. Kemper led Pope for three more seasons before joining Johns Creek in 2015. Kemper continued his M.O. of turning around teams with the Gladiators. Johns Creek had won a single game in their previous two seasons but went 4-6 in Kemper’s first season. In 2016, the Gladiators clinched the Region 6-AAAAAA championships and went 8-3 on the year. Kemper became the first head coach hired outside of the Roswell program in over half a century in 2017. The Hornets went 3-8 overall. Team history Roswell’s program dates back to 1950 and is historically the most successful North Fulton program. The Hornets played their first full season in 1951 and won just 12 games in their first four years. In 1956, the Hornets found their winning stride and reached the state finals under Bill Yost who led the Hornets to a 25-34-2 record from 1954-59. Ray Sheppard took over the program in 1960. Under his direction, the Hornets won 49 games in seven seasons. Charlie Horne led the Hornets beginning in 1967 and had a fantastic run during his eight-year tenure. Roswell captured the 1968 and 1970 state championships and three region titles in a four-year span. They compiled a 73-18 under Horne. In 1975 Ray Manus was tapped to lead the Hornets, a position he held for 23 seasons. After finishing the 70’s with just one winning season, the Hornets went 9-3 in 1981 and reached the postseason for the first time in eight years. The Hornets captured their fifth region title in 1985, beginning a five-year streak of winning records. Roswell won another region title in 1993 and 30 games in Manus’ final five seasons at the helm. Roswell went 141-102-1 under Manus. Roswell’s stadium was named after the long-time head coach. Tim McFarlin took over the program in 1998 and led the Hornets to a region title in his third season. Roswell won 39 games and another region championship from 2001-05. In 2006, the Hornets earned a share of the state title after tying with Peachtree Ridge in the state finals. McFarlin led the Hornets until 2008, compiling an 82-34-1 record at the helm. Roswell had two winning seasons and two playoff appearances under Leo Barker from 2008-2010 before a number of lean years. The Hornets won just seven games over the next three seasons. Led by John Ford, who began his tenure in 2013, Roswell began its turnaround. Following an 8-4 campaign in 2014, the Hornets went 28-2 over the next two seasons, their only losses in the state finals. After Ford resigned following the 2016 season, Matt Kemper led the Hornets to a 3-8 record last season.

50 • Friday Night Lights 2018 Season

PHOTO BY Maura Roberts

Overall record: 450-281-7 (1950-2017) 2015: 14-1 (8-0) 2016: 14-1 (5-0) 2017: 3-8 (2-3) Region championships: 1956, 1968, 1970, 1971, 1985, 1993, 2000, 2005, 2010, 2015, 2016 State championships: 1968, 1970, 2006 (State runner up: 1956, 2015, 2016)

Ryan Pike compiled over 200 all-purpose yards in his junior season with the Hornets. Rivalries: Milton vs. Roswell Years series has been played: 1950-1963, 1970-1997, 2000-current Series record: Roswell 37-25-1 Number of region games in series: 32 Last meeting: Sept. 29, 2017 (Milton 40, Roswell 7) Longest winning streak: Roswell (1983-1995) Largest margin of victory: Roswell 49, Milton 3 (2015) Closest margin of victory (non-tie): Roswell 3, Milton 2 (1977), Roswell 28, Milton 27 (1993), Milton 20, Roswell 19 (2008). No other rivalry in North Fulton/Forsyth County can compare to the length, history and arguably, the sheer amount of “love to hate” sentiment between Roswell and Milton, evident by the fact the series has been suspended due to a fight between the Hornet and Eagle faithful. Both programs began in 1950 and have met 63 times since, making the rivalry one of the most contested in the state. Milton dominated the series in the infancy of the rivalry, winning the first 12 games after the programs began full seasons in 1951. The series was suspended following Milton’s 14-0 win in 1963, but the two programs met again in 1970 after both being placed in Region 5-A. When the series back in action, Roswell put together a win streak of their own, winning the nest five contests. The Eagles then won five of the next seven meetings, but Roswell would dominate the series over the next decade, winning every meeting from 1983-1995. The Hornets continued to down their rivals from 2001-2007. However, the Eagles captured three wins from 2011-13, and fell just short of a fourth-straight when Roswell scored in the final minute of their 2014 meeting. Roswell dominated the next two meetings, but Milton earned a lopsided, 40-7 victory at Ray Manus Stadium last season. Schedule 8-24 Campbell 8-31 Centennial 9-7 @West Forsyth 9-14 @Milton 9-21 @Wheeler 10-5 Cherokee* 10-12 Lassiter* 10-19 @Walton 10-26 Woodstock* 11-2 @Etowah

No.

Name

Grade

Position

No.

Name

Grade

Position

Easterly, Riley

Ellis, Jared

Jett, Kamonty

Slaughter, Doneiko

Cooper, Tripp

Graham, Trevor

Buchanon, Cortez

Najar, Brian

Willis, Marquis

Lednick, Trey

Slaughter, Jeremy

Thames, Jacoby

Reid, Josh

Hinton, Tony

Copenhaver, John

LB/WR

Copeland, Matthew

Luster, James

Whitten, Jack

Fitzgerald, Michael

Silvestri, Ricardo

Hollifield, Dillon

Martinez, William

Jarrett, Jacob

Koporc, Carson

Pridgett, George

Roller, Brady

Lubin, Jeffrey

Rosenquist, Shaun

Roberts, Ethan

Egan, Chandler

Nyang, Abe

Plantico, Jonathan

Nganga, Stephen

Caspersen, Holden

Long, Caden

P/K

Ford, Matthew

Henderson, Jaden

Barrett, Carson

Plunkett, Evan

Hannah, Spencer

Pike, Ryan

Wheeler, Patrick

Hopper, Ty’ron

DB/WR

Cole, Christian

Duncan, Harrison

Gonzalez, Joan

Moore, Connor

Ntekop, Aniette

Green, Thomas

Roth, Trey

Antona, Sam

Zimmerman, Trey

Pena, Andy

Nikolich, Alek

Griffin, D’aire

Robinson, Corey

Bondurant, Caden

Gallagher, Cole

Diroberto, John-Michael

Johnson, D’andre

Mobley, Khaleed

Lawrence, Keshawn

Allen, Griffin

Wilkerson, Elijah

Mccrary, Savion

Walls, Kelvin

Crabtree, Luke

Troutman, Will

LB/TE

Evans, Kuba

Lopez, Danny

Silvestre, Gerardo

Major, Clayton

Alvarez, Emmanuel

Mcdonnell, Taylor

Anderson, Elijah

Luciola, Wesley

Huelsman, Matt

Sellew, Nick

Clark, Walker

Stanley, Alex

Slaughter, Daquan

Mcclendon, Dominic

Herron, Noah

Scarlett, Rhajee

DB/WR

Friday Night Lights 2018 Season • 51

Tyron Hopper

52 • Friday Night Lights 2018 Season

PHOTO BY JOE PARKER

Roswell Linebacker, Senior 2017 stats: • 76 total tackles (62 solo) • Seven sacks • 10 tackles for loss • Three caused fumbles • One fumble recovery Committed to the University of Florida

Class 7A:

South Forsyth Coach’s Bio Jeff Arnette leads South Forsyth for his ninth season this year. Arnette’s coaching career spans 28 years in Tennessee and Georgia. He was an assistant coach at Cedar Shoals, Valdosta and in Smith County, Tenn. His Georgia head coach career began in 2000 where he led Oconee County to 20 wins, two region championships and two berths in the state quarterfinals in his two years at the helm. Arnette led Elbert County from 2002-05, compiling a 25-19-1 record. He joined South Forsyth in 2010 and led the War Eagles to their first winning season in seven years. Arnette led the War Eagles back to the playoffs in 2013 and 2014 before a breakout 2015 campaign where the War Eagles went 11-2 and captured their second region championship. Under Arnette, the War Eagles posted a 7-4 record in 2016. South won another region title and made their fourth-straight playoff appearance last season. Team history South Forsyth’s became Forsyth County’s second football program in 1989. Under then head coach Charlie Cryer, the War Eagles went 3117-1 in their opening seven seasons in Class 2A. Norris Vaughan led the program beginning in 1996 where South compiled its second winning season with a 7-3-1 record. A year later South won its first region championship and finished the season at 8-3. In 1998, South continued to roll, posting a 9-3 mark and winning their first playoff game. The War Eagles had three more winning seasons under Vaughan, including a trip to the state quarterfinals in 2001. Greg Slattery served as head coach from 2004-07, leading South to a 17-24 record. After just four combined wins under Wendell Early in the 2008 and 2009 campaigns, Jeff Arnette took over the program. South won 17 games in Arnette’s first three seasons and went 7-3 in 2013 and 6-4 in 2014. South had its winningest year in 2015, posting an 11-2 record and capturing their first region title since 1997. After a 7-4 campaign in 2016, South again finished atop the region standings last season. The War Eagles went 9-2 last year, their only regular season loss coming via forfeit. Rivalries: Lambert vs. South Forsyth Years series has been played: 2010-current Series record: Lambert 5-3 Number of region games in series: 8 Last meeting: Oct. 6, 2017 (South Forsyth 38, Lambert 0) Longest winning streak: Lambert (2010-12) Largest margin of victory: Lambert 48, South Forsyth 7 (2011) Closest margin of victory: South Forsyth 21, Lambert 14 (2013)

54 • Friday Night Lights 2018 Season

PHOTO BY PAUL WARD

Overall record: 162-143-2 (1989-2017) 2015: 11-2 (8-1) 2016: 7-4 (4-1) 2017: 9-2 (5-0) Region championships: 1997, 2015, 2017 State championships: 0

Drew Morris will take over as South’s starting quarterback this season after his brother, Cal, graduated following last season. When Lambert opened its doors in 2009 to alleviate overcrowding at South Forsyth, it led to many future War Eagles donning Lambert’s maroon instead. Since the Longhorns first full schedule in 2010, the crosstown rivals have met every year with the winner of the matchup taking the region championship for the past three seasons. It was the newcomers, Lambert, earning wins in the first three matchups between the programs. In 2013, South Forsyth won its first game of the series, 21-14. Lambert was back on top the next season in what proved a crucial win to earn the No. 2 seed over the War Eagles for the state playoffs. In 2015, South Forsyth was seeking its first region title in 18 seasons while the Longhorns were chasing their first, and it all came down to the winner of their rivalry series in the final week of the regular season. With the Region 6-AAAAAA title on the line, South earned the title with a 31-6 win. It was a similar storyline for 2016 with the newly-formed Region 5-AAAAAAA title coming down to the War Eagles and Longhorns. Lambert won that year’s meeting 28-20, and with both teams finishing with 4-1 region records, it proved to be the difference for the Longhorns first region title. South Forsyth dominated the most recent meeting, 38-0 on their way to a second region championship in three years. Schedule 8-17 @Sprayberry 8-24 @Blessed Trinity 8-31 Etowah 9-7 South Gwinnett 9-21 @Hillgrove 10-5 @Lambert* 10-12 Milton* 10-19 North Forsyth* 10-26 @Forsyth Central* 11-2 West Forsyth*

No.

Name

Grade

Position

No.

Name

Grade

Position

Green, Tre’von

RB/DB

Barton, Nick

FB/LB

Cruz, Colby

WR/DB

O’Leary, Evan

TE/DL

Brunson, Jordan

RB/DL

Currie, Devon

Retired

Burch, Foster

WR/DB

O’Grady, Quinn

FB/LB

Meier, Pierce

WR/DB

Armenta, Martin

RB/LB

Abney, Samson

WR/DB

Welch, Christian

OL/DL

Ervin, Jayden

WR/DB

Gonzalez, Louis

OL/DL

Achtermann, Ehren

WR/DB

Vaughan, Patrick

OL/DL

Fischer, Zachary

WR/DB

Hutcheson, Bryce

OL/DL

Schurr, Cameron

WR/DB

Camp, Jamal

OL/DL

Payne, Camden

QB/DB

Reyes, Alan

OL/DL

Weaver, Jax

WR/LB

Hilton, Taft

OL/DL

Morris, Drew

Butler, Thomas

OL/DL

Kelley, Peyton

TE/DL

Hutcheson, Jackson

OL/DL

Braukman, Steven

WR/DB

Adside, Anthony

OL/DL

Leak, Jaylen

RB/LB

Beecher, Braden

OL/DL

Slott, Joe

Fehr, James

OL/DL

Fox, Cameron

QB/DB

Stephens, Alec

RB/LB

Morris, Ethan

OL/DL

Bolanos, Julian

QB/LB

Michini, Cameron

OL/DL

Sims, Landon

WR/DB

Newsome, Derek

OL/DL

Green, Josh

WR/DB

Myers, Bryce

OL/DL

Calloway, Chase

WR/DB

Hartman, Nicholas

OL/DL

Pehrson, Jack

WR/DB

Hughes, Ryan

OL/DL

Morlanne, Brett

RB/LB

Patrick, Ethan

OL/DL

Ford, C.J.

RB/LB

Patrick, Trevor

OL/DL

McGlockton, Devin

TE/DL

Fleming, Tabor

OL/DL

Meersman, Matthew

WR/DB

Cockfield, Bryce

OL/DL

Incorvaia, Case

WR/DB

Bevers, Bailey

OL/DL

Han, Alex

RB/LB

Ray, Peyton

WR/DB

Rogers, Daryn

RB/LB

Law, Brandon

WR/DB

Hill, Andrew

WR/LB

Dooley, Aiden

WR/DB

Pergolini, Nicholas

WR/DB

Brannigan, John

WR/DL

Layne, Zachary

RB/DL

Ireland, Jonathan

TE/DL

Connelly, Bryce

FB/LB

Meersman, Tyler

WR/DB

Thompson, Mitchell

WR/DB

Jha, Shreyash

TE/LB

Rodrigue, Gavin

WR/DB

Nazarowski, Jake

WR/DB

Troutman, Lee

RB/LB

Zorinich, Jacob

RB/DL

Bergin, Michael

FB/LB

Cheeley, Cameron

WR/DB

Malissa, Dylan

FB/DL

Geiling, William

WR/DB

Underwood, Preston

WR/DL

Botta, Willian

Friday Night Lights 2018 Season • 55

PHOTO BY Bill Brown/whitelakestudio.com St. Francis will be under new leadership in 2018 with experienced head coach Frank Barden tapped to lead to Knights.

Class A:

St. Francis Overall record: 29-37-1 (2010-18) 2015: 3-7 (2-3) 2016: 2-8 (0-7) 2017: 4-6 (2-5) Region championships: 0 State championships: 0 Coach’s Bio One of the state’s most experienced head coaches, Frank Barden, takes over the St. Francis program this year. Barden has held a head coach position in the state since 1994 and has led his teams to 189 combined wins, seven region championships and a state title. After leading Pickens for two seasons, Barden took the head coach position at Cartersville and spent the next 18 seasons leading the Canes. Cartersville captured seven region titles and the 1999 state championship under Barden and made the playoffs 11 times. In 2014 Barden left the Canes to lead Stephens County to a 2915 overall record and three playoff appearances in four seasons. Team history St. Francis began its first season in the GHSA in 2010 but did not complete a full varsity schedule until 2012 under first-year head coach Brennan Booth. The Knights completed two seasons before joining Region 6-A, including the program’s best overall season (8-2) in 2013. St. Francis followed that season with another winning year but has since had three losing campaigns. Tim Mathis took over the program for the 2016-17 seasons, leading the Knights to a 6-14 record. Frank Barden will serve as the team’s fourth head coach this year.

56 • Friday Night Lights 2018 Season

Rivalries: St. Francis vs. King’s Ridge Years series has been played: 2010-current Series record: King’s Ridge 5-3 Number of region games in series: 8 Last meeting: Oct. 13, 2017 (St. Francis 34, King’s Ridge 14) Longest winning streak: King’s Ridge (2010-13) Largest margin of victory: King’s Ridge 49, St. Francis 0 (2012) Closest margin of victory: St. Francis 25, King’s Ridge 13 (2014) The King’s Ridge and St. Francis rivalry is not steeped with an abundance of tight games or region championship-denying wins or losses, but St. Francis and King’s Ridge have squared off every year since the creation of the Knights’ program in 2010. The Tigers are the only team St. Francis has played every year. The Tigers won the opening four games of the series in decisive fashion, outscoring the Knights by 34 points or more in three contests. However, St. Francis took the next two games, including a 4817 win in 2015. The teams have split the most recent two meetings. King’s Ridge won 22-6 in 2016 and St. Francis downed the Tigers 34-14 last season. Schedule 8-24 North Cobb Christian 8-31 Mount Pisgah* 9-7 @Lakeview Academy 9-21 @Whitefield Academy* 9-28 Walker* 10-5 @Fellowship Christian* 10-12 @Pinecrest Academy* 10-19 @Mount Paran* 10-26 King’s Ridge* 11-2 TBD (Region crossover game)

No.

Name

Grade

Position

Josh Harps-Zhu

WR/FS

Robert Jones III

RB/CB

Isaiah Wadsworth

WR/CB

Aaron Strozier

OLB/SS/SB

Jakwan Everson

NG/T

Garrett Smith

Ray Gosier

MLB/RB

Max Mitchell

WR/DE

Bret Madren

FB/MLB

TJ Tampa

WR/FS

Josh Gil

SS/SB

Hunter Jones

RB/CB

Kylen Smith

RB/MLB

Tyler Mccomb

CB/FS

Jesse Hudgens

TE/DE

Connor Squire

Sam Smart

RB/MLB

Troy Beasley

DE/G

Jonathan Pittman

G/DE

Kevin Harper

T/G

Darron Willis

C/DT

Trice Cannon

T/DE

Calum Ogle-Tyrell

Aiden Margow

T/DT

Ayden Prigoff

Payton French

Emanuel Beasley

G/DT

Peyton Newcomb

DE/LS

David Reynolds

G/DT

Alex Belin

Sam Rissler

WR/MLB

Tyler Evje

Sean Paradise

RB/WR/OLB

Friday Night Lights 2018 Season â&#x20AC;¢ 57

PHOTO BY @WFHS_HS/Twtitter West Forsyth compiled a 7-4 record in 2017 under first year head coach Shawn Cahill.

CLASS 7A:

West Forsyth Overall record: 78-34 (2007-17) 2015: 7-4 (7-2) 2016: 7-4 (3-2) 2017: 7-4 (3-2) Region championships: 2012 State championships: 0 Coach’s Bio Shawn Cahill will lead the Wolverines for his second season this year. Cahill joined West Forsyth after over a decade as an offensive coordinator in Georgia, California and North Dakota. He led the Harvey (North Dakota) offense to two state titles in the mid 90’s before moving to Georgia. After stints with Duluth and Newton, he joined Lanier in 2011 where he spent three seasons as the offensive coordinator. The Longhorns went 28-6 and won two region championships with Cahill. He joined West for the 2017 season, his first as a head coach, and led the Wolverines to a 7-4 record and berth in the state playoffs. Team history West Forsyth’s completed its inaugural season in 2007 playing a limited schedule. After their opening year, the Wolverines found immediate success playing a full slate of games. Under Frank Hepler, who led the Wolverines for opening seven seasons, West went 8-2 in 2008. West had another winning record in 2009 before making their first playoff appearance a year later. The Wolverines further improved their fortunes in 2011, completing an 11-2 season and reaching the quarterfinals of the state playoffs. That season stands as their winningest in program history. West kept up the momentum in 2012, winning their only region title and reaching the second round of the playoffs. West went 7-4 in 2013, Hepler’s final season. The Wolverines went 51-18 under his direction. Former assistant coach Adam Clack was named the program’s

58 • Friday Night Lights 2018 Season

second head coach in 2014. The Wolverines went 6-4 in his debut season, narrowly missing out on their fifth-straight playoff berth. Clack led West to two straight 7-4 seasons and playoff berths before taking over the Milton program ahead of the 2017 season. Shawn Cahill was named West’s new head coach last season. West finished at 7-4 for the fourth time in five seasons. Rivalries: West Forsyth vs. Lambert Years series has been played: 2012-current Series record: Lambert 4-2 Number of region games in series: 6 Last meeting: Oct. 20, 2017 (West Forsyth 28, Lambert 24) Longest winning streak: Lambert (2013-16) Largest margin of victory: Lambert 33, West Forsyth 14 (2013) Closest margin of victory: West Forsyth 17, Lambert 16 (OT) (2012) Prior to the opening of Denmark this year, the Lambert and West Forsyth rivalry featured the county’s two newest programs battling for supremacy. In just six years, the rivalry has sparked multiple close games and has been crucial to each team’s region championship hopes. The programs first met in 2012, a thrilling regular season finale. West prevailed, 17-16 in overtime on their way to a region championship. However, Lambert controlled the next four meetings. After downing West in 2013, the Longhorns won again in 2014, a loss that eventually kept West out of the playoffs for the first time in five seasons. Lambert won another tight contest the next season, 35-31. The win gave Lambert the No. 2 seed in the playoffs just ahead of the Wolverines. The Longhorns won their fourth straight in 2016, 17-7. West finally won their second game in the series last year, downing the Longhorns 28-24. Schedule 8-17 @Camden County 8-31 Hewitt-Trussville (AL) 9-7 Roswell 9-14 @Peachtree Ridge 9-21 @McCallie (TN) 10-5 @Milton* 10-12 @Forsyth Central* 10-19 Lambert* 10-26 North Forsyth* 11-2 @South Forsyth

No.

Name

Grade

Position

No.

Name

Grade

Position

Bland, Stephon

Harris, Jermaine

Waxer, Saxby

Carrillo, David

Camara, Abraham

ATH

Fairchild, Dylan

Sibblis, Mikhari

OLB

Phillips, Aiden

Southern, Drew

Knieper, Will

Parris, Alex

Cherry, Carter

Cowart, Casey

Tryon, Zach

Baggett, Easton

Huggins, Jake

Wright, Matthew

Bovenizer, Spencer

Hughes, Jack

Hickman, Garrett

Culberson, Corey

Steele, Aaron

Whitfield, Blake

McBrayer, Hunter

Ekokobe, Curtis

Bailey, Aiden

Orr, Eli

Woodall, Garrett

Avila, Ethan

Cummings, Jake

OLB

Kirley, Mccay

Flanagan, Kc

Blythe, Myles

Zacholski, Ricky

Hannon, Parker

Greschner, Thomas

Haynes ,Coby

Bishop, Konnor

Harter, Johnmark

Delp, Oscar

Claiborne, Zach

OLB

Webster, Zack

Alvarado, Alex

Bealer, Micah

Weldy, Jake

Jones, Miller

Tjong, Dalton

Hughes, Derek

Casas, Ethan

235

Blackman, Avery

Slaughter, Will

McDaniel, Chris

Kenareh, Sam

Christian, Austin

Bowman, David

Reis, Jr

OL OL

Mull, Walker

Tapia, Alex

Yavarian, Arad

Rogers, Andrew

Merriman, Anthony

Corcimiglia, Lance

Park, Mack

Voight, Jon

Thombley, Justin

Ray, Dylan

OLB

Jennings, TJ

Hernandez, Antonio

Garbacz, Jonathan

Gonzalez, Emi

Odell, Jamison

Hughes, Derek

Anthony, Matt

Clark, Wesley

Cooper, Dominic

Norr, Tyler

Nagro, Anthony

Peterson, Kyle

Garza, Jocef

Posey, Hudson

Williams, Mason

Nordin, Luke

Seder, Tyler

Ross, Will

O’neill, Sean

Gedion, Nethanel

Sanchez, Jonathan

Bain, Robert

Hellstone, Jay

OLB

Friday Night Lights 2018 Season • 59

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