ITG Next South Georgia February/March 2023 Magazine

Stetson Bennett: From Humble Beginnings

to Top Dawg

Valdosta Girls Basketball

Player Denver Arnold Makes Her Point

Charis Eager

Leads by Example for Valwood Volleyball, Basketball

More Bang for the Bucs: McIntosh County Academy’s JaReese Campbell

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Feature Stories

Brooks County RB Chris Cole: Like Father, Like Son?

ITG Next is published bi-monthly. The contents of this publication may not be reproduced in part or in full without written consent from the publisher. Dykes Media Group LLC makes no representation or warranty of any kind for accuracy of content. All advertisements are assumed by the publisher to be correct. Copyright 2023 Dykes Media Group LLC. All rights reserved. ISSN 1945-1458.

14

Stetson Bennett: From Humble Beginnings to Top Dawg 19

Valdosta Defender Ready for Prime Time

Omar White

ITG Next Hosts 15th Annual South Georgia High School Football Banquet

Top 10 Passers in 2022 Georgia High School Football Season

Dooly County Anticipates Return of Injured Quarterback for 2023 Season

Antwuan Clayton

Charis Eager Leads by Example for Valwood Volleyball, Basketball

More Bang for the Bucs: McIntosh County Academy’s JaReese Campbell

ITG Next Sends 500 High School Student-Athletes to 2022 TaxSlayer Gator Bowl for Free

Player Profiles:

John Scarpate | Valdosta

Tykhia Burgess | Turner County

Kelvin Washington | Mitchell County

Latrell Schafer | Veterans

John Dorman | Tift County

DJ Hudson | Northside

Brooks County RB Chris Cole: Like Father, Like Son?

Written by: Phil Jones

When it comes to comparing current Brooks County running back Chris Cole Jr., to his father, Chris Cole Sr., the first thing fans think of is “like father, like son,” right?

Not exactly. Not yet, anyway.

“Chris Cole Jr., is a completely different runner than his father,” says the one person who should know better than anyone: Brooks County football coach Maurice Freeman, who has actually coached both father and son.

“Chris Sr., was more of a power runner with a straight-ahead style of running the football, but Chris Jr., runs with a more slashing style when he carries the ball,” Freeman says.

The long-time Brooks County coach spent one season coaching Chris Sr. That was in 1994, during Freeman’s first stint as the Trojans head coach. He remembers hearing how good Chris was, then saw it for himself when the running back was a senior.

“I knew right away that I needed to give him the ball at least 20 times a game,” Freeman recalls with a chuckle. “He was a very good football player. He was a powerful runner, but he had great speed and vision, too. If he got past the line of scrimmage, chances were pretty good that the defense wasn’t going to catch him. He had all the qualities that the great ones have.”

Chris Cole Jr. will be a junior next season, and Freeman says he has great potential. But to those Brooks County fans who want to compare the son to his dad, Freeman says not yet.

“Chris is still developing, and he’s going to be a good running back, no question about that,” Freeman explains. “But he’s still growing and maturing, and he has a different running style than his dad.”

That may be the case, but the younger Cole has expectations of not only being good like his father, but being an even better player.

“When I first met Chris in the 6th grade, I started teasing him that he wasn’t as good as his father, in hopes of making him better than his dad,” Freeman says. “Chris said he was going to be better than his dad.”

Freeman says anytime you a player is compared to the father who preceded him on the gridiron, especially at the same school, it’s going to be a challenge.

“It’s always going to be tough when everyone is making those comparisons, just because the son carries the name of his father,” Freeman says.

In the case of the Coles, Chris Sr., rushed

for 6,155 yards during his career at Brooks County from 1991-1994. He led the Trojans to the GHSA Class A state title in his senior season, and he was the school’s all-time rushing leader until Omari Arnold broke the record with a career mark of 6,558 yards rushing.

Chris Cole Sr., went on to play at Fort Valley State University. His son is just now starting to come into his own as a go-to running back for Brooks County, with last season being his first as the feature back. He had a breakout performance against Early County, rushing 15 times for 115 yards and 2 TDs. Freeman says this offseason is going to be very important in the development of Chris Jr.

“Chris has a chance to be really good,” Freeman says. “He has great vision, and he just needs now to continue to develop. That’s why this offseason is extremely important for him.”

Does the Trojans head coach feel like Chris Jr. can be as good as his father?

“I can’t wait to have this conversation again in two more years,” Freeman says.

We’ll certainly keep you posted.

Photography by: Brandon Pham

Valdosta - Soccer

Valdosta Girls Basketball Player

Denver Arnold Makes Her Point

Written: Phil Jones | Photography by: Brandon Pham

Every team sport has that one position that makes the whole team succeed. It’s where everything starts, and it’s the position that the entire team evolves around. It’s the position that serves as another set of eyes and ears for the coach, and really, acts as an onthe-field coach by extension. In football, it’s the quarterback, and in baseball, it’s the catcher. In basketball, it's of course the point guard. The floor general. The one player who sets up a team’s half court offense and guards the backcourt

on defense. A great point guard is also the best dribbler and passer on the team. Bottom line, it’s a ton of responsibility for a basketball player, and at Valdosta High School, Denver Arnold has embraced it.

Some players are natural-born point guards, while others have to learn and grow into the position. The latter best describes Arnold, the Lady Wildcats’ senior point guard, and she admits as much.

“I’m really not a true point guard,” Arnold says. “I’m more of a shooting guard.”

However, when her coach approached Arnold before the start of last season about moving to the point, she was eager to do whatever it took to help the Valdosta basketball team. That would mean getting better in several areas.

“I had to step up and become our point guard as a junior, and that meant me becoming a better overall player,” Arnold says.

Arnold didn’t have to look too far for help. In addition to Valdosta head girls basketball coach E.A. Wilcox, Denver can

look for help from her dad, Highland Christian head basketball coach Randy Arnold. She says her father has helped her become a better player, which in turn helped her learn to play point guard.

“My dad has been my biggest influence, and he put a lot on me so that I could continue to improve and get better as a player and as a point guard,” says Denver, whose mother is Diondra Arnold, a teacher at Valdosta High.

Wilcox says he has watched Arnold grow up playing basketball and

has come to appreciate the improvement she has made.

“I remember seeing her play for the first time in the fifth or sixth grade, and it is amazing to see how far she has come and how much improvement she has made in her game,” Wilcox says.

He adds that it helps that she is a very coachable player.

“Denver has really responded to my instruction to become a better all-around basketball player and help us as a team get to the level of winning that we wanted

to get to,” the longtime Valdosta coach says.

Wilcox says when former point guard Ahnye Wilkins graduated and went on to play with Andrew College, he needed a point guard and he really wanted Arnold to take on the role, even if it was not her natural position.

“I knew it would take her working on her ball handling skills, passing skills, shooting skills, but I knew the biggest thing she would need to work on was her defense,” Wilcox recalls. “I challenged her to become a tougher defender, and she has responded. She has improved tremendously over these last two seasons.”

The ’Cats coach says Arnold’s dad being a coach helped, and she also attended offseason camps.

“She has attended some of the offseason training camps like Clutch Performance, and it’s all helped her development tremendously,” he says.

One look at Arnold’s stats over her high school career tells the story of

her improvement: As a sophomore, she averaged 5.4 points, less than 1 assist per game, and 1.4 rebounds in 22 games. Last season, as a junior, and the first year she took on her new role as the team’s point guard, Arnold’s scoring average improved to 9 points per game, and she had 3.2 assists and 2.5 rebounds per game.

On defense, she averaged 2.3 steals per game over the 28 games played. So far, in her team’s first 19 games of 2022-23, Arnold is averaging 14.4 points per game, including a season-high 25 points against Coffee on November 29 in a 50-49 Valdosta win. She also is averaging 3 assists, 2.6 steals, and 2.6 rebounds per game.

Wilcox says Arnold has not stopped learning while continuing to run the Wildcats offense.

“Denver has played the point guard position better in our last few games than she ever has before,” he says.

What does Arnold’s head coach think about his senior guard playing

at the next level?

“She will definitely play college basketball,” he says, adding that he has heard from Albany State and Pensacola State about Denver.

And how does Arnold feel about continuing her basketball career after she leaves Valdosta High?

“I am looking to go to a four-year college and get my degree in psychology,” she says.

Arnold says she really likes FSU, but they have not offered her a scholarship yet. She adds that she also likes Jacksonville State and Clayton State.

There is still, however, business to finish in the rest of her career in this city known for its intense passion for high school athletics. Stay tuned.

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Turner County – Girls Basketball

OUTSTANDING PLAYER

Stetson Bennett: From Humble Beginnings to Top Dawg

Written by: Phil Jones

Photos: ITG Archive

To truly appreciate what Stetson Bennett has been able to do at the University of Georgia, especially the last two seasons leading the Bulldogs to back-to-back national championships, requires you to travel back to where it all started in Southeast Georgia.

Sean Pender, currently the head coach at North Hall High School in Gainesville, Georgia, was the head coach during Bennett’s entire high school career at Pierce County High School. Pender helped shape Bennett into the player that he has become and without a doubt deserves much of the credit for his development. But, as Pender tells us, their relationship began many years before that, when Bennett was still in elementary school.

“My first time meeting Stetson was when he was in the fourth grade and his Dad brought him and several young kids into our booster club meeting when I was the head coach at Brantley County,” Pender said. “Mr. Bennett was coaching a youth football travel team called the Brantley Bandits, and he stopped by to talk to me about getting his guys involved with our high school team.”

Pender said that watching the young Stetson playing for his father’s team was his first time seeing him on the football field, but he continued to follow Stetson’s progress into middle school, which led to a longstanding relationship between Pender and the Bennett family.

“I got to know Mr. and Mrs. Bennett and the kids,” Pender said. “They were and still are great people.”

After a brief stint at Crisp County High School, Pender returned to the area, accepting the head coaching job at Pierce County. The Bennetts joined Pender in Blackshear, Georgia, and the coach was reunited with the younger Bennett.

“Stetson transferred to Pierce County as an eighth-grader when I got there, and he started working out with the middle school and then the junior varsity,” Pender said.

Stetson played with the varsity team as a freshman, but found tough competition for the starting QB job.

“We had JeMar Lincoln, who would eventually go on to play at Furman University, and Stetson battling for the job,” Pender said.

In Stetson’s sophomore season, as he and Lincoln were both seeing time at QB, the future Bulldog got his opportunity to show what he could do, and he made the most of it.

“Lincoln broke his thumb, and Stetson took over as the full-time starter,” Pender said.

Showing the kind of moxy that has now made him famous, Bennett threw four touchdown passes in his first high school game as a full-time starter. The rest, as they say, is history.

“That was his breakthrough moment,” Pender said. It also solidified Bennett’s status as the team’s full-time starting QB for the rest of that season and through the remainder of his career at Pierce County.

Bennett put up gaudy passing and rushing numbers, and with a blazing 4.5-second 40 time and 4.0 GPA, it seemed that Bennett was ready to take his game to the next level. Despite receiving several offers to mid-major colleges and universities (mostly as a preferred walk-on), Bennett had his mind and heart set on one school: the University of Georgia.

“That was really the only place Stetson wanted to play,” Pender said.

With everything he had ever wanted since he took that first snap, Bennett was off to UGA in 2017 as a preferred walk-on.

Bennett’s path to play for Georgia – as has now been talked about and scrutinized by just about every media outlet in the country – was not easy. Not to begin with, at least.

“Georgia made it tough,” Pender said. “They practically buried him on the depth chart.”

But Bennett was determined to realize his dream of playing for the Dogs; despite transferring to Jones County Junior College for one season in 2018, he returned to UGA in 2019 when the Dogs needed a QB. This time a scholarship was waiting on the diminutive Bennett. Just as he had done in high school, Bennett took advantage of an injury to the starter in front of him (JT Daniels) and made the most of this second opportunity in Athens. He led the Bulldogs to two straight national titles and supplanted himself as “Top Dog.”

Move over Herschel. There’s only room for one guy at the top.

Mitchell County – Football

Valdosta Defender Ready for Prime Time

Wildcats Lineman Omar White Discusses Colorado Commitment, Unfinished Business

Written by: Phil Jones

The Valdosta High Wildcat defense was statistically one of the best in the state last season, allowing just 104 points over the 11-game season, an average of a meager 9.5 points per game. On a unit with several top playmakers, one of the most dominant and feared leaders of that suffocating Valdosta defense was junior defensive tackle Omar White.

The 6-foot, 3-inch lineman weighs in at 310 pounds, but is quick as a cat in negotiating opposing offensive linemen, as his personal stats showed in 2022. White had 66 total tackles, including seven sacks, and he was credited with one forced fumble and two fumble recoveries.

With still another season remaining at Valdosta, Omar White is receiving a lot of attention from college recruiters, and for good reason. He’s rated as a four-star recruit by most services, with 24/7 Sports ranking him as the No. 13 defensive lineman in the country.

Despite the attention and offers from practically every college in the country, White verbally

committed to the Colorado Buffalos and new head coach Deion Sanders, aka “Coach Prime,” over the Christmas break.

“Omar White is a dynamic football player who has excellent upside,” said Valdosta defensive line coach Seneric McCurdy. “He is a very explosive defensive lineman who plays with violent hands. He already has the size and measurables of a starting Pac 12 defensive lineman. There is no doubt that Omar White will bring a lot of energy and contribute immediately at the University of Colorado.”

During his time off from school over the holidays, Omar White spoke with us about his commitment to Colorado, as well as the expectations for him and his Valdosta teammates in what will be his senior season in 2023.

ITG Next: Omar, congratulations on your recent commitment to the University of Colorado. What was it that drew you to the Buffaloes?

White: I just enjoyed being around good guys and guys like me, as well as great coaches during

“This is one of the best defenses I’ve played on in my entire career.”

— Omar White

Photos: ITG Archive

my trip out there. I have had a great relationship with coach [Charles] Kelly and coach Nick [Williams]. (White had been recruited by Kelly and Williams in their previous positions prior to joining Sanders at Colorado. Defensive coordinator Kelly previously was at Alabama, while defensive ends coach Williams was at Texas A&M.)

ITG Next: Omar, you certainly had built a great relationship with those coaches, and I understand you valued the rapport you built with them. What about the desire to want to play for coach Sanders?

White: He comes with so much love and passion for the game, and he’s been everywhere I’ve been and where I want to go. Coach Prime knows exactly what it takes and what needs to be done. You know when you’re playing for Coach prime that there’s going to be lights and cameras everywhere, and that’s when it’s time to perform!

ITG Next: Have the coaches indicated to you if you’ll have a chance to come in and play right away?

White: They told me that I was an SEC-caliber D-lineman and that they

felt fortunate to have landed me. They didn’t make any promises, but they did tell me that if I came out there and did what I needed to do and put the work in that I should have no problem breaking into the starting lineup – that I’d be right there with the rest of the 1s [starters]. I’m looking forward to getting out there early and making an impact.

ITG Next: Let’s talk about this upcoming season at Valdosta, which will be your senior season with the Wildcats. Do you feel like you guys have some unfinished business?

White: For sure, I’m looking forward to it. I want to go out with a state championship. That is definitely the goal. I mean, our whole defense is coming back. We had the best defense with the lowest amount of points allowed in the whole state. I think our offense is going to grow a lot from last year, and that will give us an even better chance to get to the big [championship] game.

ITG Next: Omar, no question, you guys were one of the best defenses I’ve ever seen. How good was that defense? You’ve played a lot of defense

growing up through rec ball and middle school. Was this the best group of defenders you’ve played with? The numbers certainly speak for themselves.

White: This is one of the best defenses I’ve played on in my entire career. Every one of us played with such energy, and with [Valdosta head coach Shelton] Felton behind us, I don’t think there is a better defense out there. Everyone is so fast and physical getting to the ball.

ITG Next: What’s your biggest strength as a defensive lineman?

White: I know people talk about my size, but I think it’s how smart I am and the amount of time I spend watching film and studying our opponent – what our opposition is going to do, and figuring out where I need to be, to stay one step ahead of them. I watch a lot of film with my teammates, and that helps me become a better player and make the plays I need to.

High School Seniors, we are now accepting applications for Summer and Fall Semester 2023

ITG Next Hosts 15th Annual South Georgia High School Football Banquet

Valdosta’s Rainwater Conference Center was the site for the ITG Next 2022 South Georgia High School Football Banquet, presented by Georgia Sports Medicine. The top offensive and defensive players from 36 Georgia high schools were recognized for their efforts this season. In addition to those 72 players, there were 10 overall, or main, award winners. These were chosen by the ITG Next staff and included the overall top offensive and defensive players of the year.

Lee County standout sophomore running back Ousmane Kromah was chosen as our Colony Bank Offensive Player of the Year, while Valdosta High junior defensive lineman Omar White took home the award for Valdosta Toyota Defensive Player of the Year.

The Farah & Farah Forward Progress Award, given to the player who showed the most improvement, went to Clinch County senior Patrick Kimple, who played organized football for the first time this season. Kimple is also his class valedictorian.

The ITG Next 12th Man Award, which goes to the fan who shows unwavering support for their team, went to Mark and Connie Mitchell of Bainbridge. The husband-wife duo was nominated by Bainbridge head football coach Jeff Littleton.

Baker's Sports Special Teams Player of the Year honors went to Colquitt County kicker Brett Fitzgerald, the latest member of the Fitzgerald family of kickers. His grandfather and father both kicked for the Packers, as did older brother Ryan Fitzgerald, who currently kicks for Florida State University.

The Wolfson Children's Hospital Middle School Player of the Year award went to two deserving middle school players, with each recognized as Co-Middle School Player of the Year. They were Stratford Academy standout lineman Thomas Gregory and Newbern Middle School running back Deron Foster.

The Preferred Rental Company Community Involvement Award goes to the player who gives of himself to various community groups, clubs, and organizations. Lowndes senior Ronnie Davis, who was described as one of the hardest-working players on the field and in his community, was this year’s recipient.

The TOC Scholar Athlete Award goes to a player who excels in the classroom as well as between the lines. Thomas County Central’s Sam Brown won this year’s award after leading his team to the Class 4A state semifinals while maintaining a 5.6 GPA.

The event’s keynote speaker was Florida State head football coach Mike Norvell, who delivered a stirring and motivational talk. The third-year Seminoles coach spoke for approximately 30 minutes, directing the majority of his comments to the impressionable student-athletes in attendance.

Norvell was the latest in what has become an impressive list of coaches and former players who have served as the banquet’s keynote speakers.

Mark Dykes, ITG Next’s founder and the man who had the idea to create an event where high school players and coaches could come together to honor the game’s top achievers, recalled a few of the coaches and players who have served as speakers at past banquets.

“We have had Mark Richt, Bobby Bowden, Vince Dooley, D.J. Jones, [former San Francisco 49ers lineman and Super Bowl champion] Steve Wallace, Kirby Smart, Mark Stoops, and two years ago Nick Saban,” Dykes said.

Former Valdosta High, University of Georgia, and New England Patriots wide receiver Malcolm Mitchell, also a Super Bowl champion, spoke at last year’s banquet.

Dykes remembers the ITG Next Football Banquet’s humble beginnings.

“Our first banquet was held in 2008 and had around 150 guests with 15 schools,” Dykes said. “It has grown each year, with 450 guests and 36 schools attending this year. Many players who have been recognized at our banquet have gone on to play at major college programs and have been drafted to play in the NFL.”

The ITG Next South Georgia Football Banquet is possible through the support of sponsors like Dr. Kevin Collins, a renowned sports medicine surgeon who is board certified in orthopedic surgery and sports medicine. Dr. Collins works with the Hughston Clinic and has served as team doctor with Valdosta State University for the last 16 years and with the Colquitt County Packers since 2011.

“The ITG Next South Georgia Football Banquet is the culminating event where we come together to honor all the teams from our area and to recognize their outstanding players and coaches,” Dr. Collins said. “We celebrate their achievements and are able to put faces with all of the names that we hear about on Friday nights. This banquet highlights the importance of organized sports for our student-athletes, and that’s one reason why we at the Hughston Clinic have supported the event since its inception.”

Dean Fabrizio, the head football coach at Lee County who led his team to back-to-back state championships in 2017 and 2018, said: “The ITG Next Football Banquet was once again a great event. It is always a very special night for all of these players to be recognized for their accomplishments. ITG Next continues to be a big part of what makes high school football so special in Georgia.”

Written by: Phil Jones | Photography by: Allen Allnoch

Lee County High School

Player of the year

Presented by

South Georgia Football Banquet

Valdosta High School

DEFENSIVE OMAR WHITE

Player of the year

Presented by South Georgia Football Banquet

BRETT FITZGERALD

Colquitt County High School

SPECIAL TEAMS

Player of the year

Presented by South Georgia Football Banquet

Thomas County Central High School

SCHOLAR ATHLETE

THOMAS GREGORY & DERON FOSTER

Stratford Academy & Valdosta Middle School

Player of the Year

Presented by

South Georgia Football Banquet

South Georgia Football Banquet

Presented by

Lowndes High School

COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT

Presented by

Bainbridge High School

THE 12TH MAN

South Georgia Football Banquet

RONNIE DAVIS Award

South Georgia Football Banquet

2022 AWARDS BANQUET

Bainbridge High School

Offense: Bo Smith

Defense: Dontavious Broadnax

Berrien High School

Offense: Josiah Davis

Defense: Jeremiah Tillman Bonny Carreker

Brantley Co. High School

Offense: Kellon Middleton

Defense: Mason Thomas Summit Sports Medicine & Orthopaedic Surgery

Brooks Co. High School

Offense: Jamal Sanders

Defense: Kamari Blankumsee Vereen Sports Medicine

Brookwood School

Offense: Rodge Waldrop

Defense: TJ Thomas

Cairo High School

Offense: Braylon Robinson

Defense: Fabian Yarbrough Ross Advisory Group

Camden Co. High School

Offense: Jaden Dailey

Defense: Jake Lindsey

Summit Sports Medicine & Orthopaedic Surgery

Clinch Co. High School

Offense: Keegan Clayton

Defense: Marvin Gainey Farmers and Merchants Bank

Colquitt Co. High School

Offense: Neko Fann

Defense: Nick Pace (NP) Vereen Sports Medicine

Cook High School

Offense: Keshun Mckever

Defense: Jakori Jones Adel Dental Associates

Crisp Academy

Offense: Alex Taylor

Defense: Luke Worley Crisp Regional

Crisp Co. High School

Offense: Trae Walker

Defense: Julian Fox

Crisp Regional

Dooly Co. High School

Offense: Lorenzo Clayton

Defense: John Brown

Crisp Regional

Dougherty Comprehensive High School Offense: Kameron Davis

Defense: Stantavious Smith

Fitzgerald High School Offense: Sylon Davis

Defense: Daniel James Woody Folsom Auto Group

Frederica Academy

Offense: Jordan Triplett

Defense: Hamp Thompson (NP)

Summit Sports Medicine & Orthopaedic Surgery

Irwin Co. High School

Offense: Cody Soliday

Defense: Kyhlon “Bo” Payne Woody Folsom Auto Group

Lanier Co. High School

Offense: Jaylon Calhoun

Defense: Jamir Glenn Farmers and Merchants Bank

2022 AWARDS BANQUET

Lee Co. High School

Offense: Ousmane Kromah

Defense: Temirez Williams Jr. Lee County Touchdown Club

Lowndes High School

Offense: Marvis Parrish

Defense: Mekhi Crawford Farmers and Merchants Bank

McIntosh County Academy

Offense: JaReese Campbell

Defense: Lake Linton Summit Sports Medicine & Orthopaedic Surgery

Mitchell Co. High School

Offense: Al Childs

Defense: Jai’Maryon Holder Vereen Sports Medicine

Pelham High School

Offense: Berdendrick Johnson Jr.

Defense: Jeremiah Battle Vereen Sports Medicine

Perry High School

Offense: Armar Gordon Jr.

Defense: Camerin Marshall Parrish Construction Group

Pierce Co. High School

Offense: DJ Bell

Defense: Jaquez White

Thomas Co. Central High School

Offense: Samuel Brown

Defense: Javion Revels

Thomasville High School

Offense: Jay Randall

Defense: Jayden Alston FieldTurf

Tift Co. High School

Offense: Damion Moate

Defense: JaCoiley Nathan Prince Automotive

Tiftarea Academy

Offense: Kameron Brown

Defense: Matthew Malone Prince Automotive

Valdosta High School

Offense: Jalen Whitehead

Defense: Omar White

CBC Bank

Valwood School

Offense: Triston White

Defense: Worth Kimbro

South Georgia Medical Center

Veterans High School

Offense: Damare Franklin (NP)

Defense: Jaron Benjamin (NP) Five Star Automotive

Brunswick High School

Offense: Terry Mitchell

Defense: Ivan Johnson

Summit Sports Medicine & Orthopaedic Surgery

Coffee High School

Offense: Mason Roberts

Defense: Larry Daniel Woody Folsom Auto Group

Glynn Academy

Offense: Tyler Devlin

Defense: John McCleod

Summit Sports Medicine & Orthopaedic Surgery

Worth Co. High School

Offense: Chip Cooper

Defense: Jaylen Fluellen

Sunbelt Ford

Warner Robins High School

Offense: Chase Reese

Defense: Vic Burley

Parrish Construction Group

Houston County High School

Offense: Kylen House

Defense: Brandon Walden

Northside High School

Offense: Quinton Lewis

Defense: Isaiah Harvey

Parrish Construction Group

Top 10 Passers in 2022 Georgia High School Football Season

Written by: Dhruv Mohan Photography by: Brandon Pham

Mill Creek’s blowout victory over Carrollton in the Georgia Class 7A state championship brought the 2022 season to a close. Several teams and players defied odds on the field, some breaking decades-long records and others etching their names into the history books for the first time. Such was the case among the top passers in Georgia high school football, who once again established the state as a frontrunner for offensive talent nationwide. Following are the 2022 season’s statistically best passers.

10. JAY KANAZAWA – 3,266 YARDS

Kanazawa more than doubled the passing output of any other quarterback in his classification. His mid- and late-season consistency propelled Schley County through the bracket and into the A-D2 championship, where the Wildcats fell despite Kanazawa’s 242 passing yards. He passed for three or more touchdowns seven times, and he also proved to be a scrambling threat at times.

9. BAXTER WRIGHT – 3,343 YARDS

Gainesville’s leap from 5-5 to 14-1 would not have been possible without Wright, who received playing time even as a freshman. The current junior torched opposing defenses for 40 scores through the air and did not turn the ball over in any playoff game. He was an integral part of Gainesville’s game plan against Langston Hughes and set season highs in passing attempts, completions, and rush attempts.

8. BEN GUTHRIE – 3,365 YARDS

Facing an easier schedule than it did the last two years, Alpharetta’s passing attack opened up. Guthrie burst on the scene with 343 yards and three touchdowns against a stingy Jefferson defense to start the season, and he never looked back, ending the year with 44 total touchdowns. He passed for over 200 yards in all but one game and maintained a completion rate above 60% all season.

7. JEREMY HECKLINSKI – 3,520 YARDS

Hecklinski’s heroics for Walton weren’t limited to a second-round stunning upset of Buford; his impact was felt all season. His accurate passing and playmaking skills always shined in the most important of games, such as 426 passing yards against Mill Creek and 417 against North Paulding. He even completed two perfect games, never throwing an incompletion in routs of Pope and Cherokee.

6. JACK CENDOYA – 3,546 YARDS

Cendoya’s leap in production came at a critical time for Mt. Pisgah, which hoped to improve on a five-win 2021 campaign. Despite losing Cole Spence as a target, Cendoya picked apart opponents, passing for 272 and 365 yards in upsets of Fellowship Christian and Darlington, respectively. While turnovers in other important games ultimately resulted in losses, Cendoya’s 2022 performance marked a stark improvement for the senior.

5. KEEGAN STOVER – 3,605 YARDS

The lineage of high-flying Rabun County passers only continued with Stover. The transfer from West Forsyth quickly made an impact, passing for 13 TDs and nearly 1,000 yards in his first three games, eventually resulting in a 41-touchdown senior season. Stover’s outputs helped WR Jadensss Gibson lead the state in receiving again, improving his totals from 1,878 yards to nearly 2,000 yards this season.

4. ANTWANN HILL JR. – 3,663 YARDS

Hill’s improvement among the top passers in Georgia high school football is unrivaled. After tossing 8 touchdowns and 7 interceptions as a freshman, Hill shocked the state with a breakout sophomore season that included 40 touchdowns. The Houston County Bear posted three 400-yard performances and maintained over 70% completion over the season. His youth did not prevent him from being clutch, as evident in victories over Perry, Warner Robins, Northside-Warner Robins, and Brunswick.

3. PRENTISS AIR NOLAND – 4,095 YARDS

Langston Hughes’s offense broke the state record for points scored in a season and Noland was the main catalyst. The left-handed junior passed for a whopping 55 touchdowns, good for second in Georgia history. His completion rate stands at 73.1% and he passed for four or more touchdowns in nearly half of this season’s games. Noland’s consistent passing makes him a top-3 quarterback for next season, if not No. 1.

2. JULIAN LEWIS – 4,118 YARDS

Lewis slammed the door shut on any doubts about his inexperience at the high school level. The nation’s top-rated freshman quarterback tossed 48 touchdowns and proved to be one of the most consistent players in Georgia statistically. He led Carrollton to an undefeated regular season and the 7A state title game, where he passed for an otherworldly 531 yards and 5 touchdowns in the Trojans’ shootout loss. He’s No. 2 among top passers in Georgia high school football – and he might be the best quarterback in the state already.

1. AARON PHILO – 4,598 YARDS

Leading the state in receiving is nothing new for junior sensation Aaron Philo. The Prince Avenue Christian passer threw for 4,540 yards last season and produced similar totals this season. He passed for 6 or more touchdowns in five games this year, and his name now tops the lists of every statistical passing record in the Georgia history books. Not only was Philo No. 1 among top passers in Georgia high school football, he was the nation’s sixth-leading passer this season, and he very well could better that ranking in 2023.

Veterans – Wrestling

MIDDLE GEORGIA PLAYER OF THE MONTH

Just how good can Dooly County High School quarterback and multi-purpose athlete Antwuan Clayton be with a full season? According to his coach, Cecil Lester, the sky's the limit. If he has a limit. The coach is certainly looking forward to seeing what a healthy Clayton can do in 2023.

“Antwuan is the most athletic student in our high school, and he’s the most important player on the team,” Lester says. Ok, then.

Last year, Clayton became the team’s full time starter at quarterback for Dooly County. The sophomore also played defensive back, and in just five games he put up the kind of numbers

Dooly County Anticipates Return of Injured Quarterback for 2023 Season

Written by: Phil Jones

that many players would be thrilled to have over the course of a full season. Clayton completed 74 of 138 pass attempts for 1,341 yards and 18 TDs while rushing for 271 yards on 21 carries with a TD. He also had 2 interceptions, one of which he returned for a score.

All in just five games. During that stretch, Clayton led Dooly County to a 4-1 record, with the offense averaging 52 points in the four victories.

Then a torn ACL sidelined Clayton for the remainder of the season, leaving Lester and Bobcat fans to wonder what could have been, in what actually was still a pretty good year for Dooly

County. The Bobcats finished 7-6, advancing to the Class A-D2 quarterfinals. Their season ended there with a 3-point loss to Lincoln County, 24-21.

Lester suspects things would have turned out differently with their star player in the game.

“As far as we were able to advance, it is frustrating to think how much longer we could have played with Antwuan,” he says.

Lester has known Clayton since he was a 12-year-old growing up in Dooly County, and the coach remembers thinking back then how good he was.

“I could tell Antwuan was going to be special,” he says.

The Bobcats coach said it wasn’t just Clayton’s athletic ability that stood out.

“He was a very smart kid,” Lester says.

Antwuan has an older brother, Antonneous, who also was very good. The coach remembers thinking that Antwuan got many of the same attributes as his older sibling, a five-star defensive end who went on to play at Florida for three years before transferring to Georgia Tech. Lester remembers thinking that as talented as Antonneous was, the younger brother was getting attention, too.

“I remember the schools recruiting his older brother would tell Ant-

wuan to come along with him,” Lester says with a chuckle.

The second-year Dooly County coach says he is expecting Antwuan to be ready to go by the start of the 2023 season, but he cautions that his use of the quarterback may be a bit different.

“We may try to make him more of a pocket passer this year, coming off such a serious injury,” Lester says.

Even if that’s the case, Lester says don’t expect a major drop in production from Clayton: “Antwuan will still account for about 80% of our offense.”

Presented by:

Tift County –Baseball

Charis Eager Leads by Example for Valwood Volleyball, Basketball

Written by: Phil Jones Photos: Courtesy of Valwood School

For Valwood student-athlete Charis Eager, try to imagine what’s next on her to-do list. If we could catch a peek, the standout volleyball and basketball player's list might read something like this: earn All-Region basketball honors – check; earn All-Region volleyball honors – check; win two volleyball state championships – check; be named homecoming queen – check.

Maybe a fifth entry would be “Win Nobel Prize”?

Valwood volleyball coach Val Gallahan says that while Charis is a great athlete and teammate, her greatest attribute may be her positive attitude toward everyone around her.

“Charis was our only senior this past season, and she was always encouraging the younger girls and all of her teammates,” Gallahan says.

Mike Patrick, who coaches Valwood’s girls basketball team, recalls the first time he met Charis, and the impression she made at the time, even though she was an opponent.

“I met Charis when she was in the 10th grade,” Patrick says. “I was coaching at another school at that time, and we were playing Valwood. I just remember how she was giving 110%, and she was encouraging her teammates, and that has always stuck with me.”

Patrick echoes Gallahan’s assertion that Charis is always eager to help the younger players on the basketball team.

“She leads by example and is always encouraging the younger girls on the team.” Patrick says. “I am sure glad I got to coach her the last two years.”

Speaking of leading by example, Eager produces on the court, whether it’s for her volleyball team or the Valiant basketball squad. Patrick says she’s currently the team’s second-leading scorer, averaging more than 12 points per game, and she’s also second in rebounds with more than 8 a game.

“She’s getting better every day,” says Patrick.

In volleyball, Charis was a member of Valwood’s region and state championship teams in 2020 and 2021, her sophomore and junior seasons. The 2022 season did not produce a state title, but it still was a great year for the Valiants and Charis in her final high school season. The Valwood volleyball squad advanced to the Elite 8 with a 24-7 overall record and took home the 25th annual Augusta Prep volleyball tournament title.

Charis finished her volleyball career at Valwood with 20 aces, 105 kills, 35 blocks, 76 digs, and 8 assists. A strong senior season saw her finish second on the team in in blocks and third in kills.

And yes, in addition to being a standout Valwood volleyball and basketball player, Eager was elected the school’s Homecoming Queen.

Charis, the daughter of John and Carrie Eager, says she loves to fish and hunt, ride horses, play beach volleyball, and – her favorite activity – play pickleball. She is a member of Crossroads Church, and plans to attend Valdosta State University in the fall and continue playing sports with her sorority.

For Charis Eager, a Valwood volleyball and basketball player with a packed schedule, what's a few more items for that to-do list?

“She leads by example and is always encouraging the younger girls on the team.”

Mike Patrick

Northside – Baseball

MIDDLE GEORGIA PLAYER OF THE MONTH

Every head football coach in Georgia would love to have a player like JaReese Campbell. At McIntosh County Academy, Bradley Warren knows just how fortunate he has been over these past four years.

“When I came back to Darien in 2019, JaReese was a rising ninth-grader, and despite being a freshman, he stood out,” Warren recalls. “He regularly attended all of our workouts and practices, and I began to notice that he had an above-average IQ for the game of football, and he had a great skill set for a safety and running back.”

Campbell’s stellar defensive play would continue to improve

More Bang for the Bucs: McIntosh County Academy’s JaReese Campbell

Written by: Phil Jones

during his freshman season, and every season thereafter during his Bucs career.

“JaReese really excelled on the defensive side of the ball that first season as a member of the varsity, and he became a mainstay on our defense for his entire career,” Warren says.

Of course, like many smaller schools, McIntosh County Academy calls on most players to start on both sides of the ball, and that was the case with the Campbell. Warren says when he began to use the talented safety on offense as well, it was primarily at wing back and receiver, and that’s where he stayed through his sophomore and junior seasons. Then, following his junior season, Campbell’s hard work in the offseason began

to shape him into more of a dynamic player.

“JaReese was lighter and quicker earlier in his career when he played on offense, but once he really got after it in the weight room, and his senior season came around, he had developed into a powerful runner with a good burst of speed and better-than-average vision,” Warren says.

That enabled the McIntosh County Academy head coach to put Campbell in a position to help his team even more, playing him as a mobile quarterback and at tailback.

The move not only helped Campbell become a more well-rounded and complete player, it also led to more wins for

the Buccaneers, who finished with a 10-2 record and the team’s first region championship since 2008.

Warren says Campbell’s impact was felt throughout his entire high school career, on and off the field:

“His impact on our program has been felt in several areas: Number one, he has been a leader by example, and has been a mainstay in the defensive and offensive gameplans for the past four years. He has also been solid in the classroom and has defined to our younger players the commitment it takes to be successful.”

JaReese has had a close confidant right there with him every step of the way during his four years at McIntosh County Academy: His twin brother, TyReese, who plays

running back and outside linebacker for the Buccaneers. They are the sons of Jamaal and LaShonda Campbell.

“Tyreese and JaReese have been there since our summer program before the start of the 2019 season,” Warren says.

JaReese finished with 2,676 all-purpose yards as a receiver, rushing quarterback and running back, and punt and kick returner. Defensively, he had 59 tackles, 3 INT, and a fumble recovery. He finished his career with 27 TDs.

Warren says JaReese has received interest from several colleges, including Alcorn State and Georgia Military, but he thinks Reinhardt College may be the leader right now for his services.

Photography by: Allen Allnoch

ITG Next Sends 500 High School Student-Athletes to 2022 TaxSlayer Gator Bowl for Free

Written by: Phil Jones | Photography by: Brandon Pham & Phil Jones

In the 2022 edition of our annual TaxSlayer Gator Bowl Takeover, ITG Next hosted and fed some 500 athletes and their coaches from high schools across South Georgia and North Florida at the TaxSlayer Gator Bowl on Dec. 30, 2022.

The game featured the Fighting Irish of Notre Dame against the South Carolina Gamecocks. Our 2022 TaxSlayer Gator Bowl Takeover guests were able to enjoy a pre-game meal and an exciting contest at no cost to them or their school.

The TaxSlayer Gator Bowl has become one of the premiere games in college football’s bowl season, and this year’s contest was no exception. In the highest-scoring game in Gator Bowl history, Notre Dame held off South Carolina by a final score of 45-38 in front of a sellout crowd at Jacksonville’s TIAA Bank Field.

For information on how your school can join us at next year’s TaxSlayer Gator Bowl Takeover, visit our website at www. itgnext.com/bowl-takeover.

HIGH SC HOOL