2012 Cobb Football Friday

FOOTBALL TAB COVER 2012 REVISED WITH BLEED:

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A SPECIAL SUPPLEMENT OF THE MARIETTA DAILY JOURNAL SUNDAY, AUGUST 19, 2012

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KICKOFF 2012

2012 MARIETTA DAILY JOURNAL/CHEROKEE TRIBUNE ANNUAL FOOTBALL PREVIEW ISSUE

SUNDAY, AUGUST 19, 2012

TEAM PREVIEWS

FEATURES

COBB QUARTERBACKS

6

CHEROKEE RIVALRIES

14

MDJ DYNAMITE DOZEN

45

CHEROKEE SUPER SIX

COMPOSITE SCHEDULE BEST GAMES TO SEE IN 2012 REGION 4AAAAAA/5AAAAAA PREVIEW REGION 5AAAAA/7AAAAA PREVIEW REGION 7AAAA/6A PREVIEW

PAGE 3

ALLATOONA BUCCANEERS

8

NORTH COBB CHRISTIAN EAGLES 52

16

PEBBLEBROOK FALCONS

CAMPBELL SPARTANS

10

CREEKVIEW GRIZZLIES

18

CHEROKEE WARRIORS ETOWAH EAGLES

HARRISON HOYAS

HILLGROVE HAWKS

4 54 74 76 77

56

58

POPE GREYHOUNDS

60

SEQUOYAH CHIEFS

64

20

RIVER RIDGE KNIGHTS

26

SOUTH COBB EAGLES

68

WALKER WOLVERINES

72

WHEELER WILDCATS

82

WOODSTOCK WOLVERINES

88

22

62

28

SPRAYBERRY YELLOW JACKETS 70

LASSITER TROJANS

32

WALTON RAIDERS

MCEACHERN INDIANS

40

KELL LONGHORNS

KENNESAW MOUNTAIN MUSTANGS 30 62

OSBORNE CARDINALS

MARIETTA BLUE DEVILS MT. PARAN CHRISTIAN EAGLES NORTH COBB WARRIORS

36

42

50

78

WHITEFIELD WOLFPACK

84

Staff / Todd Hull

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KICKOFF 2012

2012 COBB/CHEROKEE MASTER SCHEDULE

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AUGUST 24 CAMPBELL AT MORROW HILLGROVE AT WESTLAKE NEWNAN AT MARIETTA OSBORNE AT CHAPEL HILL SPRAYBERRY AT WHEELER TEMPLE AT WALKER JOHNS CREEK AT WOODSTOCK

AUGUST 25 (ALL GAMES AT GEORGIA DOME) KELL VS. CHATTAHOOCHEE (9 A.M.) MCEACHERN VS. GRAYSON (11:45 A.M.) WALTON VS. BROOKWOOD (8:30 P.M.) AUGUST 30 CREEKVIEW AT CHEROKEE AUGUST 31 ALLATOONA AT WOODLAND HARRISON AT WOODSTOCK HILLGROVE VS. LASSITER (6:30 P.M. AT MCEACHERN) SPRAYBERRY AT KENNESAW MOUNTAIN MARIETTA AT POPE WALTON AT MCEACHERN (8:30 P.M.) MOUNT PARAN CHRISTIAN AT OUR LADY OF MERCY NORTH COBB AT STARR’S MILL OSBORNE AT MCNAIR WESTLAKE AT SOUTH COBB WHITEFIELD ACADEMY AT PACE ACADEMY LAMBERT AT ETOWAH SEQUOYAH AT RIVER RIDGE SACA AT NORTH COBB CHRISTIAN (5:30 P.M.) SW DEKALB AT PEBBLEBROOK SEPTEMBER 7 ALLATOONA AT PAULDING CO. OSBORNE AT CAMPBELL ALPHARETTA AT HARRISON WOODSTOCK AT KELL LASSITER AT SPRAYBERRY MOUNT PARAN CHRISTIAN AT BROOKSTONE PEBBLEBROOK AT MOUNTAIN VIEW POPE AT WHEELER SOUTH COBB AT DOUGLAS COUNTY NORTH COBB CHRISTIAN AT WALKER WHEELER AT LANGSTON HUGHES WHITEFIELD ACADEMY AT RIVERSIDE MILITARY SEQUOYAH AT CHEROKEE RIVER RIDGE AT CREEKVIEW ETOWAH AT CENTENNIAL SEPTEMBER 14 ROME AT ALLATOONA HARRISON AT CAMPBELL HILLGROVE AT MARIETTA

KELL AT LASSITER SOUTH COBB AT KENNESAW MOUNTAIN MCEACHERN AT PEBBLEBROOK LANDMARK AT MOUNT PARAN CHRISTIAN WALTON AT NORTH COBB ETOWAH AT POPE WALKER AT SACA ST. FRANCIS AT WHITEFIELD ACADEMY CHEROKEE AT NORTH FORSYTH RIVER RIDGE AT RIDGELAND NORTH COBB CHRISTIAN AT MOUNT ZION-CARROLL SEPTEMBER 21 ALLATOONA AT LITHIA SPRINGS CAMPBELL AT SOUTH COBB PEBBLEBROOK AT HARRISON KELL AT CREEKVIEW KENNESAW MOUNTAIN AT NORTH COBB LASSITER AT CHEROKEE MARIETTA AT MCEACHERN TRION AT MOUNT PARAN CHRISTIAN OSBORNE AT CAMBRIDGE POPE AT NORTHVIEW SPRAYBERRY AT FORSYTH CENTRAL MOUNT ZION-CARROLL AT WALKER WOODSTOCK AT WALTON WHEELER AT ETOWAH LAFAYETTE AT RIVER RIDGE RIVERWOOD AT SEQUOYAH

SUNDAY, AUGUST 19, 2012

NORTH COBB AT SOUTH COBB POPE AT OSBORNE MOUNT PISGAH AT WALKER WHEELER AT ROSWELL FELLOWSHIP CHRISTIAN AT WHITEFIELD ACADEMY CHEROKEE AT WOODSTOCK SEQUOYAH AT CREEKVIEW MILTON AT ETOWAH CEDARTOWN AT RIVER RIDGE OCTOBER 6 NORTH COBB CHRISTIAN AT BACONTON

OCTOBER 12 PEBBLEBROOK AT CAMPBELL HILLGROVE AT NORTH COBB OSBORNE AT KELL MARIETTA AT KENNESAW MOUNTAIN MCEACHERN AT SOUTH COBB WHITEFIELD ACADEMY AT MOUNT PARAN CHRISTIAN RIVERWOOD AT SPRAYBERRY WALKER AT FELLOWSHIP CHRISTIAN CREEKVIEW AT NORTHVIEW NORTH SPRINGS AT SEQUOYAH PROVIDENCE CHR. AT NORTH COBB CHRISTIAN 5 P.M. SPRAYBERRY AT POPE

OCTOBER 18

SOUTH PAULDING AT ALLATOONA HILLGROVE AT CAMPBELL HARRISON AT NORTH COBB NORTH SPRINGS AT KELL MCEACHERN AT KENNESAW MOUNTAIN WOODSTOCK AT LASSITER MARIETTA AT PEBBLEBROOK CREEKVIEW AT OSBORNE CAMBRIDGE AT POPE SEQUOYAH AT SPRAYBERRY CHEROKEE AT WALTON MILTON AT WHEELER GORDON LEE AT WHITEFIELD ACADEMY ETOWAH AT ROSWELL NW WHITFIELD AT RIVER RIDGE CROSS KEYS AT NORTH COBB CHRISTIAN (4:30 P.M.)

OCTOBER 19 VILLA RICA AT ALLATOONA CAMPBELL AT MARIETTA SOUTH COBB AT HARRISON KENNESAW MOUNTAIN AT HILLGROVE LASSITER AT MILTON NORTH COBB AT MCEACHERN FELLOWSHIP AT MOUNT PARAN CHRISTIAN OSBORNE AT RIVERWOOD WALKER AT KING’S RIDGE WALTON AT WHEELER MOUNT PISGAH AT WHITEFIELD ACADEMY CHEROKEE AT ETOWAH CAMBRIDGE AT CREEKVIEW RIVER RIDGE AT CASS FORSYTH CENTRAL AT SEQUOYAH ROSWELL AT WOODSTOCK NORTH COBB CHRISTIAN AT TOWNS COUNTY

OCTOBER 5 NEW MANCHESTER AT ALLATOONA CAMPBELL AT MCEACHERN KENNESAW MOUNTAIN AT HARRISON PEBBLEBROOK AT HILLGROVE KELL AT RIVERWOOD WALTON AT LASSITER MOUNT PARAN CHRISTIAN AT KING’S RIDGE

OCTOBER 26 HIRAM AT ALLATOONA CAMPBELL AT KENNESAW MOUNTAIN HILLGROVE AT HARRISON KELL AT SPRAYBERRY WHEELER AT LASSITER MARIETTA AT SOUTH COBB MOUNT PARAN CHRISTIAN AT MOUNT PISGAH

SEPTEMBER 28

PEBBLEBROOK AT NORTH COBB POPE AT RIVERWOOD WHITEFIELD ACADEMY AT WALKER MILTON AT WALTON (9 P.M.) CHEROKEE AT ROSWELL FORSYTH CENTRAL AT CREEKVIEW ETOWAH AT WOODSTOCK GILMER AT RIVER RIDGE SEQUOYAH AT NORTHVIEW NORTH COBB CHRISTIAN AT LAKEVIEW ACADEMY

NOVEMBER 2 ALLATOONA AT NORTH PAULDING HARRISON AT MCEACHERN SOUTH COBB AT HILLGROVE POPE AT KELL PEBBLEBROOK AT KENNESAW MOUNTAIN ROSWELL AT LASSITER NORTH COBB AT MARIETTA WALKER AT MOUNT PARAN CHRISTIAN SPRAYBERRY AT OSBORNE ETOWAH AT WALTON WOODSTOCK AT WHEELER KING’S RIDGE AT WHITEFIELD ACADEMY MILTON AT CHEROKEE CREEKVIEW AT NORTH SPRINGS RIVER RIDGE AT PICKENS CAMBRIDGE AT SEQUOYAH ST. FRANCIS AT NORTH COBB CHRISTIAN NOVEMBER 9 ALLATOONA AT EAST PAULDING NORTH COBB AT CAMPBELL HARRISON AT MARIETTA MCEACHERN AT HILLGROVE KELL PLAY-IN GAME KENNESAW MOUNTAIN VS. TBA LASSITER AT ETOWAH MOUNT PARAN CHRISTIAN PLAY-IN GAME OSBORNE PLAY-IN GAME POPE PLAY-IN GAME SPRAYBERRY PLAY-IN GAME WALKER PLAY-IN GAME WALTON AT ROSWELL WHEELER AT CHEROKEE WHITEFIELD ACADEMY PLAY-IN GAME CREEKVIEW PLAY-IN GAME RIVER RIDGE PLAY-IN GAME SEQUOYAH PLAY-IN GAME WOODSTOCK AT MILTON NORTH COBB CHRISTIAN AT CLARKSTON (5:15 P.M.) NOVEMBER 10 SOUTH COBB AT PEBBLEBROOK (1 P.M.)

ALL GAME TIMES 7:30 P.M. UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED

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KICKOFF 2012

SUNDAY, AUGUST 19, 2012

Four of Cobb County’s top passers in 2011 are back for more. Each quarterback led its team to the playoffs, earned at least one postseason victory and will be playing on Saturday’s next fall.

Marietta’s Anthony Jennings, far left, is heading to LSU, Lassiter’s Eddie Printz, top right, will head west to UCLA, Walton’s Parker McLeod, bottom center, will head to defending national champion Alabama, and South Cobb’s Stephon Masha will be taking his talents to Liberty in the Big South Conference. These four quarterbacks are among 10 in Cobb County that are returning after throwing for more than 1,000 yards last year and are continuing to help make high school football a passfirst game.

Staff / Todd Hull

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KICKOFF 2012

SUNDAY, AUGUST 19, 2012

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Cobb quarterbacks proving how the West is won

Staff / Todd Hull

Position continues to evolve as offenses open up

By Carlton D. White

cwhite@mdjonline.com

The times they are a changin’.

Four years ago, rushing offenses ruled the programs in Cobb County. Eight backs, whether they were quarterbacks or running backs, rushed for more than 1,000 yards in 2008, including Walton’s Michael Boydston, Campbell’s Josh Bolden, Whitefield Academy’s Christian Willis and Harrison’s Robbie Godhigh.

Lassiter’s record-setting quarterback, Hutson Mason, Austin Petrik of Kell and Harrison’s Christian Burnett were among only six players who threw for more than 1,000 yards that same year.

Two-thousand-eight was also the same season Cobb County introduced 13 new coaches, and three new schools — North Cobb

Christian, Allatoona and Mount Paran Christian — all started varsity programs.

That changing of the guard may have been the impetus for a vibrant change in offensive philosophy in Cobb County which has seen the proliferation of spread offenses and dynamic play from quarterbacks and receivers.

“I don’t know if it was a changing of the guard for all of us,” South Cobb coach Ed Koester said. “I think teams have just gotten better at throwing the ball.

Certainly, I think with (former coach) Chip Lindsey going over to Lassiter and bringing that ‘Air Raid’ system in with him, a lot of us really took notice.

“I think that system and its growth spurred us (as coaches) on.

It’s like basketball on grass and that suits our kids since a lot of

them get to touch the ball. Lindsey really understood Tony Franklin’s spread offense. The rest of us run a variation of it, and we gradually got the players to benefit from it.”

McEachern coach Kyle Hockman agreed. He, along with Koester, Lindsey, Derek Cook (Kell), Mitch Jordan (Mount Paran Christian), Gary Varner (Allatoona) and Matt Kemper (Pope) were all head first-year coaches at their respective schools in 2008.

“The whole game is evolving with the evolution of spread offenses,” Hockman said. “Players are attracted to that style and you see it on Saturdays and Sundays.

“What were once leagues with a heavy emphasis on the run game, there are few systems now where the quarterback isn’t the focus. Of course, just about every See Cobb, Page 12

ANTHONY JENNINGS, MARIETTA

165 OF 273, 2,187 YDS., 19 TD, 4 INT (2011) CLASS AAAAA FIRST-TEAM ALL-STATE ATHLETE COMMITTED TO LSU

STEPHON MASHA, SOUTH COBB

137 OF 263, 2,051 YDS., 25 TD, 13 INT (2011) LED SOUTH COBB TO FIRST PLAYOFF WIN COMMITTED TO LIBERTY

PARKER MCLEOD, WALTON

88 of 130, 1,355 yds., 17 TD, 3 INT (2011) LED WALTON TO STATE CHAMPIONSHIP GAME COMMITTED TO ALABAMA

EDDIE PRINTZ, LASSITER

277 OF 442, 3,350 YDS., 28 TD, 9 INT (2011) CLASS AAAAA SECOND-TEAM ALL-STATE QB COMMITTED TO UCLA

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ALLATOONA BUCCANEERS KICKOFF 2012

PAGE 8

SUNDAY, AUGUST 19, 2012

LOCATION: 3300 DALLAS-ACWORTH HWY., ACWORTH. PHONE: 770-975-6503. HOME FIELD: BUCCANEER STADIUM. TEAM COLORS: RED. BLACK, SILVER. ONLINE: BUCS-FOOTBALL.COM

COACHING STAFF

2011 RESULTS 12-1

HEAD COACH: GARY VARNER AGE: 45 YEAR : 5 RECORD: 27-13 CAREER: 27-13

VARSITY COACHING STAFF TROY PETERSON — DEF. COORD. DAVID CINTRON — RECEIVERS BARRY COX — QUARTERBACKS BRET HUBINGER — DEF. LINE MIKE DENNISON — LINEBACKERS KEITH BYRD — RUNNING BACKS ANDY WILCOX — DEF. LINE JEREMY ANDERSON — RECEIVERS KEVIN PENA — DEF. BACKS ERIC FRIDBORG — KICKERS

2011 LEADERS

RUSHING MILES JONES T.J. HERRON

PASSING JEREMY UZEE

34-0 28-7 42-7 28-21 10-0 44-0 27-21 42-7 42-14 28-7 47-21 14-7 28-32

W W W W W W W W W W W W L

5-YEAR RECORD 27-13

2,142 YDS, 29 TD 446 YDS, 10 TD

RECEIVING DJ EZELL KENNY PADTHA

TACKLES MICHAEL MILLER

KMHS RIDGELAND SE WHITFIELD DALTON CARTERSVILLE MURRAY CO. CEDARTOWN PICKENS GILMER RIDGELAND FRANKLIN CO. MARY PERSONS BURKE COUNTY

1,202 YDS, 10 TD 339 YDS, 3 TD 247 YDS, 1 TD

SACKS BRYSON BRINDLE INTERCEPTIONS ALEX ISON

146 6

Coming off the best season in Allatoona history the Buccaneers were rewarded with a jump of not one, but two classifications.

In fact, these next two years will likely be the only ones Allatoona will stay as a member of Class AAAAA. A quick trip to Class AAAAAA is nearly inevitable because the Buccaneers, along with neighboring North Paulding, are already considered by the Georgia High School Association to be the two largest schools in their class. Now, we will get to see if the Bucs play like it.

Allatoona went 12-1 in 2011 behind a defensive unit that recorded three shutouts and kept five other opponents to seven points or less. Much of that defense is back, and many of the players believe the unit can pick up where it left off last season and become

NO. PLAYER 1 TERENCE SYKES 2 TOMMY DAVIS 3 TRABORIS TARVER 4 CLARENCE SOLBERRY 5 ALEX ISON 6 JEREMY UZEE 7 ZACH NICHOLS 8 CHRIS COLMAN 9 JUSTIN WADE 10 T.J. HERRON 11 DJ EZELL 12 NATE STEPHENS 14 CHASE ALEXANDER 15 CONNOR LARSON 16 COLE WAGNER 17 TONY PERKINS

CL. 12 12 12 12 12 12 10 12 11 12 11 11 10 10 10 11

POS. DB WR DB WR WR QB QB LB LB RB WR WR LB QB DB WR

2012 SEASON OUTLOOK

even better.

The biggest loss comes on the offensive side of the ball where the Bucs lost leading rusher Miles Jones, who ran for nearly 2,200 yards and 30 touchdowns, but the entire offensive line.

Coach Gary Varner said there is reason for hope with new starting running back T.J. Herron, who rushed for 446 yards and 10 touchdowns in a reserve role last season. Varner said Herron has a huge skill set, can line up at the running back or fullback position and catch the ball out of the backfield.

“He allows us to be diverse in formations,” Varner said.

Varner also said he believes the strength of the offense will come at his skill positions — quarterback Jeremy Uzee and his receivers.

NO. PLAYER 18 CHRIS MCCREA 19 BRANDT KIRETA 20 CAMERON PENA 21 LOGAN EDGE 22 TEMPLE REED 23 MARVIN JOHNSON 25 NICK JONES 26 JOSH BEAUTISTA 28 CHARLIE MAISON 29 NATE SHAW 30 CODY SORRELLS 31 AUSTIN DANIEL 35 SPENCER BROCK 39 DYLAN COURTNEY 40 JOSH PARKER 41 STEPHEN OSBORN

2012 ROSTER

CL. POS. 12 DB 11 DB 10 DB/RB 11 RB 12 DB 12 RB 11 DB 10 RB 12 RB 12 K 12 RB 12 LB 11 LB 12 LB 11 LB 12 DB

NO. PLAYER 43 HUNTER ALLEN 45 ANDERSON CARTER 47 MARKEL MILNER 48 AUSTIN BROCK 50 COLIN TURNER 52 ANDREW HESTER 53 CODY WEBB 56 PEARSON KILGORE 58 A.J. BOWIE 59 CONNOR BRUMFIELD 60 CAMDON RHODES 61 ALEX FERGUSON 63 TREVOR PATRICK 64 CASSIE ALLEN 71 AMIR MOORE

One big plus this season will be the return of placekicker Nathan Shaw. Shaw has a strong leg and can reach the end zone on nearly every kickoff. He also has range up to 55 yards for potential field goals. Because of Allatoona’s prolific offense Shaw did not get much of a chance to show his ability in 2011, making one of two attempts, but he did connect on 56 of 57 extra points.

If the offense can jell by the middle of the season and the defense plays the way it is capable of, the Buccaneers will have a good chance to play into the Class AAAAA playoffs.

— By John Be dnarowski sportseditor@mdjonline.com

CL. 11 11 12 10 10 12 11 12 12 10 12 12 10 12 11

POS. LB RB RB LB LB OL LB LB OL OL OL DL OL DL OL

NO. PLAYER 74 YOSHI NICHOLSON 75 MIKE GERESI 77 KEVIN DIAZ 78 NICK MILLER 79 GRANT RHODES 81 DOUG BRUNNER 83 AUSTIN KOHLER 84 CHRISTIAN SOLOMON 85 KYLE SMITH 87 T YLER BROOKSHIRE 90 QUEINTIN CARR 92 CALVIN HOWARD 96 CHANDLER DIFFEE 98 DEVON WILLIAMS 99 GARRETT HALL

CL. 10 12 11 12 10 11 12 10 12 10 12 12 11 12 12

4

2012 SCHEDULE

AT WOODLAND AUG. 31

AT PAULDING CO. SEPT. 7

VS ROME SEPT. 14

AT LITHIA SPRINGS SEPT. 21

VS SO. PAULDING SEPT. 28

VS

NEW MANCHESTER

OCT. 5

VS VILLA RICA OCT. 19

VS HIRAM OCT. 26

AT NO. PAULDING NOV. 2

AT EAST PAULDING NOV. 9

POS. OL OL DL DL OL DL LB WR WR WR DL DL DL DL DL

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SUNDAY, AUGUST 19, 2012

Allatoona seniors Traboris Tarver, Alex Ison, Terence Sykes and Charlie Maison will be the anchor of the Buccaneers’ defense in 2012. Last year the Allatoona defense was one of the best in Cobb County. Now that the Buccaneers have moved up to Class AAAAA, the senior foursome is ready to show that good defense is good defense regardless of classification.

KICKOFF 2012

PAGE 9

GETTING CHIPPY

Staff / Laura Moon

Now a member of Class AAAAA, Allatoona defense out to prove it’s good for all classifications

By John Bednarowski

sportseditor@mdjonline.com

Over the last two years, Allatoona has a combined record of 20-4 with two playoff appearances — including advancing to last year’s Class AAA state quarterfinals — yet some players are entering the season with a chip on their shoulder.

Why? Because, until now, those players say friends and opponents from other schools have not been giving the Buccaneers the respect they believe they deserve because they played in a lower classification.

“I hear it all the time,” said Buccaneers safety Alex Ison. “But we want to play the Hillgroves and the Lassiters.”

Allatoona will get the opportunity to play the Class AAAAAA powers of Cobb County soon enough. For the next two years the Bucs are going to have to settle for Class AAAAA, but Ison, a safety, and his defensive unit teammates — outside linebacker Charlie Maison, cornerback Terence Sykes and safety Traboris Tarver — say that proving ground will be just fine.

“We’re going to have a blast,” Maison said. “We’re ready for these teams. It makes us want (to prove ourselves) even more.”

Ison, Maison, Sykes and Tarver are the four senior leaders of a stingy Allatoona defense that allowed teams an average of 11 points per game in 2011. Three victories came by shutout, including beating Cobb neighbor Kennesaw Mountain 34-0, and Northstar Church exists to show God’s love in such a way that people exchange ordinary living for an extraordinary life through the transforming power of Jesus Christ.

SERVICE TIMES: SUNDAYS AT 9:30 A.M. & 11:00 A.M ••• 3413 Blue Springs Road Kennesaw, GA 30144

northstarchurch.org

five other opponents were held to a single touchdown. Despite the paltry numbers they allowed their opponents, all four players believe this year’s defense has a chance to be better — even in a higher classification.

Ison said the Bucs goal is still the same: Go 10-0 and win another region title.

Tarver said the reason the defense has that chance to be as good, or better, and earn those goals is because of what the coaching staff has instilled in the defensive mindset.

“They tell us to remember OUR position,” Tarver said. “And to do the jobs we know how to do.”

For the seniors, that may go without saying.

See Chippy, Page 13

THE BUCS DEFENSE FILE

Allowed 11 points per game Had three shutouts Held five other opponents to seven points Helped lead the Buccaneers to the 2011 Class AAA quarterfinals Safety Alex Ison recorded 111 tackles and four interceptions in 2011 Linebacker Charlie Maison recorded 86 tackles

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CAMPBELL SPARTANS KICKOFF 2012

PAGE 10

SUNDAY, AUGUST 19, 2012

LOCATION: 5265 WARD STREET, SMYRNA. PHONE: 678-842-6850. HOME FIELD: RICHARD MCDANIEL STADIUM. TEAM COLORS: ROYAL BLUE, SILVER. ONLINE: CAMPBELLHIGHFOOTBALL.COM

COACHING STAFF

HEAD COACH: HARRIS RAINBOW AGE: 34 YEAR: 2 RECORD: 1-9 CAREER: 27-61

VARSITY COACHING STAFF DAVID CARDOZA — ASST. HC NICK WILLIAMSON — DC BRAD HAWKINS — DEF. LINE WADE STEWART — LINEBACKERS SKYLA HUTCHINS — DEF. BACKS COLEMAN JOINER — TIGHT ENDS JAMAL WILSON — RECEIVERS PHIL SANDIFER — OFF. LINE ISAIAH WILLIAMS — DEF. LINE NICK BEARDEN — RB

2011 LEADERS

RUSHING DARIUS HARRIS AUSTIN GREEN PASSING RICKY JAMES

RECEIVING ARVIEL JENKINS

2011 RESULTS 1-9

CENTENNIAL HUGHES WALTON MCEACHERN NORTH COBB KMHS HARRISON SOUTH COBB PEBBLEBROOK HILLGROVE

22-27 18-33 7-49 0-55 14-43 33-7 7-37 7-42 12-44 7-33

L L L L L W L L L L

5-YEAR RECORD 13-37

245 YDS, 1 TD 104 YDS, 3 TD 305 YDS, 2 TD 180 YDS, 1 TD

AT MORROW AUG. 24

VS OSBORNE SEPT. 7

VS HARRISON SEPT. 14

The reality of Campbell’s seven wins over the past four seasons has been due in large part to a negative culture that second-year coach Harris Rainbow is trying desperately to get eliminate.

While a 1-9 season like the one the Spartans had last year could help spread the pervasive negativity which has seemed to befall the program, the exact opposite appears to have occurred according to Rainbow, who believes his team will build up wins in the future with the correct attitude.

“Our kids are working 365 days a year at trying to do the right thing,” he said. “Those that are showing that they can’t do things the Campbell way are not part of the program.”

Getting and keeping players with the right atti-

NO. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20

PLAYER MARLON HORNE ARMAND GAZDA SAMUEL MORRISON KERHEEM DARRINGTON WESNER SIMILIEN KIEVIAN MCGHEE AUSTIN GREEN JOSH MILLER MICHAEL ROGERS CHANCE JACKSON JAMEZ TAYLOR PRINCE BUTLER JEREMIE TUZIZILA AJ ANDERSON MAC BRAYLOCK CHAUNCEY WERAH RICKY JAMES DAVID COLLINS JAWON NOBLES DERRICK HALL

AT SOUTH COBB SEPT. 21

CL. 11 12 12 11 12 11 11 12 11 11 12 11 12 12 12 10 11 11 9 12

NO. 21 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40

2012 SEASON OUTLOOK

tude and mindset is the key reason for Rainbow’s optimism regarding the future of the program. When he took over, his focus was on teaching fundamentals and teaching his players how to practice. That process also evolved into getting the right type of players to be a part of the team.

“I finally feel like we have kids that represent Campbell and the Smyrna community the right way,” he said. “I feel confident that we are an improved football team because the character and commitment level has increased for each individual player and for the team. We’ve made it our mission to have our kids do the right thing.”

Doing the right thing will bode well for the Spartans eight returning starters — four on offense and

PLAYER JUDE LOUISSANT DARIUS HARRIS KAHSAAN WILKINS JEVIUS ALMON LOGAN BERRY BRAXTON STEPHENS TRAVIS BATTLE GAIYON REAVISH TREMAIN WATSON LANCE MAGWOOD CAMERON ST. CYR KERRELL SUMMERHOUR BRANDON WIDE CEDRIC LEE JAMAHL RICE DEANDRE ANDREWS CORTAVION HINTON ANTONIO GEE NOAH MERRILL WOODE

2012 SCHEDULE

VS HILLGROVE SEPT. 28

AT MCEACHERN OCT. 5

2012 ROSTER CL. 12 12 12 10 10 11 11 11 10 12 10 11 10 9 11 11 10 10 12

NO. 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 54 55 56 59 60 63 65

PLAYER BRYAN RHODEN JUSTIN ROGERS JORDIE GONZALEZ SAEVON SPRINGER XAVIER YARBOROUGH JUWON LAWSON LONDON STEPNEY NICK SHANKLIN JASON BERNARD JALEN BATHEA MARCUS GRADY BRODRICK WILLIAMS ANTHONY WESSELS DEKEVION BYRD AARIONTE SMITH ROBERT ADAMS DARIONTE SMITH SANCHEZ DILL AMONTE HAMPTON

VS PEBBLEBROOK OCT. 12

AT MARIETTA OCT. 19

four on defense — who will be led by a senior class of which Rainbow speaks very highly.

“We’re still young and we have a long way to go,” he said. “We’ll play a lot of sophomores and juniors, but I’m really excited about the leadership from our senior class. They’ll have an influence over the other guys on our team that will be helpful.

“We played a bunch of kids last year, so a lot of our young guys got some experience, but they’ll need strong guidance to help them get better.”

— By Carlton D. White cwhite@mdjonline.com

CL. 10 11 12 12 12 11 12 12 10 11 9 10 11 11 10 11 10 11 10

NO. 66 67 68 73 74 79 80 82 83 84 85 86 87 89 90 91 92 94 96

AT

PLAYER PRESTON FUSSELL WALTER LOPEZ ERIC TERRILL STEPHEN WASHINGTON JHAMED OWENS ENRIQUE YENNY DOMINIC KLEIN ARNEIAS ROBINSON JEFFERSON LOPEZ MONTY DANIEL JOSH MONYEI MALIK LEE KHALEEL MARROW T YREEK HARRIS NICK MITCHELL ARMANI MERCADO GERRARDO ESCOBEDO CHASTIN SIMMS JEFF CHERICHEL

KENNESAW MTN.

OCT. 26

VS NORTH COBB NOV. 9

CL. 10 12 10 12 12 12 11 11 10 10 11 11 10 9 12 10 10 10 10

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KICKOFF 2012

SUNDAY, AUGUST 19, 2012

When he first arrived at Campbell, Jude Louissant would work out three times a day, six days a week and fell prey to injury. Now he gives himself plenty of rest and has been able to put on 30 pounds of muscle in the last year-and-a half.

PAGE 11

Staff / Jon-Michael Sullivan

Campbell’s Jude Louissant finds a second home in the weight room

By Carlton D. White

cwhite@mdjonline.com

As a member of the North Miami Beach High School football team, then freshman Jude Louissant respected the instructions and advice his coaches told him about staying in shape, doing the right things, paying attention and playing hard until the whistle blew.

One thing that always stood out for Louissant was how his coaches

encouraged players to weight train and get bigger and stronger for the punishing blows that come with playing football. He saw how it benefited the seniors on the team whom he looked up to.

“Coach told us how important it was to be in the weight room,” Louissant said. “I saw how big the varsity guys were and I wanted to be like them.”

So began Louissant’s journey.

When his family arrived in Smyrna in the spring of 2011,

Louissant quickly joined the Campbell football team and made the Spartans weight room his home away from home.

“I came to Campbell the second half of my sophomore year when I weighed 165 pounds,” he said. “I played my first year with the team at 175 pounds as a junior.

The weight gain was pretty much all muscle.”

Weight training has been a constant theme for Louissant throughout his teenage years. It’s

all he’s wanted to do since he came to Campbell.

According to defensive coordinator and strength and conditioning coach Nick Williamson, Louissant would work out for an hour-and-a-half, three times a day for six days a week when he joined the Spartans. The constant pressure on his body from the strenuous workouts took its toll.

“Glutes, hamstrings, ribs, wrists, a broken hand — Williamson said,

See Weight, Page 13

THE LOUISSANT FILE

“you, it seemede had the injury.

Moved to Smyrna in e ven messed up his ankle due to spring of 2011 working out so much.”

Works thethat weight A player out with in skills could help the team, Louissant had room 1 1/2 hours five problems staying out on the field durdays a week ing spring and summer practice due to injuries.

It wasn’t until Hastheput on 30 pounds the coaching staff started asking of muscle in 1 1/2 years him questions about how he occu Bench-presses pied his time that they315 discovered his injuries were caused pounds, squats 455because pounds

Campbell High School

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team wants a balance between the run and the pass. But, while that‘s important, there just isn’t a lot of hiking the ball and handing it off to the running back 25 to 30 times a game.

“I think, overall, it’s more of a quarterback game at this level than it was years ago.”

In 2009, five local players rushed and six quarterbacks passed for more than 1,000 yards. The biggest shift occurred a year later as six players rushed and 10 threw for more than 1,000 yards.

Spurred on by returning quarterbacks Eddie Printz of Lassiter, Marietta’s Anthony Jennings, Walton’s Parker McLeod and South Cobb’s Stephon Masha, the 2011 campaign provided the biggest skew in favor of quarterback play as 16 of the county’s 21 schools finished with players who threw for more than 1,000 yards. In contrast, only six players still ran for over 1,000 yards.

“Stats are always skewed based on records and how your team is doing in the game,” Hockman said. “A team that’s los-

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KICKOFF 2012

ing will tend to throw the ball more to score points and get back in the game, while a team that’s winning may try to run more to control the clock and limit offensive opportunities for the other team.”

Nevertheless, in both instances, the quarterback is in control, running the offense and managing the game as appropriate.

“A quarterback needs to be poised in the pocket,” said McLeod, who completed 88 passes for 1,355 yards and 17 touchdowns with three interceptions. “He has to be able to make throws and not get rattled by defenses, don’t force the ball, make smart decisions and manage the game.”

Much like Hockman’s spread offense at McEachern, Walton’s attack also has a strong commitment to the running game to balance the offense.

“When we run well, it really sets up our passing game,” said the right-hander McLeod who can throw the football 60 to 65 yards. “I get my fair share of throws in there and we move the chains, and as a pocket passer, I like the direction football is going.”

Jennings, a senior, led the Blue Devils to five wins over their final six games to make the playoffs and the team opened the postseason with a first-round playoff win at

home before falling in Round 2.

A dual-threat quarterback capable of using his legs to extend a play, Jennings completed 165 passes for 2,187 yards with 19 touchdowns and four interceptions. He also ran 160 times for 464 yards.

Unlike the other spread offenses in the county, Printz operates out of the shotgun more than 95 percent of the time and completed 277 passes for 3,350 yards with 28 touchdowns and nine interceptions.

A few other quarterbacks who threw for more than 1,000 yards included Tyler Queen of North Cobb, Elijah Ironside of Hillgrove, Kennesaw Mountain’s Dallin Finley and Mount Paran Christian’s Ian Berryman.

“I think more teams are going to the spread because it allows you to move the ball downfield faster,” said Masha, who threw 137 passes for 2,051 yards with 25 touchdowns and 13 picks. He also rushed 54 times for 214 yards.

“When you open things up, you get more space for the receivers to catch the ball and try to get downfield,” he said.

“You have to have communication with your offense and the guys on the line for it to work. Knowing how to beat and read defenses is also important.”

SUNDAY, AUGUST 19, 2012

2011 COBB PASSING LEADERS

NAME

EDDIE PRINTZ, LASSITER TRENT THOMPSON, MCEACHERN ANTHONY JENNINGS, MARIETTA STEPHON MASHA , SOUTH COBB SAM YARBOROUGH, WALKER HOLLAND FROST, POPE CLAY CHASTAIN, HARRISON ALEX HO-ON, NCC TYLER QUEEN, NORTH C OBB PARKER MCLEOD, WALTON ELIJAH IRONSIDE, HILLGROVE DALLIN FINLEY, KMHS JACOB CHESSER, SPRAYBERRY JEREMY UZEE, ALLATOONA MAX KEMETHER, WHITEFIELD IAN BERRYMAN, MPC CLAY DODSON, KELL ELIJAH STALEY, WHEELER C.J. GOODMAN, PEBBLEBROOK JAHMARI TOWNES, OSBORNE TROY THOMPSON, HILLGROV E RABON MARTIN, NCC RICKY JAMES, CAMPBELL JORDAN MATHIS, MARIETTA KENDALL CRUTE, KELL CORBIN JACKSON, SPRAYBERRY STEVEN SKRUCK, POPE TAYLOR WOLF, WHEELER LORENZO NUNEZ, HARRISON AUSTIN GREEN, CAMPBELL

COM/ATT 277/442 173/312 165/273 137/263 168/313 103/172 131/235 99/215 122/222 88/130 92/180 114/207 84/157 87/143 111/223 75/138 61/90 56/145 67/153 44/101 20/61 20/41 19/39 19/39 37/64 18/33 16/36 10/23 10/20 11/20

BOLD — EXPECTED TO RETURN IN 2012

YARDS TD 3350 2443 2187 2051 1839 1668 1655 1414 1412 1355 1388 1244 1239 1202 1130 1110 880 833 653 530 337 321 305 269 247 194 181 145 140 137

28 27 19 25 12 20 9 13 17 17 21 11 11 10 7 8 9 4 7 5 2 2 2 3 2 1 1 1 1 0

INT 9 8 4 13 20 5 8 11 8 3 7 5 6 5 7 5 6 10 11 6 2 3 2 0 3 1 1 1 2 3

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The majority of the defense returns intact because most of the starters were juniors a year ago.

However, the defense will be without two of the main cogs that made the Buccaneers go last year. Defensive end Bryson Brindle, a Class AAA first-team all-state performer, is at Presbyterian College getting ready for his first year of college football, as well Miles Jones, the Class AAA Offensive Player of the Year.

Jones may not have played on the defensive unit, but he carried the ball nearly 300 times for almost 2,200 yards and 30 touchdowns.

His production made the clock run and kept the Bucs defense on the sidelines allowing it to get a good rest in most games.

Replacing Brindle and the other starters lost to graduation won’t be easy, but the seniors are making sure the first-time starters, and younger backups, have no letdown in the transition.

1:59 AM

Page 13

“The more teamwork, the more they know what to do and the more comfortable we are with each other,” Sykes said. “We tell them, ‘If you want to play, we need to know you can do your job.’”

One of the things Allatoona will be able to count on to make this year special is for the first time since the school opened, the Buccaneers fans will be able to realistically travel with the team when it hits the road.

There are no more trips to Gilmer, Pickens and Lakeview-Fort Oglethorpe. Now it is around the corner to North and East Paulding or down the street to Hiram. This will be the first time Allatoona will have the opportunity to build true backyard rivalries.

“Rivalry games are the best,” Sykes said. “(Teams) are always ready to hit each other and it will make me smile because the whole family will be able to come.”

Better yet, there may be times Buccaneer fans will be able to outnumber the home crowd.

“It juices us up a lot,” Maison said. “Knowing we’ll have our fans there it’s going to fire us up a lot and make us better.”

KICKOFF 2012

Weight

Continued from Page 11

he worked out too much.

“He needed to rest,” Williamson said. “He trained so hard that his body broke down.

Now, he understands that he can work out for an hour-and-ahalf, four to five days a week and get the same results with less injuries.”

Louissant’s new regiment paid huge dividends throughout his junior season.

As a 6-foot outside linebacker, he went from 175 pounds to 195 pounds entering his senior year, picking up 30 pounds of muscle since arriving at Campbell.

“I love the weight room and I’ve just always liked working out,” Louissant said. “I listen to the coaches and take breaks when I should so my body can heal. I’m trying to make it to college on a scholarship and try to get in the NFL. If that doesn’t

work out, I’ll get a job and work for my family.”

Because of his size, Louissant sees himself playing safety in college, like his favorite player Sean Taylor.

A former safety at the University of Miami (Fla.), Taylor went on to play for the Washington Redskins of the NFL before dying of a gunshot wound from an intruder in his home in 2007.

“He was a strong hitter,” Louissant said. “Nobody hit like him.”

According to Williamson, no one matches Louissant in the weight room. He can bench-press 315 pounds and squat 455. His favorite exercises are power clean, bench press, bent rows and lunges.

“Pound for pound,” Williamson said, “Jude’s the strongest guy on the team. He works at it. We have a saying that if the doors to the weight room are locked, Jude will break open a window to get in. Once he’s on a routine, it’s tough to get him off of it.”

Louissant credits his proper

PAGE 13

weight-training for making a better player on the field.

“I’m a decent player,” he said. “I make some mistakes on the field, but my size, strength and speed make up for it. So, that’s why I push myself so hard in the weight room to get better.”

Louissant, who is of French and Haitian decent and can speak Creole, hopes that his added size and bulk can help the Spartans win games this season.

“I would like for us to win at least four games,” he said, “and I want to do the best that I can for myself to help the team win.”

Louissant’s dedication to the weight room, desire to get better and willingness to do well for the team is something Williamson would love to see in all of the players.

“We can win more games if all the kids on the team had his attitude,” Williamson said. “These kids need to emulate Jude because he has the right mindset to succeed.”

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KICKOFF 2012

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All for

1 for

1 all

SUNDAY, AUGUST 19, 2012

Staff / Todd Hull

In 2012, River Ridge will start to build back-door rivalries as the Knights show up on the schedules of Sequoyah and Creekview, while the Grizzlies challenge Cherokee for the first time. New rivalries and new coaches will make the 2012 season an interesting one, especially for the players that take the field including, from left, Creekview’s Hayden Hall, Cherokee’s Jesse Lee, Sequoyah’s Blake Ingleton, Woostock’s Trey Alexander, Etowah’s Michael McCauley and River Ridge’s E.J. Ellis.

New coaches and matchups stoke Cherokee rivalries

By William Bretherton

wbretherton@cherokeetribune.com

With two coaching changes and reclassification this past year, natural football rivalries in Cherokee County are beginning to develop beyond what is already present..

River Ridge remains the smallest school in the county, but has moved up to Class AAAA from Class AA last year. The Knights will play their first varsity schedule, and will open the season at home against Sequoyah, followed by a road game against Creekview the following week.

“I think that our kids and fans are looking forward to it,” River Ridge coach Robert Braucht said. “If for nothing else, obviously, there’s a lot of bragging rights that go with playing local, not only for ourselves, but (also) our opponent. Whether it’s Woodstock, Creekview or Sequoyah, (the players) will play as hard as they can to get those bragging rights.”

The Knights and Chiefs have developed into the bigger natural rivalry though. Many of the players went to school with one another growing up through elementary and middle school and as a result, the debate between which team is better — and the banter that comes with it — has already begun. However, not everyone is looking to get involved in trash talking.

“I hear it, but I don’t listen,” River Ridge running back E.J. Ellis said.

“They say a bunch of stuff, but I don’t pay attention to it. Talk is cheap. I’m gonna do mine on the field. It’s all about the field. All of that talk stuff is on the side.

“It motivates me to beat them period, especially Sequoyah. That’s our rivalry.”

Sequoyah senior running back Blake Ingleton, who is best friends with Ellis away from the gridiron, echoed the sentiment that the Chiefs’ new rival may be their fiercest one.

“Yeah, it’s actually a big deal for us because at Sequoyah, we went to school with some of the River Ridge kids,” Ingleton said. “So, it’s actually a bigger rivalry than Cherokee is.

Cherokee is a pretty big game, too.

That has been there for a long time.

And Creekview, too. But it’s River Ridge now, since we all went to school together with each other.”

Meanwhile, Creekview and Sequoyah remained opponents in Region 7AAAAA and will continue to play meaningful rivalry games. However, the region will no longer play a 10-game region schedule. Thus, both Creekview and Sequoyah had non-region games to schedule.

The Chiefs put classic rival Cherokee back on their schedule, while the Grizzlies will play at Cherokee in their season opener in the first meeting between the two schools.

Etowah, Cherokee and Woodstock moved up to the newly created Region

See Cherokee, Page 24

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CHEROKEE WARRIORS KICKOFF 2012

PAGE 16

SUNDAY, AUGUST 19, 2012

LOCATION: 930 MARIETTA HWY, CANTON. PHONE: 770-479-4112. HOME FIELD: TOMMY BAKER FIELD. TEAM COLORS: RED, BLACK, WHITE. ONLINE: CHEROKEEWARRIORSTDCLUB.ORG.

COACHING STAFF

2011 RESULTS 1-9

HEAD COACH: JOSH SHAW AGE: 38 YEARS: 1 RECORD: 0-0 CAREER: 0-0

VARSITY COACHING STAFF CLINT SHAW — DIR. OF OPS STEPHEN JACKSON— OC ROB WILLIAMS — OFF. LINE ADAM JOHNSON — RECEIVERS DURRELL FUQUA — RBS MATT ELY — DEF. COOR./LB JASON MCDANIEL — DEF. LINE JOSH POOLE — DEF. BACKS

2011 LEADERS

RUSHING MASON KEYT PASSING MASON KEYT

RECEIVING KYLE ACEVEDO

TACKLES TALLY REDMOND TUNDE AYINLA

NORTH FORSYTH MILTON WEST FORSYTH MILL CREEK WOODSTOCK ETOWAH LASSITER WALTON WHEELER MARIETTA

34-14 14-38 9-33 0-28 0-7 7-21 13-63 3-38 0-27 6-27

W L L L L L L L L L

5-YEAR RECORD 16-36

426 YDS, 4 TD 228 YDS, 0 TD 127 YDS, 0 TD

VS CREEKVIEW AUG. 30

69 63

VS SEQUOYAH SEPT. 7

AT NO. FORSYTH SEPT. 14

First-year coach Josh Shaw has scoured the Cherokee campus for athletes to help facilitate his team’s offensive transition from the option to the spread.

The former Etowah defensive coordinator has been pleased with both the results of that search and the emergence of a young quarterback who can get those newcomers the ball.

“There’s been a lot of football players up here in Cherokee that want to catch the ball and run with the ball,” Shaw said. “They don’t want to block all game.

Changing offensive schemes, we’ve been able to excite them and get a lot of basketball kids out (for the team), a lot of athletes out offensively.”

Sophomore quarterback Spencer Ashley picked up the new offense quickly in the spring and has impressed shaw with his ability to make the necessary throws. His new targets on the edges include sophomore Andrew

NO. PLAYER 1 HUNTER WINGFIELD 2 TALLEY REDMOND 3 ZAK KUYKENDALL 4 SPENCER ASHLEY 5 BLAKE JOHNSTON 6 JUNIOR GONZALEZ 7 BRANDON HROUDA 8 BLACE BROWN 9 BRADY SANDERCOCK 10 JONATHAN JONES 10 ANDREW HARRIS 11 TREYVON SIMMONS 12 WILLIE CYRUS 13 GARRETT SECKLER 14 HUNTER BURTON 15 T YLER EIDSON 16 JOSH MCCLAIN 17 DEVON MERCER

VS LASSITER SEPT. 21

CL. 11 12 12 10 11 12 11 11 12 11 10 10 12 12 12 12 12 11

POS. QB/DB LB WR/DB QB RB/LB RB/LB RB/LB DB/WR DB/WR K WR/DB RB/LB RB WR WR/LB WR WR/DB WR/DB

NO. PLAYER 18 JORDAN FREEMAN 19 CESAR MIJANGOS 20 BRITTAIN BROWN 22 COLTON ROZANSKE 23 ARMONY PARKER 25 JESSE LEE 26 ZACH BOGDAN 27 T YVON WILLIAMS 28 ISAAC GRUNDY 29 ASHER DAVIS 30 GRIFFIN MOON 31 BRANDON LAWS 32 NICK RAGSDALE 33 PRESTON WILLIAMS 34 MICHAEL BEAN 35 RONNIE CHASTAIN 36 LANDON MONROE 37 JOSH CLARK

2012 SCHEDULE

AT WALTON SEPT. 28

2012 SEASON OUTLOOK

Harris, who also runs track for the school, and senior Armony Parker, a contributor on the varsity basketball team. Willie Cyrus provides senior experience and shiftiness in the slot. All figure prominently into the battle for playing time among a handful of senior wideouts.

Standing at 5-feet-11 and 195 pounds as just a sophomore, running back Trayvon Simmons figures to keep defenses honest with a physical presence between the tackles, but how much time and space he is allowed remains to be seen. Senior Jacob Crowley is the only returning starter on an offensive line that may need time to replace the experience that the Warriors graduated from last year.

Cherokee returns seven starters on defense, entering 2012 with a wealth of experience that Shaw believes has also worked against him somewhat in the process of breaking old habits and switching the Warriors to a 4-3 defensive front.

AT WOODSTOCK OCT. 5

CL. 11 12 9 10 12 11 11 11 12 10 10 12 12 10 10 10 11 12

2012 ROSTER

POS. WR/DB K DB WR WR WR WR/DB RB/DB DB/WR RB DB DB DL/TE QB LB WR RB/LB WR/DB

NO. PLAYER 38 ZACH DAWSON 39 BRANDON JOHNSON 40 THOMAS SHACKLEFORD 41 JAMORI FOX 43 MACEN BAILEY 44 MASON DOZIER 45 SONNY HATCHER 47 BRAD RICCIO 48 DANIEL BUTLER 49 NICK BRUNO 50 CALVIN MAYO 52 NATHAN DENT 54 JACOB CROWLEY 55 TRAVIS HEAD 56 ALEC RIGGINS 58 CODY PARKER 59 TUNDE AYINLA 60 XAVIER KEITH

AT ETOWAH OCT. 19

AT ROSWELL OCT. 26

Senior Tally Redmond, the team’s top tackler last season, will shift to outside linebacker after manning the middle in the previous system. Linebacker-turned-safety Brady Sandercock and cornerbacks Blace Brown and Isaac Grundy will look to bring some stability to a secondary torched by some of the premier passers on the 2011 schedule.

The strength of the entire team lies along a seniorladen defensive line. Shaw expects Tunde Ayinla to adjust quickly to his responsibilities as the team’s three-technique tackle and anchor the Warriors defense alongside nose guard Cody Parker. Mason Dozier could be the man to slide into the second defensive end slot opposite Nick Ragsdale.

— By Eric Single Cherokee Tribune Sports Writer

CL. 11 10 11 10 10 12 10 11 12 10 11 10 12 10 11 12 12 12

POS. K QB WR/LB DL WR LB DB K RB/LB RB OL/DL DL OL/DL OL/DL OL/DL OL/DL DL DL

NO. PLAYER 62 JACOB HARVEY 64 JOSH OBRYANT 65 JAKE OBRYANT 66 GARRETT SMITH 67 ZACH JONES 69 MICHAEL ACKERMAN 72 ZACH WILSON 75 T YLER EBINGER 76 MARK STANLEY 77 LOGAN WITHEROW 80 KNOX WATSON 81 COLE LINDNER 82 QUINTON WALTON 84 ANTHONY TRIMBLE 88 AUBREY SHARP 90 JEROME BAILEY 99 JORDAN TOWNSEND

VS MILTON NOV. 2

CL. 10 10 10 10 11 11 11 12 10 11 11 10 12 11 11 10 10

VS WHEELER NOV. 9

POS. OL/DL OL OL OL OL/DL OL/DL OL/DL OL/DL OL DL/OL WR WR WR WR/DB TE/LB DL DL

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SUNDAY, AUGUST 19, 2012

Cherokee defensive lineman Nick Ragsdale’s dream is to play football and go to school at the United States Naval Academy, but he might have to settle for Harvard. In addition to being a good student and football player, Ragsdale also donates his time and efforts to charitable causes making him a well rounded person.

KICKOFF 2012

PAGE 17

WELL ROUNDED PLAYER

Staff / Todd Hull

Cherokee’s Nick Ragsdale takes advantage of every opportunity he is presented

By Eric Single

Cherokee Tribune Sports Writer

No matter where he ends up after his high school career, Nick Ragsdale just wants to help.

The Cherokee senior defensive end will start on the edge of an experienced line in coach Josh Shaw’s 4-3 defensive front this season, but the work he has done outside of his uniform has set him apart.

Ragsdale’s self-driven ambition and infectious personality reflect

the obstacles and accomplishments that have marked his path through school and brought his lofty future goals within reach. And if he can play football while pursuing those goals, then even better.

The way he remembers it, that ambition started when he got his first C — in his fifth-grade English class.

“Right after that, I don’t know what happened — I just never wanted to do that again,” Ragsdale said. “I got straight As the next quarter and all through middle

keeping you

game

school and all throughout high school.”

The products of that work ethic, his 3.9 grade point average and ACT score of 29, have attracted recruiting attention from Harvard, where he would like to study neurology, a subject that holds a special significance to him. When he was in the second grade, Ragsdale was diagnosed with a case of benign tremors that causes his hands to constantly shake. He used to take medication that helped the shaking, but he

at the

top of your

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was forced to stop taking it a few years ago because it caused his blood pressure to spike.

From his interactions with his own neurologist, Ragsdale has come away with an appreciation for the opportunity to help people work through their problems. Today, the condition rarely hinders his schoolwork, with a few exceptions.

“When we had the high school graduation test where you had to write real fast, it kind of got difficult just because it was so much See Well, Page 24

THE RAGSDALE FILE

6-foot-3, 225 pounds Being recruited by Harvard If he could choose any school to attend it would be the United States Naval Academy Teaches Sunday school at his church

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CREEKVIEW GRIZZLIES KICKOFF 2012

PAGE 18

SUNDAY, AUGUST 19, 2012

LOCATION: 1550 OWENS STORE ROAD, CANTON. PHONE: 770-720-7600. HOME FIELD: GRIZZLY DEN. TEAM COLORS: BLUE, GREEN. ONLINE: GOGRIZZLY.NET.

COACHING STAFF

2011 RESULTS 5-5

HEAD COACH: AL MORRELL AGE: 55 YEAR AT SCHOOL: 6 RECORD: 39-23 CAREER: 39-23

VARSITY COACHING STAFF JEFF NELSON — DC/DL SEATH DEERING — LINEBACKERS FREDDIE FOSTER — DEF. BACKS TIM SMERYL — OFF. LINE CHIP WLUDYGA — OFF. LINE JAMIE NELSON — FULLBACKS JUSTIN WHEELER — RB CHRIS JEFFREYS — RECEIVERS MATT REENEY — LINEBACKERS SEAN MCCLELLAN — KICKERS

2011 LEADERS

SEQUOYAH NW WHITFIELD LAMBERT CHATTAHOOCHEE JOHNS CREEK ROME SOUTH FORSYTH CASS FORSYTH CENT. WOODLAND

24-14 21-31 21-24 21-45 14-41 14-21 28-23 41-38 27-17 43-35

W L L L L L W W W W

5-YEAR RECORD 32-20

RUSHING D’ONDREI HUBBARD 787 YDS, 8 TD KEITH WOODS 280 YDS, 2 TD PASSING HAYDEN HALL RECEIVING RILEY DAVIS

TACKLES COLE RICHARDS HUNTER UDALL

1,294 YDS, 10 TD 1,012 YDS, 9 TD

SACKS AUSTIN KING

INTERCEPTIONS HUNTER UDALL

‘07

‘08

‘09

‘10

‘11

86 86 5 4

The good news for Creekview is that it didn’t lose much from last season.

All the Grizzlies have to account for are 12 graduated seniors, and they have many skill position players coming back on offense who earned reps on last season’s 5-5 team. That may be enough to steer them back into the playoffs for the first time in three years after contending in a highly-competitive Region 7AAAA that included 2010 state champ Chattahoochee, Lambert and Johns Creek.

Creekview will be young but experienced on the offensive line with Michael Shaw, Johnathan Dotson and Katavious Payne coming back. However, the Grizzlies will still have to replace go-to receiver Riley Davis and running backs Keith Woods and D’Ondrei Hubbard. The good news for the Grizzlies it they expect to be deep and experienced in the backfield, led by Will Kirby.

Defensively, Creekview has a strong front seven and

NO. PLAYER 1 XANDER PING 2 AUSTIN MCDONALD 3 AJ SWEET 4 DAWSON EWERS 5 CONNOR DULMAGE 6 HAYDEN HALL 7 HUDSON GRAHAM 8 JONATHAN RUSSELL 9 JOEY NOLL 10 AUSTIN MURPHY 11 JACOB HOLCOMBE 12 CASEY MARTIN 13 GARRETT LUSK 14 GRANT SHEDD 15 KYLE ALLEN 16 JACK O'DONNELL 17 AUSTIN KING 18 CHANDLER WOLD

CL. 12 12 10 10 11 12 11 12 12 11 12 11 10 11 12 11 12 10

POS. QB/DB RB/DB RB/DB WR/DB QB/LB QB/DB WR/DB WR/DB WR/DB WR/DB WR/LB RB/LB RB/LB QB/DB WR/DB WR/DB OL/DL QB/DB

2012 SEASON OUTLOOK

boasts arguably its biggest defensive line in its sevenyear history.

“We have more size on the defensive line than we have had in the past, and I feel really good about that,” Creekview coach Al Morrell said. “The secondary guys are skill position guys on offense. My concern early this season is fatigue or getting an injury and not being able to replace them.”

Creekview should benefit from returning its quarterback, who already has a year of leading the huddle under his belt. Senior Hayden Hall has the ability to throwing the ball and scrambling for yardage, finishing his junior year with with 1,294 yards passing and 10 touchdowns.

Without David or Hubbard in the lineup, Creekview will likely tweak its passing attack with senior Brandon Wright being the most experienced receiver returning.

Creekview’s defensive line is now 60 pounds heavier

NO. PLAYER 19 STEPHEN SHUGART 20 DYLAN HARRISON 21 HUNTER UDALL 22 ZACH HENSON 23 CALEB MILES 24 CALEB POTTER 25 NICK FAHRNBAUER 26 WILL KIRBY 27 ISAIAH RODGERS 28 CHASE BROOKS 29 EVAN GIBSON 30 WALTER GROGAN 32 BEN WYNETT 34 LUCAS NELSON 36 CONNOR FRASER 37 HUNTER SMITH 38 JOSEPH SORRENTINO 39 TRENT GILLELAND

2012 SCHEDULE

CL. 11 12 12 12 10 10 11 12 11 10 11 10 10 12 12 11 11 12

2012 ROSTER

POS. WR/DB RB/DB WR/DB RB/DB WR/DB WR/DB WR/DB RB/DB RB/LB RB/LB WR/DB WR/LB RB/LB TE/LB K/DB WR/LB RB/LB TE/DL

NO. PLAYER 40 CHASE CALLAHAN 42 LOGAN RIDINGS 43 BEN O'DONNELL 44 RJ KNECHT 45 BJ SMITH 48 TREY PEPPERS 50 GLEN CARPINO 51 MILES RAMSEY 52 CHRIS MATA 54 MASON RAMSEY 55 AUSTIN WEAVER 56 ROBERT LYON 58 MICHAEL SHAW 59 MICHAEL CRAFTON 60 LUKE SCHULTHEISS 61 JOSH COOK 65 CODY WATKINS 66 N. VISCOMI-SCHWABB

than it was two seasons ago, averaging 220 pounds. Austin King and Austin Weaver are the most experienced returners with King finishing with 31 tackles last year and Weaver 35.

However, King and Weaver will be in competition with Michael Craftopn, Jon Sullivan, Chris Mata and Michael Shaw for starting positions.

“We’ll be bigger, but let me put that statement in perspective,” Morrell said. “Two years ago, we averaged 160 pounds, Last year, we averaged about 190 pounds.

So in comparison to former Creekview teams, we’ll be bigger, but compared to teams on our schedule, we’ll be average size.”

— By Adam Ca rrington acarrington@cherokeetribune.com

CL. 12 11 11 11 10 10 12 10 12 10 12 12 11 12 11 11 11 11

POS. RB/LB RB/LB TE/DB RB/DB RB/DB TE/LB OL/DL OL/DL OL/DL OL/DL OL/DL OL/DL OL/DL OL/DL OL/DL OL/DL OL/DL OL/DL

NO. PLAYER 67 DOUGLAS NULPH 68 JONATHON JOHNSON 69 JOE BRADLEY 72 JONATHON SULLIVAN 73 KATAVIOUS PAYNE 74 ZACH CHESTER 75 RYAN BOWMAN 76 JOHNATHAN DOTSON 78 CONNOR THRELKELD 80 COLE MARAN 81 JONATHON MOUW 82 SAWYER SCOTT 83 NATHAN PELLETIER 84 BRANDON WRIGHT 88 SAM BRADLEY 89 BEN MCCLELLAN 99 JESS GRAHAM

CL. POS. 11 OL/DL 10 OL/DL 12 OL/DL 11 OL/DL 12 OL/DL 10 OL/DL 10 OL/DL 11 OL/DL 11 OL/DL 12 OL/DL 10 TE/DL 10 WR/DB 12 TE/DL 12 WR/DB 10 OL/LB 11 K 11 WR/LB

TBA AT CHEROKEE AUG. 30

VS RIVER RIDGE SEPT. 7

VS KELL SEPT. 21

AT OSBORNE SEPT. 28

VS SEQUOYAH OCT. 5

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AT NORTHVIEW OCT. 12

VS CAMBRIDGE OCT. 19

VS FORSYTH CEN. OCT. 26

AT NORTH SPRINGS NOV. 2

VS REGION PLAY-IN NOV. 9

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8/13/2012

5:34 PM

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DOUBLE DUTY

KICKOFF 2012

PAGE 19

Four key Creekview players will be asked to be 48-minute men during 2012 season

By Adam Carrington acarrington@cherokeetribune.com

Creekview’s football program is in its eighth year and getting up in numbers.

That means working double duty is far less likely.

With more than 60 players dressing out for varsity, it’s easier for the Grizzlies to focus on one position this season.

Creekview is also returning the bulk of its starters from last year’s 5-5 team.

However, Creekview is depending on four of its most experienced seniors to wear two hats on more of a full-time basis, and Creekview’s season could very well be up to the performances of wide receiver/defensive backs Joey Noll and Hunter Udall, running back/defensive back Will Kirby and running back/linebacker Trent Gilleland.

“We would rather play everybody one way,” Creekview coach Al Morrell said.

“When you look at our numbers, we almost have 25 to 30 seniors and have about 60 kids. We have the numbers, but when you look at the ability to get job done, there are five to six players that will need to play both ways, maybe not full time, but at least be ready to go in at times during the game.”

And the four players who know they will be playing both ways don’t mind takStaff / Todd Hull ing on the extra burden. In fact they love From left, Creekview's Joey Noll, Trent Gilleland, Will Kirby and Hunter Udall, four of the it. Noll said he doesn’t like to be on the Grizzlies’ best players, will be asked to play on both sides of the ball this season. While sidelines, even if he’s resting or taking a their roles of 48-minute men are not a perfect situation for coach Al Morrell, the players swig of water. He said he’s more of an effective contributor when he’s either catchare too talented to remain on the bench, even for a short period of time.

THE GRIZZLIES FILE

Joey Noll, Hunter Udall, Will Kirby and Trent Gilleland will be called on to play on both sides of the ball To get into shape they run a routine of 40 40s — 40 40-yard sprints The quartet practices with the offense the first hour of practice and the defense the second

ing the ball or pounding someone that’s carrying the ball. Both Udall and Kirby echo the same sentiments.

All four agree that the experience of playing two positions full time gives college scouts more to look at.

But they also know that discipline comes with the territory — and different skill sets.

“You have got to be a big leader too,” Udall said. “If you’re running the ball, like Will or something, you have to have one set of skills while on defense you have to have another set of skills.”

Having played both ways since they started high school, the foursome has learned the inside tricks to staying hydrated and active. Practice is structured in a way that tailors to the players playing both sides of the ball. Its all offense during the first See Double, Page 25

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We Service & Repair All Makes & Models of Small Engine & Outdoor Power Equipment

New & Used Equipment

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ETOWAH EAGLES KICKOFF 2012

PAGE 20

SUNDAY, AUGUST 19, 2012

LOCATION: 6565 PUTNAM FORD ROAD, WOODSTOCK. PHONE: 770-926-4411. HOME FIELD: EAGLE STADIUM. TEAM COLORS: ROYAL BLUE, GOLD. ONLINE: ETOWAHEAGLESFOOTBALL.COM.

COACHING STAFF

2011 RESULTS 6-5

HEAD COACH: DAVE SVEHLA AGE: 43 YEAR AT SCHOOL: 1 RECORD: 0-0 CAREER: 84-46

VARSITY COACHING STAFF BRETT VAVRA — DEF. COORD. TIM RICE — OFF. LINE RODNEY HUNTER — RB CHARLIE HIGDON — DEF. LINE RICHARD NEWSOME — DB

BERKMAR KELL WEST FORSYTH NORTH FORSYTH WALTON CHEROKEE WHEELER MARIETTA WOODSTOCK LASSITER WEST FORSYTH

49-14 15-26 13-21 44-0 17-34 21-7 27-13 14-33 45-0 17-14 7-13

W L L W L W W L W W L

5-YEAR RECORD 33-22

2011 LEADERS

RUSHING DEVONTE WHEATON 882 YDS, 6 TD RECEIVING D. AWE-OLALEYE MARTYN DETZ

300 YDS, 4 TD 258 YDS, 1 TD

TACKLES MICHAEL MCCAULEY RYAN WILBORN SACKS NICK ROWELL

INTERCEPTIONS RYAN WILBORN

90 85

‘07

‘08

‘09

‘10

‘11

8 3

In the last seven years, Etowah has not missed the playoffs. The Eagles’ last seven years had at least one thing in common — Bill Stewart was their head coach.

This year, that is not the case as Dave Svehla will take over the reins. With Svehla, the Eagles will change their offensive system from the veer formation to an I-formation.

With that change, the quarterback battle between returning starter John Oliver and Reeves Johnson, who returns after recovering from an ACL injury as the team’s initial starter last season.

“It’s great,” Svehla said of the competition.

“Both kids come ready to practice every day and execute to the best of their abilities. With their knowledge of the offense, both guys have done NO. PLAYER 1 AUSTIN FRANZEN 2 AYDEN BONILLA 3 PIERCE BLANCHARD 4 CORY BURDETT 5 RAISHOD DEVEZIN 6 MICHAEL MCCAULEY 7 REEVES JOHNSON 8 ANTHONY BAILEY 8 CONNOR JENSEN 9 COLTON MARSCHAL 10 BEN ROWELL 11 NOAH DYE 12 MATTHEW BOWLING 13 JOE ELLIS III 14 JOHN OLIVER 15 BLAKE BROWN

CL. 12 11 12 10 10 12 12 12 11 11 11 10 12 11 11 11

POS. RB DB DB DB RB DB QB WR WR DB DB WR FB QB QB WR

2012 SEASON OUTLOOK

a good job.

“I’ll make a decision some time down the road.”

At running back, Etowah lost Cherokee Tribune Player of the Year Devonte Wheaton, but Brandon Engle returns, while newcomers Raishod Devezin and Marshall Sturdivant will also challenge for playing time. However, more important than the team’s skill positions, Etowah, which returns the majority of its offensive line, will be anchored by senior guard Jakob Hassan.

Defensively, the secondary is the team’s strength. Michael McCauley, Ben Rowell, Ayden Bonilla and Pierce Blanchard are going to be the Eagles’ starting defensive backs.

“We’re going to count on those guys a lot to

NO. PLAYER 16 ROBBIE KNOX 18 ALSTON DUNCAN 19 ADRIAN GRULLON 20 JAMES LIGON 21 DALTON TROGSTAD 22 MARSHALL STURDIVANT 23 BRANDON ENGLE 24 STANLEE LOGUE 28 ZACHARY BEALE 30 CASE LOOPER 31 SEAN MCCONNELL 32 GENTRY CROMWELL 33 CALEB BARDEN-STREET 34 MAVERIC RECHSTEINER 35 REED BLANCHARD 39 EVAN BLOCK

CL. 10 10 10 12 12 10 11 10 10 10 12 11 10 12 12 10

2012 ROSTER POS. QB RB DB DB DB RB RB RB DB TE DB K/P LB DL LB DL

NO. PLAYER 40 RYAN HOPPER 41 ANTHONY BAUDO 42 BRYCE COROI 43 JAMES ARNOLD 44 BLAKE SWANSON 45 PRESTON WHITE 50 BEN VISCZNESKY 51 CARLOS FUENTES 52 KEITH GORDON 53 DYLAN JENKINS 54 NICK SEARCY 55 JULIUS RICHARDS 56 JAKOB HASSAN 58 BRIAN CLARK 60 SCOTT MORGAN

match up with teams. We put some athletes out on the edge and guys that can come up and run the alleys for us and make tackles. That will be key for us.”

While Etowah is confident in its ability to adapt to a new offensive system, its experience on the offensive line and its secondary, the Eagles may be short on depth simply due to the number of graduations at key skill positions and in the defensive front seven.

— By William Bretherton wbretherton@cherokeetribune.com

CL. 12 10 12 11 10 11 10 12 11 12 10 12 12 12 10

POS. K/P LB TE LB LB LB DL OL LB DL OL DL OL DL DL

NO. PLAYER 61 JACOB HOLCOMBE 62 JAMES VARLEY 63 CHANDLER STEELE 64 BRAD MORGAN 66 NATHAN PARROTT 67 MILES REVELS 70 JACK SINGER 71 DEREK TAYLOR 72 AVERY DUNCAN 74 CHASE SAMMONS 75 CHANDLER WALKER 78 DARIAN DESVIGNES 79 FORREST KELLY 80 DALTON PHILLIPS 85 OSCAR GARCIA

CL. 12 11 11 10 11 12 12 12 12 11 10 11 10 12 11

2012 SCHEDULE

VS LAMBERT AUG. 31

AT CENTENNIAL SEPT. 7

AT POPE SEPT. 14

VS WHEELER SEPT. 21

Custom Class Rings

AT ROSWELL SEPT. 28

Fine Jewelry Watches Repairs Custom Work Appraisals

4200 Wade Green Road • Kennesaw, GA 30144 770-422-0845 • www.diamondsrforever.net

VS MILTON OCT. 5

VS CHEROKEE OCT. 19

AT WOODSTOCK OCT. 26

AT WALTON NOV. 2

VS LASSITER NOV. 9

Lawn Maintenance Commercial & Residential Lawn Care • Fertilization • Landscaping

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POS. DL DL DL OL OL DL OL OL OL OL DL DL OL WR TE

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DETERMINED

KICKOFF 2012

SUNDAY, AUGUST 19, 2012

PAGE 21

After doctors told him he might die if he played football, Etowah’s Jakob Hassan has exceeded expectations

By William Bretherton

wbretherton@cherokeetribune.com

For Jakob Hassan, the scarring on his head isn’t a current fear, but merely a representation of his past.

For the Etowah senior offensive guard, things could have turned out differently.

“I wasn’t supposed to have any contact sports,” Hassan said. “I wasn’t supposed to play football, but this is my 12th year and I have no problems. I get headaches … I was supposed to die if I played football, according to doctors, but I seem to be playing at a pretty high level.”

After being diagnosed with craniosynostosis at 2 months old, Hassan required surgery to relieve cranial pressure. The condition itself causes joints in the skull — called sutures — to prematurely fuse. This changes the growth pattern of the skull and causes abnormal swelling, which causes intercranial pressure that, if unchecked, can cause visual impairment, eating difficulties, reduction in mental development and in the absolute worse case: death.

Hassan’s parents, David and Sharen who are now divorced, elected for surgery. Though it was successful initially, the cranial pressure returned when Jakob turned 2.

“His head quit growing,” said David Hassan, Jakob’s father. “I caught him when he was little hitting his head against the wall when he was 2. What happened was, his head quit growing, but his brain was still growing. So, it was putting pressure on his brain. They had to actuStaff / Jon-Michael Sullivan ally drill a hole in and relieve the pressure. He The scars on top of Jakob Hassan’s head come from multiple surgeries to treat cran- was in the hospital for a little while — a nineiosynostosis. Initially, Hassan wasn’t supposed to be able to play football, but after hour surgery. They did it twice. It left a scar.” being cleared by doctors, he has turned into the anchor of Etowah’s offensive line.

9655 KNOX BRIDGE HWY CANTON • 770-720-1217

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New & Used Equipment

THE HASSAN FILE

Starter on Etowah’s offensive line Was diagnosed with craniosynostosis at 2 months old First child in Georgia to have surgery for condition twice

In fact, Jakob was the first child in Georgia to have surgery twice for his condition.

The scars that were left behind came from the second surgery as a result of cutting into his forehead to insert a metal plate. The second time was successful and Hassan hasn’t any complications since.

However, that didn’t necessarily mean that everything was 100 percent to go for playing football. After Hassan saw a first doctor that warned against playing contact sports, the family went and saw two others that assured them there was no risk.

“We had to visit the neurosurgeon until (Jakob) was 5,” David said. “They were routinely checking him … My ex-wife never wanted him out there, and thought something would happen to him. Moms are a little bit different than dads. I (didn’t think) that he’s out there with some high risk of anything.

“If that was the case, I wouldn’t let him out there.”

With that out of the way, Jakob was free to play the sport that he loved like no other.

“Jakob loved football, even when he was a See Hassan, Page 38

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HARRISON HOYAS KICKOFF 2012

PAGE 22

SUNDAY, AUGUST 19, 2012

LOCATION: 4500 DUE WEST ROAD, KENNESAW. PHONE: 678-594-8104. HOME FIELD: BRUCE COBLEIGH STADIUM. TEAM COLORS: NAVY BLUE, GREEN, WHITE. ONLINE: HARRISONHOYAFOOTBALL.COM.

COACHING STAFF

2011 RESULTS 3-7

HEAD COACH: MARTY GALBRAITH AGE: 62 YEAR AT SCHOOL: 1 RECORD: 0-0 CAREER: 19-11

VARSITY COACHING STAFF BRUCE COBLEIGH — OC JAMIE STILTZ — DEF. BACKS BOBBY THOMPSON — RECEIVERS TOM FIACCO — OFF. LINE MIKE BROWN ED STAPP JEFF MEESE MATT MOODY

2011 LEADERS

RUSHING JUSTIN BROOKS ZACH MOORE PASSING CLAY CHASTAIN

WEST FORSYTH WOODSTOCK MILTON PEBBLEBROOK HILLGROVE SOUTH COBB CAMPBELL KMHS MCEACHERN NORTH COBB

13-21 14-20 15-12 14-21 14-21 24-33 37-7 28-21 14-31 17-21

L L W L L L W W L L

5-YEAR RECORD 31-24

409 YDS, 4 TD 184 YDS, 4 TD 1,655 YDS, 9 TD

RECEIVING SUBBY ADETUJOYE 567 YDS, 1 TD KYLE HOLMES 521 YDS, 2 TD TACKLES JUDD HALEY

‘07

‘08

‘09

‘10

‘11

83

SACKS JOEY CONNORS

2

AT WOODSTOCK AUG. 31

VS ALPHARETTA SEPT. 7

AT CAMPBELL SEPT. 14

keeping you

game

Harrison lost five games by one possession in 2011 on the way to the program’s worst record since 1993. Former Lassiter coach Marty Galbraith, most recently an NFL assistant, was brought back to Cobb County to put Harrisonback on the track that made the team a perennial playoff presence up until the last half-decade.

“I think our first units are going to be competitive, but with a program in transition, the numbers have been down, and it’s going to take a while to get those numbers up,” Galbraith said. “We’ll have guys playing both ways this year based on our depth.”

After the graduation of Clay Chastain, Galbraith will break in a new starting quarterback, sophomore Lorenzo Nunez.

Nunez has a wealth of athletic potential — he also

NO. PLAYER 2 DEUCE WHITE 3 WINSTON BOYKIN 4 ORLANDO HESTER 6 JUSTIN PALMER 7 KEEGAN KARIM 8 TAYVON BENJAMIN 9 CHRIS MURPHY 10 ANDREW BROCK 11 CARTER REED 12 DERRICK OUTLEY 13 ROSS NEELY 14 RYAN GLADSTONE 15 LIAM MCGUIRE 16 DAMON COWAN 17 KAMERON JETT 18 NOBLE WHITE 19 LORENZO NUNEZ 20 KYLE EUSTACE 21 JONATHAN HUTSON 22 SETH COWAN 23 ALEX PORTWOOD 24 CORBIN JOSEPH

VS PEBBLEBROOK SEPT. 21

CL POS. 12 RB/LB 10 RB 10 11 11 RB/DB 11 DB/WR 11 DB/RB 11 QB/DB 11 11 WR/DB 10 TE 11 QB/DB 10 12 DB 11 11 DB 10 QB 10 10 10 10 10

NO. PLAYER 25 WILL HUFFSTETLER 26 JONATHAN KEASLER 27 KYLER GILLESPIE 28 CHATHAM CARTER 29 JAMAL SMITH 30 JOSEPH PIEPER 31 MICHAEL HOLLOWAY 32 RODNEY CYRIANQUE 33 MARK SKRADIS 34 BRANDON MAYO 36 ANDREW BARTLETT 37 MICHAEL RYAN 40 HAYDEN MESSINA 42 JOSH COLLETT 43 JONATHAN FISHER 44 JONATHAN GRIMES 45 HUNTER FUQUA 46 PARKER KELLEY 47 BRADLEY MELL 48 HUNTER DAVIS 49 T YLER BUEHLER 50 JOHNATHAN DICKSON

2012 SCHEDULE

AT NORTH COBB SEPT. 28

at the

top of your

Acworth 678.213.5717 Austell 770.944.3303 Canton 770.345.5717

Douglasville 770.949.8558 East Cobb 770.579.8558 Lost Mountain 770.218.8800

2012 SEASON OUTLOOK

spent some time at receiver as a freshman in 2011 — and will line up behind an experienced offensive line, anchored by center Jackson Morris, that must stay healthy.

“We’re going to try and do as much as we can, but we can’t do more than the quarterback and the team can absorb,” Galbraith said. “What we try to do is simplify but make it look complex to the defense. We might run the same pass play but run it out of five different formations and give them different ways of doing it.”

With the loss of leading rusher Justin Brooks and the graduation of starting wideouts Subby Adetujoye and Kyle Holmes, exactly which skill players he will be asked to involve in the offense is still unclear.

Marietta 770.427.5717 Paulding 770.445.5666 Woodstock 770.926.9112

VS

KENNESAW MTN.

OCT. 5

2012 ROSTER

CL. POS. 12 RB/DB 10 12 WR/LB 12 RB/DB 11 12 WR/DB 11 RB/DB 10 10 10 11 11 WR/DB 10 11 11 RB/LB 10 12 RB/LB 11 WR/LB 10 12 DL 10 12 OL/DL

NO. PLAYER 51 BYRON GLASS 52 WADE SHUBERT 53 DAKOTA TATUM 54 SAM LYONS 55 CURTIS HUBER 56 BRADLEY FLOWERS 57 SHAWN MADDEN 58 JOEY CONNORS 59 JALEN PENN 60 JOSH ADAMS 61 RYAN CAMPBELL 62 AARON CURRY 63 MARSHALL BARELA 64 JULIAN COLE 65 HUNTER DAVIS 66 BRADEN BARNES 67 MITCHELL BENSON 68 DAVID BERNER 69 AL REINHARDT 70 NICK BRIMER 71 AUSTIN O'NEILL

VS SOUTH COBB OCT. 19

VS HILLGROVE OCT. 26

Seniors Deuce White and Chatham Carter are quick, elusive runners out of the backfield.

A former special teams assistant with the Tennessee Titans, Galbraith may see his most valuable player in 2012 come from that all-important third phase of the game.

Punter Jimmy Hutchinson has a big-time leg, has committed to Auburn and has designs on running away with all-state honors after a breakout junior season.

A nasty back end of the 2012 schedule — Hillgrove at home, followed by trips to McEachern and Marietta — could get worse if the Hoyas can’t stay healthy.

— By Eric Single MDJ Sports Writer

CL. 10 11 12 12 12 12 12 11 11 11 11 12 11 10 12 12 11 11 12 10 12

POS. OL/LB OL OL/DL OL/DL OL/LB OL OL/DL OL/DL OL/DL OL/DL OL DL OL/DL OL/DL OL/LB OL/DL OL/DL OL/DL OL/DL

NO. PLAYER 72 EVAN HUYNH 73 RAYMOND PATTERSON 74 CLAYTON BARTON 75 MICHAEL WENCLAWIAK 76 JACKSON MORRIS 77 CHRIS KLUCK 78 MADISON BELL 79 NICK SHY 80 WYATT LOUCKS 81 MATT EIDSON 82 NICK MURRAY 83 CAMERON ISZLER 84 JACOB MOSS 85 JUSTIN NIXON 86 DREVON JONES 87 VAFA PARSA 88 JIMMY HUTCHINSON 91 STEVEN NIXON 93 ANDREW WILDER 95 PAUL CHERIDENT 97 COOPER LARGENT

AT MCEACHERN NOV. 2

CL. POS. 10 OL 10 11 11 OL/DL 12 OL/DL 11 OL/DL 12 OL/DL 12 OL/DL 11 WR/DB 11 TE/DL 10 12 TE/LB 12 WR/DB 12 TE/DL 11 WR 12 DL 12 P/K 10 10 10 12 K/P

AT MARIETTA NOV. 9

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ullivan

nsive Morris youth

SUNDAY, AUGUST 19, 2012

For the last three years, Jackson Morris has played offensive tackle for the Hoyas. Now as he enters his senior season, Morris returns to center, the position he grew up playing during youth football.

BACK TO THE FUTURE

Staff / Jon-Michael Sullivan

Harrison’s Jackson Morris returns to the position of his youth

By Eric Single

MDJ Sports Writer

Before each Harrison football game, amid the personal pre-game rituals and superstitions fulfilled in various corners around the locker room, offensive lineman Jackson Morris is quiet. “Really quiet,” to use his own sparingly chosen words. And that’s nothing new.

Morris was quiet in elementary school, a smaller version of the 6-foot-2, 285-pound frame he carries today, when his third-grade teacher called him “the silent leader.” He was quiet on his Little League teams, a mainstay on the offensive line even then as the biggest kid his age.

“I’ve been around the loud offensive linemen before, but Jackson’s just not that way,” said his father, Eric, who coached his son’s teams throughout elementary school. “He never has been.”

And he was quiet this spring, when Marty Galbraith arrived as

THE MORRIS FILE

6-foot-2, 285 pounds Played first three years in high school at offensive tackle Models his game after Baltimore’s Michael Oher

the Hoyas’ new coach and realized he needed a center to replace the graduated Kevin Noble, whose laid-back demeanor helped keep last season’s offensive line composed and focused. After spending his entire high school career at tackle, Morris will slide over to the position he grew up playing at a crucial moment for the Hoyas, which finished 3-7 last year.

In his senior season, as the most experienced member of a veteran offensive line, there is no time for fanfare and little margin See Future, Page 25

KICKOFF 2012

PAGE 23

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Cherokee

PAGE 24

Continued from Page 14

5AAAAAA. While Etowah and Woodstock’s rivalry continues to be one of the more fierce ones in the region, the Eagles and Warriors figure to have more on the line when they face off against one another this year.

After Josh Shaw took over the reins of Cherokee’s program after serving as Etowah’s top assistant under former coach Bill Stewart at Etowah, the first game between the two schools figures to have more on the line in a series that has been controlled recently by Etowah.

“Cherokee could be a big one for a few years because our (former) coach is there now,” Etowah senior defensive back Michael McCauley said. “It’s good because (Shaw) is getting a head-coaching job. He’s still one of my good friends actually. But on the field, it’s different I guess.

“I’m happy for him that he got his head-coaching job because

1:04 PM

Page 24

that’s what he wanted. Here (at Etowah), they were still looking for someone and Cherokee knew who they wanted right away. With his coaching, (Cherokee) will probably be on the upswing the next few years. They’ll definitely win a lot more games than they have in the past, and it will make things interesting.”

Beyond adding extra flavor to the non-region schedule this season, the added rivalry games may have a more practical impact for all of the teams involved.

“Probably the big thing for a new school like ourselves, we will have some local competition to hopefully bring in some good gate money,” Braucht said. “We have not had that in the last three years.

The school opened, then the school board and nobody else knew what the economy was going to do. It will be a breath of fresh air to get a big gate out of everything.”

With the closer proximity of the schools to one another, the stands on Friday nights early in the season are likely to be jammed with fans rooting for their respec-

KICKOFF 2012

tive schools, moreso than they would for teams traveling from outside of the county.

More than just buying tickets though, each county team now has to fight with one another for sponsorship dollars as well. When it comes to advertising for a football program, nothing helps more than winning games. For a newer school like River Ridge, it can be something of a tougher sell.

However, Braucht remained exuberant, as the Knights are playing their first varsity schedule with their first senior class.

“It’s still something that we fight,” Braucht said. “I just left one of our sponsors (last month).

Because of where the store is, he not only has Woodstock and Sequoyah that come to him, (but also) he has Cobb County schools that come to him. We’re the newer school. Because of the extra excitement with us having our first senior class, I think people will understand that this is a special year for River Ridge. People are a little more excited than they have been in the past.”

Well

Continued from Page 17

writing so fast,” he said. “Literally, I got through the whole thing and the last two sentences took 20 minutes just because I kept messing up the letters and everything.”

As hard as it is for any school to top the allure of Harvard, Ragsdale has also long dreamed of attending the U.S. Naval Academy.

“Their academics are amazing, and if I could play football there, it would be a done deal,” he said.

“You get your degree at a great school, and then not only do I get to go to the military, I get to be an officer in the military for the required amount of time.”

Ragsdale also teaches a Sunday school class for three yearolds and works four days a week at Goshen Valley Boys Ranch, a non-profit home in Waleska that houses over 30 boys in the state foster care system. A representative from the ranch gave a speech to the entire team one day after

SUNDAY, AUGUST 19, 2012

practice last year, and Ragsdale was one of a handful of players moved enough by the presentation to apply for a summer job.

“It’s one of the best things I’ve ever done,” he said. “Some of them have had harder stories in their previous life, and they just tell you. They grow on you and you grow on them. They trust you and tell you stuff, and you help them through it.”

Add it all up, and you get a leader in the classroom with a wealth of athletic talent and a passion for serving others.

“He’s one of the kindest people you’ll ever meet,” said senior defensive tackle Tunde Ayinla, one of Ragsdale’s close friends.

“He’s just a good kid for his age, and he’s a leader for our defensive line.

“He does a lot for our community, our football program, our football team, and he leads by example,” Shaw said. “He’s not a boisterous kid, kind of soft-spoken, but he leads by example in the weight room and on the football field.”

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8/9/2012

1:54 AM

SUNDAY, AUGUST 19, 2012

Continued from Page 19

hour and then it’s on to the defensive coaching staff.

Summer workouts in the blistering humidity are key, and the four are common weight room visitors.

One way to beat the 100-plus degree heat is going to the Creekview track and do 40 40s — running the 40-yard dash 40 straight times to make sure they are in shape.

“Staying in shape (is key) for both sides of the ball,” Gilleland said. “It’s hard to take time off and jump back to playing both ways. You’ll die by the second quarter.”

The one concern about players who play both ways is adjusting from practice speed to game speed, plus the toll the heat can take on their bodies.

“The heat and humidity and the fact that they are not in playing shape right away because on Friday nights, there is a lot more intensity and a lot more adrenaline,” Morrell said. “It takes more out of them early in the game and it’s hard to prepare for that. But as the season goes on when they get in better shape and the weather cools off, and it makes it a lot easier to do that.”

Page 25

Future

Continued from Page 23

KICKOFF 2012

for error.

“He’s a role model on the team,” said Jalen Penn, the team’s junior starting left guard. “A lot of people look up to him, specifically on the line, just because he has the most experience.”

“He hadn’t played center in a long time, but he’s doing a good job,” Galbraith said. “That I think will help us a lot.”

Morris’ size and athleticism suited him well for his responsibilities as right tackle, helping him develop into a skilled passblocker on the edge. Now, he will be faced with a more diverse set of challenges as the focal point of the offensive line, both before and after the snap.

“As a tackle, you’re on an island and you end up a lot of times 1-on-1 with the guy, and as a center, you have to be able to go help the guard both ways, be 1-on-1, make calls,” Galbraith said. “It’s like being the quarterback when you’re on the offensive line.”

“I’ve played center pretty much my whole life up until high school, so it really wasn’t that big of a deal for me,” Morris said. “I had to get used to having to snap the ball again and then being able to move and everything.”

After all, Morris is the far more experienced of Harrison’s all-important quarterback-center exchange, and that comes with an additional measure of responsibility.

Sophomore Lorenzo Nunez has the talent to step in and lead the offense right away in place of Clay Chastain, who threw for 1,655 yards last year, the seventh-most among Cobb quarterbacks. But Nunez

PAGE 25

threw only 20 passes as a freshman in 2011 and will be targeting first-year starters at wide receiver, so he will defer to Morris, the quarterback of the offensive line, to help lighten the load before the snap.

“If somebody’s blitzing on one side, I’m changing the protection up a little bit or talking to my guards to make sure everyone knows what’s going on, making sure we minimize mistakes,” Morris said.

“Lorenzo has seemed fine, but in a game situation, if he might get a little hesitant and not as confident in us, Jackson will probably be that guy to keep his head on straight,” Penn said.

Between his pre-snap duties as the focal point of the offensive line and his role in setting an example for the offense’s young skill players, Morris can expect to handle a lot more of the talking in his final year as a Hoya than he may be used to.

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HILLGROVE HAWKS KICKOFF 2012

PAGE 26

SUNDAY, AUGUST 19, 2012

LOCATION: 4165 LUTHER WARD ROAD, POWDER SPRINGS. PHONE: 678-331-3961. HOME FIELD: COBB ENERGY/HILLGROVE STADIUM. TEAM COLORS: CRIMSON, SILVER. ONLINE: HILLGROVEFOOTBALL.ORG.

COACHING STAFF

2011 RESULTS 11-1

HEAD COACH: PHIL IRONSIDE AGE: 44 YEAR: 7 RECORD: 44-16 CAREER: 62-39

VARSITY COACHING STAFF TARVE RIGGINS — RUNNING BACKS JEFFREY WISHON — OFF. LINE JOE GERDA — DEFENSIVE LINE RYAN BRADY — DEFENSIVE LINE LUGMAN SALEM — RECEIVERS ZACK COOK — DEF. BACKS KEN NIX — DEF. BACKS

SPRAYBERRY MARIETTA NORTH FORSYTH SOUTH COBB HARRISON MCEACHERN NORTH COBB PEBBLEBROOK KMHS CAMPBELL BEACH WEST FORSYTH

41-21 48-8 45-0 40-7 21-14 12-10 31-6 41-25 35-0 33-7 49-12 28-40

W W W W W W W W W W W L

5-YEAR RECORD 44-13

2011 LEADERS

RUSHING KENYAN DRAKE 1,610 YDS, 15 TD IKE EREGE 277 YDS, 1 TD PASSING ELIJAH IRONSIDE

RECEIVING JOJO MARSHALL KENYAN DRAKE TACKLES JOHN SILAS

1,388 YDS, 21 TD 450 YDS, 4 TD 314 YDS, 8 TD

SACKS JACARI GRISBY

INTERCEPTIONS NAKEVIAN LESLIE

AT WESTLAKE AUG. 24

‘07

‘08

‘09

‘10

‘11

103 15 4

VS LASSITER AUG. 31

AT MARIETTA SEPT. 14

After finishing 11-1 last season, there are a number of graduations that Hillgrove will have to recover from this year.

Running back Kenyan Drake, wide receiver JoJo Marshall and linebacker John Silas are gone, so the Hawks will have to find others to take their place.

“I don’t think it’s fair to say that if you don’t win 11 ball games, then you’re not as good as the year before because you don’t know what’s around you, or you may have three teams that are incredible this year,” Hillgrove coach Phil Ironside said. “That’s just the way the cards fall this year. I like working with this group, being around them and seeing where we are at the end of the season.”

NO. 1 2 3 4 5 6 6 7 8 9 9 10 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 21 22 23

PLAYER EVAN ENGRAM ELIJAH IRONSIDE TRAVON SIMMONS OMAR BLACK LEMARKUS BAILEY REED HALL JUSTIN DENTON DYKARI HICKEY ZACH KATZ JUSTIN HANEY AARON BAILEY TOLANDO CLEVELAND KENDALL MCGHEE TROY THOMPSON ERIC JACKSON DEVIN KNIGHT MARCUS WHITE ERROL BREAUX CONNER BECK MARCUS BOWENS EVAN ARNOLD JULIAN ROBINSON RYAN KNIGHT RODNEY WALKER KORBIN SANDERS ERIC MONTGOMERY RICHARDRE BAGLEY

AT CAMBPELL SEPT. 28

CL. 12 11 12 11 11 10 11 12 11 12 11 12 12 12 10 11 12 11 11 10 10 12 12 10 12 10 11

POS. WR QB DB WR DB K/P WR DB WR LB WR DB WR QB DB WR WR WR LB WR QB LB WR DB DB RB RB

NO. 24 24 25 26 27 28 28 29 30 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 41 42 43 44 45 46

2012 SEASON OUTLOOK

To Hillgrove’s advantage, this year’s group has experience and the ability to learn quickly.

“We’ve got a bunch of kids that work really hard,” Ironside said. “We seem to be really smart. It’s just that we’ve been in the same system now for three years and we have a lot of kids that have come back and played. It’s an easy group to coach.”

So far, the defense will be led by Division I commitments Tolando Cleveland and Evan Engram.

Cleveland, who is headed to Georgia Tech next fall, and Engram, committed to Ole Miss, will both star in the secondary alongside Travon Simmons, who has started since his sophomore season.

PLAYER BAKARI OXENDINE JONAH GADSEN BRADLEY CHUBB QUINCEY NELSON MARCUS BANKS DERRICK EVANS ANDREW FORD JAMAL SUTTON ANDREW GAUGHN IJON GRICE CONNOR BARDEN PHIL DAVIS STEPHEN WARD ZAC MITCHELL RYAN MOORE PRESTON BEASLEY MATT ORANGE RICKY POWELL RYAN CONIFF ROSS HALEY JORDAN ADAMS ALVEENA STINSON JOSH ELLIS JT JACKSON VINNY ROSAMILIA MILES RAILEY JIMONTAY WITHEROW

2012 SCHEDULE

VS PEBBLEBROOK OCT. 5

AT NORTH COBB OCT. 12

CL. 12 11 11 11 10 11 10 10 11 11 11 10 12 10 10 10 10 11 10 10 12 11 12 11 10 10 12

2012 ROSTER POS. RB LB LB WR DB RB DB DB K/P DB LB LB LB RB LB DB QB LB LB LB LB WR DL LB LB LB DL

VS

NO. 47 48 49 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72

PLAYER GERARD MCGRUDER VICTOR SANCHEZ RJ SMITH JOSEPH WILLIAMS ZACH WILLIAMS ROSS MATHIS PEYTON HEWITT MASON MCCURDY ALEX GARLAND CARTER FITZGERALD CODY COLLINS JUSTIN WARD BUDDY WILLIAMS KEVIN HEARD ANTHONY COLAPINTO CAMERON KOWALEWSKI CODY JOHNSON DAGAN ABRAHAM KELLAND PRIEST GRANT FAGAN SETH TRULL BRADY YODER MITCH STAPLES T YLER KEUTER MITCHELL WINDOM JACK COWART MATT BREAUX

KENNESAW MTN.

OCT. 19

AT HARRISON OCT. 26

Offensively, quarterbacks Elijah Ironside and Troy Thompson both have experience from last year.

At running back, juniors Ricardre Bagley, Derrick Evans and senior Bakari Oxendine will vie to step into Drake’s shoes.

At wide receiver, Omar Black, Justin Denton, Marcus White and tight end Sam Peterson will all see time in a passing attack that has only improved since last season with the additional reps with more experienced quarterbacks.

— B y Wi ll ia m Bre the rto n wbretherton@mdjonline.com

CL. 11 12 10 10 12 10 12 12 11 12 12 12 10 10 12 11 11 12 10 11 12 12 11 10 12 12 11

POS. DB LB DB WR DL OL DL OL OT OL OL OL DL OL OL DL OL OL DL OL OL DL OL DL DL OL

NO. 73 74 75 76 77 78 80 81 82 83 84 85 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 97 98 99

PLAYER TREY SMITH JON WAGLEY JAYLAN REID JOEL NIERLING SHAWN PLUMMER KERRY STEEN KORAN BROWN SAM PETERSON ERIC NEWMAN RICHARD HALLMAN MOHAMMED KHAN RYAN HINKSON LEE GRIER TREVOR DONALD JONATHAN CHAMBERS JULIAN ELLIS TORRANCE SCOTT T YLER YOUNG PAUL BAIN AARON AGHAI JOSH PRICE ANTHONY HESTER WESTIN FRANS DYLAN FERN CHRISTIAN POPE WARREN TERRY

VS SOUTH COBB NOV. 2

CL. 11 10 11 10 10 10 10 12 11 10 12 10 11 12 10 10 10 11 11 12 10 10 11 10 11

VS MCEACHERN NOV. 9

POS. OL OL DL OL DL OL WR TE TE WR WR WR DB TE WR WR WR DL DL K LB TE DL DL DL

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KICKOFF 2012

ANCHOR MAN

PAGE 27

After four knee surgeries, Hillgrove’s Peyton Hewitt returns to the starting lineup

By William Bretherton

wbretherton@mdjonline.com

Staff / Samantha M. Shal

Hillgrove’s Peyton Hewitt has spent more time in the training room than on the football field. Over the last two years, Hewitt needed to have two surgeries apiece on the meniscus in each knee. After having to deal with rigorous rehabilitation, Hewitt will once again take his spot on the field as a starting defensive lineman for the Hawks.

In football, plays begin at the offensive line.

For Hillgrove senior defensive tackle Peyton Hewitt, if he has anything to do with it, that’s where they end, too.

However, Hewitt’s career has been marked more by what has happened in the training room than on the football field. Over the last two years, Hewitt has had surgery on the meniscus in both of his knees twice.

“Both happened in football,” he said. “One of them was a in a JV game. I got hurt and kept on playing on it because (the coaches) really didn’t know what it was, so, I was out for a week.

Luckily, it was an off week, so I didn’t miss any games.

“Then, I went to therapy and played on it my first year. Then, I re-hurt it the same year and went to see a doctor about it. The next time was during the McEachern

THE HEWITT FILE

6-foot, 230 pounds Will start for the Hawks on the defensive line Has had two surgeries on each knee to repair meniscus injuries

game right before halftime. I really didn’t want to leave that one because I was starting that year. I played a lot and I really didn’t want to leave my team.”

For Hewitt, the injury ended his season after having to undergo surgery. For Hillgrove, it meant having to find a replacement for a thankless job.

“He’s kind of the anchor,” Hillgrove coach Phil Ironside said. “He’s an unsung hero.

When you’re playing inside, you don’t have great stats, but if you don’t do your job, then you leave

See Anchor, Page 34

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KELL LONGHORNS KICKOFF 2012

PAGE 28

SUNDAY, AUGUST 19, 2012

LOCATION: 4770 LEE WATERS ROAD, MARIETTA. PHONE: 678-494-7844. HOME FIELD: COBB ENERGY/CORKY KELL STADIUM. TEAM COLORS: COPPER, WHITE, BLACK. ONLINE: KELLFOOTBALL.COM.

COACHING STAFF

2011 RESULTS 9-3

HEAD COACH: DEREK COOK AGE: 40 YEAR : 5 RECORD: 35-12 CAREER: 44-24

VARSITY COACHING STAFF RICHARD NORMAN — ASST. HC JOSHUA CASSIDY — DC/DB KIRK CROSS — SP. TEAMS/OL JONATHON GORDON — RECEIVERS DOUG OREBAUGH — LINEBACKERS RUSTY GILLESPIE — KICKERS JAMES THIGPEN — DEF. LINE

2011 LEADERS

GRAYSON ETOWAH WOODSTOCK EAST PAULDING HIRAM POPE OSBORNE N. PAULDING SPRAYBERRY S. PAULDING MARIST LOVEJOY

0-7 26-15 36-12 0-34 6-3 33-7 13-8 52-20 48-28 55-21 30-7 10-15

L W W L W W W W W W W L

5-YEAR RECORD 37-20

RUSHING JORDAN CHAMBERS 645 YDS, 3 TD A.J. REDWINE 596 YDS, 8 TD PASSING CLAY DODSON

880 YDS, 9 TD

RECEIVING HUNTER MARSHALL 363 YDS, 4 TD DEVON WILLIAMS 352 YDS, 4 TD TACKLES JORDAN CHAMBERS SACKS ETHAN ELLIOTT

INTERCEPTIONS BRENDAN LANGLEY

‘07

‘08

‘09

‘10

‘11

139 3 6

The Kell Longhorns are coming off the best two-year run in school history.

They followed a 12-1 record in 2010 by going 9-3 in 2011 despite losing big-time senior leadership in quarterback Austin Petrik and three-time all-state defensive back Brian Randolph.

Now, heading into the 2012 season, the Longhorns have to figure out how to replace another dynamic duo in linebackers (and running backs) Jordan Chambers, a two-time all-state performer and Chris Gaines.

How do they do that?

They have what could be considered the best defensive backfield in Cobb County and a bunch of players that coach Derek Cook considers to be quality high school football players.

The five players that make up Kell’s defensive backfield — Brendan Langley, Quincy Mauger, Taylor Henkle,

NO. PLAYER CL. 1 JULIAN BURRIS 11 2 JAY MOXEY 11 3 SETH BROWN 12 4 WILLIAM POWE 12 5 MASON KEYT 12 6 CHRIS STILL 12 7 GRANT MORGAN 12 8 MICHAEL VALERO 12 9 BRIAN MUCHIRI 12 10 B.K. HUNDLEY 12 11 KYLE HINES 12 13 MATTHEW MCGUIGAN 11 14 JAMARI MOORE 12 15 T YLER FINKLEY 12 16 KHENJI HARRIS 11 17 CAMERON ROSENDAHL 10 18 AUSTIN WADE 12 19 GRADY MILLER 10 20 QUINCY MAUGER 12 21 BRENDAN LANGLEY 12

POS. WR/DB RB/DB RB/LB RB/LB WR/DB TE/LB TE/DE TE/DE WR/DB QB/DB WR/DB QB RB/DB WR/DB WR/DB QB WR/DB QB WR/DB WR/DB

2012 SEASON OUTLOOK

Jay Moxey and Julian Burris — combined to make nearly 400 tackles, and Langley, Mauger and Moxey combined to for 15 interceptions. They are the leaders of the team, all run between a 4.4- and 4.6-second 40, and all said they believe this year’s defense can be better than the 2011 squad that allowed an average of 14 points a game and held eight opponents to 15 points or less.

Offensively, many of those same defensive backs will find their way onto the field as receivers along with tight end Michael Valero.

Running back will be handled by committee, likely rotating up to as many as seven players to get the job done.

However, one of those backs is Jamari Moore, a 5-foot-4, 150-pound ball of speed that can hide behind the line until a crack appears. Moore will join Langley as key members of the return game.

NO. PLAYER 22 DERRICK WHITE 23 KHALIL BELL 24 ZACH LOPEZ 25 CAMERON MASSUNG 26 TAYLOR HENKLE 27 RONALD SIERRA 28 SHAVAUGHN HAMMOND 29 DEVAUGHN BYRD 30 TIMMY MURPHY 31 AARON TURK 32 COREY ROBINSON 33 KIEFER WRIGHT 34 DYLLEN REED 35 AUSTIN MEAUT 36 NOAH PATTON 38 BRYSON ARMSTRONG 39 SOLOMON ALLEYNE 40 DERRICK MESADIEU 41 BRIAN LINK 42 NEWTON OBENG

2012 SCHEDULE

CL. 10 12 12 11 11 11 11 11 12 10 10 12 11 11 10 9 10 9 11 10

2012 ROSTER

POS. WR/DB RB/DB RB/LB K WR/DB RB/DB WR/DB RB/DB K WR/LB WR/LB RB/LB RB/LB RB/LB RB/LB WR/LB RB/DB WR/DB WR/LB RB/DB

NO. PLAYER 43 KENTAVIOUS WALKER 44 ZACH CLOER 45 SHEMEEN HAYNES 47 C.J. BRYE 48 CALVIN IRBY 50 NATHAN WALLER 51 BRENDAN BARBER 52 TABARIUS JOHNSON 53 ARIS MATTEIS 54 JUSTIN ROCHEZ 55 ETHAN ELLIOTT 56 TREY COWART 57 KEVIN WENCES 58 DONNELL GREENE 59 ELI SEARCY 60 CORBETT MENDELSON 61 BAILEY VANCE 62 JARRETT WASHINGTON 63 T YLER FLAVIN 64 T YLER BLAKELY

The biggest question that still has to be answered at Kell is who will line up under center.

As of press time, senior B.K. Hundley is leading the quarterback race, but he is getting competition from junior Matt McGuigan and former Cherokee signal-caller Mason Keyt.

The kicking game is also facing a challenge. Chambers was a punter that could flip field position at any time and Tyler Prince was a reliable place kicker. Heading into fall camp, both positions have a wide-open competiton and likely won’t be filled until the week before kickoff.

— By John Bednarowski sportseditor@mdjonline.com

CL. POS. 11 WR/DB 12 RB/LB 11 RB/LB 12 RB/LB 11 RB/LB 11 OL/DL 12 OL/DL 12 DL 12 OL/DL 11 OL/DL 11 OL/DL 11 OL/DL 11 OL/DL 11 OL/DL 11 OL/DL 11 OL/DL 10 OL/DL 12 OL/DL 10 OL/DL 11 OL/DL

NO. PLAYER CL. 65 ZACH VAN KAUWENBURG 12 66 JAMES DEMATTO 9 67 JULIAN JOHNSON 11 68 ZACK MCDONALD 12 71 AVERY BROWN 10 72 MICHAEL LEMMON 10 73 DAVID HALL 12 74 BEN LAYNE 10 76 ALEX CRANFORD 10 77 TREYMAINE ANDERSON 11 78 ROB HARRIS 12 79 SAL HOGAN 12 80 DOMINIQUE LEWIS 10 81 THADDEUS KAWECK 10 82 BRANDON EMBY 12 83 LYNEL DAVIS 10 10 84 NASIM GREENE 85 CHANCE SADLER 10 89 D.J. EARNEST 10

POS. OL/DL OL/DL OL/DL OL/DL OL/DL OL/DL OL/DL OL/DL OL/DL OL/DL OL/DL OL/DL WR/DB TE/DE WR WR/LB WR/DB WR/DB WR/DE

TBA VS

CHATTAHOOCHEE

AUG. 25

VS WOODSTOCK SEPT. 7

AT LASSITER SEPT. 14

AT CREEKVIEW SEPT. 21

VS

NORTH SPRINGS

SEPT. 28

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AT RIVERWOOD OCT. 5

VS OSBORNE OCT. 12

AT SPRAYBERRY OCT. 26

VS POPE NOV. 2

VS REGION PLAY-IN NOV. 9

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SUNDAY, AUGUST 19, 2012

Kell’s secondary has a chance to be the best in the state of Georgia in 2012. Two of the Longhorns — Brendan Langley (21) and Quincy Mauger (20) have already committed to SEC schools. Taylor Henkle (26) may soon be a third, and when Julian Burris (1) and Jay Moxey are in the game, there is no falloff in production.

KICKOFF 2012

PAGE 29

FAMILY AFFAIR

Staff / Todd Hull

Kell’s tight-knit secondary may be the best in Georgia high school football

By John Bednarowski

sportseditor@mdjonline.com

Kell defensive back Taylor Henkle is in a unique situation.

A junior entering his third year as a starter in the Longhorns secondary, he has grown into a quiet leader of a unit that already features two seniors who are going to be playing on Saturday — Brendan Langley, who recently committed to South Carolina, and Quincy Mauger, who will be heading to Georgia.

It can make for an interesting dynamic, considering the player with the most experience is

younger than the higher profile recruits, but according to Kell coach Derek Cook, there is a reason that the rest of the unit shows him that kind of respect.

“Henkle has lost four games total since the fifth grade,” Kell coach Derek Cook said. “He almost wills things to happen. He just refuses to lose.”

The 5-foot-10, 180-pound Henkle learned some of that quality from having a chance to play alongside Brian Randolph, the former Kell star and a freshman allAmerican at safety for the University of Tennessee. Cook

said Henkle soaked in the advice Randolph provided and watched his work ethic and approach to playing the game. The mentorship rubbed off on Henkle, who is also getting Division I interest from Georgia Tech, Clemson, Oregon and Florida. He became the pillar in a unit that has taken on a family dynamic. And that family may be the best defensive backfield in Georgia high school football. It’s already one that produced nearly 400 tackles and 16 interceptions in 2011.

“We have different types of guys with different personalities,” He said. “I keep my calm and

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focus. Langley and (Jay) Moxey keep guys pumped up. Quincy is a passionate type of leader and then there’s Julian (Burris).”

Burris is the one guy that isn’t an official starter, but he may see the most field time of all of them in the defensive backfield. He is the family’s “Jack-of-all-trades”, and he is a nice “Jack” to have, considering the junior is 5-10, 170 pounds and runs a 4.4 second 40-yard dash.

Regardless of which of the other four rotate off the field, Burris has the ability to take their spot and there is no drop in level of play.

See Family, Page 34

THE LONGHORNS FILE

The secondary combined to have nearly 400 tackles and 16 interceptions in 2011 All five run between a 4.39 and 4.6 40-yard dash Brendan Langley and Quincy Mauger will each be playing in the SEC beginning next season

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KENNESAW MOUNTAIN MUSTANGS KICKOFF 2012

SUNDAY, AUGUST 19, 2012

LOCATION: 1898 KENNESAW DUE WEST ROAD, KENNESAW. PHONE: 770-594-8190. HOME FIELD: COBB ENERGY/MUSTANG STADIUM. TEAM COLORS: BLACK, GREEN, SILVER. ONLINE: KMHSFOOTBALL.COM

COACHING STAFF

2011 RESULTS 0-10

HEAD COACH: ANDY SCOTT AGE: 42 YEAR : 1 RECORD: 0-0 CAREER: 27-29

ALLATOONA POPE SPRAYBERRY NORTH COBB PEBBLEBROOK CAMPBELL SOUTH COBB HARRISON HILLGROVE MCEACHERN

VARSITY COACHING STAFF DON BAKER — DIR. FB OPS JEFF BETTIS — DEF. LINE MARCUS CARTER — LB/RB MARK CARTER — RECEIVERS

0-34 21-38 28-30 17-42 14-21 7-33 0-40 21-28 0-35 14-63

L L L L L L L L L L

5-YEAR RECORD 15-35

2011 LEADERS

RUSHING DALLIN FINLEY 283 YDS 4 TD MARCUS BROWN 161 YDS 1 TD PASSING DALLIN FINLEY

RECEIVING RYAN CLAY TYLER BOWMAN TACKLES TYLER COOPER

1,244 YDS11 TD 284 YDS 2 TD 210 YDS 3 TD

SACKS JAMARI CARTER INTERCEPTIONS JAMARI CARTER

‘07

‘08

‘09

‘10

‘11

109 3 3

For Kennesaw Mountain, the only way to go is up.

Coming off the first winless season in school history, the Mustangs brought in new coach Andy Scott to try to turn the program around. His first order of business was to return the offense to a ground and pound style attack.

With Scott reinstalling the option, it takes Kennesaw Mountain back to the offense it had when the team was on the verge of making the playoffs from 2005-2008.

Scott did this for two reasons.

First, it’s the offense that best fits the talent on his team, and second, it will help eat the time off the clock and keep the Mustangs within striking distance of their opponent, giving them their best chance to win.

Leading the way will be quarterback Dallin Finley.

NO. PLAYER CL. 1 MARCUS MANION 11 2 DEVIN PUTMON 12 3 MACEO INMAN 11 4 CHRISTOPHER RUFLIN 11 5 JAMARI CARTER 11 6 AJ MALONE 10 7 SIDNEY HAMMOND 12 12 8 MILES INMAN 9 MAURICE PHILLIPS 12 10 DALLIN FINLEY 12 11 CAMERON WILSON-RASCH 12 12 12 DARWIN GILDON 13 NICHOLAS MOORE 10 14 DONAVAN WHITE 10 10 15 JOSH RAWLINS 16 TREVOR RICHARDSON 12 17 JAYSON TOWEH 12 18 NIGEL HAYES 10

POS. RB DB DB WR RB RB LB DB WR QB WR RB DB DB QB WR DB QB

201 2 SEA SON O UTLO OK

Finley said he is excited to run the option because it puts the ball in his hands every down with a chance to make a play.

Last season, Finley ran for only 283 yards, but with him running the option, he may become the Mustangs No. 1 offensive threat out of the backfield.

Along both lines, Scott said the starters have an opportunity to be as good as any team in the county, but they have to find quality depth in case someone goes down with an injury.

One of the strengths for the Mustangs may come in a linebacking corps that includes Sidney Hammond, who will also see time on the defensive line, Tyler Cooper, who had 109 tackles a year ago, and Luis Medina.

So far, Scott has been pleased and it appears as if

NO. PLAYER 19 ZACH CHANDLER 20 ERIC MONTS 21 ZACH BISHOP 22 DARIUS GILDON 23 JORDAN SAUNDERS 24 MATTHEW SKAGGS 25 JESSE PHILLIPS 26 ANDREAS SURI 28 WAYNE DOUGLAS 29 JACOBY SHIPMON 30 GARLAND WOODRUFF 31 STEPHAN AUGUSTE 32 TANNER JONES 33 MARK STRICKLAND 34 RICHARD NGUYEN 35 RYAN PETERSON 36 MICHAEL HEARN 37 ALAN TOLAR

CL. 11 12 11 12 10 10 10 10 12 12 10 12 10 12 11 10 11 10

2 01 2 ROS TER POS. WR RB DB DB WR DB DB K RB DB LB RB WR DB RB LB RB DB

NO. PLAYER 38 ROBERT PATTERSON 39 ISAIAH JACKSON 40 TREY WHITTEMORE 41 LUCAS CARMEAN 42 JASON JOHNSON 43 MOHAMMED SABUSA 44 LUIS MEDINA 45 MARCUS BROWN 46 BRENT VANDERMEYDEN 47 ISAAC CARTER 48 T YLER COOPER 49 BRANDON MCCAIN 50 FAHAD DIGANKAR 51 ALEX TRAN 56 CARSON HALL 57 T YLER OZMENT 58 JAYLIN STALLWORTH 60 BEN JAUREGUI

the Mustangs are truly on the way up.

“We are where we need to be,” Scott said. “I’m pleased with our progress so far.”

Overall, Kennesaw Mountain should be better just based on the increased interest in the program.

The 2011 squad was comprised of 53 varsity players. Scott had 94 players out for spring practice and averaged between 70 and 75 players each day for offseason workouts — including 53 who did not miss a single day through late July.

— By John Bednarowski sportseditor@mdjonline.com

CL. 10 12 10 11 10 10 11 12 10 10 12 10 11 10 11 12 10 10

POS. RB LB DB DB RB DB LB RB LB LB LB LB OL DL DL OL OL OL

NO. PLAYER 61 DANIEL OYOLA 62 JUSTIN ROBINSON 65 DAVID WHITE 66 CHANDLER CORSE 68 DESMOND REID 70 DONALD MARKE 78 RYAN ROSADO 80 NICK BELL 81 BRIAN PIEJAK 82 NOAH TURNER 84 TARIK MULLEY 85 ANDREW GOODMAN 86 ANDREW LUBBERS 87 JOHN ROMANO 90 TARIQ SHABAZZ 91 JT RUBIO 95 JONATHON PAYTON 98 JOEY COWN

CL. 11 12 10 10 12 10 11 12 10 11 11 12 10 10 11 11 10 11

2 01 2 SCHE DULE TBA VS SPRAYBERRY AUG. 31

VS SOUTH COBB SEPT. 14

AT NORTH COBB SEPT. 21

VS MCEACHERN SEPT. 28

AT HARRISON OCT. 5

VS MARIETTA OCT. 12

AT HILLGROVE OCT. 19

VS CAMPBELL OCT. 26

AT PEBBLEBROOK NOV. 2

AT REGION 7AAAAA NOV. 9

POS. OL OL OL K OL OL DL WR WR WR WR WR DL DL DL DL DL DL

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KICKOFF 2012

SUNDAY, AUGUST 19, 2012

PAGE 31

Kennesaw Mountain’s Dallin Finley stands only 5-feet-9 inches, but he expects his lack of height to work as an advantage this season when he runs the Mustangs’ option offense.

Staff / Laura Moon

Kennesaw Mountain’s Dallin Finley ready to turn Mustangs around

By John Bednarowski

sportseditor@mdjonline.com

When Dallin Finley was 7 years old, he wanted to play football in the worst way.

After bugging his father, Anthony about it enough, Dallin was allowed to play, but he had to sign up to play with the 8- and 9-yearolds. Dallin said having to play with the older players was a test to see his level of commitment. Anthony said it was just because of where the players’ birthdays happen to fall, but either way, the father soon found out how much passion his son had for the game.

“When we first went out, there were a number of people that looked around won-

keeping you

game

dering if he could play,” Anthony Finley said. “After that, he was getting hit and bouncing right back up while other kids were getting hit and asking the coaches for help to get off the ground.”

From that point on, there was no doubt Dallin Finley was destined to play high school football. But there would always be the question of what position he would play. As he grew, Dallin did not grow into a large frame.

At 5-foot-9, 170 pounds, he was the right size to follow in his father, who played cornerback and was a punt returner at 5-7, but Dallin had a different position in mind — quarterback.

That may not have been the best spot for him and his talents last season when the

at the

top of your

Acworth 678.213.5717 Austell 770.944.3303 Canton 770.345.5717

Douglasville 770.949.8558 East Cobb 770.579.8558 Lost Mountain 770.218.8800

Marietta 770.427.5717 Paulding 770.445.5666 Woodstock 770.926.9112

Mustangs suffered through a 0-10 season in a spread, pass first offense. Dallin finished with respectable stats, completing 114 of 207 passes for 1,244 yards and 11 touchdowns against only five interceptions, but this, his senior season, could see a significant jump in his numbers.

New Kennesaw Mountain coach Andy Scott scrapped the Mustangs’ spread offense and has gone back to running the option and he said he feels Finley is the right guy to make it work.

“Dallin is the prototypical option quarterback,” Scott said. “The quarterback will

See Tall, Page 35

THE FINLEY FILE

5-foot-9, 170 pounds Kennesaw Mountain’s starting quarterback Threw for 1,244 yards and 11 touchdowns in 2011 Also a member of the Mustangs’ track team Currently getting college looks from Furman, Wofford, Elon and Mercer

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LASSITER TROJANS KICKOFF 2012

PAGE 32

SUNDAY, AUGUST 19, 2012

LOCATION: 2601 SHALLOWFORD ROAD, MARIETTA. PHONE: 678-494-7863. HOME FIELD: FRANK FILLMANN STADIUM. TEAM COLORS: MAROON, GOLD. ONLINE: LASSITERFOOTBALL.NET.

COACHING STAFF

2011 RESULTS 10-4

HEAD COACH: JEP IRWIN AGE: 39 YEAR : 3 RECORD: 15-10 CAREER: 39-30

VARSITY COACHING STAFF BUTCH BURDEN — ASST HC/LB JIM ROWELL — DEF. COORD. JOSH HERRING — OFF. COORD/QB SEAN GAINES — RUNNING BACKS BOB LORD — KICKERS CEDRIC DICKERSON — DEF. BACKS MICHAEL FRAKER — DEF.LINE TOMMY CARROLL — RECEIVERS CHAD HICKS — OFFENSIVE LINE

2011 LEADERS

RUSHING ISIAH WILLIS DON. CREPSAC PASSING EDDIE PRINTZ

RECEIVING CHARLIE HEGEDUS JUWAN DICKEY TACKLES JOSH DANFORTH

14-6 45-14 56-35 28-17 10-34 63-13 35-7 28-35 30-10 14-17 17-16 20-17 24-14 24-30

W W W W L W W L W L W W W L

5-YEAR RECORD 39-21

823 YDS, 9 TD 153 YDS, 1 TD 3,350 YDS, 28 TD 1,145 YDS, 11 TD 924 YDS, 9 TD

‘07

‘08

‘09

‘11

4

INTERCEPTIONS KENE ORJIOKE

7

HILLGROVE

AT SPRAYBERRY SEPT. 7

keeping you AUG. 31

‘10

126

SACKS JOSH DANFORTH

VS

BROOKWOOD SPRAYBERRY NORTH COBB MILTON WALTON CHEROKEE WHEELER MARIETTA WOODSTOCK ETOWAH ALPHARETTA MCEACHERN M.L. KING WALTON

Lassiter is setting itself up to win Region 5AAAAAA this season.

The Trojans have the tools on both sides of the ball to make it happen this season, plus a third-year starting quarterback who is bound for UCLA next season.

Lassiter’s success in 2012 will center greatly around senior Eddie Printz, who nearly led Lassiter to an improbable comeback win over Walton in last year’s Class AAAAA state semifinal. He also led the Trojans to an upset over McEachern in the second round.

Printz led Cobb County in passing last season with 3,350 yards and 28 touchdown while throwing only nine interceptions. He’s on track to have a repeat performance this season with at least three reliable receivers he

NO. PLAYER 1 HAKIM SHAHID 2 JUWAN DICKEY 2* CHRISTIAN HOLDEN 3 DUBY NWAUBI 4 MORGAN MCDANIEL 5 WILLIE POLICE 5* GRANT DANIELS 6 JAVANTE WOODEN 6* ZARAN SMITH 7 EDDIE PRINTZ 8 PETER BRIGNAC 9 QUINCY PERDUE 10 BLAKE PENTER 11 JOSH DANFORTH 11*SAM KELLER 12 RUSSELL AARONS 13 T YLER PINTUR 13*MARTIN LISS 14 ANTONIO GALLANTE 15 ERIC PERDUE 15*T YLER BRANCH 16 LUKE HARDIN 17 CHRIS MURPHY 17*TOMMY HENEGHAN 18 TOM BARRE 19 ZACH WITTES 20 ROBERT DOWLING

VS KELL SEPT. 14

game

AT CHEROKEE SEPT. 21

CL. POS. 12 SS/RB 12 WR 10 S 11 WR 11 WR 12 WR/RB 10 RB 12 CB 10 WR 12 QB 11 RB/DL 11 WR 11 WR/RB 12 LB/RB 10 DB 10 QB 12 LB 10 DB 10 DB 12 S 10 TE 11 K/P 11 CB 10 WR 11 DB 10 QB 12 DB

No. Player 20*ORIS LAWHORN 21 DERION CANNON 22 BLAKE WILSON 23 DEVONTAE MOORE 23*A.J. PELLETIER 24 PATRICK LEVANDOSKI 24*TANNER PLEMMONS 25 MATT MC ALLISTER 26 BLAKE RICHARDSON 27 NICK SPIES 28 DANIEL FABINIAK 29 JAHAT ORAMAS 30 CLAY ROELLE 31 ZACK LETTS 32 EMMANUEL NWAKAEZE 33 LANE JACKMAN 34 JAMES ROWE 35 BEAR BROWN 36 PARKER STYLES 37 BRYNDON PEACOCK 38 CHRISTIAN FRANKLIN 39 NITIN JAIN 40 TRENT GANTT 40*DYLAN BASS 41 BENEDICT LEWIS 42 JACK MARSHAND 43 RYAN GILDEA

2012 SCHEDULE

VS WOODSTOCK SEPT. 28

at the

top of your

Acworth 678.213.5717 Austell 770.944.3303 Canton 770.345.5717

Douglasville 770.949.8558 East Cobb 770.579.8558 Lost Mountain 770.218.8800

2012 SEASON OUTLOOK

can target.

Seniors Juwan Dickey and Willie Police are both returning. Dickey is expected to be Printz’ primary target last year after posting 924 receving yards and nine touchdowns. Police finished with 557 yards and six scores and should benefit from the arrival of Milton transfer Ryan Jenkins, a Clemson commitment.

With running back Isiah Willis graduating after rushing for 823 yards in 2011, Wheeler transfer Hakim Shahid is the frontrunner to assume the starting role in the backfield with junior Peter Brignac backing him up.

Lassiter is also set defensively, with half its starters returning and most of them being up front.

Senior defensive lineman Trent Gantt will control the trenches after compiling 20 tackles for loss a year ago.

Marietta 770.427.5717 Paulding 770.445.5666 Woodstock 770.926.9112

VS WALTON OCT. 5

2012 ROSTER

CL. POS. 10 WR/RB 11 RB 11 WR/RB 12 DB 10 DB 12 DB 10 DB 10 WR/RB 11 DB 10 DB 11 DB 11 DB 11 DB 10 K/P 11 DB 11 RB 12 LB 10 DB 11 CB 11 LB 10 DB 10 DB 12 DL 10 K/P 11 LB 11 LB 12 LB

NO. PLAYER 43 CONNOR BELL 44 DAVID LONG-DANIELS 45 ZACH SPIES 46 DANIEL EVANS 47 BRIAN CRIGLER 48 PIERCE SMITH 50 MARCO BRAMLETT 51 AUSTIN CHEATUM 52 STEPHAN CURRAN 53 PHIL MURRAY 54 GREGG WENTZ 55 RAUL AGUIRRE 56 KORY GILDEA 57 SAM WOOD 58 MICHAEL FREEMAN 59 ZAC ALLEN 60 BRIAN MCDONALD 62 ALEX SCHWARTZ 63 GEORGE POITEVIEN 65 BRETT HORTON 66 JAKE CHAMBERS 68 MICHAEL DAVIS 69 ADAM HAMILTON 72 LUAN PEREIRA 73 DANIEL CHOW 74 NICK MCFADDEN 75 MICHAEL HEARD

AT MILTON OCT. 19

VS WHEELER OCT. 26

Senior linebacker Josh Danforth is also back after posting 126 tackles. Senior Ryan Gildea will be a third-year starter at linebacker.

The Trojans will be unproven in the secondary, and it may be difficult to replace Garret Shank at safety.

Senior Robert Dowling is the lone returning starter at cornerback.

Harrison transfer Chris Murphy is a strong candidate for be the other starting corner.

— By Adam Ca rrington acarrington@mdjonline.com

CL. POS. 10 LB 10 LB 11 LB 12 S 12 CB 10 P 10 LB 11 DL/OL 11 OL 10 OL 10 OL 11 DL 10 LB 11 OL 11 OL 11 LB 11 LB 10 OL 10 DL 10 OL 10 LB 10 OL 12 OL 11 OL 11 OL 10 DL 10 OL

NO. PLAYER 76 AVEUS ANDERSON 79 CHRISTIAN CLARK 80 RYAN JENKINS 80*MICHEAL BRIDGERS 81 T YLER MONTOUR 82 ZACH BEAVERSON 83 TOM CANTRELL 84 NICK SEWAK 84*MITCHELL STEVENS 85 DIVINE ANYANWOKE 86 ANTHONY CASEY 86*STEVEN BEASLEY 87 PEASON VANHORN 88 JOHN BRANKS 89 MATTHEW NORTON 90 CONNOR SHIELDS 91 C.J. AMANN 92 MOE NYANG 93 DANNY APPIAH 94 AHMAD ALEXANDER 95 COREY JOHN 96 MICHAEL BALLARD 97 LINDEN RIEDLINGER 98 CAMERON PEEBLES 99 DARIUS REESE

CL. POS. 11 DL 12 DL 12 WR 10 WR 10 WR 11 WR 10 DB 12 LS/TE 10 WR 10 WR 12 TE 10 WR 10 WR 11 DL 10 WR 10 DL 11 DL 12 DL 12 DL 11 DL 11 DL 10 DL 10 DL 10 DL 12 DL

* INDICATES DUPLICATE JERSEY #

VS ROSWELL NOV. 2

AT ETOWAH NOV. 9

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SILENT FRIDAY NIGHTS

KICKOFF 2012

SUNDAY, AUGUST 19, 2012

PAGE 33

Lassiter’s Peter Brignac can hear with a cochlear implant, just not on the field

By Adam Carrington

acarrington@mdjonline.com

After spending several years in silence, Peter Brignac doesn’t mind the noise.

Now that he’s wearing a cochlear implant behind his left ear, most of Brignac’s hearing has been restored, and the rising Lassiter junior running back can be social in the school halls without having to read lips, use sign language or rely completely on a translator.

Brignac lost the bulk of his hearing as a 6year-old — a year after he started playing football — when he was prescribed an ototoxic drug to treat sarcoidosis, a rare disease among small children that effects the organs and can cause fatigue and arthritis. At first, Brignac could hear with the use of a hearing aid, but his hearing worsened over time to the point that the hearing aid became ineffective.

He was completely deaf by the time he was 8.

“I can tell you it took a lot out of the family,” his father Peter Brignac, Sr. said of having to adjust to his son’s condition. “Peter needed a lot of attention. He had to be brought back and fourth to the hospital. The doctors said he was going to lose hearing and there was nothing they could do for him. We tried to learn sign language. My wife and our two daughters picked it up quickly but I couldn’t pick it up as fast.”

In the process of going deaf, the younger

THE BRIGNAC FILE

6-foot-1, 188 pounds Lost his hearing at age 6 Hearing restored with a cochlear implant in seventh grade Cannot wear implant on the field Challenging for a starting running back position in 2012

Brignac taught himself to lip-read, while his mother, Cecilia, taught him to speak verbally so he could converse in a normal speaking tone.

While Brignac Sr. gave sign language his best shot, his son verbally told him sign language wasn’t necessary.

“He said ‘Don’t bother, you’re messing up,’” Peter Sr. said. “He said, ‘You can just talk to me, I can read your lips. Tell me what you want to tell me.’ He was very good.”

Then came the cochlear implant when Brignac was in the seventh grade — an implanted device that stimulates the cochlear in the brain after it no longer functions — and it gave him a different perspective on life.

“When I got my implant, I was so excited,”

See Silent, Page 35

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Staff / Laura Moon

Lassiter’s Peter Brignac wears a cochlear implant to help him hear everywhere except the football field. The implant can’t be worn on the field, but the junior running back has already proven that isn’t a problem as he competes for a starting role.

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Continued from Page 27

linebackers hanging. Obviously, you’re not very good on run defense. He doesn’t mind that he’s not the star or the hero. He just goes out there and does his job.”

For the remainder of the year, the Hawks tried to replace him, but found that there was a significant drop-off.

“I couldn’t even tell you who played for him,” Ironside said. “We roll so many kids, it’s not like it’s one guy. But we dropped off significantly defensively, and a lot of it was just fits and the things that he did. It wasn’t like we lost 10 tackles a game, but the stuff he did made us a better defense.

“You could tell a big difference the rest of the season.”

And so, the 6-foot, 230-pound lineman underwent a long recovery process. Although he was able to play on his injury as a sophomore, after his second surgery, there was little he was able to do.

“The second time, I had to stay

1:46 AM

Page 34

on crutches without touching it for a couple of months,” Hewitt said. “It was a long process of rehab and slowly coming back. I was a little more helpless. I just had to wait for time to heal it. I helped it with therapy, but it still just took a long time to get back.”

After sustaining so much damage to his knees, there might have been some thought of giving up football, but not for Hewitt.

“After the McEachern game, if I could have physically competed out there, I would have went straight back out there,” he said. “I just couldn’t walk. Right after my surgery, I came back and watched every game. I was there for pretty much all of the practices unless I was doing therapy. I tried to be there as much as possible. I just love sports. I’ve played football since I was 5. I just enjoy it.”

After making a full recovery, Hewitt says that he feels no pain in either of his knees, he will be inserted into the starting rotation as one of the team’s two defensive tackles. Hewitt’s job once more will be to take on blockers and stop plays at the line of scrimmage before they start.

KICKOFF 2012

Family

Continued from Page 29

“He has a feel for the game other people don’t have,” Cook said. “All I know is he seems to be in the right place to make plays a lot.”

As future SEC players, it could be easy for Langley and Mauger to carry an elitist type of air, and boast about the accomplishments they have already achieved, but they know that is no way to influence the up-andcoming players on the Longhorns squad, and Cook said it is important that they understand that responsibility.

“Kids follow the high-impact players most of the time,” he said. “And, 99 percent of the time, I’m pleased with what they bring to the table.”

Langley is the outgoing, gregarious member of the group. He can often be seen laughing and playing around with friends and teammates, but when it’s time to play, he’s nothing but serious. At

6-1, 187 pounds with a 4.4-second 40-yard dash, Langley is one that can get inside an opponents’ head. He knows he’s good and he knows the opponent knows he’s good. And it all came full circle in less than a year.

“As a sophomore I didn’t even play defense,” said Langley, who finished his first season at cornerback with 59 tackles and six interceptions.

Despite the newness to the position, Langley impressed enough college scouts to land 14 offers from Football Bowl Subdivision schools, including 11 from the SEC. Langley said much of his success stems from the unit working so well together.

“It’s our ability to function and cooperate,” he said. “We trust each other on and off the field and it allows us to take risks during the game because if we make a mistake someone will be able to make up for it.”

Langley added that as he became an upperclassman, things began to become clearer and he

SUNDAY, AUGUST 19, 2012

took the game more seriously.

Like the rest of the unit, that maturity goes a long way.

“We have a chance to make this defense the best in Kell history,” he said, “These guys are phenomenal athletes and we play wise beyond our years.”

The 6-foot, 197-pound Mauger, who finished the 2011 season with 102 tackles, agrees.

“We are very well-disciplined, and we know our keys,” he said. “But more importantly, we make sure everyone has fun.”

The final member of the family is everyone’s little brother in Moxey. He is only 5-5 and 152 pounds, but this will be his second year as a starter. And while his stature may be small, his game is big, finishing last season with four interceptions.

Moxey said he still has a growth spurt in him, but he summed up perfectly exactly what the Kell defensive backs believe in, and what will make them a solid unit again in 2012.

“We do what we have to do.”

Hours: Mon-Sat 11am-10pm • Sun. 11am-4pm

Freshly prepared soups, salads, sandwiches, vegetables and much more!

3451 Ernest Barrett Pkwy • Marietta, GA 30064 770.422.7717 www.westcobbdiner.com

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SUNDAY, AUGUST 19, 2012

Continued from Page 33

Brignac said. “It had been since I was 5 or 6 that I’ve been able to hear. It felt totally different for me and I had to get used to it.

When I didn’t have the cochlear implant, I spoke too loud because I couldn’t hear myself, and when I got it, I spoke more quietly and clearer.”

Even after his hearing was restored through the implant, it wasn’t the easiest transition.

The sounds he first heard were robotic as if he was living in a Star Wars movie. “(His restored hearing) sounded like Charlie Brown’s teacher was talking to him all the time,” said Lassiter special education teacher Mitzy Park, who also serves as his translator. “It was a robotic and muffled sound. His brain had to be retrained on how to hear and understands specific voices.”

While the implant restored most of Brignac’s hearing he’s not permitted to wear the implant when he’s on the football field. Not only can sweat ruin the device, but he could risk a serious injury to the brain if he should take a hard hit to the helmet.

He was allowed to play with a hearing aid when he was younger, but had to wear a head

Page 35

KICKOFF 2012

band to absorb the sweat.

On the football field, Brignac is in a silent world. He gets information between plays through hand signals, lip reading or sign language from his translator who normally stands on the sidelines.

And playing running back suits Brignac’s handicap. Standing next to or behind the quarterback, Brignac can pick up signals quickly when Lassiter has to change a play at the last moment.

Plus, Brignac is built like a running back with his 6-foot-1, 188-pound frame. He has developed great field vision, and when he sees an open hole at the line of scrimmage, he can penetrate.

“He really believes in himself,” Lassiter running backs coach Shawn Gaines said, “and has matured to the point where he can put forth the effort and make it happen.”

Brignac tried playing receiver, but lining up too far from the quarterback made communication difficult. He also tried playing in the secondary, but he couldn’t always pick up on all the constant changes from opposing offenses.

He is projected to back up Hakim Shahid at running back this season, but coaches say may earn a starting position as the year goes on, or at the beginning of 2013.

Tall

Continued from Page 31

have the freedom to change the play and get us out of a bad read. (Dallin’s) fast, he makes quick decisions and he’s very elusive.”

And, as an option quarterback, being a little smaller may be an advantage, especially behind offensive linemen that are more than 6-feet tall.

“The defense can’t see everything,” Finley said. “I can slip through some tight areas and go.

“There is no better feeling than looking at a middle linebacker or defensive end’s eyes with the look that they are coming to get you, and then you make them miss. It’s fun to watch them get up and go back to the huddle.”

Scott said he has already seen exactly what Finley is talking about, because he’s done it to his own teammates.

“A few times we were in an all-out blitz and he found a crease,” Scott said.

“He popped out of the middle of the pack and was able to go for a big gain.”

To get ready for the extra pounding he expects to get as an option quarter-

PAGE 35

back, Finley has made sure he is in the best shape possible heading into the season. His weight room work has allowed him to bench 280 pounds, and he can squat between 330 and 345 pounds. But just as solid as he is physically, he has spent as much time in the film room learning how to run the offense, and Scott says Finley’s leadership qualities have had an effect on the rest of the team.

“Dallin is as good a leader from player and character standpoint as I have ever coached,” said Scott, who has coached Casey Hayward, who is now with the Green Bay Packers, Kennaris Davis, a starter at linebacker for Troy while Scott was at Perry High School.

“He’s always doing the right thing no matter who is watching. He shares the same beliefs (about the team) as a coach and he’s willing to speak up and talk to the team when things aren’t going right.”

If there is one thing Finley wants to get out of his last season of high school football, it’s to leave the younger classmates that come behind him something to build on.

“It’s very important we set the groundwork for Kennesaw Mountain’s future,” Finley said. “If we don’t, nothing else that I have done will have mattered.”

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MARIETTA BLUE DEVILS KICKOFF 2012

PAGE 36

SUNDAY, AUGUST 19, 2012

LOCATION: 1171 WHITLOCK AVE. SW, MARIETTA. PHONE: 770-428-2631. HOME FIELD: NORTHCUTT STADIUM. TEAM COLORS: BLUE, WHITE. ONLINE: BLUEDEVIL-FOOTBALL.COM.

COACHING STAFF

2011 RESULTS 6-6

HEAD COACH: SCOTT BURTON AGE: 39 YEAR : 3 RECORD: 8-14 CAREER: 80-40

VARSITY COACHING STAFF JASON MEADE — ASST. HC/DC CHARLIE CRITTENDON — OC/OL CHRIS BELL — SP. TEAMS/ LB LABRONE MITCHELL — RECEIVERS JAARAN NESBITT — RB NICK HOUSTOULAKIS — DEF. BACKS GREG JACKSON — LINEBACKERS KEN WAKEFIELD — DEF. BACKS

2011 LEADERS

SOUTH COBB HILLGROVE MCEACHERN ALPHARETTA WHEELER WOODSTOCK ETOWAH LASSITER WALTON CHEROKEE CENTENNIAL CAMDEN CO.

26-33 8-48 7-20 20-33 29-6 35-13 33-14 35-28 14-42 27-6 48-27 7-48

L L L L W W W W L W W L

5-YEAR RECORD 24-30

RUSHING RO’MELLO PORTER 727 YDS, 10 TD AN. JENNINGS 464 YDS, 8 TD PASSING A. JENNINGS

2,187 YDS, 19 TD

RECEIVING TYREE HARRIS 837 YDS, 7 TD MARCUS BENNETT 512 YDS, 5 TD TACKLES TYRELL TOMLIN SACKS JAYLEN HILL

‘07

‘08

‘09

‘10

‘11

93 7

INTERCEPTIONS JAYLEN HILL, TYRELL TOMLIN 3

After starting the 2011 campaign with a 0-4 record, Marietta rebounded to finish second in Region 5AAAAA by winning five of the next six games.

The Blue Devils went on to reach the second round of the playoffs, but they are looking for more this year.

With LSU commitment, Anthony Jennings at quarterback and top target Tyree Harris, a Wake Forest commitment, leading the way, Marietta’s offense figures to be potent.

Outside of the Blue Devils’ two stars, Marietta has nine offensive returners including secondary receiving targets, juniors Jordan Mathis and Marcus Bennett, as well as, senior tight end Kenny Norwood.

Paving the way for Marietta’s passing game will be four returning offensive linemen.

Going into the fall, Marietta will need to work on its

NO. PLAYER CL. POS. 1 T YRELL TOMLIN 11 LB/RB 12 WR 2 CHAVEZ HEMPHILL 3 PETER SAVIC 12 DB 10 QB 5 BRENTON MARTIN 6 MONTREL HEARD 12 DB 12 WR/DB 7 T YREE HARRIS 8 MARCUS BENNETT 11 WR/DB 9 AMANUEL GANTT 12 DB/WR 10 JORDAN MARION-PLAINES 12 DB 11 JORDAN MATHIS 11 WR/QB 12 QB 12 ANTHONY JENNINGS 13 TREY WARREN 12 DL 14 TJ BULOCK 11 DB 12 TE/DB 16 KENNY NORWOOD 17 CARTER SMITH 12 DB 18 KADEEM WALLINGTON 11 WR 20 KERVONTE BENSON 10 RB 21 LAWTON WARD 11 LB 11 RB/LB 22 DONNIE BANKS 23 ANDREW THOMAS 11 LB/TE

2012 SEASON OUTLOOK

running game to potentially create more balance in the offense and relieve pressure on the pass rush.

Defensively, Marietta returns five players, including junior inside linebackers Lawton Ward and Ty Tomlin. In the secondary, both starting cornerbacks return.

Like the offense, the defense is working to become more consistent at stopping the run. In Marietta’s six wins, the defense’s ability to stop the run was a common factor.

But more than working on improving its rushing attack, run defense or special teams, Marietta’s program has focused most of all on an attitude shift. In Scott Burton’s first year as coach at Marietta, the Blue Devils finished 2-8. Last year, the team finished in the second round of the state playoffs.

Now, because of a change in the overall message

NO. PLAYER 24 MARCUS RICHARDSON 25 ONTERRIO LAY 26 SIMEYON BOBBETT 27 DAREON AGURS 28 TAVIO HUTSON 29 CHAD LIPPOLD 30 DREW MCCOLLUM 31 KEITH COOPER 32 NAKIA BERNIARD 33 JONATHAN LOGAN 34 CHRIS FLOOD 35 DALTON BRANS 37 RAYMOND LESTER 38 IAN SHANNON 40 NAQUON SHELTON 41 DAVID CARILLO 42 BRAD KING 43 KENTON BRADFORD 45 RICK ASSINZO 46 DANIEL FOSTER

2012 SCHEDULE

VS NEWNAN AUG. 24

AT POPE AUG. 31

VS HILLGROVE SEPT. 14

AT MCEACHERN SEPT. 21

AT PEBBLEBROOK SEPT. 28

AT

KENNESAW MTN.

OCT. 12

2012 ROSTER

CL. POS. 10 WR/DB 11 LB 11 DB 11 DB 11 RB/DB 10 LB 12 LB 10 WR/DB 10 RB/LB 12 LB 11 DL 10 LB 10 DB 10 K 12 RB 12 DB 10 DB 10 DB 10 DL 12 LB

NO. PLAYER 47 TARANDUS JONES 48 JASAI EASLEY 49 DANIEL CUYLER 50 JAMEL JOHNSON 51 ALEX WILKERSON 52 JOSH BOATENG 53 ISAIAH BORNE 54 DAVIS WILSON 55 PHILLIP COLBURN 56 PATRICK LEE 57 JELANI EASLEY 58 TREVON THOMAS 59 JOHN THOMAS 60 CHASE JOHNSON 62 TIM SULLIVAN 63 BRANDON HILL 64 JERON HOLSEY 65 PAUL MOORE 66 JEROME BOATENG

VS CAMPBELL OCT. 19

AT SOUTH COBB OCT. 26

in the program, Burton says the team has bought in to that message and the results have presented themselves accordingly.

“No matter how it’s presented, the message is always that it’s not about you,” he said. “It’s about the guy next to you, the guys that came before you. You’re a spoke in the wheel, and it’s how important your spoke is to the wheel. We have to constantly make sure that we are ever present in the thought process of what I can do to make the entire program better — not better for me, but better because of me.”

— By William Bretherton wbretherton@mdjonline.com

CL. POS. 10 RB/DB 10 WR/DB 12 RB 12 OL 12 OL/DL 12 OL 11 OL 12 OL 10 OL/LB 10 DL 12 OL 12 OL 12 DL 12 OL 10 OL/DL 11 OL/DL 10 OL 10 DL/OL 10 OL/DL

NO. PLAYER 68 TREY BARTLETT 71 JEREMIAH GARRETT 72 PHILLIP CHENEY 73 NOMA SANDO 74 WILL BAILEY 75 ANDRES MCCLESH 76 ROSS FRIZZELL 77 SEAN MOORE 78 CHRIS WINSTEAD 79 JON PAUL VETTER 80 JAN ROBLES 81 SHOMARI HOLMES 83 MARLON GOBER 84 MALIK MARSHALL 85 DALTON BEE 87 ALEX LEWIS 88 ANTONIO PRICE 92 CALVIN GRANT 95 JONATHAN GATES

VS NORTH COBB NOV. 2

CL. POS. 12 DL 12 DL 11 OL/DL 10 OL/DL 10 OL 10 OL/DL 11 OL/DL 12 DL 10 OL/DL 12 OL 12 DL 12 WR 10 TE 10 WR/DB 12 TE 10 WR/DB 12 WR 11 DL 10 LB/OL

VS HARRISON NOV. 9

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FINDING HIS WAY

KICKOFF 2012

SUNDAY, AUGUST 19, 2012

PAGE 37

Marietta’s Lawton Ward has peace at home, church and on the football field

By William Bretherton

wbretherton@mdjonline.com

Staff / Jon-Michael Sullivan

Marietta’s Lawton Ward found the church after his parents got divorced, and it has been stabilizing force in his life. When Ward moved to Marietta with his father, he joined First Presbyterian, where he has built relationships and found the people he can count on when needed. Ward also joined the Blue Devils’ football team, for which where he plays linebacker and will be a big part of the defense this fall.

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Marietta’s Lawton Ward is far from an ordinary high school student.

In addition to starring as an inside linebacker for the Blue Devils’ football team, the junior is also a standout in wrestling, and ran track as a freshman.

This past winter, he placed fourth in the 170-pound weight class at the Class AAAAA state traditional wrestling meet. He was only one of three wrestlers from Marietta to reach the state meet, and the lone one to place in the top five.

Beyond athletics, he has a 3.92 grade-point average in the international baccalaureate program, which is good enough to rank him in the top 10 of his class.

In order to create the motivation and necessary drive to get through all of the adversity to accomplish those great feats, he had to get through tough personal times early on

keeping you

game

THE WARD FILE

5-foot-11, 175 pounds Plays linebacker for the Blue Devils Recorded four sacks in 2011 Top 10 in his class with a 3.92 GPA in the international baccalaureate program

at home.

His parents, Tim and Ann Ward, divorced when Ward was young. At the time, the family lived in Fort Payne, Ala. For several years, he had to find his own way to cope with such a massive change in his life.

“My parents got divorced awhile back,” Ward said. “That was a hard thing. But it’s what brought me (to the church), so the reality is that it was a blessing in See Way, Page 38

at the

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16848750:Football Tab Dummies

Way

8/9/2012

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Continued from Page 37

disguise. But that was a hard thing to deal with. (The divorce) happened when I was in the fifth grade, but I was still living with my mom, so there was a lot of tension and turmoil in the years after that.”

Ward moved to Marietta with his father after he received a new job with Wither’s Tool Die and Manufacturing Co. With the move, he had to find a new church.

“As a family, we were churchgoers, but as I got older, they definitely presented it to me as an option,” said Ward, who attends First Presbyterian in Marietta. “I thought it was a good thing for me to do. I had a really good youth pastor and really good friends that I could lean on.

Those relationships came in handy because they might have some advice for you, you might have something for them that might work.”

Along with using the church as a social network and developing his own beliefs, Ward also found relief in sports — most specifically, football.

1:49 AM

Page 38

“Sports was definitely kind of a sanctuary for me to get away from things,” he said. “Still today, when one isn’t working, I go to the other and block it all out.”

As a sophomore, Ward started nearly every game at inside linebacker, though the game stopped being a sanctuary for him after an early season injury. However, it did provide an example of Ward’s leadership qualities.

“He got hurt in one game, a home game very bad,” Marietta quarterback Anthony Jennings said.

“The ambulance came and took him off on the stretcher. When he was coming off, he told us good luck, gave us the thumbs up and put a Marietta ‘M’ up. Within the next two weeks, he was back in the game, so that shows how hard he works to get back and ready to play.”

When Ward returned, he was able to make an impact at inside linebacker. He finished last season with four sacks. Even at 5 feet-11, 175 pounds, he was able to make plays stopping the run.

Beyond the gridiron and the classroom, Ward has been able to

KICKOFF 2012

make a positive impact as well.

Though his church, he has taken mission trips the last two summers to Jamaica, helping to build an addition onto a school building, and to New York City, where he worked in a soup kitchen.

In an average day during the school year, Ward said he wakes up at “around 6 in the morning” and does light stretching and a light workout, followed by a rigorous school day with Advanced Placement courses. He follows that with practice in one of his two main sports, a church event and then coming home for dinner and homework around 8 or 9 p.m.

So, what would drive a teenager to put himself through so much more than his classmates and teammates?

“It’s what I love to do,” Ward said. “But God has given me the ability and the work ethic — the drive. I decided to use it, I guess. I soak up every aspect of life.”

After all of the success and effort that Ward has put in, what’s in it for him at the end of the day?

“I don’t know,” he said. “I don’t really think about it.”

Hassan

Continued from Page 21

baby,” Sharen Hassan said. “His brother was a baseball player.

(Jakob) would always bring a football to (his brother’s) baseball games. He wanted to play. It’s our life now. We love football. Hopefully, he’ll go on to the next level.”

Although Jakob was cleared by doctors to play contact sports, there is still always a risk associated with head injuries in the sport, something that has led others to question Hassan before about his desire to play football. However, that hasn’t stunted his desire to play whatsoever.

“I just love football,” he said.

“I love my teammates. I’ve grown up playing with them for 10-12 years. But the competitiveness, how you can just overpower one man by yourself — I don’t know. It’s crazy. Some people see me as a lunatic.

“I know I’m a little crazy. I think it’s perfectly normal to play football.

I didn’t believe that I couldn’t. It’s

SUNDAY, AUGUST 19, 2012

astounding. I don’t get it. I know people that still have headaches to this day from that sort of surgery. I guess I’m just a special guy.”

Off the field, Hassan’s classmates saw the scars and picked on him. Although it was hard on Jakob, he said that he learned to deal with it.

“I guess that impacted me in my early childhood,” he said.

“After I figured out it wasn’t going to stop, I really didn’t care.

I had a different outlook than other kids I’m sure.”

After school, Hassan knew that he had football as a means to hit back, which surely helped him cope with much of the anger from the disparagement.

“It helped me like no other,” he said. “That’s where most of my anger (being picked on) came out. I would just take it out on the football field.”

Does Hassan have any problems with it to this day?

“No, nobody really picks on me anymore,” he said. “If they did, they knew what would happen.”

Coming from an offensive lineman, so do his opponents.

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MCEACHERN INDIANS KICKOFF 2012

PAGE 40

SUNDAY, AUGUST 19, 2012

LOCATION: 2400 NEW MACLAND ROAD, POWDER SPRINGS. PHONE: 770-222-3710. HOME FIELD: WALTER CANTRELL STADIUM. TEAM COLORS: BLUE, GOLD. ONLINE: MCEACHERNHIGH.ORG/FOOTBALL.HTML.

COACHING STAFF

2011 RESULTS 10-2

HEAD COACH: KYLE HOCKMAN AGE: 45 YEAR : 5 RECORD: 35-10 CAREER: 75-37

VARSITY COACHING STAFF PHIL HOSKINS — ASST. HC/DB VAN SPENCE — OC/QB KEN HOCKMAN — DC/LB BRYAN MINISH — DC/DL JON OSNOWITZ — RUNNING BACKS BRENT HAYGOOD — OFF. LINE MARK MEYERES — RECEIVERS RICH FOSTER — TIGHT ENDS BRAD HORNER — OFF. LINE JOSH COLE — LINEBACKERS STEVE ADLEY — LINEBACKERS JASON HOLLINGSWORTH — DL CHRIS CODY — DEF. BACKS DAVE SHULER — DEF. LINE

N. GWINNETT LOWNDES MARIETTA CAMPBELL SOUTH COBB HILLGROVE PEBBLEBROOK NORTH COBB HARRISON KMHS BENEDICTINE LASSITER

26-17 20-13 20-7 55-0 45-7 10-12 52-14 56-17 31-14 63-14 56-12 17-20

W W W W W L W W W W W L

5-YEAR RECORD 39-16

2011 LEADERS

RUSHING JELANI WELLS MIKE SHERMAN

686 YDS, 3 TD 565 YDS, 7 TD

PASSING TRENT THOMPSON 2,443 YDS, 27 TD RECEIVING AMBA ETTA-TAWO 907 YDS, 6 TD TRAY FLETCHER 690 YDS, 12 TD TACKLES DARIUS ENGLISH SACKS DARIUS ENGLISH

INTERCEPTIONS EDWARD THOMAS

VS GRAYSON AUG. 25

‘07

‘08

100 22.5 5

VS WALTON AUG. 31

‘09

‘10

‘11

McEachern has finished each of the last three seasons with 10 wins. This year, there’s no telling where the Indians will finish. On both sides of the ball, McEachern has a total of seven returning starters — four of which are on the offensive line.

However, the big guys up front will certainly be a key to moving the Indians’ offense this season.

“The heart and our soul of our team is this offensive line,” McEachern coach Kyle Hockman said. “There’s no question.”

That unit will be led by Jujuan Dulaney at tackle, who committed to Maryland in the offseason. Sherrod Pittman, Travis Fair and Demetrius Garner round out the remainder of returners on the line.

NO. 1 2 3 4 7 8 9 10 12 12 13 14 15 16 18 19 20 20 21 22 23 24 24 25 26 27 28 29 29 30 31

AT PEBBLEBROOK SEPT. 14

PLAYER ELIJIAH VAN DORN T YMASHIAN CLEMONS KYLE TRAMMELL GLENN FRAZIER TAJ GRIFFIN CHRIS OKEH DEVIN KIRKLAND T Y GRIFFEN DAQUAN BRANCH CHASE JONES CHRISTAIN FORD MIKE SHERMAN HENRY FAMUREWA DENNIS DOMINGUEZ ANDREW HEYWARD MALIK WILLIAMS OMARI BROWN JAYLYN WHITE RAJON WRIGHT DARYUS THOMPSON RYAN SHERMAN KELL PARHAM DAVID PHILLIPS KEI-YON JOHNSON JAMES BRICE JERRY NWANKWOH FITZ WATTLEY JOSHUA FARARA DREVION KILGORE JUSTIN PENDLETON JOSH OHANU

VS MARIETTA SEPT. 21

CL. POS. WR 11 11 QB 12 WR 11 LB RB 10 12 TE 12 DE QB 12 12 QB 11 QB/P 11 DB 12 RB/LB 11 DE 11 PK 10 QB/WR 11 WR 10 OLB 11 DB 12 WR 11 DB 11 RB 12 OLB 11 DB 11 RB 11 DB 11 OLB 10 OLB 12 RB 12 WR 11 OLB 10 RB

AT

NO. 31 32 32 33 34 34 35 36 36 37 38 38 39 40 40 41 41 42 42 43 45 45 46 47 48 48 49 50 51 52 53

PLAYER RAHMOI PARSONS MARQUISE BOYCE MALIK CHEVRY ALIZEE CHUBBS DYLAN HAMILTON SONNY HARRIS PHINEHAS HALL ADRIAN RILEY MICHAEL WILLIAMS KEENAN STARNES JERRY CADLEY JAMAR JEFFEREY LUIS DELGADO LEON BOYCE JAWAUN HOLT JOVAN REID HASSAN WILLIAMS JORDAN BURGE NICK FRIEND MCNEAL MILLER SEAN CARTER JAMIE KINCAID JAMARCUS GRACE HEZEKIAH WARD ANFERNEE LIVAS DAQUAN VEEREEN DARIEN EARLY NICK DAMASSIMO CAMERON MAGEE TAVON JOHNSON CHRISTIAN WADE

2012 SCHEDULE

KENNESAW MTN.

SEPT. 28

2012 SEASON OUTLOOK

More than just McEachern’s brawn up front, Hockman said that team speed will be a strength, especially on defense.

“We won’t be very big, but this could be the fastest defense that I’ve ever coached,” Hockman said.

For the Indians, that speed will be put to the test from the onset, as they face defending state champion Grayson to open the season in the Corky Kell Classic, followed by state runner-up Walton the following week. For Hockman, it will be a true test of brawn against speed, as both the Rams and Raiders prefer to run the ball straight at their opposition.

In addition to that test, McEachern must figure out who is playing quarterback. The Indians may rotate the

VS CAMPBELL OCT. 5

2012 ROSTER

CL. POS. DB 11 12 LB 10 DB 11 RB DB 10 10 RB 10 OLB DB 10 11 DB 12 OLB 12 RB LB 11 12 OLB 12 LB DB 11 10 DB 11 DB 12 OLB 11 OLB 9 RB/LB 12 LB 11 WR 12 RB 11 LB 11 LB 11 LB 12 RB 10 LB 10 LB 10 DL 11 LB

NO. 54 55 56 57 58 59 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 78 79 80 80 81

AT SOUTH COBB OCT. 12

PLAYER GREG AUSTIN RANDY TRUESDALE ZACH SMITH DOLAPO OREKOYA EVAN MCGEE HUNTER BLOEDOW VERQUAVIOUS WILLIAMS ANTONIO VALENTINE JEZER RODAS CHARLES THOMPSON TONY VERA DAQUAN OWENS JONATHAN BOYKEN TELVIN ROSSLER LORENZO FORTIN RONDREZ SPICER CHAUNCE BREWER DEMETRIUS GARNER UCHE NKADI TRAVIS FAIR TREMAYNE ANCHRUM KIASHAWN HIXON CHIDI ONWUZURVOHA JAJUAN DULANEY CHUMA EDOGA SHERROD PITTMAN DRELAND SAMUEL CJ NORRELL ANDY CADLEY JOSHUA SHOWMIMO JUSTIN ANDERSON

VS NORTH COBB OCT. 19

position similar to how it was handled two years ago when Dondre Purnell and Trent Thompson shared time.

This season, North Cobb transfer Ty Griffin and junior Ty Clemons, both of whom are mobile quarterbacks, could perhaps see equal time behind center this season.

“They are both very athletic, so our package will dictate and emphasize a little more of the quarterback running game and get on the edge with the passing game,” Hockman said.

— By William Bretherton wbretherton@mdjonline.com

CL. 10 11 11 12 10 11 12 11 10 11 10 11 12 12 11 12 10 12 11 12 9 10 12 12 10 12 10 11 11 11 11

POS. DL DL OLB LB OL OL DL OL OL OL OL DL DL DL OL DL OL OL OL OL OL OL OL OL OL OL DL OL WR DL WR

NO. 82 82 83 83 84 85 87 87 88 89 90 90 91 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 97 98 99

PLAYER JEREMIAH SHAW JAKE THOMPSON TREY SCOTT JEROME WHITLOCK DAVON PHILLIPS TJ RAHMING NICHOLAS KEMP T YLER WOODLY ARTISE CLARK MYLES EDE CHRIS HERNANDEZ JOSH KUKU TRE ALLEN DAVONNE BOYCE MONTAY JOHNSON ANTONIO RICHARDSON DEQUOUIS OWENS DANIEL FREDRICK ROMERO LINDLEY TUNDE ASHAKA MARTICE MOORE MCKENZIE BILLINGSLEA CHANDLER JONES STERLING BOYD CAMERON FERRELL RASHEED GARMON JORDAN HALL MALCOM HERRINGTON DEON HIX REGGIE JACKSON DAKOTA JOHNSON

VS HARRISON NOV. 2

CL. 10 10 11 11 11 10 10 10 11 11 10 11 11 10 10 12 11 12 10 10 10 11 10 11 10 12 10 10 10 11 10

AT HILLGROVE NOV. 9

POS. WR TE TE TE OLB WR WR DB WR WR DL DL DL DL LB DL DL DL WR LB WR DL DL DB WR DL WR WR DB LB

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KICKOFF 2012

SUNDAY, AUGUST 19, 2012

PAGE 41

McEachern backup offensive linemen Uche Nkadi, left, and C.J. Norrell are shattering the stereotype of the ‘dumb jock’. They are both in the top 10 of their class and each carries a 4.2 GPA thanks to the load of Advanced Placement classes they master. When not in the classroom, Nkadi lines up at tackle or guard, while Norrell plays center.

really

So, what

a mard 1, job

toof

Staff / Jon-Michael Sullivan

ts en I as one o

had to unch e a lot

d er. ing or col-

mount es

d you en

ally or

McEachern offensive linemen C.J. Norrell and Uche Nkadi ruin the grading curve THE LINEMEN FILE

The teammates each carry a 4.2 GPA Norrell is the Indians’ backup center Nkadi is a backup tackle and guard

By William Bretherton

wbretherton@mdjonline.com

It’s rare for a football team to have more than one player with a grade point average over 4.0.

However, McEachern has the rare distinction of having two players on the same unit with GPA’s over 4.2 and ranked in the top 10 of their class. Junior offensive linemen C.J. Norrell and Uche Nkadi each share that distinction.

“When you see a kid that has a great future, it’s just as fun as seeing an NFL-type kid that has athletic talent, whereas you think this kid will go very far in business or the academic world,” McEachern coach Kyle Hockman said. “I always say, ‘Come back and donate to the coach’s fund when you’re running that Fortune 500 company.’”

On the football field, Norrell is the team’s backup center. Within a moment’s notice he could be called

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upon to make all of the line calls and snap the ball to the quarterback.

“The backup center position is always an interesting spot,” Hockman said. “If something happens to your starter, then whoever comes in there, the whole game can fall apart if he can’t function.”

Meanwhile, Nkadi typically lines up at guard, but can also be used at tackle. He will be rotated into the lineup as a sort of sixth man for the offensive line this season.

But more than their roles on the football team and earning straight A’s in school, both Nkadi and Norrell each have their own reasons for striving to succeed.

“Honestly, what gives me the drive is my mom because, even though I may not say it to her all of the time, I really love her because she really had to go through so many hard things,” Nkadi said.

“When my dad left, she was out of See Class, Page 44

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1:23 AM

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MOUNT PARAN CHRISTIAN EAGLES KICKOFF 2012

SUNDAY, AUGUST 19, 2012

LOCATION: 1275 STANLEY ROAD, KENNESAW. PHONE: 770-578-0182. HOME FIELD: MOUNT PARAN STADIUM. TEAM COLORS: ROYAL BLUE, WHITE. ONLINE: MTPARANSCHOOL.COM/ATHSPORT.PHP?S=ATH&P=FOOTBALL.

COACHING STAFF

2011 RESULTS 7-4

HEAD COACH: MITCH JORDAN AGE: 45 YEAR : 5 RECORD: 23-18 CAREER: 23-18

VARSITY COACHING STAFF KENNY PALMER — OFF. LINE TAB GRIFFIN — OFF. COORD. GREG PHILLIPS — RB JACK LAPRAD — OFF. LINE JOEL HAZARD — RECEIVERS CONNIE ARNOLD — DEF. BACKS WILL DURRETT — DEF. LINE DAVID LOWERY — LINEBACKERS TYLER JONES — KICKERS

PACE ACADEMY N. COBB CHR. HARALSON CO. TRION DARLINGTON GORDON LEE BREMEN WALKER MT. ZION BOWDON ELCA

26-23 41-9 7-14 31-7 10-7 28-7 14-21 25-22 41-7 7-15 14-34

W W L W W W L W W L L

5-YEAR RECORD 23-18

2011 LEADERS

RUSHING CARTER MCKINNON 866 YDS, 9 TD DENNIS BELL 507 YDS, 5 TD PASSING IAN BERRYMAN

RECEIVING THOMAS JAY ARMANI MOORE TACKLES J.P. MCKAY

1,110 YDS, 8 TD 381 YDS, 3 TD 290 YDS, 2 TD

‘07

‘08

‘09

‘10

Building on its breakthrough season of a year ago will be the main focus for Mount Paran Christian in 2012.

Mount Paran narrowly missed winning its first region championship in school history, but the Eagles still made it to the state playoffs for the first time with a fourthplace finish in Region 6A. The Eagles have some holes to fill in 2012 after losing nine seniors from last year’s team, including linebacker J.P. McKay, defensive end Colby Dozier and running back Connor Claussen.

But, they return a strong core of players who also contributed to their success a year ago.

“We’ve got a good group coming back,” Mount

PLAYER MATT ADAMSON TATE GARNER DANIEL GRAY JAKE JEANS KEITH JOHNSON DOUGLAS LEGG MATT MCKENZIE SANTI MENESES LAWSON REEVES DREW RENNO MATT SMITH

CL. 12 12 12 12 12 12 12 12 12 12 12

2012 SEASON OUTLOOK

defensive side of the ball.

The kicking game is another area of strength for Mount Paran, with junior Dallas Kepler — ranked among the top kickers in the nation in his class — handling the duties in that area.

With a strong core of talent returning on both sides of the ball, Mount Paran looks well-positioned to win its subregion in Region 6A and make a return trip to the state playoffs.

Paran coach Mitch Jordan said. “We have to replace some good football players, but we have some good players who we’re confident will step up and do a great job.”

Mount Paran is solid at the quarterback position with senior Ian Berryman expected to take most of the snaps.

The offensive line is also solid, with a couple of seniors, offensive tackle Dane Stevens and guard Jake Jeans, anchoring the unit.

While Mount Paran has some holes to fill in the secondary, the defense otherwise looks promising.

Senior linebacker Keith Johnson — a three-year starter — gives the Eagles a veteran presence on the

PLAYER COLE SPAIN DANE STEVENS SCOTTY VALIANI IAN BERRYMAN DILLON HARRIS DALLAS KEPLER CONNOR LEONARD JACOB RAMSEY KYLE TRAMMELL MICHAEL ADAMS

CL. 12 12 12 11 11 11 11 11 11 10

2012 ROSTER

PLAYER PHILIP ADDISON JAKE ALLEN STETSON CLAPP AARON COOPER TAYLOR DUNN JOHN LOEHR NICK SBRAVATI RICO WASHINGTON LUCAS COUNCIL BEN CAIN GARET HARRIS

— By Greg Oshust goshust@mdjonline.com

CL. 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 9 9 9

PLAYER SCOTT HEBDON SILAS HICKS JOHN ALLEN KNOX GUNTER LAPRAD JACK LEE MATTHEW NORTON ETHAN PUGH JOSEPH RAINEY MATTHEW SANUSI TAYLOR TRAMMELL

CL. 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9

‘11

137

SACKS MATT MCKENZIE

5

INTERCEPTIONS DANIEL LOPERA

4

2012 SCHEDULE TBA AT OUR LADY AUG. 31

AT BROOKSTONE SEPT. 7

VS LANDMARK SEPT. 14

keeping you

game

VS TRION SEPT. 21

AT KING’S RIDGE OCT. 5

at the

top of your

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WHITEFIELD ACAD.

OCT. 12

VS FELLOWSHIP OCT. 19

AT MOUNT PISGAH OCT. 26

VS WALKER NOV. 2

VS REGION PLAY-IN NOV. 9

16848755:Football Tab Dummies

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TI P P I NG SO ME BIG SCALES

SUNDAY, AUGUST 19, 2012

his

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Page 43

KICKOFF 2012

PAGE 43

Class A Mount Paran Christian’s Jake Jeans and Dane Stevens are nearly 600 pounds of offensive linemen to run behind

By Greg Oshust

goshust@mdjonline.com

Dane Stevens and Jake Jeans are expected to both be a big part of Mount Paran Christian’s offensive and defensive lines — literally as well as figuratively.

Weighing in at a combined 595 pounds, the 6-foot-3, 320-pound Stevens and 6-2, 275pound Jeans provide for the Mount Paran offensive line an imposing physical obstacle for opposing defensive linemen to overcome and can overpower the other team’s offensive linemen on defense.

“They are probably the two strongest guys we have ever had at Mount Paran,” Eagle offensive line/strength and conditioning coach Will Durrett said. They are big kids, but they are tremendous athletes and they can play at the next level.”

Both Stevens and Jeans were key elements last year for a Mount Paran team that enjoyed its best season in school history, going 7-4 and earning its first state playoff berth.

As a result, the linemen have established themselves as Division I prospects.

As seniors, Stevens and Jeans will also play a big role as the veteran anchors of the Eagle lines.

THE EAGLE LINEMEN FILE

Stevens is 6-foot-3, 320 pounds Jeans is 6-foor-2, 275 pounds Both players will be third year starters in 2012 Stevens is garnering attention from Georgia, Georgia Tech, USC, Tennessee, Kentucky, Air Force and Navy Jeans is being recruited by Rice

“I know that Jake and I are going to take more of a leadership role this season,” Stevens said. “We need to step up on both the offensive line and the defensive line.”

Jeans is also looking forward to assuming a leadership role.

“I’m really excited and psyched about this season,” Jeans said. “We have a young team and Dane and I will do whatever we need to do to lead our team to a successful season.”

It will be the third year that Stevens and Jeans have started together on the Mount Paran

See Scales, Page 44

Staff / Jon-Michael Sullivan

Mount Paran Christian’s Jake Jeans, left, and Dane Stevens make for imposing sights for opposing offensive and defensive linemen in Class A. Jeans and Stevens combine to weigh 595 pounds, with Stevens topping out at 320.

16848756:Football Tab Dummies

Class

8/9/2012

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Continued from Page 41

a job and she had to find a job just to take care of two kids. My mom really motivates me because we are trying to earn a scholarship.

“As a single mom, it will be really hard for her to pay for us alone. So, I’m really trying to work hard to get a scholarship just for her. That’s what keeps me up at night and that’s what keeps me going all the time.”

Nkadi’s mother, Ngozi, immigrated to the United States from Nigeria when she was 18years-old. She lived in Philadelphia, where she got married and had two children.

However, Uche’s father left when he turned 1, and the family eventually moved to Atlanta so that Ngozi could take a job as a nurse at Wellstar.

Norrell, he was more fortu-

12:14 PM

Page 44

nate in that his parents are both still together. However, his family has certainly gone through its own share of hardships, similarly creating a drive to succeed in the classroom.

“We’re definitely not the most gifted financially because my parents worked so hard,” he said.

“My dad has been a coach of my teams when I grew up playing football and baseball. He’s worked so hard that he was one of the top in his class when he went to high school. He got accepted to Georgia Tech, but he couldn’t afford it.

“I knew what he had the potential to do. But he had to do what he had to do to support his family. He grew up in a singleparent house with a bunch of brothers and sisters. And he’s made my life and my little sister’s life a lot better than his was growing up.

“I just want to help them as much as they have helped me.”

On top of taking a full load of classes and playing both football

KICKOFF 2012

and lacrosse, Norrell has also taken on a part-time job bagging groceries at Kroger.

During the summer, he’s done it in between practices and camps. During the spring and fall, he does it on weekends as a way to help save up for college or pay for extras that come up in high school, such as meals with friends.

For both Norrell and Nkadi, in order to keep up with the extreme amount of work involved with taking a full load of Advanced Placement classes, along with playing football, there are often long nights of studying.

“Sometimes, you would get done at 8 or 9 p.m. (with football), and you would have to stay up until 2 or 3 a.m. just to do homework — not even study for a test,” Nkadi said. “It’s just a grind.”

If they can both earn a college scholarship though, either academically or athletically, it will all be worth it.

Scales

Continued from Page 43

offensive line. Stevens has played on Mount Paran’s varsity since his freshman year, while Jeans joined the Eagles as a sophomore.

Having started together the past couple of seasons, both Stevens and Jeans said they have developed a close bond not only on the field, but off the field as well.

“We’re very similar and we match up well together,” Stevens said. “We line up next to each other on the offensive line and we work well together. We have the same goals. We want to win and we both play as hard as we can.

We’re also really good friends off the field.”

Added Jeans, “Working day by day, side by side, we have gotten to know each other well and we work well together.

With their size, strength is clearly a big key to both Jeans and Stevens’ successes on the field.

“I play hard and play low, be-

SUNDAY, AUGUST 19, 2012

cause the low man wins,” Jeans said. “I feel like I am strong enough to block anyone that I go up against.”

For Stevens, his agility is as important a factor for him as his strength.

“I’m a very strong athlete,” Stevens said. “I have good footwork.

I’ve been working on my footwork and I am getting better at it.”

Stevens has gotten plenty of attention from Division I colleges, including Georgia, Georgia Tech, Southern California, Tennessee, Kentucky, Air Force and Navy.

Likewise, Jeans has gotten some attention from colleges, with Rice among the most prominent of his suitors.

“They’re both great competitors,” Mount Paran coach Mitch Jordan said. “They both put together good seasons last year and they’re both going to play important roles for us this year. They definitely have gotten some interest from FBS and FCS schools, so they should have a future at the next level.”

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2012 MDJ DYNAMITE DOZEN

SUNDAY, AUGUST 19, 2012

KICKOFF 2012

PAGE 45

For the 2012 Marietta Daily Journal Dynamite Dozen, this has already been a marquee season.

Before a single game has been played, 10 players that are recognized have already committed to Division I programs in elite conferences. Marietta’s Anthony Jennings, Harrison’s Jimmy Hutchinson, Walton’s Tyren Jones, Brandon Kublanow and Parker McLeod along with Kell’s Brendan Langley and Quincy Mauger are SEC bound. Marietta’s Tyree Harris and McEachern’s Jujuan Dulaney will play in the ACC while Lassiter’s Eddie Printz is heading to UCLA and the Pac-12.

Over the last few years, the talent has risen so much in the county that this group is just the beginning of the Class of 2013, as many more will follow them into big-time college football.

— By John Bednarowski

Juwan Dic key, Lassiter Position: Wide receiver Height: 6-1 Weight: 183 40-time: 4.55 College(s) being recruited by: South Florida, Southern Miss, UCLA

sportseditor@mdjonline.com

Juwan Dickey’s size, strength and hands make his job as a wide receiver look simple. Not only does he have big hands and rarely drops the ball, but he can also get open by outrunning the opposition as well as changing direction and catching the ball in front of them.

His natural abilities has made Dickey quarterback Eddie Printz’s potential go-to receiver for the third straight year, and there’s an outside chance they can be future teammates at UCLA. The twosome know each other well, and Dickey can be relied on to make plays with the game on the line.

Brandon Kublanow, Walton Position: Offensive Line Height: 6-3 Weight: 283 40-time: 5.0 College: Committed to Georgia

Walton offensive lineman Brandon Kublanow is not the tallest offensive lineman, but he makes up for lack of height with strength and explosiveness. He’s also shifty for a 283-pounder and will continue to help open up running lanes for Tyren Jones, who rushed for 2,375 yards and 33 touchdowns last season en route to a 14-1 overall record and a trip to the state finals.

After spending an offseason improving his technique and footwork, which is already a strength, Kublanow can be an asset in being a run blocker and pass protector.

Stephon Masha, South Cobb Position: Quarterback Height: 6-1 Weight: 191 40-Time: 4.67 College: Committed to Liberty University

South Cobb is experiencing success, and quarterback Stephon Masha is a big reason for it.

As he enters his senior season, the 6-foot-1, nearly 200-pound Masha is poised for another breakout campaign. With a year under his belt as South Cobb’s signal caller, Masha has the tools and the knowledge to be even better this season.

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2012 MDJ DYNA

Anthony Jennings, Marietta Position: Quarterback Height: 6-2 Weight: 202 40 time: 4.52 College: Committed to LSU

During Jennings’ high school career and throughout summer camps, he has shown the ability to use his strong arm or break outside of the pocket and make plays downfield.

Over the last year, Jennings said he is working to improve his footwork and his accuracy to become a more accomplished drop-back passer than he is already after passing for 19 touchdowns and more than 2,100 yards last season.

Jimmy Hutchinson, Harrison Position: Punter Height: 6-3 Weight: 175 40-time: 4.7 College: committed to Auburn

Hutchinson committed to Auburn in March after a junior season for the Hoyas that cemented his place among the top punters in the state. He averaged just over 37 yards per punt in 2011, with a season-long of 68 yards.

“I just told him, ‘You can’t punt the ball 80 yards, because we can’t cover it,’” said Harrison coach Marty Galbraith. “He’s done a real good job, and he works at it. He’s a good kid and a good punter.”

Members of the 2012 Marietta Daily Journal Dynamite Dozen include, front row, Kell’s Quincy Mauger. Second row, from left, North Cob and South Cobb’s Stephon Masha. Back row, from left, Lassiter’s Juwan Dickey, McEachern’s Jajuan Dulaney, Walton’s Parker McLeo

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Page 47

Tyren Jones, Walton Position: Running Back Height: 5-9 Weight: 190 40-time: 4.57 College: Committed to Alabama

Jones, who picked Alabama over Auburn, Georgia, Tennessee and Florida, possesses more quickness than speed, is tough to bring down and can make first tacklers miss.

He led Cobb County with 2,375 yards while scoring 33 touchdowns. He also added 15 catches for 204 yards and two touchdowns and scored twice returning a punt and a kickoff.

Quinten James, North Cobb Position: LB/RB Height: 6-1 Weight: 215 40-time: 4.5 Colleges being recruited by : Miami (Fla.), Georgia Tech, Vanderbilt, Cincinnati, Maryland, Mississippi State

Staff / Todd Hull

orth Cobb’s Quinten James and Marietta’s Anthony Jennings. Third row, from left, Kell’s Brendan Langley, Walton’s Brandon Kublanow er McLeod, Lassiter’s Eddie Printz and Marietta’s Tyree Harris. Not pictured: Harrison’s Jimmy Hutchinson and Walton’s Tyren Jones.

James trained in the offseason to prepare his body for the workload as the Warriors starting running back entering 2011. The hard work paid off.

According to North Cobb coach Shane Queen, James has a great combination of size, speed and power, which is something you don’t see a lot of in a high school tailback.

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2012 MDJ DYNAMITE DOZEN

PAGE 48

Tyree Harris, Marietta Position: Receiver Height: 6-2 Weight: 170 40 time: 4.51 College: Committed to Wake Forest

Harris, who uses his superior speed and athleticism to haul in passes, will be counted upon this year once more as the team’s go-to player.

His goal is to get Marietta further into the postseason than it reached last year. However, Harris also knows that he has a few things to work on.

“During the spring, and right after the season, I started working on my routes and getting them down to make sure they were crisp,” Harris said. “I wanted to make sure that my release was good off the line of scrimmage, but everything else I thought was pretty good.”

KICKOFF 2012

SUNDAY, AUGUST 19, 2012

Parker McLeod, Walton Position: Quarterback Height: 6-2 Weight: 190 College: Committed to Alabama

Parker McLeod was both a game manager and a playmaker in his first season as a starter last year. His role likely won’t change much in 2012. He’ll continue to hand the ball to returning running back Tyren Jones and make plays when necessary.

Walton coach Rocky Hidalgo said he’s a natural in the pocket and is capable of winning games when the situation calls.

Brendan Langley, Kell Position: Defensive Back Height: 6-1 Weight: 187 40-time: 4.39 College: Committed to South Carolina

After having a breakout year in 2011 where he had 59 tackles and six interceptions, Langley caught the eye of nearly every team in the Southeastern Conference. He was offered by 11 of the 14 SEC schools.

Langley is considered a shut-down corner, but he has many other abilities and the Longhorns will take full advantage of them this year.

Quincy Mauger, Kell Position: Defensive Back Height 6-0 Weight: 195 40-time: 4.5 College: Committed to Georgia

Mauger was one of the standout performers at Mark Richt’s football camp and he was offered a scholarship on the spot.

Georgia defensive coordinator Todd Grantham told Mauger he liked the way he could cover receivers and come down and play in run support.

Jajuan Dulaney, McEachern Position: Offensive Lineman Height: 6-4 Weight: 255 College: Committed to Maryland

Dulaney is expected to anchor an offensive line that has a tradition of being one of the better units in Cobb County. Dulaney is looking to make sure his unit improves over the course of the season.

“A successful year for me personally would be to go a year without any injuries knowing that I have given 100 percent in every play of the season, and giving up no sacks at all,” he said.

Eddie Printz, Lassiter Position: QuarterbacK Height: 6-4 Weight: 205 40-time: 4.65 College: Committed to UCLA

Printz was a completely different quarterback in 2011 than he was in 2010 and he is expecting to make even more strides his senior season.

Printz is experienced with 25 starts under his belt. He’s also appeared in five playoff games and has won three. He led Cobb County last season in passing with 3,350 passing yards and 28 touchdowns while throwing just nine interceptions.

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NORTH COBB WARRIORS KICKOFF 2012

PAGE 50

SUNDAY, AUGUST 19, 2012

LOCATION: 3400 HIGHWAY 293 NORTH, KENNESAW. PHONE: 770-975-6685. HOME FIELD: EMORY SEWELL STADIUM. TEAM COLORS: ORANGE, BLUE, WHITE. ONLINE: NORTHCOBBFOOTBALL.COM.

COACHING STAFF

2011 RESULTS 5-6

HEAD COACH: SHANE QUEEN AGE: 40 YEAR : 7 RECORD: 34-29 CAREER: 71-56

VARSITY COACHING STAFF TOM CLARK — OFF. COORD. CHAD MCGEHEE — DEF. COORD. KENYATTA ASHLEY — LB STEVE GATES — OFF. LINE RYNE THACKSTON — RECEIVERS JOHN ALMY — LINEBACKERS JAN BENNETT — LINEBACKERS T.K. DODD — RUNNING BACKS

2011 LEADERS

RUSHING QUINTEN JAMES NICK MILLER PASSING TYLER QUEEN

RECEIVING JALEN WILLIAMS QUINTEN JAMES TACKLES DYANTE NEAL

ALPHARETTA CENTENNIAL LASSITER KMHS CAMPBELL PEBBLEBROOK HILLGROVE MCEACHERN SOUTH COBB HARRISON CAMDEN CO.

26-29 21-17 35-56 42-17 43-14 34-36 6-31 17-56 21-16 21-17 0-34

L W L W W L L L W W L

5-YEAR RECORD 29-23

506 YDS, 4 TD 179 YDS, 1 TD 1,412 YDS, 17 TD 638 YDS, 8 TD 213 YDS, 3 TD

SACKS TRE GRIFFIN

INTERC EPTIONS DARIUS CONAWAY

AT STARR’S MILL AUG. 31

‘07

‘08

‘09

‘11

‘10

160 10.5 2

VS WALTON SEPT. 14

VS

Under freshman quarterback Tyler Queen, North Cobb won the games it needed to capture the No. 4 seed in Region 4AAAAA and make the state playoffs for the first time in four years.

Queen earned the quarterback role from initial starter Cameron Albright after Albright was injured during the first game of the season. Healthy enough later to return to the field, Albright backed up Queen for the remainder of the year, leaving many to wonder what the future held for the junior.

According to coach Shane Queen, that question would be answered as the position battle played out over the summer.

“Cam and Tyler will be competing to be our starting quarterback,” Queen said. “Cam was our starter last season, but he got hurt in the first game, so we put Tyler in and he played well enough to help get us to the playoffs.

NO. PLAYER 1 NICK MILLER 2 JAMES KING 3 QUINTEN JAMES 4 KEIONNE RIVES 5 EMMANUEL SLAUGHTER 6 ROMELO LEWIS 7 ISAIAH LYLES 8 LATRELL GIBBS 9 EGHOSA AGBONGHAE 10 HAKEEM SAWYER 11 LEON JORDAN 12 XAVIER BORISHADE 13 TJ MOORE 14 CAMERON ALBRIGHT 15 T YLER QUEEN 16 JAKE MCKEE 17 SHAUN DANIELS 18 JEREMY BELL 19 BILLY NICHOLS 20 JALIL KUKU

KENNESAW MTN.

SEPT. 21

VS HARRISON SEPT. 28

CL. POS. 12 WR/DB 12 WR/DB 12 RB/LB 12 DB/LB 12 LB 12 WR/DB 12 WR/LB 11 WR/DB 12 DL 12 RB/LB 12 WR/DB 12 WR/DB 12 RB 11 QB/WR 10 QB 12 WR/LB 12 RB/LB 11 WR/DB 10 QB 11 RB/LB

2012 SEASON OUTLOOK

“Now, Cam’s back, and Tyler is experienced enough as well, so it should be a healthy quarterback battle.”

Who will be the team’s starting quarterback is just one question Queen will need to answer about his team.

Perhaps his biggest concern will be determining which players to use to protect whoever the Warriors’ signalcaller will be as North Cobb’s offensive line will have plenty of new faces.

Left tackle Joe Faraj, right tackle William Chatmon, guard Justin Sievers and center Austin Harris will all have to be replaced, meaning either Albright or Tyler Queen will have an inexperienced group playing up front.

“We lost four starters on our offensive line,” Shane Queen said, “so we’re working hard to have guys step up to fill those roles. The guys will have to jell quickly.

NO. PLAYER 21 TOBI ADELAJA 22 JEREMY KIRK 23 J. JOHNSON-BAILEY 24 CHAD MCCLANAHAN 25 ELIJAH VALENTIN 26 AJ BORDUIN 27 T YMEEK FOLK 28 JONATHAN HARMON 29 JORDAN KIRK 30 DORIAN WALKER 31 DENZEL RAMCHARRAN 32 DOMINIC JACKSON 33 J’VONTE HERROD 34 AKHEIM CHEADLE 35 JAI BISHOP-GRAY 36 DEMARIIUS BECOATS 37 BRANDON WHITAKER 38 JOESEPH BUATU 40 JAYLIN CHATMON 41 TRENTON PREUETT

2012 SCHEDULE

AT SOUTH COBB OCT. 5

VS HILLGROVE OCT. 12

2012 ROSTER

CL. POS. 11 DB 11 WR/DB 11 LB 11 WR/LB 11 RB/LB 12 K 10 WR/DB 12 RB/LB 11 WR/DB 10 WR/DB 11 WR/DB 11 LB 11 RB/LB 10 RB/LB 10 RB/LB 11 WR/DB 10 RB/DB 10 WR/DB 10 RB/DB 12 FB/LB

NO. PLAYER 42 AUSTIN BARFIELD 43 SYLVAN PAUL 44 MYLES PRICE 45 GENARO ZAVALETA 46 SHAWN LINEAR 47 RANDY ANAGAFACK 48 ALEX MEDINA 50 JERRY MCQUADE 51 ERNIE MCQUADE 52 KELVIN UME 53 ASHLON MINOTT 54 EDUVIE OJEGBA 55 JOSH SAINTUS 56 BYRON ALEXANDER 57 NICK ORTIZ 58 JOHN HOWELL 59 ANDRAKO SMITH 60 STEPHEN OVERLY 64 MORGAN DAVIS 66 DAMIAN ADDISON

AT MCEACHERN OCT. 19

“We didn’t have a lot of depth on the offensive line last year, so we’re moving some guys from defense over there to help out.”

While there are questions on the offensive line, there aren’t any at running back with three-year starter Quinten James suiting up for his senior season. At 6-foot-2, 215 pounds, James has the attributes to get the job done.

“You don’t see his kind of speed and power in many high school tailbacks,” said Shane Queen, whose team returns five starters on offense and six on defense.

— By Carlton D. White cwhite@mdjonline.com

CL. POS. 10 LB 10 WR/DB 11 WR/LB 10 LB 10 RB/LB 10 WR/DB 12 K/P 12 OL/DL 11 OL 12 OL/DL 12 OL 12 DL 12 DL 11 OL/DL 11 OL 12 OL 11 OL 10 OL 12 OL 11 OL

VS PEBBLEBROOK OCT. 26

NO. PLAYER 69 MARQUISE RAYSON 70 MORGAN WELCH 72 NICK MARTIN 74 SHAREEF SCOTT 75 DALTON CZAR 77 MATT POHLMAN 78 MALCOLM JACKSON 79 GERALD HARGROVE 80 DEON DODD 81 DEVIN JACKSON 82 AVIAN PROFFITT 83 ZACK FLOWERS 84 CLAYTON PATTERSON 85 LLOYD JONES 86 JAY BARRINO 87 BRANDON SCOTT 88 DEVAUGHN HARRIS 89 TIM JAMES 90 THOMAS SMITH 98 THOMAS GREGORY 99 ELIJAH COURTLAND

AT MARIETTA NOV. 2

CL. 12 11 10 11 12 10 10 10 11 10 10 10 11 10 11 10 10 10 11 10

AT CAMPBELL NOV. 9

POS. OL/DL OL/DL OL/DL OL OL OL/DL OL/DL OL/DL WR/DB WR/LB WR/DB WR/LB WR/DB WR/DB WR/LB WR/DB WR/LB WR/DB OL/DL K/P OL/DL

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COMFORT ZONE

SUNDAY, AUGUST 19, 2012

KICKOFF 2012

PAGE 51

North Cobb’s Ume finds his escape on the football field

By Carlton D. White

cwhite@mdjonline.com

Kelvin Ume is making the most of a difficult situation.

Born in Nigeria, Ume came to the United States with his mother, Chi-Chi, and his younger brother, Kenny, in 2003 after his parents divorced. The family initially settled in Ohio, with other family members who lived in the area, before moving to Georgia in 2009.

“Once my parents divorced, my mom wanted to get away from my dad and find something better for us,” Ume said. “We stayed with some distant relatives in Ohio, and when our uncle and his family moved down here to Georgia, we came with him a few months later to continue to be close to them.

They were the only family we had here.”

As a freshman in Ohio, Ume found comfort in football.

“I love the intensity and contact,” he said. “I love the guys coming together as a team.”

Ume, who was pretty big for

THE UME FILE

Born in Nigeria Moved to Georgia in 2009 6-foot-2, 253 pounds Defensive end/tackle Recorded 76 tackles and 2.5 sacks in 2011 His brother, Kenny, will join him at North Cobb this school year

his age, played on the varsity and junior varsity teams as a freshman at his Ohio high school before moving to Georgia for his sophomore season, when he played at Wheeler.

As a member of the Wildcats, Ume played on the JV team for most of the year and was an offensive lineman on the varsity squad for the last few games.

At 6-foot-2, 253 pounds, Ume spent last season as a starting defensive end and defensive tackle for North Cobb after transferring See Comfort, Page 55

Staff / Jon-Michael Sullivan

North Cobb’s Kelvin Ume has found his calling on the football field. As a defensive lineman for the Warriors, Ume has become one of the leaders of the team and he finds a way to prove it both on and off the field in facing some of the challenges of growing up.

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NORTH COBB CHRISTIAN EAGLES KICKOFF 2012

PAGE 52

SUNDAY, AUGUST 19, 2012

LOCATION: 4500 LAKEVIEW DRIVE, KENNESAW. PHONE: 770-975-0252. HOME FIELD: JACOB DENNIS FIELD. TEAM COLORS: NAVY BLUE, WHITE. ONLINE: NCCCHRISTIAN.ORG/ATHLETICS/BOYS_SPORTS/FOOTBALL.

COACHING STAFF

2011 RESULTS 1-9

HEAD COACH: HARRY MILES AGE: 34 YEAR : 4 RECORD: 3-26 CAREER: 3-26

VARSITY COACHING STAFF MIKE MORRIS — DEF. COORD. SANDY STEPHENS — RB/LB MICHAEL POE — WR/DB SHAWN FORRISTALL — OL/DL

MOUNT ZION MOUNT PARAN FELLOWSHIP CROSS KEYS ST. FRANCIS TOWNS COUNTY GLASCOCK CO. LAKEVIEW ACAD. HEBRON CHR. GA. MILITARY

42-6 9-41 0-35 21-26 37-40 6-33 48-82 21-49 6-47 8-48

W L L L L L L L L L

5-YEAR RECORD 3-35

2011 LEADERS

RUSHING DANIEL GALANOS 300 YDS, 3 TD COREY HARRIS 246 YDS, 3 TD PASSING ALEX HO-ON

RECEIVING REGGIE PRUITT COREY HARRIS TACKLES CALEB KEITT GRANT TITUS

1,414 YDS, 13 TD 535 YDS, 7 TD 478 YDS, 5 TD

SACKS ALEX DYKSTRA

‘07

‘08

‘09

‘11

‘10

North Cobb Christian will wait another two years to make its region debut as the Eagles embark on another non-region schedule in 2012.

They will use that time to rebuild after losing nine seniors from last year’s 1-9 team.

“We’ve got a lot of young kids,” North Cobb Christian coach Harry Miles said. “We just want to grow physically and mentally and be competitive. We want to keep growing as a program.”

The Eagles will try to cut down on the turnovers that plagued them last year, as well as shore up a defense that gave up 40 points a game in 2011.

After switching to a 3-4 defense last year, North Cobb Christian will be introducing a new NO. PLAYER 1 MILLER FORRISTALL 3 REGGIE PRUITT 5 DAVID BRITTINGHAM 6 TREVOR HOURIGAN 7 ZACK CORNELL 9 JOSH WARREN 10 CONNOR GILLESPIE 11 ALEX HO-ON

CL. POS. 9 QB/RB 10 WR/DB 9 RB/LB 11 WR/DB 9 RB/LB 11 WR/DB 10 WR/DL 12 QB/DB

2012 SEASON OUTLOOK

offense in ’12 as it moves to a triple-option formation.

While the Eagles will be much younger this season, they will have more depth with a total of 33 players on the roster — an increase from the 26 they had a year ago.

North Cobb Christian has an especially big hole to fill at running back with the loss of Corey Harris, who provided much of the team’s offensive firepower the last two years.

However, the Eagles have someone to fill that hole in sophomore Reggie Pruitt, who will provide much of the speed and explosiveness that Harris did.

The young Eagles do have some veteran lead-

NO. PLAYER 12 CHANDLER MOLLER 15 CARSON MASTERS 20 CHANDLER NELSON 21 OSCAR LARES 22 DANIEL GALANOS 24 JERALD MITCHELL 30 CHRIS WRIGHT 33 PATRICK MARTIN

2012 ROSTER

CL. POS. 9 RB/LB 10 RB/DB 11 RB/DB 11 RB/DB 11 RB/DB 9 WR/LB 10 WR/DL 9 QB/RB

NO. PLAYER 35 OMID MAZROUIE 51 MATT REYNOLDS 52 GARRETT STEVENS 53 ZACH BROWN 55 TRIP ROSS 60 NICK BABLER 61 BRYANT BELL 63 ZACH PRUITT

ership, with junior running back Daniel Galanos and senior quarterback Alex Ho-on leading the way.

North Cobb Christian is also bolsted by the return of junior center Zach Pruitt on the offensive line.

Promising freshman Miller Forristall will play a key role on offense at quarterback as well as on defense at outside linebacker.

For North Cobb Christian, the focus this season is simply to develop its young talent as it tries to improve on last year’s 1-9 record.

— By Greg Oshust goshust@mdjonline.com

CL. 9 9 11 10 12 9 9 11

POS. WR/P OL/DL OL/DB OL/DL OL/DB OL/LB OL/LB OL/DB

NO. PLAYER

CL.

66 TREVOR WOODSTOCK

9

72 CLARKE MYERS

10 OL/DL

69 CHRIS SFERRA

77 TREVOR MARTIN 80 THOMAS YOUNG

81 ANDREW NUCKOLLS 82 ISAIAH WALKER

11 OL/DB 10 WR/DL 12

4

AT

MT. ZION-CARROLL

SEPT. 14

VS CROSS KEYS SEPT. 28

AT BACONTON OCT. 6

VS

PROVIDENCE CHR.

OCT. 12

AT TOWNS COUNTY OCT. 19

AT

LAKEVIEW ACAD.

OCT. 26

VS ST. FRANCIS NOV. 2

K/P

10 WR/DL

74 67

AT WALKER SEPT. 7

OL/LB

10 OL/DL

2012 SCHEDULE

VS SACA AUG. 31

POS.

AT CLARKSTON NOV. 9

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PRACTICING D I S C I P L IN E

KICKOFF 2012

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North Cobb Christian’s Miller Forristall studies and teaches in the world of martial arts

By Greg Oshust

goshust@mdjonline.com

orad

in his

dent. onfi-

l

a

eld. s me to nd take

Staff / Todd Hull

North Cobb Christian’s Miller Forristall has been practicing martial arts since he was 7 years old. Now a freshman in high school, Forristall will take the disciplines he’s learned and try to use their lessons on the football field.

uring m. to

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As he enters his freshman season, Miller Forristall shows the potential of becoming one of North Cobb Christian’s best players.

One thing is certain right now — he is the team’s best martial artist.

The 6-foot-4, 175-pound Forristall, who is expected to be a key contributor at quarterback and at linebacker, has been practicing martial arts since the age of 7.

Getting into martial arts was easy for Forristall, whose father, Shawn — an offensive and defensive line coach for the Eagles — is an instructor and owner of the Atlanta Budokan dojo in Acworth.

“I’ve always been around it,” Forristall said.

“I’ve always spent most of my time at Atlanta Budokan. It’s something that I’ve done 365 days a year, seven days a week. Martial arts and football are the biggest parts of my life.”

Forristall practices three martial arts disciplines — aikido, Brazillan jiu-jitsu and aiki-jujutsu.

Aikido involves blending with the motion of the attacker and redirecting the force of the attack rather than opposing it head-on, while Brazillian jiu-jitsu focuses on grappling and ground fighting. Aiki-jujutsu emphasizes throwing techniques and joint manipulations to effectively control, subdue or injure an attacker.

THE FORRISTALL FILE

6-foot-4, 175 pounds Freshman Will play quarterback and linebacker Has studied martial arts since the age of 7.

Studies aikido, Brazillan ju-jitsu and aiki-jujutsu Has earned a brown belt in aiki-jujutsu

Of the three disciplines that he is involved in, Forristall is the most accomplished in aiki-jujutsu, in which he earned a brown belt.

In fact, Forristall has advanced in his practice to the point where he is now helping his father conduct classes at Atlanta Budokan.

“When I was really young, we didn’t have children’s classes, so I would take the adult classes, and now I’m helping my dad teach classes,” Forristall said. “Taking the adult classes really helped me advance a lot quicker.”

See Forristall, Page 55

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KICKOFF 2012

TOP GAMES TO WATCH DURING 2012 SEASON

PAGE 54

By Carlton D. White

cwhite@mdjonline.com

Staff / Jon-Michael Sullivan

Just like 2011, Kell will help the first week of the high school football season get underway when the Longhorns play Chattahoochee in the Corky Kell Classic at the Georgia Dome.

From the high of having a record 12 Cobb County teams make the state playoffs to the low of one Cherokee County squad reaching the postseason, the 2011 season was a memorable one for area teams.

Entering 2012, programs are now having to deal with six classifications, along with the addition of a Class A private-school championship, to coincide with the public school title.

Whether they’re a big school or a small school, teams have to play to win, and every game counts.

However, there are some games that may count more than others among the 27 Cobb and Cherokee county schools: Corky Kell Classic, Aug. 25: The annual event at the Georgia Dome continues with Kell taking on Chattahoochee, McEachern

SUNDAY, AUGUST 19, 2012

facing last year’s Class AAAAA state champion, Grayson, and Class AAAAA state runner-up Walton going against Brookwood.

All six teams won at least one playoff game last season, and three of last year’s four Corky Kell Classic games were decided by nine points or less. The fourth contest was a 26-14 win for Walton over Peachtree Ridge, so expect these games to be competitive.

East-West S howdown, Aug .

31: Walton (36-11), McEachern (35-10), Hillgrove (36-11) and Lassiter (36-14) have combined to go 143-46, with six region champions and a total of 16 playoff wins over the past four seasons.

Now, Cobb County’s most successful teams from either side of I-75 will square off at McEachern with Hillgrove taking on Lassiter and the Indians hosting Walton.

R i ver R i dg e’ s bi g sta r t: After

launching it program in 2009, River Ridge finally gets the opportunity to play county opponents. The Knights begin 2012 against Sequoyah (Aug. 31) and follow up at Creekview (Sept. 7). n Hillgrove at Marietta, Sept.

14; Marietta at McEachern, Sept. 21: Marietta opens its Region 4AAAAAA slate with arguably the toughest teams the league has to offer — Hillgrove and McEachern. A 0-2 region start will likely leave the Blue Devils battling for a playoff spot. n Walton at Lassiter, Oct. 5: Lassiter lost its regular season matchup to Walton, but nearly rallied to defeat the Raiders in last year’s Class AAAAA state semifinal before a defensive stop in the final minute on fourth-and-goal helped the Raiders advance. It’s likely this game will determine the See Games, Page 90

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1:08 AM

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Continued from Page 51

With this being his final season, Ume is an unquestioned leader as one of the Warriors’ many seniors.

“I want to be a team captain,” he said. “I put myself down to be one, anyway. I’m one of only a few varsity senior starters, plus I work hard, and I expect everyone else to work hard, too.”

North Cobb coach Shane Queen has seen the hard work Ume has put in, and is thankful to have a player of his talent and attitude as part of the program.

“Kelvin is a great kid,” Shane Queen said. “He’s sharp, and we’re blessed that he moved into our area. He’s the kind of kid that our younger guys look up to. He has initiative and he’s self-motivated.

The kids love him. He’s a physical, but caring young man with great character. He’s overcome a lot.”

Ume, who recorded 76 tackles and 2 1/2 sacks in 2011, is looking forward to his final year, and has put himself in position to have a very successful season even as his family life becomes more and more complicated.

“My mom has diabetes and high blood pressure

KICKOFF 2012

and recently she’s been unemployed for over a month,” Ume said. “She was a nursing aide and went to people’s houses and took care of their special-needs kids.

“She’s done everything for my brother and I and worked really hard to bring in money for us. We really look up to her because she’s sacrificed so much.

She brought us to America, stuck by our side and drove us to our events to play sports. We have to find a way to make things easier for her.”

Queen’s witnessed Ume’s struggles first-hand as Kelvin has had to miss some practices because of his mother’s health.

“He’s been the man of the house for awhile now,” Queen said. “He recently missed two weeks of practice to go and stay with his mom in the hospital. She’s a great woman. She keeps up with him if he’s not at practice and will call me wanting to know where he is. They’re close.”

Kenny Ume, who plays basketball, will be a freshman at North Cobb this season so there’s time for him to do his part to help his mom. Kelvin Ume, on the other hand, is ready to do what he can to make life better for his family.

“My dream is to play in the NFL,” he said. “Get a college scholarship and make it as a professional. I want to be able to help my mother out and make her proud. It’s me and my brother’s dream to make sure she’s taken care of.”

Forristall

Continued from Page 53

As Miller’s teacher, Shawn Forristall has seen up-close the positive effects that his son’s training has had on him.

“Miller has always been a big kid — he was always the biggest kid in his class — and (martial arts practice) has helped him develop his motor skills,” Shawn Forristall said. “It’s also helped him become more confident.

When he was younger, he was not very confident, but he’s a lot more confident now, thanks to the training.”

The positive impact of the training have also extended to the football field for Miller, according to his father.

“Miller has good hand-eye coordination, and he has good agility for a kid his size,” Shawn Forristall said.

For Miller, the training also helps with his leadership skills on the field.

PAGE 55

“Martial arts incorporates leadership skills,” Forristall said.

“It helps me deal with my shyness and it develops my communication skills. I have to talk to people all the time when I’m helping out with teaching classes, and that helps me communicate better on the football field. I feel like I can take more of a leadership role on the football field because of that.”

During the season, Forristall goes to Atlanta Budokan after school during the day and football practice in late afternoon for classes from 6:30 to 8 p.m.

“It keeps me real busy, but I love it,” Forristall said.

Outside of his training, Forristall’s size and athleticism prepare him to succeed in football.

“For one thing, he’s a big kid,” North Cobb Christian coach Harry Miles said. “He has a strong, strong work ethic. He started playing quarterback last year and he has a good arm and a good athletic IQ. He has all the physical tools you need both at quarterback and at linebacker.”

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OSBORNE CARDINALS KICKOFF 2012

PAGE 56

SUNDAY, AUGUST 19, 2012

LOCATION: 2451 FAVOR ROAD, MARIETTA. PHONE: 770-437-5900. HOME FIELD: CARDINAL FIELD. TEAM COLORS: RED, WHITE. ONLINE: OSBORNEFOOTBALL.COM.

COACHING STAFF

2011 RESULTS 2-8

HUGHES WOODWARD MCNAIR HIRAM POPE KELL N. PAULDING SPRAYBERRY EAST PAULDING LITHIA SPRINGS

HEAD COACH: XARVIA SMITH YEAR : 2 RECORD: 2-8 CAREER: 19-43

VARSITY COACHING STAFF DEREK RUSSELL — DEF. COORD. COACH BILLINGSLEA — DEF. LINE MIKE HEWETT — DEF. LINE MATT ANDERSON — OFF. COORD. COACH MCCALL — LINEBACKERS COACH BRYCE — TIGHT ENDS COACH SAWYER — RB

14-25 8-35 23-7 7-17 24-27 8-13 42-25 0-43 7-35 0-10

L L W L L L W L L L

5-YEAR RECORD 8-42

2011 LEADERS

RUSHING JAY’WON CHISTAIN 713 YDS, 11 TD TIM HARRIS 174 YDS, 1 TD PASSING JAHMARI TOWNES 530 YDS, 5 TD RECEIVING NYIAKKI HEIGHT AKING ISHMAEL TACKLES KHA HUYNH

‘07

‘08

‘09

‘10

‘11

341 YDS, 4 TD 129 YDS, 1 TD 78

SACKS ISAIAH BRANCH

A one-win improvement on Osborne’s 2010 record counted as improvement, just the same for Xarvia Smith in his first year as coach of the Cardinals last season.

In order to keep his gradual program turnaround effort headed in the right direction, Smith will use a similar approach in 2012 — leaning on a reliable, improving defense while taking inventory of the athletes available to him on a shorthanded ball-control offense.

His first task will be finding a replacement for the production of wideout Nyiakki Height, who is now at UAB, after accounting for over half of the team’s production through the air last season.

The Cardinals expect to be more balanced on offense, with as many as five receivers who could be called upon to contribute.

Senior running back Tim Harris is Osborne’s primary big-play threat and will be expected to catch passes out of the backfield in addition to carrying the load between the tackles.

“Tim is our home run threat,” Smith said. “He’s prob-

NO. PLAYER 1 KIMANI PORTER 3 ALEX THOMPSON 5 XAYVIER WATKINS 6 KEVIN LEE 7 CHI ACHIBUEM 8 AL HOMES 10 KENDALL WALKER 11 KAVON SMYTHE 14 NIGEL WILLIAMS

CL. POS. 10 WR/FS 10 WR/DB 9 RB/DB 11 LB 10 TE/DL 11 WR/DB 9 QB/DB 11 WR/P 9 DB/WR

2012 SEASON OUTLOOK

ably the only kid on our team that we know that if he gets the ball, he can go 90 yards for us.”

Harris will be joined in the backfield by senior Matthew Ramsay, who the coaches convinced to play two ways after he specialized on defense last year. Ramsay plays at the “Pony” slot within Osborne’s 3-5 defense, where he fills many of the same roles a strong safety would in other defenses in covering both the running and passing game. Ramsay is also the team’s leading returning tackler, finishing his junior season with a total of 57.

There’s also the small question of who can get Harris and the rest of the skill players the ball. Jahmari Townes had never played quarterback before the 2011 season, but operated the team’s Wing-T offense admirably in its first year, finishing with six total touchdowns.

Senior Xavier Evans figures to factor into the conversation as the coaches search their roster for another quarterback convert.

On the other side of the ball, Ramsay will be expected to join interior linebackers Khalil McIntyre,

NO. PLAYER 16 REAGAN MAYCOCK 17 BRIAN AMMONS 18 MAMADOU TOURE 19 REAGAN MAYCOCK 21 DAVID SHELTON 24 TIMOTHY HARRIS 25 MATTHEW RAMSAY 26 KYLE DAVIS 28 ANDRE MARSH

2012 ROSTER

CL. POS. 12 WR/DB 10 WR/DB 10 WR/DB 12 WR/DB 11 WR/DB 12 RB/DB 11 DB 10 RB/DB 12 RB/LB

NO. PLAYER 31 XAVIER EVANS 40 JAUAN ALVIN 41 SHANOY LESTER 44 KHALIL MCINTYRE 45 BLADE CLONTS 48 JAQUNTON ALSTON 51 NELSON SANDOVAL 53 STEVEN VILLATORO

Blade Clonts and Shanoy Lester as leaders in the second season of a transition from a 4-4 defensive front to a 3-5.

Junior Jajuan Eason could emerge as a key contributor at “Pony”, and Tim Crawford is expected to step up and have an impact along the defensive line.

If the two narrow misses last year against heavilyfavored region foes Kell and Pope are any indication, Osborne appears to have made headway on the performance gap between itself and the rest of its region.

Managing a tight core of proven returning talent, Smith has remained grounded, mindful of the unique challenge his school is in.

“Last year’s team was different from this year’s team,” Smith said. “Thankfully, I have a group of about 15-20 kids that has stayed with me going into my second year, and if those 20 kids understand what I want as far as competing, then, hopefully, we should get a step better.”

— By Eric Single MDJ Sports Writer

CL. 11 10 11 11 11 11 10 10

POS. DB DL/TE DL LB LB/FB DL/TE C/DL OL/DL

NO. PLAYER 54 CHRISTIAN PARKS 56 VICENTE GUTIERREZ 59 DE'MARCO RUFFIN 61 KING NGUYEN 65 MIKE EZEIHEKAIBEE 70 ALEX CASTILLO 72 TONI CASTILLO 76 JOE ALVARADO 78 TIM CRAWFORD

CL. POS. 10 OL 10 OL/LB 9 DE/OL 10 OL 10 OL/DL 11 OL 10 OL 11 OL 10 OL

4

2012 SCHEDULE TBA AT AT CHAPEL HILL AUG. 24

AT MCNAIR AUG. 31

AT CAMPBELL SEPT. 7

keeping you

game

AT CAMBRIDGE SEPT. 21

VS CREEKVIEW SEPT. 28

at the

top of your

Acworth 678.213.5717 Austell 770.944.3303 Canton 770.345.5717

Douglasville 770.949.8558 East Cobb 770.579.8558 Lost Mountain 770.218.8800

Marietta 770.427.5717 Paulding 770.445.5666 Woodstock 770.926.9112

VS POPE OCT. 5

AT KELL OCT. 12

AT RIVERWOOD OCT. 19

VS SPRAYBERRY NOV. 2

VS REGION PLAY-IN NOV. 9

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SUNDAY, AUGUST 19, 2012

KICKOFF 2012

PAGE 57

BU IL D ING THE WALL

Osborne seniors Blade Clonts, left, Khalil McIntyre and Shanoy Lester will be key players on the Cardinals defense as they continue their rise in 2012.

Staff / Laura Moon

Senior trio of linebackers leads Osborne into second year of reubuilding project

By Eric Single

MDJ Sports Writer

In Xarvia Smith’s first year as coach at Osborne, his linebackers did not necessarily look like linebackers. Graduated seniors Kha Huynh and Alex Mealing finished the 2011 season ranked first and second on the team in tackles and provided valuable leadership at the position, but they were undersized.

“Last year, I think our linebackers weighed 150, 160 and 165, and I was like, ‘What in the world?’” Smith said.

“But now, we’ve got three 200-pound linebackers that don’t miss workouts.”

Khalil McIntyre weighs 220 pounds, Blade Clonts weighs 205 and Shanoy Lester weighs 200 — look the part. This year, the three seniors will take the lead on a young defense hoping to build on the promising foundation laid in 2011 and take another step toward making Osborne look like a perennial winner.

McIntyre is the quiet, steady leader of the group and the lone returning starter at an interior linebacker slot. He spent most of his time at left-side linebacker as a jun-

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THE LINEBACKERS FILE

Blade Clonts models his game after Ray Lewis Shanoy Lester models his game after Brian Urlacher Khalil McIntyre models his game after Sean Witherspoon

ior and learned first-hand from Huynh and Mealing as Osborne finished 2-8 but cut its average margin of defeat in half from the previous year, from 35.4 points to 17.1 points per game.

“He’s developed the work ethic after the model of those two guys that left last year,” said linebackers coach Derek Russell of McIntyre. “One thing about Khalil is he doesn’t always just rely on his skill.

After a year playing alongside them and developing that work ethic, I think the other guys see him and see what they need to do to get better.”

Clonts came to Osborne from South

See Wall, Page 80

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PEBBLEBROOK FALCONS KICKOFF 2012

PAGE 58

SUNDAY, AUGUST 19, 2012

LOCATION: 991 OLD ALABAMA ROAD, MABLETON. PHONE: 770-819-2521. HOME FIELD: FALCON STADIUM. TEAM COLORS: MAROON, BLUE, WHITE. ONLINE: COBBK12.ORG/PEBBLEBROOK/ATHLETICS.ASPX.

COACHING STAFF

2011 RESULTS 4-6

HEAD COACH: TOMMY MACON AGE: 55 YEAR : 1 RECORD: 0-0 CAREER: 65-138-2

VARSITY COACHING STAFF KAREEM REID — DEF. COORD. WILLIAM RICHARDSON — OC DERRICK TATUM — DEF. BACKS ROBERT JENKINS — OFF. LINE JAMES WILLIAMS — DEF. LINE CHARLES SWANN — RECEIVERS WILLIAM JONES — LINEBACKERS

2011 LEADERS

RUSHING C.J. GOODMAN SER. HARRIS

PASSING C.J. GOODMAN

RECEIVING JUSTIN SIMMS

LOWNDES EAST COWETA CHAPEL HILL HARRISON KMHS NORTH COBB MCEACHERN HILLGROVE CAMPBELL SOUTH COBB

14-45 13-27 6-24 21-14 21-14 36-34 14-52 25-41 44-12 14-27

L L L W W W L L W L

5-YEAR RECORD 24-27

889 YDS, 13 TD 557 YDS, 5 TD 653 YDS, 7 TD 159 YDS, 3 TD

TACKLES KHALID HENDERSON SACKS JARVIS RUFF

INTERCEPTIONS TYLER PARHAM A.J. QUARLES

‘07

‘08

‘09

‘10

‘11

89

Two key components for Pebblebrook over the last four years are now gone. Both its coach, Randall Smith, and quarterback, C.J. Goodman, are not around the Falcons’ program this season.

Tommy Macon takes over the program and enters his 22nd season as a head coach, though his last stint was at Southwest Macon from 2002-06.

At quarterback, junior Dezmond Huntley will be the head signal caller. He started mostly in the JV ranks last season, but was called upon to play when Goodman got injured last season. Much like their quarterback, inexperience is the story throughout the Falcons’ roster.

There are only three returning starters on each

NO. PLAYER 1 ANTONIO PASS 2 DEZMOND HUNTLEY 3 AJ QUARLES 4 JARVIS RUFF 5 PERRY SELDON 6 T YBERIUS CRAVES 7 JARRETT SHARP 8 CARL BEXLEY 10 JUSTIN SIMMS 11 BRIAN GRANISON 12 ROMELLO STAFFORD 13 ISAIAH RUNNELS 14 MARQUIS BROWN 15 KENDALL QUARLES

CL. POS. 11 DB 11 QB 12 LB 11 DL 11 RB 12 LB 11 WR/DB 12 DB 11 WR 11 WR 11 DB 10 DB 12 DB 10 WR

2012 SEASON OUTLOOK

side of the ball.

Defense is the side that Macon expects to be ahead in the early going, Outside linebacker A.J. Quarles and defensive end Jarvis Ruff are the key returners, though Arlington Christian transfer Demetrius Monday, who committed to Cincinnati in the offseason, will be the team’s standout cornerback.

“I think we are probably going to be a little stronger defensively until we get the system,” Macon said. “We’ve got the defensive line, even though they didn’t start, as a lot of them got the opportunity to play (last season). In the secondary, we look pretty decent. Early on, it will be the defense and we hope the

NO. PLAYER 16 CHARLES WRIGHT 17 JARROD BELL 18 ANDERSON GALLO 19 DEMETURIS DORSEY 20 EDWARD MCCOLLEY 21 DEMETRUS MONDAY 22 RODRIGUEZ MCDOWELL 24 KENNETH BURKE 25 SHAUNTEZ SMITH 27 JAVION LAWSON 28 SAVION MUNFORD 30 JOKOBE BURKE 32 JUAN CASTRO 34 JOHN JOHNSON

CL. 12 12 11 9 11 12 12 11 11 10 10 9 12 10

2012 ROSTER POS. WR DB K QB LB DB RB RB RB DB RB WR DL QB

NO. PLAYER 35 MICHAEL ASGEMEN 36 DEANGELO KING 37 OSMAN PEREZ 40 EDWARD ODEMAH 42 QUANTAVIOUS ARNOLD 43 T YLER GREEN 44 ANTHONY MITCHELL 45 TODDRICK THOMAS 48 WILLIE RAMSEY 50 MANASSE JEAN 51 KASEY RICHARDSON 52 JUSTIN GRAYSON 53 RAY SOTELO 54 TREY BENJIMAN

offense will come along and start scoring some points for us.”

Besides Huntley, the offense will have some more new quirks as the team will now run out of a conventional split-back, pro-style offense. Perry Seldon will be the lead running back, as he started in spots last year, while Justin Simms will be Huntley’s go-to target at wide receiver. Chris Weems anchors what is otherwise a young offensive line.

— By William Bretherton wbretherton@mdjonline.com

CL. POS. 12 DB 12 WR 11 K 11 CB 10 TE 12 DB 9 WR 11 WR 10 LB 11 OL 11 DL 12 OL/DL 11 OL 11 OL

NO. PLAYER 55 MARK MONSANTO 56 KHALIL GEORGE 57 JACOBE SCOTT 58 DARRYL WILLIAMS 59 GARRY DOBSON 60 CHRIS WEEMS 61 RACHIIM SIMMONS 64 JAMAR FRASIER 66 JOSE DIAZ-TORRES 70 MAURICE COUCH 73 ANTHONY RIGGINS 75 JESUS IZAJUIRRE 76 DWAYNE HOLMES 80 JUSTIS MULLINS 82 ALTON STEWART

CL. POS. 11 LB 11 LB 11 OL 11 OL 12 OL 12 OL/DL 11 DL 12 OL 10 OL 11 OL 9 DL 9 DL 10 TE 11 TE 11 DE

8 2 2

2012 SCHEDULE

VS SW DEKALB AUG. 31

AT

MOUNTAIN VIEW

SEPT. 7

VS MCEACHERN SEPT. 14

AT HARRISON SEPT. 21

VS MARIETTA SEPT. 28

AT HILLGROVE OCT. 5

AT CAMPBELL OCT. 12

AT NORTH COBB OCT. 26

VS

KENNESAW MTN.

NOV. 2

VS SOUTH COBB NOV. 10

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CHARACTER B U IL D E R

KICKOFF 2012

SUNDAY, AUGUST 19, 2012

PAGE 59

Pebblebrook’s Rachiim Simmons flourishes on the field, in the classroom and the community

By William Bretherton

wbretherton@mdjonline.com

Coaches often speak about how football can be used as a vehicle to create better character in students.

For Pebblebrook junior Rachiim Simmons, football is just one of many things in his life that he uses as a way to give back to the Mableton community.

Through various clubs and service organizations, the junior defensive tackle/defensive end volunteers at a homeless shelter, has worked for the Hosea Feed The Hungry program and is a part of an organization at Pebblebrook called the Gentleman Falcons Club, which devotes itself to various service projects.

After joining the club as a freshman, Simmons became its president last year as a sophomore. Additionally, he went through Georgia Tech’s Leadership Plugged-In summer program.

In the eighth grade, he was a part of the Black United Youth, and gave a speech before 800 at the Capitol. Along with that honor, Simmons was given an all-expense paid trip to visit Harvard and MIT in Boston.

“I plan on doing more,” Simmons said. “I plan on accomplishing more each year, each high school year, each time I get the chance to.

Whatever comes my way, the opportunity presents itself, I don’t shy away from it and do the best that I can.”

On the football team, Simmons stands at 6

THE SIMMONS FILE

6-foot, 210 pounds Plays defensive tackle and end Bench-presses 335 pounds Volunteers at a number of charitable organizations Wants to become a police officer

feet, 210 pounds and anchors the defensive line, playing both inside at tackle and outside as an end. Much of his ability to play the position comes from his strength. In the offseason, he was able to squat 375 pounds, bench 335 and power clean 260. Additionally, he is able to lift all of that weight and run a 40-yard dash in 4.8 seconds. Simmons does all of these things because he understands how important his position is.

“It’s a lot of work,” he said. “I enjoy practice, but the main thing is that you just have to stay strong during it. Mostly, you are just fighting giants in front of you. My coaches and players in front of you say that the battle is won in the trenches.”

With all of the work he must put in to be at his best on the football field, why put so much effort off the field into volunteering?

“I feel good when I help people,” he said.

“On the news, I see other people just doing their See Builder, Page 81

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Pebblebrook’s Rachiim Simmons starts on the defensive line and is great in the classroom as the medal he’s wearing for straight As shows. He also has a large effect in his community as a volunteer for many different charitable orgainizations.

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POPE GREYHOUNDS KICKOFF 2012

PAGE 60

SUNDAY, AUGUST 19, 2012

LOCATION: 3001 HEMBREE ROAD, MARIETTA. PHONE: 770-578-7900. HOME FIELD: POPE MULTI-SPORT COMPLEX. TEAM COLORS: BLUE, GREY. ONLINE: POPEFOOTBALL.COM.

COACHING STAFF

2011 RESULTS 10-2

HEAD COACH: MATT KEMPER AGE: 46 YEAR : 5 RECORD: 27-16 CAREER: 54-26

VARSITY COACHING STAFF GERALD CLIMMONS — DEF. BACKS TOM FLUGUM — LINEBACKERS MATT FOX — SP. TEAMS/REC. HEATH GREEN — RUNNING BACKS JERAD JOHNSON — QB MATT JONES — DEF. LINE MIKE KENNEDY — RECEIVERS CHRIS LAFEVE — DEF. BACKS JOSH MARTIN — OFF. LINE

2011 LEADERS

RUSHING HOLLAND FROST BR. CLIMMONS

PASSING HOLLAND FROST RECEIVING MYLES EVERETT MURPHY DAVIS

TACKLES JOEY TABACHINO

WHEELER KMHS VILLA RICA OSBORNE KELL N. PAULDING SPRAYBERRY EAST PAULDING HIRAM ALEXANDER MAYS TRI-CITIES

31-7 38-21 41-7 27-24 7-33 42-21 27-21 29-23 27-6 49-28 52-38 0-35

How will Pope replace the all-everything quarterback and the game breaking wide receiver that spearheaded its offense to a Region 5AAAA championship in 2011?

Holland Frost, who made defenses pay for missed assignments with his feet and his arm while under center for the Greyhounds’ option offense, will not be walking through the fieldhouse door. Neither is Myles Everett, the county’s leading receiver in 2011, with exceptional speed and 15 total touchdowns to his name.

“Those are big shoes to fill, but our guys are eager to try, and that’s all you can ask for,” Pope coach Matt Kemper said. “Hopefully, there are guys who you know are going to make contributions, and then you get those couple of surprises.”

While the Greyhounds wait for new playmakers to emerge, consistency along the offensive line will be of

W W W W L W W W W W W L

5-YEAR RECORD 28-25

948 YDS, 13 TD 560 YDS, 7 TD 1,668 YDS, 20 TD 1,163 YDS, 14 TD 176 YDS, 3 TD

SACKS JOEY TABACHINO

‘07

‘08

‘09

‘10

‘11

91 4

NO. PLAYER 1 BRADEN ZARBINSKY 2 CARSON DAY 3 RONALD WOODS 4 BROOKS CLIMMONS 5 COLE CHILDERS 6 BRAXTON PHIPPS 7 BRETT LYLE 8 JACOB CULBERSON 10 JARED PARKER 11 BEN HART 12 SAM YARBOROUGH 13 MASON SHIFLETT 14 KEEGAN PUIA 15 STEPHEN SKRUCK 17 JACK ZEGERS

CL. POS. 10 DB/RB 10 DB/WR 11 DB/RB 12 LB/RB 10 DB/WR 12 DB/WR 11 DB/RB 11 DB/WR 12 DB/WR 12 LB/WR 12 LB/RB 11 DB/WR 12 DB/WR 11 LB/RB 11 LB/RB

2012 SEASON OUTLOOK

paramount importance. Senior guard Luke Hornor is the most experienced of the group, while Max Kemper made all-region as a freshman at the other guard spot.

Senior Brooks Climmons played on both sides of the ball last season, finishing with 61 tackles at linebacker and rushing for 560 yards. He will be expected to carry a larger portion of the load as the most experienced member of a committee of running backs.

Kemper has split his quarterback competition evenly three ways throughout the summer. Junior Stephen Skruck started in last season’s double-overtime victory over Osborne and will battle with junior varsity starter Brett Lyle and Walker transfer Sam Yarborough for the full-time job.

Pope returns its entire front seven on defense from the previous year but must find a replacement for

2012 ROSTER

NO. PLAYER 18 MURPHY DAVIS 19 SCOTT WALKER 20 RYAN HANLEY 23 BRETT ROGERS 24 ITABARI MASON 25 WARREN TABOR 26 JOSH METZINGER 27 DREW COOPER 29 LOGAN CARR 32 SEAN HAYDEN 33 BLAYNE BURGETT 34 TREVON SMITH 36 NOLAN RUSSO 37 SEAN HATCHER 38 PHILLIP NEAL

CL. POS. 12 DB/WR 12 LB/RB 12 DB/WR 11 DB/RB 10 DB/RB 12 DB/WR 12 DB/WR 11 DB/WR 11 DB/WR 11 LB/RB 11 DB/WR 11 DB/WR 11 DB/WR 12 LB/RB 11 LB/RB

NO. PLAYER 39 CODY POLIFKA 40 TAYLOR WADDILOVE 42 CURRAN MCMAHON 45 MIKE KEMPER 47 HARRISON HOLMES 48 JOEY TABACHINO 49 LUIS VELA 51 BEN COTTINGHAM 53 BOBACK KALANTARIAN 58 D'ANDRE MCCALLUM 60 DESMON MCDONALD 61 PAUL DAHLHAUSER 62 JOEY FREEMAN 63 TREVOR STEVENS 64 OLIVER PREDA

graduated safety Daniel Maples, who was the secondleading tackler on a unit that allowed over 24 points only once during the regular season.

Senior Sean Hatcher leads a linebacking corps that also features Climmons and 2011 leading tackler Joey Tabachino, with Ben Hart pushing for playing time on the weak side.

The Greyhounds have little margin for error in feeling out their new playmakers early on in the season. Their 2012 schedule begins with a non-region slate Kemper characterizes as “a beast” and ends with a rematch against region rival Kell, the source of last year’s only regular-season loss.

— By Eric Single MDJ Sports Writer

CL. POS. 11 DL/RB 10 DB/WR 12 DL/OL 10 LB/RB 11 LB/RB 11 LB/RB 10 LB/RB 10 DL/OL 12 DL/OL 11 DL/OL 11 DL/OL 11 DL/OL 10 DL/OL 12 DL/OL 11 DL/OL

NO. PLAYER 65 DJ PHELPS 66 LUKE HORNOR 67 CONNOR WHEALTON 70 CODY AMON 72 QUINTIN BANGE 75 MATTHEW JONES 76 TAYLOR HOWARD 78 MATTHEW PITTARELLI 79 MAX KEMPER 81 BEN DORAN 82 IKE LIKINS 83 MARSHALL HANSEN 84 TEVIN PITCHES 92 FELIPE VELA 97 ALEXANDER PARKER

CL. POS. 12 DL/OL 12 DL/OL 12 DL/OL 12 DL/OL 11 DL/OL 10 DL/OL 12 DL/OL 10 DL/OL 10 DL/OL 11 DB/WR 11 DB/WR 11 DB/WR 11 DB/WR 12 DL/OL 12 DL/OL

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5:41 PM

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KICKOFF 2012

SUNDAY, AUGUST 19, 2012

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Pope’s Sean Hatcher suffered torn cartilage in his left shoulder during the Greyhounds’ 29-23 victory over then No. 4 East Paulding last October. He played the final month of the 2011 season with the injury that caused pain each time his shoulder was subjected to contact. It was the way he played through the injury, and the example he set, that has turned him into one of Pope’s leaders heading into the 2012 season.

Staff / Todd Hull

Pope’s Sean Hatcher returns from shoulder injury to lead the defense THE HATCHER FILE

6-foot-1, 210 pounds Pope’s third-leading tackler in 2011 with 76 Had surgery on shoulder after the season and was cleared for action after six months of rehab

By Eric Single

MDJ Sports Writer

In 2011, the technical and emotional foundation of Pope’s defense ran through safety Daniel Maples, who led the Greyhounds with 72 solo tackles — 89 in all — in his senior season on the way to the school’s third region championship.

“Maples was like our voice on defense,” said Joey Tabachino,

who started at linebacker as a sophomore last year. “He was always keeping everyone into it and everything, and he was a really good defensive back.”

As the Greyhounds were closing in on the title last season, linebacker Sean Hatcher was proving to his teammates that the leadership void caused by Maples’ impending graduation would be filled more than capably the following fall.

The 6-foot-1, 210-pound Hatcher played the final games of the 2011 season with torn cartilage in his left shoulder that he sustained during an October game against East Paulding, a 29-23 victory that put Pope in control of the region. Directing traffic along the front seven with a pain that surged through his shoulder at any direct contact, Hatcher finished the year with 76 tackles, the third-most on the team, including a few from the

East Paulding game that made the entire team take notice.

“There was one play where they gave the ball to the running back on a sweep, and Sean pulled him down with the one arm that was hurt,” said Ben Hart, another rising senior linebacker. “He was just lying on the ground after that, and you could just tell he was hurt.”

Hatcher can still recall the pain

See Mettle, Page 80

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2012 CHEROKEE SUPER SIX

PAGE 62

KICKOFF 2012

SUNDAY, AUGUST 19, 2012

With a player from each of Cherokee County’s public schools on the Super Six it shows that the talent continues to spread throughout the area.

Currently, some of the bigger Division I colleges are missing the opportunity lock up some of these players, but if Cherokee’s Tunde Ayinla, Woodstock’s Trey Alexander, Etowah’s Michael McCauley, Creekview’s Hayden Hall, Sequoyah’s Blake Ingleton and River Ridge’s E.J. Ellis, have the kind of year in 2012 that they did in 2011, that will not be the case for long.

Currently, the players’ No. 1 priority is getting their teams to the top of their respective regions. And, if they do, the scholarship offers will come.

— By John Bednarowski sportseditor@cherokeetribune.com

Staff / Todd Hull

Cherokee County is not short on football talent, as the Super Six shows. The best talent in the county includes, from left, Woodstock’s Trey Alexander, Creekview’s Hayden Hall, River Ridge’s E.J. Ellis, Etowah’s Michael McCauley and Sequoyah’s Blake Ingleton. Not pictured is Cherokee’s Tunde Ayinla.

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2012 CHEROKEE SUPER SIX

SUNDAY, AUGUST 19, 2012

Tunde Ayinla, Cherokee Position: Defensive line Height: 6-0 Weight: 240 40-time: 4.9 Colleges being recruited by: Georgia Tech, Georgia Southern, Furman

KICKOFF 2012

Hayden Hall, Creekview Position: Quarterback Height: 5-11 Weight: 180 40-time: 4.75 Colleges showing interest: West Georgia, Shorter

Quarterback Hayden Hall is capable of both throwing and running the ball. Having both qualities also makes him tough for the opposition to prepare for. While mobility is one of his strengths, Hall also threw for 1,294 passing yards and 10 touchdowns.

As a three-technique defensive tackle within new coach Josh Shaw’s 4-3 defense, Ayinla’s role on the defensive line is more set this season than it was in 2011, when he also spent some time at defensive end.

Ayinla, one of the best athletes on the team, may not post the same tackles numbers of last year (63), but his main responsibility in his final season at Cherokee is freeing up the rest of the front seven to get theirs.

Michael McCauley, Etowah Position: Defensive Back Height: 5-11 Weight: 160 4 0 t i m e : 4.6 Colleges recruited by: Harvard, Princeton, Johns Hopkins

Trey Alexander, Woodstock Position: Linebacker/Running Back Height: 6-1 Weight: 210 40-Time: 4.74 College(s) being recruited by: Air Force, Harvard, Penn, UT-Martin, Davidson

Alexander has already earned a football scholarship offer from Air Force and is being recruited by Ivy League schools Harvard and Penn.

Alexander’s focus has been on what he can do to help Woodstock rebound from a 4-6 record and five-game losing streak to end last season and win a region and state championship this year. He expects to play some fullback this year as well as a way to help get the ground game going.

E.J. Ellis, River Ridge Position: Running Back Height: 5-8 Weight: 175 40 time: 4.5

After coming off a highly productive season that saw Ellis earn honorable mention all-state in Class AA, he wants more this time around. With this upcoming season being the Knights first playing a full region slate, Ellis has the opportunity to help lead his team to its first postseason appearance.

PAGE 63

After starring as one of the top defensive backs in Cherokee County last year, McCauley wants to work toward his goal of earning a college scholarship, preferrably to an Ivy League institution.

In the offseason, McCauley focused his energies on improving his ability to read and react both to receivers running their routes and the quarterback’s release of the football.

Blake Ingleton, Sequoyah Position: Running Back Height: 6-1 Weight:205 40-time: 4.5 Colleges being recruited by: The Citadel, Georgia Southern

Ingleton has played in the same offensive system every year since the fourth grade, and the senior running back is planning to take full advantage of his final season within Sequoyah’s run-first attack.

Ingleton is hoping that a heightened attention to detail in his offseason preparations pays off in the form of a climb in his production. He rushed for 1,235 yards and scored 11 touchdowns last season as the primary option for the Chiefs and will team up with Stuart Glassic and Dustin Dawson in the backfield to help take the pressure off second-year starting quarterback Lex Lauletta.

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RIVER RIDGE KNIGHTS KICKOFF 2012

PAGE 64

SUNDAY, AUGUST 19, 2012

LOCATION: 400 ARNOLD MILL ROAD, WOODSTOCK. PHONE: 770-591-8450. HOME FIELD: RIVER RIDGE STADIUM. TEAM COLORS: NAVY, GOLD. ONLINE: RIVERRIDGEKNIGHTSFOOTBALL.COM

COACHING STAFF

HEAD COACH: ROBERT BRAUCHT AGE: 39 YEAR : 4 RECORD: 10-9 CAREER: 52-26

VARSITY COACHING STAFF TYLER WYNN — OFF. COORD. KEITH MANUS — DEF. COORD. BARRY LAKES — ASST. HC/DL JOE TOUSIGNAUT — LINEBACKERS RUSS ARMISTEAD — DEF. BACKS JOE ROTH — RUNNING BACKS BLAKE DAVIS — RECEIVERS

2011 LEADERS

RUSHING EJ ELLIS AUSTIN TERRELL

2011 RESULTS 8-2

MOUNT PIGSAH TEMPLE MODEL CROSS KEYS GORDON LEE LAKEVIEW ACAD. TOWNS COUNTY LANIER SOCIAL CIRCLE NORTH MURRAY

48-13 28-21 40-14 58-0 8-23 28-21 42-6 17-35 46-7 48-34

W W W W L W W L W W

5-YEAR RECORD 10-9

1,230 YDS, 21 TD 1,102 YDS, 13 TD

‘07

‘08

‘09

‘10

‘11

After spending the last two years playing football in a non-region schedule, River Ridge is welcomed to playing live football this season in Region 7AAAA (A). The Knights will have a full complement of returning starters on both sides of the ball, though there have been a few position changes.

“I’m very excited,” River Ridge coach Robert Braucht said. “It’s a long time coming. This has been a hard road and a long road to get to this point. I just hope that the kids appreciate it as much as the school and the community does with everything they’ve had to overcome over the years. Hopefully, it will all be worthwhile and we will have a great season.”

As it was last season, the Knights’ strength will

NO. PLAYER 1 VINCE NJOKU 2 EJ ELLIS 3 STEVEN SPEARS 4 BROCK HARRIS 5 MICHAEL AGAR 7 AUBREY THOMPSON 8 OMARI REEVES-MILLER 9 TANNER HICKS 10 TYLER KEENEY 11 CHRIS TURNER 12 ZAIRE CALDWELL 14 CALEB CALDWELL 15 SETH NAMA 17 BRIAN HILBURN 18 LENARD JONES 19 KYLE COLLINS 20 MICHAEL LEWIS

2012 SEASON OUTLOOK

come from their running game. Juniors E.J. Ellis and Austin Terrell will see the lion’s share of the offense once more, and should get plenty of opportunities to find the end zone. Additionally, Braucht said that he had confidence in his defensive line.

However, he is challenging his offensive line to improve before the upcoming season.

“We’ve got the kids to be a little more powerful up front, and we would like to be able to move the ball better,” Braucht said. “It’s been a little bit of blocking problems, and maybe our defense has gotten a little better. I’m just not one of those types of guys that’s easily satisfied.”

Another key component of the game for River Ridge

NO. PLAYER 21 AUSTIN BENNETT 22 DYLAN GATES 23 WILL REDDING 24 CHRIS ROBINSON 25 DEVANTAE MCINTOSH 27 JOEY HIRTLE 28 COLE KRONAUGE 31 WILLIAM MATELLO 32 JAYLIN MCCRAY 35 AUSTIN REYES 36 AUSTIN TERRELL 37 COLE DERY 38 JAKE LAFSER 39 JOSEPH CHADWICK 40 JONATHON PEART 41 CODY GREGORY 42 JAMES OVERHOLSER

2012 ROSTER

NO. PLAYER 44 RAY STEPHENSON 45 LIAM MCGUINNES 47 DALTON RICHARDS 50 ALEX MIROSHKIN 51 MASON LINER 52 AUSTIN DILLARD 53 TYLER CROUCH 54 DAVIS MACKENZIE 55 ALEX GEE 56 SEAN SMITH 57 DYLAN STEELE 58 BEN MUSIC 59 JUSTIN PORTER 60 BRANDON STEPHENSON 61 WILL GEE 64 CODY O'DELL

will be its special teams this season. Although not everyone considers it to be an equal third of the game to offense and defense, Braucht said that the Knights take extra care with it.

“We try and use as many seniors as possible,” he said. “We take it to heart in the River Ridge program. If you are on special teams, then it does mean something.

They have to make their mark somewhere on the field.

It’s important to do that. We feel like we have the right mix of kids.”

— By William Bretherton wbretherton@cherokeetribune.com

NO. PLAYER 65 DYLAN JARVIS 67 MARK WOOD 70 TEODOR SIMEONOV 71 JOE MONTELEONE 72 JD SMITH 73 BRANDON DOLLAR 74 RYAN SAILOR 75 JAMES EGAN 76 CALES DUCTANT 77 CAMERON JOHNSON W 78 VASILY DIVACHUK 79 TOM LANG 81 WES BEARDEN 84 BLAKE JUBERG 97 DEANDRE SALMON 97 JAMES SMITH

2012 SCHEDULE TBA VS SEQUOYAH AUG. 31

AT CREEKVIEW SEPT. 7

AT RIDGELAND SEPT. 14

VS LAFAYETTE SEPT. 21

VS N.W. WHITFIELD SEPT. 28

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AT CASS OCT. 19

VS GILMER OCT. 26

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VS REGION PLAY-IN NOV. 9

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KICKOFF 2012

SUNDAY, AUGUST 19, 2012

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River Ridge’s Alex Gee is the starting center on the Knights’ football and basketball teams, the first baseman on the baseball team and for the last five years a cellist. Gee plays the instrument as part of the River Ridge High School orchestra.

Staff / Todd Hull

River Ridge’s Alex Gee is the anchor of the offensive line and the orchestra THE GEE FILE

Knights’ starting center Has been playing the cello for five years Also a member of the baseball and basketball teams Carries a 3.6 GPA

By William Bretherton

wbretherton@cherokeetribune.com

As River Ridge’s starting center, Alex Gee is in the middle of every offensive play that the Knights run.

Beyond football though, he is pretty much in the middle of everything that River Ridge has to offer. In addition to playing for the football team, he is also a center on the basketball team and a first

baseman on the baseball team.

While it’s not completely unusual for a student to play three sports, Gee also is a member of River Ridge’s orchestra as a cellist.

“It started five years ago,” he said. “I’d always loved music and my middle school offered a music, class, so, I decided that I would take it and see how it went. Outside of class, I only practice a couple of hours every week, but I practice an hour in class every day.”

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In order to do all of these things, time management has to be one of Gee’s greatest strengths, as he is also a stellar student with a 3.6 grade-point average. More than that, his coach, Robert Braucht, saw a player that could adjust quickly on the field and do the things necessary to be the team’s starting center.

“That’s probably the most unique thing about Alex,” Braucht said. “It’s not unusual for a kid to

play two or three sports, but for someone with music abilities, as well as the time management skills that it takes to play three sports, that’s the key. That’s what made him stand-out. There is an extra variable to him, which allows him to have that other side. There are not a lot of people that have those talents.”

Outside of the ability to make line adjustments, his job can simply

See Center, Page 86

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SEQUOYAH CHIEFS KICKOFF 2012

PAGE 66

SUNDAY, AUGUST 19, 2012

LOCATION: 4485 HICKORY ROAD, CANTON. PHONE: 770-345-1474. HOME FIELD: SKIP POPE STADIUM. TEAM COLORS: BLACK, GOLD. ONLINE: SEQUOYAHFOOTBALL.COM.

COACHING STAFF

2011 RESULTS 3-7

HEAD COACH: JAMES TETER AGE: 47 YEAR : 4 RECORD: 14-16 CAREER: 114-83

VARSITY COACHING STAFF JEFF BEINKE — OFF. LINE GREG KEY — TIGHT ENDS JEREMY LAW — DEF. BACKS OWEN SHAVER — RB TRAVIS SHEFFIELD — DEF. LINE CURT WILLIAMS — RECEIVERS MATT MUNDY — OFF. LINE

CREEKVIEW JOHNS CREEK NW WHITFIELD CASS ROME SOUTH FORSYTH CHATTAHOOCHEE LAMBERT FORSYTH CEN. WOODLAND

14-24 0-34 14-31 44-10 10-20 24-17 12-31 21-24 26-22 27-39

L L L W L W L L W L

5-YEAR RECORD 28-24

2011 LEADERS

RUSHING BLAKE INGLETON 1,235 YDS, 11 TD STUART GLASSIC 537 YDS, 7 TD PASSING LEX LAULETTA

625 YDS, 3 TD

RECEIVING STUART GLASSIC 272 YDS, 3 TD OBIE MYERS 114 YDS, 0 TD TACKLES MITCHELL SMITH SACKS MITCHELL SMITH

INTERCEPTIONS COLEMAN VAN DYKE

‘07

‘08

‘09

‘10

‘11

87 6 2

Breaking in a first-year starting quarterback and an inexperienced offensive line, Sequoyah stumbled out of the gate in 2011 on its way to the program’s worst record since 1999, a 3-7 campaign that began with three straight double-digit losses.

This year, it is the defensive line’s turn to answer questions about its depth and inexperience in the leadup to the season.

Senior nose guard Colin Dozier, the lone remaining starter along that line, is one of the team’s leaders and a focal point for head coach James Teter’s defense, but the graduation of Mitchell Smith and Malcolm Simpson has left the competition wide open for playing time at defensive end.

Junior quarterback Lex Lauletta begins his second year directing traffic in Sequoyah’s Wing-T offense after going through growing pains as a sophomore. Se-

NO. PLAYER 2 BLAKE INGLETON 3 DUSTIN DAWSON 4 FELIPE RESTREPO 5 PETER ROHAN 6 ALEX FUNDERBURK 8 FRANK IBAR 9 JAKE KEY 10 BILLY LUMMUS 11 TRENTON DORNER 12 JAMES HARRIS 14 LEX LAULETTA 15 JAKE JENSEN 17 BRIAN EXLEY 18 AUSTIN SMITH 19 SAM ROGERS 20 DJ AUSTIN 21 JAKE GARNER

CL. POS. 12 RB/DB 12 RB/DB 12 RB/DB 11 RB/LB 11 RB/LB 12 WR/DB 10 RB/DB 10 QB/DB 12 QB 11 WR/K 11 QB 10 RB/DB 11 WR/DB 10 QB/DB 11 RB/DB 11 RB/DB 11 RB/DL

2012 SEASON OUTLOOK

quoyah returns three dynamic senior running backs who will be expected to carry most of the offensive load.

Blake Ingleton is the backfield workhorse, a physical runner not afraid to punish defenders with inside runs when he is not flashing the big-play ability that lifted him to nearly eight yards per touch last season.

Stuart Glassic, the Chiefs’ other home-run threat, has 4.4 speed and was the team’s only consistent option in the passing game as a junior.

Glassic caught all three of Lauletta’s touchdown passes to add to his 537 yards and seven touchdowns on the ground.

Dustin Dawson provides complementary quickness on the edge and may be expected to fill part of the void left by graduated senior Obie Myers.

Safety Korey Henkle is the leading returning tackler

NO. PLAYER 22 BLAKE MILLER 23 NICK FALCO 24 T Y BENNETT-REED 25 JOSH DIETTER 26 KOREY HENKLE 27 JONATHAN KIRBY 28 STUART GLASSIC 31 MATTHEW EUBANKS 32 JACKSON COOK 34 JONATHAN TAMAYO 37 STEPHEN ANDERSON 38 CHANDLER BRAGG 39 MATT RUMP 40 MAURICIO RESTREPO 46 THOMAS PERRY 47 CHASE BAGWELL 48 GILBERTO TERRIENTES

2012 SCHEDULE

2012 ROSTER

CL. POS. 10 RB/LB 11 TE/LB 12 WR/DB 12 WR/DB 12 RB/DB 11 RB/DB 12 RB/DB 11 WR/DB 10 RB/LB 11 RB/K 10 RB/DB 10 RB/DB 11 TE/LB 10 RB/DB 12 TE/LB 10 TE/LB 11 TE/LB

NO. PLAYER 49 NICK DOWNIE 50 LOGAN HONEA 51 A.J. BROWN 52 COLIN DOZIER 53 WHEELER CROWE 54 C.J. COLLINS 57 CHANDLER CAGLE 58 ADAM FREE 59 TREY DURHAM 60 BRAD LASELVA 61 CAMDEN ROGERS 62 DALTON ANDERSON 63 WALKER MCFARLAND 64 CHRIS RIDDLE 65 COREY SOUTHERLAND 66 BRANDON PETTY 67 DANIEL MCKUNE

on a defense that will enjoy a measure of continuity in the secondary.

Junior linebackers Nick Falco and Pete Rohan will need to step up their production in the wake of Collier Ratcliff’s departure after solid sophomore seasons.

Sequoyah will measure itself up against county foes River Ridge and Cherokee before testing its mettle in a Region 7AAAAA schedule devoid of teams with a winning record in 2011.

— By Eric Single Cherokee Tribune Sports Writer

CL. 10 12 11 12 10 11 10 12 10 11 10 12 11 11 11 12 11

POS. TE/LB OL/DL OL/DL OL/DL OL/DL OL/DL OL/LB OL/DL OL/DL OL/DL OL/LB OL/DL OL/DL OL/LB OL/DL OL/DL OL/DL

NO. PLAYER 68 BLAKE VINCENT 69 PRESLEY TURNER 71 CHRISTIAN BISCHOFF 72 NOAH POPE 73 WYATT JACOBS 76 DAKOTA PICKELSIMER 77 JUSTIN BROOKSHIRE 78 JIMMY WHITE 79 ELI WARE 81 LUKE JOHNSON 82 COREY ARRINGTON 83 MASON TUCKER 84 LOGAN WALTERS 85 ADAM PATTERSON 88 KYLE WISNIEWSKI 89 WOODY PIERRE

CL. POS. 11 OL/DL 11 OL/DL 10 OL/DL 11 OL/DL 11 OL/DL 11 OL/DE 10 OL/DL 10 OL/DL 11 OL/DL 12 WR/DB 10 WR/DB 10 TE/DL 11 WR/DB 10 WR/DB 11 TE/LB 11 WR/DL

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LOVE OF MUSIC AND FOOTBALL

KICKOFF 2012

SUNDAY, AUGUST 19, 2012

PAGE 67

Sequoyah’s Brad LaSelva finds time to play two sports and be a member of the orchestra THE LASELVA FILE

By Eric Single

Cherokee Tribune Sports Writer

With so many extracurricular activities competing for their attention outside of the classroom, high school students are often challenged to show their commitment. Fortunately for Sequoyah junior Brad LaSelva, who plays violin for the school orchestra in addition to playing football and wrestling, commitment has never been a problem.

“Just generally, I don’t like to quit things that I start,” LaSelva said. “Whether it’s academics, football or the violin, I’m not going to just drop one thing for the other. I’m going to keep going on all of them. I was willing to give the time, so it was not a hard decision.”

LaSelva comes from a musical family — his mother plays violin and piano, his father plays guitar and banjo and his sister plays piano. He started playing his mother’s violin in the second grade and still uses it today as part of the high school orchestra. Although the demands of football and wrestling practice forced him to stop private lessons, he practices once or twice a week outside of school, mainly with short tunes that he likes.

Out of the six Cherokee County high schools, half — Sequoyah, Etowah and River Ridge have orchestra programs, all of which start classes in middle school. With a three-year head start on many of his classmates, LaSelva had a substan-

Began playing the violin in second grade Member of the Sequoyah High School orchestra Also a member of the Chiefs’ wrestling program

tial leg up, and that has paid dividends whenever he needs to defend his reputation against goodnatured ribbing from his teammates.

“Sometimes I’ll hear a little bit about it, but not much,” he said. “People will ask me if I’m really good, and I just say that I’m good. I’m not going to talk myself up, just let them hear it.”

His orchestra director is no stranger to students balancing athletic and artistic interests.

Casey Eubanks came to the Sequoyah music program in 2010 after stints as the band director at multiple other schools around the state, including Sandy Creek High School. According to Eubanks, Calvin Johnson the former Georgia Tech receiver and current member of the Detroit Lions — was quite the trombone player in his days at Sandy Creek.

“Brad’s dedicated to both activities,” EuStaff/file banks said. “He’s got to use time management Brad LaSelva began playing his mother’s violin in the second grade and skills, which he does very well. I’ve had a long never stopped. Now a member of the Sequoyah football and wrestling See Music, Page 81 programs, the junior is also a member of the school orchestra.

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SOUTH COBB EAGLES KICKOFF 2012

PAGE 68

SUNDAY, AUGUST 19, 2012

LOCATION: 1920 CLAY ROAD, AUSTELL. PHONE: 770-819-2611. HOME FIELD: CLAY STADIUM. TEAM COLORS: BLUE, WHITE. ONLINE: LEAGUELINEUP.COM/WELCOME.ASP?URL=SCH

COACHING STAFF

2011 RESULTS 8-4

HEAD COACH: ED KOESTER AGE: 57 YEAR : 5 RECORD: 19-24 CAREER: 134-103

VARSITY COACHING STAFF SHERROD RAINGE — OC/OL BRAD TROUT — DBS/SP. TEAMS MICHAEL JOHNSTON — DEF. LINE SHAWN CARR — DEF. LINE CHRIS VAN METER — QB CHRIS BRIGHT, TRIPP ALLEN, CHRIS BARBEE — ASSISTANTS

2011 LEADERS

MARIETTA WHEELER NORTHVIEW HILLGROVE MCEACHERN HARRISON KMHS CAMPBELL NORTH COBB PEBBLEBROOK WINDSOR FOREST WALTON

33-26 29-28 35-28 7-40 7-45 33-24 40-0 42-7 16-21 27-14 32-28 7-42

W W W L L W W W L W W L

5-YEAR RECORD 21-32

RUSHING CHRIS BECK 1,622 YDS, 14 TD STEPHON MASHA 214 YARDS, 1 TD PASSING STEPHON MASHA 2,051 YDS, 25 TD

RECEIVING GARY JONES CAR. ANDERSON TACKLES URIAH BAYETTE

758 YDS, 10 TD 472 YDS, 4 TD

SACKS TALERE TAYLOR

INTERCEPTIONS JAMAL THOMAS

VS WESTLAKE AUG. 31

‘07

‘08

‘09

‘11

‘10

89 3 7

AT DOUGLAS CO. SEPT. 7

AT

Expectations are running high at South Cobb after the Eagles made the postseason in consecutive years and won a playoff game for the first time in their 61-year history.

And if personnel is any indication, South Cobb has the kind of talent capable of duplicating its success from a year ago. The Eagles return eight starters on offense and three on defense, which makes coach Ed Koester cautious about how his team sees itself.

“I don’t want to be too excited about what could possibly happen this season,” he said, “and I don’t want the kids to take too much for granted just because of what we did last season and who we have back this year.

“I want them to stay hungry, so when we step on the

NO. PLAYER 3 WILLIE JOHNSON 4 STEPHON MASHA 5 Q'EDRIC PERKINS 6 JOHN BROWN 7 TREVION ANDERSON 8 AVERY CALDWELL 9 CHRIS SIMON 10 KYLIL CARTER 11 RYAN SUMNER 12 JEREMIAH ALPHABET 13 MICHAEL BOWDEN 15 ISAIAH HUGHES 16 ORPHEE MOUMBOCK 17 JOHNNY RICHARD 18 JORDAN HARTON 19 T YLER PORTER 20 JUSTIN ROBERTSON 21 GUI SHEPHERD 22 LEVI TURNER 23 JARELL PINKNEY 24 KORDARIUS JONES

KENNESAW MTN.

SEPT. 14

VS CAMPBELL SEPT. 21

CL. 10 12 12 11 10 12 12 10 12 12 11 12 12 10 12 10 10 12 11 11 11

POS. WR QB S CR CR S CR WR WR WR WR LB LB WR S QB CR CR RB WR S

2012 SEASON OUTLOOK

field every day, we’re expecting perfection. No matter what we do well, we can always do it better somehow.

Nothing will come easy. We still have to work hard to get to where we want to be.”

To that end, Koester will rely on the talents of second-year quarterback Stephon Masha, who has the ability to beat teams with his arm and his legs. Fortunately for Masha, four of his five offensive linemen return as well including seniors Daniel Boniface, Niles Hamilton, three-year starter Taylar Wilson and junior Justin Jones.

Wide receiver Jeremiah Alphabet, who was slated to start at wide receiver before breaking his leg last year during a scrimmage, also returns.

Defensively, there are question marks for the Eagles.

NO. PLAYER 25 KENNYTH BAKER 26 KAHLEEL SHAW 27 SAM LINDSEY 29 JERIMANI JOLLY 30 JEFFERY DANDRIDGE 31 DEMETRIK MCCLAIN 32 BRANDON WILCOX 34 DERRELL BASSETT 35 ALLEN GRIFFIN 36 ANTONIO DAVIS 38 MALIK DRAIN 40 CHAUNCEY INGRAM 41 JORDAN COLMAN 42 NIGEL CLARKE 43 TRAESEON WALKER 44 JONATHAN PRATHER 45 JUSTIN SURRY 46 TREVION HUGGINS 47 MONQUIZE WALKER 48 DARRIUS MCCAULEY 49 T YSHAWN MCCAULEY

2012 SCHEDULE

VS NORTH COBB OCT. 5

VS MCEACHERN OCT. 12

CL. 11 10 10 12 11 12 12 12 10 10 11 12 12 12 10 10 12 11 11 11 12

2012 ROSTER POS. S WR LB CB QB CB CR RB LB CB S RB LB DE LB RB LB WR LB LB LB

NO. PLAYER 51 CHARLES MARSHALL 54 JUSTIN JONES 55 ALLEN HAWTHORNE 56 NNACHETA NNYAGU 57 SHELBY RORIE 58 DANIEL BONIFACE 59 TAYLAR WILSON 60 GERRICK DE'LAY 61 CHRIS HALL 62 MICHAEL EJIKE 63 BRICE CONNER 64 COREY WILLIAMS 65 TARRANCE WELLS 68 GRABEN HIGGINS 69 TEVIN TICHENOR 70 ZAVIAN MCDANIEL 71 JACOB MONROE 72 HENRY WHITE 73 T YLER KENDALL 76 NILES HAMILTON

VS MARIETTA OCT. 26

AT HARRISON OCT. 19

keeping you

game

Behind a unit that gave up 25.3 points per game last season, the idea that his team returns only three starters on that side of the ball does weigh heavily on Koester’s mind. Time has been well spent during practices to determine which players will fill those roles throughout the season.

“Defense is a huge concern for us,” Koester said.

“Our coaching staff has addressed this over the spring and summer and figuring out who can help us. We have to replace a whole bunch, so we’ll probably have some kids that will go both ways this season.”

— By Carlton D. White cwhite@mdjonline.com

CL. 10 11 11 11 11 12 12 10 10 11 12 11 12 12 11 10 11 10 10 12

POS. DL OL LB OL DE OL OL OL DL OL DE DL DL LB OL OL OL OL OL OL

NO. PLAYER 77 MICHEAL EADDY JR 78 MATTHEW HOLLIS 80 KHALIL COLLINS 81 TARIS FELO 82 MIGUEL GALANO 83 DENZEL SCOTT 84 ALEX DEW 85 CHRIS BELIN 86 JEFF SYLVAIN 87 CHRIS STEWART 88 EMMANUEL DENNIS 89 CANY EDE-IFEOBU 90 OLADELE OSISAMI 91 CARLOS SALDANA 92 JUSTIN EMEAFOR 93 JAY JOHNSON 99 JASON EVANS JAVONTE HARDEMAN JASON EMENALO

AT HILLGROVE NOV. 2

CL. 12 10 10 10 10 12 12 10 12 10 10 10 11 10 11 10 10 10 10

POS. OL OL WR S WR WR WR WR WR DB WR WR LB K DL DE DT WR WR

AT PEBBLEBROOK NOV. 10

at the

top of your

Acworth 678.213.5717 Austell 770.944.3303 Canton 770.345.5717

Douglasville 770.949.8558 East Cobb 770.579.8558 Lost Mountain 770.218.8800

Marietta 770.427.5717 Paulding 770.445.5666 Woodstock 770.926.9112

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Page 69

SUNDAY, AUGUST 19, 2012

QUICK STUDY

KICKOFF 2012

PAGE 69

In two years, South Cobb’s Orphee Moumbock has learned English, the American way and football

By Carlton D. White

cwhite@mdjonline.com

Orphee Moumbock played soccer growing up in Cameroon in west central Africa. So, when he came to the United States with his family and settled in Austell in spring 2010, he picked up the game again as a member of the South Cobb soccer team.

With his skills as a soccer player, Moumbock made the varsity team as a sophomore. During a match that season, he scored a goal and celebrated by taking off his shirt. What ensued was one of many cultural differences Moumbock learned about America.

“He takes his shirt off and gets red-carded,” South Cobb defensive coordinator Alan Gordon said. “He didn’t know the rules that you can’t do that (in America). It was a cultural thing and we just think it’s funny. The coach explained to the referee that Orphee’s not from here, and he was able to stay in the game.”

However, taking his shirt off may have been the best thing for Moumbock. Football coaches in the stands noticed he had a strong build and solid physique. Later, Staff / Laura Moon boys soccer coach John Lackey South Cobb’s Orphee Moumbock had never played football before he suggested to the football coaching moved to the United States only two years ago, but this fall he will be try- staff that Moumbock join the ing to earn playing time at punter, running back and linebacker. team as a punter because of his

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THE MOUMBOCK FILE

5-foot-10, 185 pounds Came to the U.S. from Cameroon in 2010 Will see action at punter, running back and linebacker A member of the Eagles soccer team

great leg strength.

“He came and joined us as the punter and eventually also at linebackers,” Gordon said. “He came and practiced tackling drills sometimes, and we ended up putting him on our junior varsity so he could play in a few games.”

New to the game of football, Moumbock was taught how to punt as well as tackle. However, as the punter, he didn’t want to stand idly by and watch his teammates play.

“I wanted to play more, so I asked the coaches,” Moumbock said. “They decided to try me at outside linebacker and backup running back.”

Entering the 2012 season, Moumbock has a chance to start for the varsity.

Roughly 11 years ago, Moumbock’s father, Victor, moved to

the United States from Cameroon to try and make a better life for himself and his family. The idea was to make enough money to bring Moumbock, his brother, sister and mother to the States.

“Back in Africa, you might go to school and getting a job wasn’t easy,” Moumbock said. “(My father) wanted to improve things for us so he came here. I hadn’t seen my dad for 11 years until I moved here two years ago.”

Moumbock’s transition to America wasn’t easy.

“It was difficult to learn English,” he said. “I worked by myself a lot and tried to find people who spoke French like me. My (English as a second language) teacher, Coralee Baragane, helped me out a lot. After about two months, I started understanding what guys were saying during soccer practice and around school. I also read stuff a lot and watched television.”

Every day, Moumbock’s adjustment became easier, and his desire to be more involved with the football and soccer programs drew him closer to his teammates and to the game. Last season, Moumbock, who plays club soccer with Cobb FC over the summer, scored 13 goals in soccer

See Study, Page 81

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SPRAYBERRY YELLOW JACKETS KICKOFF 2012

PAGE 70

SUNDAY, AUGUST 19, 2012

LOCATION: 2525 SANDY PLAINS ROAD, MARIETTA. PHONE: 770-578-3200. HOME FIELD: JIM FRAZIER STADIUM. TEAM COLORS: BLACK, GOLD. ONLINE: SPRAYBERRYFOOTBALL.COM

COACHING STAFF

2011 RESULTS 5-6

HEAD COACH: BILLY SHACKELFORD AGE: 41 YEAR : 6 RECORD: 31-24 CAREER: 31-24

VARSITY COACHING STAFF HAL GRESHAM — OFF. LINE BILLY BLIZZARD — DEF. COORD. EMERY WILIAMS — LINEBACKERS JULIAN HICKS — LINEBACKERS CHESTER RANSOM — RECEIVERS JEFF HUTSON — OL/DL BRENT FULLWOOD — RB JOSH FOSTER — SPECIAL TEAMS CHRIS DAVIS — TIGHT ENDS

2011 LEADERS

HILLGROVE LASSITER KMHS N. PAULDING EAST PAULDING HIRAM POPE OSBORNE KELL CHAPEL HILL TUCKER

21-41 14-45 30-28 39-21 0-31 34-6 21-27 43-0 28-48 37-34 14-44

L L W W L W L W L W L

5-YEAR RECORD 30-25

RUSHING COREY COOPER 680 YDS, 2 TD CORBIN JACKSON 444 YDS, 9 TD PASSING JACOB CHESSER

1,239 YDS, 11 TD

RECEIVING TYE RICHARDSON 541 YDS, 6 TD TACKLES MYLES ATKINS T. BROWNRIDGE

SACKS T. MOORE/E. LAWSON

INTERCEPTIONS M. ATKINS/C. ALEXANDER

‘07

‘08

‘09

‘10

‘11

123 119 3 2

Sprayberry can make a case this season for being one of the most experienced teams in Region 7AAAAA, as returning eight starters would make for a solid pitch.

It’s the offensive side of the ball where would have to make the most changes.

Sprayberry, which had a young roster in 2011, exceeded expectations. After learning from early season losses to Hillgrove and Lassiter, the Yellow Jackets made a push in Region 5AAAA and found themselves back into the Class AAAA state playoffs for the fourth time in five years.

If the Yellow Jackets can find away to click by the time Region 7AAAAA begins, chances of returning to the postseason are high.

They will have to contend with a 7AAAAA (B) subregion of mostly Cobb teams — Kell, Pope, Osborne

NO. PLAYER 2 WILLY DORCIN 3 MILES WALLACE 5 SHANE KING 6 RODRIGO BLANKENSHIP 7 RAKEEM MYRICKS 8 SHANE YOUNG 9 TEVIN MOORE 12 SETH YOUNG 12 JONATHAN PALMER 13 HANK HARRIS 14 DARIAN HARRIS 15 PATRICK KENNEY 18 KEITH HAMPTON 19 MAYNARD KRAKUE 20 KEYON GREEN 21 SAM GRAFFAGNINO 22 TRAEJON HARRIS 23 TORREY RICHARDSON 24 DARRYL FAGAN

CL. POS. 12 DB/WR 12 WR 11 RB/LB 10 K 10 RB/LB 10 QB 12 DB/WR 12 TE 10 DB/WR 12 WR 11 DB/WR 10 LB/RB 11 DB/WR 11 LB 10 DB/RB 11 WR/DB 10 WR/DB 12 QB/LB 12 DB/WR

2012 SEASON OUTLOOK

— and Fulton County’s Riverwood.

All-region running back Corey Cooper is one of the emerging offensive players. The 5-foot-4 running back was the catalyst last season, finishing with 680 yards on 118 carries and scored two touchdowns.

Defensively, Sprayberry is in good shape at most positions, particularly at linebacker where the Yellow Jackets are returning Tevin Moore, Torrey Richardson and Antuan Johnson.

Three of their four starters in the secondary are projected to be back — Willy Dorcin, Darian Harris and Charles Cook — Eliot Lawson and Malik Young are expected to anchor the defensive line.

Sprayberry’s question marks are having to replace its quarterback duo of Jacob Chesser and Corbin Jackson, and a couple of spots on the offensive line.

NO. PLAYER 25 GABRIEL MOTT 26 RICKEY DOVER 27 CHIRS COLEMAN 28 ERIC WELLS 29 CHRIS BUTTERWORTH 30 GRIFFIN DOMINO 31 JHAMEL BURTON 31 BRANDON WOODS 32 ANTUAN JOHNSON 33 CHIRS USERY 34 DERRICK JOHNSON 35 SHAWN KEMP 36 J’SON WESTBY-BROWN 37 CHARLES COOK 39 CHAZZ DUDLEY 40 JORDAN EARLY 42 COREY COOPER 46 ERIC BISHOP 50 ELLIOT LAWSON

2012 SCHEDULE

2012 ROSTER

CL. POS. 10 RB/LB 11 DB 11 OLB 11 DB 10 FS 11 DB/TE 12 LB 10 DB/WR 12 LB/RB 10 WR/LB 11 RB/LB 10 DB 10 RB/LB 11 DB/TE 10 DB/WR 11 DB 12 RB 10 DB 12 OL/DL

NO. PLAYER 51 DARIUS BURTON 52 MALIK YOUNG 53 JOSH GIBSON 54 JOSE BARRERA 55 KYLE THOMAS 56 ZACK BOECK 57 NEKOLIH BRUTON 58 COLIN RAMEY 59 ZAYNE CHEEMA 60 JOSH DUNN 61 PAUL AJUKWARA 62 NATE KELSY 63 ALEX GROVER 64 REUBEN JACKSON 65 JACOB JOHN 66 TROY HATCH 67 JACK JORDAN 68 MICHAEL KRAJ 69 GABE POSEY

Shane Young and Hank Harris are the frontrunners to get reps at quarterback, with others pushing them for playing time.

Either way, the quarterback candidates have tough shoes to fill.

Up front, Kyle Thomas is expecting to be healthy after suffering a season-ending knee injury against Pope and should be 100 percent for region play. Skylar Shaw and Josh Gibson are also back up front after a few starts last year.

— By Adam Ca rrington acarrington@mdjonline.com

CL. 11 12 11 11 12 10 12 11 11 10 10 11 12 11 11 10 10 10 10

POS. OL/DL OL/DL OL/DL OL/DL OL/DL OL/DL OL/DL OL/DL OL/DL OL/DL OL/DL OL/DL OL/DL OL/DL OL/DL OL/DL OL/DL OL/DL OL/DL

NO. PLAYER 70 DANNY RIERA 71 BAILEY SHARP 72 JASON SIMMONS 73 JABARI ZUNIGA 74 NICK BICKFORD 75 NICK MORTENSEN 76 HAYDEN LANGSTON 77 FRANZLOU DAPHNIS 78 CHASE POPHAM 79 DANIEL TORRES 80 BRYCE PERRYMAN 81 JONTAE WILLIAMS 82 DALTON KESLER 83 KHYREE HARDY 84 T Y’KHEEM RICHARDSON 88 T YSON ROUTLIFFE 90 BRANDON ABERLE 92 TAYLOR GROVES 98 SAWYER PAGE

CL. POS. 11 OL/DL 10 OL/DL 10 OL/DL 10 OL/DL 10 OL/DL 11 OL/DL 10 OL/DL 12 OL/DL 10 OL/DL 10 OL/DL 10 DB/WR 10 WR 11 TE/WR 12 WR 10 QB/LB 10 DL 10 OL/DL 10 OL/DL 12 DB/K

TBA AT WHEELER AUG. 24

AT

KENNESAW MTN.

AUG. 31

VS LASSITER SEPT. 7

AT FORSYTH CEN. SEPT. 21

VS SEQUOYAH SEPT. 28

VS RIVERWOOD OCT. 12

AT POPE OCT. 18

VS KELL OCT. 26

AT OSBORNE NOV. 2

VS REGION PLAY-IN NOV. 9

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BRACING HIMSELF

SUNDAY, AUGUST 19, 2012

KICKOFF 2012

PAGE 71

A year after a knee injury, Sprayberry’s Kyle Thomas is ready to make his return

By Adam Carrington

acarrington@mdjonline.com

Sprayberry has had its share of misfortune on the offensive line over the past several years.

Senior offensive guard Kyle Thomas witnessed two of his fellow linemen suffer ACL injuries during his Sprayberry career. He knows what they sound like when someone goes down and the symptoms that follow.

Then it was his turn.

When Thomas tore his ACL and MCL in Sprayberry’s loss to Pope last October, he knew immediately that his season was over. He said something that felt like a “wet noodle” was flapping around in his knee.

“The (ACL tears) went from our right tackle to our right guard, decided to skip the center and hit me at left guard,” said the 6-foot, 300-pound Thomas. “I knew immediately when it happened. I just knew. You spend 365 days a year preparing for football, and then it’s done.”

He didn’t feel the pain at first because the adrenaline was still in effect.

But once the adrenaline wore off, he understood exactly what he was about to face. After a lengthy rehabilitation

THE THOMAS FILE

6-foot, 300 pounds Tore his ACL and MCL last October against Pope Will be switching from left guard to center in 2012 Hopes to be 100 percent by the time Region 7AAAAA play starts against Riverwood

process, Thomas, who is switching to center this season, is closing in on being 100-percent healthy.

He’s expected to be the centerpiece of Sprayberry’s line that’s returning two other starters and should be at full strength by the time Region 7AAAAA (B) play begins Oct. 12 at home against Riverwood.

“I’ve been able to get back into the weight room and back on the field, but it doesn’t come without its problems,” Thomas said. “It still hurts all the time, but I’m taking it day by day. It will be better. There have been times where I topped out and had to give it a break.

See Thomas, Page 86

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Sprayberry offensive lineman Kyle Thomas hopes to be fully recovered from an ACL and MCL tear in his left knee, that he suffered last year against Pope, by the time the Region 7AAAAA schedule starts for the Yellow Jackets this fall.

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16848784:

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WALKER WOLVERINES KICKOFF 2012

PAGE 72

SUNDAY, AUGUST 19, 2012

LOCATION: 700 COBB PARKWAY NORTH, MARIETTA. PHONE: 770-427-2689. HOME FIELD: ROBERTSON FIELD. TEAM COLORS: MAROON, GOLD. ONLINE: THEWALKERSCHOOL.ORG/ATHLETICS

COACHING STAFF

2011 RESULTS 3-7

HEAD COACH: JOHN EAST AGE: 59 YEAR : 1 RECORD: 0-0 CAREER: 45-45

VARSITY COACHING STAFF PAT HALL — ASST. HC/DC DAN MOORER — OFF. COORD. BAILEY WOODS — OFF. LINE IRA DAWSON — DEF. LINE JOHN CALKINS — RECEIVERS BILL MOORER — COACH JIM JANCIK — COACH RIHEEN JOHNSON — RB

2011 LEADERS

RUSHING EVAN KASIAN

WHITEFIELD ACAD. 13-38 CALVARY DAY 14-25 PACE ACADEMY 35-28 21-7 GORDON LEE 21-47 BOWDON 13-22 BREMEN TRION 14-21 MOUNT PARAN 22-25 DARLINGTON 12-52 MOUNT ZION 35-14

L L W W L L L L L W

5-YEAR RECORD 13-37

1,247 YDS, 13 TD

PASSING SAM YARBOROUGH 1,839 YDS, 12 TD RECEIVING GARRETT JOHNSON 462 YDS, 4 TD A.J. JENNINGS 444 YDS, 1 TD

TACKLES JOSH LAMMERT EVAN KASIAN SACKS MIKE RAMSAY

INTERCEPTIONS EVAN KASIAN

‘07

‘08

‘09

‘10

‘11

With a new coach and an infusion of promising talent, Walker will try to move forward in 2012.

John East, a former athletic director at Whitefield Academy, replaces Ben Williamson — who stepped aside after the 2011 season, but has remained at the school as an administrator.

While East has spent most of the previous few years coaching a number of other sports at Whitefield Academy as well as tending to his AD duties there, he has coached high school football in New Orleans as well as at the Lovett School in Atlanta.

East enters his first season at the Walker helm with one of the largest rosters the Wolverines have ever had.

A total of 54 players participated in spring practice

NO. PLAYER 1 CONNOR SUDDERTH 2 GRAHAM KNOX 3 GLENN STROTHER 4 EVAN KASIAN 5 CAMERON BLOEBAUM 6 YANIK DESAI 7 J T WOOD 8 JOE REICH 9 JOHNNY KNOX 10 PATRICK MCPHERSON 11 CHRISTOPHER GRAHAM 12 GAINES LAHUE 14 KEVIN BRAY

CL. POS. 10 QB/DB 9 WR/DB 10 WR/DB 12 RB/LB 11 QB/DB 11 WR/DB 10 RB/DB 10 WR/LB 12 WR/DB 12 RB/LB 12 WR/DB 11 WR/LB 11 WR/DB

2012 SEASON OUTLOOK

and East expected even more to join the team by the time fall practice began.

“We’re off to a strong start,” East said. “We had 54 players who participated in spring practice and we expect more to come out. We have some talented players coming out, so our expectations are very high.”

The Wolverines will be boosted on offense by the return of senior running back Evan Kasian, the team’s leading rusher a year ago with 1,247 yards and 13 touchdowns.

Walker looks solid at quarterback, with junior Cameron Bloebaum and sophomore James Pittinger sharing time behind center, while seniors Mitchell Boylan and Colin Mitchell will anchor the

NO. PLAYER 16 JAMES PITTINGER 18 KYLE REHL 20 PATICK LEAVELL 22 MATT WHEELER 23 ALEX REICHENBACH 24 MCCLAIN MCKINNEY 25 DAVID BABB 26 JUSTIN DELBROOK 28 ZACH FOX 29 AUSTIN WALKER 30 JACK JOHNSON 31 JACK KEAPPLER 32 BRADLEY MOORE

2012 ROSTER

CL. POS. 10 QB/DB 12 TE/DL 11 RB/LB 10 WR/DB 10 WR/DB 12 WR/DB 9 QB/DB 11 WR/LB 12 RB/LB 12 WR/DB 11 RB/DB 9 RB/LB 11 TE/LB

NO. PLAYER 34 CHARLIE MAXWELL 40 T YLER SUDDERTH 42 MITCHELL CARMACK 44 MICHAEL KNAUTZ 50 JAMES GRINDSTAFF 51 SAMMY SMITH 53 BEN KRAIESKI 55 JAKE SONSHEIN 59 MITCHELL BOYLAN 60 JAKE REINI 61 CLARK MILLER 65 ERIK WARNER 66 MICHAELBERK

offensive line.

Senior tight end William Wynn and senior wide receiver Zach Fox are among the most promising newcomers on the offensive side of the ball.

The defense will be led by senior outside linebacker Mike Ramsay, a Division I prospect who recently committed to Duke.

If the newcomers live up to their promise, Walker could improve on last year’s 3-7 record and possibly achieve a .500 record in 2012.

— By Greg Oshust goshust@mdjonline.com

CL. POS. 9 OL/LB 12 WR/DB 9 WR/DB 10 WR/DB 9 OL/DL 10 OL/DL 9 OL/DL 12 OL/DL 12 OL/LB 10 OL/LB 9 OL/LB 10 OL/DL 11 OL/DL

NO. PLAYER 67 KEL TIMBROOK 68 BEN SNAVELY 70 SPENCER HARDEN 71 SHERWAN SARAF 72 MIKE RAMSAY 75 JOSH REINI 76 COLIN MITCHELL 77 AVERY EIKOST 79 NICK WRIGHT 80 SLOAN COOLBROTH 81 WILLIAM WYNN 84 AUSTIN GIGNILLIAT 88 LUCAS CONNELL

CL. POS. 9 OL/DL 9 OL/DL 12 OL/DL 12 OL/DL 12 OL/DL 11 OL/DL 12 OL/DL 9 OL/DL 10 OL/DL 12 WR/DB 12 TE/DL 10 TE/DL 10 WR/DB

104 79 7.5 4

2012 SCHEDULE TBA VS TEMPLE AUG. 24

VS

NORTH COBB CHR.

SEPT. 7

AT SACA SEPT. 14

VS

MT. ZION-CARROLL

SEPT. 21

VS MOUNT PISGAH OCT. 5

AT FELLOWSHIP OCT. 12

VS

AT KING’S RIDGE OCT. 19

WHITEFIELD ACAD.

keeping you

OCT. 26

game

AT

MOUNT PARAN CHR.

NOV. 2

VS REGION PLAY-IN NOV. 9

at the

top of your

Acworth 678.213.5717 Austell 770.944.3303 Canton 770.345.5717

Douglasville 770.949.8558 East Cobb 770.579.8558 Lost Mountain 770.218.8800

Marietta 770.427.5717 Paulding 770.445.5666 Woodstock 770.926.9112

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SUNDAY, AUGUST 19, 2012

Walker’s Mike Ramsay is a 6-foot-3, 260 pound outside linebacker that led the Wolverines in sacks in 2011 with 7.5. His combination of size and speed is not the norm for schools in Class A and has proven to cause his opponents all kinds of problems. How big of a problem is Ramsay? Opponents will be able to find him on the field at Duke in the ACC next season.

KICKOFF 2012

PAGE 73

RAMSAY’S POTENT COMBO

Staff / Todd Hull

Walker’s defensive force has size and speed make him a challenge for offensive lineman

By Greg Oshust

goshust@mdjonline.com

Mike Ramsay was a solid member of the Walker defense in his first two seasons of high school football.

It was in the 2011 season that Ramsay stepped forward and emerged as a force on the defensive side for the Wolverines, earning him a Division I scholarship offer at Duke as a result.

Now, Ramsay is looking to

build on what he accomplished as a junior last year as the 6-foot-3, 260-pound senior outside linebacker enters his final high school campaign.

Ramsay, a four-year starter, will try to improve on an outstanding 2011 season in which he made 42 tackles, 12 sacks and two fumble recoveries, earning him firstteam All-Region 6A honors as a result.

“It was a great season for me last year, and this year I want to

do even better,” Ramsay said.

Ramsay certainly made his impact on defense for Walker in 2011. One of his best games came in the Wolverines’ narrow 25-22 loss to Mount Paran Christian, where he got two sacks in one series. He added a fumble recovery 75 yards for a touchdown in game later in the season.

He also made his mark on special teams, blocking three punts and three field goal attempts.

“Going into my junior year, I

was determined to have a big year,” Ramsay said. “Especially since I wanted to play college football, I knew I had to step it up and have a good year, and I did.”

Not only does Ramsay provide a lot of size and strength at 260 pounds, he recorded a time of 4.7 seconds in the 40-yard dash — giving him a potent combination of size and speed.

“He’s very quick for someone so big,” Walker coach John East See Combo, Page 80

THE RAMSAY FILE

6-foot-3, 260 pounds Recorded 7.5 sacks for the Wolverines in 2011 Earned a scholarship to Duke in the ACC As a member of the Walker track team, he finished fourth at state in the shot put

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KICKOFF 2012

Walton, Lassiter on New Region 4AAAAAA collision course again to be ultra-competitive

PAGE 74

By Adam Carrington acarrington@mdjonline.com

Coaches in Region 5AAAAAA know what Walton is capable of.

The reigning Class AAAAA state runner-up may be replacing nine defensive starters but they know better to not take that as a sign of rebuilding. The Raiders have a knack for replacing solid players.

While opponents may be capable of exploiting Walton’s younger defense, the Raiders still have two Alabama-bound players — tailback Tyren Jones and quarterback Parker McLeod — leading the backfield.

They also have Georgia-bound offensive lineman Brandon Kublanow helping with protection.

“Walton is favored to win until someone beats them,” Lassiter coach Jep Irwin said.

Lassiter is one of several teams in the hunt, with arguably the most experienced quarterback in the region. After helping Lassiter to the state semifinals, UCLA commitment Eddie Printz is back under center after leading Cobb County in passing, and he has at least two experienced targets.

Milton is renewing its region rivalry with the bigger east Cobb and Cherokee schools of 5AAAAAA and is expecting to be another contender following a playoff season in 2011.

Roswell is the other region newcomer, and many are expecting the 2006 co-state champions to turn it around after a winless season.

Meanwhile, Marietta has left to rejoin its west Cobb rivals in 4AAAAAA. “We traditionally have had great games with Roswell and Milton over the last seven to eight years,” Walton coach Rocky Hidalgo said. “Both teams will be more improved and will make our region tougher.”

Etowah, which has been a household playoff team as of late, will also throw itself into the ring with first-year coach Dave Svehla and its new I-Formation offense that’s a balance of pass and run. The Eagles return all five offensive linemen, with Reeves Johnson and John Oliver competing to start at quarterback.

“I’m still not familiar with the region yet but do know its reputation,” Svehla said.

“They are young and athletic teams that could be good for years to come.”

Defense should play a role in getting the Woodstock back into playoff contention after an injury-derailed season. Wheeler has been making strides under third-year coach Mike Collins after back-to-back winless seasons in 2008 and 2009. Cherokee plans to rebuild under first-year coach, and former Etowah assistant, Josh Shaw.

By Carlton D. White

cwhite@mdjonline.com

Staff / Jon-Michael Sullivan

After coming close in 2011, can Eddie Printz, right, lead Lassiter past Walton in 2012?

REGION 5AAAAAA BEST PLAYER Tyren Jones, RB

Rush 319

Walton

Yards Avg. TD 2,375 7.4 33

Jones has great field vision and can cut on a dime. All he needs is a crease and he is a threat to score on any play.

Committed to Alabama.

REGION 5AAAAAA BEST TEAM

Like Walton, Lassiter returns the main cogs of its offense for 2012. The difference may be on the other side of the ball, where the Raiders may have lost too much talent.

REGION 5AAAAAA PREDICTION

1. Lassiter Trojans 2. Walton Raiders 3. Milton Eagles 4. Etowah Eagles 5. Woodstock Wolverines 6. Wheeler Wildcats 7. Roswell Hornets 8. Cherokee Warriors

“Competitive” doesn’t even begin to describe the all-new Region 4AAAAAA. “Obviously, adding Marietta means it will be a dogfight,” McEachern coach Kyle Hockman said.

For what was arguably one of the most competitive regions in Georgia last year with four teams — North Cobb, South Cobb, Pebblebrook and Harrison — battling for two playoff spots right up to the final week of the regular season, the addition of Marietta following realignment has only made things more difficult for the remaining schools.

The Blue Devils went 6-6 last season with a playoff win and finished second in Region 5AAAAA. However, they are familiar with a few of their new foes, having faced Hillgrove, McEachern and South Cobb in non-region action in each of the past two seasons.

“If playing (them) is any indication of what this new region is like, then it will be tough for us,” Marietta coach Scott Burton said.

Marietta returns several members of its offense, including LSU commitment Anthony Jennings, to a program that could take advantage of the personnel losses facing other teams.

“It’s a challenge because it’s all new,” Burton said. “From what I understand, top to bottom, this region is stronger and more athletic, so we’ll have our work cut out for us.”

Hillgrove captured last year’s region championship with a 7-0 mark and won a postseason game to finish the season 11-1.

The Hawks return six players on defense and five on offense, including quarterback Elijah Ironside, but they also play a lot of players to give them experience and to keep others fresh.

“We go as deep as we can,” Hillgrove coach Phil Ironside said. “I think that helps us stay competitive, and we need that in a region like this.”

McEachern’s steady play over the past three seasons includes two region championships and a 30-5 overall record. The Indians bring back four starting offensive linemen to protect a new quarterback, but they return little on defense.

“We’ll see how good we are really quickly with games against Grayson and Walton right off the bat,” Hockman said.

South Cobb (8-4) has made back-toback state playoff appearances and won its first playoff game in school history last year. The Eagles bring back seven offen-

SUNDAY, AUGUST 19, 2012

REGION 4AAAAAA BEST PLAYER Anthony Jennings, QB Marietta

Com./Att. 165/273 Rush 160

Yards 2187 Yards 464

TD Int. 19 4 Avg. TD 2.9 8

Jennings has a great arm, good vision, and can maneuver in space. He’s a leader and does what’s necessary to win.

Committed to LSU.

REGION 4AAAAAA BEST TEAM

The Hawks have balance on offense and defense with the skill and depth at every position to maintain control of the region.

REGION 4AAAAAA PREDICTION

1. Hillgrove Hawks 2. Marietta Blue Devils 3. North Cobb Warriors 4. South Cobb Eagles 5. McEachern Indians 6. Harrison Hoyas 7. Pebblebrook Falcons 8. Campbell Spartans 9. Kennesaw Mountain Mustangs

sive starters, including quarterback Stephon Masha and four offensive linemen, but only three on defense.

North Cobb (5-6) won its final two regularseason games to earn the No. 4 playoff seed.

The Warriors have five players returning on offense, including quarterbacks Tyler Queen and Cam Albright and running back Quinten James, as well as six starters on defense.

Harrison (3-7) and Pebblebrook (4-6) were in the playoff race right down to the final week, and both squads will have new coaches — Harrison’s Marty Galbraith and Pebblebrook’s Tommy Macon — and new quarterbacks.

Second-year Campbell coach Harris Rainbow and first-year Kennesaw Mountain coach Andy Scott are also looking for better results.

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Allatoona to be put to Longhorns set the pace test in Region 5AAAAA in new Region 7AAAAA

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By John Bednarowski

By John Bednarowski

For the teams in Region 5AAAAA, every game will count this season.

With an 11-team region, there was no place on the schedule for non-region games to get a feel for how good a team could be.

Every team will have to be ready by Week 1.

With that being the case, there are three teams that are the likely favorites to earn playoff spots — East Paulding, Rome and Allatoona — with the other eight trying to sift through the schedule.

The Raiders (11-2) advanced to last year’s state quarterfinals in Class AAAA, and they did it with their best player being at less than 100 percent. Running back Kamani Jones, who ran for 1,900 yards as a sophomore, battled injuries in 2011 and was limited to 921 yards and 13 touchdowns.

Thomas is back to full strength and should be the No. 1 option for new East Paulding coach Chuck Goddard, who takes over for John Reid. Goddard spent his last five years as defensive coordinator at Walton.

Rome (7-4) made the playoffs from Region 7AAAA last season, but lost in the opening round to Heritage. The Wolves should return a strong team on both sides of the ball as they lose fewer than 10 starters.

Allatoona (12-1) is coming off the best season in school history, but the Buccaneers didn’t just move up a classification, they moved up two. Early in the season, the defense will likely carry the team while the offense figures out the best way to replace 2,000-yard rusher Miles Jones and the entire offensive line.

If those three teams qualify for the postseason, that could leave four teams fighting for the last spot.

Hiram was decimated by injuries last year and fell to 4-6, but it has the athletes that could turn the program around again. South Paulding and Villa Rica each finished with 6-4 records, but it is hard to determine if that was because of talent or a weak subregion.

The other candidate could be the surprise team. Woodland went 4-6 last season, but returns quarterback R.J. Williams, a dual-threat signal caller who threw for 264 yards and ran for 205 against South Forsyth last season.

For the year, he threw for 1,770 yards with 19 touchdown passes and ran for 683 yards.

North Paulding could be another surprise. The Wolfpack were 4-6 in the difficult side of Region 5AAAA last year that included East Paulding, Kell, Pope and Sprayberry. They have a new coach in former Kennesaw Mountain coach Scott Jones.

When looking at the two subregions of Region 7AAAAA, there is an immediate thought of it being the haves versus the have-nots.

Subregion B has three playoff teams from a year ago — Kell, Pope and Sprayberry — and only one team finished the regular season under .500.

Subregion A has zero playoff teams from a year ago, and only Creekview posted as much as a 5-5 record.

However, if the teams in subregion B, sleep on the Cherokee teams from subregion A, they could be in for a big surprise.

Hayden Hall will quarterback the Grizzlies for the second straight year and comes off a season where he threw for 1,294 yards and 10 touchdowns.

Creekview may be in the best position for a subregion A squad to win the overall region title as the Grizzlies lost only 12 seniors from last year’s team, which closed with four straight wins.

Creekview’s biggest measuring stick game will be when it hosts Kell on Sept. 21.

Defenses from the south will also have to find a way to slow down Sequoyah running back Blake Ingleton, who led the Chiefs with 1,235 yards and 11 touchdowns last year.

Both Creekview and Sequoyah should find themselves near or at the top of the subregion, because the other four teams — Forsyth Central, Northview, North Springs and first-year program Cambridge — won a combined five games in 2011.

There is little doubt that the team to beat in subregion B is Kell. Much of the Longhorns’ stifling defense returns, including a secondary that already boasts two Division I commitments — Brendan Langley and Quincy Mauger — from their five-man rotation.

The big question will be Pope. Coming off the best season in school history (10-2), the Greyhounds will have to find replacements for all-state players, quarterback Holland Frost and receiver Myles Everett.

Sprayberry returns leading rusher Corey Cooper, who earned all-region honors last year with nearly 700 yards rushing and five touchdowns. Both the Greyhounds and the Yellow Jackets will likely be fighting for the No. 2 spot be-

sportseditor@mdjonline.com

Staff / File photo

The Allatoona offense will turn to T.J. Herron to carry a big chunk of the load in 2012.

REGION 5AAAAA BEST PLAYER Kamani Thomas, RB East Paulding

Rush Yards Avg. TD 137 921 6.5 13

Thomas battled through injury last season. His breakthrough season was 2010 when he ran for more than 1,900 yards as a sophomore.

REGION 5AAAAA BEST TEAM

East Paulding was 10-2 last year and advanced to the Class AAAA quarterfinals in a significantly more difficult region than last year.

REGION 5AAAAA PREDICTION

1. East Paulding Raiders 2. Allatoona Buccaneers 3. Rome Wolves 4. Hiram Hornets 5. South Paulding Spartans 6. Woodland Wildcats 7. North Paulding Wolfpack 8. Villa Rica Wildcats 9. New Manchester Jaguars 10. Paulding Co. Patriots 11. Lithia Springs Lions

sportseditor@mdjonline.com

SUNDAY, AUGUST 19, 2012

REGION 7AAAAA BEST PLAYER Brendan Langley, DB Kell

Tackles Interceptions 6 59 (29 solo)

Langley flourished after moving to cornerback in 2011. In less than a year, he picked up 11 scholarship offers from SEC schools.

Committed to South Carolina.

REGION 7AAAAA BEST TEAM

Kell has the most talent of any team in Region 7AAAAA, and until someone proves it can beat them, the Longhorns are the best team.

REGION 7AAAAA PREDICTION

Subregion A 1. Creekview Grizzlies 2. Sequoyah Chiefs 3. Northview Titans 4. Forsyth Central Bulldogs 5. Cambridge Bears 6. North Springs Spartans Subregion B 1. Kell Longhorns 2. Sprayberry Yellow Jackets 3. Pope Greyhounds 4. Osborne Cardinals 5. Riverwood Raiders

hind Kell in the subregion.

The surprise team may be Osborne.

The Cardinals come off a 2-8 season, but one in which it was competitive.

Five of their losses were by 10 points or fewer, taking Pope to double overtime and dropping a game at Kell that came down to the final possession. The biggest question for Osborne will be, as always, depth.

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KICKOFF 2012

SUNDAY, AUGUST 19, 2012

River Ridge running back E.J. Ellis (2) will bechallenged by the defenses in Class AAAA.

R i ve r R i d g e r e a d y f o r move to Region 7AAAA

Staff / File photo

By Adam Carrington

acarrington@cherokeetribune.com

This time, it’s for real.

Third-year program River Ridge is playing a region football schedule for the first time in its school history as it joins Region 7AAAA (A) after spending the first two seasons growing up with a pair of non-region schedules.

The Knights took a big step last season with an impressive 8-2 record. With their first senior class in school history, they’re eager to carry that over into the 2012 campaign when games start to count.

“The biggest thing for us is getting our kids to understand that we have to play hard every week,” River Ridge coach Robert Braucht said. “There were some things we were able to do last year, but it won’t be the case this year. We have to minimize the mistakes and the biggest thing is adapting to the speed of the game.

“Our first senior class will help, but the team as a whole hasn’t been at this level of competition. That’s the negative thing we have going for us.”

River Ridge will enter a subregion that has a mixture of experienced programs and younger squads like itself, and teams that are currently rebuilding.

Cedartown appears to be the team to beat within the five-team subregion after going 8-3 a year ago and is returning rising junior Nick Chubb, who averaged close to 200 yards rushing as a sophomore.

River Ridge and Gilmer could be in the mix for the second spot in the subregion.

Pickens has a new coach after winning one game last season and Cass is attempting to rebound from a winless 2011 season.

River Ridge will also get a test from teams in the other subregion such as Ridgeland, LaFayette and Northwest Whitfield. The Knights will open the season playing Cherokee County neighbors Sequoyah and Creekview.

REGION 7AAAA BEST PLAYER Nick Chubb, RB Cedartown

Yards 1,574

TD 24

Nick Chubb had his breakthrough year as a sophomore in 2011 as he teamed with his brother, Zach Chubb, who rushed for more than 1,200 yards. This year Nick will be the first option all the time.

REGION 5AAAA BEST TEAM

Cedartown went 8-3 last year with a young football team.

This year, the Bulldogs should be ready to challenge for a Region 7AAAA championship.

REGION 7AAAA PREDICTION

Subregion A 1. Cedartown Bulldogs 2. Gilmer Bobcats 3. River Ridge Knights 4. Cass Colonels 5. Pickens Dragons Subregion B 1. Ridgeland Panthers 2. Dalton Catamounts 3. NW Whitfield Bruins 4. Heritage Generals 5. LaFayette Ramblers 6. SE Whitfield Raiders

Mount Paran Christian improves its chances win first region title

By Greg Oshust

goshust@mdjonline.com

Mount Paran Christian and Walker will be joined by fellow Cobb team Whitefield Academy in a newly reconfigured Region 6A this season.

North Cobb Christian is also technically a member of Region 6A, but the Eagles will be playing non-region football schedules for two more years.

Mount Paran (7-4) appears to be the team to beat in subregion B of Region 6A as the Eagles come off their first state playoff appearance in the program’s history.

Junior kicker Dallas Kepler, ranked as one of the top kickers of the class of 2014 in the nation, will be among the key players, along with senior quarterback Ian Berryman and senior quarterback/slotback Dennis Green.

Whitefield Academy (4-6) is also a contender for a state playoff spot, though the Wolfpack will feature a number of younger and less experienced players in its lineup.

Senior running back Richard Sherrell, Whitefield’s leading rusher last year with 754 yards, and senior offensive lineman/linebacker Brennan Saul are among the Wolfpack’s key players.

Hopes are also high at Walker (3-7, 2-5), which enters John East’s first season as coach with its deepest roster in years.

Junior Cameron Bloebaum and sophomore James Pittinger are expected to share time at quarterback for Walker, with junior tight end Gavin Crouch being another key player.

North Cobb Christian (1-9) will focus on rebuilding after losing nine seniors from last year’s team.

Sophomore running back Reggie Pruitt is expected to provide some explosiveness on offense, while senior quarterback Alex Ho-on and junior running back Daniel Galanos are among the other key players for the Eagles.

North Fulton teams King’s Ridge Christian, Mount Pisgah Christian and Fellowship Christian are also expected to battle for state playoff spots in subregion B.

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REGION 6A BEST PLAYER Brad Butler, QB Darlington

Yards 1,654

TD 17

The 6-foot-3, 204-pound Butler, a two-year starter, is a classic pocket passer who has a good delivery, makes quick decisions and is mobile outside the pocket. He is being recruited by a number of SEC schools.

REGION 6A BEST TEAM

Perennial power Darlington returns quarterback Brad Butler to lead a prolific offense that averaged 30 points a game last year.

REGION 6A PREDICTION

Subregion A 1. Darlington Tigers 2. Gordon Lee Trojans 3. Trion Bulldogs 4. Mount Zion Eagles 5. SACA Warriors 6. Christian Heritage Lions Subregion B 1. Mount Paran Eagles 2. King’s Ridge Tigers 3. Fellowship Paladins 4. Whitefield Wolfpack 5. Mount Pisgah Patriots 6. Walker Wolverines Darlington is the favorite in subregion A, with Gordon Lee and Trion the other top state playoff contenders.

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WALTON RAIDERS KICKOFF 2012

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SUNDAY, AUGUST 19, 2012

LOCATION: 1590 BILL MURDOCK ROAD, MARIETTA. PHONE: 770-578-3226. HOME FIELD: RAIDER VALLEY. TEAM COLORS: RED, WHITE, BLUE. ONLINE: RAIDERSFB.ORG

COACHING STAFF

2011 RESULTS 14-1

HEAD COACH: ROCKY HIDALGO AGE: 39 YEAR : 4 RECORD: 27-9 CAREER: 27-9

VARSITY COACHING STAFF TRIPP ALLEN — ASST. HC/OC CHRIS STEWART — DEF. COORD. SHANE AMOS — LINEBACKERS JOE GOYDISH — RECEIVERS JOHN EVANS — DEF. LINE JEFF IMPERIAL — DEF. LINE MIKE DAVIDSON — QBS/TE BILL BELLUS — RUNNING BACKS ROB NICHOLS — DEF. BACKS PATRICK KAY — LINEBACKERS PETE MURPHY — UTILITY ERIK KLEIN — KICKERS C. VAN ZELFDEN — LB/SP. TEAMS

2011 LEADERS

RUSHING TYREN JONES JIM HOGUE

PASSING PARKER MCLEOD

RECEIVING ZACK BLAYLOCK D. RICHARDSON TACKLES JUSTIN BROOKS

P’TREE RIDGE MILTON CAMPBELL ROSWELL ETOWAH LASSITER CHEROKEE WHEELER MARIETTA WOODSTOCK MILTON SOUTH COBB DACULA LASSITER GRAYSON

26-14 42-16 49-7 45-3 34-17 34-10 38-3 45-7 42-14 30-0 48-14 42-7 21-13 30-24 0-24

W W W W W W W W W W W W W W L

5-YEAR RECORD 48-13

2,375 YDS, 33 TD 257 YDS, 4 TD 1,355 YDS, 17 TD 428 YDS, 5 TD 324 YDS, 2 TD

SACKS BLAKE MONTZ

INTERCEPTIONS ZACK BLAYLOCK

VS BROOKWOOD AUG. 25

‘07

‘08

‘09

‘10

‘11

130 7 11

AT MCEACHERN AUG. 31

AT NORTH COBB SEPT. 14

Reigning state runners-up usually have a difficult time sliding under the radar the following season.

While Walton is returning most of its offensive players, including running back Tyren Jones and quarterback Parker McLeod, opposing defenses will be more polished with their game plans.

Still, Jones will be a force to be reckoned with, especially when he has senior lineman and Georgia commitment Brandon Kublanow leading the front line.

The Alabama-bound rusher totaled 2,375 yards and 33 rushing touchdowns a year ago and will still the key component of Walton’s run-first offense.

McLeod asserted himself as a solid game manager in his first season as Walton’s starting quarterback and will assume a similar role.

McLeod, also committed to Alabama, played his best in the postseason, and will likely throw the ball

NO. PLAYER 1 T YREN JONES 2 COLBY BILLINGS 3 T'QWAN ROBINSON 4 CHRISTIAN BURLOCK 5 JACKSON DONNELL 6 STONE ROMBERG 7 MAURICE GIBSON 8 BAILEY WOLFF 9 ZACH WILLIAMS 10 LUCAS ARNOLD 11 JORDAN CLAYTON 12 PARKER MCLEOD 13 HUTTON SPITLER 14 PRICE WILSON 15 JACK WHITTAKER 16 BLAKE MONTZ 17 JAMES WILLIAMS 18 MARCUS FRIAS 19 TAQUAR STEWART 20 JACOB MURPHY 21 DJ SMITH

VS WOODSTOCK SEPT. 21

CL. 12 12 12 12 11 12 11 10 11 11 10 12 11 11 11 12 12 10 10 11 11

POS. RB WR/DB WR/DB RB/DB WR DB/WR WR/DB WR/DB RB LB QB QB QB QB DB LB WR QB RB/DB DB RB/DB

2012 SEASON OUTLOOK

more this year with teams centered on Jones. He will have to find new targets with Zack Blaylock and Dakota Richardson having graduated.

Stone Romberg is returning after getting significant playing time in 2011.

“We have a lot of guys who haven’t played a lot of football on Friday night, but they are all good football players,” Walton coach Rocky Hidalgo said. “They’re just going to have to get out there and get their feet wet.”

Walton’s defense is its biggest concern with only three starters coming back from a unit that yielded just 11.5 points a game.

Not only has Walton lost eight starters, it’s also lost its defensive coordinator. Chuck Goddard left to become head coach at East Paulding and last year’s Sprayberry defensive backs coach Chris Stewart has replaced him.

The Raiders will have to replace twin defensive

NO. PLAYER 22 RYAN CRAIG 23 ROBERT MCCARTHY 24 BILLY MEREDITH 25 RYAN JOHNSON 26 JORDAN VORSTER 27 JAKE BURSTEIN 28 MAX ORSBORN 29 MASON HALY 30 HENRY ROWLING 31 CHAD CLAY 32 JUSTICE BAILEY 33 IMANI PARKER 34 DAVID SEWELL 35 DEREK HURT 36 MATT KENNEY 37 ZAC STARNS 38 RYAN LABAN 39 WILLIAM HOLT 40 THOMAS LYNCH 41 KYLE WHITAKER 42 DREYON WILLIAMS

2012 SCHEDULE

VS CHEROKEE SEPT. 28

AT LASSITER OCT. 5

2012 ROSTER

CL. POS. 12 WR 12 DB 12 DB/WR 12 LB/RB 11 LB/RB 10 DB/RB 10 DB 10 RB/LB 11 FB 9 WR/DB 12 RB/DB 10 RB/LB 11 DB/WR 10 RB 12 LB 10 RB/LB 11 DB 11 WR/DB 12 LB/RB 11 DL 11 LB/RB

NO. PLAYER 43 RIDGE GIBSON 45 BRANDON LIN 46 COLIN FANT 47 JORDAN DAVOUDPOUR 48 BRANDON LUCCI 49 NICK GOODWIN 50 JACK SHOEMAKER 52 NICK RANDOLPH 53 EDDIE DENNETT-SMITH 54 GRIFFIN WILKINSON 55 JOE COOK 56 ALEX SMITH 57 CHRIS WEBB 58 MICHAEL KRAEMER 59 LUKE HENDON 60 ANDREW MEAUX 61 ERIC SMITH 62 TIM MATTUS 63 MITCHELL PAIR 64 DAVID DAVIS 65 LOGAN BROWN

AT WHEELER OCT. 19

VS MILTON OCT. 26

backs Zack and Daron Blaylock, who are starting football careers at Kentucky. The Raiders also lost linemen Harrison Davis and Koty Allen, linebackers Jim Hogue and Dedric Sundby and Richardson in the secondary.

Walton will return two linemen in Blake Hogue and Sebastian Covelo, who combined for 56 tackles and 8.5 sacks last season.

D.J. Smith is the heir apparent in the secondary. He returns after finishing last season with 43 tackles and two interceptions. He has also drawing plenty of interest from Southeastern Conference recruiters.

Up-and-coming players are battling out for the remaining positions, but Colby Billings and Justice Bailey are showing promise in filling the Blaylock’s shoes.

— By Adam Ca rrington acarrington@mdjonline.com

CL. 11 10 11 11 12 11 11 12 10 12 12 11 11 11 12 12 10 11 11 10 12

POS. LB/RB RB/DL WR LB/TE RB LB OL OL/DL OL/DL OL/DL OL OL DL/OL OL/DL OL/DL OL/LB OL/LB C OL OL/DL OL

NO. PLAYER 66 SABASTIAN COVELO 67 MARCUS WILSON 68 JON FRANCE 69 MICHAEL PAIR 70 JESUS GONZALEZ 71 JACK SCHAEFER 73 JAKE BOYNTON 74 EVAN BERNARD 75 JACK HENRY 77 JORDAN DIAMOND 79 BRANDON KUBLANOW 80 BRAD GREEN 82 LUKE HOLLY 84 DYLAN WELCH 86 ABID LAKHANI 87 JORDAN TITSHAW 88 SETH-PATRICK HOLMAN 91 ANTHONY PRICE 94 TREY THOMPSON 95 CHRISTIAN BLACKSTOCK 97 TRENT WIRTZ

VS ETOWAH NOV. 2

CL. 12 11 10 11 11 12 12 10 10 11 12 12 11 11 10 10 11 12 12 9 12

AT ROSWELL NOV. 9

POS. OL/DL OL/DL OL/DL OL OL OL/DL OL/DL OL OL OL/DL OL/DL TE WR WR DL TE TE K OL/DL DL/TE K

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N EX T M AN I N LI NE

SUNDAY, AUGUST 19, 2012

KICKOFF 2012

PAGE 79

Walton looks to rebuild its stellar defense for 2012

By Adam Carrington

acarrington@mdjonline.com

Walton remembers 2010, when veteran safety Matt LaMontagne was the lone returning starter on defense.

The Raiders also had to deal with a rebuilding project in 2008.

Walton’s defense having to re-invent itself after graduation has become a recurring two-year cycle as of late, and the coaching staff is once again addressing the issue in 2012.

“We’re inexperienced but feel like we’ve had good players,” Walton coach Rocky Hidalgo said. “We feel like we have good players and they’re going to have to learn how to play on Friday night.

“The only way they will get that experience is to get them out there and play Aug. 14 in the Hillgrove scrimmage and we’ll move on from there. We feel like we have a good football team this year, a team that will compete for the region cham-

THE RAIDER ‘D’ FILE

Returning four starters from a defense that allowed only 11.5 points per game Junior D.J. Smith already has six Division I scholarship offers including four from the SEC Has new coordinator in former Sprayberry assistant Chris Stewart

pionships and get into the playoffs.”

The fact that LaMontagne was the only defensive player returning with significant varsity experience two years ago caused serious concern. Walton had to rely on previously unproven secondary players Zack and Staff / Laura Moon Daron Blaylock, Dedric Walton senior lineman Sebastian Covelo, left, and junior defensive back D.J. Smith are two of the four returning Sundby, defensive linemen starters charged with trying to keep the Raiders’ defense playing at a high level following last year’s run to the state See Next, Page 86 championship game at the Georgia Dome. Last year’s Walton defense allowed only 11.5 points per game.

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need to do to get better.”

Clonts came to Osborne from South Cobb as a sophomore. Lester joined him last year after moving into the area from southwest Chicago and showed the ability to make plays. He lined up in a three-point stance along the defensive line in spots in addition to his responsibilities as a linebacker during his first season at Osborne.

“Right away, we get bigger and stronger at the position with those two,” said linebackers coach Derek Russell. “Even though they didn’t get a great deal of playing time last year, they did get some, and now they have another year of knowledge of the scheme that we’re playing under.”

Together, the three seniors are tasked with managing an optimism around the program absent from years past as their coach continues to push expectations and change the community’s mindset about football.

At the mention of last season’s back-to-back one-possession losses to Pope and Kell, who went on to tie for the region’s best record, the wounded looks and competitive grimaces resurface even nine months later as the seniors rehash what might have been.

“We really shocked the state — nobody ex-

KICKOFF 2012

pected us to do that,” Clonts said. “It was really like a wake-up call to say, “If we put our mind to it, we can beat anybody.’ I think everybody is taking those close losses from last year and using them to motivate and get us a win this year.”

In the Cardinals’ 3-5 defense, the interior linebackers are supported by a pair of “ponies”, mobile safety/linebacker hybrids that are held responsible for both pass coverage and run-stopping duties. This flexibility often leaves McIntyre, Lester and Clonts with a slightly more focused task: Form a wall up the middle to help stop the run.

With that unified approach in mind, the linebackers have worked at all three interior positions this offseason in an effort to be as interchangeable as possible on a team constantly dealing with the challenges of a small roster.

“Week to week, what we’ll do is teach them every one of those positions so that they work more as one unit,” Russell said. “They’re all going to learn every position. It’s especially important here to have guys that can play everywhere.”

In their final year, the trio’s ability to adapt to its new prominent roles quickly could make the difference for a defense that demands strength and stability up the middle.

“We can’t let anything get past us,” Lester said. “If we’re strong with each other, I feel like we can hold the wall, and nobody can get through us.”

Mettle

Continued from Page 61

of a different moment from the same game.

“I think a receiver was coming across the middle on a mesh route, and he got by me,” Hatcher said. “I reached out and was just getting dragged. He ran through my arm and pulled it back, and that’s exactly what can’t happen. I was just being pulled by that one arm.”

With a brace to help get him through the rest of the season, Hatcher said he heard some form of encouragement from everyone on the team at one point or another. As a senior this year, he will take up the vocal responsibilities left behind by Maples in addition to his logistical responsibilities as an inside linebacker.

“I need to communicate more than just with the people in front of me, turning around and telling (the secondary) what’s going on,” he said.

With the three-year starter at both outside and inside linebacker, he can expect to have a captive audience.

SUNDAY, AUGUST 19, 2012

“He’s kind of like the field general with all that stuff,” Hart said. “If we make a mistake, he usually points it out and tells us how we can correct it.

He’s just a really strong leader as a whole, not just on the defense, on the whole team.”

Hatcher is one of many veteran standouts on coach Matt Kemper’s defense, which returns its entire front seven. Kemper understands how important avoiding injury is for his upperclassmen in the middle of the field.

“At Pope High School, we’re not going to have a ton of those (linebacker-type) kids, which creates some issues with depth,” Kemper said. “We’re like everybody else — we have to stay healthy.

That group needs to be very, very solid for us.”

Hatcher had surgery on the shoulder a few weeks after the season and was fully cleared for action after six months of rehab, but he has continued to build strength with resistance bands and other exercises to help prevent further injury.

And, in a worst-case scenario, he’s shown he has the heart to play through it.

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Continued from Page 67

history of working with football players and cheerleaders who participate. It’s quite possible to do both.”

LaSelva spent last year on the Chiefs’ junior varsity team as a defensive end but has also worked as a tight end in practice. The Chiefs graduated standout defensive ends Mitchell Smith and Malcolm Simpson from the 2011 unit that gave up just over 25 points per game, and LaSelva is one of several players competing in preseason practice to replace the duo’s production along a three-man line anchored by senior tackle Colin Dozier.

This summer, LaSelva has worn a knee brace to team workouts after partially tearing his MCL during the spring game, but he expects to be ready to go by the start of the season.

“He works hard, he knows his role and does his job the way we

ask him to,” coach James Teter said. “He’s a very intelligent student, so off the field he’s very good also. He does everything off the field you’re supposed to, and then he comes in and never takes a play off and does all the stuff you expect all of them to do.”

When football season ends, LaSelva faces a quick turnaround to prepare for wrestling season.

He plans to wrestle at 180 pounds this year after competing 10 pounds lighter in the 2011-12 season and has garnered the attention of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, a school he has personally targeted for its academics, for his talent on the mat.

And no matter what season it is, he takes honors and Advanced Placement classes that pile onto his workload.

Those months of practice and commitment will all pay off for LaSelva and the rest of the Chiefs if they hear the Sequoyah fight song after victories a little more often on Friday nights this fall.

Who says you can’t balance music and athletics?

KICKOFF 2012

Builder

Continued from Page 59

part and I was seeing what I could do. Just seeing someone that cares makes a difference. It makes the world peaceful instead of people robbing each other and murdering just to get what they want.”

But more than wanting to bring peace and goodwill toward his fellow man, much of his drive to be a peacemaker comes from his upbringing.

“I kind of grew up a softy,”

Study

Continued from Page 69

and led the state in scoring.

“I wanted to play more because I have speed and I felt they could use my help on the field,” Moumbock said. “I would watch the game and I liked the hitting and wanted to hit people, too.”

Moumbock, a 5-foot-10, 185-

PAGE 81

Simmons said. “I was always being the one bullied and having people there by me to help get tougher when I needed them. I just see a whole lot of people, I see those same (bullies) just making things worse for everyone else, leaving the school looking like a junkyard or not caring what the teacher says, being disruptive during class.”

Beyond Pebblebrook, Simmons aspires to be a police officer. While that profession can put someone in the line of fire, something Simmons’ mother certainly warns him about, it’s something he covets regardless.

“I respond to it like any other teenager would that plans on being a police officer or going to the military,” he said. “I say, ‘Mom, it’s just something that I have a passion for, something I believe in.’ She always tells me that police officers don’t even get paid much. I’m not doing it for the money. I’m doing it because somebody needs to. Somebody needs to stand against injustice. There will be people with me. I won’t be alone. That makes me determined to be the best police officer, the one that does the job right and has a great affect on his community.”

pound senior, will be battling for playing time at outside linebacker and backup running back this fall — in addition to his punting duties — before transitioning back to soccer for his final spring season at South Cobb. Aside from helping out the team, one of Moumbock’s goals is to get an athletic scholarship in either football or soccer.

“When you’re a punter, people don’t really watch you all that much,” Moumbock said. “I’m not

spending enough time on the field for college recruits to see me. My goal is to do well in both sports and get as many chances for college coaches to recruit me.”

In the process, Moumbock will be enjoying his final season of high school football after only learning the game last year.

“I’m excited because I’ll be a part of the team and helping out the team and my teammates and winning games,” he said.

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WHEELER WILDCATS KICKOFF 2012

PAGE 82

SUNDAY, AUGUST 19, 2012

LOCATION: 375 HOLT ROAD, MARIETTA. PHONE: 770-578-3266. HOME FIELD: CORKY KELL STADIUM. TEAM COLORS: NAVY BLUE, GOLD. ONLINE: WHEELERFOOTBALL.COM.

COACHING STAFF

2011 RESULTS 4-6

HEAD COACH: MIKE COLLINS AGE: 38 YEAR : 3 RECORD: 5-15 CAREER: 38-40

VARSITY COACHING STAFF DAVIS HARVEY — DEF. COORD. SHAKORR BRYANT — LB EDMUND COLEY — OFF. LINE CHRIS JONES — OFF. LINE JERRY MAHAN — DEF. BACKS GARY ROACH — DEF. LINE MICHAEL COLLINS SR. — RB FITZ JOHNSON — RECEIVERS

2011 LEADERS

RUSHING JAMAL BRYANT DE. JACKSON PASSING ELIJAH STALEY

POPE SOUTH COBB MEADOWCREEK CENTENNIAL MARIETTA WOODSTOCK ETOWAH LASSITER WALTON CHEROKEE

7-31 28-29 26-0 45-41 6-29 3-0 13-27 7-35 7-45 27-0

L L W W L W L L L W

5-YEAR RECORD 10-40

1,004 YDS, 6 TD 138 YDS, 0 TD 833 YDS, 4 TD

RECEIVING DOUG LIPSCOMB 363 YDS, 2 TD EMANUEL BEAL 277 YDS, 1 TD TACKLES SANTAVIOUS BRYANT SACKS TOMMY LONG

INTERCEPTIONS SANTAVIOUS BRYANT

VS SPRAYBERRY AUG. 24

‘07

‘08

‘09

‘11

‘10

102 13 2

AT POPE AUG. 31

AT

Wheeler coach Mike Collins would prefer that the rest of the region continues to treat his team like the squads that won a total of one game over three seasons from 2008-10 instead of the team that went 4-6 last year and showed flashes of successful Wildcat teams of generations past.

In the meantime, he’ll keep stressing the importance of managing expectations in the face of the newfound optimism surrounding his program.

“We raise the bar on a daily basis, and we try to zero in on being better today than you were yesterday,” Collins said. “That helps with giving them a short-term opportunity to have a higher expectation of themselves.”

Collins’ staff takes every opportunity to create competitive situations in practice for a team that, despite its improved record, was still taken to task by the top teams in the region for 20- and 30-point losses in the second

NO. PLAYER 1 EMANUEL BEAL 2 ALLEN ARTIS 3 JEVAN SAMPLER 4 KAHLEM LOONEY 5 ELYJAH MARROW 6 QUINCYE PRICE 7 DEVONTAE JACKSON 8 KYONTE MAXWELL 9 DAMETRIUS WEBB 10 RAHEEM PAYNE 11 JACOBI GREEN 12 ADRIAN MORRIS 13 BILLY POLAKOWSKI 14 ELIJAH STALEY 15 HARLAN HOWELL 16 JD BARRON 18 COREY BUNKLEY 19 ANTONIO WEST 20 BRINTELL COTHRAN

LANGSTON HUGHES

SEPT. 7

AT ETOWAH SEPT. 21

CL. 11 11 11 12 12 11 11 12 12 12 10 12 11 11 10 12 11 11 11

POS. WR DB LB RB DB LB DB RB LB WR RB DB WR QB WR K/P WR DB RB

NO. PLAYER 21 MALEEK CATHCHINGS 23 JAMIL COLEMAN 24 XAVIER WOMACK 25 JONAH RAUS 26 TABIUS PADGETT 27 RYLES KIRKLAND 28 VICTOR ALVES 29 JESUS CINTRON 31 JOHN GUINN 33 REGGIE JAMES 34 JESSE KEARSE 35 ELIJAH BROWN 36 DEVON JENKINS 37 BRICE MURRAY 38 MARCUS PRATT 40 AJ TOURAY 41 CJ BLACK 43 LUCAS MENDONCA 44 XAVIER MORTON

2012 SCHEDULE

VS MILTON SEPT. 28

2012 SEASON OUTLOOK

half of the season.

Wheeler is feeling confident about the talent it retained on a defense that posted three shutouts in 2011.

That defense is centered around a linebacking corps with two returning starters in Demetrius Webb and Jevan Sampler.

Quincye Price slides into the other inside linebacker slot alongside Webb after seeing a considerable amount of playing time in his sophomore season.

At 6-feet, 7 inches, junior quarterback Elijah Staley was thrown into a starting role last season with all of the physical tools and none of the experience, and the results were mixed. With sophomore receiver Kyonte Maxwell’s speed in the slot and the length of Emanuel Beal, the team’s leading returning receiver, on the outside, the Wildcats expect Staley to spread the ball around in an expanded offense.

“He’s still a little bit raw, but he’s had a good offsea-

VS AT ROSWELL OCT. 5

CL. 11 11 11 11 10 9 11 12 11 10 11 10 9 10 10 9 9 11 9

2012 ROSTER POS. LB DB DB DB RB QB K/P DB LB DB TE DB WR DB LB DB LB DL LB

NO. PLAYER 45 ISAIAH FICHTNER 46 ZZREAM HOLMES 47 DAVID BRASHEAR 48 JAMES JACKSON 51 SAAGE LEE 52 JULIAN JOHNSON 53 K.J. RAWLES 54 JOHN MENZIES 55 RASHAWN MCMATH 56 BRANDON WOOD 57 TOMMY FEAZELL 58 DEMARIO CHAPPELL 59 DOUG WINTERS 60 MICHEAL PINERO 70 K.C. SHAW 71 DARRYL PRICE 72 JULIUS TOLIVER 73 CLARENCE JACKSON 74 ROMAI KING

VS WALTON OCT. 19

AT LASSITER OCT. 26

son,” Collins said of his starting quarterback. “Most importantly, he’s displayed a lot of leadership qualities this offseason, so we’re real excited to see what type of year he’s going to have this year.”

Right guard K.C. Shaw is the leader of an offensive line that returns four starters from a 2011 season spent in transition, as injuries and shuffled roles challenged the unit’s continuity. How quickly first-year starter Andrew Inlow adjusts to his responsibilities at center will be paramount to an improved front in 2012.

Their region has not gotten any easier since last year, but the Wildcats have a load of returning contributors with no plans of regressing.

— By Eric Single MDJ Sports Writer

CL. 9 9 9 12 9 12 11 10 12 12 12 9 9 11 12 10 10 10 11

POS. RB LB LB LB DL DL OL LB OL OL OL DL OL OL OL OL OL OL OL

NO. PLAYER 75 ANDREW ENLOE 76 CHANCE CROSS-WOODS 77 DAVON HARRIS 78 DESHUNTE BENHAM 80 JARED KITCHENS 81 MARQUISE ARCENEAUX 82 STACEY LOVE 83 DEANDRE BEAL 84 ROBERT MCGRAW 85 JAMES LEE 86 DANNY PALMER 87 QUAN SIDWELL 90 KHALIL HINSON 91 JEREMIAH SANDERS 93 EDDIE SANDERS 94 VAL MARTIN 95 HALL CHRIS 96 JACOB LEVAN 97 RODERICK RILEY 98 FILIPEE SILVA

VS WOODSTOCK NOV. 2

CL. 12 9 10 12 11 11 10 9 10 10 9 9 11 9 12 9 9 11 12 9

AT CHEROKEE NOV. 9

POS. OL DL OL OL WR WR WR WR WR DB WR WR DL DL DL DL DL DL DL DL

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KICKOFF 2012

SUNDAY, AUGUST 19, 2012

Wheeler seniors Dametrius Webb, left, Kyonte Maxwell and K.C. Shaw saw improvement last year as the Wildcats won four games. This year the group is ready to lead Wheeler to its first winning season since 2006.

PAGE 83

MAKING CULTURE CHANGE

Staff / Jon-Michael Sullivan

After a 4-6 record last season, Wheeler seniors are ready to win again

By Eric Single

MDJ Sports Writer

When left guard K.C. Shaw was in sixth grade, his Wheeler junior football team went 10-1. His seventh-grade team went 13-0. His eighth-grade team went 12-1.

“We pretty much came out to every game thinking, ‘We shouldn’t lose this game,’” Shaw said. “It got to the point where it wasn’t, ‘Are we going to win this game?’ as much as, ‘How much are we going to win this game by?’”

And then he went to high school, where the varsity Wildcats followed up an 0-10 season in 2008 with another winless campaign in his freshman year. He started on the offensive line as a sophomore in 2010,

and Wheeler snapped a 23-game losing streak, but still finished 1-9.

“When we came to high school, we were losing every game, it was like nobody cared about winning,” said senior linebacker Dametrius Webb, who joined Shaw in the junior program in the seventh grade. “And you try to change the mentality, but it was kind of hard since everybody was so used to losing. Nobody really cared.”

Wheeler football’s descent in the region standings happened for many reasons, but the driving forces behind the program’s turnaround can be explained more concisely: The Wildcats have a group of seniors who believe in the program and intend to restore the sense of pride they enjoyed so often in middle school.

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Senior slot receiver Kyonte’ Maxwell moved into the district from Columbus as a sophomore and did not take long to notice the apathy that surrounded the team.

“When I first got here, everyone was like, ‘You’re playing football?’” Maxwell said. “They’d been going 0-10 for I don’t know how long, but I was going to stick it out. The first day of practice, I got out there, and there was so much talent. It just wasn’t used right.”

At a school with such a strong basketball tradition, the players know first-hand how much a winning culture can earn the respect of both student body and community. It

See Culture, Page 87

THE WILDCATS FILE

K.C. Shaw’s youth team record was 35-2 Shaw starts on the offensive line Shaw also is a member of the wrestling team Dametrius Webb starts at linebacker Webb is also a member of the lacrosse team Kyonte’ Maxwell starts at receiver Maxwell also runs track

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WHITEFIELD ACADEMY WOLFPACK KICKOFF 2012

SUNDAY, AUGUST 19, 2012

LOCATION: 1 WHITEFIELD DRIVE, MABLETON. PHONE: 678-305-3000. HOME FIELD: WHITEFIELD STADIUM. TEAM COLORS: NAVY BLUE, GOLD. ONLINE: WHITEFIELDACADEMY.COM.

COACHING STAFF

2011 RESULTS 4-6

WALKER PACE ACADEMY WILKINSON CO. SACA LANDMARK CHR. ELCA FIRST PRES. STRONG ROCK OUR LADY MOUNT PIGSAH

HEAD COACH: JIMMY FIELDS AGE: 47 YEAR : 6 RECORD: 29-26 CAREER: 37-40

VARSITY COACHING STAFF JOHN HUNTER—DEF. COORD. LESLIE SIMPSON — QB STEPHEN WRIGHT— ST/RB JAY COUEY — LINEBACKERS

38-13 7-25 10-17 22-0 10-34 6-61 10-28 27-10 0-45 30-9

W L L W L L L W L W

5-YEAR RECORD 29-26

2011 LEADERS

RUSHING RICHARD SHERRELL 754 YDS, 6 TD KHALEN PINKETT 337 YDS, 3 TD PASSING MAX KEMETHER RECEIVING JAY FIELDS JOHN ALAR

1,130 YDS, 7 TD 289 YDS, 0 TD 186 YDS, 2 TD

TACKLES JAY FIELDS

SACKS LORENZO CARTER INTERC EPTIONS MAX RIEVES

‘07

‘08

‘09

‘10

‘11

Whitefield Academy has questions to answer as it enters the 2012 season with a younger team after losing nine seniors from last year’s 4-6 squad.

The Wolfpack were hard hit on their offensive and defensive lines after losing a number of starters there, including three-time all-region standout Jacob Southerland, and faces uncertainty in the kicking game after the loss of Thomas East.

However, Whitefield does have several key experienced players in the skill positions.

Senior running back Richard Sherrell, Whitefield’s leading rusher last year with 754 yards, reNO. PLAYER 1 RICHARD SHERRELL 3 SKY DUPREE 4 MAX RIEVES 5 CARTER FIVEASH 6 ALEX MANNING 7 JAY DESHONG 8 MATT OLSEN 9 ZAC DIGIORGIO 10 MAX KEMETHER 11 JORDAN MCALPINE 12 MATT MILBURN

CL. POS. 12 RB/DB 10 QB/LB 12 TB/DB 12 WB/DB 11 TE/LB 10 WR/DE 10 WR/DE 12 WR/DB 12 QB/DB 12 TE/DE 12 WR/DB

2012 SEASON OUTLOOK

turns to boost the Wolfpack’s running attack.

The Wolfpack will also be solid at quarterback, where senior Max Kemether returns after completing 111 of 223 passes for 1,130 yards and seven touchdowns as a starter in 2011.

Senior center Everett Joiner is the lone returning starter on a young offensive line, where he will be joined by senior Hunter Holliday.

On defense, Whitefield will feature a strong linebacking corps, with seniors James Schultz (67 tackles) and Brennan Saul (48 tackles) leading the way.

Even with key seniors returning at the skill positions, Whitefield Academy coach Jimmy

NO. PLAYER 14 AARON CAUTHEN 15 EVERETT POLLARD 17 JORDAN GREER 20 KRIS MARTIN 21 RYAN WESLEY 22 BRADLEY DAVIDSON 26 J.B. JOHNSON 27 DAVID LEMASTERS 28 J.T. MORRIS 32 JACOB CROWE 33 JORDAN EDGE

2012 ROSTER

CL. POS. 9 QB/LB 11 QB/DE 9 QB/DB 12 WR/DB 10 RB/LB 10 TE/LB 11 WR/DB 11 WR/DB 9 WR/DB 12 K 9 RB/DB

NO. PLAYER 34 AJANI KERR 36 BEN BRANNEN 40 JAMES SCHULTZ 42 MATT EVANS 44 CAMERON JENKINS 50 CONNOR CAFFREY 51 LIAM VIRRIL 52 WILLIAM BELL 53 SAM PERLEY 54 EVERETT JOINER 55 MICHAEL HEBERT

Fields said how good the Wolfpack will ultimately be will depend on how quickly the younger players in the lineup, especially on the offensive and defensive lines, develop.

“The personnel is there,” Fields said. “I feel like that we have a potentially good group of seniors and juniors. But, right now, ‘potential’ is only a big word that starts with a ‘P.’ We’ll have to see how quickly our younger players develop. The potential is there, but right now, it’s only potential.”

— By Greg Oshust goshust@mdjonline.com

CL. POS. 9 WR/DB 12 RB/LB 12 RB/LB 9 WR/DB 9 RB/LB 9 OL/DL 10 OL/DE 10 OL/DL 12 OL/DL 12 OL/DL 10 OL/LB

NO. PLAYER 56 STEVEN LEMASTERS 58 JAKE GILBERT 64 ELLIS JONES 70 KEIRAN WITHARANA 72 JAYLEN HUDSON 74 HUNTER HOLLIDAY 76 BRENNAN SAUL 77 T Y MCLEMORE 80 TERRELL CARTER 88 WILL SCHULTZ

CL. POS. 12 OL/DL 9 OL/DL 12 OL/DL 12 OL/DL 11 OL/DL 12 OL/DL 12 OL/LB 9 OL/DL 9 TE/DL 9 WR/DB

109 6 4

2012 SCHEDULE TBA AT PACE ACADEMY AUG. 31

AT RIVERSIDE MIL. SEPT. 7

VS ST. FRANCIS SEPT. 14

VS GORDON LEE SEPT. 28

VS FELLOWSHIP OCT. 5

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We specialize in secure online sales of sporting goods and sports equipment for individuals, teams and schools.

132 Carruth Drive | Marietta, Georgia 30060

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AT MOUNT PARAN OCT. 12

VS MOUNT PISGAH OCT. 19

AT WALKER OCT. 26

VS KING’S RIDGE NOV. 2

VS REGION PLAY-IN NOV. 9

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KICKOFF 2012

SUNDAY, AUGUST 19, 2012

PAGE 85

Whitefield Academy’s leading rusher Richard Sherrell returns to star in the Wolfpack’s new triple-option offense.

After rushing for 754 yards in 2011, Sherrell’s goals for 2012 include a 1,000-yards rushing and 10 touchdowns.

Staff / Jon-Michael Sullivan

Dependable Richard Sherrell excited about Whitefield Academy’s new option offense THE SHERRELL FILE

5-foot-9, 175 pounds Rushed for 754 yards and five touchdowns in 2011 Sherrell was given the nickname “Roc” by his grandfather

By Greg Oshust

goshust@mdjonline.com

Whitefield Academy running back Richard Sherrell got his nickname “Roc” from his grandfather after surviving a difficult birth.

The nickname has proven to be a perfect fit for the 5-foot-9, 175pound senior, who proved to be solid as a rock for the Wolfpack last season.

Sherrell is expected to play a big role for Whitefield this season after a breakthrough 2011 campaign, in which he led the team in rushing with 754 yards and five touchdowns in his first year as a starter. He also had 164 receiving yards and 148 return yards.

“It was experience,” said Sherrell, who rushed for 350 yards and two touchdowns as a sophomore,

of his improvement. “It was also a lot of hard work in the weight room and working on my speed — that made a big difference.”

Sherrell had a number of games in which he rushed for more than 100 yards in 2011, running for 146 yards and two touchdowns in against Mount Pisgah Christian, 125 yards and the Wolfpack’s touchdown against Pace Academy, 120 yards and a score against

archrival Walker, 117 yards and a touchdown in a win over Strong Rock Christian and 110 yards in a 22-0 shutout of Southwest Atlanta Christian.

Sherrell is a relentless running back who has a knack for finding a hole in the defense to break through.

“I have good vision and the ability to cut and hit through

See Roc, Page 87

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Thomas

PAGE 86

Continued from Page 71

Other than that, I’ve been able to practice.”

Thomas held out until December to get surgery. In the meantime, he did pre-physical therapy prior to surgery to break up scar tissue so he could go straight to rebuilding muscle around the knee after the procedure.

Afterwards, he began his long road to recovery and is now seeing the results he wanted.

“Overcoming an injury nowadays is a whole lot better than it was years ago,” Sprayberry coach Billy Shackelford said. “It’s the advancement in medicine and the whole concept of arthroscopic surgery versus ‘Frankensteining’ the knee and cutting it open and all of that. Overcoming a knee injury is always a tough thing.”

Thomas’ road back from surgery began with getting the range of motion back in his knee. Physical therapy started with him tightening his quadriceps and holding it for 10 seconds at a time. Then he started doing heel slides to bend his knee and straighten it out again.

Thomas’ next step was rebuilding his strength, which started with leg extensions and leg curls. He also had to stand on his bad knee and throw balls at trampoline pitch backs. There was also the stationary bike — and the lunges.

“I did a lot of lunges,” Thomas said, “A lot of lunges. I hate lunges.”

He recently has been cleared to run, but he has to exercise caution.

Thomas is also at the stage where he’s learning to trust his knee again.

He said his first athletic activity was basketball and said he felt like he was playing hopscotch on the court because he didn’t want to put much weight on it. But Thomas said he’s overcome that initial fear.

“I can cut on it pretty well and I started playing two-hand touch football, and over time, I started to trust it a lot more. The only time I would get skittish is if I have to rip on somebody and have to plant that leg, and it starts to slip from underneath me. If it’s rainy and wet conditions, I consciously think about it.

“At this point, I’m working to get better than I ever was. It’s an obstacle and hurts from time to time. It takes its mental toll because I feel I’m never going to get there, but I’m going to do it.

“No questions asked.”

Next

Continued from Page 79

KICKOFF 2012

Allen and Harrison Davis, and linebackers Justin Brooks and Jim Hogue.

After this bunch helped steer Walton to the state playoffs in 2010, the same players anchored the defense that would lead Walton to its first trip to the state finals in 2011.

That bunch helped Walton’s defense yield 173 points in 15 games — an average of 11.5 points per game.

As opposed to the 2010, when they have more than one starter returning, this defense won’t be a complete rebuild. The Raiders have four starters coming back — linemen Sebastian Covelo and Blake Montz and defensive backs Justice Bailey and D.J. Smith.

Smith, a 6-foot, 180-pound junior, is the latest in a long line of potential blue-chip defensive prospects from Walton, as he has already received scholarship offers from Georgia, Florida, South Carolina and Vanderbilt of the

Combo

Continued from Page 73

said. “He’s 6-2, 260 pounds, so he can overpower an offensive lineman, but he also has a 40 time of 4.7 seconds, so his speed gives him an edge.”

Ramsay agrees with East’s assessment.

“I’m very quick for my size,” Ramsay said. “My combination of size and speed is my biggest strength.”

Ramsay’s performance on the field last year attracted the attention of a number of Division I programs, including Duke, Georgia State, Furman, Navy and Ohio University.

Center

Continued from Page 65

be broken down to the ability to snap the ball to both the quarterback and the punter as the team’s long snapper as well. After the snap, it’s his job to block and keep the opposition away from making plays in the backfield.

“He does a good job snapping the ball,” Braucht said. “He is our center and does a lot of our long snapping duties. It’s one of

Southeastern Conference, along with Michigan State and Nebraska of the Big Ten. “Our coaching staff has been here a long time,” Hidalgo said. “We’ve done this before.

This is not the first year we’ve had to do this.”

Walton has a new coordinator as well in former Sprayberry secondary coach Chris Stewart, who has been working on the Raiders defensive overhaul since spring practice. Stewart said he wants to maintain the same formula that’s worked in recent years under his predecessor Chuck Goddard, who is now the head coach at East Paulding.

Walton’s defense is known to be quick and aggressive, and Stewart’s not deviating. In fact, he’s been shifting players around to better ensure that quickness. In the defensive backfield, Bailey could play either cornerback or safety, and Robert McCarthy will factor in either position as well.

“My biggest thing is walking in and keeping the same consistency,” Stewart said.

“When you’re new, there might be a wrinkle or two, but for me, it’s about evaluating. You obviously can’t replace Zack (Blaylock) with

SUNDAY, AUGUST 19, 2012

just one person. We talked a lot about picking up from where we left off last year.”

And with the Blaylocks starting their football careers at Kentucky, Smith, who is expected to start at cornerback alongside Colby Billings, said he’s aware that the secondary may be a target for opposing teams. They would no longer have to fear Zack Blaylock, who had 11 interceptions last year.

“A lot of teams are going to try to pick on us,” said Smith, who wouldn’t mind building on his two interceptions last season. “We’re going to have to be ready.”

Montz and Covelo will be called upon to be the leaders up front after combining for 56 tackles and 8.5 sacks a year ago, and linebackers Ridge Gibson and Deron Williams continued to develop over the summer and are expected to be the replacements of Brooks and Hogue.

“It’s been hard work,” Covelo said. “We have to get used to regrouping and getting back together and going again like we did last year. We have to tell (the younger players) to be ready because it’s not going to be easy.”

At the end, it was a visit to Duke that pushed Ramsay in the direction of the Atlantic Coast Conference school.

“I’m so excited to be going to Duke,” Ramsay said. “When I went to their camp, I got a chance to talk with coach (David) Cutcliffe and I just got a great feel for the coaches there. I knew that Duke was where I wanted to be.”

East said that Ramsay has made a big impression among college coaches at the many camps he has attended.

“When college coaches see him at these camps, they fall in love with him,” East said. “He’s a great kid with a great work ethic and coaches recognize that.”

With his future in college football secured, Ramsay is not setting his sights on closing out his high school career at Walker with a big senior season.

In addition to attending camps at Duke, Georgia State, Wofford and Furman, Ramsay has been working harder than ever on his conditioning.

“Everything is going great,” Ramsay said. “I’ve been doing a lot of weight training and I’ve been running regularly, so I’m going to be in great shape for the season.”

In addition to his success on the gridiron, Ramsay also made an impact for Walker’s track and field last spring as he competed in that sport for the first time.

Ramsay’s track and field

debut was a successful one as he went on to finish fourth in the shot put in Class A at the state meet, throwing a school record 49-feet-7-inches.

“It was my first year in track, so to finish fourth in the state (in the shot put) was incredible,” Ramsay said. “I got off to kind of a rough start, but I worked on my technique and I got a lot better as the season went on.”

With a new coach in East and a number of promising newcomers joining the team, Ramsay is confident of a big year for Walker in his senior season.

“I’m very excited about the season,” Ramsay said. “Coach East is a very good coach and we got some good players coming in, so things are looking good for us.”

those things where, when you have a kid like him that has the ability to be in the orchestra, he has an exceptional ability to snap the ball. He also consistently keeps opposing players away from the quarterback and the running backs.”

But just as music is helpful to people in doing math, it can also help Gee in seeing things that other centers might not before the snap at the line of scrimmage on the gridiron as well.

“As a center, I pretty much see everything that goes on the

offensive line,” he said. “I see people walking up outside of the defensive line shift. If the other side of the line doesn’t see it, I have to relay the call to them. It’s like getting through different parts of music.”

And Gee is no stranger to that.

With River Ridge’s orchestra, he is a part of five to six concerts per year at the school, though he is tested most late in the year when he has to take a state-required test that includes a full concert before a panel of judges.

“They put music in front of

you that you have never seen before,” he said. “They let you look over it for two minutes, then they ask you to play it. The last time, it was really difficult. The orchestra overall did really (well), but I did really bad because the part we were given was one of the hardest parts that I’d ever seen. I haven’t seen it since.”

If his ability to make adjustments at the line of scrimmage is anything like his ability to adjust to sheet music, Gee will do just fine the next time he is put to the test.

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Culture

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SUNDAY, AUGUST 19, 2012

Continued from Page 83

may be hard to compete with a five-time state champion, but last season’s success loosened basketball’s vice grip on the school’s attention, if only temporarily. When the Wildcats won three out of four games last September, their next home game against Etowah was packed out in a style befitting Doug Lipscomb Gym. “When we saw the people at that game, it was exciting, but at the same time, we didn’t let it get to our heads, because they weren’t here when we were grinding it out, losing,” Shaw said.

Wheeler lost that game by two touchdowns and followed it up with demoralizing losses to Lassiter and Walton, two opponents starting transferred players who once starred for the Wheeler junior program, that deflated any and all playoff aspirations. The basketball Wildcats went on to win the region in the spring, and the foot-

ball team entered the summer with a renewed resolve to stay within themselves in order to get the results they want.

“We have to tune out everything else, in the hallways and outside of school,” Maxwell said.

“We’ve got this bond between ourselves where we don’t care about anything else, outside of school, at practice and in school.”

Shaw has been around longer than many of his fellow seniors and plans to seize the opportunity in his final year, once again surrounded by teammates who expect to win.

“He was with the exceptional group they had in middle school, he was able to watch the downside of Wheeler football,” Wildcats’ coach Mike Collins said of Shaw. “A lot of his teammates left him, and he’s got to play against them now. But, he’s one of the ones who showed our school and our community a lot of loyalty, and we’re just happy to see him bouncing around here leading our program. We really hope we can send him off on a positive note.”

KICKOFF 2012

Roc

Continued from Page 85

holes,” Sherrell said. “I always get positive yards, I never get thrown for a loss.”

Sherrell showed signs of things to come on the gridiron at birth, when he showed his toughness and resolve by successfully battling an illness — thus earning him the moniker ‘Roc’.

“When I was a baby, I was sick, but I got through it, and my granddad told my parents ‘that boy is tough as a rock,’ so I was known as ‘Roc’ after that,” Sherrell said.

Whitefield Academy coach Jimmy Fields can speak to the

hard work and dedication that Sherrell has put in and how he has been a ‘Roc’ for the Wolfpack.

“His nickname is fitting,” Fields said. “He is a kid who comes to work every day.

Whether it is the weight room in the offseason, his academic coursework or the practice field, Richard is like a rock — solid and dependable. It is his outstanding character that goes beyond the playing field or classroom that will reap true success for this young man. Bottom line is, players like Richard “Roc” Sherrell makes coach Fields look a whole lot smarter.”

Currently, Sherrell isn’t receiving any attention from colleges, though that will probably

PAGE 87

change if he picks up where he left off from last year’s successful season.

“I would like to play on the college level,” Sherrell said.

One thing that will help for Sherrell is Whitefield’s new triple-option offense, which he said is a perfect fit for his skills.

“I’m excited the most about our new triple-option offense,” Sherrell said. “I think I can do really well in it.”

Having gained nearly 800 yards last year, Sherrell has set his sights on ending his high school career with a 1,000-yard season.

“I would like to gain 1,000 yards rushing and score 10 touchdowns,” Sherrell said. “That would be my biggest personal goal for this season.”

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WOODSTOCK WOLVERINES KICKOFF 2012

PAGE 88

SUNDAY, AUGUST 19, 2012

LOCATION: 2012 TOWNE LAKE HILLS DRIVE, WOODSTOCK. PHONE: 770-592-3500. HOME FIELD: WOLVERINE DEN. TEAM COLORS: NAVY BLUE, CARDINAL RED, WHITE. ONLINE: ETEAMZ.COM/WOODSTOCKWOLVERINES.COM.

COACHING STAFF

2011 RESULTS 4-6

HEAD COACH: BRENT BUDDE AGE: 38 YEAR : 3 RECORD: 11-10 CAREER: 11-10

VARSITY COACHING STAFF ROY CLAYTON — OC/OL OZ PRICE — DC/LB TODD HARRIS — QUARTERBACKS JONATHAN THOMAS — RB CHANDLER WALL — RECEIVERS COREY NIX — DEFENSIVE LINE BRIAN DAMERON — DEF. BACKS SAM YOUNG — LINEBACKERS

2011 LEADERS

TACKLES TREY ALEXANDER SACKS JEBRAI REGAN TREY ALEXANDER

N. FORSYTH HARRISON KELL NEWNAN CHEROKEE WHEELER MARIETTA ETOWAH LASSITER WALTON

W W L W W L L L L L

5-YEAR RECORD 34-22

117 7 3

‘07

VS JOHNS CREEK AUG. 24

14-8 20-14 12-36 17-14 7-0 0-3 13-35 0-45 10-30 0-30

‘08

VS HARRISON AUG. 31

‘09

‘10

‘11

AT KELL SEPT. 7

Woodstock coach Brent Budde is taking a positive approach to the 2012 season in light of his team’s troubles over the latter half of last season.

The Wolverines were 4-1 and 1-0 in Region 5AAAAA when injuries struck their top two quarterbacks and the team went on a tailspin, dropping five straight to end the season at 4-6 and miss out on the playoffs for the first time since 2007.

“I believe everything happens for a reason,” Budde said. “We’re going to take all that we learned from last year to be a better team this year.”

For Budde, being better entails taking a renewed approach to how the Wolverines work during practice and throughout the offseason.

“Without those problems from last year, we probably wouldn’t have worked as hard in the offseason this

NO. PLAYER 2 CHRIS MOWERY 3 JARED BOLAK 4 JEAN BOEREAU 5 DYLAN HUTCHINSON 6 ALEX MOTSINGER 7 MAX KEETON 8 BRAD NURNBURG 9 REAGAN AMOS 10 JOSH KUZA 11 ADDISON BASS 12 JUSTIN AGNER 14 JONATHAN CHELENA 15 MIGUEL GOMEZ 16 ERIC CERVANTEZ 17 BRANDON HITCHCOCK 18 ETHAN WHEELER 19 LUKE EIFERT 20 DONAVON BRAND 21 ANDREW LENHART

AT WALTON SEPT. 21

CL. POS. 11 DB/WR 12 DB/WR 11 LB/RB 9 QB 11 QB 12 RB/DB 12 DB/WR 10 RB/DB 12 WR/RB 12 WR/TE 10 QB 11 DB/WR 12 K 12 K 9 DB/WR 11 LB/RB 9 DB/WR 10 LB/RB 11 LB/RB

2012 SEASON OUTLOOK

year,” he said. “I see those struggles as a positive. They made us re-evaulate what we’re doing and refocus. I thought we weren’t playing with more energy and tempo.

“So, we’re implementing more excitement at practice and a better focus. It was about attitude and energy level last season and we want to improve on that.

It wasn’t what we were doing, but how we were doing it.”

Woodstock wasn’t able to do much after losing senior quarterbacks Pryce Washington and Jonathan Wiener to injury.

Third-string quarterback Alex Motsinger didn’t finish the year either after suffering a concussion against Marietta, forcing the Wolverines to go farther down the depth chart.

NO. PLAYER 22 ERIC MONROE 23 LAROB TERRELL 24 NICK CABLE 25 CLAYTON STUBBLEFIELD 26 RAHSHAUN SIMS 27 SHARRONE GATES 28 A.J. SHABAZZ 29 JORDAN DONLEY 30 DEVON MARTIN 31 DANNY ARENAS 32 JELANI REGAN 33 SPENCER REED 34 COREY RODRIGUEZ 35 AL STONE 36 PEYTON ELLINGTON 38 CHRISTIAN BARNES 39 JOEY PURPURA 40 JACOB SCHOEB 42 ERIC VERSEY

2012 SCHEDULE

AT LASSITER SEPT. 28

VS CHEROKEE OCT. 5

2012 ROSTER

CL. POS. 10 DB/RB 12 DB/RB 11 LB/RB 9 DB/WR 9 DB/WR 10 RB/DB 9 RB/LB 10 LB/RB 10 DB/RB 9 DB/WR 10 DB/RB 10 WR/DB 9 DB/RB 9 LB/RB 9 DB/WR 11 DB/WR 10 LB/RB 10 LB/RB 9 LB/RB

NO. PLAYER 43 JOSEPH ARCURI 44 GARRETT KIEFER 45 BEN CARROLL 46 HUNTER JENSEN 47 TREY ALEXANDER 49 JONAH SCHOEB 50 DEVIN MCBRIDE 51 QUINTE SCOTT 52 TONY RICCI 53 LONDON DEMETRIO 54 CHRISTIAN HUNT 55 DANIEL BENETEZ 56 DANIEL PETERS 57 DUNCAN MORRIS 59 SEAN-MICHAEL BRAGG 60 JEFF DAVIS 61 ZACK BLANTON 62 BLAKE JACOBS 63 CHAZ DUNN

VS ROSWELL OCT. 19

VS ETOWAH OCT. 26

And because the offense was unable to stay on the field for long periods, the defense suffered, but it also allowed less experienced players to get more playing time.

“I think injuries on offense put our defense on the field a lot,” Budde said. “We were in games at halftime, but the team got worn down in the second half. I expect our defense to be back to being one of the best (this) year.”

Motsinger, a junior, returns to lead the run-oriented Woodstock offense, while sophomore Justin Agner is showing promise and pushing Motsinger for the starting quarterback role.

— By Carlton D. White cwhite@cherokeetribune.com

CL. 11 11 9 9 12 12 9 10 10 10 12 10 12 11 9 12 12 11 10

POS. DL DL RB/LB LB/RB LB/RB LB/TE OL/DL OL/DL LB/OL OL/DL OL/DL OL/DL OL/DL LB/OL LB/OL OL/DL OL/DL OL/DL OL/DL

NO. PLAYER 64 AUSTIN BIGGERS 65 FOSTER GREEN 66 DEVIN GILMARTIN 68 CHRIS MANCA 69 T YLER BAGGETT 70 ANDREW WOODYARD 71 WESLEY PELLA 72 DAVID SCHRECK 73 TRIPP STEPHENS 75 MATT JOHNSON 76 NOAH MANZELLA 78 JUSTIN GORDON 81 MILES DICKEY 82 COLIN TAYLOR 84 GARRET ATKINSON 85 JAKE HOOPER 86 WILL STUMPF 88 DAKOTA SAINE

AT WHEELER NOV. 2

CL. POS. 11 OL/DL 12 OL/DL 9 OL/DL 10 OL/DL 11 OL/DL 10 OL/DL 12 OL/DL 12 OL/DL 10 OL/DL 12 OL/DL 10 OL/DL 9 OL/DL 10 WR/DB 10 WR/DB 10 WR/DB 9 WR/DB 11 WR/TE 9 WR/DB

AT MILTON NOV. 9

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SUNDAY, AUGUST 19, 2012

Woodstock’s Christian Hunt played all over the field at North Cobb Christian during his freshman and sophomore years.

Now entering his senior season, Hunt is just trying to become the starter at defensive end for the Wolverines.

KICKOFF 2012

PAGE 89

BETTER TAKING IT EASY

Staff / Jon-Michael Sullivan

Woodstock’s Christian Hunt finds concentrating on one position is better than many

By Carlton D. White

cwhite@chrokeetribune.com

Christian Hunt doesn’t mind playing defensive end for Woodstock. In fact, he relishes it.

Considering what he had to do as a member of the North Cobb Christian program a few years ago before joining Woodstock, playing one position is easy.

“I played quarterback and defensive end at North Cobb Chris-

tian as a freshman and sophomore,” Hunt said. “When I played in middle school, I was a running back and played nearly everything on defense.

“I learned how to play quarterback my freshman year and started the last two games. I started at defensive end both years and was the starting quarterback as a sophomore. It was tough to go both ways at North Cobb Christian at first, but you get used to it after

keeping you

game

the fourth or fifth game. It was really about having mental toughness. It’s a lot easier now that I’m at Woodstock.”

Hunt, a 6-foot-2, 205-pound senior, lives in Woodstock, but his parents had him enrolled at North Cobb Christian before deciding to place him in the local public school to be closer to home and to his friends.

“I transferred into Woodstock halfway through my sophomore

at the

top of your

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year at North Cobb Christian,” Hunt said. “This will be my second season playing football (at Woodstock). I started three games last year at defensive end and I’m working hard to come in as the starter this season.”

A right-handed quarterback, Hunt ran the 40-yard dash in 4.7 seconds, and his size and athleticism proved to be a good fit when

See Easy, Page 90

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Continued from Page 89

he joined the Wolverines football team.

With three quarterbacks on the roster already, Woodstock coach Brent Budde saw a need to move Hunt to a position that wasn’t as loaded as quarterback. “(Hunt) has a great arm and can throw it,” Budde said.

“He’s also a smart and solid quarterback, but we already had quarterbacks in our system, so we needed to find something else for him to help us.”

That help came at defensive end, which was a position of need for Woodstock and a position Hunt played at North Cobb Christian.

“We had to move Christian to defensive end to help us,” Budde said. “We needed him there. We like to rotate guys in and out of there and he has the motor and the frame to play de-

fensive end. He has a strong work ethic and a bright future, I think, at the position.”

Hunt, who is receiving interest from 2013 startup program Stetson, Assumption, Davidson, Middle Tennessee State, Campbellsville (Ky.) and Carson-Newman, didn’t mind the move because he’s always enjoyed playing on that side of the football.

“I definitely prefer playing defensive end over quarterback,” he said. “Having played quarterback before, I know it’s a big position on defense where you can get in and pressure the quarterback.

“I like making tackles, and playing defensive end gives me a feeling like I’ve worked hard because I feel bruised and banged up when it’s over.

“There are times I miss playing quarterback, but I really love playing defense.

Woodstock has a big tradition on defense, and to be a part of it now is something I can’t describe.”

KICKOFF 2012

Games

Continued from Page 54

Region 5AAAAAA champion. n Sequoyah at Creekview, Oct. 5: The majority of Creekview’s population drew from Sequoyah so the bad blood was there right from the beginning. The Grizzlies have won three straight over the Chiefs, and judging by last seasons records of their subregion opponents, the winner could take the subregion title. n Sprayberr y at Pope, Oct. 18: Thursday night television pits the Yellow Jackets at the Greyhounds with Region 7AAAAA (B) implications on the line. It’s the only game that night in the area, so there are sure to be fireworks. n Fantastic Friday, Oct. 26: This night stands out from the rest: Kell at Sprayberry — Region

7AAAAA implications between two teams that made the playoffs last year.

Marietta at South Cobb — Marietta’s move to Region 4AAAAAA means a very good team could get left out of the playoffs. Playmaking quarterbacks Anthony Jennings of Marietta and Stephon Masha of South Cobb square off.

Milton at Walton — Walton gets to showcase to the nation what Cobb County football is all about with this nationally televised game which starts at 9 p.m., on ESPNU. Etowah at Woodstock — This Towne Lake rivalry is arguably one of the biggest in Cherokee County, because it usually has playoff implications associated with it.

This season should be no different, especially with the two teams meeting so late in the year. The Eagles hold a 7-5 edge in the series and have won two straight and four of the last five meetings.

SUNDAY, AUGUST 19, 2012

n Pope at Kell, Nov. 2: Kell won a

region title in 2010 and Pope took the crown last year. This is the final subegion contest for both teams before the Region 7AAAAA play-in game the following week. And, like their games against Sprayberry, subregion implications will be on the line in this one. n McEachern at Hillgrove, Nov. 9: A midseason game last year, this Powder Springs rivalry has justifiably become the regular season finale for both teams, and the Region 4AAAAAA title could very well be at stake. n Allatoona at East Paulding, Nov. 9: Separated by less than 8 miles, this new backyard rivalry could provide the winner of Region 5AAAAA. n South Cobb at Pebblebrook, Nov. 10: A Saturday afternoon contest to end the season against rival south Cobb schools in the same region. Good times.

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