SPORTS
High School Football Preview Score Atlanta, founded in 2004 as a weekly sports paper, now produces television and digital broadcasts for partners such as the Atlanta Falcons, Atlanta United, Georgia High School Association, National Guard, and the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Score has the most-used app for state high school scores and operates events such as the Corky Kell Classic, the Great Atlanta Bash, the Drive for the GHSA State Title, and the Georgia Elite Classic. Score also started the inaugural Georgia High School Football Hall of Fame, which will have its first induction ceremony on Oct. 22. In partnership with Reporter Newspapers, these team previews were authored by Shane Bernstein, Hank Joseph, and Tzali Nislick, with Managing Editor Craig Sager II and General Manager Graham David.
Cross Keys High School Head Coach: John Bowen 2022 Schedule: 8/26
@ Community Christian
9/2
@ Flint River Academy
9/9
vs. Clarkston
9/16
vs. Heritage (Newnan)
9/22
vs. Midtown
10/6
vs. St. Mary’s Academy (CA)
10/14 @ Notre Dame Academy 10/27
vs. Notre Dame Academy
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Greater Atlanta Christian School Head Coach: Tim Hardy 2022 Schedule: 8/19
@ Meadowcreek
8/26
vs. Lovett
9/2
vs. Pace Academy
9/9
@ Decatur
9/23
@ Northview
9/30
vs. Cambridge
10/14 vs. North Springs 10/21
vs. Kell
10/28 @ Chattahoochee 11/4
@ Centennial
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oming off seven consecutive region championships and winning 12 games per season on average in that span, the Spartans went 4-7 in 2021. They scored the fewest points and allowed the most points in head coach Tim Hardy’s tenure. But with a rich tradition and great head coach in Hardy, they are poised to turn things around in 2022. Mekhi Blocker appears to be the starting quarterback as he enters his senior season having completed 63.3% of his passes last year. He also had 94 rushing yards and one rushing touchdown last season. Joining him in the backfield will be junior running back GL Tiberia. He was second on the team in rushing yards and averaged 7.3 yards per carry, flashing his game-breaking potential. On the defensive side of the ball, the Spartans will be led in the front seven by Bryce Izundu and Gold Chyrack Jr., who combined for 12 tackles for loss and 75 total tackles last season.
Holy Innocents’ Episcopal School Head Coach: Todd Winter 2022 Schedule: 8/20
vs. Pace Academy
8/26
@ Riverwood
9/2
@ Christ Church
9/9
@ Ensworth (TN)
9/16
vs. Douglass
9/30
@ Westminster
10/7
vs. Miller Grove
10/14 vs. Southwest DeKalb 10/28 vs. Stephenson 11/4
vs. Hapeville Charter
Photo by Ken Langley Photography
here is nowhere to go but up for the Cross Keys Indians in 2022. A bright spot on the defensive side of the ball is the return of junior Chris Bass Jr., who last season had 29 total tackles and 14.5 tackles for loss in only five games played. Junior defensive back Tommy Huynh is also expected to be one of the team’s key pieces. He registered 13 total tackles and one pass deflection last season. Other returning players on defense who are expected to be difference makers include David Quintero, Jason Joiner and Luis Hernandez. They combined for 5.5 tackles for loss and 36 tackles between the three of them. Hernandez is a versatile athlete who also punted at times last season. He totaled 183 yards in six punts, with his longest punt being 44 yards. Hernandez also averaged a team-best 12.4 yards per carry in 2021. Jonathan Rodriguez was a solid runner last year, rushing for 137 yards at 4.2 yards per carry to go along with a touchdown. Quarterback Thomas Eason was also effective with his legs in 2021, rushing for 163 yards at 5.1 yards per carry.
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Dunwoody High School Head Coach: Michael Nash 2022 Schedule: 8/19
@ North Springs
9/2
vs. Chamblee
9/9
vs. Druid Hills
9/16
@ Northview
9/23
vs. Lakeside, Atlanta
9/30
@ Marist
10/14 @ St. Pius X 10/21
vs. South Cobb
10/28 @ Riverwood 11/4
vs. North Atlanta
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xpect Dunwoody head coach Michael Nash to reimplement his traditional spread offense in 2022. Nash, who is entering his eighth season at Dunwoody, said that the Wildcats were required to run a conservative offensive system due to being thin on defense, while also playing against elite 7A programs that forced the Wildcats to play ball-control offense. But now in a new classification (Class 6A), Dunwoody will be more competitive. Nash also hired a new coaching staff, including new offensive and defensive coordinators. With quarterback Porter LeDoyen leading the offense as a senior, Nash expects the Wildcats to be much more improved on both sides of the ball. He’ll have returning senior wide receivers Jack Pankey and Jordan Wade for LeDoyen to throw to and the new spread scheme is designed to allow these athletes to shine. Nash said to expect junior Owen Painter to make the move from backup quarterback into a utility role. Defensively, Dunwoody will be led by returning junior defensive ends Luke Phillips and Luke Cole. These significant changes could result in coach Nash earning his first winning season at Dunwoody.
oly Innocents’ Head Coach Todd Winter has completely rejuvenated the football program. After failing to win the region since 2009, the Golden Bears won their first region championship in 10 years in 2019. They won again in 2021 and now will go for their third region title in four years. They will return a lot of their key offensive players, who averaged over 37 points per game last season, the most in program history. They did it with a dominant ground attack, led by rising senior Drew Bomar, who ran for 738 yards and nine touchdowns at a 10.0 yards per carry clip. The Golden Bears could air it out last season too, headlined by wide receiver Zach Jackson, who averaged 26.8 yards per reception in 2021. He and quarterback William Wright established a special connection, hooking up for eight of Wright’s 12 touchdown passes last year. The defense was lethal too, totaling seven defensive scores and holding opponents to single digits in nine of 13 games. Jackson flashed his playmaking ability, coming away with seven interceptions, while Jacobi Murray wreaked havoc in the front seven with six sacks and 14 tackles for loss. All these players are back for 2022 as Winter hopes to lead Holy Innocents to back-to-back region titles.
Photo by Debbie Reams
AUGUST 2022 | 13
