High school football preview

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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 There 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.

Photo by Ken Langley Photography

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 Coming 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 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 Expect 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.

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 Holy 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

Head Coach: Alan Chadwick 2022 Schedule: 8/19 vs. Gainesville 8/27 @ Miami Norland (FL) 9/2 vs. Eagle’s Landing 9/9 @ Woodward Academy 9/16 vs. Blessed Trinity 9/30 vs. Dunwoody 10/14 vs. South Cobb 10/21 vs. North Atlanta 10/28 @ St. Pius X 11/4 @ Riverwood

Head Coach: Jamie Aull 2022 Schedule: 8/18 vs. North Forsyth 8/26 vs. Drew 9/02 @ New Manchester 9/09 vs. River Ridge 9/16 @ Wheeler 9/30 vs. St. Pius X 10/07 vs. Riverwood 10/21 @ Marist 10/28 @ South Cobb 11/04 @ Dunwoody Head Coach: Nick Bach 2022 Schedule: 8/20 vs. Holy Innocents (Neutral) 8/26 @ Westminster 9/02 @ Greater Atlanta Christian 9/09 vs. Lovett 9/16 @ Woodland, Stockbridge 9/30 vs. Hampton 10/07 vs. McDonough 10/20 @ Luella 10/28 vs. Stockbridge 11/03 @ Mount Zion, Jonesboro

Legendary Marist head coach Alan Chadwick returns for his 38th year at the helm of the War Eagles in the 2022 season. After losing a tightly contested game to Benedictine in the state quarterfinals and falling short of repeating as state champions, they look to rebound this year. Marist graduated their top two quarterbacks and top four leading rushers from last season and will be much younger with less experience. But that hasn’t stopped Chadwick from being successful in the past, and he could lean on DJ Mazzone as the new signal caller to go along with Eli Clarkson in the backfield. They also graduated their two leading pass catchers so this will be a very young group on offense. Joseph Patin, the War Eagles’ second leading tackler with 73 total tackles, returns as the anchor of the defense. Defensive lineman Spencer Camastro returns for his senior season after recording 32 tackles, seven tackles for loss, two sacks and six quarterback hurries last season. Walker Richens is also a playmaker on both sides of the ball. It will be a much different look for the War Eagles with their youth and climb from Class 4A to Class 6A this upcoming season, but coach Chadwick has the track record for Marist to maintain its status as one of the best programs in the state.

Head Coach: Wayne Dabbs 2022 Schedule: 8/19 @ Wesleyan 8/26 vs. Harvester Christian 9/2 @ Mount Paran Christian 9/16 vs. Tattnall Square 9/23 vs. Athens Academy 9/30 @ Elbert County 10/7 vs. Mount Zion, Carroll 10/21 @ Mount Pisgah Christian 10/28 vs. Whitefield Academy 11/4 vs. St. Francis Mount Vernon finished their 2021 season with a 7-5 record and an even 2-2 record in region play. Returning for his eighth season with the Mustangs, Head Coach Wayne Dabbs’ team will stay in Class A and move to Region-6A Division 1. Mount Vernon averaged 19.3 points per game a season ago, with two players awarded with All-State honorable mentions. Last year’s seniors, quarterback Luke Barnes and All-State linebacker Austin Taylor’s impact on the field will be missed as Mount Vernon will need returning players to step up their game. With only eleven attempts last season and the only other quarterback to get under center, Sam Nazarian will likely take the keys from Barnes after two straight winning seasons. Rising junior and All-State honorable mention Jonathan Gallinaro led the team in all major receiving categories with 46 receptions for 943 yards and ten touchdowns as just a sophomore. With a relatively young team, Mount Vernon will face off against Wesleyan as they look for a win in the season opener for the first time since 2017.

Photo courtesy of North Springs High School

North Springs High School

Head Coach: Jeff Phillips 2022 Schedule: 8/19 vs. Dunwoody 9/02 vs. Riverwood 9/09 vs. Martin Luther King (Neutral) 9/16 vs. Midtown 9/30 vs. Northview 10/07 vs. Chattahoochee 10/14 @ Greater Atlanta Christian 10/21 vs. Centennial 10/28 @ Kell 11/04 @ Cambridge North Springs looks to build on a one-win season a year ago in Head Coach Jeff Phillips’ second season on campus. The Spartan defense will have to make up for a huge loss as their leading tackler, Fred White, graduated this past spring. On the bright side, North Springs does have a large contingent of production returning, including dual threat starting quarterback Anthony Young. He led the team in passing and rushing yards, accounting for 1,220 total yards in 2021. For a team that hasn’t reached the playoffs since 2017 in former coach Scotty Parker’s first season, Phillips would love to get them there this year. The Spartans defense only allowed 123.5 passing yards per game a season ago and as aforementioned they bring back plenty of production. The offense needs to operate more efficiently after rushing for only 87.3 yards per game and should be able to do so after a full offseason under Phillips.

North Atlanta High School Pace Academy

Head Coach Jamie Aull returns for his third season at the helm of the Warriors program after improving by two wins (6-4) from his debut campaign. North Atlanta has seen a large shake-up in their region this year. Of the five teams in Region 4-6A last season, only North Atlanta remains. North Atlanta impressed early in the 2021 season and got off to a 4-0 start for the first time in program history. Region play was not nearly as kind as they dropped the first three games by a combined 134 points. The Warriors return most of their production on the offensive side of the ball yet must focus on progressing defensively after allowing 31.0 points per game over the last six games. Quarterback Lorenza Lennon returns for his senior season as the leading passer and rusher on the Warriors team. The two leading tacklers for North Atlanta also return as they look to bolster a stronger group on that side of the ball, and hopefully push the Warriors through to the playoffs for the first time since 2019. The Pace Academy Knights are coming off a solid 6-5 season, which saw them advance to the Class 2A playoffs, but lose in the first round. Gone is former Head Coach Chris Slade, who led the school to its first and only football state championship in 2015. New Head Coach Nick Bach inherits a Pace program with experience and nearly the entire offensive production returns, especially in the passing game. Now in Class 4A, Pace will get a chance to exact revenge on Westminster after a 10-point loss a season ago, and another opportunity to assert their dominance over the Lovett Lions. The player with the most buzz entering this season for Pace is Hevin Brown-Shuler. The No. 46 overall rated player in the country, according to 247Sports, is the No.5 defensive lineman in his respective class. At 6-foot-4, 290 pounds he can dominate offensive lines almost single-handedly.

Head Coach: Michael Young 2022 Schedule: 8/19 vs. Alexander 8/26 vs. Holy Innocents 9/02 @ North Springs 9/16 vs. Chamblee (Neutral) 9/23 vs. Westminster 9/30 vs. South Cobb 10/07 vs. North Atlanta (Neutral) 10/21 @ St. Pius X 10/28 vs. Dunwoody 11/04 vs. Marist Riverwood experienced a significant amount of turnover this offseason. Gone is former Head Coach Robert Edwards. Michael Young was promoted from his defensive coordinator role and enters his first season as a head coach. He takes over a team that went 9-2 last season and lost in the first round of the playoffs to Douglas County, 24-17. Prior to Riverwood, Young was an assistant at other schools in Georgia, including Collins Hill (where he played in high school), Carrollton and Milton. In 2021, Young oversaw a Raider defense that held opponents to 16 points per game. Riverwood lost a lot of production from that nine-win season. The biggest loss was quarterback Avery Smith, who signed to play at Toledo. Tight end Levi Linowes returns from a 36-catch, 730-yard campaign in 11 games played last season. The 6-foot-3, 210-pound Linowes earned All-Region recognition and recently picked up offers from Brown, Air Force and Army.

Head Coach: Chad Garrison 2022 Schedule: 8/19 vs. Dacula 8/26 @ Flowery Branch 9/02 @ Jefferson 9/09 @ Blessed Trinity 9/16 vs. Parkview 9/30 vs. North Atlanta (Neutral) 10/14 vs. Dunwoody 10/21 vs. Riverwood 10/28 vs. Marist 11/04 @ South Cobb Chad Garrison returns for his second season as the St. Pius X head coach after a 9-3 campaign ended with a heartbreaking one-score loss to Creekside in the second round of the Class 5A playoffs, 41-34. The Golden Lions lost senior quarterback Alex Possert, who also posed as their leading rusher for a team that operates a triple option scheme. The Lions moved up a classification and find themselves now in Region 4-6A with local Atlanta rival Marist. The only scheduled game that carries over from Garrison’s first season is rival Blessed Trinity in the Crossroads Classic. The Lions beat them and eight other teams en route to a 9-1 regular season and their second-consecutive Region 5-5A championship. They were perfect in region play, averaging 42.3 points per game, including two shutouts. Without Possert, the Lions will need other members to step up, more specifically a strong rusher with good decision making to run the classic offensive scheme. The most notable returnee for St. Pius X is three-star cornerback/athlete Jack Tchienchou.

The Lovett School

Head Coach: Mike Muschamp 2022 Schedule: 8/19 vs. Westminster 8/26 @ Greater Atlanta Christian 9/09 @ Pace Academy 9/16 vs. McDonough 9/23 vs. Fellowship Christian 9/30 @ Luella 10/07 vs. Stockbridge 10/21 @ Mount Zion, Jonesboro 10/28 @ Hampton 11/04 vs. Woodland, Stockbridge 11/4 vs. St. Francis Mike Muschamp returns for his 18th season as the head coach of the Lovett Lions after an 8-4 season, which ended with the Class 2A Coach of the Year award from the Atlanta Area Football Officials Association. Muschamp returns a host of players, including junior quarterback Preston Lusink, kicker Conner Deviney, and defensive lineman Christian Bell. Lusink fell just short of 100 completions last season, throwing for over 1,100 yards and 12 touchdowns along with 180 rushing yards and five touchdowns. Leading rusher Henry Stimmel and both leading receivers graduated, so Lovett will have a large amount of production to replace this season. The Lions will have to roar a bit louder as they are now in Class 4A, jumping two classifications. But, Muschamp has not missed the playoffs once in his career at Lovett, which includes a 2013 Class 2A state championship victory.

Wesleyan School

Head Coach: Franklin Pridgen 2022 Schedule: 8/19 vs. Mount Vernon 8/26 vs. Decatur 9/02 @ North Cobb Christian 9/09 @ Whitefield Academy 9/23 @ Gilmer 9/30 vs. Lumpkin County 10/07 @ White County 10/14 vs. Dawson County 10/28 vs. West Hall 11/04 @ Pickens Franklin Pridgen, head coach of the Wesleyan Wolves since 2006, returns for his 17th season. Wesleyan went 8-4 last season and reached the second round of the Class A-Private playoffs. Wesleyan now finds itself in Region 7-3A. The Wolves must replace senior quarterback Jett Miller, who threw for over 2,000 passing yards and 19 touchdowns. Fortunately, Wesleyan returns leading rusher Will Tucker and First-Team All-Region wide receiver Jamie Tremble. Tucker racked up a team-high seven touchdowns and 526 yards in just nine games, and Tremble stepped up as a sophomore and led with five touchdowns receptions and 620 yards off 44 catches. Leading tackler and linebacker Trent Debow heads into his senior season and will bolster a defense that held teams to 11.8 points per game in the regular season. The offense will need to produce more after getting shut-out twice in the last four games in 2021 and the big question is who will step up at quarterback this season. Wesleyan has reached the playoffs every year since 2014. In a new classification, Wesleyan will have to adapt to its competition to keep its playoff streak alive.

The Westminster Schools

Head Coach: Gerry Romberg 2022 Schedule: 8/19 @ Lovett 8/26 vs. Pace Academy 9/02 vs. Benedictine (Neutral) 9/16 vs. Centennial 9/23 @ Riverwood 9/30 vs. Holy Innocents 10/07 vs. Stephenson (Neutral) 10/14 vs. Hapeville Charter 10/28 vs. Southwest DeKalb 11/03 vs. Miller Grove (Neutral) Westminster looks to improve on a season in which the Wildcats finished 5-5 and missed the playoffs for the first time since 2006. Head coach Gerry Romberg returns for his 30th season after picking up his 220th win and climbing to sixth all-time in state history for most career wins by a head coach. The Wildcats lost two key pieces from their team a season ago, Holden Staes, who is off to Notre Dame, and Denton Shamburger, who accepted a preferred walk-on spot with the University of Georgia. Westminster is sure to reload its roster and brings in a familiar name in Jerome Bettis Jr. at wide receiver. For a team that scored 23.1 points per game and allowed 23.5 points per game, they will need help on both sides of the ball, and Bettis offers that. Westminster routinely produces highly sought-after kicking talent and Josh Brockman returns as the place kicker.

Woodward Academy

Head Coach: John Hunt 2022 Schedule 8/19 @ Trinity Christian, Sharpsburg 8/26 vs. McCallie (TN) (Neutral) 9/9 vs. Marist 9/16 vs. Morrow 9/23 @ Alcovy 9/30 @ Lovejoy 10/14 vs. Rockdale County 10/21 vs. Jonesboro 10/28 vs. Mundy’s Mill (Neutral) 11/3 @ Forest Park Coming off an 11-1 record, Head Coach John Hunt is entering his 12th season with the War Eagles after earning his sixth region championship. After two years in Region 3-5A, Woodward will move to Region 3-6A for the 2022 season. They finished last year with a second round exit in the playoffs after a loss to Blessed Trinity, 2813. With a total of 51 touchdowns on the season, they averaged 32 points per game. Woodward had three All-State players, two of which graduated and will take their talents to the SEC this upcoming season. Hunt will have the pleasure of coaching returning seniors A.J. Hoffler and Jalen Woods. Hoffler was named All-State as a defensive end in 2021 and recorded 47 tackles and a team-best nine sacks. Woodward should also expect to see a lot from quarterback Woods who threw for 1,294 yards, 13 touchdowns, and only one interception last season.