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4 | Football Preview 2022 TABLE OF CONTENTS FOOTBALL PREVIEW Letter from the Sports Editor ..........6 Index of Advertisers........................42 PREP PREVIEWS Alcovy ............................................. 8 Eastside .......................................... 12 Newton ........................................... 18 Social Circle .................................... 22 George Walton Academy ............... 32 Peachtree Academy ....................... 34 Piedmont Academy ........................ 36 NEXT MAN UP Newton 28 Eastside 29 Alcovy 30 Social Circle 31 COLLEGE PREVIEWS Georgia........................................... 38 Georgia Tech .................................. 40 which is published every Sunday and Wednesday by Newton Newspapers, Inc. Football Preview is an annual, special publication of Enjoy family time with no mess to stress. Call Today! 770-602-2900 • merrymaids.com Mail • P.O. Box 1249, Covington, GA 30015 Telephone • 770.787.6397 (NEWS) Anthony Banks PHOTOGRAPHER Lee Ann Avery CIRCULATIONlavery@covnews.comDIRECTOR Gabriel Stovall gstovall@covnews.comPUBLISHER Mason Wittner CORRESPONDENT Garrett Pitts CORRESPONDENT Cynthia Blackshear Warren ADVERTISING cbwarren@covnews.comDIRECTOR Patrick Graham pgraham@covnews.comOWNER Phillip B. Hubbard SPORTS phubbard@covnews.comEDITOR Trevyn Gray CORRESPONDENT
There is a saying that goes: Practice makes perfect. That is what each local football team has been hard at work doing this offsea son. haveSocialNewtonEastside,Alcovy,andCircleallbeen going full throttle participating in spring practic es, padded camps and summer workouts ahead of the 2022 season.Newplayers, coaches and re gions will be a common theme for all schools as they prepare for the different challenges the season will bring. Our team here at The Cov ington News has been busy this summer, too visiting practices, workouts and camps to learn each team in and all the new names and faces adorning each school’s roster and coaching staff. Whether it’s Kenai Grier becoming the new leader in Eastside’s running back group or DeMascio Bold en stepping in to lead Social Circle’s linebacking corps, new superstars have the potential to emerge and explode onto the local football scene. Of course, we’ve also includ ed content featuring our two private schools, Piedmont and Peachtree Academy. Our college football section features, for the first time ever, a story on the defending na tional champion Georgia Bull dogs. Included in our college football section, too, is a feature story on the Georgia Tech Yel low Jackets as they look to right the ship in 2022. Also, there is a special story discussing and highlighting the Newton Cup rivalry. Our team decided to throw this into our product as a way to include some history in this year’s magazine.Lastyear was the 200th birthday of Newton County, and this year is the 200th birthday of the city of Covington itself. With Newton, Eastside and Alcovy battling for the Newton Cup and for inter-county brag ging rights since 2006 — and Newton and Eastside’s rivalry stretches back to 2002 — we deemed it necessary to dedi cate an article to these historic rivalries.Our2022 Football Preview Magazine is jam-packed with amazing stories, photos and information that fans and local community members need to see before the 2022 football season kicks Personally,off.helping compile this content and reading our correspondents’ work taught me a lot. It is sure to be another amazing football season here in Newton County. I cannot wait to hit the ground running later this week as we start watching the action unfold.Tostay up to date with our amazing content through out this season, follow our social media platforms at @ CovNewsSports on Facebook and Twitter. Our Instagram is @cov_news_sports.Inthemeantime,I hope you enjoy this product that our team at The Covington News has worked so hard to deliver, and we’ll be sure to see you around under those Friday Night Lights.
handyfootballlearningazine.2022ingviews,haveTrevynPitts,Correspondentsout.GarrettMasonWittnerandGrayaswellasmyselfbeencompilinginter-takingphotosandcreatcontenttohelpproduceourFootballPreviewMagItisthefans’guidetoallabouttheirfavoriteteam.Thisguideshouldcomeinasyoukeeptrackof
Phillip B. Hubbard Sports Editor
The Covington News
LEtter From the Sports Editor
Practice Makes Perfect
6 | Football Preview 2022
2022 Newton Cup This year, all three schools will be playing each other again for the New tonOnCup.Aug. 26, Newton and Alcovy will renew its rivalry at 7:30 p.m. The following week, on Sept. 2, Eastside and Newton will face off while the 2022 edition of the Newton Cup rivalry will conclude on Sept. 9 with Alcovy and Eastside squaring off. The past five years, the Newton Cup has been captured by the Newton Rams. Will that streak continue or will Eastside or Alcovy rise up and claim the title?
NEWTON CUP Football Preview 2022 | 7
Newton vs. Alcovy NHS leads series 4-3 Now, this particular matchup isn’t as steeped in history as one might think. Even though the first meet-up between the two came on Sept. 8, 2006, there was an eight-year gap (2010-2017) where Newton and Alcovy didn’t play eachNevertheless,other. the rivalry matchup was actually owned by Alcovy early on. Newton bested Alcovy 19-14 in the series’ inaugural game, but Alcovy went on to win the next three games by scores of 23-0, 3-0 and 3-0. Following the eight-year hiatus, Newton started dominating the series by defeating the Tigers by a combined score of 99-3. The Rams’ biggest mar gin of victory came in 2019 when they shut out Alcovy 45-0. The two teams didn’t play in 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic causing a game cancellation.
Newton vs. Eastside NHS leads series 10-7-1 The first ever inter-county match up in Newton County took place on Sept. 13, 2002 between the Newton Rams and the Eastside Eagles. In fact, this game was a region matchup as both teams were members of Region 8-AAAA.Eastside won 14-7. After that, wins for each school seemed to come in threes. Newton enjoyed a three-game winning streak over Eastside from 2003-2005. But Eastside answered with a three-game winning streak of its own from Another2006-2008.three-game winning streak by Newton ran from 2009-2011, which featured the series’ closest margin of victory to date when the Rams won 10-3 in 2011. One year later, Eastside enjoyed its biggest margin of victory against a Newton squad when it downed the Rams 32-0. The Eagles also won in 2013.Inthe 2014 and 2015 seasons, the two teams didn’t battle on the gridiron. However, 2016 featured a close contest that produced the lone tie between any Newton County-based school.
The past two seasons have shown signs of Alcovy closing the gap between the two schools – especially when you consider the 2020 game which ended with Eastside winning 34-31 in one of the closest matchups in the series.
Football rivalry unlike any other
Newton 41, Eastside 41. Why did it end in a tie? Well, given that this was a non-region contest, Georgia High School Association guidelines allow for overtime in non-region football games to be optional. The catch is, both teams’ coaches have to agree to overtime. If one chooses against it, the game automatically ends in an end-of-regulation tie. But in 2017, the Rams left no doubt, dominating the Eagles 40-0. Eastside responded with payback in a 27-20 victory a year later. That was the Eagles’ last win over Newton as the Rams have owned the past three seasons winning by a com bined score of 90-21. Eastside vs. Alcovy EHS leads series 13-3
Facing each other for the first time on Oct. 27, 2006, the Eagles dominated the Tigers out of the gate winning the first three matchups by a combined score of Alcovy86-23.earned its first win in the series in 2009 by defeating the Eagles 3-0.The two teams then traded twogame winning streaks in the following fourEastsideyears. won over Alcovy in the 2010 and 2011 seasons while Alcovy tri umphed two years in a row from 2012 and 2013. In 2012, Alcovy celebrated its biggest margin of victory over the Eagles in a 24-10 triumph. Alcovy’s 20-10 win on Sept. 13, 2013, though, was its last in theEastsideseries. has enjoyed wins over Alcovy since 2014. The Eagles’ biggest win in the matchup came in 2015 when they downed the Tigers 41-0.
Since 2006, Newton County has had three high schools and, therefore, three football teams — Newton, East side and Alcovy — have battled on the gridiron and for the coveted Newton Cup as part of its round robin rivalry every football season. But a rivalry that has spanned across a decade and a half has seen many noteworthy moments, and it started at the very beginning.
By PHILLIP B. HUBBARD phubbard@covnews.com
Alcovy Forest WoodwardRockdaleMundy’sMorrowLovejoyJonesboroParkMillCountyAcademy Good Luck On A Great
Coming off a 2021 season where the Alcovy Tigers made history captur ing their first-ever region cham pionship, 2022’s forecast predicts an almost complete reset for the program.Almost all main contributors to the Tigers’ success a season ago have graduated or departed from the pro gram, including former head coach Jason Dukes who departed after last season for a defensive coaching role at Thomas County Central. That means many new faces will be roaming the sidelines and taking the field on Aug. 19 when Alcovy’s season commences with a matchup against Lithonia at Sharp Stadium. Nevertheless, new head coach Spencer Fortson, who was hired away in May from his previous post as Newton’s defensive coordinator, has full faith that he and his team are ready to make noise in 2022.
@ Jonesboro
(File | The Covington News)
“We’re going up against good competition this year being in a new region,” Fortson said. “And our guys are going to prepare Monday through Thursday to play on Friday. So, we want to be sure we bring our A-game on Fridays. Right now, it’s about executing plays that are called and just having fun.”
Woodward Acad.
8 | Football Preview 2022
Tigers preparing to step up to 2022 challenge
By PHILLIP B. HUBBARD phubbard@covnews.com
Though there will be many new faces surrounding Alcovy football, a few leaders have emerged from the pack who the Tigers will lean on this season.Itstarts with senior quarterback Ashton Evans. Throughout his Tiger career, Evans has shown consider able improvement. In his junior season, Evans threw for 1,781 yards and 13 touchdowns with four additional rushing scores. Evans’ season stats earned him Re gion 3-AAAAAA Offensive Player of the Year Braxtonhonors.Crawford, Alcovy’s spe cialist, will also enter his senior season. Crawford is the region’s reigning Kicker of the Year, too, going 4-for-4 on field goal attempts inTaylor2021.
Richardson is the third player specifically mentioned by Fortson. As an incoming junior safe ty, Fortson said Richardson has been a vocal leader to help motivate and Alcovy Tigers Schedule 08/19 vs. Lithonia 08/26 vs. Newton 09/09 vs. Eastside 09/17 vs. Mundy’s Mill 09/23 vs. 09/30 Morrow 10/07 vs. Lovejoy 10/21 vs. Forest Park 10/28 11/04 Rockdale 3-AAAAAA Football Alcovy will lean on many newcomers to con tribute to the Tigers’ success in 2022.
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Fortson has been hands-on with every phase of the Alcovy program, but his specialty is defense, which makes sense considering his previ ous role at Newton.
After graduating virtually its entire defense in May, Alcovy will look to set a new identity as “The Black Swarm.” Covington
While there, he labeled the Rams’ defense “Blue Swarm.” This year, Fortson said defensive coordina tor Jaquon Henderson — a former 4-star defensive back prospect at Newton who went on to play at Georgia Tech — has named Alcovy’s defensive unit, “Black Swarm.” “[Jaquon] tells the guys, ‘We’re going to swarm around the defense, surround the ball carrier and make it seem that we just black out every thing. It gets dark around their ball carriers every time.”
News)
Football Preview 2022 | 9 uplift his peers and teammates all offseason long.
“Those three guys stand out a lot from everybody,” Fortson said. “But we have other guys that we see growth in and who are going to develop into leaders. Those three guys there are who we’re looking to put the ball in their hands and task them with getting the team on one accord.”
Fortson stressed, though, that it has been a work in progress im plementing this defensive identity
that the Tigers are coming off one of its best seasons since the program’s inception in 2006. However, Fortson and Alcovy have not let that steal their focus away from this upcoming season and the success it couldAnd,bring.while the Tigers are still high on being the reigning region champions heading into this season, they don’t plan to rest on that. Instead, they’re full speed ahead toward keeping the program moving forward.
“The success Alcovy had last year was great,” Fortson said. “But we want to continue to build upon that. Our mindset is to come out and compete every Friday and leave everything on the line. We’re not so much about win ning certain games, we want to come out and compete every game. And then let’s put ourselves in a position to win every game.”
Ashton Evans (8) enters his senior season as the commander of the Tigers’ offense. He is coming off a junior campaign in which he earned Offensive Player of the Year honors. (File | The Covington News)
“We want to make sure they under stand the basics before we continue to build upon what we want to do defense wise,” Fortson said. “I trust the defen sive staff to get our defense attacking, be fundamentally sound and all hats to theIt’sball.”nosecret
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All offseason, the Tigers have been acclimating themselves to a new coaching staff, new players and a new system as they prepare for the season ahead. (File | The Covington News) during the offseason. But he’s begin ning to see more signs that his unit is grasping all the concepts.
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As Cawthon looks ahead with a new cast of playmakers, he says he’s sticking with the game plan that has allowed the Eagles’ offense to be suc cessful for many years.
Clarke Central Eastside Flowery Winder-BarrowLoganvilleJeffersonHeritage,BranchConyers
Coming off a strong 2021 cam paign, in which they advanced to the Sweet 16, the Eastside Eagles have their eyes set on another postseason push.Injust his first year as head coach, Jay Cawthon led the Eagles to an 8-4 record while going 5-2 in the region. Eastside received huge assists from a strong run game and defense that caused problems and mismatches for many teams last season. As it looks to repeat 2021’s success, the new year has brought along many changes for Eastside, starting with its move into a new building.
Eagles set sights on another postseason berth in 2022 the offseason, the Eagles have gone through a series of padded camps and workouts in hopes of a seventh straight apperance in the postseason.
The move allowed for Cawthon and the rest of the football program to get upgrades to their training facilities in preparation for the season.
Despite the loss of one of the best running backs in program history, there are still many options left on the table for the Eagles going into the next coupleQuarterbackyears.
EASTSIDE EAGLES Good Luck On A Great Football Season! Throughout
(File | The Covington News)
12 | Football Preview 2022
Dallas Johnson (3) is Eastside’s rushing leader returning from 2020’s squad.
REGION
By GARRETT PITTS
E’Sean Arnold will be at the offense’s controls. Arnold took over as the starting quarterback in the middle of the 2021 season and never turned back. Arnold threw for 680 yards and five touchdowns while completing 61% of his passes. He also tacked on 299 rushing yards and two 2022 Schedule 08/19 vs. Lithonia 08/26 vs. Newton 09/09 vs. Eastside 09/17 vs. Mundy’s Mill 09/23 vs. Woodward Acad. 09/30 @ Morrow 10/07 vs. Lovejoy 10/21 vs. Forest Park 10/28 @ Jonesboro 11/04 @ Rockdale 8-AAAAA
Correspondent
“It is a bigger space to help with the volume of kids that we have. We have easy access to a field across the street for us to do our agility [work],” Caw thonOnesaid.ofthe biggest departures for the Eagles was star running back Dallas Johnson who set the school rushing record during his final season after running for 1,809 yards and 22 touchdowns in 2021.
“We are going to be a running back by committee like we always have been,” Cawthon said. “I feel good about our running backs. We have three or four guys who can go. We have Kenai [Grier] back. We have Jayden Barr who is a sophomore who started as a safety as a freshman. [Barr] was able to get touches last year. [We have] DJ Henderson who transferred from Newton, and he has fit in quite well.”
As most of the defensive players for the Eagles are set to return for the new season, they did lose one of their top defensive linemen in Jalen Farmer, Jean Claude Joseph III (44) will be the leader in 2022 for the Eagles’ defense from his linebacker position. Covington
“I think we will be able to open it up more from a passing standpoint,” Cawthon said. “Last year we had Dallas back there and we were really good up front. As the season went on, we did open [the playbook] up more. I think we are going to be able to throw it aroundAnothermore.”big loss for the Eagles on the offensive side of the ball comes in the trenches, as they said goodbye to four of their five starters on the offensive line from last season.
As Arnold has had the chance to gain more reps within the offense, Cawthon is looking to expand the playbook to see what the offense is capable of on the ground as well as in the pass game.
Football Preview 2022 | 13 scores on the ground while averaging eight yards per carry and tallied 27 tackles and three pass breakups as a defensive back.
“Our big thing is that we lost four offensive linemen, so that is the big focal point for us,” Cawthon said. “We will get better as we go along. They have been working, I feel good about our skill [position players].”
“One thing I noticed [from E’Sean] even in the spring practices was the maturity and confidence,” Cawthon said. “He knows he is the guy. He is the guy on defense too. He does not come off the field. He leads by example and our kids play hard for him.”
News)
(File | The
Jean Claude Joseph III does a heck of a job for us,” Cawthon said. “We do not have one real leader; we have a group who plays hard and knows how to practice. We love our guys because they know how to practice, and they want to get better.”
The Eagles are once again in Region 8-AAAAA, but they will see some new faces as they will have unfamiliar matchups, particularly on its non-re gion slate, against Luella, Ola, Flowery Branch and Jefferson.
“I feel like I am more confident, just like the players,” Cawthon said. “I am learning every day. Luckily, I have a great staff that helps me out. Our main thing is building these relationships with the kids.”
Jay Cawthon is coming into his second year as the head coach of the Eastside Eagles following numerous years as an Eagles assistant and offen sive coordinator.
14 | Football Preview 2022 wheelerfuneralhome.com | 770-786-7111
Going into his second year, Cawthon has high aspirations for a team he feels has a legitimate shot at making a deep playoff run.
The Eagles’ season kicks off Friday, Aug. 19 when they travel to face Luella at 7:30 p.m.
(File | The Covington News)
Wilson Mathews, Agent Wilson Mathews.qxp_Layout
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who signed with the University of Flor ida after his senior season. “We got nine starters back [on the defense], they all have a lot of playing time.
Football Preview 2022 | 15 The primary focus for Eastside this summer has been developing offensive line talent to assist its rushing attack. (File | The Covington News) PASTOR: Anthony Ayala - CO-PASTOR: Sherryann Ayala - (770) 899-7983 ROCKDALE FAMILY PRACTICE, PC 2020 Honey Creek Pkwy. SE • Conyers, GA 30013 770-929-0813 • www.rockdalefamilypractice.com PROVIDING COMPREHENSIVE CARE FOR YOUR FAMILIES FOR OVER 30 YEARS! ROCKDALE FAMILY PRACTICE, PC 2020 Honey Creek Pkwy. SE • Conyers, GA 30013 770-929-0813 • www.rockdalefamilypractice.com PROVIDING COMPREHENSIVE CARE FOR YOUR FAMILIES FOR OVER 30 YEARS!
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Football Preview 2022 | 17
After missing the postseason for the first time since 2011, Newton is aiming to make a return trip to the state play offs this fall.
Grayson
18 | Football Preview 2022
@ Westlake
Rams’
“Overall, I think it was a good build ing block for where we’re trying to go,” Grant said of last season. “I think we’ll look back on that down the line and be able to point to that as a spot where we vs. Hapeville 08/26 vs. Alcovy 09/02 vs. 09/09 @ McEachern 09/16 09/30 vs. 10/14 @ MPCHS 10/21 10/28 Gwinnett vs. 4-AAAAAAA the departure of Spencer Fortson, Josh Skelton was promoted this summer to be the defensive coordinator.
2022 Schedule 08/18
As Grant suggested, looking at Newton’s 2021 season on paper can be misleading.Sure,theRams won just four games, matching the total for their losing streak to close the year. But despite their final record they were outscored 151-146, a better mark than the 2020 squad that reached the playoffs in spite of a 207-114 point differential in favor of its opponents.
@ Parkview
“In all of those ballgames that were one-score games, we had the ball in the final possession with an opportunity to either go ahead or tie,” Newton head coach Camiel Grant noted. “So the record doesn’t quite show how com petitive we were.”
Archer Region
Eastside
11/04
@ South
GraysonBrookwoodArcher Newton SouthParkviewGwinnett Rams poised to bounce back in 2022 NEWTON RAMS Good Luck On A Great Football Season! Following
(File | The Covington News)
The Rams looked impressive early on last year. They survived a season-open ing overtime battle with LangstonHughes, followed by convincing wins over Eastside and McEachern. Even when faced with adversity in the form of a narrow loss to Houston County, they bounced back the following week by knocking off Parkview to open region play.
By MASON WITTNER Correspondent
On Oct. 3, Newton sat at 4-1 and 1-0 in Region 4. Upsetting the Panthers — and playing in a region which featured just five teams — meant the team had earned complete control of its playoff destiny. But the Rams were unable to scratch the win column for the remain der of the year. Their second blemish came in Week Six when the Rams were outmatched by Brookwood, which would go on to become a state quarterfinalist. The 22-point defeat was followed by a se ries of bad breaks and missed oppor tunities. Each of Newton’s final three games resulted in one-score losses, edging the club out of the playoffs in gut-wrenching fashion.
Grant and his staff also plugged in young players down the stretch. The youth movement — a result of both injury and coaching foresight — could pay off for Newton as it continues de veloping talent for the future.
We’ve moved! Come
In addition to his on-field production, the All-Region wideout’s even-keeled demeanor and gravitational impact has cemented his place as a leader in the Newton locker room.
Football Preview 2022 | 19
Congratulations to Newton High School senior Justin Doepke on being named drum major for the Sound Factory Marching Band!
“He’s one of the most explosive kids that I’ve ever had an opportunity to coach,” Grant said. “We expect for him to pick up right where he left off.” Calwise will be joined on the outside by Keon Davis, Gabe Williams and Eli jah Turner. Zion Johnson will return to the backfield for the Rams, alongside Camoni Forsythe, who moved over see our new office at 4115 Tate Street NE, Covington, GA Dedicated representation in criminal defense, dui defense, estate planning, & adoption. 470-444-1523 • doepkelaw.com
While the ongoing quarterback competition has been the main focus surrounding Newton’s offense, the Rams’ rushing attack will still look to provide consistency in the backfield. Covington News)
Juniors Riley Scruggs and Jordan Nolley emerged as the frontrunners to step in as Newton’s signal caller this season.Junior wide receiver Marcus Cal wise has stepped into the limelight as the unquestioned leader of the Rams offense. On the heels of his coming out party last fall, Calwise pulled in offers from Arkansas State, Eastern Ken tucky and Kent State this offseason.
Reflecting on last year has offered lessons throughout the offseason, but Newton isn’t in the business of dwell ing on the past. The Rams are more concerned with what’s to come in the months ahead. Among a laundry list of to-do items, replacing the production of a talented senior class, headlined by a three-year starter in Jevarra Martin at quarterback is top priority.
started to really solidify a foundation.”
(File | The
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from the defensive side of the ball. “The receiver group is going to be much, much deeper than what it was in the past,” Grant said. “If we can get the quarterback situation settled they’ll have some guys that can light it up if they can get the ball to them.”
Year after year, the Rams put themselves through a gauntlet before reaching region play. With After spending his junior season with IMG Academy in Florida, Justin Benton (99) chose to spend his senior year as a Ram where he’ll lead the defensive line group. (File | The Covington News)
Newton’s defense will be an chored by defensive back Bran don Smith. Regarded as “the heart and soul of that defense” by Grant, Smith has garnered the attention of his coaches and teammates alike by setting an example with his actions.
Another defensive stalwart to watch this fall is senior Justin Benton, a West Virginia com mit who returns to Newton after transferring back from IMG Academy. He’ll be battling along the defensive line with Damion Heggs and Anthony By num, among others.
“We lost a lot. We really did. But there are a lot of names on this defense that are poised to have big seasons,” Grant said.
Football Preview 2022 | 21 770-787-4417 • www.worldofwingscovington.com 5350 GA Hwy 20 S • Covington, GA 30016 Monday-Thursday: 11am-9pm • Friday-Saturday: 11am-10:30pm • Sunday: 11am-9pm HOME OF THE MONSTER BURGER! "Love at First Bite" $4.00 OFF Our 15 PC Wings With coupon only. Cannot combined with any other offers or specials. Expires 8/31/22. CN $2.00 OFF Our 10 PC Wings With coupon only. Cannot combined with any other offers or specials. Expires 8/31/22. CN Camiel Grant Jr., right, is now in his fourth season as the head coach of the Newton Rams. After narrowly missing the playoffs a season ago, Grant is hopeful for the Rams’ postseason return. (File | The Covington News)
early tests against Hapeville Char ter, McEachern and Westlake — as well as county rivals Alcovy and Eastside sprinkled in — this season will be no exception. The non-region slate serves a greater purpose than a series of tune-ups. It offers direct exposure to the level of competition Newton will face in Region 4, as well as the state playoffs.
“We want the kids to play in games where teams are playoff teams, teams that have a strong fanbase, so that they can feel that atmosphere,” Grant said. “That’s what we’re going to play against in the region every week, so they need to see it.
Senior receivers Mason Moore, DaShon Hyman and Grayson Jen kins will start as the top options for Cross. Meanwhile, juniors Kam Durden and DeMascio Bolden will share the load in the backfield.
By TREVYN GRAY Correspondent Social Circle football has begun to show prominence in their division by making the playoffs each of the past two seasons. That followed a decade of missing the postseason with 2009 being the Redskins’ last playoff appearance prior. They also finished with their best regular season record — and first-winning season — since 2006 with a record of 6-5. The Redskins will look to contin ue this upward trend in the 2022 season. Going into the new sea son, Social Circle head coach Rob Patton’s message to the team is the same as it was for his first two sea sons: focus and get better at their individual positions.
Seniors Matt Riley, AJ Vinson and Bryan Ross will lead the offensive line this “Seeingseason.someof those guys that have been starting for two years, they’re really starting to come on in their senior year,” Patton said.
Patton also references the offen sive line’s improvement as a strength for the Redskins.
Redskins look to maintain playoff identity
spots. (File | The Covington News)
“So, just really trying to get them to focus on getting better at whatever their skill set is for their posi tion.”According to Patton, this training mindset has paid dividends for the team’s progress, particularly in the weight room. “The biggest difference for us is our kids are so much stronger,” Pat ton said. “We’ve been a little hesi tant for contact the past two years, but I think we got a lot more confi dence now, because the kids are so much stronger than they were.”
Patton cites Cross’ “calm demean or” as the quality that makes him best suited to lead the troops for the“IfRedskins.hethrows a bad pass or a touchdown pass, you can’t tell a difference in the way he reacts,” Patton said. “For high school kids, that’s a hard thing to find. He’s someone who doesn’t ride the highs and lows. He’s always got that steady calm presence about him.”
“We start off with speed and agility, we gotta focus in here and get better at running,” Patton said. “Every single rep in the weight room, focus on getting stronger, whatever the lift is. On the field, focus on blocking, catching, ball security and things like that. When we go into group and team periods, focus more on execution and the fundamentals from any period.
The Redskins are returning 10 starters on offense, including senior quarterback Logan Cross. Cross finished his 2021 campaign with 2,213 passing yards and 24 touchdowns.“[Thestrength in our offensive attack] starts with our quarter back,” Patton said. “We’re blessed with a guy who led our county and our region in passing the past few years. He’s got a strong arm and can make throws; a lot of teams don’t have a kid who can do that.”
Social Circle’s region features Jas 2022 Schedule 08/19 vs Morgan County 08/26 vs East Jackson 09/02 @ George Walton 09/09 @ Loganville Christian 09/23 vs Lamar County 10/07 vs Commerce 10/14 @ Mount Paran 10/21 @ Jasper County 10/28 @ Oglethorne County 11/04 vs. Prince Avenue Region 5-A Divsion I Jasper PrinceOglethorpeCountyCountyAvenue Social Circle Stilwell Arts
The Redskins are also returning experienced players for their de fense as well, including Moore and senior Phillip Baynes, both safeties who will serve as leaders for the Redskins defense.
SOCIAL CIRCLE Redskins Social Circle’s defense will be missing key contributors from last year’s team. However, the coaching staff believes that it has identi fied players who are able to step up and fill
22 | Football Preview 2022
(File | The
per County, Oglethorpe County and Prince Avenue Christian, which is coming off two consecutive state championship appearances and a state championship victory two years“Thisago.year, we’re trying to get the top seed in the region and get a home playoff game,” Patton said when asked about his team’s goals for the Pattonseason.saidthat he’s getting his guys prepared for the season, and, in doing so, they’re excited for the first game. However, in order for them to reach that top seed, he be lieves that they will need to main tain that motivation throughout the season.“Thebig thing that I note is we focus on trying to get better every day,” Patton said. “The thing with us and having a four-team region, we’ve got seven games before re gion games start. Those first seven weeks, we just want to make sure we’re improving in all phases of the game. We’re ready to peak at the right time, during region and playoffSocialtime.”Circle’s season kicks off on the road at Morgan County in a non-region matchup Aug. 19 at 7:30 p.m. Social Circle’s wide receiving corps will be led by a few individuals who were contributors last season, which should assist with the offense’s suc cess. Covington
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Football Preview 2022 |27 NEXT MAN UP NEXT MAN UP NEXT MAN UP NEXT MAN UP NEXT MAN UP NEXT MAN UP NEXT MAN UP
Standing 6-foot-2 and 190 pounds, he looks the part of a starting quarterback in ClassHead7A.coach Camiel Grant Jr., said the physical nature of Scruggs’ game was a factor in the final “Physically,decision.welook at Ri ley as the most imposing of the two. And that translates into Riley throwing a better deep ball,” Grant said. “He has a little more strength to push the ball down the field. Has a little bit more zip on hisAspasses.”with any transition, growing pains are to be ex pected. Scruggs will come into the year with limited playing time at the varsity level. He won’t have much time before being baptized by fire, either, as the Rams will be opposed by perenni al powers Hapeville Charter, McEachern, and Westlake in the first five weeks of the season.What Newton lacks in ex perience at quarterback, it makes up for with talent at its skill positions. The club’s running back room and re ceiver corps, respectively, are among the best they’ve had in recent years. Grant al luded to this, saying Scruggs will “have some guys that can light it up if [he] can get the ball to Eventhem.”though it’s been a tight competition all offsea son, Scruggs has relished it all heading into his junior season.“Thesummer’s been great. We’ve just been competing every day, getting better,” Scruggs said. “We just keep getting better and having fun; that’s all we really can do.”In the weeks and months ahead, Scruggs will be asked to show just how much bet ter he’s gotten.
28 | Football Preview 2022
NEwton High School
fornamedScruggsQB1Rams
By MASON WITTNER Correspondent
There will be a new gun slinger under center for Newton this Three-yearfall.starter Jevarra Martin Jr. graduated from the program. As a result, the Rams must now hand the reins of the offense to some oneWithelse.Martin out of the pic ture, junior quarterback Ri ley Scruggs has been tabbed as the Next Man Up for New ton.“I’ve been dreaming about it since I was a freshman and I’m excited about [being the quarterback],” Scruggs said. “I’ve been putting in work since my freshman season and now it’s finally showing. And being out here playing at Sharp on Friday nights means everything to me.” Scruggs found himself in a two-man race for the start ing gig with fellow junior Jordan Nolley this summer. Naming Martin’s replace ment proved no easy task, as neither arm built enough separation in June or July to win the job outright. But by early August, Scruggs thrust himself into the role of QB1. On paper, Scruggs ap peared to be the more natu ral fit for the Rams offense.
With Grier being the featured back in the ground game for the Eagles, Cawthon is excited about the offense’s potential in 2022.
Football Preview 2022 | 29 By GARRETT PITTS Correspondent
“Kenai is the leader in that group,” Cawthon said. “With him being a three-year starter and even playing some as a freshman, he is definitely the leader.”
“It is a lot of responsibility,” Grier said. “I have the whole offense on my back, and they look up to me since I am a captain this year.”
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Grier will be assisted by Jayden Barr and DJ Henderson in the backfield to complete the running back committee for the Eagles in 2022. “They have good skillsets. They all might not have the breakaway speed like we had with Dallas, but Kenai can go,” Cawthon said. “All of them are fivetool ballplayers. They all can run, they all can catch, they all can block. I feel good about them.”
“I feel good about the [running back room],” Cawthon said. “It is a chance for someone to step up because you are always coaching next year’s team. It is going to be a growing process for us.” Cawthon also spoke highly of all three guys in the running back room, but it was evident that Grier will be who Cawthon and the rest of the team will look towards to be the game changer.“Ifeellike our offense is going to be really good this year,” Grier said. “We just need to step it up on the [offensive line], but besides that we will be good.”
Following the departure of star running back Dallas Johnson a season ago, Eastside will look to multiple guys to help fill the hole left by the Eagles’ all-time rushing leader. After the end of his senior season and his commitment to play football for Morehouse College, Johnson set the precedent for other running backs toHeadfollow.coach Jay Cawthon made sure to express that the run game will be what it has always been as they look to stick with a running back-by-commit teeLastapproach.season, Johnson carried the bulk of the run game while Kenai Grier offered valuable production with his speed and skillset in the receiving game and his ability to block. Now that Johnson is gone, Grier will be able to take the main role as the No. 1 guy in the running game.
is a 5-foot-9, 145-pound strong safety for the Tigers who is en tering his junior season. This summer, Richardson has prioritized coming down hill, filling up gaps on defense and helping the entire unit get stops.
“He’s a guy that understands what we’re doing,” Fortson said. “He’s able to move the guys in the different posi tions. So, right now, if we had to bank on somebody, it would be him. He’ll be a guy who we’ll depend on for leader ship in the secondary and for our en tireRichardsondefense.”
30 | Football Preview 2022
On top of learning a new system, Richardson has also been working on his individual skillset. An offseason filled with summer workouts and pad ded camps makes him feel as if he’s de veloped a lot this offseason.
Now, heading into his junior season, Richardson has one thing in mind: Winning. Richardson said that he just wants to do whatever he can to help the Tigers go as far as they can in 2022. “I want to do my part to help my teammates out throughout the season,” Richardson said. “Then, I want us to work together toward winning anoth er region championship this year and, hopefully, going deeper into the play offs at the end of the year.”
By PHILLIP B. HUBBARD phubbard@covnews.com
Installing a new system can be dif ficult for high school players to learn quickly. But not for Taylor Richard son.First-year Alcovy head coach Spen cer Fortson spoke highly on Richard son’s ability to “grasp the concept.”
I really appreciate the opportunity to learn from coach Fortson for the next two years. He’s detail oriented and has brought in a good environment.”
Richardson complimented his new head coach as a proponent of his growth.“Hissystem is very efficient,” Richardson said. “It actually makes us think and work. We never go through the mo tions, but we’re always going full speed.
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“Every time during padded camps, whenever I see a gap, I try and fill it,” Richardson said. “Then, I try and make the play as best I can. I’ve enjoyed the experience. I feel like my teammates and I have gotten close, and we’ve come a long way since the spring.”
admitted he hasn’t done anything special this offseason to learn all the new verbiage, but he hopes that he’s done enough to prop erly relay knowledge to his team mates.“Ihave just been trying to work hard, hone in on my skills and focus on what the coaches tell me to do,” Richardson said. “Then I try my best to pass any information I pick up along and help my teammates be the best they can Richardsonbe.”
“We had a kid come in a little late, and Demascio got on him,” Patton said. “He talked about the accountability that we need for our football team. He showed the kind of leadership style that we expect from him.”
Bolden said he shows his passion most effectively on the field. He does so by taking whatever steps are necessary to help his team be success ful. However, Patton says that effort is Bolden’s biggest strength and how he is “100 miles per hour at all times.”
Outside of being a leader, Bolden plans to get 120 or more tackles and make it to the second round of the playoffs in 2022. Also, he just wants to improve as a team overall by working hard and building chemistry.
Bolden’s passion contagious for Redskins’ defense
By TREVYN GRAY Correspondent
Patton cites Bolden’s ascension to a leader for the Redskins’ defense as the reason why he is equipped to step up in Leary’s place. He wasn’t expected to be a leader last season – his first season as a varsity starter. Rather, Patton mostly looked for his effort on the field to lead to wins for the team. However, that is no longer the case.
Social
“The kid just loves football,” Patton said as he quickly listed off some of the positive qualities that Bolden exhibits. “He works his butt off. He’s gotten so much stronger. In the weight room, he’s not the biggest guy, but he’s quick. He’s a student of the game. He makes his reads quick, and he’s just so aggres sive. He’s a passionate guy.”
To Bolden, being the next man up for the Redskins’ defense represents the work that he has put in throughout his football career and that he has earned his stripes with Social Circle.
“Now being one of the guys that has been around for awhile, he’s expected to be a leader,” Patton said. “Not just in the way that he prepares, but in the way he plays and practices.”
One particular moment that Patton recalls of Bolden’s leadership came during a random lift during the week.
Circle High School Football Preview 2022 | 31
The concept of “next man up” is prevalent in sports, especially at the prep and college levels. The turnover in players causes this to be an area of focus for sports teams all over the country.Social Circle is no different. With Tucker Leary graduating as last year’s defensive leader, there is a hole that needs to be filled on the defensive side of the ball for the Redskins. Head coach Rob Patton believes that junior DeMascio Bolden has what it takes to fill that void.
Bulldogs look to build upon promise
BY JEFF BYRD The Walton Tribune
“We wanted to keep our local teams on our schedule like Social Circle. We will also keep Banks County,” Beer said. “Our new region is us, Loganville Chris tian, Riverside, Bethelham Christian and Lakeview Academy. This should be good for us.”
“We experimented with some differ ent things with the offense,” Beer said. “It was a matter of just wanting to see how it looked. We made some small tweaks here and there. We also looked at where guys might fit in in certain situations.”Beersaid the biggest focus, posi tion-wise, was at running back.
The production did not stop there. Beer and his staff were able to step back to add twists to the team’s single wing/ wing-T hybrid offense.
“We lost our stud running back, Laythan Folgman, so we have to have Calan Fortunat step up and be able to carry the load. He is a rising senior,” Beer said.
“Calan’s incredible. He’s a human highlight film every time he gets the ball,” Beer Fortunatsaid.isnot alone, the Bulldogs have a second potent option with the return of Carter Payne as a swing back and slot receiver.
32 | Football Preview 2022 2022 Schedule 08/26 @ Lake Oconee 08/26 @ CAK (Knoxville) 09/02 vs. Social Circle 09/09 @ JMA (Milledgeville) 09/16 vs. Banks County 09/23 vs. Brentwood 10/07 vs. RMA 10/14 @ LCA 10/28 @ LA (Gainesville) 11/04 vs. BCA (Bethlehem) GEORGE WALTON ACADEMY (Special | The Walton Tribune)
Some more good news for the Bull dogs’ potential run game is the return of all five offensive linemen from 2021.
Fortunat has had a big summer. The Walton Tribune Elite 11 star has given GWA a game-breaker in the backfield.
“Not only are they a year older, they are so much bigger and stronger. We went with some guys not even 200 pounds to having all five guys over 200 pounds,” Beer said. Next comes a new league, the move to the revamped Georgia Independent Athletic Association.
A new league, a potentially explosive offense and a renewed sense of confi dence have the George Walton Academy Bulldogs looking forward to the 2022 football season.
GWA opens the season Aug. 19 at Lake Oconee Academy. The Bulldogs then head to Christian Academy of Knoxville, Tennessee on Aug. 26. GWA will play a 2022 season schedule featur ing new opponents for the Bulldogs. (The Walton Tribune)
Last year in late July, things did not look good. GWA was battling roster number problems with just 17 players at one point. It was also facing a rugged season, which would be its last in the Georgia High School Association Region 8A-Private.TheBulldogs were able to get enough players ready and finished the season at 3-7. Afterwards, head coach Logan Beer and his staff addressed the player numbers.“Ourattendance this week for our summer program was 35 (players), which was way better than we started last year. We began last year with 23 but ended with 33. This year it’s 35 and we’re hoping to have 40 by the time we start fall practice. So, we’re already in a better spot,” Beer said. The Bulldogs were able to go through eight days of spring practice, and it was very productive as the team was able to expand its offensive and defensive priorities.“Weaccomplished a lot by installing our set foundation for the summer,” Beer said. “We addressed the lifting piece, the conditioning piece and the football piece of it.”
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“We want to attack our opponents, instead of them attacking us,” Eidson concluded.
2022 Schedule 08/26 vs. Westminister 09/02 @ Covenant Mason 09/09 BYE 09/16 @ Vidalia 09/23 vs. Sherwood (HC) 09/30 @ Peoples 10/07 @ Victory 10/14 BYE 10/21 vs. Crosspoint 10/28 vs. Nathanael Greene 11/04 vs. Fidelas PEACHTREE ACADEMY (Contributed Photo)
Panthers in ‘attack mode’ as they look to return to the top of the mountain
“We’re trying to figure out some dif ferent spots where players are going to be and find some homes for our guys,” Eidson said. “I am of the belief that every spot is earned every week. After we play a game on Friday nights, you lose your starting spot until it’s earned for the next week. That’s our philosophy.”Eidsonishoping that making play ers earn their spot week in and week out will light a spark under his team. In order to make it back to champi onship form from previous seasons, Eidson believes challenging both themselves and their opponents will lead them in that direction.
Entering his third season as Peachtree’s head coach, Jim Eidson wants to see the Panthers “attack” their opponents this season.
By TREVYN GRAY Correspondent Peachtree Academy reveled in its successes following back-to-back state championship wins in 2018 and 2019. However, the Panthers have been un able to replicate this success in subse quent years, having lost in the Georgia Association of Private and Parochial Schools’ Final Four postseason round and ran around .500, record-wise, afterward.However, head coach Jim Eidson is looking to improve and build off the foundation set last season. The Pan thers were a young, inexperienced team in 2021 and looked to grow this offsea son.“We’re hoping that the youth have grown up a little bit and matured,” Eidson said. “We’ve hit the weight room harder this year. We hope we have some growth in that respect. We’ll find out what the difference is between last sea son and this season on Friday nights.”
34 | Football Preview 2022
(Contributed Photo)
Work ethic is the primary source of strength for some of the primetime players for the Panthers, such as se nior running back Dylan Pitts, junior lineman Dominic Sampson and senior receivers Kore Haynes, Justin Kearns and Luke EnteringPatterson.histhird season at the helm of Panther football, Eidson wants to establish a new culture of players working hard for the team and finding a starting spot on the team.
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“I am excited for the [new season], Satterfield said. “I am trying to build on what we did last year. That was my first year here and I was extremely pleased with the outcome of last season, but I am excited going into this year.”
Piedmont Academy blazed a domi nant path to advance to the champion ship game, though. After beating Gatewood in the final game of the regular season last year, Piedmont Academy took down both Fullington Academy and Georgia Christian in the first two rounds of the playoffs by a combined score of 104-15.
Piedmont will return quarterback Justin Reynolds, who was named to the GISA all-state team following the 2021 season.Running back Michael Joseph and wide receiver Luke Welch will both return following their strong seasons where they were named All-Region for GISA-AA.Thedefensive side has a few ques tions to answer as Piedmont will only return three starters from last year’s unit. Satterfield mentioned that he will be looking towards safety Tay Jones and defensive linemen Eli Peugh and Rashad Flemming to fill in the gaps left by last year’s seniors.
Spencer Carter is another player Satterfield is high on, as he foresees the senior making an impact on both sides of the ball for the Cougars in 2022.
The fuel that’s motivating the Cou gars’ high hopes for the season ahead comes from the last time they touched a football field in 2021. They walked off the field after a 27-13 defeat against Thomas Jefferson Academy in the Geor gia Independent Schools Association’s Class AA championship game.
Piedmont Academy will begin the 2022 season in GISA Region-AA, where it faces familiar foes such as Gatewood andTheBrentwood.Cougarswill have a few tough matchups in the regular season as they face Terrell Academy and Central Fel lowship Christian. Both teams finished with more than 10 wins in 2021. As Satterfield looks ahead to his sec ond year leading the Cougars, the team looks primed and ready for another playoff push in hopes of claiming the GISA-AA Championship. Piedmont Academy is entering 2022 hungry for a return to the state title game after losing in the gamechampionshiplastyear.
Despite the state championship loss, Satterfield feels confident that his team is primed for another push as they return many key players.
(Contributed Photo) 36 | Football Preview 2022 2022 Schedule 08/26 @ TA ( Dawson) 09/09 vs. APDHS (Augusta) 09/16 @ EBA (Waynesboro) 09/23 @ CFCA (Macon) 10/07 vs. SGA (Damascus) 10/14 vs. BA (Warrenton) 10/21 vs. Brentwood 10/28 @ Gatewood 11/04 vs. LOA (Greensboro)
The Piedmont Academy Cougars have had one thing on their minds this offseason: Get back to the playoffs. Following a 9-4 season in 2021, the Cougars have their eyes set on not only qualifying for the playoffs, but making another playoff run to the state title game.Head coach Clint Satterfield, who is entering his second season at the helm, has high hopes for the 2022 team as he gets them primed for another push into the postseason.
(Contributed Photo)
PIEDMONT ACADEMY Cougars primed for playoff push in 2022
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Bennett was showered with doubt from critics and fans alike last season. The decision to start him was ques tioned at every turn, even as he led Georgia into the SEC Championship Game, Orange Bowl and CFP National Championship. While there will no doubt be those who continue ques tioning the decision to roll with him, Bennett’s role in clearing the national championship hurdle pokes consid erable holes in the legitimacy of argu ments against him. Love him. Hate him. It doesn’t matter. The Orange Bowl MVP has earned his right to lead the team at quarterback once more this season. Running backs Zamir White and James Cook have moved on to the NFL. Taking their place in the backfield alongside Bennett this season will be Kenny McIntosh and Kendall Milton, both of whom have proven themselves as supremely talented backs. Branson Robinson, a highly-touted recruit, could also be poised for a strong year in his first season Between the Hedges.
Bulldogs look to reload after Championshipbuildingroster
By MASON WITTNER Correspondent
Forgive Georgia fans for not knowing how to feel about the upcoming season. This one will feel a little different, and that’s OK. It would be impossible for it toFornot.the first time since 1981, Geor gia will open a football season as the defending national champion. The Bulldogs took down the mighty Ala bama Crimson Tide in January’s College Football Playoff National Champion ship, 33-18, to claim the school’s first title since 1980. A 41-year drought — one filled with false hope, heartbreak and a seemingly endless list of creative ways to lose — was washed away inside Lucas Oil Stadi um. Scott Howard dubbed the victory “a national championship for a new generation of Bulldogs.” Now it’s time for that generation to learn about life as reigningStetsonchamps.Bennett is set to reprise his role as starting quarterback for the Bulldogs this fall.
Top pass catchers Brock Bowers and Adonai Mitchell will remain in the fold for Georgia offensively. With Arik Gilbert, Darnell Washington, Ladd McConkey and others also in the mix, this could prove to be one of the most talented Georgia offenses in recent memory.Asforthe defensive side of the ball, there’s no sense in sugarcoating it: Georgia lost a ton of talent. The Bull dogs had five defensive starters selected in the first round of the 2022 NFL Draft. They went on to break the NFL Draft modern record with 15 draft picks, eight of which played defense at Geor gia.That said, the old adage of reloading as opposed to rebuilding could very well apply to this Bulldog defense.
The unit’s strength will be at line backer, thanks in no small part to Nolan Smith and Robert Beal Jr. electing to re turn. Keele Ringo will be back at corner back, Chris Smith will roam at safety, and Jalen Carter will be a stalwart along the defensive line. Additionally, Smael Mondon Jr., Kamari Lassiter and Jamon Dumas-Johnson are poised to become household names by season’s end. For the first time since 1981, the Georgia Bull dogs will enter this season as the defending national champions after defeating Alabama 33-18 last season. (UGA Athletics)
38 | Football Preview 2022 2022GeorgiaSchedule 09/04 vs. Clemson 09/11 vs. UAB 09/18 vs. South Carolina 09/25 @ Vanderbilt 10/02 vs. Arkansas 10/09 @ Auburn 10/16 vs. Kentucky 10/23 BYE 10/30 vs. Florida 11/06 vs. Missouri 11/13 @ Tennessee 11/20 vs. Charleston S. 11/27 @ Georgia Tech GEORGIA (Tony Walsh | UGA Athletics)
Geoff Collins enters year four as Georgia Tech’s head coach. Tech Athletics)
Before toe meets leather for the Geor gia Tech Yellow Jackets in 2022, the team has already made headlines. First, on July 18, Georgia Tech’s new jerseys were revealed. Then, three days later, it was announced that Georgia Tech’s Labor Day season opener versus Clemson was sold out. The Yellow Jackets are hoping that all of the recent buzz will help rejuvenate the program to more success than its experienced in the last few years. In total, head coach Geoff Collins has ac cumulated nine wins in his three-year tenure at the helm, including a 3-9, 2-6 finish in Georgia2021.Tech’s 2022 slate of games does it no favors, either. Its 2022 schedule is bookended with two top15 matchups against recent national champions.Tech’sfirst game of the season – that aforementioned opener against No. 14 Clemson – will take place at Mer cedes-Benz Stadium for the second year in a row as part of the Chick-Fil-A Kick off. Closing out the schedule will be a Nov. 26 tussle at the defending national champion Georgia Bulldogs. Last year’s battle in Death Valley was the closest Georgia Tech has come to topping the Tigers since the Yellow Jackets beat Clemson in 2014. Howev er, the Bulldogs are riding a four-game winning streak in the Clean Old-Fash ioned Hate rivalry, and it hasn’t been remotely close as Georgia’s won the last two games by a combined 97-7 score. Georgia won’t be the only SEC oppo nent the Yellow Jackets will face this season.OleMiss comes to town in week three. These two teams have only squared off against each other on the gridiron four times. The last was in 2013 when Ole Miss defeated Georgia Tech 25-17 in the Music City Bowl.
(Georgia
By PHILLIP B. HUBBARD phubbard@covnews.com
40 | Football Preview 2022 Georgia Tech 2022 Schedule 09/05 vs. Clemson 09/10 vs. W. Carolina 09/17 vs. Ole Miss 09/24 @ UCF 10/01 @ Pittsburgh 10/08 vs. Duke 10/15 BYE 10/20 vs. Virginia 10/29 @ Florida State 11/05 @ Virginia Tech 11/12 vs. Miami 11/19 @ North Carolina 11/26 @ Georgia GEORGIA TECH (Georgia Tech Athletics)
Georgia Tech football looking to right the ship in 2022
Central Florida (UCF) finds itself on the Yellow Jackets’ schedule for the sec ond time in three years. Georgia Tech’s only remaining non-conference oppo nent will be against Western Carolina in the second week of the season. In week six of 2022, Georgia Tech will feature one of the teams that the Yellow Jackets have beaten under Collins. In fact, Georgia Tech has enjoyed back-toback wins in 2020 and 2021. It’ll look to make it three in a row over the Blue Devils.Coming off a bye week, Georgia Tech will participate in Thursday night action with Virginia coming to town with its last home game being on Nov. 12 against Miami — another team that Georgia Tech has beaten on Collins’ watch in 2019. Four of the Yellow Jackets’ games in 2022 will be on the road at Florida State (Oct. 29), at Virginia Tech (Nov. 5) at North Carolina (Nov. 19) and the Bull dogs on Nov. 26. So, for a team that looks to right the ship, it’ll be a tough task week in and week out to do so.
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