Putnam County High School War Eagles Head Coach: Kyle Gourley Classification: GHSA Region 4-AA Last Season’s Record: 3-7 (2-5)
Shawn Humphrey/Lake Oconee Breeze
After a subpar 2012 season, the War Eagles are confident they put in the hard work over the summer and will be a threat in their region in 2013.
War Eagles look to make impact in 2013 EATONTON — he Putnam County High School War Eagles are preparing to make an impact in Kyle Gourley’s second
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year as head coach. After a subpar 2012 season, the War Eagles are confident they will be able to put in hard work and be a threat in their region
in 2013. This young team is mainly made up of freshmen and sophomores who are preparing to make the best of their next few
seasons with the team. Gourley noted that they are still trying to rebuild from a large loss of seniors after the 2011 season. “The backfield could possibly be entirely sophomores and freshmen,” Gourley said. Gourley is not using this as an excuse, however. He said he believes this group can be just as good as any team in the region. Though seven seniors graduated last year, Gourley will look to take advantage of the fact that the team will return around seven starters on each side of the ball, which gives them an advantage with experience.
By SHAWN HUMPHREY Lake Oconee Breeze
Gourley will also look for leadership from a few of his older players, including fullback Quintavious Waller, wide receiver Chris Williams and linebacker Chris Burkhead. “We lost a few close
games last season that could have been the differe n c e between making the playoffs or n o t , ” Gourley said, and the team will keep this in mind as they prepare to improve on their record this fall.
PCHS WAR EAGLES 2013 ROSTER NO. NAME 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 12 15 16 18 19 20 21 24
POSITION CLASS
Tyrone Davis Gavin Hill Mike Hill Chris Williams Damarius Evans Rey Drumgoole Terry Dorsey Jaquarius Moore Torrance Calhoun Jamell Brown Jashawn Youmans Darius McMullen Quintraius Lane Relyoius Calhoun D'Marcus Crawford Quintavious Waller
QB
10
QB,DB WR,DB WR, DB WR, LB
10 12 9 9 12
RB, DB WR, LB TE, LB RB, DB TE, DE WR, DB RB, DB TE, DE
10 9 10 12 10 9 10 12
NO. NAME 25 29 32 33 34 36 40 42 44 48 50 51 52 54 55 56
POSITION CLASS
Darryl Smith Michael Dunn Stephan Waller Trevon Ellison Robert Johnson Micheas Brown Devontrez Williams Chris Burke Zavious Davis Aaron Lewis Ethan Connors Devin Powell Darnell Pennamon Evan Connors Seth Wicker Charlie Farmer
WR, DB RB, LB RB, LB RB, LB RB, LB RB, DL RB, LB TE, LB TE, LB RB, LB OL,DL OL, LB OL, DL OL, DL OL, DL OL, DL
12 9 9 10 9 12 10 12 9 9 9 9 10 9 9 9
NO. NAME 58 60 68 70 71 72 74 75 76 77 78 80 81 82 88 99
POSITION
Izarous Duncan Demario Bullard Cezar Munoz Tonquavious Horton Cameron Griffin Keshawn Ellison Tyree Miller Steven Ridley Tom Reid Johnathon Waller Mark Hurt M. Denham Zyon Monday Keon Culp TJ Silva Jared Cornado
OL, DL OL, DL OL, LB OL, DL OL, DL OL, DL OL, DL OL, DL OL, DL OL, DL OL, DL TE, DE TE, DL WR, DB K K
CLASS 12 12 11 11 9 9 9 10 11 9 11 10 9 9 9 9
PCHS WAR EAGLES 2013 SCHEDULE DATE
OPPONENT
LOCATION
Aug. 23
Hancock Central
Away
Aug. 30
Greene County
Home
Sept. 6
Crawford County
Home
Sept. 13
Morgan County
Away
Sept. 20
Jones County
Home
Sept. 27
Bleckley County
Away
Oct. 4
Macon County
Away
Oct. 18
Lamar County
Away
Oct. 25
Taylor County
Home
Nov. 1
Northeast
Away
Nov. 8
Monticello
Home
Shawn Humphrey/Lake Oconee Breeze
The War Eagles will host Greene County High this week in the season’s first home game of the year.
Gatewood Gators Head Coach: Jeff Ratliff Classification: GISA 1-AA Last Season’s Record: 6-6 (4-1)
Contributed photo
The Gatewood Gators are under direction this season of new head coach, Jeff Ratliff, who has spent the past two seasons with the team.
Gators aiming for big things this season EATONTON — nder direction of new head coach Jeff Ratliff, the Gatewood Gators are hoping to do big things this season. Ratliff has been assistant coaching for 19 years, with 17 years at Tattnall Square Academy and two years at
U
Go Gators! Jackson Crowe “Class of 2022”
1010 Lake Oconee Parkway, Eatonton (706) 485-9600
Gatewood. He said he is excited for the opportunity to finally be a head coach and hopes that he can take advantage of it. “I really do believe I’ve been put into a great situation,” Ratliff said. He commended his team
149759
See
GATORS, page 5
Gators Continued from page 4 on its excellent work through spring and summer workouts, and sees great potential in his players. Ratliff was also not shy about his mission. “I could give you a thousand goals that we have as a team, but our main goal is to win a state championship,” said Ratliff, who has always tried to be confident and aim high as a coach. The Gators won a playoff game last year for the first time in a number of years, and the team plans to use that as a motivational boost moving into this season.
By SHAWN HUMPHREY Lake Oconee Breeze
Ratliff said he feels that he has a great connection with his seniors, some of whom he has worked with for his first two years at Gatewood. Three-year starting quarterback Cal Taylor and All-State kicker Trevor Bowden are two players who will greatly help the team’s chances at
reaching its goals. Ratliff also explained that while his offensive line and defensive speed are two major strengths for the team, he hopes to develop his running back throughout the season. Ratliff said he hopes that the chemistry he has developed with the guys on the field,
Contributed photo
Coach Ratliff said he hopes that the chemistry he has developed with the guys on the field, as well as in the classroom, will be a big part of the team’s success this season. See this year’s roster and schedule on Page 7. as well as in the classroom, will be a big
part of the team’s success, and he sees big
things coming for his team this fall.
Greene County Tigers Head Coach: Robert Edwards Classification: 8-AA Last Season’s Record: 4-7 (4-3)
Tigers look to make a playoff run this season
By SHAWN HUMPHREY Lake Oconee Breeze
G
R E E N S BORO — As R o b e r t Edwards prepares for his second season as head coach, the Greene County H i g h School Tigers are ready to shock their region and make a playoff run. “We are ready to turn this program around,” Edwards said after a less-thanstellar 2012 season. Though they finished under .500, the Tigers went 4-3 in their region and made the playoffs, where they lost in the first round. Edwards feels more settled in this year and hopes that he can use that to his advantage. After being hired as head coach late last summer, he did not have much of an offseason to get settled in and work with his new team. Greene County has a fairly young team, the bulk of which consists of rising juniors, and talent on both sides of the ball. “I feel set for the
next few years with this young talent,” Edwards said. The group only lost three starters last season, so the Tigers believe they will be able to pick up right w h e r e they left off. While the team is focused on winning and making a deep run in the playoffs, Edwards is also making the community a major focus this year.
Contributed photo
The Greene County High School Tigers are ready to shock their region and make a playoff run. “We don’t want to just play for wins and losses, we want to play for our fans
and community,” Edwards said. The team is looking forward to get-
ting back on the field and having the support of the community behind the
Tigers, and they hopes to put on a show for them this season.
GCHS TIGERS 2013 SCHEDULE DATE Aug. 30 Sept. 6 Sept. 20 Sept. 27 Oct. 4 Oct. 11 Oct. 18 Oct. 25 Nov. 1 Nov. 8
OPPONENT Putnam County Morgan County Hapeville Charter Jefferson Social Circle Washington-Wilkes Union County Oglethorpe County Rabun County Riverside Military Academy
LOCATION Away Away Away Away Away Home Away Home Away Home
GATEWOOD GATORS 2013 ROSTER NO. NAME
POSITION CLASS
NO. NAME
POSITION CLASS
2 4 5 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 17 20 21 22 23 24 27 30
WR/DB TE/DE RB/DB QB/DB WR/DB QB/DB RB/DB WR/DB WR/DB RB/DB WR/DB WR/DB WR/DB WR/DB WR/DB RB/LB RB/LB TE/DE
32 33 34 44 50 55 56 60 65 66 71 72 75 77 84 86 88
RB/LB RB/DB RB/LB RB/LB OL/LB OL/DL OL/LB OL/DL OL/DL OL/DL OL/DE OL/DL OL/DL OL/DL WR/DB WR/DB WR/DB
Johnny Ellison Nick Olinger Palmer Clark Cal Taylor Griffin Luttrell Cameron Hall Connor Richter Will Cullens Hampton Clark Michael Fordham Chris Hooks Taylor Hyatt Tristan Fuller Trevor Bowden Cameron Ross Matthew Dent Luke Boswell Joe Welch
Sr. Jr. So. Sr. Jr. Fr. Sr. So. Sr. Sr. So. Fr. Sr. Sr. Jr. Fr. Jr. Sr.
Ellis Mercer Will Sasser Scott Schneider Luke Leverett Isaac Weeks Austin Matysiak Kaleb Fedelem Nash Cullens Cody Little Cooper Welch Jarred Camp Rob Wright Noah Turner Mitch Fuller Christian Kelly Ian Dutton Austin Hathaway
Sr. So. Sr. Jr. Jr. So. Sr. Sr. Fr. Jr. Sr. So. So. Fr. Fr. Jr. So.
GATEWOOD GATORS 2013 SCHEDULE DATE
OPPONENT
Aug. 23 Flint River
LOCATION Away
Aug. 30 Community Christian Home Sept. 6 Trinity Christian
Away
Sept. 13 Piedmont Academy Home Sept. 20 Brentwood
Home
Sept. 27 Windsor Academy Away Oct. 11 Briarwood Academy Home Oct. 18 Covenant Academy Away Oct. 25 Central Fellowship Home Nov. 1
John Milledge
Away
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Nathaneal Greene Patriots Head Coach: J.D. Webb Classification: GISA Region 1-A Last Season’s Record: 1-10 (1-5)
Shawn Humphrey/Lake Oconee Breeze
The Nathanael Greene Academy Patriots have been hard at work this summer and are expecting major improvements from last year.
Nathaneal Greene Patriots begin new chapter under new head coach GREENSBORO — he Nathanael Greene Academy Patriots are expecting major improvements from last year as they prepare for the upcoming season. Recently named head coach J.B. Webb said he is excited to be a part of the program and work with these guys. Webb was the head coach for the junior varsity football team last year, so he is not new to the school and is having no problem settling into his new position. His JV team went undefeated
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last season for the first time in school history, and he hopes to carry this streak over to the varsity team. “I’m definitely pumped up about our big line,” Webb said, noting that his offensive linemen average nearly 225 pounds. He said he is also excited to see how his freshman quarterback, Luke Higdon, will perform on the field. “He’s smart, good with audibles and has the ability to put ever yone in good position to
Shawn Humphrey/Lake Oconee Breeze
PATRIOTS, page 7
Recently named head coach J.B. Webb said he is excited to be a part of the program and work with these guys.
See
Patriots Continued from page 6 make plays,” Webb said. Webb is also expecting leadership on the field from his lone senior, Mason Adams and Bailey Vandiver. The team plans to use the rest of summer workouts to focus on fundamentals and conditioning. “If you can’t do it without pads on, you’re going to have a tough time when you’re out there in a game getting knocked around,” Webb said. With a small squad of only about 18 guys, Webb is still in the process of recruiting, and hopes to build this team up
NGA PATRIOTS 2013 SCHEDULE By SHAWN HUMPHREY Lake Oconee Breeze
before padded practices begin. Though Webb described it as a rebuilding year, he is still focused on making the playoffs this year and training these young guys for seasons to come.
NGA PATRIOTS 2013 ROSTER NO.
NAME
1
Peyton Goss
5
Dalton Shelnutt
7
Mason Adams
9
John Parks
10
Tal Underwood
20
Jeb Boswell
22
Hunter Lord
25
Tanner Underwood
27
Luke Higdon
33
Erik Cano
34
Dylan Ellis
46
John Hinton Branyan
50
Bailey Vandiver
58
Easton Smith
60
Mason Cronic
62
Hunter Futch
67
Logan Crawford
70
Eli Boswell
77
Jacob Ward
DATE Aug. 23 Aug. 30 Sept. 6 Sept. 13 Sept. 20 Sept. 27 Oct. 4 Oct. 11 Oct. 20 Oct. 25 Nov. 1
OPPONENT LOCATION Randolph Sou. Away Crisp Academy Home Fullington Away Central Fellowship Home Briarwood Away J. Hancock Home Curtis Baptist Away DEA Home Jefferson Away Dawson St. Home Bethlehem Away
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Show your support for area schools this season! PCHS • GATEWOOD • NAT GREENE • GCHS