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HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL PREVIEW 2022 | BETWEEN THE LINES 3 Better health for a better community At Atrium Health Floyd, the health and safety of your student is our priority. Our pediatricians, school nurses, athletic trainers, paramedics and EMTs are committed to providing the highest quality of care when your child has a medical need. Whether in the classroom or on the playing field, you can have the confidence of knowing we are there.Atrium Health Floyd, providing care where you live, work, play and go to school. Learn more at Floyd.org.
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The Rome Wolves will look to rebound from a first-round playoff upset last season and do so with plenty of experience, talent, and leadership. John Reid’s Wolves should be poised for a big run and have to be considered the front-runners for a Region 6 AAAAAA championship. Cartersville and Calhoun said goodbye to Blessed Trinity, but Dalton will look to jockey for big three status along with a talented Cass team in Region 7 AAAAA. The Hurricanes and Yellow Jackets are always a threat to win it all and have a chip on their shoulders after falling short in 2021. Cedartown is coming off a region championship and run at a state title and they welcome another area team in Sonoraville to Region 7-AAAA. The Bulldogs return a ton of talent and should be the favorites to repeat as region champs, which sets them up for another run at the ultimate glory.
See you in the stands! OWNER & CEO Ian Griffin MANAGING PARTNER Chris Forino CREATIVE DIRECTOR Elizabeth Childers WRITERS Jim Alred, Ian Griffin PHOTOGRAPHER Andy Calvert PUBLISHER V3 Publications, LLC CONTACT 417 Broad Street Rome Ga, 30161 Office Phone hello@v3collective.com706.235.0748 ReadV3.com: Where you can find all the print content from this issue, our archives and exclusive ReadV3 digital features. READV3.COM NOTEPUBLISHER’S OWNER & CEO Ian Griffin
WHILE IT MIGHT NOT FEEL LIKE FOOTBALL WEATHER, Friday night lights are ready to shine across Northwest Georgia and it promises to be a memorable season. With the latest realignment, a few old rivalries will go by the wayside, and others will be renewed. Paths to a championship season have changed dramatically for many schools in our NWGA and there is no question the talent and coaching it takes to achieve that goal are in place for several area schools.
Regions 6-AAA and 7-AA include several area teams, with Adairsville set up for success in the triple-A division and Rockmart coming back down to double and renewing a few rivalries with Model and Gordon Central. The region packed full of the most NWGA schools is undoubtedly Region 7-A. Darlington and Trion essentially join the pack of former 7-AA schools to create matchups between all the kids that have been banging heads since their pee-wee days. It should create great Friday night environments and fiery competition on the field. Darlington is coming off a region championship in the now defunct single A private division, but the Tigers dominated when they were last grouped with local teams several years ago and will look to continue that success. Their opponents will certainly want to give them a not-so-warm welcome back and whoever emerges as champion should have a good shot at a deep run into the playoffs. There aren’t many dull moments when it comes to Friday nights in the state of Georgia, but realignment has made things a little more compelling locally and now that it’s time to buckle the chin straps and play ball, the excitement is as thick as the humidity this time of year.
HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL PREVIEW 2022 | BETWEEN THE LINES 5 706.234.9896 | 605 EAST 1ST ST. SUITE 101 ROME, GEORGIA | LOGSYSINC.COM NETWORK | AUDIO/VISUAL | SECURITY | IP PHONES | IP CAMERAS | WIRELESS LET OUR SOLUTIONS BE THE ANSWER TO YOUR I.T. CHALLENGES. With over three decades of service in northwest Georgia, the experienced staff at Logical Systems takes pride in the quality and performance of the systems that we design, implement, and support. From school systems to correctional facilities, Logical Systems provides the trusted connection between users and what they need most - information.
6 BETWEEN THE LINE S | HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL PREVIEW 2022 NWGA HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL PREVIEW 2022 BARTOW CASS COLONELS WOODLAND WILDCATS CALHOUN YELLOW JACKETS GORDON CENTRAL WARRIORS SONORAVILLE PHOENIX CHATTOOGA INDIANS TRION BULLDOGS CEDARTOWN BULLDOGS ROCKMART YELLOW JACKETS POLKCHATTOOGAGORDON 32 34 38 40 42 44 48 50 52 ARMUCHEE INDIANS COOSA EAGLES DARLINGTON TIGERS MODEL BLUE DEVILS PEPPERELL DRAGONS ROME WOLVES UNITY LIONS ADAIRSVILLE TIGERS CARTERSVILLE HURRICANES BARTOWFLOYD 10 12 14 18 20 22 24 28 30
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HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL PREVIEW 2022 | BETWEEN THE LINES 9 www.rcs.rome.ga.us#LikeAWolf Quality Academics, Athletics and Arts ROME CITY SCHOOLS Supporting Our Community Together We proudly support our area teams and wish them the best of luck in the upcoming season! At First National Community Bank, Local Bank. Local Decisions.® is more than just our slogan, it’s a way of life. We pride ourselves in our experienced staff of familiar local Bankers, Commercial Relationship Managers and Mortgage Lenders that collectively bring over 340 years of banking experience to serve you and understand our community better than anyone else. • Checking Accounts (Business & Personal) • Loans (Small Business, Mortgages & Auto) • Savings Accounts • Money Market • CDs • IRAs We are proud to offer a full range of business and personal banking products and services that are designed for your specific needs: eBANK Always Open at www.fncbank.com DOWNTOWN ROME 501 Broad Street 706.378.5300 ARMUCHEE 2950 Martha Berry Blvd. 706.314.05602211 Shorter Avenue 706.378.5305 WEST ROME
TOTAL SEASONS: 63 first season: 1951 REGION CHAMPIONSHIPS: 2 (1994 last) RYLANDL-R: STEEN (MLB) JR CHANDLER DESANTO (QB/P/CB) SR JACOB SEAGRAVES (DB/WR) JR
HEAD COACH: jeremy green 9-28 ALL TIME RECORD: 610 games - 212-387-11
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2021 RECORD: 5-4, overall (1-4, region 6-a)
ARMUCHEE Indians
ARMUCHEE CAME AGONIZINGLY CLOSE to reaching the playoffs for the first time since 2009 last season, falling by two points to Gordon Lee in a late-season game. The five wins in 2021 marked the most of an Armuchee squad since 2011 and show that the hard work the team and head coach Jeremy Green have put in over the past five years is paying off. When asked about how Armuchee can possibly get over the hump and reach the playoffs, Green shakes his head and smiles. “I think one of the biggest things for us is that we have to believe that we can win. A big part of having success or reaching your goals is having the feeling that you belong. We struggle with that sometimes,” he says. “That’s kind of the hill we have to climb to develop that winning attitude. If our team lives up to its core values, and we work hard and believe, the winning will take care of Armucheeitself.” joins several local teams in the new Region 7A Division 1 after spending the past couple of years as the only Floyd County school in Class A. Floyd County programs Pepperell, Coosa, and Darlington join the Indians in the new region as well as Chattooga, Dade County and Trion. While some other coaches speak about how competitive the new region will be, Green remains focused on what Armuchee can “I’mdo. not caught up in terms of the others team’s jerseys or seeing who our opponent is,” Green says. “We’re just going to approach it like we always have no matter who is on our schedule.”
Chandler Desanto has been starting at quarterback since midway through his freshman year, so the Indians have a quarterback with 3-plus years of starting experience.
Green also talks about Jakson Hightower, and Luke Williams and mentions that offensive linemen Logan Hunton is a quality kid who is also in the marching band as well as a two-year starter on the offensive line.
Although the Indians are creeping closer and closer to the playoff threshold, Green still remains focused on other things. “I try not to focus on winning. We try to focus on our core beliefs,” he says. “We really stick to our fundamental beliefs which are to do what you know is right, love our teammates and have fun. If we do those things right, then the Friday nights will take care of themselves.”
Green also talks about Ryland Steen, who plays linebacker and will also play running back, and big tight end Hagen Terry, who gives Desanto a big target to find.
Green mentions junior cornerback and wideout Jacob Seagraves, saying that you don’t often find 6’1” cornerbacks in high school.
The Indians will play a solid non-region schedule facing Class 2A Gordon Central, Class 3A Gordon Lee, Class 2A Union County, and Class 4A Southeast Whitfield before opening region play on the road at Coosa.
And before ending the interview, Green brings up an analogy that he likens to coaching a high school football team. “I love the analogy of making clay pots. When you walk in and see a lump of clay on the potter’s wheel, you’re not going to say that lump of clay won’t make a good bowl,” Green says. “You just stay at the wheel, put your head down and keep modeling until you have a finished product.”
Armuchee returns several key players from last year’s squad, and the Indians should have quite an offensive attack when the season opens.
HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL PREVIEW 2022 | BETWEEN THE LINES 11 Armuchee Pharmacy Fast Reliable Service - Free Delivery - Like us on Facebook! 4334 Martha Berry Hwy Rome, GA 706.235.1303 Start A Tradition With Us 8amSaturday-2pmMonday - Friday 8am - 6pm
And at Armuchee, Green is doing just that, building the program with core beliefs and worrying about things beyond just winning or losing football games. Because he knows that in the end, those core values will lead to bigger things down the road.
SCHEDULE 8.19 Gordon Central 8.26 At Gordon Lee 9.09 Union County 9.16 At Southeast Whitfield 9.23 At Coosa 9.30 Chattooga 10.07 At Pepperell 10.21 Darlington 10.28 At Trion 11.04 Dade County BETWEEN THE LINES 2022 HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL PREVIEW
LAST YEAR DIDN’T PROVE TO BE SUPER KIND to the Coosa Eagles, but as Coosa and third-year coach Joey Mathis head into a new region, there are reasons for optimism.
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First, last season’s 1-9 record doesn’t look amazing, but the Eagles fought hard in several games playing with many younger players who now have an extra year of experience under their belt. Along with that, even though the Eagles faced long odds and tough games last year, they never gave up and fought hard even if some scores ended up lopsided.TheEagles face a tough no-region schedule but have a couple of intriguing games. Games against Class 4A Southeast Whitfield and Class 5A Woodland can test the Eagles, but Coosa should be able to get some solid competition with them. They also visit Class 2A Gordon Central, a former region foe Coosa has had success against, and play Region 8-A, Division II Towns County before opening the Region 7A, Division 1 slate on Sept. 23 at home against Armuchee. Although the Region 7A, Division 1 serves as a new destination for the Eagles, they are familiar with all of the opponents, having played them over the past few years. Most of the squads were in Region 7-AA with the Eagle last season, while Armuchee and Darlington are Floyd County opponents with which Coosa has plenty of history. In preseason talk, most of the new region's coaches believe it will be super tough, and super competitive with a chance to have almost every team fighting for one of the region’s four playoff berths.
COOSA Eagles
TOTAL SEASONS: 68 first season: 1955 REGION CHAMPIONSHIPS: 5 (1975 last)
STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS: 2 (1969 last)
HEAD COACH: joey mathis 5-13 ALL TIME RECORD: 698 games - 342-340-16
2021 RECORD: 1-9, overall (1-5, region 7-AA)
HARLEYL-R: BROCK (LB/WR) SR JOSH DIXON (FS) 23 DARANJAE HAMES (RB, DB) SR
HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL PREVIEW 2022 | BETWEEN THE LINES 13 As for personnel, Coosa brings back Harley Brock who made the 7-AA all-region team in 2021 as a defensive back. Others gracing the all-region first or second team from Coosa and returning this season are running back DJ Hames and offensive lineman Connor Soales. Five other Coosa underclassmen also made honorable mention and give the Eagles a solid group of returners for the year. With the talent returning and a lot of experience gained from the 2021 season, the Eagles have a solid chance to better last year’s record. If they can pull an upset or two, they might find themselves in the thick of the race for a spot in the playoffs. SCHEDULE 8.19 Southeast Whitfield 8.26 At CartersvilleWoodland, 9.02 At Gordon Central 9.16 Towns County 9.23 Armuchee 9.30 At Darlington 10.07 Trion 10.14 At Dade County 10.28 Chattooga 11.04 At Pepperell BETWEEN THE LINES 2022 HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL PREVIEW 11 E 2nd Ave, Rome, GA 30161 706-237-7205 • TattooNorthwww.artisticedgetattoo.comGeorgia’spremiereandPiercingstudio
HEAD COACH: tommy atha 168-65, 6 region championships
TOTAL SEASONS: 112 first season: 1910 REGION CHAMPIONSHIPS: 11 (2021 last) STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS: 1 (1998 last)
WINNING AND PRODUCING TOP-NOTCH TEAMS AND PLAYERS is nothing new at Darlington. Tommy Atha enters his 21st season as the head coach at the school but has served as a coach for the football program for 30 years. While some people might get tired of the same job, the enthusiasm still comes through Atha’s voice as he talks about the upcoming season.
DARLINGTON Tigers
ALL TIME RECORD: 1,022 games - 616-369-37
A lot of it starts with the new address in Region 7A Division 1 with Armuchee, Chattooga, Coosa, Dade County, Pepperell, and Trion. Most of the schools are long-time foes, but the Tigers hadn’t faced some of them in a year or two because of differing regions and classifications. “I think this is a really competitive region. It’s a region with a lot of teams that have great support and a lot of good teams from top to bottom,” Atha says. “I’m glad we don’t have to travel to Marietta and Atlanta every other week. Getting to play these local teams is going to make these games more exciting.”
Excitement might be the word for the year when talking about the 2022 version of Darlington. The Tigers reached the state quarterfinals last season, marking the 15th consecutive trip to the playoffs for the Tigers. That coupled with a crop of solid returning players and a new region which promises to be competitive should have the fans at a frenzied pitch when the season kicks off.
GATLINL-R: HANCOCK (OT/DE) SR GUS GAMMAGE (OT/DT) SR BRIANT POWELL (C/DE) SR
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“One of the things I love about being at Darlington is that I can say as a coach I’ve seen a lot of football here in 30 years,” Atha says. “But unequivocally there is just as much excitement about our football team in 2022 as there was in 1993.”
2021 RECORD: 11-2 overall (4-0, region 7-a)
When asked what it would take for the Tigers to make another repeat trip deep into the playoffs like last season, Atha doesn’t pump the brakes. But he does mention that there are a lot of factors in having a great season.
“There are a lot of things that have to fall into place unless you are just overwhelmingly better than other teams. You have to stay healthy because we don’t have a lot of depth,” Atha says. “We just need to believe in ourselves and take things one step at a time. If we trust the process hopefully good things will happen.”
The Tigers not only face a tough region schedule but also boast a super competitive non-region schedule, including a trip to Florida as well as games against Class 4A Sonoraville, Christian Heritage, and Class 4A Northwest Whitfield.“I’llbe honest. We’ve always prided ourselves on playing good people away from our region to help us get better prepared to play our region opponents,” Atha says. “We’re going to play some talented, well-coached teams before we play any of our region games, and we think that’s going to work in our favor when it comes time to play in the region.”
While the Tigers lost some talent from last year’s quarterfinal squad, Darlington still has plenty of players to lean on. Atha quickly points to three senior linemen as literal foundations for this year’s team. “Everything starts on the line of scrimmage, and we always take pride in our lineman. We’re excited about this group this season,” he says. “We have three seniors on the line, Briant Powell, Gus Gammage, and Gatlin Hancock. All three of these kids are difference makers for us.”
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Atha also noted several other players to watch out for including Eli Thompson, Jack Good, who will play both linebacker and quarterback, Hyland Thomas, who is coming back from a tough knee injury last season, and Bowden Owens, who plays running back and defensive back. “I think Bowden Owens is a kid that will really get people’s attention this year,” Atha says. “Eli Thomason can be a difference maker, and Jack Good has a chance to really be a big force for us on both sides of the ball this season.”
SCHEDULE 8.19 At Olympia, FL 8.26 At Sonoraville 9.02 Christian Heritage 9.16 Northwest Whitfield 9.23 At Dade County 9.30 Coosa 10.07 At Chattooga 10.14 Pepperell 10.21 At Armuchee 11.04BETWEENTrionTHE LINES 2022 HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL PREVIEW
16 BETWEEN THE LINE S | HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL PREVIEW 2022 Best wishes to the Darlington Tigers football team this season Tear them up Gus! From Rick, Leigh Ann & Grace Ann Lundy Gus Gammage, Class of 2023 • GACA, AJC & GA Football Daily • 1st Team All State • 7A Lineman of the Year • 5th in State Shotput • 4.0 GPA • @GusG2004 • Darlington School • Rome, GA • 6’4” 310
HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL PREVIEW 2022 | BETWEEN THE LINES 17 EXCHANGE EXCHANGE CLUB OF ROME, GAEXCHANGE CLUB OF ROME, GA EXCHANGE EXCHANGE CLUB OF ROME, GA SPONSORED BY THE EXCHANGE CLUB OF ROME WADE SHOWS INC. Featuring:RIDESCircus Incredible • Space Adventure Thrill Show Camp Carousel Petting Zoo • The Magical Adventure Show www.CoosaValleyFair.com Like us on Facebook OCT 4th - 8th 2022 MAKE LASTING MEMORIES at the 73rd Annual
18 BETWEEN THE LINE S | HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL PREVIEW 2022 A COUPLE OF CLOSE REGION LOSSES kept the Model Blue Devils from advancing to the playoffs in 2021 and a new-look version of Region 7-AA will offer the squad a challenge in 2022 as Coach Jeff Hunnicutt enters his fourth year at the helm for the Blue Devils. Hunnicutt doesn’t mince words when asked about the off-season program or the challenges facing the coaching staff and the teams in 2022. “We didn’t have the best numbers in the off-season program. It was actually the lowest numbers out working since I’ve been here,” he says. “However I think back to the Green-Taliaferro days where we had 32 kids on the team and wound up winning the state title.”
HEAD COACH: jeff hunnicutt 15-18 ALL TIME RECORD: 783 games - 358-407-18
A big change for the Blue Devils is their region foes. Model is the sole remaining Floyd County squad in Region 7-AA, as Murray County, Rockmart, Fannin County, Haralson County, North Murray, and Gordon Central round out the region which has traditionally been the home for Rome-area teams.
JOEYL-R: SAMPLES (LB/RB) SR DILLON SILVER (QB) SR DANIEL JOLLY (RB) SR
The Blue Devils also have to rebuild on both the offensive and defensive fronts, which is never an easy task. “We are a green team as far as our offensive and defensive lines go but skill position-wise most of our guys are back, and we’re mostly juniors and seniors,” Hunnicutt says. “We just need to find guys who can fill in on the offensive and defensive line.”
TOTAL SEASONS: 81 first season: 1931 REGION CHAMPIONSHIPS: 3 (1979 last) STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS: 3 (1979 last)
MODEL Blue Devils
2021 RECORD: 3-7 overall (2-4, region 7-aa)
SCHEDULE 8.19 Cherokee County Alabama 8.26 Pepperell 9.02 At CartersvilleWoodland, 9.16 At Trion 9.23 Murray County 9.30 At Rockmart 10.07 Fannin County 10.14 At Haralson County 10.21 North Murray 10.28 At Gordon Central BETWEEN THE LINES 2022 HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL PREVIEW 706.232.4447 • 103 Broad StreetMonTheHerbShopOnBroad-Sat:9am - 6pm Sun: 12pm - 6pm WE DO NOT DIAGNOSE, TREAT, OR CURE PRIORITYISWELLNESSYOUROUR
Like Hunnicutt says, if the Blue Devils can develop talent along both offensive and defensive fronts Model could find itself in the thick of the Region 7-AA race.
But after mentioning the plethora of skill position players at his disposal, Hunnicutt immediately reiterates his point about needing more linemen. “We’ve got to find some guys on the offensive and defensive line. We need to find them, because those zero stat guys are the ones that help you win games,” he says. “They don’t get all the accolades, but those are the key guys who will win or lose games for you.”
“I think we have a couple of region champions from other regions moving into Region 7-AA. Rockmart won their region last year, and Haralson County is a tough physical team. Fannin County has won back-to-back region titles,” Hunnicutt says. “I think we’re going to have to pull a couple of upsets just to try to secure a spot in theModelplayoffs.”faces some tough non-region opponents to prepare for the region gauntlets, including Cherokee County (Alabama), Pepperell, Woodland, and Trion. Once clear of those games, Model will open Region 7-AA play at home against Murray County. While the Blue Devils do have to find some more linemen, their skill position players should be ready to go. Hunnicutt mentions that Joey Samples has become a household name and will provide some offensive sparks as well as being a leading tackler on defense. The Blue Devils return several running backs and also Daniel Jolly who has plenty of speed but suffered from some issues with holding on to the football in 2021. Quarterback Dillon Silver returns and should have plenty of weapons to work with.
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LAST SEASON PROVED TO BE A TALE OF TWO SEASONS for the Dragons. Pepperell started the year losing five of its first six games, including its first two region contests. Pepperell recovered, got better, and won the next four games to reach the playoffs before losing by a touchdown in the opening round to eventual Class AA state semifinalist Callaway. The Dragons have worked to build off the second half of the 2021 season with a strong showing this summer in off-season workouts.“It’sbeen generally good. Our overall numbers are down a little bit, but our school population is down too. We’ve had about 58 kids out, and we’ve had more than 40 of them not miss a single day this summer,” Pepperell coach Rick Hurst says. “I think these kids believe in what we are doing, and you can tell that with how they are training thisPepperellsummer.”moves into the new Region 7A Division 1 and will face familiar opponents. Like most other coaches from teams in the region, Hurst believes it’s a very strong region with several teams capable of winning the title or reaching the playoffs. “Looking at this region from top to bottom I think you have five teams that have a legitimate chance to be in the top two or three,” he says. “I think you’re going to see some good, competitive games in this region all season.”
2021 RECORD: 5-6 overall (4-2 region 7-aa)
HEAD COACH: rick hurst 50-29 1 region championship ALL TIME RECORD: 763 games - 413-336-14
REGION CHAMPIONSHIPS: 4 (2016 last) STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS: 1 (1990 last)
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TOTAL SEASONS: 73 first season: 1937
Dragons
One thing Hurst says he hopes for is a slightly quicker start for the Dragons in 2022. Pepperell’s four-game non-region schedule to open the season isn’t easy with
GAGEL-R: OWENS (DB/RB) SR DJ ROGERS (DB/RB) SR PARKER GLENN (DE/OL) SR
PEPPERELL
HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL PREVIEW 2022 | BETWEEN THE LINES 21 games against Class 4A Northwest Whitfield, Class 2A Model, Class 5A Woodland, and Class A Temple.“Ournon-region schedule is tough, but not quite as tough as last year. I’m hoping we can put a few wins on that side of the column,” he says. “Last year, we struggled with our confidence a bit early on, and I think if we can get a couple of wins it will be a big positive.”
Speaking of positives, Pepperell returns perhaps one of the best running backs in the state as D.J. Rogers gets ready for his senior campaign. Rogers rushed for more than 1,400 yards and 21 touchdowns last season for the Dragons and will be looking to hit the ground running, literally, this season. “DJ is one of the best running backs I’ve ever been around in high school football,” Hurst says. “And a big strength of ours is that we have five offensive linemen coming back that all played a lot last year. We only lose one starter from the line.” A healthy, experienced offensive front combined with Rogers in the backfield could spell trouble for opposing defenses this fall. Along with that, Hurst mentions Alex Rhoades, who plays receiver and outside linebacker, as well as Gage Owens as players to watch for this season. Erik Jenson steps into the quarterback role for the Dragons as well, and Hurst says he thinks Jensen will surprise a lot of people. When asked what it will take for Pepperell to repeat the second-half success from 2021 in 2022, Hurst hesitates a moment before answering.“Ithink the big thing is that we’re not focusing on our opponents or anybody else. We’re just focusing on ourselves,” Hurst says. “We’ve got a couple of tough scrimmages before the season starts. If we can come out of them and stay healthy, then I think we are going to be fine.”
SCHEDULE 8.19 Northwest Whitfield 8.26 At Model 9.09 Woodland, Cartersville 9.16 At Temple 9.23 At Chattooga 10.07 Armuchee 10.14 At Darlington 10.21 Trion 10.28 At Dade County 11.04BETWEENCoosaTHE LINES 2022 HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL PREVIEW • 80% faster than traditional masonry • Zero impact to existing landscape • No need for heavy equipment • Freeze/thaw proof • 100% customizable • Financing available Outdoor kitchens & fireplaces in days, not weeks. LOCAL TO ROME, GEORGIA Call 770-722-1001 for a consultation
TOTAL SEASONS: 33 first season: 1992 REGION CHAMPIONSHIPS: 11 (2021 last) STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS: 2 (2017 last) MARTAVIOUSL-R: COLLINS (TE/WR) JR REECE FOUNTAIN (QB) JR STEPHIYLAN GREEN (DL) SR
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ALL
HEAD COACH: john reid 74-17 4 region championships state championships TIME RECORD: 353 games - 245 - 107 - 1
2021 RECORD: 8-3, overall (6-1, region 5-AAAAAA)
ROME HIGH’S 2021 FOOTBALL SEASON FEATURED SOME HIGHS AND LOWS. The Wolves manhandled region rival Carrollton to take control of the region and eventually won the region title, but they dropped a firstround state playoff game to a determined John’s Creek squad to end a promising seasonMomentsprematurely.afterthe playoff loss, Coach John Reid took the blame for it and mentioned that it won’t happen again. If there is anything to be learned about Reid, now in his eighth season with Rome, it’s that he follows through on what he says. Moments after being introduced as the new head football coach at Rome, Reid predicted the Wolves would win a state title. In fact, the Wolves won two since his arrival and have factored in the state playoffs in a major way even on years where they haven’t lifted the big Thosetrophy.lofty expectations remain for the Wolves who enter the 2022 season hungry and with something to prove after an earlyround exit. And of course, in typical Rome fashion, the Wolves face a daunting nonregion schedule to prepare for the region and playoff battles later in the year. “We have a great schedule this year. Four of our first five opponents have a good chance to be in the top 10 in their classification when we play them, so it’s going to be tough,” Reid says. Rome will also play host to the Corky Kelly Classic once again with the Wolves facing off against Creekside in the nightcap, allowing local fans a chance to see highcaliber football on Friday, Aug. 19 at Barron
ROME Wolves
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SCHEDULE 8.19 Creekside (BA) 8.26 Lithonia (BA) 9.02 At Carrollton 9.09 Pebblebrook 9.23 Allatoona 9.30 At Woodstock 10.07 Sequoyah 10.21 At River Ridge 10.28 Creekview 11.04 At Etowah BETWEEN THE LINES 2022 HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL PREVIEW
PROUD TEAM PHYSICIANS FOR Stadium.“It’s nice to be back in the Corky Cell Classic, especially after everything got kind of crazy there for a while,” Reid says. “It’s a great opportunity to show off our city, but we do have some work to do to sell tickets and get those stands packed.”
So, Rome gets ready with several college prospects and a hankering to make sure they don’t have an early exit from the playoffs this season. If the Wolves can weather the nonregion schedule and not have the injury bug bite, there is a solid opportunity for Rome to be playing late into December.
While the Wolves did lose some talent from last season’s region title-winning squad, a good bit of the offensive production, particularly from the passing game returns. Junior quarterback Reece Fountain is back behind center and has started a ton of games. Last year, he threw for more than 2,000 yards and 19 touchdowns and will see the majority of last year’s receivers returning.Martel Hight, a Vanderbilt commitment, racked up more than 1,000 receiving yards for the Wolves last season and was a force as a wideout and cornerback. Demarcus Daniel and Martavious Collins are two other key targets for the Rome offense and both players have had huge upside and potential. Rome’s defensive line and linebacking corps look stacked yet again and rumors coming out of the area predict this group of linemen could be as good or better than the group that anchored the line for the back-to-back state titles. Stephilyan Green, a Clemson Commit and All-State Selection let season, anchors the group and will be one of many Wolves helping terrorize opposing quarterbacks and ballcarriers all season. Rome’s region won’t be easy either as the Wolves shift from Region 5-6A to Region 6-6A and will face off against different opponents like Sequoyah, Woodstock, River Ridge, Creekview, and Etowah. The region opener at home against Allatoona might set up the road to the region title, as the winner will most likely be favored to capture the region title. When pondering the upcoming season Reid’s face remains unchanged, and he delivers the typical matter-of-fact answers he’s known for. “I think we’ll be prepared. The question is can we handle the ups and down,” he says. “We don’t want to get too far up, and we don’t want to get too far down, because we’ve got to be ready for every game. We learned that last year.”
2021 RECORD: 8-3
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ODDS ARE UNITY CHRISTIAN FOOTBALL COACH DAVID HUMPHREYS HAS SEEN JUST ABOUT EVERYTHING when it comes to high school football. Humphreys, who has been head coach at Rome, Trion, Gordon Central, and Unity, has had winning teams, playoff teams, losing teams, and more but last year’s venture into the realm of eightman football at Unity was a bit of a change. “Eight-man football is still football but it’s definitely different from 11-man football,” Humphreys says. “You basically take out two linemen and one skill position player. The field is still 100 yards, and it’s 40 yards wide meaning it’s a space game. So defenders have to be able to make a tackle in the open field.” The wide-open nature of the game tends to favor offenses. Last year, Unity’s offense churned right along, as the Lions advanced to the second round of the GAPPS (Georgia Association of Private and Parochial Schools) Playoffs. The Lions are used to deep runs in the playoffs having won a state title a couple of years back and perennially fielding teams that finish amongst the top in their region. Those expectations are still present as the Lions prepare to embark on the 2022 campaign.“Wehad a good offseason. We consistently had about half of our team lifting. The other half was usually playing another sport. This summer we’ve had great participation in the program,” Humphreys says. “We’re excited because this is really the first time in three or four years here where we did a lot in the summer.”
UNITY Lions
HEAD COACH: david humphries
TOTAL SEASONS: 12 first season: 2010 REGION CHAMPIONSHIPS: 2 (2020 last) STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS: 1 (2020 last) PRICEL-R: DYER (WR/LB) SR EVAN WHITESIDE (QB/LB) SO COOPER GIDDENS (WR/CB) JR
Another obstacle Humphreys faces at Unity is a bit of unknown value when it comes to opposing teams. “One of the issues is that the rosters on the other teams can be pretty fluid. Last year, a few of the teams in our region were senior-laden, so we’re not sure what they’re going to have back this year,” he says. “We just need to kind of worry about ourselves and do what we can. I think we will be strong on defense. Hopefully, we can mature on offense, and it can catch up with our defense as the season goes on.”
As for what the Lions will need to do to try to get to the top of the region and possibly make a run for the playoffs, Humphreys says it’s a cliché but believes it holds true. “I think we just have to improve each and every week. I see us having the ability to do that,” Humphreys says. “I see our team having the ability to really find its stride by game four or five as long as we stay healthy and keep working hard.”
SCHEDULE 8.26 At Central Christian 9.2 Griffin Christian 9.16 At Hearts Academy 9.23 Dominion Christian 9.30 At Holy Ground Baptist Academy 10.7 At AcademyFerryJohnsonChristian 10.21 Fideles Christian 10.28 Horizon AcademyChristian 11.4 At Lafayette Christian BETWEEN THE LINES 2022 HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL PREVIEW Let's Play Ball www.vargosmile.com Good luck to all players this season and here are tips from our winning playbook: At Vargo Orthodontics, we will custom fit you for the right mouth guard to protect your teeth, protect your dental restorations, and prevent serious injury Call us to schedule an appointment for your custom fitting. 419 East 2nd Ave Rome, GA 30161 706 290 0011
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With the eight-man game favoring offenses, the Lions return a couple of key skill players in Cooper Giddens and Price Dyer. Giddens was all-state last year, and he serves as a deepthreat at wide receiver and a solid defensive back as well. Price Dyer, who plays tight end, is capable of scoring when he touches the ball as well as commanding the middle when he plays linebacker on defense. Evan Whiteside will take over the quarterback role for Unity this season. He’s had limited snaps but Humphreys believes he will mature quickly once the games begin.
Humphreys also mentions Avery Alford, who played a lot of linebacker last year and will also get some touches at running back this year as a key cog for the Lions. “Those are the guys we are looking for right off the bat as players that we have high expectations for,” he says.
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HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL PREVIEW 2022 | BETWEEN THE LINES 27 333 Old Lindale Rd SE, Rome, GA 3 0161 www.SHFoods.com A whole new look for our lineup
HEAD COACH: jon cudd, first season ALL TIME RECORD: 696 games - 379-306-11
BOBBYL-R: CAMPBELL (RG/DT) JR CHRIS ROPER (S/SL) SR JONATHAN GOUGH (QB/P) JR
the Tigers to the playoffs seven times in nine years and Adairsville reached the playoffs again last season. The foundation of a solid program is already in place, and Cudd, his charges, and the coaching staff are working to keep building on it.“We have a great group of guys and kids. They are obviously making the transition to me as the head coach,” he says. “They’re focused on just building on what we’ve been doing here. We know these kids always have chances to go play somewhere else, but I feel like the majority of our kids want to be here and are excited to be here.”
A CHANGE AT THE TOP won’t be quite as difficult for the Adairsville Tigers this season, as former defensive coordinator John Cudd fills the shoes of former coach Eric Bishop. Cudd is quite familiar with the program and is excited to see what the group of players can accomplish going forward. “When Coach Bishop retired, he told me he wasn’t worried about me being the head coach, but he told me being the coach and remaining the defensive coordinator might be a lot,” Cudd says. “I’ve kind of felt some of that recently with us competing in some 7 vs 7’s, but it’s coming along and I’m Bishopadjusting.”took
Ironically, the Tigers lost a lot from their defense from last season but return a lot of offensive firepower, meaning Cudd and his coaches have work to do to get the defense back in shape for region play. “We have our work cut out for us. We lost a lot defensively, and we are replacing them with some young kids,” Cudd says.
ADAIRSVILLE
Tigers
2021 RECORD: 8-3, overall (6-2, region 6-aaa)
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TOTAL SEASONS: 67 first season: 1956 REGION CHAMPIONSHIPS: 8 (2001 last)
However, Cudd mentions that he bellies the Tigers linebackers will be solid and they have plenty of kids ready to play, they just don’t have tons of game experience. Adairsville’s region underwent a few changes with Rockmart leaving and Gordon Lee, Ridgeland, and Bremen coming in. The Tigers are familiar with those foes though, as they’ve played them in the past few years or met them in preseason games.
“I put in for the job because of the people around us. We have a great support staff. The coaches and everybody are behind you. We’ve poured a whole lot into these kids the last few years,” Cudd says. “We are always tweaking ourselves trying to find ways to be more efficient and be better, and we continue to do that. That’s how we have sustained success over the past few years. I’m proud of these guys. We’ve been through a lot the past few months, but it’s been good.”
The offense returns four starters on the offensive line as well as some key weapons, including quarterback Jonathan Gough and wide receivers Chris Roper, Evan Sanders, and Grayson“JonathanBelcher.isa big kid who stepped in last year and started every game at quarterback. He is a kid who can make plays with his legs and his arm, and I’m expecting a big year out of him,” Cudd says. “Chris Roper is another very dangerous one. He plays all over the place on offense and defense, returns kicks, he really does it all,” Cudd says. Cudd mentions that Bobby Campbell, James Foster, Mason Tordrup, and Luke Alter all started on the line last year and bring a wealth of experience to the Tigers. “I feel like one of the things that I bring to the table is that I have a really good understanding of our defense. It’s a struggle because we do have to replace a lot of guys,” Cudd says. “We’ve got kids that have been in the program, but it’s tough when you are replacing 85 percent of your tackles from last year.”
HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL PREVIEW 2022 | BETWEEN THE LINES 29 511 Soho Drive Adairsville, GA 30103 • 770-773-7726 • www.tilefactoryoutletinc.com
SCHEDULE 8.26 Cherokee Bluff 9.02 At Rabun County 9.09 Cass 9.16 At OglethorpeLakeview-Ft. 9.23 Ringgold 9.30 At LaFayette 10.07 At Ridgeland 10.21 Gordon Lee 10.28 At Bremen 11.04 Coahulla Creek BETWEEN THE LINES 2022 HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL PREVIEW
Cudd mentions that there are no easy region games and that every opponent will be fighting hard when they play the Tigers. And as the days move closer to kickoff, Cudd gets excited about what lies ahead.
“We have a lot of guys coming back on offense which is going to help.”
CARTERSVILLE Hurricanes
2021 RECORD: 10-1, overall (5-0, region 7-AAAAA)
Warner Robbins went on to capture the state title over Cartersville’s region foe, Calhoun. When asked if there was any extra motivation in the off-season after the close playoff loss, Cartersville head coach Conor Foster downplays the loss. “I can’t say that we don’t think about the loss. But that’s not what fuels us day in and day out. Instead, we are focusing on our standard and making sure we have a championship program, not just a championship team,” Foster says. “We want to make sure we are building great men and great community members. The football is going to take care of itself.”
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Along with the attitude and mindset, Foster says being able to keep staff continuity over the past few years continues to play a key role in the Hurricanes’ success. “We’ve only lost one coach over the last few years, and we were able to replace him with one of our middle school coaches,” Foster says. “We’ve got a core group of strong senior leaders that have played a lot of football, and they have the opportunity to help lead this team forward.”
OVER THE PAST 10 YEARS, it’s hard to find many football programs better than Cartersville. The Purple Hurricanes have reached the state finals four times, won two state titles, and have two other semifinal appearances as well. And don’t forget the nine region championships. A close loss to Warner Robbins in last year’s second round of the playoffs ended the Hurricanes' playoff run prematurely.
TOTAL SEASONS: 110 first season: 1909 REGION CHAMPIONSHIPS: 22 (2021 last) STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS: 4 (2016 last) COLLINL-R: FLETCHER (WR/DB) SR PAUL GAMBLE (QB) SR JOHNATHAN CLINE (OL/OT) SR
HEAD COACH: conor foster 34-4 2 region championships ALL TIME RECORD: 1,065 games - 705-330-30
Cartersville’s success hasn’t made putting a non-region schedule together
While Cartersville will once again be the favorite to win the region title, the Purple Hurricanes could face a stiff challenge from Calhoun and new region foe Dalton, as well as up-and-coming Cass. Paul Gamble takes over at quarterback for Cartersville after spending time last year playing quarterback in situational roles. Foster says Gamble brings a unique skill set to the position. Malachi Jeffries played some running back last season and will get the call a good bit more this year. Collin Fletcher didn’t see much time on the field last year because of an injury but scored a touchdown against Warner Robbins in the playoffs and should be set to play a big role this season. Foster mentions that offensive lineman Johnathan Cline will serve as an anchor for the offensive and defensive fronts and that line play will be a big part of the Hurricanes’ success this season.
Foster also mentioned Kace Adams and Braylon Inman as key components of the defensive backfield and as big leaders for the defensive unit. When talking about possibilities for the season, Foster reiterates his earlier words.
For a program that has lived at the top for a solid decade, the Purple Hurricanes don’t have far to travel. If the squad can focus on that preparation and prepare the way they are used to, there is no telling how far they can go.
SCHEDULE 8.19 At Cherokee 8.26 Jonesboro 9.02 At Allatoona 9.09 Columbia 9.16 Heritage, Conyers 9.30 Calhoun 10.07 At Cass 10.14 At Hiram 10.21 Woodland, Cartersville 10.28 At Dalton BETWEEN THE LINES 2022 HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL PREVIEW Downtown Cartersville’s Premier Jewelry, Watch & Luxury Giftware Boutique 9 E. Main St. Cartersville, Georgia - www.itsabouttimeboutique.com - 678.719.8167
HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL PREVIEW 2022 | BETWEEN THE LINES 31 easy, but the Purple Hurricanes face several tough contests before the region schedule gets started in late September. They face Class 7A Cherokee, Class 6A Jonesboro and Allatoona, Class 5A Heritage-Conyers, and Class AA Columbia before opening Region 7-5A play hosting“We’veCalhoun.beenlucky that this year we’ve found five opponents with some unique offensive and defensive schemes. A team like Allatoona will line it up under center and pound it out, while Cherokee will spread you out and throw the ball all over the field,” Foster says. “Being able to get those different looks is going to help us in big games later on in the season.”
“Really, it’s about competing against ourselves and our standard here at Cartersville. We have to make sure we are giving championship-level effort and preparation and working with a purpose every day,” he says. “Our mantra this year is to plant the flag and work on what we need to do to get back on top.”
And while records are important, the results on the field are too. Heading into a promising season with lots of talent on the team, Gates isn’t sure the overall record will improve much given some of the competition the Colonels face. “I’m ok going 6-4 against the level of teams we’re going to be facing this year. What I can’t stand is playing an easier nonregion schedule, going 9-1 and then losing
HEAD COACH: steve gates 11-10 ALL TIME RECORD: 689 games - 227 - 457 - 5
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CASS Colonels
The Colonels recorded a 6-4 season in year one under Gates and reached the playoffs while going 5-6 in year two. So, while there is still plenty of work to be done, the mindset of just being middling seems to be evaporating for the Colonels. “That’s the fun thing about this, is that we haven’t even begun to scratch the surface of what we can do here,” Gates said. “We’re building a program where kids want to come and play instead of them leaving to go play at other area schools.”
2021 RECORD: 5-6, overall (2-3 region 7-aaaaa)
CHANGING A MINDSET IS NEVER EASY and Cass Coach Steve Gates found a tough mindset to change when he took over the program two years ago. The Colonels hadn’t reached the playoffs since 2006. “There have been some frustrating days and a lot of ups and downs and a lot of excuses. It’s been a tough but rewarding two and a half years. Coming in, the players were used to 1-9 and 0-10 and got excited if they won three games,” Gates said. “We had to overcome a lot and get out of this mediocrity mindset. I’m sure I’ve made some people mad, but like I told my principal, no one's expectations for this program are going to exceed my own expectations.”
TOTAL SEASONS: 70 first season: 1953 REGION CHAMPIONSHIPS: 1 (1983 last) PARKERL-R: DUNN (OL/C) SR FREDI GBADIE (RB) SR TODD GADDY (S) SR
SCHEDULE 8.19 Kennesaw Mountain (BA)(D) 8.26 Rockmart 9.02 Drew 9.09 At Adairsville 9.23 At M. L. King (GO) 9.30 At CartersvilleWoodland, 10.07 Cartersville 10.14 Dalton 10.21 Hiram 10.28 At Calhoun BETWEEN THE LINES 2022 HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL PREVIEW NEED HELP WITH NUTRITION? NEED HELP WITH ACCOUNTABILITY? NEED STRUCTURE? TRY ONLINE TRAINING! 1 : 1 personal training from home with local personal trainer and health coach, Corey Pitts of CMP Training. Personal Trainer, AFFA and Certified Nutrition Coach In person and online training cmptrainingrome.com 770.324.9695 located at Rome Athletic Club.
HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL PREVIEW 2022 | BETWEEN THE LINES 33 in the first round of the payoffs,” Gates said. “Our non-region schedule is going to be brutal, but I schedule these teams to make us tougher and get the team ready to face the region schedule and ready to face tough opponents in theCassplayoffs.”playsKennesaw
Mountain, Drew, and ML King along with Adairsville and Rockmart before starting the region schedule this season. Reaching the postseason last year has given Cass renewed hope, as have several standout players who have a chance to do some special things for the Colonels this fall. One such player Gates calls out is starting quarterback and safety Devin Henderson, who has started 23 consecutive games for the Colonels.“Heis a guy who I want to have the football in his hands. He’s been a starter for us since he was a freshman and already has an offer to play safety from FAU,” Gates said. Sacovie White, who has picked up an offer from Georgia, has plenty of speed at wide receiver and Gates says he could end up being one of the fastest players he’s ever coached. Todd Gaddy, who plays safety, is one of only 13 seniors on the Colonels’ squad, and Gates sings his praises as a great player with a high football IQ. Gates also touts several of his linemen including center Parker Dun a two-year starter who was part of Cass’ state championship wrestling squad. “He’s a great kid and there is no one out there who is going to out-hustle or outwork him,” Gates said. Cass still has to face Cartersville and Calhoun in the region, but the Colonels have more confidence and experience reaching the “Whenplayoffs.Icame to Class I wanted to help build something special. I passed on some chances to go to other schools where winning 10 or 11 games would have just been maintaining the programs,” Gates said. “I wanted to come in and make a difference at a program. I think we’re doing that, and I’ve been lucky to have a great coaching staff to help me.”
A renewed sense of worth, a talented group of players growing with a solid group of coaches, and renewed vigor at a program that hasn’t seen tons of recent football success spell big things in the work for a program that has often taken a backseat in Bartow County. With Gates at the helm that mindset is most definitely changing.
TOTAL SEASONS: 25 first season: 1998 SPEAKING TO FIRST-YEAR
The Wildcats aren’t known for their pigskin prowess, as the school has posted just one winning season and one playoff appearance since opening in 1998. That winning record and playoff season came in 1999 a few years before any of the current crop of Wildcats was born. “I think it’s a been a really good transition, and I’ve gotten great support from the administration. I feel like we have a great staff in place,” Haywood says. “We need to do a lot of rejuvenation and that can be stressful. At the same time, the kids are responding well, and the confidence is brewing.”Thatconfidence has grown during offseason workouts and over the summer, as the squad has competed against other teams in 7v7s and grown together as a team.
34 BETWEEN THE LINE S | HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL PREVIEW 2022 2021 RECORD: 1-9, overall (0-5 region 7-aaaaa)
Brandon Haywood during his lunch break, it’s hard not to hear the enthusiasm in his voice. He speaks with excitement even though he’s facing a less than easy task in taking over the helm for Woodland.
HEAD COACH
HEAD COACH: Brandon haywood, first season TIME RECORD: 239 games - 71 - 168
ALL
WOODLAND Wildcats
“I think that we are taking a day-by-day approach. We’ve definitely been battle tested this summer against teams like Hillgrove, South Cobb, and Kell. We just came back from an FCA Camp where we played 7v7 against 12 really good teams,” Haywood said. “We see that our kids are competitive, and now we need to try to shift the mindset from just being happy that we are competitive and playing well against these teams to where we are truly able to compete and possibly beat these teams.”
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When speaking about some of the players, that same excitement permeates Haywood’s voice.“Chase Carson is truly electrifying. We need to get the ball in his hands,” Haywood says. “Every time a college comes visiting they ask about Jayden Smith, who led the region in interceptions last year. The kid is versatile and is going to help us on offense and defense thisHeyear.”mentions that Isiah Livsey played a lot of running back as a freshman totaling more than 400 yards and has made improvements over the summer. Junior Brelace Williams will take the reins at quarterback, and Haywood says Williams is looking at film and studying and trying to find any way he can to get better. While linebacker Dylan Carver doesn’t have prototypical linebacker size, Haywood says Carver packs a punch and will cause problems for opposing ball carriers. Haywood also sings the praises of Kwadrus Wilson, who plays on the offensive line and at nose tackle. Haywood believes the junior could wreak havoc on the opposing team’s offensive fronts all year. He also mentions Jack Webb, who earned all-region honors in 2021 at defensive end, as another key component of the Wildcats’ defense. Woodland faces a good mix of non-region opponents before the Region 5-7A slate kicks off in late September. The Wildcats will play Class 6A East Paulding, Class 7A Osborne as well as Class AA Model and Class A Pepperell and Coosa before the first region game against Cass on Sept. 30. Haywood knows the Wildcats will most likely be underdogs in most of their games this season and face a tough region slate with teams like Dalton, Calhoun, and Cartersville. However, that previously mentioned enthusiasm doesn’t slack off when discussing the Wildcats’ foes. “This is the toughest task I’ve ever been asked to do as a coach. One thing that’s tough about today’s generation is they expect to see results immediately. Sometimes you can be a lot better and not get the win,” Haywood says. “I’m looking at this on a day-by-day basis and seeing the results. My expectations are through the roof for this bunch, and I think they are going to do some great things this year.”
SCHEDULE 8.19 At East Paulding 8.26 Coosa 9.02 Model 9.09 At Pepperell 9.23 At Osborne 9.30 Cass 10.07 At Dalton 10.14 Calhoun 10.21 At Cartersville 10.28 At Hiram BETWEEN THE LINES 2022 HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL PREVIEW 519 Broad St. Suite 101/103 Rome, GA • amanda@farrellsframeanddesign.com706.584.7816www.FarrellsFrameAndDesign.com NEED FRAMES?
36 BETWEEN THE LINE S | HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL PREVIEW 2022 Henderson & Sons Funeral Homes wish all of our local teams success in their upcoming www.hendersonandsons.comseasons!
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TOTAL 88 first season: 1925 CHAMPIONSHIPS: 23 (2018 last) CHAMPIONSHIPS: 4 (2017 last) (OL) SR CAM CURTIS (WR/CB) SR FULLER (LB) SR
REGION
BRODYL-R: BALLIEW
NATHAN
The Jackets did lose a host of talented players from last year’s squad, and the coaches have been working hard during the off-season to prepare the returning players for the gauntlet ahead. “I think our off-season went well. The kids really got after it. We have a lot to replace, so this spring and summer were crucial. Several players are new leaders, and they have taken on the role and done a good job,” Stephenson says. Calhoun won’t catch any breaks on the schedule, as the Jackets play a tough slate of non-region games before opening up region play against defending Region 7-5A champion Cartersville on Sept. 30. Before meeting the Purple Hurricanes on the road, the Jackets will play Class 6A Blessed
HEAD COACH: clay stephenson 31-9 925 games - 526 - 372 - 27
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2021 RECORD: 12-3, overall (4-1, region 7-aaaaa)
SEASONS:
STATE
ALL TIME RECORD:
CALHOUN Yellow Jackets
The enthusiasm and excitement from reaching the finals yet again bled over into the offseason for the program. “Winning breeds winning, and of course, it doesn’t hurt morale. That enthusiasm is felt not only by the players but by the community and the town,” Calhoun coach Clay Stephenson says. “The challenge is that you can’t just snap your fingers and get back to those same big game stats. Our challenge to the team is to try to get better through the year.”
EXCITEMENT AND WINNING SEEM TO GO HAND-IN-HAND for the Calhoun Yellow Jackets and 2021 provided lots of both as the squad finished second in the region before making a run to the Class 5A State Finals before falling to Warner Robbins.
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HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL PREVIEW 2022 | BETWEEN THE LINES 39 3 S Division St, Rome, GA 30165 • 706-512-4109 • @SouthernTileCompany
“When we moved to 5A, we had to start picking up a few more games and it’s tough because we’re going up against some very good competition. We know we could lose some of those early games, but those teams will help us gauge ourselves and get us ready to play in some big-time atmospheres,” Stephenson says. “It will help make us better for region games and get us prepared for what we might see later down the line in the playoffs.”
While Calhoun must replace numerous starters from last year’s squad on both offense and defense, Stephenson mentions a few players fans should keep an eye out for. “Caden Williams will be playing running back, and Nathan Fuller is our only returning starter on defense,” Stephenson says. “Brody Balliew and Christian Bell are returning linemen, and they are going to be keys for us. Cam Curtis played a lot last year for us and will play a big role for us this year.”
While some coaches might lament losing so many starters, Stephens seems to relish it. “It’s exciting. It’s open season every day at practice. Even for those returning guys, because right now we don’t have starters or backups,” he says. “Hopefully, the starters will separate themselves. It’s been fun because we have so many holes to fill, but we’ve got some really good players ready to step up.”
As for what it might take for the Yellow Jackets to make another deep run into the playoffs, Stephenson says a few key words. “It’s going to take a lot of things to get back to where we were last year. Having to replace so many guys means we’re going back to the fundamentals,” he says. “You don’t just snap your fingers and get to play for a region championship. With the schedule we play, we have to work hard every day. If we can handle the adversity, that will play a huge component in getting to those big games again.”
SCHEDULE 8.19 Blessed Trinity 8.26 At (Alabama)Gardendale 9.02 At Creekview 9.09 Cedartown 9.16 At Sonoraville 9.30 At Cartersville 10.07 Hiram 10.14 At CartersvilleWoodland, 10.21 Dalton 10.28BETWEENCassTHE LINES 2022 HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL PREVIEW
While the Warriors’ region schedule and opponents won’t be any easier in 2022, their non-region schedule offers a bit of a respite from previous years. The Warriors face Class A opponents Armuchee, Coosa, and Trion as well as Class 4A Southeast Whitfield. Not that those schools aren’t tough competition, but all of the non-region opponents this year other than Southeast are much closer in population size to Gordon Central than the non-region opponents from previous years. Hamilton mentions that playing those teams gives the Warriors a tough schedule
NOT A LOT OF THINGS WENT RIGHT for Gordon Central in 2021. The Warriors ended the year 0-10 and scored fewer than 100 total points in the 10 games. Fourth-year coach TJ Hamilton doesn’t focus on the losses or the negatives from the Warriors’ previous campaigns but instead has his eyes firmly set on the now and the team’s potential. “The biggest thing for us is to just keep working. We have a lot of veteran coaches and I think we are getting a lot of things done,” Hamilton says. “But one of the biggest issues for us is that we’ve just got to stay positive. If we can be positive and keep working hard, then I think good things are going to Gordonhappen.”Central remains in Region 7-AA for 2022, but the region has a new look with several schools from the typical Region 7-AA of previous years moving down to Class A. Haralson County, North Murray, Murray County, and Rockmart join the region for this year with Model and Fannin County remaining from previous years.
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CENTRAL
2021 RECORD: 0-10, overall (0-6, region 7-aa)
TOTAL SEASONS: 38 first season: 1985
HEAD COACH: tj hamilton 6-24 ALL TIME RECORD: 371 games - 131 - 238 - 2
JESUSL-R: HERNANDEZ (LB) SR PEYTONO WILSON (QB) SR SKYLER HILL (FS/WB) SR
GORDON Warriors
SCHEDULE 8.19 At Armuchee 8.26 Southeast Whitfield 9.02 Coosa 9.09 At Trion 9.23 Fannin County 9.30 At Haralson County 10.07 At North Murray 10.21 At Rockmart 10.28 Model 11.04 Murray County BETWEEN THE LINES 2022 HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL PREVIEW
SERVICETHISADON’TWWW.REVIVECYCLEWORKSROME.COMMISSRIDEFALLYOURBIKETODAY! but one that will allow them to be more competitive with some of the opponents. He notes that no team will be easy, and the Warriors will need to work, but he sees a lot of positives in the new non-region schedule. Hamilton also notes that the Warriors played some opponents close in 2021, including Coosa and Southeast but couldn’t make a few plays or key stops at the proper times, eventually falling. He hopes the offseason work the coaches have put the players through will get them ready to possibly emerge victorious in close games this season.
HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL PREVIEW 2022 | BETWEEN THE LINES 41 HIGH QUALITY BICYCLE REPAIRS & SERVICE 300 N 5TH AVE ROME, GA • 706-204-8429
Gordon Central also brought in new coaches for the year with former Woodland coach Tony Plott taking over the offense and Billy Blizzard now helming the defense. Plott will have some weapons to work with including quarterback Peyton Wilson, who started 10 games last season. The defense lost a lot but does return Blake Bloom. And in the end, Hamilton notes again that work and staying positive are key for the Warriors in 2022.
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TWO SEVEN-POINT LOSSES IN REGION GAMES cost the Sonoraville Phoenix a trip to the state playoffs in 2021, and coach Denver Pate and the Phoenix have been working hard all off-season getting ready for a new region and a chance to possibly get to the playoffs after posting the school’s first winning record in five years. “Our attendance this off-season has been really good. The kids have been working hard in the weight room and out on the grass. We’ve done some 7v7’s with some teams, and our kids have gone out there and competed well,” Pate says. “Overall, I’ve been pleased with our guys’ efforts.”
JAXON
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SONORAVILLE Phoenix 2021
Sonoraville has spent the previous 10 years in Class 3A but moves up to Class 4A this fall into a new region, 7-4A, which brings a few challenges. “We’re going to be one of the smallest schools in Class 4A. But it’s a six-team region which is different because we’ve been in a larger region the past few years. This new region means if we can grab a couple of region wins, we could get to the playoffs,” he says. “But the teams in this region are going to be tough. Cedartown is strong as are Central, Southeast Whitfield, and Northwest Whitfield.”
BRANTL-R:
The smaller region brought some good and bad news, as the Phoenix struggled a bit to fill out the non-region schedule. They managed to add Dalton and Calhoun as well as LaFayette, Pickens, and Darlington, providing the squad with some serious tests before they begin region play on Sept. 30. “It’s good to get to play Dalton and LaFayette again, and playing those nonRECORD: 6-4, overall (4-4, region 6-aaa) COACH: denver pate 24-27 TIME RECORD: 167 games - 71-96 SEASONS: 17 first season: 2006 BRYANT (WR/S) SR PATE (QB) JR RIDGE REDD (TE) SR
HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL PREVIEW 2022 | BETWEEN THE LINES 43 932 N. 2nd Ave NW Rome, GA 30165 • 706-512-0262 SPECIALIZING IN Quartz • Granite • Marble • Silestone CUSTOM UNDERMOUNT & VESSEL SINKS Copper • Porcelain • Glass • Stainless Steel
region teams is going to help prepare us for the region,” Pate says. “The atmosphere we will see against Calhoun and Dalton will help get us ready for what we will see with Cedartown and the Whileothers.”Sonoraville has to replace some talent on both the offensive and defensive lines, the Phoenix bring back a wealth of talent, specifically in the skill spots on offense and linebacker.Quarterback
Jaxon Pate returns for the Phoenix after throwing for more than 2,000 yards and rushing for another 600-plus last season.Zach Lyles is back at tailback after rushing for almost 500 yards in 2021, and Pate will also have several returning receivers to target. One of those targets, Brant Bryant, will feature prominently at receiver and at defensive back for Sonoraville.TightendRidge Reed has some big school scholarship offers and is a big tight end target for Pate. Linebackers Tristan Mullins and Zach Mcafee are both back and will be key leaders for the Phoenix defense, while big Preston Gilbert will be an anchor for both the offensive and defensive lines. “It all starts up front and we are really working on getting the new kids together on the lines to gel and work together,” Pate says. “I think we are coming along and their execution is getting better.”
With a lot of senior talent returning and the solid off-season work, Pate says there is a lot of excitement in the air for Sonoraville. “I think our expectations are high, and I think this group can be a playoff contender,” he says. “With a lot of these senior guys that have been multi-year starters, they have a lot of expectations for themselves and we’ll see where it goes.”
A new region could be the answer for the Phoenix who just missed the playoffs a year ago. That near miss coupled with the returning talent could help pave the way for this year’s version to possibly reach the playoffs.
SCHEDULE 8.19 Pickens 8.26 Darlington 9.02 Dalton 9.09 At LaFayette 9.16 Calhoun 9.30 Northwest Whitfield 10.07 At Central, Carroll 10.21 Cedartown 10.28 At Heritage, Catoosa 11.04 At Southeast Whitfield BETWEEN THE LINES 2022 HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL PREVIEW
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“We’ve had a good summer of workouts. The kids have been coming in and working hard and we’ve also had good attendance,” Peek says. “We’ve done a lot more work on football this summer with several 7v7s and trying to get these kids as much experience as possible.”TheIndians have a tough stretch of non-region opponents before opening play in the new Region 7A-Division 1, and Peek says he hopes those games against Class 3A LaFayette, Temple, Class 3A Coahulla Creek, and Class 2A Murray County will get the team prepared for the rest of the season. “If we have weaknesses they are going to be exposed real quick against those teams. Hopefully, if something gets exposed we can fix it. I don’t mind problems that we can fix,” Peek says. “Playing those teams is going to
2021 RECORD: 5-5, overall (4-2, region 7-aa)
HEAD COACH: shawn peek 8-13 ALL TIME RECORD: 636 games - 304 - 319 - 13
TOTAL SEASONS: 62 first season: 1961 REGION CHAMPIONSHIPS: 2 (1974 last) ZADENL-R: PERRY (RB/LB) SR BILLY SETTLEMOIR (TE/DE) SR BUBBA BASS (OLB/LG) JR
A NEW REGION AND A MUCH YOUNGER TEAM give the Chattooga Indians a different feeling and perspective coming into the 2022 season. Although the squad has reached the state playoffs for eight consecutive seasons, this year’s team will have its work cut out for it to make it a ninth season. “One of the big things about this year’s team is that we’re going to need to stay patient and hopefully stay healthy. We don’t have much experience at all,” Coach Shawn Peek says. “About 80 percent of our roster is going to be made up of freshmen and sophomores, so we’re just going to need to stay healthy, not get discouraged and handleWhileadversity.”theroster is heavy on underclassmen, Peek does point out the off-season went well.
CHATTOOGA Indians
With the staff intact and a definite youth movement in motion, the Indians will be looking to gain experience early and see if it can carry them into the playoffs.
SCHEDULE 8.19 LaFayette 9.02 Temple 9.09 Coahulla Creek 9.16 At Murray County 9.23 Pepperell 9.30 At Armuchee 10.07 Darlington 10.14 At Trion 10.21 Dade County 10.28 At Coosa BETWEEN THE LINES 2022 HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL PREVIEW
HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL PREVIEW 2022 | BETWEEN THE LINES 45 Yancey’s Boom Truck Service LLC “Our Business Is Picking Up” Marcell Yancey Est.Owner/Operator1998 Home Office 706-862-6569 Cell 28500706-857-8351Hwy157Cloudland, GA 30731 help us get better and fix things so that we’re more prepared when we start region play.” Region 7A-Division 1 will see Chattooga facing off against Pepperell, Armuchee, Darlington, Trion, Dade County, and Coosaall teams the Indians are familiar with and all fairly local teams. “We’re used to playing all the teams in this region. It’s going to be a real good region,” Peek says. “We are fortunate because this schedule is a lot more local, so we won’t have to be traveling as much. I think we’ll see more fans at the games.”
When talking about the season, Peek mentions several players for fans to keep an eye on this season. “Zaden Perry is a senior who plays defense for us, and he’s also going to play running back,” Peek says. “Bubba Bass is an offensive lineman and linebacker. He’s a junior, but he’s been a starter since he was a freshman so we are counting on a lot from him.”
Peek also mentioned that Quarry Gibson has had a solid summer, and they expect him to do good things in the fall. He also talked about Billy Settlemoir at defensive end and Rocco Coppola on the offensive and defensive lines. And while the Indians have a definite youth movement this season, Peek mentioned that the coaching staff has a lot of experience. “We have a great coaching staff. We are very fortunate that we’ve been able to keep our staff intact,” Peek says. “Nothing we see is going to surprise our coaches. We’ve got a lot of really good coaches, but they’re not just good coaches, they are good people.”
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TRION Bulldogs
TOBYL-R: MADDUX (WR/RB/DB) JR
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LAST SEASON, TRION TURNED LOTS OF HEADS in Class A finishing as Region 6-A runner-up and just barely losing to Wilcox County in the second round of the Class A StateCoachPlayoffs.Sean Patrick enters his third season with the Bulldogs knowing he has some work to do to help rebuild the offensive and defensive lines, but he’s encouraged by the offseason and eager to see what the new landscape in Region 7-A Division I looks like. “We’ve had a really good offseason. I’ve been excited with the progress that we’ve made. We’re a smaller school, and we had a really big seniors class last year,” Patrick says. “We needed to have a good offseason and our kids have done an excellent job of showing up. Our attendance throughout the summer has been remarkable. I think we have gotten better this off-season.”
The younger team getting better is a big need for the Bulldogs, who move into the brand-new Region 7-A Division I this season among many schools with more kids than they have. While the size discrepancy might be daunting, Patrick seems pumped about the other aspects of the new region. “Our travel this year will be really good, I think. That’s going to be conducive for good gates for us and good gates for our opponents. There will be challenges. We are the smallest school in the region. A couple of the schools in the region have twice the student count that we do,” Patrick says. “It is what it is. We will roll up our sleeves and go to work. I think it’s going to be a good region with competitive football. I think
TOTAL SEASONS: 89 first season, 1933 REGION CHAMPIONSHIPS: 12 (2003 last) STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS: 2 (1974 last)
LOGAN ELLER (RB/LB) SR LUCAS STOKER (LB/OL) JR
2021 RECORD: 10-2, overall (4-1 region 6-a public)
HEAD COACH: sean patrick 13-9 ALL TIME RECORD: 932 games - 556 - 356 - 20
HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL PREVIEW 2022 | BETWEEN THE LINES 49 • Stump Removal • Complete Timber Service • Complete Tree Service 24 Hour Emergency Storm Damage Service • Fully Insured 706-238-1214 Call for a free quote • Whole Tree Chipping • Bucket Truck & Crane Service we’re going to see good crowds and great football environments. That’s fun to play in and fun for the fans to watch.” Travel should be a lot less daunting than the previous season for most of the region's opponents as Armuchee, Pepperell, Chattooga, Dade County, Coosa, and Darlington join the Bulldogs. Dade will be the farthest region trip with most of the other journeys being short hops for Trion and its fans. While Trion focuses on rebuilding its trenches, the Bulldogs return several key components on both offense and defense. Running back Logan Eller returns and will prove tough to stop for many defenses. Running mate Toby Maddux returns as well and is just as dangerous catching the ball as he is taking handoffs in the backfield. Sophomore quarterback Kade Smith started as a true freshman last season and gained a ton of experience. All three players play on both sides of the ball and bring a high level of skill to their roles. Ezra Adams and Lucas Stoker play both offensive and defensive line roles and will help anchor thoseOneunits.aspect of the Bulldogs’ attack revolves around their speedy skill players who Patrick says are all quite dangerous. “We’ve got several kids that if we find ways to get the balls in their hands, they can take it to the house,” he says. “It’s nice to have home run hitters and can score at any moment and several of our offensive skill players have that ability.”
Patrick also notes the entire secondary from last year is returning and although there is a lot of work to be done on refortifying the trenches, he’s already seeing some great progress on that front from off-season and summer workouts. “It’s exciting because I think we have the pieces to build with, we’re just trying to put everything in place,” he says. “We’re really excited about the upcoming season and excited to build on the success of last year.”
SCHEDULE 8.19 At Gordon Lee 8.26 At LaFayette 9.09 Gordon Central 9.16 Model 9.30 Dade County 10.07 At Coosa 10.14 Chattooga 10.21 At Pepperell 10.28 Armuchee 11.04 At Darlington BETWEEN THE LINES 2022 HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL PREVIEW
A new region with easier travel and more exciting games combined with an explosive team looking to repeat on last year’s 10-win season means these Bulldogs have plenty of bite and are ready to sink their teeth into their opponents, no matter their size.
A HEARTBREAKING LOSS in the Class 4A State Semifinals last year provided plenty of fuel and incentive for hard work for Cedartown during the off-season, and the Bulldogs and third-year head coach Jamie Abrams are looking to pick up right where they left off when the 2022 season kicks off. “Our off-season went well although it seemed like it was a lot shorter because we played right up until Christmas,” Abrams said.The Bulldogs fell to Carver-Columbus 22-21 in the Class 4A State Semifinals. Carver scored a late touchdown and then chose to go for two instead of the tie. The sting of loss still “Almostlingers.winning still hurts a bit,” Abrams said. “But I think our kids believe we could have won that game, and we’ve had a really good summer workout program. We’ve had great attendance, and the kids are truly focusing on getting better.”
When asked how the Bulldogs could possibly make a repeat of last year’s deep playoff run, Abrams mentions that it takes some luck with injuries, but that it all boils down to preparedness. Look no further than the Bulldogs' non-region schedule to see one big way Cedartown is prepping for a possible playoff run. The Bulldogs face Rockmart, Callaway, Sequoyah, Calhoun, and Dalton before they open region play at home on Sept. 30 against Central“We’veCarrollton.gotapretty brutal schedule, but that means we’re going to be battle-tested,” Abrams says. “I believe that when you play established teams like that and go into some
CEDARTOWN Bulldogs
HEAD COACH: jamie abrams 19-5 2 region championships
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2021 RECORD: 11-2, overall (5-0, region 7-aaaa
TOTAL SEASONS: 114 first season: 1907 REGION CHAMPIONSHIPS: 15 (2021 last) STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS: 1 (1963 last) ELIL-R: BARROW (LB/FB) '23 HARLEM DIAMOND (DB/RB) '23 PATRICK GARDNER (DL/FB) '23
ALL TIME RECORD: 1,042 games - 625 - 381 - 36
Chris Beeler Proud to support Cedartown | Go Bulldogs! 770-748-0111 really tough environments it’s going to help us in the long run through region play and the state did lose some key players from last year’s squad, the Bulldogs still return a plethora of talent that’s been working and sweating and thinking about the one-point loss that kept them out of the state finals.
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Cedartown returns Reece Tanner, who has started for three years at quarterback, as well as Harlem Diamond the leading rusher the last two years, and Patrick Gardner, a three-year starter at Xavierfullback.Hargrove is a three-year starter returning who plays linebacker and halfback, and Eli Barrow, who has led the Bulldogs in tackles the past two seasons, also returns. Abrams also mentioned seniors like Dustin Green, Peyton Nikolopoulus, Grant Dempsey, Zak Tillery, and Cornell Medellin. “Being able to have that experience coming back is great. We also have a lot of kids stepping into roles that have some experience, but not quite as much in a starting role,” Abrams says. “We’re not sure how they will respond, but it’s always great to have those senior guys out there to help them. And some of these seniors may not have been full-time starters, but they have been valuable assets for us.”
Whileplayoffs.”Cedartown
The Bulldogs have won back-to-back region titles and most pundits will have them favored to repeat as Region 7-4A champions again this season. And of course, now the Bulldogs get to see what they can do for an encore after one of the best seasons in the last few decades of the Ifprogram.therugged off-season workouts with great attendance as well as brutal non-region schedule pay dividends, the Bulldogs could indeed grab another region crown and make another deep run into the playoffs.
SCHEDULE 8.19 At Rockmart 8.26 Callaway 9.02 Sequoyah 9.09 At Calhoun 9.23 Dalton 9.30 Central, Carroll 10.07 At Heritage, Catoosa 10.21 At Sonoraville 10.28 Southeast Whitfield 11.04 At Northwest Whitfield BETWEEN THE LINES 2022 HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL PREVIEW
Joining Rockmart in the region are Model, Fannin County, Haralson County,
TOTAL SEASONS: 99 first season: 1923
REGION CHAMPIONSHIPS: 14 (2021 last) STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS: 1 (1950 last)
The 2021 season ended in the opening round of the playoffs. A knee injury to starting quarterback JD Drew didn’t help things and as 2022 rolls around the Yellow Jackets are hoping for a healthy Drew back behind center as the team moves to a new region home. After spending the previous two seasons in Region 6-3A, the Jackets have moved back to Region 7-AA, a destination the program is quite familiar with. However, the region has undergone some serious changes as far as teams go. Region 7-AA historically has been the home for several Floyd County squads but this year only Model remains from Floyd County.
ROCKMART Yellow Jackets
LANEARL-R: MCCRARY (RB/DB) SR CAM FERGUSON (RB/LB) SR DENNIS SIMS (WR/DB) SR
ALL TIME RECORD: 886 games - 471 - 389 - 26
2021 RECORD: 9-2, overall (8-0, region 6-aaa)
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FOR MANY YEARS, THE THOUGHT AROUND NORTHWEST GEORGIA was that if Rockmart could find the right football coach, the sky was the limit for the Yellow Jackets program. While several solid coaches came and went at the Polk County school, none managed to truly turn the Jackets into a force to be reckoned with. In stepped Biff Parson in 2016 and ever since he took over, the Jackets have been stinging opponents with reckless abandon, reaching the playoffs every season, grabbing five consecutive region titles, and generally wreaking havoc and mayhem upon all foes. As Parson heads into his seventh year with the program, the win and losses don’t lie. Rockmart is experiencing its best run of football since the late 1950s and has established itself as one of Northwest Georgia’s upper-tier programs.
HEAD COACH: biff parson 61-12
5 region championships
Murray County, North Murray, and Gordon Central. Several of the coaches in the newly formatted region have talked about how strong the competition will be this season with many noting that adding Rockmart doesn't make things any easier for teams trying to capture the region crown. While the region schedule looks daunting, it pales in comparison to the non-region schedule for the Jackets, who take on several top-notch opponents before entering the Region7-AA fray when they play host to Model on Sept. 30. Rockmart plays county rival Cedartown to start the season before playing Class 5A Cass and Dalton and then playing host to Class A Irwin County, the state runner-up last year in its classification.
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Those four games will make sure the Jackets are truly battle-tested and provide some serious big-game atmospheres to prepare the squad for the region contests and potential playoff games later down the road. Although Rockmart does lose several players from last year’s team, the Jackets return several key players ready to try to win a sixth-straight region title for the Jackets. The before-mentioned Davis at quarterback is one of several all-region honorees from last year returning. If he can recover from the knee injury, he will provide the Jackets plenty of oomph and offensive prowess at quarterback. Offensive lineman Montreas Simmons is back as is linebacker Brent Washington and defensive back and wide receiver Dennis Sims. Sims along with tight end Grant Lisk and running backs Brent Washington and Cam Ferguson give the Jackets a host of weapons on offense. While the defense took some big hits, there are plenty of players with game experience willing and able to step up into bigger roles for the season.
The last two years Rockmart was in Region 7-AA, 2018 and 2019, they won 11 and 14 games, respectively. Both years they lost to the eventual state champion in the playoff with the 2019 squad reaching the finals before falling.
SCHEDULE 8.19 Cedartown 8.26 At Cass 9.09 At Dalton 9.16 Irwin County 9.30 Model 10.07 Haralson County 10.14 At Murray County 10.21 Gordon Central 10.28 At Fannin County 11.04 At North Murray BETWEEN THE LINES 2022 HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL PREVIEW
As mentioned earlier, the prevailing thought of Rockmart finding the right coach might have been correct, and now Parson and his charges look to continue a level of success almost unprecedented at Rockmart.
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