GHSF Daily's Four Question feature historically poses the same questions to a different Georgia head coach each issue. This season, head coaches are being asked Four Questions tailored to current events. Today's interviewee is Pelham coach Dondrial Pinkins, whose team upset fifth-ranked Macon County 41-0 in a Class A matchup on Friday and entered the rankings this week for the first time since 2002.
Dondrial Pinkins, Pelham head coach
1. Macon County was a 23-point favorite, according to the Maxwell Ratings, and had beaten Pelham two of the past three seasons in the playoffs. What happened this time? "We came out early and played well. It started in the first phase of the game on the kickoff return, and that set the tone. Even though we fumbled on the first series, our defense stopped them and got the ball back, and then we scored in like two plays. I've known since I've been here that we're capable of playing at a high level like this, but we're to the point now where our kids believe in themselves as much as we do."
2. Pelham had not had a winning season since 2002 when you were hired in 2015. You've had back-to-back nine-win seasons, and now you're ranked. What has changed? "I think our guys have finally bought in. This is our fourth year, and our seniors now were in eighth grade when I took the job in the spring of 2015. The biggest thing with kids when you come in as a new coach and try to change things as far as technique and schematics is that they have a tendency to revert to old ways of doing things. No coach is wrong. But every coach has a new philosophy. The guys have been with me since they were in the ninth grade, and they understand the way things operate and should be done." [Pinkins also pointed to long relationships and trust he's built with his staff. Four young assistants - Anthony Brown, Justin Scott Wesley, Ja'Kyari Jenkins and Garret Hastley - played for Pinkins at Mitchell County or Thomasville. Offensive coordinator Daniel Dorsey, defensive line coach Frank Williams and special teams coach Jason Blair have worked with Pinkins for at least four years. Pinkins had worked with and become friends with new defensive coordinator David Johnson while coaching all-star games.]
3. Region 1-A is often rated as the state's weakest. Is the reputation justified, or is the region underrated? "You always have to prove it in this business. Not much is given. We've struggled in the playoffs. Some people get that recognition off tradition, which Pelham hasn't had over the years. We're trying to build it. Mitchell-Baker has had success, but Mitchell County falls in that same path as Pelham. It's something we have to prove. Hopefully this is one of those years that Pelham proves they belong."
4. Is this your best Pelham team? "I think right now we're better than we've been at this point in three years. We're young but experienced. We have only four seniors. We have no senior starters on the offensive or defensive lines. So the future is bright at Pelham, but the future is now too. We'll be as good as our seniors and our experienced younger guys lead us. If we can build and get better and compete, I feel we have a chance to make a run at a state title this year."
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