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DEL.ICIO.USState FB Report: Who’s hot, who’s not
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Westside-Macon coach Robert Davis, who appears to have a pretty strong team this season in Class AAAA, offered up a cliché during a conversation this week that applies to this week’s theme of who’s hot and who’s not:
”You can coach all you want, but if you don’t have athletes, you’re not going to win,” he said.
Davis must’ve had some good athletes through the years because he’s not had a losing season since he became a head coach at Warner Robins in 1972. That’s the state record.
But perhaps Davis’s analysis explains why five traditional state contenders are struggling to make ends meet this season, and why five mediocre programs are sitting at 3-0, at least two wins better than in 2006.
Here’s a look at those 10 teams whose fortunes so far have been quite different from what they were in 2006:
WHO’S HOT:
Haralson County: Haralson has avenged losses to Rockmart and Bowdon from 2006 and stand 3-0 for the first time since going 9-1 against a non-region schedule in 1991. Coach Frank Vohun is now 12-12 at a school that had won only 19 games in the previous 12 seasons. If he wins Friday, you’ll know he’s a West Georgia genius. Haralson is 0-23 all-time against Carrollton.
Jenkins: The Warriors of Savannah were leading 21-7 last week against Calvary Day in their quest to start 3-0 for the first time since 1982. But a rain and lightning storm stopped the game in the first half, and it was ruled a no contest. With Florida signees Chaz Sutton and Franklin Green, Jenkins has a good shot at making the playoffs for the first time since 1984 — when Rick Tomberlin was Jenkins’ coach.
Long County: The Blue Tide is 3-0 for the first time in history. This is a program that was 0-49 when Kyle Wilson took the head coaching job in 2005, according to GHSFHA.com. The 3-0 start marks the school’s first three-game winning streak in history. The 2-0 start marked the school’s first two-game winning streak.
South Effingham: At 3-0, South Effingham has avenged two of its three regular-season losses from 2006. The other was against Washington County, which is coming up in two weeks. A 9-1 regular season for the Mustangs is realistic. Winning in the playoffs, which has not happened in this school’s 12 seasons, would be the next step.
Winder-Barrow: The Bulldoggs (don’t forget that second G) have avenged losses to Apalachee and Oconee County and should beat Jackson county to go 4-0, which also happened in 2004. Most don’t believe the playoffs are within reach for Winder-Barrow, but it’s assured there will be no repeat of last season’s 1-9 disaster.
WHO’S NOT:
Colquitt County: Region 1-AAAAA isn’t kind to rebuilding teams, and Colquitt hasn’t even started its region schedule. The double-overtime victory over Lee County kept Colquitt from becoming the only team in the state to go from 3-0 to 0-3 since last season.
Hawkinsville: The Red Devils are 0-3 for the first time since 1992. Lee Campbell has never failed to have a winning season in his eight years at Hawkinsville. What’s been most shocking are the scores. The 27-6 defeat at home to Bleckley County last week has been the closest.
Warner Robins: The Demons are 0-3 for the first time since 1966. They’ve not failed to have a winning season since 1968, the second-longest streak in Georgia to Dalton’s, which started in 1960.
Washington County: The Golden Hawks are 0-3 for the first time since 1983, when the team started 0-8 and finished 2-8. WaCo was only 1-2 last season and still made it to the Class AAA semifinals, but the closest loss this time has been 42-21 against Dublin, a team that’s not quite the Class AA co-champion it was a year ago.
Washington-Wilkes: With only five or six seniors, Washington-Wilkes is 0-3 for the first time since 1998. That was also the school’s only losing season since 1992.
Permalink | Comments (19) | Post your comment | Categories: Football, State Report
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By Cougar Mom
September 19, 2007 3:51 PM | Link to this
Sub Region 5B - AAAA
Alexander Cougars under the direction of 2nd year Head Coach Kenny Palmer.
While Alexander and Pebblebrook both had an early season by-week that is working to their advantage - Alexander was certainly thrilled about their “tied for first in the sub-region” after the final whistle were blown Friday night. They did not however take much time to revel in it and quickly turned their sights on preparing for battle with very respectable Raider Brigade this Friday night. All said and done - Alexander most certainly looks and functions like a whole new ball club. The best news…we are mostly underclassmen :)
Go Cougars!
Of the schools listed above - I couldn’t agree more with the assesment of Haralson County - they are doing GREAT things out west there!
By mikefresh
September 19, 2007 6:53 PM | Link to this
todd i see you came threw and put my boys from winder barrow high school on here igood lookin out they are hot right now and will go to 4-0 but like you have told me the playoff’s may not be within reach but with each wim build’s the teams hopes and after 1-9 anything is possible
By jag count
September 19, 2007 8:01 PM | Link to this
what about stephenson
By Dan
September 19, 2007 10:43 PM | Link to this
What do you think about Walton High (Marietta) so far this year?
By BEARMAN
September 20, 2007 5:58 AM | Link to this
AFTER TOMMORROW NIGHT ROBERT DAVIS WILL BE 4-0. UPSON-LEE FOLKS CAN PUT THAT IN A PIPE AND SMOKE ON IT. DAVIS HAS A GOOD TEAM THAT WILL GIVE NORTHSIDE W.R. A CHANCE OF GOING UNDEFEATED. YOU WILL SEE SOME SEMINOLE CHOPPING TOMMORROW NIGHT.
By Upsonlee Fan
September 20, 2007 7:45 AM | Link to this
FUNNY BEARMAN YOU LOSE TO UPSONLEE AND CHEER FOR WESTSIDE MACON. BE HUMBLE AND JUST FACE IT UPSONLEE BEAT GRIFFIN IN YOUR BACKYARD.NOT SHOCKING WE EXPOSED YA’LL LAST YEAR IN THE REGION PLAYOFFS. YOU SHOULD NOW FOCUS ON YOUR WEAK SIDE OF THE REGION(CLAYTON COUNTY SCHOOLS).TRY PLAYING GRIFFIN,BALDWIN WESTSIDE MACON AND NORTHSIDE W.R. AS WE ‘VE DONE FOR LAST TWO YEARS. I HAVE RESPECT FOR GRIFFIN AND THEY WILL GET BETTER BUT DON’T ACT LIKE UPSONLEE DOESN’T HAVE A CHANCE AGAINST WESTSIDE MACON. YES THEY HAVE A GREAT OFFENSE AND OURS IS NOT THAT BAD EITHER.SHOULD BE A GOOD GAME. WESTSIDE MACON WILL NOT BEAT NORTHSIDE THIS YEAR. NORTHSIDE IS JUST TOO LOADED. BALDWIN IS STILL WINNING AND UPSONLEE DEFENSE IS CATCHING UP WITH THE OFFENSE THIS YEAR.WE MAY SEE YA’LL AGAIN PLAYOFFS
By DSGB
September 20, 2007 11:03 AM | Link to this
Todd, you have left out the Syrupmaker’s once again and we haven’t even reached full potential yet.
By DD
September 20, 2007 11:48 AM | Link to this
How is Haralson Hot when they have not played anyone yet? They played 3 games against much smaller schools. Carrollton is hot and has played up over the past 3 weeks. AAAAA Newnan, AAAA Douglas County and a great 3AAA team in Westminster. I think playing small schools may help confidence but when they line up they won’t know how hard it will be for four quarters…
By DD
September 20, 2007 11:49 AM | Link to this
How is Haralson Hot when they have not played anyone yet? They played 3 games against much smaller schools. Carrollton is hot and has played up over the past 3 weeks. AAAAA Newnan, AAAA Douglas County and a great 3AAA team in Westminster. I think playing small schools may help confidence but when they line up they won’t know how hard it will be for four quarters…
By Cougar Mom
September 20, 2007 12:08 PM | Link to this
Ok DD,
FIRST of all, Douglas County was not given the opportunity to COMPLETE the game against Carrollton due to weather conditions. Given 4 quarters and not 2 - who knows what the difference could have been? And unfortunately we never will….it is what it is but you can’t in one breathe discount Haralson’s wins against smaller schools without also pointing out that Carrollton has had their share of breaks as well. The game against DC was 2 quarters AND one of their wins was also against a smaller school. I think the point that is being made is that three weeks into the season Haralson has more wins so far this year than they had ALL SEASON last year (and possible for the past two season combined) THAT’S HOT. Good job Haralson!!
By cool cell
September 20, 2007 12:55 PM | Link to this
Look out for Carver-Columbus, they have the best QB in the state D.Furr. This team will have a great shot , at going back to the dome this year.
By Todd Holcomb
September 20, 2007 4:18 PM | Link to this
Keep in mind that the ‘Who’s Hot’ teams are those that typically aren’t hot. So maybe ‘Suddenly Hot’ would’ve been a better phrase. But Cairo and Carver were great last season, so they didn’t qualify.
Also, this is a non-metro list. So no Stephenson. …
Haven’t seen Walton, but it’s certainly not going out on a limb to say Walton and Wheeler are the top two teams in that subregion. The key to Walton is always whether there’s a really outstanding RB or playmaker (i.e., Aaron Kelly, Strickland, or, who was the RB who went to Richmond?). That seems to be the difference every year for Walton. … Also, I really like guys like Billy Burns. Just fun to watch on catches and returns, or chasing a fly ball in center, or going from first to home.
By gary
September 21, 2007 8:09 AM | Link to this
the blue tide is number one in history they should be. by gary nakles
By Jake Durham
September 21, 2007 8:16 AM | Link to this
This is the season for Long County! This year we roll!
By Lissa
September 21, 2007 11:13 AM | Link to this
I’ve got to say.. it’s GREAT seeing Warner Robins at 0-3! Go Northside!
Once an Eagle, Always an Eagle… ‘96
By Dan
September 22, 2007 6:04 PM | Link to this
Now, what do you think of walton?
By Adam Curtiss
September 23, 2007 9:38 PM | Link to this
i play for Long County and yall forgot that we had a season in the late 80’s early 90’s. so that streak was actually longer than that
By Adam Curtiss
September 23, 2007 9:39 PM | Link to this
i play for Long County and yall forgot that we had a season in the late 80’s early 90’s. so that streak was actually longer than that
By beau
September 24, 2007 11:51 AM | Link to this
haralson county is garbage, they havent played anybody.