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DEL.ICIO.USSpring Football Fling: Walton facing stiff competition for playoff berths
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
THE SPRING FOOTBALL FLING In upcoming weeks, teams throughout the state will spend 10 days on the practice field preparing for the 2008 football season. In a series of stories, ajc.com will provide an offseason outlook for 25 of the top teams in the metro and state.
This Week’s Lineup
• Weds: Walton • Thurs: Harrison • Fri: Camden Co.
• Sat: Newnan • Sun: Stephenson • 4/14: Roswell
• 4/15: Norcross
You make the call: What’s the buzz on Walton in ‘08? Will the playoff run continue? Games start in August. Talk starts NOW.
Photos: A look at Walton football
Walton faces much harder road to playoffs
Walton’s dominance in East Cobb probably will continue this year, but its impressive playoff streak will be a little tougher to extend.
The Raiders have made the playoffs seven consecutive seasons and appeared in the Class AAAAA semifinals at the Georgia Dome last December under coach Ed Dudley. Why could season No. 8 be more challenging? Unlike recent years, when Walton played a subregion schedule and just had to be one of the top two teams out of East Cobb, the Region 6-AAAA coaches voted for change after last season. Now each team will play a full region schedule, and the top four teams overall will advance to the playoffs.
Walton will have to compete against Roswell, Centennial, Milton and Chattahoochee, among others, for postseason berths.
“I’m sure there will be some good teams out of East Cobb, but it’s hard to know which ones, at this point, because there are so many questions to be answered with all the coaching changes,” Dudley said.
Dudley feels confident about the Raiders making a run for the playoffs, especially since they were 8-0 against 6-AAAAA teams last year on the way to a 12-2 finish.
“We expect to be a playoff team every year, and we’re not going to back off that,” Dudley said. “We’re going to have to work a little harder this year, but we certainly expect and want to be back in the playoffs.”
Walton lost 11 starters from one of the best teams in school history, including all-purpose back J.J. Jackson and defensive end Chase Thomas, who set team records for single-season and career sacks. But hopes remain high for the Raiders because of last season’s appearance in the Georgia Dome and an influx of young, but unproven, talent.
Walton Raiders
Region 6-AAAAA
Spring practice dates: May 1-16.
Last year’s record: 12-2, lost in the semifinals.
Reclassification challenge: Does not apply.
Working on: It all starts with finding a tailback, which will determine whether or not the Raiders will stick with the Pro Set offense next year or add more passing. Andre Walkine and Brandon Burroughs are among the top tailback candidates to replace J.J. Jackson, who rushed for 1,841 yards and 22 touchdowns. Walton has some talented youngsters to fill three of four spots on the defensive line. The primary concern on defense is to identify two cornerbacks. Said coach Ed Dudley: “Most teams are lucky to have one shutdown corner. We had two last year, with Billy Burns and Robert Harrison. That’s a pretty big issue for us.”
Key starters lost: DE Chase Thomas (signed with Stanford); OL Austin Quattrochi (Southern Miss); OL Nick Gipson (UT-Chattanooga); Zach Tenuta (Marshall); Adam Shreiner (Elon); Jackson (UT-Chattanooga); Harrison (UT-Chattanooga).
Key starters returning: QB Ray Rayburn; LB Scott Willoch; LB Miles Freberg.
2008 strengths: Rayburn was the co-starter at QB last year, but now will handle it alone with the graduation of Brandon Theobald. He has one of Cobb County’s top wide receivers, Price Garrett, who has led the team in receptions the past two seasons. David Paulsen will be moved from DL to DE, and already has offers from Stanford and Miami of Ohio.
2008 weaknesses: With the departure of 11 starters, Walton will put plenty of new faces on the field. Walton had one of the state’s top kicking games last season and will be depending heavily on Brady Biggers to handle kicking and punting duties.
This season’s projection: Walton is favored to make the playoffs for the eighth year in a row under Dudley, but it will be much tougher this season.
Comment: “Last year was good to us [appearing in semifinals] and gave our program a lot of momentum,” Dudley said. “It generated a lot of excitement and gave us a tremendous amount of momentum going into the off-season. There’s a lot of pressure on us to keep performing at a high level, and the kids seem to thrive with that kind of pressure.”
Photos: A look at Walton football
You make the call: What’s the buzz on Walton in ‘08? Will the playoff run continue? Games start in August. Talk starts NOW.
Permalink | Comments (14) | Post your comment | Categories: Spring Football
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Comments
By Shamrock Slinger
April 16, 2008 9:46 AM | Link to this
Sounds like a “raid” going on in the Valley this fall.
By Lester
April 16, 2008 10:33 AM | Link to this
My guess is that any East Cobb football team will be lunch meat for other teams outside the 6AAAAA region. I wish they would play a tougher non-region schedule. I also wish the 6AAAAA coaches would realize that come play off time, their teams usually are eliminated by smaller schools, who are playing in AAAAA
By Raider Pride
April 16, 2008 10:51 AM | Link to this
Last season Walton, from Region 6AAAAA, beat teams from regions 5 (Harrison),8 (Parkview), and 2 (ML King)in the playoffs. This coming season they open against Brookwood from region 8. Don’t know how their only non-region game this coming season could be any tougher.
By spartan
April 16, 2008 1:53 PM | Link to this
campbell can compete right away in region 6… walton and roswell will probably be one and 2 but campbell should make the playoffs in this region
By roswellfan
April 16, 2008 2:37 PM | Link to this
Walton and us are going to face many challenges this year. I think the region is going to be strong and I will be surprised to see any of the teams within the region going undefeated.
By State Fan
April 16, 2008 9:29 PM | Link to this
centennial knights will be one of the top teams in the region, centennial only lost 14 seniors and only lost 10 and most of them a=had good backups which were sophomores. They have their whole offense back besides a lineman and the RB, which had a great back, and their defense will be pretty solid, just as last years defense, look for centennial to be faster. other top teams are northview with RB samoir patrick and milton with tony williams and a pretty good season. Hooch will be a tough out and walton, but roswell and alpharetta dnt have a chance but roswell has good receivers and no QB. Lassiter and Campbell im not to sure about, look forward to a great season out of region-6
By roswellfan
April 16, 2008 9:49 PM | Link to this
Region 6 changed its alignment. Hooch and Northview are out and Campbell came in. Also, do not under estimate any team with a new coach within a system. Most coaches that enter a program make positive changes. Centennial should be aware of this since they changed from the previous year. Do not underestimate Roswell because they will work hard as well as the other teams in the region. It is going to be a tough region. Anyone that makes the playoffs will deserve it.
By Mark
April 17, 2008 7:55 AM | Link to this
Is anyone else not the slightest bit surprised that the AJC did not do their research to notice that Chattahoochee and Northview are no longer in Region 6. They have moved over to Region 7 with North Gwinnett, Peachtree Ridge, etc. Also, no mention of Sprayberry dropping down to AAAA. Roswellfan just beat me to the posting.
Keep it up Atlanta Journal- Constipation. Inaccurately reporting since 2001. Way to go!!
By Mark
April 17, 2008 7:56 AM | Link to this
Is anyone else not the slightest bit surprised that the AJC did not do their research to notice that Chattahoochee and Northview are no longer in Region 6. They have moved over to Region 7 with North Gwinnett, Peachtree Ridge, etc. Also, no mention of Sprayberry dropping down to AAAA. Roswellfan just beat me to the posting.
Keep it up Atlanta Journal- Constipation. Inaccurately reporting since 2001. Way to go!!
By State Fan
April 17, 2008 10:04 PM | Link to this
you are right roswell fan i cant underestimate you guys, so i wouldnt say that you guys would have a bad season. I will just have to put up question marks now to how your season will be.
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