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DEL.ICIO.USGeorgia high school football report: Teams around the state
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Coastal Georgia — with the exception of Camden County — doesn’t get a lot of respect in the state because its success is rare in high school football. Matched up in the playoffs against the other “South” Georgia regions, Region 3-AAAAA (as a whole) pales in comparison. But even though success hasn’t been there, don’t think that football in the Coastal Empire is completely dead … or even on life support this year.
Here’s the hot/not for the area:
WHO’S HOT
• Bradwell Institute — Coach Jim Walsh Jr.’s Bradwell Institute has a history of solid football that goes back to the late 1970s and mid-’80s when Raymond Gross was running the offense for Clifford Johnson. The Tigers have been mainstays in the playoffs, but they haven’t played past the first round in more than a decade. Back-to-back 5-6 seasons have been something of a disappointment, but last year’s team suffered injuries. Starting quarterback Wilson Brown and twins DeMario and DeAnte Day will keep region defenses off balance, and a 14-0 scrimmage victory over Statesboro could be the sign that the Tigers are back to a higher level. When asked if it was just a matter of Statesboro being down, one area coach said, “Bradwell is loaded.”
• Savannah Christian — The sixth-ranked (and only Coastal Empire team earning a ranking) Red Raiders’ two losses to Charlton County in the regular season and Thomasville in the second round on the road. Moving down to Class A in Donald Chumley’s fourth year should offset the loss of a talented senior class. Even with a young team, defending state champ and new region foe ECI should be the only loss in the regular season. “We are a young football team, but we have some talent,” said Chumley, who has improved his victory total in each of his last two seasons after going 6-4 in his first year. “They haven’t been in the fight yet. I expect us to get better by the end of the year, but the first half of the season we are going to have to grow up on the job.”
• Liberty County — The Panthers have a program winning percentage of .309, but Kirk Warner’s team (yes, that Kirk Warner for all you Georgia fans) have had back-to-back seven-victory seasons, including the school’s only trip to the state playoffs in 2006.
• Benedictine — After making the Class AAA playoffs last year, Benedictine moves down into classification into Region 2-AA, making a strong region even stronger. The Cadets likely will be better this season under Bob Herndon, but that might not translate into victories in a region that is stacked with Charlton County, McIntosh County Academy, Pierce County and Appling County.
• South Effingham — It might say something about the area that a team that was 5-5 last season is considered “hot.” The Mustangs should make the playoffs, but can they can move above Statesboro and top-ranked Ware County?
WHO’S NOT
• Savannah public schools — Windsor Forest and Jenkins were outscored 87-0 last year in the first round of the playoffs. During the last two years, five first-round playoff games for Savannah public schools have resulted in a grand total of six points.
• Richmond Hill — The Wildcats — traditional state powers on the basketball court — haven’t had a winning season since 1996, which also happened to be the only time the school has ever made the state playoffs in the 22-year history of the program.
Permalink | Comments (5) | Post your comment | Categories: State Report
Comments
By QB Fan
August 28, 2008 9:22 PM | Link to this
With former UofT Vol’s QB now coaching @ N Atlanta HS, it seems the QB trasnfer from Grady is busting out of the pocket. This kid has an rocket for an arm and can go long! From the summer camps he has been tagged as the best kept secret, let’s hope he doesn’t stay under the radar too long, it said this is his senior year. Whatever happen to Grady’s run for the Dome over the past years?
By mark
August 30, 2008 9:42 AM | Link to this
Hey Todd and the rest of the AJC sporting staff, where is your coverage of the #1 team in Ga. I get to read all about how N crynett challenged Byrnes but nothing at all about how Lowndes started out their defense of their dynasty. I have told you guys for two years that the Tamburo kid is way over-rated and last nites feeble performance shows it. Just check his numbers. Big time players produce in big games and that so called spread offense was exposed last nit just like it was in the CONCRETE PALACE down in Title Town. I cant wait for Northside Warner Robins to come and get their buttwhoopin just like N Crynett
By vikings rule
August 31, 2008 7:37 PM | Link to this
Mark i must say that i totally agree with you that Tamburo is overrated especially after his performance against the best team in 1-AAAAA football, The Lowndes Vikings. And as far as NSWR goes i cant wait to give them what they think they want and thats a game with Lowndes. Come October 3rd they will see why Lowndes is #1 in that region. Did you know that they actually think that Demps And Reid cant play both ways on them…Please
By Mr Football
September 9, 2008 8:17 AM | Link to this
Anybody been looking at Lassiter?
By smiley
February 4, 2009 1:31 PM | Link to this
come see whats going on in pierce county ga.