We continue our look at a few of the regions and teams most impacted by the coronavirus, as the Georgia High Schools Association (GHSA) has set Monday, June 8 as the first day schools may host off-season workout sessions, under strict new protocols.
Today: Region 2-Private.
Region 2-Private
Populated by schools in metro Atlanta where the number of overall cases and deaths are the highest in the state.
Eagle's Landing Christian Academy (Henry County: Population – 239,866; Cases - 632; Deaths - 20; Cases per 100K residents – 830.2; Deaths per 100K residents – 79.5)
The Chargers won an unprecedented fifth consecutive state title last season and have established themselves as one of the premiere programs in the state, regardless to classification. Henry County's COVID-19 statistics are not at the level of other metro Atlanta counties like Cobb, DeKalb, Fulton or Gwinnett. However, when the Georgia High Schools Association (GHSA) Board of Trustees met last week to vote on a date to resume off season workouts, Henry County Schools Athletic Director Curt Miller was among those board members advocating for a date that was later than what was being discussed initially, according to Todd Holcomb's report on the meeting.
Landmark Christian Academy (Fulton County: Population – 1,099,181; Cases – 4,004; Deaths - 196; Cases per 100K residents – 364.3; Deaths per 100K residents – 17.8)
Once one of the most consistent programs in the state, the War Eagles have fallen on hard times the past three seasons, where they have gone a combined 4-26. Prior to this three-year playoff drought, Landmark had failed to advance to the state playoffs just twice since 2000.
Our Lady of Mercy (Fayette County: Population – 117,544; Cases - 220; Deaths - 11; Cases per 100K residents – 187.2; Deaths per 100K residents – 9.4)
The school is located on the south Fulton County-north Fayette County border. Since the program's inception in 2002, the Bobcats have only made the state playoffs three times – twice during the six-year run of 200-game winning coach Mike Earwood (2012, 2013) and once during the two seasons Jamie Aull was head coach (2017). OLM has lost 21 consecutive games.
Whitefield Academy (Cobb County: Population – 790,588; Cases – 2,696; Deaths - 142; Cases per 100K residents – 341; Deaths per 100K residents – 18)
The Wolfpack advanced to the state playoffs for the second time in three seasons last year. It was just the eighth time in the program's 19-year history that Whitefield made it to the post season. Realignment moved the Wolfpack to Region 2 from Region 6, where they had competed the last eight seasons.
Next Up: Region 6-Private
