Football is back! News from the GHSA, Previews of 5 top teams, Thoughts from Demetris Robertson

We’ve got a lot to cover in this first edition of the season, so here we go!

Preseason Top 10

Here’s the first poll of the season, courtesy of the great Todd Holcomb, co-founder (with the great Chip Saye) of the Georgia High School Football Daily e-newsletter, a must-read along with the Class A Blog, of course!

GHSA Votes to Change the Name of Class A, Put 16 More Teams in the Playoffs, Implement New “Multiplier”

The Georgia High School Association Executive Committee approved a few new measures on Monday that will impact Class A.

First, beginning with the reclassification process next spring, there will be a new classification called the “Big 44” for the largest schools in the state. The classification for the state’s smallest schools, currently our beloved Class A, is slated to be called the “Public/Private Class.” In between there will be five classes, A through AAAAA.

Next, the field of playoff teams will grow from 16 on each side – public and private – to 24, with the top eight teams receiving a bye in the first round. This will cover football, basketball, baseball and softball.

Lastly, after the Georgia Department of Education releases the most current enrollment figures (look for them in October), a new multiplier system will be used to help place schools in each class. Schools with more than 3 percent of their student body (athletes and non-athletes) residing in another county will be moved up one class. This was done to address what many believe is an unfair advantage for private schools (Lovett, Westminster, Marist, etc.) and several city school systems (Buford, Calhoun, Jefferson, etc.) in the higher classifications.

While schools currently in Class A (the private schools and Commerce) will be excluded from this mandate, they will be allowed to move up to compete in a higher class once all of the regions and classes have been determined. For instance, it may be more advantageous from a travel and logistical standpoint for a current Class A school to opt to move up into the new “Class A” as opposed to competing in the “Public/Private Class”.

Again, all of this will not take effect until the 2016-2017 school year.

Coaches Provide Snapshots of Their Teams

Here are snapshots of five of the top teams in Class A, featuring both defending champs, Mt. Paran Christian and Hawkinsville, private runner-up and preseason No. 1 ELCA, and semi-finalists Calvary Day and Marion County, all through the eyes of their head coaches.

Hawkinsville (David Daniell, fourth season)

Last season:  The Red Devils finished 13-1 and won their sixth state title with a 15-6 victory over Irwin County.

Key losses:  Devin Adams, NT (Mendocino College); Royce Owens, DE (LaGrange College); Dakota Sloan, QB (Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College, baseball); Warren Singletary, LB (Reinhardt University)

Returning starters:  Four on offense; Two on defense

Top players:  Matthew Money, OL/LB, Sr. (5-9, 190); Tyrus Davis, WR/CB, Sr. (6-2, 185)

Players to watch:  Phuong Pham, LB, Soph. (5-11, 185); Nathan Wheeler, OT, Sr. (5-10, 295)

Biggest lesson from last season:  "The kids now understand the amount of work and dedication it takes to win, the preparation and dedication to doing things the right way. It makes it easier as a coach when your kids understand it."

Strength: "Our defensive front should be pretty good. We lost some very good players, but we have some kids who have been working hard and we think are ready to step up."

Needs Improvement: "We have to get better on the offensive line."

Season opener:   Aug. 28 at Bleckley County (Class AA)

Wildcard question: Where's the best place to eat, pregame and post game, in Hawkinsville?  "The Steak House Restaurant. It's buffet style. I love the pulled pork and fried pork chops. We call it the steak house on the hill in Hawkinsville. And there's also AB's Barbeque. They have hamburgers, steaks, ribs, chicken. I love the hot and spicy sauces."

Mt. Paran Christian (Mitch Jordan, eighth season)

Last season:  The Eagles went undefeated (14-0) and won their first state championship, 49-7 over ELCA.

Key losses:  Jake Allen, QB (Mercer); Patrick Lee, DT (Air Force); Graham Massey, S (Wofford); Reed Massey, S (Wofford, baseball); Nick Sbravati, LB (UGA, student); Zach Strong, C (Cornell); Dorian Walker, RB/DB (Georgia Tech); Emoni Williams, WR (Jacksonville)

Top players:  Allen Cater, DE, Sr. (6-4, 240); Garrett Harris, LB, Sr. (6-0, 200); John Allen Knox, TE, Sr. (6-1, 230)

Players to watch:  Jack Lee, RB/DB, Sr. (5'9, 145); Nathan Raeder, S, Soph. (6-0, 175); Holt Shannon, S, Jr. (6-1, 180); Taylor Trammell, RB/WR/DB, Sr. (6-2, 205)

Biggest lesson from last season:  “That we need to keep refining our system, everything we do. We showed that we can be successful with our system, and when we get great players within that system we can be very successful. The past couple of years we have re-established our expectation to win and football is big around here again.”

Strength: "Our offensive line and our front seven. We have a lot of experience there."

Needs Improvement: "We have to find some players for our secondary but I think we have identified some kids there who will get better with more experience."

Season opener: Friday at Erwin, N.C. (Asheville)

Wildcard question: What will be the final score of the UGA-Georgia Tech game this season (Jordan played linebacker at Tech in the early 1990's)? "I'm just happy when we can get a win over Georgia, which we were glad to get last year. I think it will be a close one, but coach (Paul) Johnson does a great job scoring points. I think it will be 28-24, Georgia Tech."

ELCA (Jonathan Gess, ninth season)

Last season:  The Chargers began the season 0-6 due to a brutal non-region schedule, then rallied to advance to the private title game, before falling to Mt. Paran (49-7).

Key losses:  Nick Dawson, DE (Hutchinson Community College); Ryan Meneely, OL (Auburn); Davis Reynolds, WR/DB (UGA student)

Returning starters:  Six on offense; Seven on defense

Top players: Chase Burdette, FB/LB, Sr. (6-0, 210); D.J. Hammond, QB, Sr. (6-2, 200); Chandler Reeves, OL/DL, Sr. (6-6, 260);

Players to watch:  Trevor Gear, RB/LB, Jr. (6-0, 225); Josh Holt, RB/WR, Soph. (5-7, 155); Josh Mays, RB, Soph. (5-8, 190)

Biggest lesson from last season:  “Take one game at a time and keep trying to get better each week. Don’t worry about the wins and losses. Those things will take care of themselves in the end.”

Strength: "We have all of our skill guys back. We're not as big as we have been, but we're more athletic."

Needs Improvement: "We're still pretty young."

Season opener:  Friday vs. North Florida Christian (Tallahassee)

Wildcard question: If your son (Uriah Paul, 2) couldn't play for you, who would you like for him to play for? "First and foremost I would want him to be coached by a godly man who does not believe that football and winning championships is the only reason to be. One of the first names that comes to mind is Fred Yancy, the coach at Briarwood Christian (Birmingham). And also, Kenny Dallas, who was at Landmark for years and is now on my staff here."

Calvary Day (Mark Stroud, eighth season)

Last season:  The Cavaliers went into the private school semi-finals undefeated (12-0) before losing to ELCA, 14-7.

Key losses:  Robert Hayward, RB/LB (Army); A.J. Keene, WR/DB (Army); Tyrone Riley, WR/DE (N.C. State)

Returning starters:  Six on offense; Five on defense

Top players:  Salvador Calderon, QB, Jr. (6-0, 180); Alex Herndon, OL/DL, Sr. (6-2, 265)

Biggest lesson from last season:  "We beat [ELCA] the year before to get to the finals, then last year we lost to them and missed the finals. So I hope that we're building a legacy and a tradition and a work ethic that our kids are passing down from class to class."

Strength: "We have some young guys that are really putting themselves in position to help us, and our offensive and defensive lines are doing well."

Needs Improvement: "We have to sure up our defense, and offensively we have to identify what we do well with the personnel that we have."

Season opener:  Friday vs. New Hampstead (AAAA)

Wildcard question: Describe what the rivalry is like between the three private schools in the area – Calvary Day, Savannah Christian and Savannah Country Day.  "It's great. Those are quality schools and quality programs across the board in all sports. It's great to play in big games that not only mean something from a rivalry standpoint, but also because they help determine the region champion."

Marion County (Mike Swaney, sixth season)

Last season:  The Eagles went into the public school semi-finals undefeated (12-0) before losing to eventual champion Hawkinsville, a team they beat earlier in the season (13-6), 15-13.

Key losses:  Dustin Eckert, QB; Derrick Lawrence, DE (Arkansas Baptist); Johnny Royal, RB (Virginia University of Lynchburg); Trey Smith, OL (Arkansas Baptist); Marquis Thomas, DB (Virginia University of Lynchburg)

Returning starters:  Seven on offense; Eight on defense

Top players:  Maurice Carter, DB, Sr. (5-10, 180); Kadarrius Hartage, DE, Sr. (6-1, 200); Hunter O'Neal, C, Sr. (5-11, 245); Lorenzo Smothers, WR/RB/DB, Sr. (5-8, 165)

Players to watch:  Quentez Battle, QB, Soph. (5-11, 175); Austin Brannon, LB/K, Sr;  Austin Connor, OL, Soph. (6-2, 260); Mykelle Kelley, RB, Soph. (5-10, 180); Jordan Tillman, OL, Jr. (6-0, 220)

Biggest lesson from last season:  "We came up one play short. We had our chances to finish it, but we didn't. We knew Hawkinsville had a good team and they knew we had a good team. We just didn't finish. But we had a better offseason than we did after we won the state championship (2013). The kids came back hungry."

Strength:  "We have 16 seniors who are providing a lot of leadership. They've really worked hard over the summer. Lorenzo Smothers is just a phenomenal player and a great young man."

Needs Improvement: "We lost a lot of really good players last year."

Season opener:  Aug. 28 vs. Miller County

Wildcard question: Where is the best place to eat, pregame and postgame, in Buena Vista?  "J&L's Pizzaria is where everybody goes."

Player Profile:  Demetris Robertson, Savannah Christian

Here’s the first installment of a new feature this season, as we try to get the thoughts and comments of the players we’re watching on Friday and Saturday. We’re starting at the top of the food chain with Robertson, who many consider to be the best athlete in the nation. The 6-2, 185-pound speedster will line up all over the field for the Raiders on offense, defense and as a kick returner. He is also considered the favorite to repeat as the Class A private 100-meter, 200-meter and long jump champion in track and field next spring. Robertson holds offers from nearly every program in the Power 5 conferences, but favors Alabama (he decommitted from the Tide in the spring), Stanford and UGA.

On how he feels physically after an off season filled with camps.

“I feel pretty good. All the camps I went to, along with our team workouts, helped me stay in shape.”

On how he approached competing at camps against players from larger schools and classifications.

“I don’t worry about it. A lot of people talk about 5A or 6A, but I feel like I can do the same things in those classifications that I’m doing in Class A. We have some good athletes, too [in Class A].”

On the “star” ranking system and how he feels about being “graded” at camps by the recruiting services.

“I don’t worry about stars because the rankings go up and down, but it does get to me a little bit. You have these little dudes who look like they never played football judging you and interviewing you. They look like they were just fans of the game who want to be a part of the game. To be honest, I really don’t like talking about [recruiting]. The guys from Rivals and 247 are cool, I guess. I give them some insights but I’m focused on school and my teammates.”

On his expectations for this season.

“My team comes first. We won our scrimmage (21-0) against Kings Ridge. I had two touchdowns – one I ran in from about 10 yards and the other was about a 65 or 70 yard pass. We just have to make sure we maintain our intensity for four quarters, and we can be pretty good. My goal is to go into every game knowing my assignments and to compete to win every play. If we maintain our intensity and get our team chemistry down, I think we have a chance this year to win our region and win a state championship.”