GHSF Daily's Four Questions feature historically poses the same questions to a different Georgia head coach each issue. This season, head coaches are being asked Four Questions tailored to current events. Today's interviewees are head coaches Joel Harvin of Early County and Randy Grace of Baconton Charter, two of many coaches in southwest Georgia whose teams and communities have faced hardships because of Hurricane Michael. The storm led to more than 25 postponed games and two forfeits, both by Dougherty, an Albany school that did not have enough players available for its games against Hardaway and Westover. Three games scheduled for the past two weeks remain unplayed.

Coaches of schools hit hard by Hurricane Michael 

1. What was the damage like at your school and surrounding areas? 

Joel Harvin: "Most of my players did not have power for about 12 days. Some did not have water. Many of my players had to leave the area to stay with family and missed practice but were able to meet us in Quitman for the game Monday against Brooks County. We have had multiple players and cheerleaders with extensive damage to their homes from fallen trees. Our last player got his power back last night. Tomorrow will be the first day back in school."

Randy Grace: "The day after the storm, Baconton was basically shut down. No power, no water and basically just destruction everywhere. Several of our players were trapped on their dirt roads because of fallen trees and power lines. Our trainer's house was totally destroyed by two trees that crushed it. Our school campus was basically crippled by the storm. It was the worst storm I've ever been through in my entire life."

2. What effect has this had on the football program in particular? 

Joel Harvin: "We have had to move two games because of the hurricane. We had to move our home game to Quitman against Brooks County on a Monday because of the situation in Blakely. We played our game on a Saturday against Fitzgerald. We have had to borrow all the film from the games because we didn't have a way to charge cameras."

Randy Grace: "The game that Friday originally was supposed to be the first game in our new football stadium, but the storm halted that. We have always driven 15 miles to Centennial Stadium [in Camilla] to play our home games. However, Michael had torn down the goalposts and the scoreboard and had us searching for answers. The good people who run the stadium were able to fix the goalposts, and even though the scoreboard was sitting on the ground, it worked, so we were able to play our game. We are now getting ready for a Thursday night game against Chattahoochee County. This will be our third game in nine days."

3. How have people in the community and beyond helped? 

Joel Harvin: "The day after the hurricane hit, I sent out a group message to see if anybody needed help cutting trees and clearing driveways. Nobody could see the replies but me. I went out with my chainsaw to help two or three families. Within minutes, there were 20 players there to help. I don't know how they knew. At the high school, we opened up our gym, and the Red Cross brought 200 cots. The linemen parked trucks in our student parking lot and would stay in the new gym. They were from Michigan, Missouri, North Carolina. It was amazing to see people from all over the country trying to help. Brooks County [High School] collected a trailer of goods to help our community. Fitzgerald gave a check to the school for hurricane relief. That really did mean a lot for our team and players to see that communities can come together."

Randy Grace: "Our community came together and really got behind each other as well. Everyone was helping each other clean up. Everyone was sharing with food, water or whatever anyone needed. The Baconton community showed its true spirit of love and compassion for each other when everyone needed it the most."

4. What effect has this ordeal has had on you and your team? 

Joel Harvin: "The great thing about it is football teaches you so many life lessons about not giving up and facing adversity, and for our kids to be able to see the lessons taught has been life-changing for me as a coach."

Randy Grace: "It gave our team an opportunity to see and really understand what the sport of football actually teaches. We as coaches are always talking about character, discipline, handling adversity, persevering, while using words like team and family. In this situation, these life lessons were tested and proven. Football gave us all something to cheer for, to smile about and to be proud of in a very difficult time. People have asked me if there was anything that we told our kids to motivate them in such a difficult situation, and we simply told them that 'Tough times don't last, but tough people do.' I think that statement just symbolizes the type of unwavering resolve the people of this part of the state have. The people down here have really shown their toughness and determination to get through all of this."

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