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 interviewee is Dutchtown head coach Clifford Fedd, whose team defeated Jones County 18-10 on Friday in a game between top-10 teams and moved into a first-place tie in Region 4-AAAAA with second-ranked Stockbridge. The Jones County win was Dutchtown's first over a ranked opponent since 2012.
Clifford Fedd, Dutchtown head coach
1. What was significant about Friday's win for your team? "The win versus Jones County was huge for the Dutchtown football program. It was also my first win over a ranked opponent as a head football coach. It was the Dutchtown kids' first over Jones County in their high school career. It was huge for the seniors to go to Gray and come out victorious as not many teams have gone into their house and left with a win." [Coach is right. Jones County had been 22-2 in home games under coach Justin Rogers.]
2. Jones County was averaging more than 40 points per game but didn't score an offensive touchdown. What did you do scheme-wise or strategy-wise to slow them down? "We played football 'The Dutchtown Way,' and that is all we asked the kids to do week in and week out. The Dutchtown Way is winning the turnover battle, playing more physical than our opponent, running fast and hitting hard for four quarters. Offensively, we were able to keep their high-scoring offense on the sideline because we were able to move the ball and keep the chains moving. Defensively, we stuck to our keys and reads, and the kids understood what their assignments were and they stuck to the game plan. Most of the night the linebackers made all of the checks and calls and got us lined up right. And our kids just flat out played hard."
3. Dutchtown leads Class AAAAA in scoring defense this year and was third last year. Is it talent? Attitude? You were a defensive coordinator when hired from Brooks County in 2017. Did you intend to build a team that was known for defense, or did it work out that way? "Defensively, we are talented, and we are talented on offense as well. We just play football with an attitude overall, period. We even practice with an attitude. We compete in practice daily and it shows up in the games. After the way our season ended last year with a controversial call that determined the outcome of our playoff game [against Starr's Mill], we are still upset about it and we talk about it often. The coaching staff instilled discipline all the way across the board in the program. We hold kids accountable and make them responsible on and off the field. If a student-athlete cannot get the job done at a high level on and off the field, we have a 'next man up' philosophy."
4. Henry County has not been known for football until the past decade or so. Now, Stockbridge and ELCA are recognized state powers. Woodland had a good run recently, and now Dutchtown is making a name for itself. What's happening in Henry that is changing the county's football fortunes? "The football in Henry county has gotten better. For Dutchtown, I was able to bring in some quality coaches to help turn the program around. My administration team has done a great job supporting my vision and allowing me to get the guys I needed in order to be successful here at Dutchtown. My principal's name is Mrs. Nicole Shaw, and my assistant head coach/defensive coordinator is William Rogers, offensive coordinator Antonio Wesley, DB coach Carey Scott, special team coordinator/WR coach Mikal Underwood, OL coach Justin Bates, WR coach Calvin Gibson, TE coach Richard Postell, LB coach Michael Bell, LB coach Demetrius Douglas and DL assistant coach Melvin Pearson." [Douglas is a former University of Georgia and NFL player who is a member of the Georgia House of Representatives from District 78.]
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