This is the second installment of a series looking at the teams that finished in the top four after the 2017 football season. Last week: Calhoun. Next week: Greater Atlanta Christian.
One of Class AAA's best programs lost some of the state's best players to graduation, but Peach County coach Chad Campbell thinks it would be remiss to take the Trojans lightly during the 2018 season.
He's not sure how Peach will perform during the upcoming season, but he does know this: Peach always has quality athletes, and 2018 is no exception.
The Trojans lost a ton of seniors, but the focus will be on trying to replace receiver Kearis Jackson (Georgia), linebacker JaQuez Jackson (Georgia Tech), running back Trevon Woolfolk (Holmes Community College) and quarterback Antonio Gilbert (Pima Community College), who spent the 2017 season as game-changers.
Campbell knows he has holes to fill, but the outlook is bright, and Peach again should be a playoff contender.
"That's probably what every coach wants to know," Campbell said. "You know, what the team is going to look like. Our kids have been working hard in the offseason, and we have a lot of good players to replace. I am excited about it."
Gilbert passed for 3,193 yards and 23 touchdowns on 225-of-324 passing. He only had three interceptions on the season, two in controversial title-game loss to Calhoun.
Kearis Jackson, who's already making waves at UGA, also will leave a large vacancy in Peach's offensive production. Jackson, who was injured for last part of the regular season and the playoffs, led the Trojans with 852 receiving yards on 47 catches with nine touchdowns. Junior Justin Harris, who did not play last year after being injured before the start of the season, returns. Harris, a 5-foot-10 receiver, has built excitement around the 2018 Trojans' passing attack.
Woolfolk, the leading rusher, also will be missed. He ran for 1,209 yards on 151 carries with 20 touchdowns.
On defense, the Trojans also lost Kearis' cousin, linebacker JaQuez Jackson, to graduation and Georgia Tech. Jackson led the team with 87 solo tackles and 50 assisted tackles. Shamarcus Redding also will be missing from the lineup. Redding (Holmes Community College) made 76 solo tackles and 36 assisted tackles.
Returning is 6-2, 215-pound linebacker Sergio Allen, who has been described as a "team leader" by those close to the program. Allen made 59 solo tackles and 45 assists for 104 total tackles last year. He's a leader in the weight room, on the practice field and in the classroom and will most certainly impact offenses in 2018. Another plug on defense is 6-2, 245-pound lineman Cedric Hillsman, who should be strong on the defensive line. Hillsman had 37 tackles through 12 games last year.
Although there were key losses, Peach should challenge for another Region 4-AAA title. History suggests the Trojans will reload, rather than rebuild. And if the 2018 season becomes a rebuild, the program won't stay down for long.
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