The Lithonia Bulldogs have been one of the most pleasant surprises in the early part of the season. It’s the result of a coach David Edwards having full year to get the program entrenched and the players buying into the message that was being delivered.
“The difference has been having a whole year and an off-season with the kids,” Edwards said. “You’ve got to get your program in, go to camp, get to know each other. You have to earn their respect and they’ve got to know they can trust you.”
Edwards, who played three seasons in the NFL with the Pittsburgh Steelers, came to Lithonia in 2017 after spending seven seasons at Columbia. The Bulldogs were 3-7 last season and are 3-0 for the first time since 1998.
Edwards said a lot of chemistry and bonding was developed in the summer when the team participated in 7-on-7 camps. Another step was made when the Bulldogs were able to handle a better-than-advertised Forest Park team in the season opener.
“The kids found out they were going to be in a battle,” Edwards said. “That opened their eyes and that helped them understand these are the kind of teams you have to beat.”
Lithonia has one of the state’s top offensive line prospects in junior Broderick Jones (6-6, 275), who has committed to Georgia. The other players on the team have benefited from the attention college scouts have shown Jones to showcase their own talent. It has helped draw additional focus to JaCourtney Snipes (6-4, 250) and Gerald Sanders (6-4, 330), a pair of seniors capable of playing at the next level.
Here are three other surprise teams in Class AAAAA:
Veterans: The Warhawks have won their first three games under first-year coach Milan Turner, more than they won in 2017. Similar to what has happened at Lithonia, the program has prospered with the physical and emotional investment of the players.
“It’s proof of what we did in January that hard work pays off,” Turner said. “The mat drills in the winter, all that lifting they did in the spring, the OTAs. They’ve committed so much time and they trust one another and they’re buying in and it shows with their work ethic.”
Statesboro: Last week's win over Class AAA No. 9 Liberty County is the best indication that the Blue Devils are close to recovery. The proud program was 2-7 last year in coach Jeff Kaiser's first season, one year after failing to win a game. Remarkably, Statesboro hasn't had a winning season since 2013 and has gone 6-33 over the previous four years.
Woodland (Cartersville): The Wildcats haven't had a winning season since 1999, the program's second year, and haven't had a .500 season since 2008. They're trending in the right direction by winning the season's first two games for the first time since 2011, when they went 4-6. Breaking even won't be easy since they compete in rugged Region 7, but at least they have a chance. It's certainly been different: Woodland won with a running clock and its 55-6 win over East Hall was the largest margin of victory in school history.
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