Tate Rodemaker's first regular season as a starter is done, and the Valdosta quarterback has to be pleased with his progress. Rodemaker threw for a season-high and school-record 491 yards last week in a 46-44 victory over Northside of Warner Robins.
Rodemaker has 2,893 yards passing in 10 games. That ranks second in the state, but also high in Valdosta's record books. Seth Shuman holds the Valdosta single-season record of 3,194 set in 2015.
"He has played really well in all but a couple of games vs. the toughest schedule in the state," said Valdosta coach Alan Rodemaker, Tate's father. "It has not come easy, though. Tate has put in a ton of work in the offseason on the grass and film room. He grew about 3 inches this past year [to 6-4] and spent six months earlier this year playing seven-on-seven each weekend on one of the Cam Newton teams."
The coach said it's easier having a son on the team when he's not his position coach. Rodemaker is more of a defensive guy and credits new offensive coordinator, Josh Crawford, for much of his son's success.
"He has implemented an offense that plays to our team's strengths and helped Tate with a lot of film work and read progressions," Rodemaker said. "Also, we have talented wide receivers in Aalah Brown, Jaheim Bell and Devonte Berrian and our offensive line has protected really well."
Alan Rodemaker is one of several coaches whose sons are high-yardage quarterbacks this season.
North Murray's Preston Poag Jr. (Class AAA passing leader), Union County's Pierson Allison (Class AA passing leader) and Prince Avenue Christian's Brock Vandagriff (Class A passing leader) are also sons of head coaches. And several others on the leaderboard, including Tre Luttrell of Habersham Central and Gunner Stockton of Rabun County, are sons of assistant coaches.
"All in all, it has been really special coaching my son," Rodemaker said. "It will not be the same without him. Luckily, he is a junior. Say a prayer for his mother, though. She is a nervous wreck on Friday nights with her son and husband being scrutinized to the nth degree in the high school football capital of Valdosta, Ga."
Rushing
2,685 - Treylon Sheppard, Haralson County (AAA leader)
2,024 - Jamious Griffin, Rome (AAAAA leader)
1,928 - Chandler Byron, Monroe Area
1,813 - A.J. Brown, Harlem (AA leader)
1,626 - Murphy Reeves, Fellowship Christian (A leader)
1,591 - Rayquan Riley, Hephzibah
1,569 - Keaton Mitchell, Eagle's Landing Christian
1,491 - Eric Dixon, Emanuel County Institute
1,477 - Tyrell Robinson, East Paulding
1,474 - Reese White, Riverwood
1,465 - Keyon Brooks, Kennesaw Mountain (AAAAAAA leader)
1,443 - Tank Bigsby, Callaway
1,396 - Dexter Williams, Mount de Sales
1,392 - Juan Powell, Douglass
1,391 - Travis Tisdale, Lowndes
1,384 - Kalen Sims, Starr's Mill
1,376 - Christian Charles, Chestatee (AAAA leader)
1,371 - Kris Coleman, Liberty County
1,359 - Marcuis Fulks, Hiram
1,357 - Lovasea Carroll, Warren County
1,338 - Martize Smith, Decatur
1,332 - Dyquan Bloodsaw, Washington County
1,323 - Cade Radam, Creekview (AAAAAA leader)
1,308 - Derionte Kemp, Drew
1,269 - Derrian Brown, Buford
1,266 - Christian Singleton, North Cobb
1,264 - Jaden Jenkins, Jefferson County
1,256 - Travon Mathews, Marion County
1,203 - Austin Douglas, Mount Vernon Presbyterian
1,200 - Cameron Cruver, Northgate
1,171 - Chancellor Lee Parker, Mill Creek
1,169 - Kevin Harris, Bradwell Institute
1,144 - Cal Dickie, Centennial
1,139 - Hagen Willingham, Trion
1,136 - Quen Wilson, Mary Persons
1,130 - Jo'quavious Marks, Carver (Atlanta)
1,122 - Davian Criss, Mountain View
1,117 - D.J. Lundy, Irwin County
1,114 - Jahmyr Gibbs, Dalton
1,112 - Terrance Walker, Banks County
1,112 - Michael Cox, Holy Innocents'
1,109 - M.J. Fuller, Wayne County
1,098 - Demetrius Knight, Strong Rock Christian
1,091 - John Jones, Pierce County
1,091 - Gary Hawkins, Screven County
1,081 - Treylyn Owensby, Fannin County
1,076 - Jarvis Washington, Laney
1,065 - Fredrick Davis Jr., Northside (Columbus)
1,064 - Stellmach Joseph, Pope
1,063 - Cyrus Zuell, Veterans
1,058 - Steele Chambers, Blessed Trinity
1,056 - Aaron Yarbrough, Early County
1,041 - Shun Allen, Elbert County
1,040 - Max Webb, Chattahoochee
1,035 - Tra Sampson, Schley County
1,035 - Darrell Nichols, Westlake
1,033 - Kamonty Jett, Roswell
1,021 - William Caylor, Northview
1,010 - Raheem Gaines, Mundy's Mill
1,009 - Nykeem Farrow, Bleckley County
1,008 - Trenton Jones, Dacula
1,006 - Gerald Green, East Coweta
1,002 - Tavion Jackson, Campbell
1,000 - Quinton Brown, Alexander
992 - Kolin Rogers, Darlington
997 - Damekus Taylor, Thomson
992 - Aaron Beasley, Heard County
992 - Jeffrey Curtis, Heritage (Ringgold)
984 - Ahmad Kamara, Dawson County
981 - Jeremiah Burgess, Brookstone
978 - Mason Boswell, Adairsville
975 - Tyshaun Freeman, Westside (Macon)
974 - Torri Taylor, Richmond Academy
968 - Zach Jones, Trinity Christian
964 - Christian Gillespie, Southeast Whitfield
961 - Daijun Edwards, Colquitt County
953 - Phillip Michael Collins, Cambridge
952 - Brison Beck, Rabun County
947 - Nathan Williams, Lakeview-Fort Oglethorpe
944 - Jamari Daniel, Southeast Bulloch
941 - D.J. Scott, ACE Charter
939 - Khiari McCoy, Carver (Columbus)
939 - Tahj Gary, Woodward Academy
934 - C.J. Streicher, Pickens
931 - Jonathan Halyard, Grayson
929 - Cole Jacobs, Sequoyah
928 - Daniel Parsons, Allatoona
926 - Bo Lawson, Dooly County
Passing
3,174 - Max Brosmer, Centennial (AAAAAA leader)
2,893 - Tate Rodemaker, Valdosta
2,842 - Dylan Fromm, Warner Robins (AAAAA leader)
2,809 - Harrison Bailey, Marietta (AAAAAAA leader)
2,489 - Ben Whitlock, Denmark (AAAA leader)
2,474 - Pierson Allison, Union County (AA leader)
2,467 - Kobe Hudson, Troup
2,421 - Lane Rucker, Perry
2,367 - Brock Vandagriff, Prince Avenue Christian (A leader)
2,360 - Ross Malmgren, North Paulding
2,217 - Hunter Costlow, Jones County
2,065 - C.J. Ogbonna, Wheeler
2,000 - Zach Gibson, Johns Creek
1,981 - Donald Wilson, Salem
1,932 - Austin Seymour, South Paulding
1,924 - Gunner Stockton, Rabun County
1,922 - Ty Fisher, Northwest Whitfield
1,921 - R.J. McDaniel Jr., Locust Grove
1,886 - J.T. Hartage, Mary Persons
1,883 - Blake Kytle, Mount Vernon Presbyterian
1,881 - Kade Youmans, Swainsboro
1,833 - Tre Luttrell, Habersham Central
1,767 - Preston Poag Jr., North Murray (AAA leader)
1,758 - Beau Lark, Northview
1,738 - Kyle Toole, Lee County
1,725 - Carter Peevy, Archer
1,714 - Logan Watson, Camden County
1,714 - Carlos Del Rio Wilson, McEachern
1,679 - Gavin Gray, Calhoun
1,678 - Chad Mascoe, Thomasville
1,676 - Cameron Hopkins, Westover
1,667 - Cody Guidry, Crawford County
1,652 - Vyshonn Daniel, LaFayette
1,641 - J'Kori Jones, Grayson
1,635 - Jaylen Joyner, Carver (Columbus)
1,635 - Parks Harber, Westminster
1,619 - Kierston Harvey, Americus-Sumter
1,614 - Colten Gauthier, Hebron Christian
1,603 - Jalyn Williams, Westlake
1,599 - Ethan Roberts, Roswell
1,597 - Octavious Griffin, Columbia
1,580 - Thomas Williams, Drew
1,579 - Jordan Yates, Milton
1,572 - Tyjauan Rogers, Mount Zion (Jonesboro)
1,571 - Tee Webb, Cartersville
1,571 - Eric Phoenix, Windsor Forest
1,560 - Wiley Hartley, North Atlanta
1,553 - Nick Hanson, Heritage (Ringgold)
1,543 - Jarrett Guest, Kennesaw Mountain
1,517 - Jaycee Harden, Colquitt County
1,517 - Donovan Anthony, Washington-Wilkes
1,512 - Christian Charles, Chestatee
1,499 - Victor Dixon Jr., Westside (Macon)
1,490 - Trenton Folds, Morgan County
1,489 - Jordan Williams, Parkview
1,482 - Aaron Graham, Riverwood
1,479 - Peyton Rich, Lambert
1,458 - Deante Maxwell, Carver (Atlanta)
1,458 - Justin Fomby, Central Gwinnett
1,453 - Bo Lawson, Dooly County
1,453 - Max Rigby, Houston County
1,416 - Kaleb Sherrer, North Oconee
1,415 - Louis Williams, Norcross
1,414 - J.C. French, Wesleyan
1,407 - Nathan Cronic, East Coweta
1,396 - Alex Drazic, Discovery
1,390 - Trevor Lovett, North Cobb
1,384 - Jarrett Jenkins, Dacula
1,380 - Taylor Jackson, South Effingham
1,363 - Blake Hembree, Alexander
1,358 - Emmanuel Mann, Jordan
1,355 - Christian Palmer, Stratford Academy
1,352 - Lazarus Anderson, Creekside
1,349 - Gage Moses, Pepperell
1,344 - Noah Cook, Eastside
1,336 - L.T. Stowers, Newton
1,334 - Cole Kibler, Ringgold
1,327 - Thomas Carver, Calvary Day
1,323 - C'Darius Kelley, Greene County
1,322 - Jaydon Gibson, Peach County
1,311 - Josh Rose, Greater Atlanta Christian
1,304 - Kashif Taylor, Carrollton
1,280 - Aaron Bell, North Springs
1,285 - J.R. Martin, North Gwinnett
1,283 - Trey Cloud, Toombs County
1,280 - Jadin Daniels, Northside (Warner Robins)
1,278 - Carter Gernier, Benedictine
Receiving
1,420 - Marcayll Jones, Warner Robins (AAAAA leader)
1,099 - Arik Gilbert, Marietta (AAAAAAA leader)
1,069 - Ze'vian Capers, Denmark (AAAA leader)
1,052 - Dayton Wade, Lovejoy (AAAAAA leader)
1,017 - Cam Green, Jordan (AA leader)
967 - Seth Pressley, Chestatee
920 - Ricky White, Wheeler
914 - Ty James, Greater Atlanta Christian (AAA leader)
875 - Mack Simmons, Prince Avenue Christian (A leader)
867 - Tyrek Presley, Drew
865 - Richard Shaw, Centennial
865 - Jontavis Robertson, Jones County
863 - Parker Self, South Paulding
859 - Jalin Strown, Flowery Branch
844 - Justin Sanders, North Atlanta
835 - Aalah Brown, Valdosta
825 - Jonathan Baker, Northview
807 - Metrius Fleming, Elbert County
796 - Jeffrey Saturday, Hebron Christian
787 - Kobe Johnson, Discovery
768 - Davion Ross, Perry
757 - Dre Lester, Washington-Wilkes
746 - Sawyer Drake, Union County
745 - Dominick Blaylock, Walton
743 - Xavier Roberts, Rome
731 - Chandler Lynn, Toombs County
721 - Malik Washington, Parkview
719 - Deanthony Ball, Carver (Atlanta)
697 - Shawn Hardy, Camden County
694 - Ramel Keyton, Marietta
682 - Drake Mason, Centennial
681 - Nick Hassan, Strong Rock Christian
679 - Tommy Stewart, Mountain View
676 - Donovan Curry, Habersham Central
674 - Robert Lewis, Newton
668 - Braylen Weems, Archer
668 - Brysen Boone, South Cobb
666 - Nolan Letzgus, Heritage (Ringgold)
661 - R.J. Phillips, Swainsboro
659 - Luke Smith, Lumpkin County
646 - Kendall Alford, Walton
645 - Jacyais Credle, Carver (Columbus)
642 - Micah Davis, Harrison
637 - John Copenhaver, Roswell
636 - Anthony Jackson, Westover
635 - Tyler Smith, Salem
635 - Tyler Ajiero, Tift County
632 - Tre Young, Riverwood
626 - Taji Johnson, Marietta
623 - Giovanni Dyer, Johns Creek
615 - Jamari Thrash, Troup
614 - Jordan Huff, Morgan County
610 - Jayden Thomas, Pace Academy
608 - Kyle Morlock, Union County
606 - Billy Ward, Locust Grove
605 - Deon Fountain, Brooks County
603 - Kenyon Jackson, Grayson
602 - Kellan Autenrieth, North Paulding
600 - Shamon Zanders, Dooly County
599 - Justin Robinson, Eagle's Landing Christian
599 - Kyle Hamilton, Marist
599 - Parker Wroble, Mill Creek
597 - Jaylon Barden, Westside (Macon)
588 - Isaiah Lancaster, Carrollton
588 - Rekevian Mathis, Centennial
588 - Terrence Morton, Mays
586 - Jadon Haselwood, Cedar Grove
584 - Seth Henderson, Northwest Whitfield
581 - Kevin Cochran, Thomasville
579 - Kevah Brantley, Lithonia
575 - Michael King, Coahulla Creek
566 - Abraham Camara, West Forsyth
563 - Kobie Phillips, Macon County
563 - Jakarius Tillman, Thomasville
562 - Chandler Jones, Cambridge
560 - Keontae Reeves, Crawford County
560 - Orri Roberts, Henry County
558 - Michael Mathison, Newton
557 - Ja'Marquis Johnson, Berrien
557 - Jacob Jarrett, Roswell
555 - Isaiah Wilson, Norcross
550 - Kyle Sherrer, North Oconee
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