Mays football coach Corey Jarvis got a call of encouragement Tuesday from Ted Sparks, now in his 80s. Sparks was the coach of the last Atlanta city school to win a state title, Southwest, in 1973.
The week before, all-state running back Oscar Dillard of Douglass High’s state runner-up team of 1975 asked to visit practice for a pep talk and Atlanta history lesson. Several Mays alumni have called to ask how they can help. One delivered fruit. Another set up for the players to have massages the day before the semifinals.
“I got a call today from the class of ’86 wanting to know what they can do,’’ Jarvis said. “The community as a whole, from councilmen to local businesses, are rallying around us. We go to the elementary school, and they treat the players like superstars. They might as well be Cam Newton and Julio Jones.’’
Mays, which plays Northside-Warner Robins on Friday for the Class AAAAA title in the Georgia Dome, is one of five schools that can win a first football state championship this weekend. The others are Archer (AAAAAA), Benedictine (AA), Greater Atlanta Christian (AA) and Mount Paran Christian (A).
Each has a little different take on it.
Benedictine played its first recorded football game in 1908. No other Georgia school has played the sport that long without some claim to a state championship. Benedictine coach Danny Britt said he has received several texts and emails from alumni after last week’s semifinals.
“I’ve received a lot of encouragement, just thanking us for getting here, how proud everybody is for that,’’ Britt said. “People have said that it buried a lot of demons because there are a number of teams (three) that made it to the semifinals and couldn’t get past. I would certainly love to bring one home for the Benedictine family.’’
If Benedictine doesn’t win its first title, Greater Atlanta Christian will. They play each other in the AA final.
GAC was established in 1967, but didn’t start varsity football until 1991. The school has won 50 state championships in other sports and contended in football, with nine 10-victory seasons and one other state finals appearance (2002).
Hardy said he feels that all the players and coaches that went before are part of this season’s teams, and he mentions former coaches Jim Lofton and Jimmy Chupp. But Hardy also knows kids and thinks a history lesson won’t mean that much this week.
“This year, to be honest, we don’t spend lot of time talking about it, not this week,’’ Hardy said. “History won’t give us any points on Saturday.”
The other two with a chance to win for the first time are relatively new to football. Mount Paran played its first varsity games in 2008. Archer opened in 2009. Archer would be the youngest school to win state since Peachtree Ridge did it in its fourth season in 2006.
“From a historical standpoint, we’ve only been here for six years, but it’s something we instilled in our kids from Day 1,’’ Archer coach Andy Dyer said. “We wanted to build a program that is in the state playoffs every year and wins region titles and ultimately state championships. So for us, we’re making history. It’s right there for the picking.’’
At Mays, the history transcends the school. The 41-year drought of state titles for Atlanta schools is no secret. Jarvis grew up in Atlanta, played at Harper and rooted in 1991 for Brown, the last city team to make a championship game. Jarvis came back to the city to coach last season for this chance, and maybe to prove a point.
“To lead a program into a state championship with kids who come from the same area as me, it’s a humbling opportunity,’’ Jarvis said. “I was told when I came here that this is an inner-city school, that kids aren’t going to be disciplined enough to do what you want them to do. They’ve took everything I’ve asked them like adults going to war. They wanted discipline. They wanted to work hard. They wanted a chance to be good. It’s no better feeling, to be honest.’’
Last state titles:
2013 – Buford
2012 – ELCA
2011 – Calhoun
2007 – Northside
2004 – Hawkinsville
1997 – Washington County
1994 – Colquitt County
1975 – Irwin County
1968 – St. Pius
Never won:
Archer
Benedictine
Greater Atlanta Christian
Mays
Mount Paran Christian
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