Today’s interviewee is Phil Jones, content coordinator for ITG Next, host of the Extra Point! With Phil Jones podcast and play-by-play announcer for the ITG Next Game of the Week, which on Friday is Richmond Hill vs. Lowndes. Jones is the host for 13 coaches shows. His dominant coverage area is Region 1-7A, which has Valdosta and Colquitt County vying for the title this week and Camden County, Lowndes and Richmond Hill fighting to fill the other two playoff berths.
1. What’s your assessment of Colquitt County? What’s impressive about them? What’s their question mark? “I’ve been very fortunate to have witnessed Colquitt County this season as one of our featured teams in our Game of the Week as well as receiving great insight into the Packers with my weekly conversation with Packers head coach Sean Calhoun on The ITG Next Colquitt County Coaches Show that I host. Colquitt County’s strength is their experience on offense. With eight of 11 starters back, you see a strong group of veterans who play like they have been here before because they have. Ny Carr gets most of the attention and deservedly so, but Zay Williams would be a primary receiver on any other team. What impresses me about Colquitt is their second-half separation. Just when the opponent is making it close, the Packers are the absolute best at pulling away. Colquitt’s question mark? The defense is small, and unlike their offense, it is a mostly inexperienced unit, and they will give up points.”
2. What’s your assessment of Valdosta? “Valdosta is getting hot at the right time. They are playing their best football right now, and it seems that they have found their groove and what works, which right now is taking over the line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball. Everyone knows about Valdosta’s team speed and athleticism, but what you don’t realize is their physical style of play, especially on defense. They have the single best defensive player in Georgia in Eric Brantley. He is a one-man wrecking crew who can single-handedly take over a game. The one thing keeping Valdosta from turning into a true contender in class 7A is themselves, or their self-induced mistakes. It is the single problem that is holding back an otherwise talented Cats team.”
3. Lowndes is fighting to make the playoffs with a new coach, Adam Carter. How would you assess where they are? “Lowndes is a young and inexperienced team, and the overwhelming majority of the fan base understood that heading into the season. However, the confidence meter is high with head coach Adam Carter as he has the Vikings playing with a lot of spirit right now. That was evident for everyone to see in the Colquitt and Valdosta games. Lowndes led Valdosta by two TDs in the second half, but the inexperience and mistakes cost the Vikings in that one. Against the Packers, the young Vikings stood toe to toe with a superior Colquitt team for three quarters, until Colquitt did what they do best, which is put opponents away late. Those last two games have Lowndes fans very excited heading into the Richmond Hill game with a playoff spot on the line. These are two very similar teams, and the fans will come out in droves for this battle for the No. 4 playoff spot.”
4. How do you assess the region as a whole? What do you think we’ll see in the playoffs and why? ‘’Region 1-7A has a bit of a different feel to it this season so far. Colquitt County is the team to beat, with Valdosta making a late-season push. Then, Camden, Lowndes and Richmond Hill are all fairly even. Colquitt is the only team that is expected to go far in the state playoffs, although I think the potential first-round matchups are compelling with a Grayson versus Valdosta and Colquitt versus Parkview first-round pairing very possible.”
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