The New Manchester Jaguars may be the best 1-3 team in Class 5A.
After last year’s historic season, which saw coach Cedric Jackson’s team come away with the school’s first region title, the Jags have seen tremendous growth in participation and community involvement. But the schedule has been difficult and New Manchester’s three losses have come against Class 5A No. 3 Carrollton, Class 7A No. 10 East Coweta and Class 3A No. 6 Cedartown. The win came against Hiram, a playoff team from last year.
But the rugged schedule is part of the program’s philosophy to play tough teams and get ready for tough times.
“When we made the schedule last year, the one thing we focused on was being playoff built,” Jackson said. “One way you can be playoff-built is to get battle tested. Last year we had some success and we went into an environment we weren’t quite used to. So that was the whole purpose of the schedule.”
New Manchester was 6-4 last year and secured the program’s second playoff appearance. The Jags won their final three regular-season games -- winnable games against North Springs and Villa Rica were cancelled because of COVID or it might have been more. They opened the playoffs by beating Hiram before falling to a veteran Eastside team in the second round.
That success helped drive home the message that Jackson and his staff had been preaching. He has seen a different atmosphere envelope the program.
“It’s just the mentality,” Jackson said. “I think a winning foundation was laid … the culture where when you work hard, good things happen. We started out tough, but our kids still believe they’re winners and that’s important. They believe we’re doing things the right way.”
Jackson said community support has never been higher. Participation in off-season workouts didn’t require a buy-in; everyone was there. Jackson had kids coming up him as late as the first of school who wanted to be part of the football team.
New Manchester’s defense is led by lineman De’andre Jones, a 6-foot-4, 255-pound Georgia State commitment who Jackson said, “has done a good job of demanding double-teams.” Linebacker Josiah Bivins (6-0, 195) has developed into an impactful player.
The offense is led by junior running back Chris Morgan (6-0, 180), a workhorse who is also a straight-A student. He’s beginning to get some attention from college scouts. Morgan has rushed for 401 yards and four touchdowns through four games, going over 100 yards twice.
New Manchester begins competition in Region 6 this week at Lithia Springs. The two teams are natural rivals since the schools are only five miles apart. New Manchester leads the series 6-1 but Lithia Springs won 20-14 in 2020.
“It’s always the Super Bowl for both teams,” Jackson said. “Both teams know the region is on the line and they’re going to play like it. We’re ready to get this region started.”
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