Friday, Aug. 9, 2019

Projected Top Players By Position
Allen among best-ever LBs at Peach Co...
Peach County has fielded seven first-team all-state linebackers in coach Chad Campbell's 27 seasons at the school, but none that he rates higher than Sergio Allen, a four-star recruit committed to Clemson.
 
Sergio Allen
(Photos by 247Sports)
Allen last season became the first Peach County player since defensive lineman Juaquin Feazell in 1993 to be named his classification's defensive player of the year. Allen had a career-high 122 tackles for the Class AAA runner-up.
 
Allen broke into the starting lineup as a freshman on a team that made the state semifinals. He has played in two state finals and for three region championship teams.
 
"After preseason as a freshman, we thought we had something special," Campbell said. "He played outside and inside linebacker, but what he could really do was rush the passer. If you ask him today, he loves to play defensive end. He understands blocking schemes very well and knows where he should fit and has great vision."
 
Allen typically comes up the middle, not off the edge. He's a 6-foot-1, 215-pound middle linebacker with 43 tackles behind the line of scrimmage in his career.
 
"What he has done this offseason is really gotten faster, and you can see a bigger burst in him," Campbell said. "He doesn't miss many tackles, so he is a good tackler in the box and in space."
 
Below are 10 of the state's best linebackers for 2019. GHSF Daily will publish its 10 best at each position over nine issues in preseason. The players' status as recruits is a factor, but the choices are made largely on production as high school players.
 
*Sergio Allen, Peach County:  A veteran of 14 state playoff games and counting, Allen has 283 career tackles. He's a top-200 national recruit.
 
*Chaz Chambliss, Carrollton:  Chambliss was already 6-foot-3, 230 pounds as a freshman starter in 2017. In two seasons, he has 44 tackles for losses and 22 sacks. Chambliss is an uncommitted four-star recruit.
 
*Tyson Meiguez, Creekside:  Meiguez transferred from a small private school last season, and Creekside improved from 0-10 to 8-4. Playing on the edge, Meiguez had 118 tackles, 12 behind the line. A three-star recruit, Meiguez has committed to Georgia Tech.
 
*Isaiah Ratcliff, Cedar Grove:  Ratcliff, an inside linebacker, had 110 tackles on a state championship team, and that was a down year as he struggled with injuries. He made all-state as a sophomore. Ratcliff (6-1, 205) is a three-star recruit with offers from every Power 5 conference.
 
Wesley Steiner
*Wesley Steiner, Houston County:  Steiner blew up as a recruit in the offseason and topped it off by receiving the highest rating for athleticism at The Opening nationals in Texas last month. He's now the consensus No. 4 inside LB prospect nationally and committed to Auburn. Steiner was primarily a running back as a sophomore and still dabbled on offense last season, when he had 42 tackles, seven for losses, on a 2-8 team.
 
*Kevin Swint, Carrollton:  Swint, a first-team all-state performer in 2018, joins Chambliss to form the state's best linebacker duo. Swint (6-2, 240) is an inside linebacker. He has 50.5 tackles for losses and 25 sacks over the past two seasons. He's a top-250 national recruit committed to Clemson.
 
*Desmond Tisdol, Wilcox County:  An inside linebacker, Tisdol was the co-defensive player of the year in Region 2-A and first-team all-state despite playing on a 5-6 team. He had 12.5 tackles for losses and scored four times on fumble returns. He also had 645 yards rushing and nine touchdowns. Tisdol (5-0, 215) is an uncommitted four-star recruit.
 
*Phillip Webb, Lanier:  A long, fierce pass rusher who had 10.5 sacks and 27 QB hurries as a junior, Webb was a first-team all-state player last season, when he helped Lanier reach the Class AAAAAA semifinals. Webb (6-4, 220) is the consensus No. 4 outside LB prospect nationally. His reported college favorites are LSU, Alabama and Auburn.
 
*Kameron Wilson, Mount Zion (Jonesboro):  Wilson had 16.5 sacks for a 2-8 team that returns 17 starters and three Division I-committed recruits. Wilson is committed to Louisville.
 
*Kobe Wilson, Parkview:  Wilson was the defensive player of the year in Region 7-AAAAAAA last season on an 11-1 team. He's Parkview's hardest-working player, his coaches say. Wilson had 81 solo tackles in 2018. He is a three-star recruit committed to Memphis.
In The News
Former Americus coach Shell dies
Alton Shell, who won 169 games at Americus High over two decades and coached one of the state's legendary teams in 1975, died Thursday at Southeast Alabama Medical Center in Dothan, Ala., after suffering a stroke last week at his home in Americus.
 
Shell was Americus' coach from 1971 to 1990 and compiled a record of 169-66-1. His teams won nine region titles and two state championships, in 1974 and 1975. Americus-Sumter's Alton Clive Shell Stadium is named for him.
 
Both state champions finished 14-0. The 1975 team is widely recognized as having the best defense in state history. Boosted by stars such as Mackel Harris, Matt Braswell and Albert Cooper, the team shut out 13 of 14 opponents and allowed only eight points in the season. Those came in a game at Dothan, Ala., that Americus won 14-8. Dothan scored after a long drive aided by several Americus penalties. Americus won the Class AA championship with a 34-0 victory over Dalton.
 
Funeral arrangements will be announced later by Greg Hancock Funeral Chapel in Americus. Shell was 86.
 
Irwin County star Lundy has knee injury
Irwin County senior D.J. Lundy, featured among GHSF Daily's 10 best running backs this season, has a knee injury, and his status this season is unknown. Irwin County coach Buddy Nobles confirmed the injury this week and said it occurred during a small wrestling meet in June. The knee will be re-evaluated next week. He is not practicing with the team. Lundy rushed for 1,636 yards and 28 touchdowns on 158 carries last season, when Irwin was the Class A public-school runner-up to Clinch County. A three-star recruit, Lundy has several SEC offers.
 
Coaching changes top 100 in 2019 offseason
There are 101 new head coaches in the GHSA this season, nearly a record. According to the Georgia High School Football Historians Association, the most occurred in 2017, when 109 head coaches were hired. The 2019 turnover rate is 23.9 percent. That's high for this decade, but the turnover rate for this decade is actually lower than it was from the 1960s through the 1980s, according to GHSFHA data first reported in GHSF Daily in 2017 (below).
 
What are schools looking for? Head-coaching experience helps. The 101 new hires include 40 head coaches, 20 offensive coordinators, 19 defensive coordinators, 15 position coaches and two middle school head coaches. Five were not coaching football last season. Fourteen came from out of state.
 
New GHSA coaches by year:
2019 - 101
2018 - 82
2017 - 109
2016 - 82
2015 - 84
2014 - 92
2013 - 95
2012 - 92
2011 - 71
2010 - 87
 
Turnover rate by decade:
2011-17 - 21.0
2000-10 - 20.9
1990-99 - 19.3
1980-89 - 20.5
1970-79 - 25.3
1960-69 - 24.4
1950-59 - 24.5

Preseason All-State Teams
Class A (Private)
*Best player:  That's a tough one. Prince Avenue Christian QB Brock Vandagriff passed for more than 3,000 yards, rushed for more than 1,000, and had a hand in 61 touchdowns. Not to mention, he's the No. 1 QB prospect in the country among juniors. But he's just one player. Darlington OL/DL Tate Ratledge is essentially two. He's a top-50 national recruit, perhaps the best left tackle in Georgia, and contributed seven sacks and another 16 tackles for losses on defense. And he blocked three extra points. But he doesn't have the ball in his hands that much. How about Len'Neth Whitehead of Athens Academy? He's a four-star LB recruit who rushed for 1,481 yards and 25 touchdowns for a school that has made the finals each of the past two seasons.
 
*Best position:  There's such a glut at running back that a third spot was added for the position at the expense of tight end. Whitehead was slotted at the athlete position, and Darlington's Kolin Rogers (1,429 yards rushing) didn't make it at all. The chosen three were Murphy Reeves (1,710 yards rushing), Michael Cox (1,625) and Keaton Mitchell (2,509).
 
*Highly recruited: Ratledge is the consensus No. 5 player in Georgia, No. 35 player nationally, and No. 4 left tackle. He is committed to Georgia.
 
*That's interesting:  Two offensive linemen have older brothers who were starting left tackles in college football last season. Colby Quinney's brother, Zach, is a sophomore at Georgia Tech. Trey Bedosky's brother, Steven, is a junior at Coastal Carolina.
 
*Snubbed?  Mount de Sales QB Dexter Williams was the Region 7 player of the year last season, when he passed for 1,023 yards and 13 touchdowns and rushed for 1,544 yards and 18 touchdowns. Williams is committed to Indiana. With Williams edged out, none of the four Macon private schools are represented.
 
*What else is new?   Athens Academy and ELCA have four selections each, but that's not new. ELCA has played and beaten Athens Academy in the finals the past two seasons. Meanwhile, Aquinas has three picks, all on defense. Might be a good year for the Irish.
 
OFFENSE
QB - Brock Vandagriff, Prince Avenue Christian, Jr.
RB - Keaton Mitchell, Eagle's Landing Christian, Sr.
RB - Murphy Reeves, Fellowship Christian, Jr.
RB - Michael Cox, Holy Innocents', Sr.
WR - Deion Colzie, Athens Academy, Jr.
WR - Justin Robinson, Eagle's Landing Christian, Sr.
OL - Trey Bedosky, Landmark Christian, Sr.
OL - Tanner Bivins, Wesleyan, Jr.
OL - Colby Quinney, Savannah Christian, Sr.
OL - Tate Ratledge, Darlington, Sr.
OL - Shedrick Rhodes, Eagle's Landing Christian, Sr.
ATH - Len'Neth Whitehead, Athens Academy, Sr.
PK - James Williams, Athens Academy, Sr.
 
DEFENSE
DL - Marquis Black, Eagle's Landing Christian, Sr.
DL - Jaden Blount, Aquinas, Sr.
DL - Cade Brock, Darlington, Sr.
DL - Andre Miller, Savannah Country Day, Sr.
LB - Nate Moon, Savannah Christian, Sr.
LB - Jaquez Dew, Whitefield Academy, Sr.
LB - Davis Ridings, Prince Avenue Christian, Jr.
LB - A.J. Williams, Aquinas, Sr.
DB - Cam'Ron Dabney, Riverside Military, Jr.
DB - Kurt Knisely, Athens Academy, Sr.
DB - Sharmari Reed, Trinity Christian, Sr.
DB - Joseph Welch, Aquinas, Jr.
P - Marshall Nichols, Holy Innocents', Jr.
 
Coming Monday: Class A (Public)
Corrections
Quarterback Blaine McAllister plays for Lovett. His school was misidentified in Thursday's report of the Touchdown Club of Atlanta's watch list for Mr. Georgia Football. ... Former Bacon County head coach Kyle Langford is now on Lowndes' staff. His landing spot was reported incorrectly in Thursday's report of Class AA coaching changes. ... Wednesday's story on the state's 10 best offensive linemen incorrectly reported the recruiting status of Pierce County tackle Avery Jernigan. He committed to Auburn in February.
TV lineup announced for Corky Kell Classic
Longtime high school play-by-play announcer Matt Stewart and 247Sports recruiting expert Rusty Mansell will team up to do six of the nine games of the Metro by T-Mobile Corky Kell Classic on television on Peachtree TV/CBS46, while Atlanta Hawks announcer Bob Rathburn and Score Atlanta's Craig Sager Jr. will handle two broadcasts. Stewart and Mansell will open the Classic on Thursday, Aug. 22, at Rome's Barron Stadium, doing the Calhoun-Ridgeland and Marietta-Rome showdowns before moving the next night to Coolray Field in Gwinnett County for the meetings between Tucker and Archer, and Milton and Buford. Kickoffs for the first two nights will be at 5:30 p.m., and all four games will be broadcast on Peachtree TV. Then on CBS46 on Saturday, Aug. 24, at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, radio veteran Bob Houghton and Corky partner Fletcher Proctor will do the 9 a.m. game between Kell and Mays, followed by Rathbun and Sager Jr., who will handle Walton and Norcross, while Stewart and Mansell will do the meeting between Colquitt County and North Gwinnett. Rathbun and Sager Jr. will be back for the fourth game as the two original Corky Kell teams, Brookwood and McEachern, meet with the games switching back to Peachtree TV. Stewart and Mansell will handle the nightcap between East Coweta and Mill Creek. On Thursday and Friday nights, Ashley Rose, who handles Halo Board reports for all Atlanta United games at The Benz and is a veteran of Corky telecasts, will host the halftime and between-game shows along with Sager Jr. and CBS46 Sports Director Fred Kahlil. Rose will be back on the set Saturday along with Kahlil and former NFL defensive lineman Chuck Smith. Emily Gagnon of CBS46 will handle sideline reports while former Braves off-set TV talent Glenn Diamond will produce the games.



Youth & High School
Ticket Packages $40
The Atlanta Falcons are offering a $40 Youth & High School Football Ticket Package that includes one ticket to the Aug. 22 preseason game (7:30 p.m.) against the Washington Redskins and one ticket to the Sept. 29 regular-season game against the Tennessee Titans (1 p.m.). The ticket package is available with a minimum purchase of 10 tickets per order to any of GHSF Daily's readers. For more information, email us by clicking here or call 470-341-4500 extension 5.
List
Longest-tenured: 1A
Just two years ago, Class A led all classifications in average tenure of its head coaches - 5.8 seasons. Suddenly, it's down to 4.1. The average dropped sharply again this offseason with the retirements of Don Williams (25 seasons at George Walton Academy) and Jim Dickerson (15 at Clinch County) and the move of Rich McWhorter (29 at Charlton County) to Jackson County. The new longest-tenured Class A coach is Greg Moore, who has been head coach at his alma mater, First Presbyterian in Macon, since 2000.
 
20 - Greg Moore, First Presbyterian
18 - Tommy Atha, Darlington
18 - Chris Kelley, Glascock Co
14 - Franklin Pridgen, Wesleyan
13 - Jonathan Gess, ELCA
13 - Don Norton, Johnson Co
12 - Matthew Gruhn, Lakeview Academy
12 - Mitch Jordan, Mount Paran
9 - Chris Kearson, ECI
8 - Mark Farriba, Stratford Academy
8 - Matt Burleson, Telfair County
8 - Justin Brown, Trion
7 - James Leonard, Aquinas
7 - Michael Brown, Commerce
7 - Al Morrell, Fellowship Christian
7 - Mike Forester, Mount Pisgah
7 - Cherard Freeman, Warren County
6 - Chris Williams, Athens Christian
6 - Buddy Nobles, Irwin County
6 - Keith Hatcher, Mount de Sales
6 - Tommy Webb, Strong Rock
6 - Matt Casper, Walker
5 - Josh Alexander, Athens Academy
5 - Greg Ellis, Gordon Lee
5 - Dexter Copeland, Macon Co.
5 - Evan Hochstetler, Manchester
5 - Wayne Dabbs, Mount Vernon
5 - Dondrial Pinkins, Pelham
5 - Mark Wilson, Taylor County
Trivia

My 44-7 record gives me the highest winning percentage (.867) of any active head coach in the GHSA with at least 50 games played. I've led my school to consecutive state finals in search of an elusive first state title. Who am I? (Answer Monday)
 
Answer to Thursday's question: Calhoun, with a 119-10 record, has won the most games since 2010. Buford (117-14), Eagle's Landing Christian (107-16), Cartersville (105-13), Colquitt County (104-26), Tucker (102-20) and Peach County (101-20) are other schools with more than 100 wins.
 
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Scrimmages
Here is a schedule of scrimmage games this week. GHSF Daily compiles this list, as it is not maintained or made available by the GHSA, so omissions and errors may occur. Please report them to [email protected] and they will be updated.Changes or additions from Thursday's issue are listed in red.
 
Today's games
Atkinson Co. at Bacon Co.
Benedictine vs. Sav. Christian (SM)
Bremen at Rockmart
Brookstone at Webb, Tenn.
Bryan Co./Portal at Southeast Bulloch
Central Gwinnett at West Forsyth
Chamblee vs. Stone Mountain (ND)
Chestatee at Union Co.
Clarkston vs. Lakeside, Atlanta (HS)
Claxton at Jenkins Co.
Coffee at Fitzgerald
Dawson Co. at North Forsyth
Dodge Co. at Hawkinsville
Douglass vs. Jackson, Atlanta (L)
Druid Hills at Dougherty (M)
Duluth at Pace Acacdemy
Dutchtown at Drew (SC)
East Jackson at Social Circle
East Ridge, Tenn. at Lakeview-FO
Etowah at Lambert
Glenn Hills at Central, Macon (ED)
Hephzibah at Cross Creek
Irwin Co. at Brooks Co.
Jeff Davis at Morgan Co.
Jenkins at Bradwell Institute
Jones Co. at Upson-Lee
Madison Co. at Loganville
Manchester at Lamar Co.
McNair at Fellowship Christian
Morrow at Cedartown
New Hampstead at Clinch Co.
Northwest Whitfield at Calhoun
Polk County, Tenn. at Murray Co.
Ringgold at Gordon Lee
St. Pius at Lovett
Screven Co. at Effingham Co.
Southwest DeKalb at Salem
Telfair Co. at Treutlen
Temple at Pepperell
Therrell at Lovejoy (TO)
Valdosta at Glynn Academy
Westminster at Athens Academy
Wilcox Co. at Pierce Co.
Wilkinson Co. at Johnson Co.
 
Saturday's games
Christian Heritage at Baylor, Tenn.
Coahulla Creek at So. Pittsburg, Tenn.
Jefferson at Denmark
Walton at Kell
 
Stadium abbreviations:
(ED) Ed Defore; (HS) Hallford; (L) Lakewood; (M) Mills; (ND) North DeKalb; (SC) Southern Crescent; (SM) Savannah Memorial; (TO) Twelve Oaks
Games on the Web
The NFHS Network will present live streaming of football games from around the state each week. To sign up for the network or watch the games, click here . The NFHS Network partners with more than 100 Georgia high schools to give their students the opportunity to train and learn to broadcast their school's sporting events. Contact the NFHS Network to find out how your school can serve its students and fans with sports broadcasting opportunities.
Ask The Ref
Q: What is the rule explaining how far a lineman can go down field on the run-pass option plays that are becoming popular these days? - Jim Jarrard, Broxton
 
A:  "The run-pass option plays can be confusing in recognizing ineligible players downfield for fans, coaches and officials.
 
"First you have to understand the definition of neutral zone and expanded neutral zone. For a scrimmage play, it is the space between the two ends of the football. This neutral zone for scrimmage plays can be expanded following the snap up to a maximum of two yards behind the defensive line of scrimmage.
 
"For a forward pass caught behind the line of scrimmage, there is no foul if ineligible players are beyond the line of scrimmage.
 
"To establish the expanded neutral zone, an ineligible lineman at the snap immediately contacts a defensive lineman, and that contact does not continue beyond the expanded neutral zone or two yards beyond the line of scrimmage.
 
"Ineligible offensive players may not advance beyond the expanded neutral zone (two yards beyond the line of scrimmage) on a legal forward pass play that goes beyond the line of scrimmage until the ball leaves the passer's hand - not when it crosses the line of scrimmage nor when the pass is caught or touched downfield.
 
"As officials we are taught to have a hard line for the expanded neutral zone. Know the teams you are officiating and talk about these types of plays in pregame. During the game when you see this type of play and the pass is thrown, you must decide quickly was a player beyond the hard line of the expanded neutral zone when the ball left the hand of the passer and is he engaged in a block. Linemen are so quick today that they can be at that two-yard mark when the ball leaves the passer's hand, but when the ball is caught downfield, the player is five yards downfield. In real time this can look like an ineligible downfield. However, where was the player when the pass left the passer's hand? That's what can be confusing to everyone watching." - Tim Tipton, Lanier Football Officials Association
 
- Have a question for a Georgia official? Send it to us by  clicking here . If you are interested in being an official, contact an  officials association  in your area.
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See GHSF Daily's archive to find all editions dating to 2010.
Four Questions
Eagle's Landing Christian won its fourth straight Class A private-school championship in 2018 and fifth state championship overall. Today's interviewee is ELCA coach Jonathan Gess, whose record at the McDonough private school is 131-27.
 
Jonathan Gess, Eagle's Landing Christian coach
1.  The 2018 team is one of five ELCA state champions. What was unique about that particular team? What will be its legacy? "I think with the 2012 and 2017 teams, they were the most talented, without any doubt. We knew we had talent in 2018, but we didn't know if we would have the supporting pieces to win another state championship. We were starting three new offensive linemen, replacing our entire defense almost and skill positions on offense. So it was rewarding to see the team come together and win a state championship."
 
2. What's the scouting report on the 2019 team? Where do you feel you're pretty good, and where are the potential trouble spots? "We feel good about our team but have some giant holes to fill - quarterback Brayden Rush and linebacker Johnathan Youngblood. These two guys were tremendous leaders and three-year starters. We lose Justin Menard to Central Florida and a few other great players. We feel good about our team, but our linebacking core and quarterback have a lot to prove. If they can produce, we have a chance to be really good."
 
3. You've seen almost every top Class A private-school program over the years. What was the best opposing team, and the best opposing player, that you've faced in that time? "From a single-A perspective, the best team we have seen, and this probably includes any classification, is the 2014 Mount Paran team. That team is one of single A's all-time best teams and could have competed in any classification that year. Man, there have been so many special players we have gone up against. But if I have to say one guy that totally was different was Stanley Williams for George Walton in 2012 and 2013. That George Walton team in 2012 was one of the best ever in single A as well. We played them in the semifinals. He went on to play at Kentucky." [ELCA is 16-0 in the state playoffs since a 49-7 loss to Mount Paran Christian in the 2014 finals. Williams was a 1,000-yard rusher at Kentucky and signed with the Broncos and Bengals, though never made a regular-season NFL roster.]
 
4. You wrote a book called Demand Excellence that was published in the offseason. What's it about, and what inspired you to write it? "I am a Christian and I want to coach in a way that brings God honor and glory. I am an extreme competitor. I want to win at everything I do. As I became a head coach, there has been this big struggle in my life between doing things for my glory and doing things for his glory. I don't mind the intense competitor inside of me. I don't mind the fact that I want to win. Who wants to lose?  But what I mind is I want the glory that belongs to God. So from 2013-2015 and on I wrote a book that addresses this struggle. I wasn't going to publish it because it probably will prevent me from ever working at anything other than a Christian school in today's times, but I felt convicted by the Holy Spirit to publish it. I'm 40 now, and there are a lot of younger coaches that hopefully I can encourage to coach for the glory of God rather than their own glory. I started a podcast too, called Demand Excellence where I, and coach Ed Dudley [of Winder-Barrow] sometimes, interview coaches across the state who are doing it the right way. It has been very encouraging talking with these coaches."
 
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New Coaches
Class A
Number of hires:  25
Best hire:  Ashley Harden, Dooly County
Hardest to replace:  Rich McWhorter, Charlton County
Best job:  Clinch County
Toughest job:  Stewart County
Most interesting: Rich McWhorter left Charlton County, the only employer he's had since college, to take the Jackson County job in north Georgia in December. Charlton County was nothing but bare potential when McWhorter was hired in 1990. The program failed to have a winning season in the 1980s, and nobody else wanted the job. So at age 26, McWhorter went to work. He won 288 games, 15 region titles and four state championships in 29 seasons. Now, it's Russ Murray's turn. Murray is a former Charlton County lineman from those 1980s teams, and he joined McWhorter's staff in 1995 and has been part of all four of the Indians' state championship teams. He has served as assistant head coach, line coach, JV coach and middle school coach. He's also been a head coach in baseball, golf and archery.
 
Region 1
*Baconton Charter promoted Parker Rentz to replace Randy Grace, now the head coach at Windsor Academy in Macon. Rentz has been on Baconton's staff the past two seasons. He was head coach at Southwest Georgia Academy in Early County in 2016. Baconton has gone 3-7 the past two years and never won more than three games in a season since starting varsity football in 2010.
 
*Calhoun County hired alumnus and former Terrell County defensive coordinator Leonard King to replace  Dietrich Wadley, who joined the staff at Jordan . King, hired just two weeks ago, played for Calhoun County in the mid-1990s and has coached at Terrell County and Randolph-Clay. He was out of coaching last season. Calhoun County was 8-32 in four seasons under Wadley.
 
*Chattahoochee County promoted offensive coordinator Jody Allen to replace Drew Fowler, who is now on staff at Central of Carrollton. Allen was a longtime college coach who spent 10 seasons at Florida State under Bobby Bowdon, three at Ole Miss and one at Alabama. He has been an assistant at Griffin and Cairo. Chattahoochee County was 18-15 in three seasons under Fowler and 8-4 in 2018.
 
*Randolph-Clay hired Thompson (Ala.) assistant and Randolph County native Wes Murphy to replace Harvey Smith. Murphy, a former Arkansas tight end who signed to the Kansas City Chiefs' training camp in 2007, has spent much of his career with college programs, including Auburn's 2013 SEC championship team as a support-staff member. He's also worked at Arkansas State and Virginia Union. In 2011, he was an assistant at Fellowship Christian in Roswell. Randolph-Clay was 0-10 last season.
 
*Seminole County hired Daleville (Ala.) head coach Trey Woolf to replace Wes Williams, who remained as a teacher at the school. Woolf was Early County's head coach from 2001 to 2016, and his record was 105-75-3 with one region title and one state finals appearance. Seminole County was 17-23-1 in four seasons under Williams, 5-6 in 2018.
 
*Stewart County hired Baker Middle School head coach Roderick Martin to replace Ashley Harden, who took the head coaching job at Dooly County. Martin, a Carver of Columbus graduate, was coach and athletic director at Baker Middle for five seasons. Stewart County, one of Georgia's smallest public schools that fields a varsity football team, was 2-8 in 2018, matching its best record since starting the program in 2008.
 
*Terrell County promoted defensive coordinator Jack Harris to replace William Huff, who is now assistant principal at Terrell County. Harris won state championships in the Georgia Independent School Association at Southland Academy (2006) and Terrell Academy (1997, 2001). Terrell County was 81-123 in 20 seasons under Huff.
 
Region 2
*Charlton County promoted Russ Murray to replace Rich McWhorter, who took the head coaching job at Jackson County. Murray is a former Charlton County lineman from the 1980s who joined McWhorter's staff in 1995 and has been part of all four of the Indians' state championship teams. He has served as assistant head coach, line coach, JV coach and middle school coach. He's also been a head coach in baseball, golf and archery. McWhorter's record at Charlton over 30 seasons was 288-79-2.
 
*Clinch County promoted offensive coordinator Don Tison Jr. to replace Jim Dickerson, who retired. Tison's father was Clinch County's head coach from 1974 to 1993 and won state titles in 1988 and 1991. Tison Jr. is a 1999 Clinch County graduate who joined the staff in 2006. He holds the school record for passing yards in a game (280) and longest field goal (52 yards). Dickerson's record was 152-44-1 with five state titles.
 
*Turner County hired Putnam County offensive coordinator Nick Hayes to replace Leroy Hood, who took the head coaching job at Pebblebrook. Hayes, a native of Lyons, also has been an assistant at Lowndes, Ware County and Toombs County. Turner County was 6-5 in each of Hood's two seasons.
 
*Wilcox County promoted defensive coordinator Rob Stowe to replace Ken Cofer, who took the head coaching job at Dodge County. This will be Stowe's second season at Wilcox, 25th overall on Georgia sidelines. He's assisted at alma mater Stephens County, Rabun County and Gilmer and was Gilmer's head coach from 2003 to 2006. Wilcox County was 5-6 in its only season under Cofer.
 
Region 3
*Jenkins County promoted offensive coordinator David Johnson to replace Charley Waters, who remained at the school, his alma mater. Johnson was head coach at Jenkins County in 1997-2001 and Swainsboro (2010-12). He also has assisted at Bradwell Institute and Burke County. Jenkins County was 28-24 in five seasons under Waters, 5-5 in 2018.
 
*McIntosh County Academy hired Dade County head coach Bradley Warren to replace Tony Glazer, who is now the offensive coordinator at Liberty County. Warren's record is 106-111 in 21 seasons as a head coach, and he had his most success at McIntosh County in his first stint there. He led the Buccaneers to 8-3, 11-3 and 8-5 finishes in 1999-01. The 11 wins in 2000 remain a school record. MCA has gone 4-15 since its state runner-up finish in 2016.
 
*Montgomery County promoted defensive coordinator Tim Suttles to replace John Bowen, who took the head coaching job at Cross Keys. Suttles, a Montgomery County alumnus, has coached only at his alma mater and began there in 2008. He's also been the head track-and-field coach and in 2018 won the school's first state championship in a boys sport. Montgomery County was 8-4 last season and won its first playoff game since 1987.
 
*Savannah Country Day hired Westminster offensive coordinator Jim Collis to replace Dennis Coyle, who took a job as head coach at Cincinnati Country Day in his hometown. Collis had been at Westminster for four seasons. Before that, he was head coach for 14 seasons over two stints at The Columbus Academy in Ohio, where his team won the 2003 Division V state championship. Savannah Country Day was 47-58 in 10 seasons under Coyle, 7-4 in 2018.
 
Region 4
*Dooly County hired Stewart County head coach Ashley Harden to replace Corey Jarvis, who took the head coaching job at Lithia Springs. Harden's 41-52 record at five Georgia schools over 10 seasons is deceiving. Those five schools (Stewart County, Northeast, Twiggs County, Jenkins County, Butler) were a combined 5-45 before he arrived. The average improvement at Harden's latest four stops was three wins. The one school that didn't see immediate results - Butler - cashed in big time in his second season by ending a 40-game losing streak and finishing 7-3 and then 8-2. Dooly County, which finished 7-5 in one season under Jarvis, will be Harden's first program that had a winning season immediately before his arrival.
 
*Greenville hired River Ridge head coach Tyler Wynn to replace Vex Farley, who retired. Wynn's River Ridge teams were 9-31 in four seasons. He was River Ridge's offensive coordinator before that and previously worked on alma mater Troup's staff. Greenville was 16-45 in six seasons under Farley, 3-7 in 2018.
 
*Hawkinsville hired Lumpkin County head coach Shane Williamson to replace Will Connor, who is now the defensive coordinator at Crisp County. Williamson has been head coach for 18 seasons at Lumpkin County, Forsyth Central and Swainsboro. His record is 86-93-2 with two region titles. Hawkinsville was 10-20 in three seasons under Conner.
 
*Pacelli hired Russell County (Ala.) head coach Dwight Jones to replace Mark LeGree, who is now the high school relations recruiting coordinator at Georgia State. Jones' career record is 127-158 in 27 seasons as a head coach, 18 of those at five Georgia schools (Hardaway, Northside of Columbus, McIntosh, Jones County and Harris County). His Harris County team with Tae Crowder and TaQuon Marshall won a region title. Pacelli was 4-6 in 2018 after an 0-10 finish in 2017.
 
Region 5
*Landmark Christian hired former NFL wide receiver Mike Sherrard to replace Joe Scott, who is now coaching at Cartersville. Sherrard had been an assistant high school coach in his native California at Oaks Christian, Newbury Park, Brentwood, Bishop Alemany and Beverly Hills. As a player, he was a walk-on at UCLA and a first-round NFL Draft pick by the Cowboys and won a Super Bowl with the 49ers. Landmark had been a consistent winner in Class A since 2001 until the past two seasons, when the War Eagles have finished 0-10 and 2-8.
 
Region 6
None
 
Region 7
*Georgia Military hired Lee Coleman, an assistant coach from its junior college team, to replace Steve Simpson, who is now Warren County's defensive coordinator. Coleman had been the junior college's wide receivers coach since 2014. He's an East Hall graduate and former Northwestern player who also has coached at Arizona State and Arizona. Simpson's teams were 19-41 in six seasons.
 
*Twiggs County promoted offensive coordinator Irade' Perry to replace Kevin Blackshear, who is now coaching at Veterans Memorial Middle School. Perry came to Twiggs last season and also was the middle school head coach. He worked previously at Dooly County. Twiggs has lost its last 21 games.
 
*Washington-Wilkes promoted assistant head coach T.C. Jay to replace Chad Alligood, who is now offensive coordinator at Northside of Warner Robins. Jay had been on the Tigers' staff for six seasons (2011-12 and 2015-18). He also coached for single seasons at West Georgia and his alma mater, Rockmart. Washington-Wilkes was 9-11 in two seasons under Alligood, 3-7 in 2018.
 
Region 8
*George Walton Academy promoted defensive coordinator Shane Davis to replace Don Williams, who is now the dean of athletics and remained on the staff to coach wide receivers. Davis was head coach at Apalachee for 10 seasons through 2014 and was Grayson's strength-and-conditioning coach during the 2016 state championship season. Williams' record was 174-113-1 over 25 seasons. GWA won GISA championships in 2003 and 2009.
 
*Towns County hired Johnson of Gainesville head coach Jason Roquemore to replace John Cornett, who moved back to Maine. Roquemore's Johnson teams, which were playing a non-region schedule when he arrived, were 16-54 but went 4-6 in 2018 against a full region schedule. Towns County was 11-20 in three seasons under Cornett, 3-7 in 2018.
Classifieds
Georgia Prep Academy seeks 2019 signees
Georgia Prep Sports Academy, which is a post-secondary prep school, is still looking to sign 2019 student-athletes that have a desire to play college football but need to be repackaged academically. Give coach Michael Carson a call at 678-663-7614. Click here to visit our website.
 
Chick-fil-A Football Friday Night returns for 16th year
The Chick-fil-A Football Friday Night show will return for its 16th season covering teams from across south Georgia. The six-hour live scoreboard show includes previews, predictions, live updates and analysis on stations across south Georgia from 6 p.m.-midnight from Aug. 23-Nov. 29. It also streams at www.valdostatoday.com .

Groves seeks assistant coaches
Groves High School in Savannah is looking for best-fit coaches for both sides of the ball. Possible defensive coordinator position available. Contact head coach  James Latimore  for more information.
 
Cedarwood Tavern returns for fourth season covering Cherokee football
Get all the pregame and postgame coverage of Cherokee County teams on the Cedarwood Tavern Football Show. This season's broadcasts will start on Aug. 23 with the pregame show at 6:30 p.m. and the postgame show at 10:30 p.m. The show will broadcast on Twitter Live and Periscope. It will also be carried on WLJA 101.1 FM. Email  Von Brown  for more information.
 
High school football coaching headsets for sale
North Oconee High School is selling its headsets. It is a PortaPhone ComSTAR System that includes13 wireless headsets & two base stations, fully customizable to operate on the sidelines and in the press box. Also includes batteries, charging stations & two Pelican Cases for transport. This system has been serviced annually and is in mint condition. $5,500 - email  Kurt Doehrman  if interested.
 
Scrimmage game needed Aug. 16.
Norcross is looking for a scrimmage game on Aug. 16. Contact head coach  Keith Maloof  by email or call 678-910-5990.
GHSF Daily classified ads
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About Us
GHSFD logo Georgia High School Football Daily is a free e-mail newsletter produced   and owned by Todd Holcomb and Chip Saye. Holcomb is a former lead high school football writer for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution and co-founder of the Georgia High School Football Historians Association. Saye is a 30-year veteran of the newspaper industry who has covered high school sports for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Athens Banner-Herald, Anderson (S.C.) Independent-Mail and Gwinnett Daily News.