Friday, Oct. 14, 2022
Woodford widens gap in rushing
Northeast sophomore Nick Woodford put more distance between himself and the field last week with a career-high 302 rushing yards in a 49-16 victory over Kendrick.
 
Woodford has rushed for a GHSA-leading 1,619 yards and 25 touchdowns in seven games. Northeast is 5-2 overall, 4-0 in Region 2-2A, and ranked No. 8.
 
“He’s an all-around back – power, speed, good enough hands to catch the ball out of the backfield,” Northeast coach Jeremy Wiggins said. “I think he’s a complete back all the way around.”
 
Woodford (5-9, 210) isn’t being actively recruited yet, but that’s largely because he’s a first-year starter who hasn’t attended many camps. Wiggins said Woodford would’ve been a productive back as a freshman but was injured, so this has been his breakout year.
 
Woodford stands to become one of the best backs in Macon history. The single-season rushing record for a Bibb County Schools player is believed to be 2,423 set by Westside’s Travis Evans in 2004, when his team played 14 games and reached the state semifinals. Woodford is averaging 231.3 yards per game.
 
Other state leaders also remained the same this week. McIntosh quarterback Tate Morris leads in passing with 2,126 yards. Rabun County’s Jaden Gibson leads in receiving with 1,078.
 
Rushing
1,619 - Nick Woodford, Northeast [2A leader]
1,475 - Gavin Hall, Hebron Christian [3A leader]
1,381 - Keyjuan Brown, South Atlanta
1,348 - Jamarion Wilcox, South Paulding [6A leader]
1,338 - Tyson Greenwade, Dalton [5A leader]
1,289 - Cam Vaughn, Temple [A Division I leader]
1,264 - Malachi Hosley, Northside (Columbus)
1,170 - Quan Moss, Elbert County
1,169 - Germivy Tucker, Johnson County [A Division II leader]
1,169 - Ahmari Douglas, Long County
1,116 - Nori Moore, Hart County
1,109 - Josiah Allen, Wheeler [7A leader]
1,093 - Duke Watson, Mary Persons
1,086 - Jordan Louie, Meadowcreek
1,073 - Kyhair Spain, Parkview
1,065 - Andrew Shockley, Banks County
1,055 - Ousmane Kromah, Lee County
1,018 - Jonaz Walton, Central (Carrollton) [4A leader]
1,013 - D.J. Bell, Pierce County
1,006 - Jacere Cooper, Morgan County
963 - Nate Dunfee, Gordon Lee
963 - Jake Turner, Oglethorpe County
960 - Jacob Davis, Discovery
956 - Kenai Grier, Eastside
939 - Jaiden Daniels, Commerce
936 - Solomon Leslie, Loganville
931 - Taeo Todd, Troup
900 - Jayden Ponder, Allatoona
898 - C.J. Allen, Lamar County
897 - Ethan Blome, Adairsville
894 - D.J. Rogers, Pepperell
892 - Jaylen Poe, North Paulding
890 - Jaylon Brown, McEachern
870 - Justice Haynes, Buford
856 - Tyreeck Hall, Winder-Barrow
854 - Jason Williams, Harlem
849 - Trevon Kinchen, Lovejoy
836 - Aaron Davis, ACE Charter
835 - Ta'Jon Corbitt, Miller Grove
834 - Christian Isibor, Cambridge
830 - Jemarion Whatley, Hiram
830 - Peyton Streko, West Forsyth
826 - Cameron Wallace, Montgomery County
819 - Quavion Cooper, Manchester
817 - Mason Sullens, Lumpkin County
802 - Nykahi Davenport, Roswell
798 - Jahvon Butler, Bleckley County
795 - Bryce Hicks, Carrollton
788 - Julian Waters, North Gwinnett
779 - Jaylen Lilley, Charlton County
779 - Kamari Nix, Sprayberry
765 - Kieran Davis, Blessed Trinity
764 - Jai'den Thomas, Westlake
762 - Logan Eller, Trion
761 - Zo Smalls, Savannah Christian
761 - Matthew Fuller, Wayne County
750 - Ryan Taleb, Houston County
 
Passing
2,126 - Tate Morris, McIntosh [5A leader]
2,034 - Keegan Stover, Rabun County [A Division I leader]
1,969 - Antwann Hill, Houston County [6A leader]
1,912 - Jeremy Hecklinski, Walton [7A leader]
1,911 - Aaron Philo, Prince Avenue Christian
1,906 - Seth Griffin, North Murray [2A leader]
1,876 - Jai'Que Hart, Lithia Springs
1,856 - Owen Brooker, Northwest Whitfield [4A leader]
1,813 - Julian Lewis, Carrollton
1,757 - Harrison Hannah, Decatur
1,722 - Prentiss "Air" Noland, Hughes
1,711 - Jack Cendoya, Mount Pisgah Christian
1,660 - Jaiden Jenkins, St. Francis
1,659 - Christian Langford, East Coweta
1,626 - Samuel Brown, Thomas County Central
1,620 - Jake Maxwell, Veterans
1,614 - Ben Guthrie, Alpharetta
1,602 - Kameron Davis, Dougherty [3A leader]
1,597 - Reece Fountain, Rome
1,574 - Trey Townsend, Calhoun
1,548 - Boone Anderson, North Paulding
1,521 - Carlos Keverene Singleton, Liberty County 
1,519 - Cayman Prangley, Kennesaw Mountain
1,518 - West Roberts, North Forsyth
1,491 - Jared Echols, Alexander
1,443 - Armar Gordon, Perry
1,429 - Jaxon Pate, Sonoraville
1,422 - Bryce Clavon, Kell
1,421 - Henry Brodnax, Trinity Christian
1,407 - Sam Nazarian, Mount Vernon
1,369 - Ty Collins, Paulding County
1,366 - Sire Hardaway, Douglas County
1,366 - Ben Brown, Wesleyan
1,363 - Cameron Ellis, Meadowcreek
1,361 - Abe Stowe, Wilcox County [A Division II leader]
1,355 - Jim Franklin, Aquinas
1,341 - Antwan Clayton, Dooly County
1,338 - Braylan Ford, Harrison
1,308 - Chip Cooper, Worth County
1,304 - Conner Phelan, Pace Academy
1,295 - Morgan Jones, Washington County
1,287 - E.J. Colson, Cedar Grove
1,268 - Austin Guest, Creekview
1,263 - Baxter Wright, Gainesville
1,262 - Chase Berrong, Jackson County
1,247 - Steve Miller, Greene County
1,240 - Luke Nickel, Milton
1,239 - Jeremiah Harden, Shiloh
1,215 - Chase Dupree, Southwest
1,212 - Kace Kinnamon, Coahulla Creek
1,211 - Caiden Tanner, Union County
1,202 - K.J. Smith, Roswell
1,202 - Geimere Latimer, Sandy Creek
1,191 - Jalen Woods, Woodward Academy
1,178 - Charlie Gilliam, ELCA
1,176 - James Tyre, Lambert
1,164 - Michael McClellan, Johns Creek
1,162 - Chase McCravy, Marietta
1,162 - Donovon Morton, Mundy's Mill
1,155 - Jaydon Kinney, McEachern
1,153 - James Neville, Westside (Macon)
 
Receiving
1,078 - Jaden Gibson, Rabun County [A Division I leader]
801 - B.J. Gibson, Wilcox County [A Division II leader]
771 - Damare Franklin, Veterans [6A leader]
762 - Judson Petty, North Murray [2A leader]
729 - Cayden Lee, Kennesaw Mountain [7A leader]
725 - Eric Singleton, Alexander
723 - Bailey Stockton, Prince Avenue Christian
707 - Javaris Harris, Greene County
699 - Devon Green, Lithia Springs [5A leader]
678 - Ricky Johnson, Houston County
673 - Brady Kluse, Harrison
666 - Makael Carter, Mount Pisgah Christian
664 - Kedric Lackey, Decatur
661 - Tyler Floyd, Thomas County Central
659 - Brady Tillman, East Coweta
657 - Dakarai Anderson, Perry [4A leader]
642 - Carmelo Mays, Southwest
633 - Theo Elwell, McIntosh
629 - Malachi Jackson, McNair
604 - Andre Craig, Meadowcreek
599 - Logan Curry, North Forsyth
596 - Hudson Gray, Northwest Whitfield
595 - Brandon Jones, Lambert
594 - Elijah DeWitt, Jefferson
590 - Kenric Lanier, Decatur
584 - J.D. Fugerson, Lee County
574 - Jadyn Rice, North Murray
574 - Ben Grice, Woodward Academy
570 - Zeke Whittington, Habersham Central
569 - Mike Matthews, Parkview
563 - Jamie Tremble, Wesleyan [3A leader]
559 - John Stuetzer, Pope
551 - Kevin Douglas, Aquinas
550 - Jonathan Gallinaro, Mount Vernon
537 - Cameran Loyd, Walton
533 - Kale Woodburn, Houston County
525 - Ron Golden, Liberty County
523 - Antavious Murphy, Bainbridge
523 - Frantzyr Chardavoine, Paulding County
521 - Magic Johnson, LaGrange
518 - Monte Gooden, Douglas County
511 - Ravon Grant, Richmond Hill
505 - R.J. Echols, McEachern
503 - Larry Lane, Dougherty
502 - Landon Dolhancyk, McIntosh
501 - Ayden Smith, Lithia Springs
497 - Ethan Christian, Prince Avenue Christian
492 - Garrett Young, Alpharetta
491 - Jayvonne Dillard, Miller Grove
490 - Brandon Pope, Sumter County
487 - Roman Stamps, St. Francis
486 - Ka'Monta Durden, Washington County
481 - James Johnson, Douglas County
481 - Qua Moss, Troup
480 - T.J. Mitchell, Brunswick
477 - Jamauri Brice, Cartersville
476 - Cole Weaver, Blessed Trinity
476 - Chase Jameson, Lanier
476 - Terrence Kiel, Pace Academy
475 - Corbin Davenport, Fannin County
Stone Smith, Roswell
Stone Smith, a senior linebacker at Roswell, is the scoutSMART Student-Athlete of the Week. Smith has a 4.0+ GPA while taking 11 AP classes, a 1570 SAT score and a 35 ACT score. Smith has 45 tackles and five tackles for losses in seven games this season. He also plays defense on Roswell’s lacrosse team. Smith volunteers as a youth lacrosse coach and serves as the vice president of the Roswell Youth Advisory Council for the City of Roswell Recreation, Parks, Historic and Cultural Affairs Division. He plans to attend college and study aerospace engineering. “He has a tremendous work ethic and commitment to school and assisting in our community,” Roswell coach Chris Prewett said. “Stone has the ability to handle, and succeed, a very stringent load of the highest level of courses that are offered at Roswell High School. He has been an outstanding representative for our football program on and off the field.”
 
GHSF Daily, in conjunction with scoutSMART, will be announcing a football student-athlete of the week each Friday this season. The ideal candidate will be outstanding on the field and in the classroom. Please click here to send nominations to Diane Bloodworth.
Here is where Georgia teams stand in several national polls. The numbers on the left are this week's rankings; the numbers in parentheses are last week's rankings.
(Top 100)
9. (9) Mill Creek
11. (12) Buford
16. (19) Colquitt County
23. (24) Cedar Grove
32. (57) North Cobb
36. (28) Hughes
54. (69) Lee County
58. (89) Valdosta
61. (97) Prince Avenue Christian
77. (NR) Carrollton
80. (86) Parkview
90. (88) Roswell
92. (90) Westlake
93. (52) Walton
94. (85) Grayson
98. (98) Thomas County Central
 
(Top 25)
7. (6) Buford
21. (21) Mill Creek
22. (24) Hughes
 
(Top 100)
8. (7) Buford
18. (18) Mill Creek
22. (22) Hughes
24. (24) Colquitt County
47. (49) Cedar Grove
71. (75) Carrollton
75. (79) Lee County
77. (77) North Cobb
80. (81) Creekside
88. (89) Kennesaw Mountain
98. (NR) Valdosta
 
(Top 100)
6. (5) Buford
9. (8) Mill Creek
21. (21) Colquitt County
26. (28) Hughes
30. (40) Valdosta
36. (36) Cedar Grove
37. (50) North Cobb
45. (56) Carrollton
50. (59) Lee County
57. (60) Grayson
64. (76) Westlake
69. (64) Ware County
71. (90) Thomas County Central
75. (81) Cedartown
80. (87) Roswell
82. (53) Walton
87. (85) Parkview
 
(Top 100)
2. (3) Buford
20. (20) Mill Creek
25. (25) Hughes
30. (36) Colquitt County
47. (49) Cedar Grove
53. (55) Lee County
61. (70) North Cobb
71. (73) Grayson
75. (43) Walton
82. (85) Creekside
 
(Top 25)
14. (14) Buford
15. (15) Colquitt County
16. (16) Mill Creek
21. (21) Hughes
 
(Top 25)
12. (12) Buford
13. (13) Hughes
23. (23) Mill Creek
24. (24) Colquitt County
25. (25) Cedar Grove
 
(Top 25)
6. (6) Buford
On the Web
NFHS Network
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.
 
Here are this week’s featured Georgia Games of the Week, with broadcast times in parentheses:
  • Camden County at Colquitt County (7:30 p.m. today)
  • Wheeler at North Cobb (7:30 p.m. today)
  • Sandy Creek at Carver-Atlanta (5:30 p.m. today)
  • Grayson at South Gwinnett (7:30 p.m. today)
  • Cambridge at Kell (8 p.m. today)
  • Rabun County at Elbert County (7:30 p.m. today)
  • North Cobb Christian at South Atlanta (7 p.m. Saturday)
 
On TV
Today
*Gilmer at Pickens, 7:30 p.m., ETC TV 3 (Ellijay)
*Meigs County, Tenn. at Tyner Academy, Tenn., 7:30 p.m., WFLI-TV (Chattanooga)
*Mill Creek at Buford, 7:30 p.m., GPB
*Richmond Academy at Harlem, 7:30 p.m., WJBF MeTV 6.2 (Augusta)
*Cambridge at Kell, 8 p.m., WPCH Peachtree TV (Atlanta)
All-Americans
Pace Academy offensive lineman Trovon Baugh will be presented with his 2023 Under Armour Next All-America Game jersey this morning at his school. Baugh is one of 18 Georgia players on rosters for high school football’s two best-known national all-star games. The Under Armour game, started in 2008, will be played Jan. 3 in Orlando. The All-American Bowl, first played in 2000, will be Jan. 7 in San Antonio. Both games recognize their players with on-campus jersey presentations.
 
Under Armour Game
Trovon Baugh, Pace Academy
Dee Crayton, Denmark
Adam Hopkins, Thomas County Central
Dylan Lonergan, Brookwood
Ethan Nation, Roswell
Madden Sanker, South Paulding
Jelani Thurman, Hughes
 
All-American Bowl
C.J. Allen, Lamar County
Vic Burley, Warner Robins
D.J. Chester, ELCA
Michael Daugherty, Grayson
Caleb Downs, Mill Creek
Justice Haynes, Buford
Kenric Lanier, Decatur
Kayin Lee, Cedar Grove
Connor Lew, Kennesaw Mountain
Drew Prieto, Marist
Kelton Smith, Carver-Columbus
Ribbon cutting for Odis Spencer Stadium in Columbus will be held Saturday and the first game played there Thursday with Kendrick as the home team against Southwest of Macon. Odis Spencer won four state titles as head coach at Spencer High from 1948 to 1971. (The matching name of high school and coach was coincidental.) Which of Spencer’s former players went on to make All-Pro with the Oakland Raiders in the 1970s and will be inducted into the Georgia High School Football Hall of Fame this month? (Answer Monday)
 
Answer to Thursday’s question: The most commonly played game between Gwinnett County teams is Central Gwinnett vs. South Gwinnett. Central leads the series 35-25-1. It began in 1957. Ironically, they aren’t playing this season for the first time since 1999.
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GHSA
Wednesday's score
Cedar Grove 42, Douglass 0
 
Thursday's scores
Creekside 42, Jackson, Atl. 0
Hardaway 15, Westover 14
Northside, Columbus 33, Northgate 27
 
Today's games
Abbeville Christ., Ala. at Pataula Charter
Alpharetta at Lassiter
Apalachee at Lanier
Appling Co. at Windsor Forest (IH)
Aquinas at Lincoln Co.
Athens Academy at Fellowship Christian
Baconton at Cottondale, Fla.
Bainbridge at Shaw
Banneker at Lithia Springs
Bleckley Co. at Jefferson Co.
Bowdon at Christian Heritage
Brantley Co. at Vidalia
Brooks Co. at Early Co.
Brookstone at Crawford Co.
Brookwood at Newton (SH)
Bryan Co. at Screven Co.
Calhoun at Woodland, Cartersville
Cambridge at Kell
Camden Co. at Colquitt County
Carrollton at Pebblebrook
Cartersville at Hiram
Cedar Shoals at Madison Co.
Central, Talbotton at Macon Co.
Central Gwinnett at Dacula
Charlton Co. at Atkinson Co.
Chattooga at Trion
Clarke Central at Heritage, Conyers
Clarkston at Druid Hills (A)
Clinch Co. at Turner Co.
Columbia at Eagle's Landing Christian
Columbus at Thomasville
Commerce at Athens Christian
Cook at Berrien
Coosa at Dade Co.
Creekview at Sequoyah
Crisp Co. at Carver, Columbus (CM)
Cross Creek at Salem
Cross Keys at Notre Dame Academy
Dalton at Cass
Dawson Co. at Wesleyan
Discovery at Meadowcreek
Drew at McIntosh
Dublin at Dooly Co.
Duluth at Seckinger
Dunbar, Fla. at Lowndes
Dunwoody at St. Pius
Eagle's Landing at Ola
East Coweta at Campbell
East Forsyth at North Oconee
Etowah at Woodstock
Evans at Effingham Co.
Forsyth Central at Milton
Gilmer at Pickens
GMC Prep at Hancock Central
Glenn Hills at Butler
Grayson at South Gwinnett
Greenbrier at Jenkins (SV)
Griffin at Westside, Macon
Grovetown at Glynn Academy (GL)
GSIC at Wilkinson Co.
Habersham Central at Gainesville
Hapeville Charter at Westminster
Harrison at North Paulding
Hephzibah at Morgan Co.
Holy Innocents' at SW DeKalb (GO)
Islands at Burke Co.
Jackson at Upson-Lee
Jeff Davis at Fitzgerald
Jefferson at Flowery Branch
Johns Creek at Blessed Trinity
Johnson, Savannah at Calvary Day
Johnson Co. at Glascock Co.
Jones Co. at Dutchtown
Lakeside, Evans at South Effingham
Lambert at West Forsyth
Manchester at Greenville
Marietta at McEachern
Marion Co. at Chattahoochee Co.
Mary Persons at Peach Co.
McIntosh Co. Acad. at Montgomery Co.
Mill Creek at Buford
Model at Haralson Co.
Monroe at Dougherty (M)
Mountain View at Collins Hill
New Hampstead at Wayne Co.
Norcross at Berkmar
North Gwinnett at Peachtree Ridge
North Hall at Chestatee
North Murray at Fannin Co.
North Springs at Greater Atlanta Christian
Northview at Chattahoochee
Osborne at Cherokee
Parkview at Archer
Pelham at Irwin Co.
Pepperell at Darlington
Perry at Baldwin
Portal at Emanuel Co. Institute
Providence Christian at Union Co.
Rabun Co. at Elbert Co.
Randolph-Clay at Miller Co.
Redan at McNair (AV)
Richmond Academy at Harlem
Richmond Hill at Valdosta
Rockdale Co. at Woodward Academy
Rockmart at Murray Co.
Roswell at Pope
Sandy Creek at Carver, Atlanta (L)
Savannah at Metter
Schley Co. at Taylor Co.
Social Circle at Mount Paran Christian
South Cobb at Marist
South Forsyth at Denmark
Southeast Bulloch at Benedictine (SM)
Spalding at West Laurens
Statesboro at Coffee
Stephenson at Miller Grove (HS)
Stone Mountain at McDonough
Sumter Co. at Dodge Co.
Swainsboro at East Laurens
Temple at Lamar Co.
Thomson at Laney
Toombs Co. at Pierce Co.
Towers at Callaway (C)
Towns Co. at Johnson, Gainesville
Tri-Cities at Chapel Hill
Union Grove at Locust Grove
Villa Rica at Mays
Walnut Grove at Cherokee Bluff
Walton at Kennesaw Mountain
Ware Co. at Bradwell Institute
Wheeler at North Cobb
White Co. at West Hall
Woodland, Stock. at Stockbridge
 
Saturday’s games
North Cobb Christian at South Atlanta (L)
Therrell at KIPP Atlanta (L)
 
Stadium abbreviations: (A) Adams; (AV) Avondale; (C) Callaway; (CM) Columbus Memorial; (GL) Glynn Co.; (GO) Godfrey; (HS) Hallford; (IH) Islands High School; (L) Lakewood; (M) Mills; (SH) Sharp; (SM) Savannah Memorial; (SV) Savannah High School
 
GIAA/GAPPS
Today’s games
Bethlehem Christian at Riverside Military
Briarwood Academy at Piedmont Acad.
Brookstone at Crawford Co.
Brookwood School at Southland Academy
Bulloch Academy at Thomas Jefferson
Community Christian at Harvester Christ.
Cross Keys at Notre Dame Academy
Deerfield-Windsor at Tiftarea Academy
Edmund Burke at Robert Toombs
Gatewood at St. Mary's Academy
George Walton at Loganville Christian
Grace Christian at Flint River Academy
Heritage, Newnan at Westfield
John Milledge at Stratford Academy
King's Academy at Calvary Christian
Pinecrest Academy at Creekside Christian
SW Georgia Academy at Augusta Prep
St. Anne-Pacelli at Strong Rock Christian
Tattnall Square at Mount de Sales
Terrell Academy at Valwood
Trinity Christ., Dublin at Cent. Fellowship
Join both the GACA and GFCA for $55.00 per coach! JOIN TODAY!
GHSA schools play numerous games against out-of-state competition. GHSF Daily will track the scores of those games each week to see how Georgia fares against the rest of the nation.
 
Vs. Alabama*********10-5
Vs. Dis. of Columbia*1-0
Vs. Florida*********24-9
Vs. Illinois*********1-0
Vs. Missouri*********0-1
Vs. Nevada***********0-1
Vs. North Carolina***3-2
Vs. Pennsylvania*****1-0
Vs. South Carolina**21-9
Vs. Tennessee********7-3
Vs. Virginia*********1-0
Total***************69-30
 
Last week's scores
Northside Christian, S.C. 54, GSIC 14
Prince Ave. Christian 42, Baylor, Tenn. 35

This week's games
Abbeville Christ., Ala. at Pataula Charter
Baconton at Cottondale, Fla.
Dunbar, Fla. at Lowndes
Today’s featured inductee is Pro Football Hall of Fame offensive tackle and former Fort Valley State and Fairmont High graduate Rayfield Wright. Wright will be inducted into the Georgia High School Football Hall of Fame on Oct. 22 at the College Football Hall of Fame.
Rayfield Wright
Fairmont High School Graduate
Rayfield Wright was a basketball star at Fairmont High in Griffin, where he was a classmate of future Olympic 100 meters champion Wyomia Tyus. Wright earned a basketball scholarship to Fort Valley State. While working in the local mill over the summer, Fort Valley State football coach Stan Lomax urged Wright to join the football team. Wright took reps as a free safety, punter, defensive end and tight end and continued blossoming into his 6-foot-6, 225-pound frame throughout his collegiate career. The Dallas Cowboys picked Wright in the seventh round of the 1967 NFL/AFL draft as a tight end. The Cowboys used Wright as a tight end, defensive lineman, and offensive tackle. While filling in for an injured Ralph Neely, Wright’s fate as an offensive tackle was secured as he outperformed Los Angeles Rams Hall of Fame defensive end Deacon Jones. Wright earned the starting job and would hold it for the next 13 seasons, playing in 200 games and starting at right tackle in five Super Bowls, winning two of them. Wright was named to six Pro Bowls and helped pave the way for five 1,000-yard rushers in his career. Wright was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2006. He passed away on April 7 this year at age 76.
Team of the Week: Valdosta
The Valdosta Wildcats, who ended a five-game losing streak against rival Lowndes with a 13-6 victory in the Winnersville Classic last week, received their Georgia Team of the Week plaque Thursday at their school. Valdosta (head coach Shelton Felton and players of the game pictured above) is 7-0 and ranked No. 4 in Class 7A. The state Team of the Week award is sponsored by BSN Sports and Titan Electric.
Player of the Week: Aaron Philo
Aaron Philo, a junior quarterback at Prince Avenue Christian who passed for 385 yards and three touchdowns and scored two touchdowns in a 42-35 victory over Baylor School of Chattanooga, received his Georgia Player of the Week plaque Wednesday at his school. Philo (pictured with head coach Greg Vandagriff) threw a 41-yard touchdown pass to Ethan Christian with 1:11 left to win the game. The state Player of the Week award is sponsored by Sports Turf.
Today’s interviewee is Greene County coach Terrance Banks, whose team enters a bye week with a 5-2 record. The Tigers were 4-6 last season, and the GHSF Daily’s Improvement Tracker has Greene County as the most improved winning team in Class A Division II. Banks is in his first season in Greensboro. He was Meadowcreek’s interim head coach last season and was Newton’s head coach from 2013 to 2018.
 
Terrance Banks, Greene County head coach
1. You were in line to become Meadowcreek’s permanent head coach. Why did you decide to take the Greene County job, effectively going from Class 7A to Class A? “A large part of it was relationships. I was encouraged to come look at Greene County because the principal [James Peek, now retired] was the former middle school principal from Newton when I worked there. The principal of the career academy [John Ellenberg] was one of my principals at Newton. The district athletic director and now the current principal [Eddie Hood] was the head basketball coach when I was an assistant coach at Duluth. And then when I got out here, the facilities and the commitment to football was nowhere close to single A, and I don’t mean that in a bad way. They have a two-sided stadium, a field house and a turf field, all the amenities that I was accustomed to in Gwinnett and arguably better than at Newton. I love this small-town feel on Friday night. Things we have here opened my eyes. It was not what I was expecting, and in a good way.”
 
2. What are some of the most important things that you and your staff have done to make progress? “The talent was here. There were a lot of underclassmen. So the biggest thing was showing them how that 7A mindset works of being committed to doing certain things. We had spring football. We had only 29 or 30 players due to track and other stuff, but we went through the process. We went to 7-on-7s and padded camps. We took some lumps but played with Eastside and Social Circle, some teams that are doing well this season Our players got exposure to what everybody else is doing on a bigger level.”
 
3. What are some of the differences between coaching in 7A vs. A? “One of the things I love about it is that it’s more hands on. When you’re at a 7A school with 100-plus kids in a program, it’s hard to lay your hands on every kid relationship-wise. It’s not an extended bond because you’re just making sure the seniors are getting a good experience and the juniors are ready to come in. Here, our middle school practices with us on the other end of the field. I know my seventh- and eighth-graders before they get to the ninth grade. I went from a school with 2,500 kids where when a kid would say Coach Banks in the hallway, I knew the kid, but I didn’t always know the name. With 450 kids, you know everybody. When a kid says something, I know exactly who they are.”
 
4. What does your team do well? Passing seems to be one of them. Steve Miller is fourth in Class A Division II in passing yards, and Javaris Harris is second in receiving yards. “We don’t throw the ball a lot, but we have explosive plays. We’ve got a running back [Malik West] averaging 100 yards per game, and we have some kids that are very athletic, and because of that, we have been able to take advantage of that next level and put the ball in the air. We had our 4x100, 4x200 and 4x400 relay teams make state in track. So we have speed. We’re about to find out whether we’re ready for that next step because we’ve got Lincoln County and Washington-Wilkes coming up, and coaches are doing a phenomenal job at Aquinas. Our kids have never been to the playoffs. They know the history of those before them, but they’ve never experienced it themselves.”
 
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Visit our website throughout the season for updated standings in all eight classifications.
Note: All scores are courtesy of the Georgia High School Football Historians Association, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution and other media outlets. If a score is not accurate, it was reported incorrectly.

All games are on Fridays unless noted. All game schedules are subject to change.
GPSA helps students grow in athletics, education, and life skills
Student-athletes’ athletic talents and skills are secondary to their academic eligibility to enter and stay in higher education programs. Our prep program can help non-qualifying student-athletes. Our NCAA-approved classes are taught in-face, giving student-athletes opportunities for more in-depth study while improving their academic skills, work ethic and GPAs. Our complete on-site facility promotes athletic and academic priorities, commitment and focus. For additional information, call 770-652-7711 or contact us via email by clicking here.
 
The Premo Source helps create athletic environments of excellence
The Premo Source assists athletic programs across the Southeast in designing, transforming and maintaining their athletic facilities to better serve their coaches and athletes. Through our premium Ecore Athletic Flooring and Samson Equipment to our weight room flooring deep-cleaning services, we provide athletic programs will the highest quality tools to create athletic environments of excellence. Ready to take your facility to the next level? Visit the Premo Source website by clicking here to register for a free consultation.
 
Southeastern teams looking for October games
Several teams in and around the Southeast region are still in need of quality opponents for the last three weeks of October. If you also share these needs or know of a team that does, please email Joe Maimone by clicking here.
 
2022 Fall College Football Recruiting Fair
The 2022 Fall Metro Atlanta College Football Recruiting Fair will be held at Atlanta Metropolitan State College on Tuesday, Nov. 29, from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. FCS, D2, D3, NAIA, JUCOs and Prep schools from across the country will be there looking for football prospects from the classes of 2023, 2024, 2025 & 2026. The recruiting fair is for high school and college coaches only. High school coaches register today, or contact Coach Ahmand Tinker via email by clicking here.
GHSF Daily classified ads
Reach 23,000 readers per day in GHSF Daily’s classified ads. Rates are $50 per week. Ads must be a maximum of 75 words and include a headline and contact information. Click here to contact us.
About Us
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 38-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.