Class 6A
*Best player: Chaz Chambliss, Carrollton. Nobody in this class, or perhaps any, has produced for so long as this outside linebacker. Chambliss has posted more than 22 tackles for losses each season since he was a freshman. That comes to 73.5 in his career. He also has 31.5 career sacks. A four-star recruit, Chambliss committed to Georgia in May.
*Best position: Wide receiver. Dacari Collins and Jaquez Smith are four-star recruits who have joined Westlake’s squad, Collins from McEachern and Smith from Hapeville Charter, but they didn’t have quite the 2019 production to crack this stout lineup. Neither did Centennial’s Julian Nixon, a four-star prospect committed to Tennessee. The spots went to Lee County’s Chauncey Magwood, a Kentucky commit who had 10 touchdown receptions last season, and Valdosta’s Javonte Sherman, an East Carolina commit who snagged 16 touchdowns in ’19.
*Most highly recruited: Smael Mondon of Paulding County is the consensus No. 2 outside linebacker prospect nationally. Mondon had 48 solo tackles, blocked three kicks and rushed and received for 720 yards in 2019. His team finished 3-7 in a tough region, which kept him off all-state teams that he probably deserved to make. He’s the most highly recruited player in county history.
*That's interesting: New Class 6A member Westlake has the most high-end talent in the classification. Cornerback Nathaniel Wiggins (committed to LSU) and offensive lineman Jakiah Lefwich (Georgia Tech) made this team, but five others are consensus top-100 senior prospects in Georgia. No other team in any class has more. The other five are the previously mentioned Collins (committed to Clemson) and Smith (Indiana), plus tight end Leo Blackburn (Georgia Tech), cornerback Demarko Williams (Ole Miss) and defensive end Sedarius McConnell (Indiana).
*Snubbed: Playing at McEachern last season, Chief Borders didn’t stand out quite enough to make this group on history alone, but he’s a four-star recruit committed to Florida who can play safety, linebacker or tight end. He’s now at Carrollton, where he’s one six defensive players with Division I offers.
*Underrated: Richmond Hill defensive lineman Nathan Vickers has one offer, from Presbyterian. He deserves more for his 25 tackles for losses, 14 sacks and his region’s award for defensive player of the year in 2019.
*What else is new? M.J. Morris, formerly of Carrollton, figured to be the quarterback on this all-state team, but he transferred to Pace Academy. Conveniently enough, another four-star quarterback transferred into 6A this month. That would be Jake Garcia of Orange County, Calif. The Southern Cal-committed senior is at Valdosta, some 2,300 miles from home. California is delaying its season to the winter, by which time Garcia plans to be enrolled at Southern Cal.
OFFENSE
QB - Jake Garcia, Valdosta, Sr.
RB - Gabe Ervin, Buford, Sr.
RB - Antonio Martin, Hughes, Sr.
WR - Chauncey Magwood, Lee County, Sr.
WR - Javonte Sherman, Valdosta, Sr.
TE - Miles Campbell, South Paulding, Sr.
OL - Caleb Cook, Brunswick, Sr.
OL - Lyndon Cooper, Carrollton, Sr.
OL - Joe Fusile, Richmond Hill, Sr.
OL - Jakiah Leftwich, Westlake, Sr.
OL - Jacob Smith, Buford, Sr.
ATH - Caleb McDowell, Lee County, Sr.
K - Britton Williams, Richmond Hill, Sr.
DEFENSE
DL - Jonathan Jefferson, Douglas County, Sr.
DL - Dawson Rivers, Tucker, Sr.
DL - Josh Robinson, Douglas County, Sr.
DL - Nathan Vickers, Richmond Hill, Sr.
LB - Chaz Chambliss, Carrollton, Sr.
LB - Baron Hopson, Lee County, Sr.
LB - Smael Mondon, Paulding County, Sr.
LB - Cole Nelson, Johns Creek, Sr.
DB - Khalil Anderson, Riverwood, Sr.
DB - Kaleb Edwards, Dacula, Sr.
DB - Joshua Pickett, Habersham Central, Sr.
DB - Nathaniel Wiggins, Westlake, Sr.
P – Charlie Cooper, Tucker, Jr.
Coming Wednesday: Class 5A
|
Today’s interviewee is Glenn White, the president of the Georgia High School Association’s board of trustees. White has served on the GHSA’s executive committee for 26 years and became the board president in 2014. He has been an educator for 38 years and is a former principal at Model High. He’s now the director of student services for the Floyd County School System. His wife, Jennifer White, is also an educator and serves as the math coordinator for the Floyd Schools.
Glenn White,
GHSA board of trustees president
1. What’s the current consensus of the board of trustees as far as football games starting the week of Sept. 4 as scheduled? “I think we have support to do that. We have school systems that have a high number of COVID-19 cases, and that’s slowing them now. It’s a different situation in metro Atlanta, like in DeKalb County, than most other parts of the state. It could cause other systems in that area to say, ‘Look, we’re may not be able to play right now.’ And that’s something we’ve got to consider. But I also think they can shut down and get back in time to play a region schedule and make the playoffs. That’s why we are not shutting down the whole state. Those who can play will go on with their schedules. That’s what I’d like to see happen.”
2. How is the board of trustees chosen, and what is its role? “The trustees are elected by their classification. We have two at-large members – Michelle Masters and Candace Mitchell. Then the president and vice president [White and Curt Miller] are elected by the executive committee. The other members are elected by class. There are seven classifications, but we’ve just expanded for Class A. We now have one board member for public and one for private.
“The board has the authority to make decisions that would carry the full weight of the executive committee. The board considers issues that might require an immediate response and can’t wait for our [executive committee] meetings in October or April. We had this recently when we were going to start summer workouts in June. That was an issue that went through the board of trustees with the support of Dr. Hines [Robin Hines, the GHSA’s executive director]. It also could be a situation with player eligibility, or the legislature, something they’d want us to consider and give an immediate response.”
3. The GHSA has a board of trustees, an executive committee and an executive director. Which has ultimate authority? And which would decide the ultimate fate of the football season? “The executive committee [with 74 members, one per region plus 10 at-large members] passes rules and bylaws. The executive director implements policies and procedures with his staff. Dr. Hines runs the daily business of the GHSA.
“If we were to stop a season, and particularly football, it would be a cooperative situation. We’d work with Dr. Hines for a recommendation. Robin’s in touch with many other people in the state – athletic directors, superintendents, all of our stake-holders – and does a great job communicating and knows what they’re thinking. He can make that decision, but if we shut down something like football, that ought to go through the board of trustees so that one person doesn’t have to take all responsibility. Because of the importance of football in the state, I feel we should use that group for that because of the criticism. I’m not advocating shutting down football, not at all. But if that were to happen, I think it should go through the board of trustees.”
4. What makes you hopeful that there will be a football season? What makes you concerned? “I am hopeful because I’m an optimistic person and believe this is going to get better. I believe in our coaches, our student-athletes, our school administrators and our department of health, and I believe in the American spirit. We have faced worse situations in the history of our country and come through with flying colors. I believe we can get through this and play football and play it safely.
“On the flipside, if COVID-19 continues to grow and we have more and more cases and have to shut down schools, that could stop football. And let’s be honest, the Big Ten and the Pac-12 and other conferences have shut down, and we can’t sit here and say that’s not having a bearing on what we do. What I hope is that the SEC and ACC don’t shut down. This is Glenn White speaking, and it’s only me, but if the SEC were to shut down, that would put intense pressure on us to stop football. If you think about Georgia, where they have great facilities and resources, and if they say we can’t do it, and we say we can, that would be hard to explain.”
Engineered by players for players, the Wilson GST Prime equips the world’s No. 1-selling game ball with additional grip points, high visibility accents and a built-in prep gauge. Enter now for your chance to win five custom GST Prime Footballs for you and your team.
|
|
On hold for now
GHSF Daily counts 68 football teams that are likely not playing the first week of the season Sept. 4 because of COVID-19 concerns dictated by their school districts or private schools. Dooly County on Monday became the latest school to suspend sports indefinitely. There are 425 football-playing schools in the GHSA. This includes only teams that are down indefinitely or through the GHSA's Sept. 4 opening week of games.
Bibb (6)
Central, Howard, Northeast, Rutland, Southwest, Westside
Decatur (1)
Decatur
*DeKalb (19)
Arabia Mountain, Cedar Grove, Chamblee, Clarkston, Columbia, Cross Keys, Druid Hills, Dunwoody, M.L. King, Lakeside, Lithonia, McNair, Miller Grove, Redan, Southwest DeKalb, Stephenson, Stone Mountain, Towers, Tucker
Dougherty (3)
Dougherty, Monroe, Westover
Fulton (16)
Alpharetta, Banneker, Cambridge, Centennial, Chattahoochee, Creekside, Johns Creek, Hapeville Charter, Hughes, Milton, North Springs, Northview, Riverwood, Roswell, Tri-Cities, Westlake
Liberty (2)
Bradwell Institute, Liberty County
Newton (3)
Alcovy, Eastside, Newton
Rockdale (3)
Heritage, Rockdale County, Salem
Savannah-Chatham (8)
Beach, Groves, Islands, Jenkins, Johnson, New Hampstead, Savannah, Windsor Forest
Class 2A and A Private (3)
Our Lady of Mercy, Pinecrest Academy, Riverside Military
Class A Public (4)
Calhoun County, Dooly County, Stewart County, Twiggs County
Join the GACA and be eligible for liability insurance, participation in all-star games, registration to clinics, and access to job listings.
|
Of the eight 2019 football champions, only one was a first-time winner. Which was it? Marietta, Harrison, Buford, Blessed Trinity, Cedar Grove, Dublin, ELCA or Irwin County? (Answer Wednesday)
Answer to Monday’s question: Robert Nkemdiche is the only Georgia high school football player to receive a perfect 1.0000 rating on the 247Sports Composite rankings. Nkemdiche, a defensive end, was the consensus No. 1 recruit in the country in 2020.
Jostens is the leading provider of yearbooks, caps and gowns, class rings and championship rings and is the Official Championship Ring of the GHSA. Click here to learn more.
|
The names of Conor Cummins of Walton and Alex Bacchetta of Westminster were misspelled in Monday’s list of Georgia Power 100 place-kickers and punters. ... In Monday’s Team of the Decade tournament, 2017 Tift County defeated 2011 Lassiter in the Class 7A second round. The wrong opponent was listed. |
|
|
The final Georgia Power 100
GHSF Daily's Georgia Power 100 is complete. Two of the original choices for have transferred out of state, leaving one opening each at defensive line and athlete. One was filled when it was discovered that 11 linebackers were chosen accidentally in our Aug. 12 issue. So we moved two-way starter Martez Thrower of Wilcox County into the athlete category to even things out. The new defensive lineman, and final member of the Georgia Power 100, is Greenbrier’s Beau Shugarts.
*Beau Shugarts, Greenbrier: A three-year starter, Shugarts had 114 tackles, 22 for losses, seven sacks, 34 QB hurries, three blocked kicks and two forced fumbles as a junior. He finished third in the Class 6A heavyweight wrestling division last year and won the Area 3 weightlifting title in his weight division. He has seven scholarship offers at four positions – defensive end, H-back, tight end and offensive lineman.
Here are all the players who were selected for the Georgia Power 100:
|
|
Quarterbacks
Jalen Addie, Warner Robins
Jacurri Brown, Lowndes
Bubba Chandler, North Oconee
Carlos Del Rio, Grayson
J. Ben Haynes, White County
Sam Horn, Collins Hill
Aaron McLaughlin, Denmark
M.J. Morris, Pace Academy
Gunner Stockton, Rabun County
Brock Vandagriff, Prince Avenue Christian
Running backs
Cody Brown, Parkview
Gabe Ervin, Buford
Jamie Felix, Camden County
Cameron Garnett, Harlem
Justice Haynes, Blessed Trinity
Quintavious Lockett, Douglass
Phil Mafah, Grayson
Antonio Martin, Hughes
David Mbadinga, Kell
Malachi Thomas, Hart County
Wide receivers
Lemeke Brockington, Colquitt County
Aalah Brown, Valdosta
Deion Colzie, Athens Academy
Jairus Mack, Clarke Central
Chauncey Magwood, Lee County
Jordan Palmer, Chattahoochee
Daejon Reynolds, Grayson
Javonte Sherman, Valdosta
Dacari Collins, Westlake
Maleek Wooten, Jones County
Tight ends
Cane Berrong, Hart County
Leo Blackburn, Westlake
Miles Campbell, South Paulding
Jake Johnson, Oconee County
Derek McDonald, Marist
Cole Nelson, Johns Creek
Jack Nickel, Milton
Cedric Seabrough, Swainsboro
Fredrick Seabrough, Swainsboro
Holden Staes, Westminster
Offensive linemen
Cameron Ball, Tri-Cities
Bryson Estes, Eagle's Landing Christian
Dylan Fairchild, West Forsyth
Terrence Ferguson, Peach County
Weston Franklin, Wayne County
George Jackson, Stephenson
Amarius Mims, Bleckley County
Micah Morris, Camden County
Addison Nichols, Greater Atlanta Christian
Royce White, Troup
|
|
Defensive linemen
Victoine Brown, Grayson
Noah Collins, Grayson
Thomas Davis, Lowndes
Jonathan Jefferson, Douglas County
Dawson Rivers, Tucker
Joshua Robinson, Douglas County
Beau Shugarts, Greenbrier
Nathan Vickers, Richmond Hill
Tyre West, Tift County
Mykel Williams, Hardaway
Linebackers
Grady Bryant, Grayson
Barrett Carter, North Gwinnett
Chaz Chambliss, Carrollton
Ese Dubre, McEachern
Jalen Garner, Norcross
Jackson Hamilton, Blessed Trinity
Baron Hopson, Lee County
Smael Mondon, Paulding County
Christopher Paul Jr., Crisp County
Ahmad Walker, Warner Robins
Defensive backs
Khalil Anderson, Riverwood
Cole Bishop, Starr’s Mill
Quincy Bryant, Parkview
David Daniel, Woodstock
Omar Daniels, Colquitt County
Khari Gee, Woodward Academy
Nyland Green, Newton
Marquis Groves-Killebrew, Brookwood
T.J. Quinn, Lowndes
Jaden Slocum, Alpharetta
Athletes
Shad Dabney, Cherokee Bluff
Kaleb Edwards, Dacula
Caleb McDowell, Lee County
Tyler Morehead, Clinch County
Joshua Pickett, Habersham Central
Malaki Starks, Jefferson
Martez Thrower, Wilcox County
Javin Whatley, Rockmart
West Weeks, Oconee County
Nathaniel Wiggins, Westlake
Kickers/punters
Alex Bacchetta, Westminster
Caleb Bonesteel, Dawson County
Conor Cummins, Walton
Kriston Esnard, Decatur
Noah Jones, Cairo
Caden Long, Roswell
Christian Lowery, Harrison
Marshall Nichols, Holy Innocents’
Britton Williams, Richmond Hill
Connor Weselman, Westminster
|
|
Georgia Power offers sports lighting services to increase your game experience for the players, coaches and fans. Click here for more information. Financing options available.
|
|
Semifinal field set for four lower classes
The semifinals are set in the lower four classifications for the Team of the Decade computer tournament.
In Class 3A, Washington County will get a rematch of its 2013 semifinal loss to Buford. Led by former AJC all-class player of the year A.J. Gray, Washington County was 27-2 over 2013-14, losing only to eventual champions Buford and Calhoun.
T. McFerrin, a 300-game winner as a coach, went out on top with 2012 Jefferson. His Dragons will play 2010 Carver (Columbus), a team that beat eventual champion Buford 14-0 in the regular season before falling to runner-up Calhoun in the semifinals. Carver’s coach, Dell McGee, is now at staff at Georgia.
In 2A, state champions Heard County of 2018 and Calhoun of 2011 will play in one semifinal, while 2010 champion Buford plays 2013 runner-up Lamar County. Lamar upset 2015 champ Pace Academy 20-7 in the quarterfinals and also beat 2019 champion Dublin in the first round.
In Class A Private, six-time champion Eagle’s Landing Christian, going with its 2018 team, must play one of the few Class A schools to beat the Chargers, 2019 Holy Innocents’. ELCA and Holy Innocents’ split their two 2019 games, with ELCA winning in the state semifinals.
Savannah Christian’s 2011 team and Mount Paran Christian’s 2014 champion, both undefeated, meet in the other semifinal. Each won their school's first GHSA football championship.
Old enemies Clinch County and Irwin County will play in one Class A Public semifinal. Irwin was 8-6 vs. Clinch in the 2010-19 decade, but Clinch led 4-1 in state titles won. The other semifinal has Marion County’s 2014 champion against Pelham’s 2018 team. Pelham, which that year made the semifinals for the first time in 53 years, upset ECI’s 2012 state champion 21-14 in the quarterfinals.
The computer model used for the tournament simulation was created by Georgia High School Football Historians Association founder Loren Maxwell. It uses historical scores to simulate any matchup involving Georgia high school teams of the past 75 years.
In each game, the stronger team usually wins, but upsets and surprising scores occur as they do in real life.
Below are quarterfinal scores in the smaller four classifications, with upsets noted in red.
|
|
Class 3A
2013 Washington County 44, 2010 Cairo 19
2013 Buford 31, 2014 Calhoun 6
2012 Jefferson 27, 2010 Peach County 17
2010 Carver (Columbus) 26, 2014 Blessed Trinity 0
Class 2A
2018 Heard County 18, 2018 Dodge County 3
2011 Calhoun 21, 2013 Lovett 7
2013 Lamar County 20, 2015 Pace Academy 7
2010 Buford 23, 2010 Cook 10
|
|
Class A Private
2018 ELCA 48, 2014 Calvary Day 0
2019 Holy Innocents’ 41, 2016 Fellowship Christian 12
2011 Savannah Christian 41, 2012 George Walton 21
2014 Mount Paran 34, 2019 Darlington 21
Class A Public
2010 Clinch Co. 21, 2016 McIntosh Co. Academy 14
2019 Irwin County 56, 2010 Johnson County 6
2018 Pelham 21, 2012 ECI 14
2014 Marion County 34, 2010 Wilkinson County 21
|
|
Storm Johnson gives back to student-athletes
Former UCF standout and NFL running back Storm Johnson has joined The Learning Company in offering services to middle and high school students and student-athletes through a boys only academy with NCAA approved classes (in person one-to-one or virtual); final semester program for high school seniors; ACT/SAT prep; athletic training; and Camp Storm, a residential camp facility located in southeastern Georgia on 40 acres. For information, call 770-652-7542 or click here to email.
Mitchell County seeks two opponents for 2020 football schedule
Mitchell County High School is seeking two football games to complete its 2020 schedule. It has open dates on Sept. 25, Oct. 2 and Oct. 9 and would like to play one of the games in Camilla. Click here to contact coach Deshon Brock.
Jackson County seeks assistant in boys basketball, baseball
Jackson County High School is accepting applications for an assistant boys basketball coach and assistant baseball coach that will include duties as a PE teacher. If interested, click here to contact athletic director Brad Hayes.
Sequoyah seeks boys basketball assistant coach
Sequoyah High School is accepting applications for a varsity boys basketball assistant coach for the 2020-21 school year. Teaching certificate needs to be in science or SPED Math. If you are interested, click here to contact head coach Allen Carden.
St. George’s Episcopal seeks assistants in volleyball, boys basketball
The assistant coaches in volleyball and boys basketball will assist in all matters concerning the varsity teams. We are looking for someone who wants to help build a competitive program in an elite academic environment. We are only in the fifth year of competing at the varsity level. St. George’s competes in GISA AA athletics. These are part-time jobs through the season with the possibility of expanding roles in the coming years. Click here to contact athletic director Britt Gaylor.
Rockdale Co. seeks assistant football, baseball, girls basketball coach
Rockdale County High School is looking for an assistant coach for baseball, girls basketball and football. Interested candidates should be certified in one of the following teaching vacancies – English, Spanish and/or SPED (Science and/or English). Click here to contact athletic director Chad Suddeth.
Manchester seeks head softball coach
Manchester High School is now accepting applications for our head softball coach. Also, there is a possibility of coaching an additional spring sport, with a SPED co-teacher opening as well. Interested applicants can send their resume and cover letter to assistant principal/athletic director Dr. Kelvin Smith by clicking here.
|
|
GHSF Daily classified ads
Reach 22,000 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 35-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.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
