Thursday, Sept. 24, 2020
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Nominations needed for The Leaderboard
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Blessed Trinity at Kell
When, where: 7:30 p.m. Friday, C.J. Kell Stadium/The Stockyard, Marietta
Records, rankings: Blessed Trinity is 1-0 and No. 2 in Class 5A; Kell is 1-1 and unranked in 6A.
Last meeting: This is the teams’ first meeting.
Things to know: This game came together late after both teams had holes in their schedules because of pandemic-related cancellations. The first four games on Blessed Trinity’s original schedule were called off, and Kell had an opening after Hillgrove canceled a game two weeks ago. Blessed Trinity, the three-time Class 4A champion now playing in 5A, opened its season Saturday with a 38-14 victory over five-time defending Class A Private champion Eagle’s Landing Christian. Justice Haynes, who rushed for 1,754 yards as a freshman last season, ran for 107 yards and threw a 74-yard TD pass. J.C. French was 8-of-10 passing for 130 yards and a score. French passed for 3,800 yards over the past two seasons at Wesleyan before transferring back to Blessed Trinity, which he attended through the seventh grade. Kell QB Corbin LaFrance has passed for 445 yards through two games, including 271 with two TDs in a 35-28 loss to Walton in the opener. Sophomore David Mbadinga rushed for 110 yards and three TDs in a 34-10 victory over Pope last week.

Crisp County at ELCA
When, where: 7:30 p.m. Friday, Commitment Field, McDonough
Records, rankings: Crisp County is 2-0 and No. 2 in Class 3A; Eagle’s Landing Christian is 2-1 and No. 1 in Class A Private.
Last meeting: This is the teams’ first meeting.
Things to know: ELCA is the five-time defending Class A Private champion, and Crisp County was the 3A runner-up last year. Crisp has opened with shutouts of Tift County (7-0) and Houston County (12-0), schools about twice Crisp’s size.  LB Chris Paul (Arkansas commit) has five tackles for losses. DB Sirad Bryant (Georgia Tech), LB Preston Lavant (Pittsburgh) and DE Nick Mercer (Georgia Southern) also are committed to Division I schools. J’Kobe Harris has four interceptions. Moving the ball has been a little tougher, as Crisp is only 10-of-26 passing and averaging 3.8 yards per rush, but QB A.J. Lofton and RB Marquis Palmer each rushed for more than 1,000 yards last season. ELCA also shut out its first two opponents, including Woodward Academy, before falling to Class 5A No. 2 Blessed Trinity 38-14. Josh Rogers has rushed for 523 yards. ELCA has attempted only 21 passes. Top defenders are LB Charis Spence (four sacks) and CB Kaleb Anthony (committed to UConn). ELCA has won 41 consecutive home games dating to 2014.

Lee County at Lowndes
When, where: 8 p.m. Friday, Martin Stadium, Valdosta
Records, rankings: Lee County is 2-0 and No. 2 in Class 6A; Lowndes is 3-0 and No. 2 in 7A.
Last meeting: Lowndes won 42-7 in 2015.
Things to know: This game matches the team with the best winning percentage in Class 6A over the past three seasons against the second-best 7A school in that period. Lee County is 40-4 (.909) with two state titles since 2017; Lowndes is 35-6 (.854), trailing only North Gwinnett in 7A. Lowndes RB Justin Lee (23 carries, 206 yards, two TDs) is the leading rusher in Region 1-7A, and QB Jacurri Brown is second in both rushing (34-196-3) and passing (22-of-45, 383 yards, three TDs). Brown is a junior four-star recruit with 21 FBS offers. The Vikings have four three-star recruits on defense committed to FBS schools – LB Thomas Davis (Miami), safety T.J. Quinn (Louisville), DE Jacques Hunter (Vanderbilt) and LB Leon Williams (Kent State). Lee County traditionally has a strong defense and does again this season, shutting out Jackson of Atlanta and Crawford County in its first two games. LB Baron Hopson has 13 FBS offers. The Trojans also have a potent offense, led by RB Caleb McDowell (South Carolina) and WR Chauncey Magwood (Kentucky).

Mill Creek at Brookwood
When, where: 7:30 p.m. Friday, Brookwood Community Stadium, Snellville
Records, rankings: Mill Creek is 1-0 and No. 5 in Class 7A; Brookwood is 2-0 and No. 6 in 7A.
Last meeting: Mill Creek won 13-10 in the first round of the 2018 Class 7A playoffs.
Things to know: Mill Creek opened last week after its first two games were canceled over COVID-19 issues on Mill Creek’s team, but the Hawks have rearranged their schedule and salvaged a full 10-game schedule. The Hawks beat Dacula 20-14 after leading 17-0 at halftime. Josh Battle rushed for 124 yards on 20 carries, and M.J. Patterson was 10-of-15 passing for 166 yards and two touchdowns. Both are new starters, although as a sophomore, Battle scored two touchdowns against Brookwood, one in overtime, in a playoff victory. Brookwood also has played Dacula this season, winning 40-34. The Broncos then beat Walton 43-32. It’s the 12th time that Brookwood has scored 40 or more in consecutive games in coach Philip Jones’ six seasons as coach. It’s actually the fourth straight game dating to last season. Brookwood sophomore QB Dylan Lonergan is 51-of-72 passing for 780 yards and seven touchdowns while rushing for a team-leading 128 yards. He got a scholarship offer from Georgia on Saturday. Junior receivers Samuel Mbake (15 catches, 164 yards) and Denylon Morrissette (12 catches, 215 yards against Dacula) also have major Division I offers.

Rome at Collins Hill
When, where: 7:30 p.m. Friday, Fahring Field, Suwanee
Records, rankings: Rome is 1-1 and No. 10 in Class 6A; Collins Hill is 2-1 and unranked in 7A.
Last meeting: This is the teams’ first meeting.
Watch the game: Online at NFHS Network.
Things to know: Both teams come into this game after suffering their first losses last week, Rome 21-15 against Cherokee and Collins Hill 28-7 against Class 7A No. 1 Grayson. This will be a game of contrasting styles. Rome gets about two-thirds of its offense from a running game led by senior E.J. Lackey. He has rushed for 297 yards in two games and scored the game-winning touchdown on a 4-yard run in the fourth quarter of a 28-21 victory over Rockmart in the opener. PK Fernando-Lopez Romero kicked field goals of 41, 43 and 47 yards against Cherokee. Collins Hill is all about the passing game, which accounts for 75 percent of its offense. Sam Horn, a four-star recruit with 12 FBS offers, is the No. 4-rated junior pro-style quarterback nationally. He is 74-of-114 passing for 795 yards and seven touchdowns. Wide receiver Travis Hunter, a five-star recruit committed to Florida State as a defensive back and the No. 5-rated junior overall nationally, has 356 yards and five TDs on 28 catches. Junior Spenser Anderson (28-141-3) is the Eagles’ leading rusher.

Thomasville at Bainbridge
When, where: 7:30 p.m. Friday, Centennial Field, Bainbridge
Records, rankings: Thomasville is 2-1 and No. 6 in Class 2A; Bainbridge is 0-2 and No. 7 in 4A.
Last meeting: Bainbridge won 47-26 in 2003.
Things to know: These schools first met in football in 1916. Bainbridge’s win in 2003 ended a nine-game losing streak in the series. Thomasville has bounced back from an opening loss to Brooks County, the No. 1 Class A Public team, to defeat Thomas County Central (34-7) and Cairo (20-7). That’s a reversal from 2019, when Thomasville beat Brooks but lost to the other two. Ronnie Baker, a two-year starter, has completed 55 of 79 passes (69.6 percent) for 491 yards and four touchdowns. Ricardo Johnson has 13 receptions for 163 yards. Junior LB Ty Anderson, a region defensive player of the year last season, leads the team with 22 solo tackles. Bainbridge has lost to Coffee (31-16) and Valdosta (45-7), both top-10 teams from higher classifications. Quayde Hawkins, who threw for 1,791 yards last year, predictably has struggled, completing only 43.4 percent of his passes. LB Tahari Tate easily has been the Bearcats’ best performer. He has 25 solo tackles and six tackles for losses. He returned a kickoff 88 yards against Valdosta.

Valdosta at Colquitt County
When, where: 8 p.m. Friday, Tom White Field at Mack Tharpe Stadium, Moultrie
Records, rankings: Valdosta is 2-0 and No. 1 in Class 6A; Colquitt County is 1-0 and No. 4 in 7A.
Last meeting: Valdosta won 50-49 in 2019.
Watch the game: Online at NFHS Network.
Things to know: This game became the most highly anticipated of the season on April 14, when Valdosta hired former Colquitt coach Rush Propst. Colquitt had fired Propst after the 2018 season amid allegations of misconduct that Propst largely denied. Propst was 119-35 with two state titles in Moultrie. “Is it a special game? I’m not going to deny that,” Propst told GHDF Daily. “I’ve got a lot of good memories over there, but when all is said and done, it’s not about Rush Propst but about the Wildcats and Packers.” Meanwhile, former Valdosta coach Alan Rodemaker, who claimed his own firing this year was unjust, has joined Colquitt’s staff as co-defensive coordinator. Valdosta has beaten Warner Robins 28-25 and Bainbridge 45-7. Jake Garcia, a Southern Cal-committed quarterback who transferred from California, threw for 332 yards against Warner Robins, but his eligibility is under investigation by the GHSA. In his place in game two, Amari Jones passed for 205 yards against Bainbridge. Former Colquitt receiver Tajh Sanders has a team-leading 10 receptions for 238 yards and two touchdowns. Colquitt had its first three weeks of games canceled over COVID-19 and scheduled Banneker late and won 51-0 last week. Xavier Williams, making his first start, was 12-of-22 passing for 225 yards and a touchdown.

Ware County at Thomson
When, where: 7:30 p.m. Friday, The Brickyard, Thomson
Records, rankings: Ware County is 2-0 and No. 4 in Class 5A; Thomson is 3-0 and No. 10 in 3A.
Last meeting: Thomson won 51-35 in the second round of the 2002 Class 4A playoffs.
Watch the game: Online at NFHS Network.
Things to know: This will be just the second meeting, first in the regular season, between two schools located about 180 miles apart in eastern Georgia. For Ware County, it will also be the second of seven games in a row against teams ranked in this week’s AJC top 10s. Ware County is the only currently ranked opponent on Thomson’s schedule. Both teams’ leading rusher is a junior quarterback. Ware County’s Thomas Castellanos has run for 232 yards (116 per game) and five touchdowns on 23 carries, while Thomson’s Tay Martin has run for 347 yards (115.7 per game) and five TDs on 53 carries. Thomson’s Snoop Williams has contributed 131 rushing yards, 103 of which came in a season-opening 21-14 victory over Jefferson County. Ware County is the more likely team to throw. Castellanos is 27-of-45 passing for 445 yards and three touchdowns, while Thomson has attempted just 25 passes, completing 12 for 144 yards, in three games. Ware County linebacker Michael Mincey, a preseason all-state pick, committed to Vanderbilt this week.

Warner Robins at Northside (W.R.)
When, where: 7:30 p.m. Friday, McConnell-Talbert Stadium, Warner Robins
Records, rankings: Warner Robins is 1-1 and No. 1 in Class 5A; Northside is 2-1 and unranked in 6A.
Last meeting: Warner Robins won 39-0 in 2019.
Things to know: Warner Robins has won three consecutive games against Northside after losing 16 of the previous 21. The Demons’ three-game winning streak in the series, which they lead 37-25, is their longest since winning seven straight from 1989 to 1995. Warner Robins’ Jalen Addie, the first-team all-state quarterback in 5A last season, is 21-of-34 passing for 319 yards and three touchdowns and has run for 163 yards and a TD on 24 carries. LB Ahmad Walker, another returning all-state player, is committed to Liberty. RB Jahlen Rutherford is committed to Air Force. The Demons have lost to Valdosta (28-25) and defeated Archer (42-7) this season. Northside has the leading rusher (Jaylen Cephus, 40 carries, 165 yards, two TDs), passer (Elijah Robinson, 35-of-81, 479 yards, four TDs) and receiver (Justin Luke, 16 catches, 327 yards) in Region 1-6A. Traditionally, however, the Eagles are more known for their defense. This year, they’ve given up just 10.33 points per game in a loss to Veterans (17-7) and wins over Peach County (14-7) and Howard (28-7).

Westminster at Pace Academy
When, where: 7:30 p.m. Friday, Walsh Field, Mableton
Records, rankings: Westminster is 0-0 and unranked in Class 3A; Pace Academy is 1-0 and No. 4 in 2A.
Last meeting: Westminster won 36-21 in 2019.
Watch the game: Online at NFHS Network.
Things to know: Westminster is coming off a 6-5 season that marked only the second time in 13 years that the Wildcats didn’t advance a round in the playoffs. This year, they delayed their season opener three weeks over COVID-19 concerns. Westminster’s best players are probably LB Lowell Jones, second on the team in tackles last season, and TE Holden Staes, a junior committed to Penn State. Westminster has the best kicking specialists in the state. with P Connor Weselman and PK Alex Bacchetta.  Westminster will have a new starting quarterback, likely either Wyatt Stevenson, a senior who might’ve started last year until an injury derailed him, or John Collier, a promising sophomore transfer from Blessed Trinity. Pace won its opener 14-7 over Holy Innocents’ and canceled its game last week with Eagle’s Landing Christian because of weather. Evan Smith-Rooks threw for 215 yards in the opener. Pace QB M.J. Morris, a transfer and four-star recruit, did not play, and his status remains questionable. Westminster leads the series, played each of the past four years, 4-0, winning three times when Pace had a higher ranking.
On TV
Friday
*Greenbrier at Grovetown, 7:30 p.m., WJBF MeTV 6.2 (Augusta)
*Coosa at Pickens, 7:30 p.m., ETC TV 3 (Ellijay)

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.
GHSA investigating Garcia eligibility
The GHSA is investigating the eligibility of Valdosta quarterback Jake Garcia, who transferred from a California high school last month and started the Wildcats’ season-opening victory Sept. 4 over Warner Robins.

Garcia has committed to Southern Cal and made the cross-country move with his father in August after his home state postponed football into the winter because of COVID-19. Garcia plans to enroll at Southern Cal in January.

Garcia’s parents dissolved their marriage to meet the GHSA’s eligibility rules, according to a report by ESPN’s Mark Schlabach. GHSA bylaws require that transfer students move “simultaneously with the entire parental unit” into their new school zones to be eligible immediately. The GHSA acknowledged the investigation but would not comment on it.

Garcia passed for 332 yards in his debut but sat out Valdosta’s second game against Bainbridge last week. Valdosta coach Rush Propst declined to comment on the investigation but said the decision to sit Garcia was because of a lower-leg injury, not eligibility concerns.

Propst said Garcia’s availability for Friday night’s game at Colquitt County likely would be a game-time decision and would be based strictly on the player’s health.

Calhoun County going to try to play
Six weeks after canceling its football season because of COVID-19, Calhoun County is back on the field and hoping to play its region schedule starting next month.

“We’re back up and going to try to play,” said Calhoun County assistant John Williams, who has coached at the Albany-area school for more than 20 years. “When you don’t have it, these kids miss it. You have to have something for them to do that’s constructive and give them some normalcy, which is what they’re missing.”

Williams said that other local teams’ play and the start of college football games played a role in the decision to reopen the sport.

Calhoun County is a member of Region 1-A Public. Williams said he hoped the team’s first game would be Oct. 2 or Oct. 9. The only game officially back on the GHSA’s schedules Wednesday was an Oct. 16 date at Seminole County.

Calhoun County had been one of 10 teams to cancel its GHSA football schedule and is the first to return.
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Feeding the NFL
Georgia ranks fourth in the number of NFL players from its high schools, according to Pro Football Reference. GHSF Daily researched Georgia’s roughly 150 players on opening-day rosters earlier this month.

284 - Florida
248 - California
234 - Texas
151 - Georgia
95 - Ohio
85 - Alabama
82 - Virginia
81 - New Jersey
78 - Louisiana
75 - North Carolina
72 - Pennsylvania
70 - Illinois
49 - Michigan
49 - South Carolina
46 - Mississippi
43 - Tennessee
43 - Maryland
40 - Missouri
40 - Arizona

Join the GACA and be eligible for liability insurance, participation in all-star games, registration to clinics, and access to job listings.
Who is the highest-rated Georgia senior who has not make a public college commitment: Amarius Mims of Bleckley County, Brock Vandagriff of Prince Avenue Christian, Smael Mondon of Paulding County or Barrett Carter of North Gwinnett? (Answer Friday)

Answer to Wednesday’s question: Jahmyr Gibbs, the Georgia Tech freshman running back who was named the ACC’s rookie of the week, played high school football at Dalton.

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.
GHSF Daily will select 10 games each week for a Predict the Winner contest, presented by ALL-STAR QB. Predictions must be submitted by 5 p.m. each Friday. Limit one entry per email address. Contest winners will be announced on Mondays at the start of each new contest and will receive the ASQB-LITE model game, the company's most popular. Click here to play!
Here is this week’s schedule with projected margins of victory, courtesy of the Maxwell Ratings. The projected winner is on the left. The projected margin of victory is on the right. The Maxwell computer ratings take into account each team’s historical and current season performance. The projected margins additionally consider actual scoring patterns and so may not match the projected margins when using the ratings alone. Games involving out-of-state teams are not included because of lack of data on those opponents, but they are listed below.

Today’s games
Brunswick vs. Northeast -8
Northside, Columbus vs. Shaw -2
Spencer vs. Jordan -7

Friday’s games
ACE Charter vs. Pataula Charter -20
Adairsville vs. Murray Co. -19
Allatoona vs. South Cobb -38
Alpharetta vs. Chattahoochee -15
Appling Co. vs. Westside, Macon -4
Aquinas vs. First Presbyterian -3
Athens Academy vs. Berkmar -37
Atkinson Co. vs. Miller Co. -18
Bacon Co. vs. Brantley Co. -6
Banks Co. vs. Lumpkin Co. -6
Benedictine vs. North Oconee -20
Bleckley Co. vs. Vidalia -5
Blessed Trinity at Kell -24
Bowdon vs. Heritage, Newnan -10
Brooks Co. vs. Cook -22
Buford vs. Clarke Central -18
Butler vs. Long Co. -14
Calhoun vs. Ridgeland -34
Callaway vs. Douglass -21
Cartersville vs. Creekside -34
Carver, Columbus vs. Kendrick -42
Cass vs. Temple -21
Cedartown vs. New Manchester -7
Central, Carrollton vs. Whitewater -3
Chapel Hill vs. South Paulding -2
Charlton Co. vs. McIntosh Co. Acad. -3
Cherokee vs. Creekview -7
Cherokee Bluff vs. Georgia Military -34
Christ. Heritage vs. Heritage, Ringgold 0
Collins Hill vs. Rome -7
Colquitt Co. vs. Valdosta -10
Commerce vs. Elbert Co. -5
Dawson Co. vs. Northview -9
Drew vs. North Clayton -26
Eagle's Landing Christian vs. Crisp Co. -6
East Coweta vs. Meadowcreek -24
East Hall vs. Johnson, Gainesville -15
East Laurens vs. Oglethorpe Co. -15
East Paulding vs. Hiram -10
Eastside vs. Alcovy -25
Effingham Co. vs. Lakeside, Evans -9
Evans vs. Richmond Academy -10
Fannin Co. vs. Southeast Whitfield -29
Fellowship Christ. vs. B.E.S.T. Acad. -22
Fitzgerald vs. Jefferson Co. -16
Forsyth Central vs. Cambridge 0
Franklin Co. vs. Jackson Co. -6
Gainesville vs. Discovery -21
Gilmer vs. East Jackson -4
Grayson vs. Archer -26
Greater Atlanta Christian vs. Hart Co. -18
Greenbrier vs. Grovetown -1
Hancock Central vs. Greene Co. -10
Haralson Co. vs. Model -16
Heard Co. vs. Darlington -4
Hebron Christ. vs. Mt. Pisgah Christ. -10
Houston Co. vs. Statesboro -15
Howard vs. Central, Macon -10
Irwin Co. vs. Wilkinson Co. -36
Jackson, Atlanta vs. Tri-Cities -5
Jefferson vs. Mountain View -9
LaGrange vs. Columbus -12
Lakeview Academy vs. Walker -1
Lakeview-Ft. Oglethorpe vs. LaFayette -2
Lambert vs. Duluth -18
Landmark Christian vs. King's Ridge -8
Lanier vs. Denmark -23
Lanier Co. vs. Brookwood School -8
Lassiter vs. Pope 0
Liberty Co. vs. Bradwell Institute -7
Lincoln Co. vs. Laney -16
Lovett vs. Therrell -35
Lowndes vs. Lee Co. -12
Manchester vs. Central, Talbotton -44
Marietta vs. Camden Co. -7
Marion Co. vs. Macon Co. -9
Marist vs. Hampton -40
Mays vs. Hughes -7
McEachern vs. Hillgrove -10
Metter vs. Savannah Country Day -9
Mill Creek vs. Brookwood -10
Milton vs. Hapeville Charter -20
Morgan Co. vs. Monticello -21
Mount de Sales vs. Brookstone -5
Mount Zion, Carroll vs. Towns Co. -20
Mundy's Mill vs. Mt. Zion, Jonesboro -4
Newnan vs. Mary Persons -4
Norcross vs. South Gwinnett -9
North Cobb Christian vs. Calvary Day 0
North Forsyth vs. Etowah -10
North Gwinnett vs. Lovejoy -38
North Murray vs. Ringgold -13
Northgate vs. Villa Rica -12
Northwest Whitfield vs. Chattooga -10
Parkview vs. Loganville -35
Peachtree Ridge vs. Centennial -14
Pebblebrook vs. Lithia Springs -24
Pickens vs. Coosa -14
Prince Ave. Christian at Holy Innocents’ -7
Putnam Co. vs. Social Circle -27
Rabun Co. vs. Bremen -16
Rockmart vs. Coahulla Creek -39
Roswell vs. North Paulding -7
Sandy Creek vs. Starr's Mill -1
Savannah Christian vs. John Milledge -7
Schley Co. vs. Taylor Co. -12
South Forsyth vs. Central Gwinnett -13
Southeast Bulloch vs. Bryan Co. -35
Southwest vs. Randolph-Clay -42
Sprayberry vs. Kennesaw Mountain -24
St. Pius vs. Cedar Shoals -8
Stephens Co. vs. Madison Co. -7
Swainsboro vs. Washington Co. -1
Tattnall Square vs. Deerfield-Windsor -7
Telfair Co. vs. Hawkinsville -21
Thomas Co. Central vs. Lamar Co. -13
Thomas Jefferson vs. Glascock Co. -26
Thomasville vs. Bainbridge -1
Treutlen vs. Portal -4
Trinity Christian vs. Claxton -18
Trion vs. Dade Co. -13
Troup vs. Hardaway -7
Turner Co. vs. Seminole Co. -33
Upson-Lee vs. McIntosh -28
Walton vs. West Forsyth 0
Ware Co. vs. Thomson -12
Warner Robins vs. Northside, W.R. -12
Washington vs. South Atlanta -3
Washington-Wilkes vs. Warren Co. 0
Wayne Co. vs. South Effingham -20
Wesleyan vs. Loganville Christian -41
West Hall vs. Chestatee -2
West Laurens vs. Toombs Co. -9
Westfield School vs. Baconton -17
Westlake vs. Johns Creek -7
Westminster vs. Pace Academy -8
Wheeler vs. Osborne -35
White Co. vs. Habersham Central -10
Whitefield Academy vs. St. Francis -13
Wilcox Co. vs. Johnson Co. -7
Woodland, Carters. vs. North Springs -9
Woodstock vs. Campbell -16
Woodward Academy vs. Riverwood -16
Worth Co. vs. Rutland -24

Saturday’s game
North Atlanta vs. Grady -12

Monday's game
Cross Creek vs. Josey -9

Other games
Cairo at Dothan, Ala. (Fri.)
Cherokee Co., Ala. at Armuchee (Sat.)
Today’s interviewee is Pinecrest Academy coach Shawn Coury, whose team chose to play eight-man football this season after summer participation was low, partly because of COVID-19. Coury plans to lead his team back into the GHSA’s Region 6-A Private next season. Pinecrest, located in Cumming, won a GHSA region title in 2015.

Shawn Coury, Pinecrest Academy head coach
1. What went into the decision to step away from the GHSA this year and play in the eight-man league? “When I accepted the position in late May and began talking to the football families, we were concerned with the low participation numbers. At that time, we only had nine returning players and two upcoming freshmen. I began speaking with other athletes in our school over the next couple of weeks and eventually we were able to add a couple more kids to our roster. We did not feel comfortable putting this small group of kids on the field, as many had little or no experience. Our small group really wanted to play, so we began to internally discuss options to save our season. By mid-June, with the season approaching and wanting to respect the other teams on our schedule, knowing we were about to throw a wrench in everyone's schedule, we decided to reach out to the GHSA and to the GAPPS [Georgia Association of Private and Parochial Schools] to discuss options. The GHSA gave us guidance on how to work with our region and non-region opponents. The GAPPS was very open to the idea of helping us get an eight-man schedule. By the third week of June, we had contacted all of our GHSA opponents to let them know what we were planning, and then the GAPPS began working with us to help us secure an eight-man schedule. At the end of the day, we had a handful of kids that were begging to play in some shape or form, and we wanted to keep their safety at the forefront of any decision we made.”

2. How has your team done so far, and how are the players and coaches enjoying it? “It has been a true blessing to our kids. We had a great summer. Buzz started to spread through our community that things were going well. We talked a few more boys into playing as a result. We played a tight game with Harvester Christian [of Douglasville] in week one. Our boys fought back from a 28-8 halftime deficit to driving to tie with under a minute to play. We came up short and lost 40-32 to a tough Harvester team, but our boys began to come together as a unit that night. Over the last couple weeks, we have improved in our execution and teamwork, and we now sit at 2-1. The boys are having a blast, the sideline is exciting, we are starting to come together in a new offense and defense, and the boys really seem to enjoy each other. A similar buzz has grown in our middle school ranks, and we were able to get 23 middle school players to come out this season.”

3. What are the basic rules in eight-man ball, and what are you learning about strategy? What has been surprising about the experience? “The rules are almost identical to the 11-man game. A few minor differences include the field only being 40 yards wide, and we are only required to have five guys on the line instead of seven. Besides that, it is blocking, tackling, running, passing, etc. From a defensive strategy standpoint, it’s important to be really good at ‘0’ coverage. It is hard to control the box and keep a deep safety. On offense, you have to get creative in your blocking schemes, particularly pass pro. Special teams are the greatest challenge to overcome. Protecting a punt or an extra point/field goal proves to be very tough with only eight guys. You just can't make the edge wide enough. We have basically decided to quick kick and always go for two.”

4. Is it possible that you're having so much fun you might stay in GAPPS? What's the plan going forward? “It is a great deal of fun and this is definitely the right fit for our boys at this stage in our rebuild. The GAPPS is a top-notch group and have bent over backwards to make us feel welcomed. It has been a pleasure working with them through this entire process. Eight-man does come with a roster limit of 19 players. While that has worked perfectly for us this year, we do not think we will be able to continue next year. We have had additional boys come out for the high school team, and the middle school numbers are doing well also. If we return everyone currently 9-11 – we only have three seniors – and all of the current eighth-grade players continue to play, we will be able to field a team of 29 next year. Our goal is to try to create an 11-man non-region schedule next year and build from there. There is a very strong possibility that our middle school team will stay in the GAPPS 8-man league.”

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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.
Stadium key: ED - Ed Defore; G - Grady; H - Henderson; L - Lakewood; TH - Thompson
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.

GPSA/Champion Prep offering opportunities to get skills, exposure
Georgia Prep Sports Academy (Champion Prep Academy) is offering opportunities for 2020-21 student-athletes who wish to earn a four-year scholarship to an accredited college. Since 2013, GPSA/Champion Prep has helped more than 200 student-athletes get the skills and/or exposure they need. GPSA/Champion Prep will be looking to sign 65 student-athletes in December. Click here to complete the admission application. Contact coach Michael Carson at 678-663-7514 or coach Sean Tarrant at 470-577-5502 for more information.

Chattahoochee seeks freshman boys basketball coach
Chattahoochee High School is seeking a freshman boys basketball coach for the 2020-21 season. Click here to send your letters and resume to head coach Chris Short. There are no teaching positions currently available.
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.