Region 6-AAAA // Jack King Stadium, 5178 Round Pond Road, LaFayette, GA 30728
At the helm
Chad Fisher
(8-32 in five years here; 36-66 overall)
Heroes assemble!
The Ramblers return 7 off., 8 def. starters.
Super powers
The attitudes are in proper order, with the Ramblers showing in the offseason they are committed to being better. A core group of 75 players turned up three days a week this summer and stuck to their training schedule. Coaches are optimistic the experience level of this team could pay off, too.
Possible kryptonite
Experience is common for most of the position groups, but not in a young secondary. Coaches are preaching to those DBs the importance of keeping the action in front of them to avoid big plays, with Fisher hopeful the four-game nonregion schedule will give them a chance to mature and adjust to game speed. Some other units could use more depth, too.
Spidey sense tingling
The Ramblers are trying to end a postseason drought that started in 1994, and they've had just two winning records in that stretch. But their coaches have taken note of the unity, determination and extra dedication shown by this group. Still, they'll simply have to make more plays this year than last to shake a five-year stretch with no more than one region victory per season.
Here I come to save the day!
Senior LB Jonah Hobbs (5-10, 205) was an all-region pick the past two seasons, and he has a nose for the ball and the ability to stop the guy carrying it. Junior LG Jack Martin (5-11, 220) is one of three returning starters on the OL, with his "mean streak" something Fisher is glad to have on his side. Senior DE Tyler Beard (6-1, 185) and junior FB Colton Lane (5-11, 205) will be counted on for big contributions, too.
Up, up and away!
Just call them the Super Friends.
Team chemistry is something coaches crave, but they can't synthesize it in a lab - and luckily for Fisher, he's not stuck wishing he could.
"This group has been together for so long," he said. "Our juniors have had a lot of success. They had a lot of success in middle school; they had a lot of success as sophomores; they played a lot as sophomores (in varsity games).
"They're a close-knit group just because they hang out on the weekend, and whether they're going camping or fishing or swimming at the local pool, they're always together."
Fisher believes that closeness has created an accountability that means players don't want to let one another down. And that has made them a group coaches enjoy working with.
"These kids busted their tails in the summer and they had a great spring," Fisher said. "We're just waiting for them to flip the switch and go play."
The next step is staying in games until the end, then finishing them.
"The biggest thing is we just need to compete each week," Fisher said. "If we're competing in the fourth quarter, that gives us a great opportunity to have a successful season. We lost three games in the fourth quarter last year. I think these kids have learned in the offseason to keep fighting."
2016 Results
Aug. 19 Armuchee won, 22-6
Aug. 26 Trion lost, 43-20
Sep. 2 Gordon Lee lost, 35-20
Sep. 9 Gordon Central won, 56-24
Sep. 23 Southeast Whitfield lost, 24-21
Sep. 30 Northwest Whitfield lost, 30-0
Oct. 7 Ridgeland lost, 48-0
Oct. 21 Heritage lost, 47-21
Oct. 28 Pickens lost, 48-6
Nov. 4 Gilmer won, 10-3
3-7, 1-5 Region 6-AAAA
2017 Schedule
(All times 7:30 Eastern)
Aug. 18 Armuchee
Aug. 25 at Trion
Sep. 1 Gordon Lee
Sep. 8 at Gordon Central
Sep. 22 at Southeast Whitfield
Sep. 29 Northwest Whitfield
Oct. 6 at Ridgeland
Oct. 20 Heritage
Oct. 27 at Pickens
Nov. 3 Gilmer
Region 6-AAAA games in bold