Elite offenses set to battle in Georgia Region 6-AAAA

Ridgeland's Terrance Roberts (6) and Ryan Frost (14) celebrate after Roberts picked up a turnover during the Ridgeland vs. Heritage football game Friday, September 21, 2018 at Ridgeland High School in Rossville, Georgia.

When the dust settles on the regular season in Georgia Region 6-AAAA football, one factor likely will decide who's standing in the end.

Scoring points will not be a problem for a league that has plenty of offensive talent returning. Stopping folks, however, could prove challenging.

A poll of league coaches predicts a fairly wide-open race for the top spot among three teams: defending champion Pickens, runner-up Ridgeland and offensively charged Heritage. Each returns elite playmakers from offenses that ranged from Pickens' 45-plus points per game to Ridgeland's nearly 40 points and Heritage's 31 points.

"Those three teams are strong," Northwest Whitfield coach Josh Robinson said. "The rest of us have to fight to get in. There is a lot of parity right now. I don't think there are pushovers, but I don't know if there are any Top 10-ranked teams, either. It will be a challenge for sure."

Pickens, coming off the program's most successful season (11-1), has a new coach. The Dragons also have senior quarterback C.J. Streicher and his nearly 3,000 yards of total offense and one of the state's most physical front lines.

Ridgeland returns 1,000-yard rusher Jordan Blackwell and a slew of speedy playmakers, including Torrance and Terrence Roberts. Heritage brings back quarterback Nick Hanson and receiver Cade Kiniry and has transfer stud athlete Sam Randolph and a huge front line.

"I would like to think we can compete with anybody on our schedule, but who knows," Heritage coach E.K. Slaughter said. "Obviously, everything depends on your health. Assuming that's equal, I really think it's wide open. There will be some similar teams. Pickens is coming off a region championship, quarterback is back, good lines and defense.

"Ridgeland has really good athletes, which always gives you a chance to be good. I think we've got most of the pieces we need to be really good on both sides of the ball if we stay healthy. Offensively, we won't be a one-dimensional team, which gives us some excitement."

Ridgeland's Terrance Roberts (6) celebrates a turnover during the Ridgeland vs. Heritage football game Friday, September 21, 2018 at Ridgeland High School in Rossville, Georgia.

The Generals, though, allowed over 40 points per game a year ago and have only four defensive starters back (five if including DB Randolph, who transferred from East Hamilton).

Pickens gave up only 72 points in region competition, but the Dragons graduated five of their top seven tacklers.

Ridgeland has six back on defense, including Terrence Roberts, the region's defensive player of the year, but six of the top eight tacklers are gone and the defensive front is a big unknown.

"The team that improves the most defensively is probably going to come out on top," Ridgeland first-year head coach Kip Klein said. "For us, that means up front. We're pretty settled on the back end."

As for the other four region teams - Northwest, Southeast Whitfield, LaFayette and Gilmer - the pre-region schedule will focus on getting new starters up to speed.

"We have to answer some questions," LaFayette second-year coach Paul Ellis said. "We need to play really good football early in the season to prepare for the region schedule; then we have to find a way to beat one of the four teams that finished ahead of us last year."

» Dalton missed the playoffs for the first time in eight seasons a year ago with a young team that suffered some key injuries. Coach Matt Land believes the Catamounts, with 13 starters back, have a great shot at not only getting back into the postseason but also contending for the Region 6-AAAAAA championship.

Heritage quarterback Nick Hanson looks for a receiver during a 7 on 7 workout at Baylor.

"It's our time," Land said. "The region is still strong, but the four playoff teams were senior-laden and we were young. The guys are very hungry."

Dalton has the weapons to create mismatches against defenses, led by Georgia Tech running back recruit Jahmyr Gibbs, who was rated by one recruiting service as the top running back in Class AAAAAA. Senior quarterback Landon Allen and senior receiver Hunter Noland also return, as do four starters along the offensive front.

"Our running game should definitely be a strength, with our line's maturity and Jahmyr's ability," Land said. "And we think with the pressure defenses have to stop him that Landon and Hunter should have great years."

The strength of the Dalton defense lies in the secondary, where cornerback Malachi Gregory and free safety Parker Adams are the anchors.

Contact Lindsey Young at lyoung@timesfreepress.com or at 423-757-6296; follow on Twitter @youngsports22.