North Murray found a way to stop one swarm of Yellow Jackets on the football field in 2019. The big question surrounding Region 6-AAA as a new season approaches in Georgia is can the Mountaineers do it again?
This time, though, it’s a different strain of Yellow Jackets who threaten to move into 6-AAA and make it their own. A year after North Murray ended Calhoun’s legendary 17-year region winning streak and run of league titles, a new bully has moved in with its own gaudy credentials.
Rockmart exited Region 7-AA with a run of four straight region titles and as the winner of 24 consecutive league games. Reclassification now has these Yellow Jackets, the 2018 AA state runners-up, in 6-AAA, where they are seen by most as the clear preseason favorites.
Most of that has to do with the return of senior quarterback Javin Whatley, who had more than 2,500 total yards last year while helping Rockmart to an undefeated regular season. An injury kept him out of a quarterfinal playoff loss.
Some of it also has to do with returning champion North Murray losing 19 seniors from the team responsible for the program’s breakthrough 11-win season, many of whom had started for three years. After working so hard to finally wrestle away the region title from Calhoun (now in Class AAAAA), the Mountaineers aren’t going to give it up easily, their coach said.