It’s very common this time of year for prep football coaches to revert to complete coachspeak mode, where comments such as “We’re taking it one day at a time” and “On any given Friday, any of our teams can beat the other” flow like the Niagara.
However, in Georgia’s Region 7-AAAA, the latter statement is quite true – for the most part. Though several games were lost due to the COVID-19 pandemic, 2020 proved to be another unpredictable season for the league outside of champion Cedartown.
The Bulldogs went undefeated, outscoring their four region opponents (Heritage had to forfeit its game) by an average of 34 points. They are the prohibitive favorites again this season with the return of two-way star C.J. Washington, leading rusher Harlem Diamond and six of their 10 leading tacklers from 2020.
The other five teams in 7-AAAA each had at least one league win. Central-Carroll defeated Northwest Whitfield, which defeated Heritage, which lost to Ridgeland but then beat Central. Much the same is expected this go-around.
“Cedartown is definitely the team to beat based off the performance from last year and the fact they have 10 to 12 starters back,” Northwest Whitfield coach Josh Robinson said. “The Cedric Washington kid is a heck of a football player, and they have several really good guys.
“From here, though, I think our entire region is clumped up. The thing is, one loss can be huge in such a small region. Even in a five-team region, you could win three games and find your way out of the playoffs. We all have our strengths and weaknesses. It’s who stays healthy – very much the way it’s always been.”
Staff file photo by Troy Stolt / Northwest Whitfield wide receiver Brayden Morrrison, right, is being asked to take on a bigger role this season with the Bruins, who could be among the top teams in GHSA Region 7-AAAA again.Robinson’s region runner-up Bruins, who made it to the second round of the GHSA playoffs last fall, may again have the inside track on getting the league’s other home game for the postseason’s first round. The offense has the league’s top quarterback in Owen Brooker, a junior about to start for the third straight season who has more than 4,000 passing yards in his prep career. He also has Class AAAA’s top returning receiver by yardage in Ray Morrison (915) and a hard-running back in Adrian Reyes.
Two keys for Northwest are the development of new starting receivers Hudson Gray and Brayden Morrison and a secondary extremely short on experience.
“We have to develop guys who can take the pressure off Ray, and we think Bradyn and Hudson are certainly capable,” Robinson said. “Defensively, we can be fine in our front seven, but the secondary has to grow up quickly.”
Heritage, the league’s No. 3 playoff qualifier a year ago, was hit hard by graduation. Coach E.K. Slaughter, though, believes his offense is in good hands with former receiver Kaden Swope taking over at quarterback after the loss of four-year starter Nick Hanson.
“Kaden did a great job this spring and summer and showed some flashes of greatness that has us excited about his future,” Slaughter said.
Ryan Heet and first-time starter Tyler Cheetwood should give Swope a pair of dependable targets, and leading rusher Paxton McCrary (574 yards) is back and will pair with Ooltewah transfer Julian Sexton in what Slaughter hopes will be an improved ground attack after the team averaged only 65 yards per game a year ago.
The defense must replace eight of its top 11 tacklers, and Slaughter is counting on a big season from middle linebacker Bryce Travillian. The secondary, led by Heet and Swope (six combined interceptions in 2020), is a strength, as is the presence of future Army kicker Anderson Britton.
Staff file photo by Troy Stolt / Heritage High School football player Paxton McCrary, bear crawling on the practice field as his teammates cheer him on, is back this season after leading the Generals in rushing with 574 yards last year.Ridgeland had a forgettable 2020 season, going 1-7 and losing two games to COVID-19 protocols. The Panthers averaged just 10 points per game while allowing 40, which was enough for coach Kip Klein and his staff to put in new offensive and defensive schemes in hopes of taking advantage of a strong group of skill players.
The passing game should become a vital part of the team’s offense behind quarterback Judd Anderson, a 6-foot-6, 200-pound sophomore who has caught the eye of several Football Bowl Subdivision recruiters this spring and summer. As a result of Anderson’s progress, the ground game also should improve with Ashton Turner and Chase Watkins running behind a veteran line anchored by Jacob Klein (6-7, 320).
The defense will need to develop a rotation up front, but linebackers Turner, Watkins and Jonathan Woodall should be among the region’s best groups.
Central-Carroll, which earned the No. 4 playoff berth in 2020, may have a difficult time matching last year’s big offensive numbers as the Lions must replace star running back Narada Levett (1,714 yards, 16 touchdowns).
Contact Lindsey Young at lyoung@timesfreepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @youngsports22.