The players may come and go, but northwest Georgia’s Class AAA football region seems to annually rank among the state’s highest-scoring leagues. It’s a reputation that likely won’t change this season.
Rockmart, the reigning Region 6-AAA champion and a state semifinalist last fall, put up 450 points in a 10-win season and averaged right at 50 per game against its eight region opponents. North Murray, Adairsville and the region’s fourth playoff team, LaFayette, each averaged better than 30 points, as did fifth-place finisher Ringgold.
Rockmart is the consensus preseason favorite, though the Yellow Jackets must replace quarterback Javin Whatley, who accounted for 2,400 yards and 27 touchdowns. However, with athletes like JoJo Haynes and Keyshaun McCullough back, the offense is in good hands.
“They’ve got talent at every position, and they are big, strong and fast,” Ringgold coach Robert Akins said. “They reload every year and they play as a team. They are the ones you aspire to be as good as because they always strive for excellence.”
The race for the other three playoff spots should again be unpredictable. Teams two through six a year ago beat up on each other, which left three teams a game out of the playoffs. North Murray gave Rockmart its only tight region matchup, losing in a 49-42 shootout, and the Mountaineers return the league’s top passer in junior Seth Griffin, who put up 1,969 yards and 20 touchdowns.
Coach Preston Poag’s team has plenty of playmakers, including Michael McDade, a 6-foot-3, 200-pound receiver, backs Judson Petty and Jadyn Rice and freshman athlete Skyler Williams, but any hopes of challenging for a region title will depend on improvement defensively.
“Some teams were able to wear us down up front last year, but we feel our linemen on both sides of the ball have improved with a great offseason of work,” Poag said. “We learned last year that you better show up and play, because any of the teams in this region can beat you.”
Staff photo by Matt Hamilton / Sonoraville’s Brant Bryant carries the football after a catch during a July scrimmage against North Murray in Calhoun.Ringgold and Sonoraville return 17 starters each and figure to be key players in the playoff hunt. Akins’ Tigers have a slew of playmakers back, including quarterback Mason Parker, backs Kori Dumas and Peyton Williams and athletes Dante Harris and Malachi Hill. Cole Carlock and Kyle White, who had a combined 250 tackles a year ago, lead an active defense.
“We have experience and talent back at nearly every position, but we have to take care of business in the first part of the schedule and stay healthy,” Akins said. “We are who we are, and hopefully our kids will accept the challenge.”
Sonoraville was hit hard by injuries and COVID-19 in 2020, but the Phoenix showed what they could be with a three-game winning streak to end the season. A seasoned group of linemen, led offensively by all-state center Jaxx Knight and defensively by Dawson Young, will be among the region’s best units.
The offense has plenty of potential firepower under the guidance of sophomore quarterback Jaxon Pate, who is expected to be a two-way threat, running back Zach Lyles and receivers Nick Beddington and Brant Bryant.
LaFayette ended a nearly 30-year playoff drought last season, and first-year coach Andy Scott inherits an offense that includes one of the region’s top athletes in Jaylon Ramsey, who has more than 2,000 rushing yards in two seasons as the team’s quarterback and may get the ball at different positions after the graduation of top rusher Jamario Clements.
Staff file photo by Troy Stolt / Jaylon Ramsey is back for LaFayette after two productive seasons at quarterback, but the Ramblers may use him at other positions this season to increase his opportunities to make plays.Whoever has the ball will have a solid line in front of him, headed by Coy Pendergrass (6-4, 285) and Dakota Catlett (6-2, 275), who will also be a part of the Ramblers’ defensive front.
The region’s other teams hope to get early momentum to join the contenders.
Murray County will have a new starting quarterback – either Taylor Carrell or Tyson Leonard – and potentially one of the region’s top group of receivers with Carson Weaver, Caleb Hooker and whoever doesn’t win the QB competition.
LFO will debut a new offensive scheme after running the wing-T for several seasons. With athletes Will Carroll, Trevon Gott and Jamillion Womble, plus a huge offensive line led by Slade Blankenship (6-2, 320) and Taylor Frady (6-0, 275), the offense should be more physical and versatile.
Coahulla Creek returns 14 starters, including quarterback Kace Kinnamon and powerful running backs Will Douglas (5-11, 200) and Tyler Locklear (6-0, 220). The Colts made big strides on defense in 2020 and should continue that trend as all-region lineman Robbie Wiggins and linebackers Elon Keener and Koby Tankersley return.
Contact Lindsey Young at lyoung@timesfreepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @youngsports22.