Ridgeland’s Jalyn Shelton’s stiff-arm takes off Northwest Whitfield player Connor Romo’s helmet during their prep football game at Ridgeland High School on Friday, Sept. 23, 2016, in Rossville, Ga.Eric Edwards knew the question was coming, and the veteran coach didn’t want any part of it.
Comparing this year’s Ridgeland football offense to the 2012 squad that ran its way to a Georgia state championship game is a popular topic around Rossville. After all, even with a new head coach in Wesley Tankersley, the wing-T offense is still in place and the Panthers again are putting up huge numbers.
The 2012 Ridgeland 13-2 team scored more than 20 points in 10 games and had three with 35. The 2016 4-0 team is averaging 46 points per game, the highest number in Georgia’s Class AAAA.
Edwards, the program’s longtime offensive coordinator, is the obvious person to ask for a comparison – so he came prepared.
“I don’t like comparing teams,” he said with a shake of his head, “but I will say that with either group I would sign a contract and take them every year.”