Region 6-AAA North // Mountaineer Stadium, 2568 Mt. Carmel Church Road, Chatsworth, GA 30705
At the helm
Preston Poag
(8-4 in one year here; 42-27 overall)
Heroes assemble!
The Mountaineers return 6 off., 6 def. starters.
Super powers
After a year in which the Mountaineers earned their first winning season and playoff victory, there is a new air of confidence in Chatsworth. To make it two postseasons in a row, they’ll rely on a strong group of WRs to pair with QB Preston Poag Jr. and make the spread attack go.
Possible kryptonite
A major strength a year ago, the OL will feature three new starters to pair with junior T Luke Griffin and G Bailey Blankenship. C Nick Hagan came over with Coach Poag from Christian Heritage and sat out last year due to transfer rules. Former TE Hunter Cochran will move to guard, while the weakside T spot was wide open in the preseason.
Spidey sense tingling
A return to the playoffs is, players and coaches believe, an attainable goal; some players even feel challenging Calhoun for the region title is possible. Coach Poag isn’t going there yet, but he feels the program should be in the postseason conversation on an annual basis. If the lines hold up and QB Poag continues to improve, the goal could be met.
Here I come to save the day!
Griffin, a future Georgia Bulldog, was cleared to resume football activities after undergoing surgery to repair his knee in January. The team plans to bring the 6-foot-5, 300-pounder along slowly, and his return will be a key on both sides of the ball. Though he’s a future college OL, Griffin is, Coah Poag said, even better on defense. Another key two-way player is WR/DB Waylyn James, a talented athlete who has to stay healthy.
Up, up and away!
Preston Poag the coach knew throwing a sophomore into the fray at the game’s most demanding position with two games to go in the regular season last year was risky. Preston Poag the father knew the kid could handle it.
Preston Poag Jr. proceeded to lead the Mountaineers to 48 points in a win over Lakeview-Fort Oglethorpe before helping engineer perhaps the biggest victory in school history, 28-21 at Adairsville in a Region 6-AAA play-in game to make the state playoffs. He topped that the next week with a 28-14 first-round win at Jackson County before Peach County ended the team’s magical run.
“It was big having those four games under his belt,” Coach Poag said. “Even the Peach County game was a good experience, even though the score didn’t look like it. I expect a lot from him. He’s a smart kid who has always worked. I’ve never had to push him, and he works for everything he gets.”
The athletic QB, who has added 30 pounds to his 6-foot-3 frame, is a threat running and throwing the ball from the team’s spread set. He also knows the offense inside and out, one of the perks of having the coach as your father.
There are, however, some downsides to the situation.
“It’s tough being the coach’s son, especially when you’re the quarterback,” Coach Poag said. “He’s handled it really well, and I try not to push him. In fact, we don’t talk about football unless he asks me. He’s a perfectionist, and it seems like his mind is always on the game.
“That’s the way you want your quarterback, though, and the kids notice it.”
2016 Results
Aug. 19 Christian Heritage won, 49-14
Sep. 2 Coosa won, 56-20
Sep. 9 Heritage lost, 31-16
Sep. 16 Haralson County won, 50-0
Sep. 23 Calhoun lost, 31-7
Sep. 30 Murray County won, 37-18
Oct. 14 Ringgold lost, 27-21
Oct. 21 Coahulla Creek won, 60-12
Oct. 28 Lakeview-Fort O won, 48-14
Nov. 4 Adairsville won, 28-21
Nov. 11 Jackson County won, 28-14 (first round)
Nov. 18 Peach County lost, 49-7 (second round)
8-4, 3-1 Region 6-AAA North
2017 Schedule
(All times 7:30 Eastern)
Aug. 18 Christian Heritage
Sep. 1 at Coosa
Sep. 8 Heritage
Sep. 15 Haralson County
Sep. 22 at Calhoun
Sep. 29 at Murray County
Oct. 13 Ringgold
Oct. 20 at Coahulla Creek
Oct. 27 Lakeview-Fort O
Nov. 3 region play-in