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CHRISTIAN HERITAGE LIONS
Head coach: Jay Poag (37-27 here and overall)
Returning starters: 3 offensive; 2 defensive
Last year’s record: 11-1, lost in A private second round
Key players: Solomon Locke (6-0, 195) Sr. RB/LB, Christian Thomas (6-0, 185) Sr. QB, Caden Mathis (6-4, 240) Sr. OL/DL, Jeffson Locke (6-4, 230) So. LB, Daniel Geil (6-3, 210) Jr. DE, Pierce Proctor (6-2, 185) Jr. FS
Season outlook: It’s a sure sign a program has arrived when there are talks of winning a region championship with only five returning starters. The Lions lost a lot from the team that won the Dalton private school’s first GHSA football region title last fall, but many of the new starters had significant playing time for the 7-A private champions in 2020 and are ready to take over.
The offense returns three-year starter Thomas, who had more 2,000 total yards, and 1,000-yard rusher Solomon Locke. The offensive line returns Mathis but may take time to jell, and the receivers are all first-time starters, led by 6-foot-5 Braden Koneman, but Coach Poag has a slew of athletes competing for playing time in both position groups.
The main concern is on defense, where nine new starters will step in. Six of the graduated starters moved on to college ball, so it may be unrealistic to think the Lions can approach last year’s level (119 points allowed).
“For us it always starts with defense,” Poag said. “It is a big rebuilding effort on that side of the ball, but we feel good after what we saw in the spring. We saw a lot of kids step up and show that they can be the next man up.”
Three of those new starters have stood out: sophomore linebacker Jeffson Locke and defensive tackles Evan Lovain (5-10, 285) and T.K. Blansit (6-5, 385). If an all-new secondary holds up and several two-way starters stay healthy, the Lions believe a region repeat is possible.