The Times Free Press continues its prep football primer series with GHSA Region 7-AA.
Overview: Rockmart dominated this region a year ago, earning the state’s No. 1 ranking in the classification along the way to a 10-3 season. Only one team, Fannin County, managed to play the Yellow Jackets within three touchdowns, and Rockmart averaged nearly 60 points in its other five league wins. The Jackets were hit fairly hard by graduation, but they will remain the heavy favorites to win the region entering the season. Fannin, Model and North Murray each won four league games last year.
1. Will graduation losses cause a slip in play for the champs?
Rockmart lost a bevy of playmakers — Cam Ferguson, JoJo Haynes, Nazhir Turner and Dennis Sims — but returns quarterback JD Davis and two-way star Brent Washington, who was the region’s defensive player of the year. Four all-region first-team defensive starters and two all-region offensive linemen are also gone, but this will still be the most athletic team in the region.
2. Can North Murray’s offense be nearly as explosive without Seth Griffin?