We asked football coaches of the schools in the Around Acworth distribution area to give us a peek at their fall seasons. We’ve included reports from the coaches who responded by our deadline.
Kennesaw State University Football
Coach Brian Bohannon
“We’re excited about the opportunity to get back on the field. We had a lot of positives that first year, but we’re still nowhere near the expectations we have for this program. I credit our guys for putting in the work this spring and this summer to keep that edge, because we’re not going to sneak up on anyone in Year 2. This is a good freshman class coming in that will be a nice complement to our returning guys. Our staff has taken great pride in attracting quality student‐athletes from Georgia, but specifically from the high school programs in our own back yard.” Photo courtesy Kyle Hess, KSUOwls.com
North Cobb High Football
Head Coach Shane Queen
The Warriors return 17 starters off a team that lost five games by a total of 13 points. Every game was decided in the fourth quarter. Obviously, the offseason motto has been FINISH!
On offense, senior quarterback Will Lovett returns after throwing for more than 2,300 yards last season. He has Division I offers from Arkansas State and Troy University. Running backs Jai Erwin and CJ Cole also return for their senior season after combining for more than1,000 yards in 2015. Look for Trey Urquhart, a junior, and sophomore Christian Singleton to push for playing time at running back. Senior receivers Drew Tejchman, who has 16 Division I offers including N.C. State, and Quannie Green return and give Lovett a deep threat. Tejchman had more than 800 yards receiving in 2015. Other receivers include seniors Imad Strozier, Allon Johnson, Hunter Parrish and Ziyear Oyefesobi. Senior offensive linemen Christian Albright, AJ Diaz and junior Nick Price return up front. Seniors Cadarein Carter, Ben Melendez and juniors Brandon Moore and Jacob Longacre will start on the offensive line.
On defense, the Warriors return eight starters. On the defensive line, junior Thurman Geathers returns. Christian Albright will start at the other defensive end spot. Also contributing on the defensive line will be seniors Josh Howell, Langston Parker, and sophomore Michael Dixon. All four linebackers return for North Cobb. Seniors Chandler Wooten, an Auburn Tiger commitment, and Jai Erwin return at inside linebacker and junior Trey Urquhart and senior Jamal Kuku return at outside linebacker. Cole and Singleton also will play the linebacker position. In the secondary, seniors Tejchman, KJ Johnson and junior Delshaun Harris return. Sophomore Deandre Ferguson, senior TJ Johnson and junior Jaylen Phillips will compete for playing time in the defensive backfield as well.
In the kicking game, the No. 1 rated kicker in the country Will Horton returns for his senior season. He will do both punting and kicking duties. Jacob Longacre returns as deep snapper.
The senior leadership and staying healthy will be the key to another successful season. North Cobb has been to the state playoffs for five consecutive seasons.
North Paulding High School
Head Coach Scott Jones
We ended our season last year playing the No. 2 team in the country, Colquitt County. It was a great measuring stick as to where we would like our program to be. I am excited about some of our returning players who experienced last season.
Senior Chad Terrell (WR) will lead our receiver group while juniors Tyler Bird (LB) and Braylin Fisher (LB) will lead our juniors. Sophomores Zion Hawkins (WR) and Ross Malmgren (QB) will play a huge role this year on the offensive side of the ball. We will have a pretty young team so our success will depend on how fast we can mature!
North Cobb Christian School
Head Coach Jake Sorg
Since I am new to the program, I really don’t have much to say about last season other than the program I inherited from Scott Ryle is in good shape. Coach Ryle did an outstanding job of resurrecting the program in his threeyear tenure, taking the team from 19 his first year, to 55 his second season, to the school’s first winning season in its nine years of playing football with a 64 record. We lose several impactful seniors from last season.
Looking to the 2016 season, I am very excited to work with an outstanding coaching staff and great young men. Returning starters on offense are seniors James Bitner (QB), Jacob Hamby (guard), Stephan Moore (tackle), Reese Parke (guard) and Hunter Titus (tight end). We’ll be led in the backfield by sophomore Timothy Walker and junior K.P. Pierre. Joining Hamby and Moore on the offensive line will be junior John Robert Nelson (center). junior Alex Clark and sophomore Nate Ellis also will compete for significant time and/or a starting position on the offensive line. Seniors Bill Carver, Lee Cunningham and Josue Ortiz will join junior C.J. Ayers and sophomore Kyle Pierre at the wide receiver positions. Also look for junior Stephen Smith and freshman Ryan Pruitt to see varsity action.
On the defensive side, Parke and Hamby anchor our defensive line. Senior Riley Martin is also a returning starter from a year ago. Titus, Nelson and junior Bailey Armstrong make up a trio of solid players at linebacker. Austin Clark and Pierre will also push for playing time at linebacker. Pierre may also see action at safety. Walker returns as a starter at safety. Also vying for a starting position at the other safety/outside linebacker position is junior Will Marquess. Senior free safety Mark Watson returns as a starter this season, but will be pushed by Bill Carver right behind him. Finally, the two cornerback positions are up for competition between Ortiz, Ayers, and Pierre.
Junior Luke Pearson will handle the placekicking duties as he did in 2015. He will compete with Stephen Smith for punting duties.
The overall outlook for our team is good. As with most small school programs, one key component to our success will be the abundant blessings of good health among our players. We’ve had a very progressive and productive summer with a ton of buyin from the kids. Expect us to be competitive throughout the season.
Allatoona High School
Head Coach Gary Varner
Head Coach Gary Varner is excited about the start of the 2016 football season. The Buccaneers return two starters on offense and three on defense from the 2015 state championship team. On offense, the Buccaneers will be expecting big things from quarterback Tate Tatum, who moves from playing cornerback last year. The running game will be counting on Charles Anderson, Adrian Boyd, L.J. Moore and T.J Carr to fill the tailback role with only Anderson having varsity starting experience. The offensive line is anchored with two returning starters. Devin Miller and Carter Francis return to a line that produced more than 4,000 yards. Tight end Jacob Perry looks to establish himself after getting his only start of the year in the Georgia Dome.
Defensively, the Buccaneers return only three starters and all come from the linebacker position. Carson Sorrells, Gavin Twigg and Michael Robinson will be counted on to solidify a defense that has eight newcomers. Royce Francis, Brooks Walper, Harrison Kemp and Dawson Arnold have all had a great spring and are expected to step into starting roles. Special teams should be solid as they return kicker Skyler Davis and punter Grant Hughes.
North Cobb Christian School Eagles
Games start at 7:30 p.m. Aug. 12 @ Athens Academy
Aug. 26 Strong Rock
Sept. 2 @ St. Francis
Sept. 16 @ Mt. Vernon
Sept. 23 Trion
Sept. 30 BYE
Oct. 7 @ Darlington
Oct. 14 @ Christian Heritage
Oct. 21 Gordon Lee
Oct. 28 Bowdon
Nov. 4 Cross Over
Allatoona High Buccaneers
Games start at 7:30 p.m.
Aug. 12 Kennesaw Mountain (scrimmage)
Aug. 19 @ Cartersville
Aug. 25 @ Alexander
Sept. 2 Sandy Creek
Sept. 9 OPEN
Sept. 16 South Cobb Eagles
Sept. 23 @ Harrison
Sept. 30 OPEN
Oct. 7 Creekview
Oct. 14 @ Sprayberry
Oct. 21 Sequoyah
Oct. 28 @ River Ridge
Nov. 4 Dalton
North Cobb High Warriors
Games start at 7:30 p.m.
Aug. 12 North Paulding
Aug. 19 Cherokee
Aug. 26 Etowah
Sept. 2 @ Harrison
Sept. 9 BYE
Sept. 16 @ East Coweta
Sept. 23 @ Pebblebrook
Sept. 30 BYE
Oct. 7 @ McEachern
Oct. 14 North Paulding
Oct. 21 Marietta
Oct. 28 @ Hillgrove
Nov. 4 @ Kennesaw Mountain
North Paulding High Wolfpack
Games start at 7:30 p.m.
Aug. 12 @ Hiram
Aug. 19 Paulding County
Sept. 2 East Paulding
Sept. 9 BYE
Sept. 17 @ Woodstock
Sept. 23 @ Cherokee
Oct. 7 Hillgrove
Oct. 14 @ North Cobb
Oct. 21 @ McEachern
Oct. 28 Kennesaw Mountain
Nov. 4 Marietta
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