DeKalb County High School Football Preview

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THE CHAMPI ON, THUR SDAY, AUGUST 14 󰀭 20, 2014

SPORTS

PAGE 11A

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Another top recruiting class for DeKalb County by Carla Parker [email protected]

coach, recruited my brother to Ole Miss and we have a great relationship,” Rivers said. sai d. “I like l ike coach Pruitt. He’s bringing a new edge to the Georgia deense, and I want to be b e a part o that.” that.” Rivers finished last season with 100 total tackles (52 solo), 15 sacks, 28 tackles or a loss, and two umble recoveries. Rivers said Georgia is getting a good edge rusher. “I’m a person that can get off the line [o scrimmage] ast, use his hands, quick and a

F

or the past five years, DeKalb County has had hundreds o senior ootball players continue their athletic and academic careers at some o the top universities and colleges across the country country.. In addition, every class had players who were known as some o the top recruits in the country. Tis year is no different as the 2015 class has five players ranked on ESPN’ ESPN’ss op 300 prospect list, and one in Rivals.com op 100 prospect list. National Signing Day is expected to be another big day in DeKalb with possibly more than 100 recruits signing scholarships. ucker deensive tackle tack le Jonathan Ledbetter  leads DeKalb as one o the top prospects in the country.. He is the only player rom DeKalb country ranked on Rivals.com op 100 list at No. 24, and ranked No. 62 on ESPN 300. ESPN also has Ledbetter ranked as the No. 9 overall prospect in Georgia and the No. 9 overall deensive tackle in the country. Ledbetter committed to the University o Alabama in January and described Alabama as a great school with a great ootball program. “It was an honor to get an offer rom them,” Ledbetter said. “I went down there, saw the campus, saw the acilities, met the coaches and I eel like it is the right fit or me. It elt like a second home.” Ledbetter finished last season with 50 tackles (35 solo), five sacks and 13 tackles or a loss. He said he hopes to help Alabama win another national championship soon. “I’m just going to do my part, contribute c ontribute to

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From left, Chauncey Rivers and Jonathan Ledbetter 

the team and just be successul,” he said. Another deensive player who made a name or himsel is Stephenson deensive end Chauncey Rivers. Rivers, who committed to the University o Georgia in February, is ranked No. 123 on ESPN 300. He is ranked No. 17 overall in the state and No. 15 in the country at the deensive end position, according to ESPN. Georgia’s deensive coaching staff was what attracted Rivers to the school, which includes newly hired deensive coordinator Jeremy Pruitt. “Coach [Tracy ] Rocker, the deensive line

leader on deense. I’m bringing a player that can make plays.” Marist offensive tackle Sage Hardin will  join Rivers at UGA afer committing on on June 27. Hardin is ranked No. 230 on ESPN 300, No. 27 overall in the state and No. 21 in the country at offensive tackle. In recent years, Lakeside has not produced as many top recruits as Stephenson, ucker, ucker, M.L. King or Southwest DeKalb. However, However, offensive lineman Mike Horton has changed that perception. Horton is ranked 256th on ESPN 300, he is also ranked No. 30 overall in the state and No. 20 in the country at the offensive guard position, according to ESPN. Horton committed to the University o Florida July 31. In a July 16 interview, Horton said the school that he would eventually commit to must eel like home to him. “I’m looking at academics, early playing time and a ootball program that’s successul and where I can be successul and grow grow..” Horton is listed and ranked as an offensive guard on recruiting websites, but he plays offensive tackle and deensive tackle or the

See Recruits on page 13A

New season features region, classification changes by Carla Parker [email protected] Some teams moved up, and some moved down, but the 2014 season will still be filled with some exciting matchups in DeKalb County. Te Georgia High School Association released the new classification list Nov. 18 and seven se ven schools rom DeKalb County were moved to a new classification or the 2014-2016 school years. Classifications are based on the

school’s population. According to GHSA.net, Lakeside leads DeKalb in student population with 1,979 students, and ucker comes in second with 1,832 students. Lakeside and ucker moved rom Region 6-AAAAA to Region 2-AAAAAA, one o the smaller regions in AAAAAA. Te region also includes Alcovy High School in Newton County, Clayton County’s Lovejoy High School, Newton County High School and Rockdale County High School. ucker head coach Bryan

Lamar said playing in a new classification will be a different challenge or his team. “alent-wise, [Region 6-AAAAA] was one o the toughest regions in the state,” Lamar said. “Te teams played with tremendous speed and physicality physicality.. Our region rom top to bottom [this year] is probably not as strong as the region that we were in, but you do have good teams in Lovejoy, Lovejoy, Rockdale County, Newton County and Lakeside. “So we got some new

challenges,” Lamar added. Moving up a classification also means acing some o the top programs in the state rom Cobb, Fulton and Gwinnett counties i Lakeside and ucker advance to the playoffs. ucker ucker will be tested long beore the playoffs when it aces two-time AAAAAA state champions Norcross in the Corky Kell Classic Aug. 23, which is ucker’s first game o the season. “It’s a different challenge,” Lamar

See Classification on page 14A

 

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TEAM PREVIEWS

Arabia Mountain Rams Head coach: Stanley Pritchett  (2nd season) • Region: 6-AAAA 2013 record: 7-3

Outlook: After making history with their rst winning record, the Arabia Mountain Rams look to build off last year’s success under second-year coach Stanley Pritchett. The Rams will have to do that in a new region and with a number of young players. After losing more than 20 seniors from last year’s team, the Rams will look to returning quarterback Jakobi Myers to lead the offense. Myers threw for 1,147 yards, completed 54 percent of his passes and scored 13 touchdowns last season. 

Cedar Grove Saints

Head coach: Jermaine Smith  (2nd season) • Region: 4-AAA 2013 record: 6-4

Outlook: In his rst year as head coach, Jermaine Smith led the Saints to the second round of the playoffs. With one of their best college recruiting classes, the Saints are poised to make another run in Region 4-AAA and a possible playoff appearance. Cedar Grove is building on offense but has a number of its top defensive players returning, including defensive back Chris Fredrick, who nished third

Clarkston Angoras

Head coach: Terrence Hughey  (1st season) • Region: 6-AAAAA 2013 record: 4-5-1

Decatur Bulldogs

Head coach: Scott Jackson  (2nd season) • Region: 4-AAA 2013 record: 7-3

Outlook: The Clarkston Angoras will try to have their rst winning season since 1998 under new head coach Terrence Hughey. They will try to do that in a nonregion schedule that has them playing Tucker Sept. 26. The young team will have to compete without Rooshambi Paquette, who led the team in yards (957) and touchdowns (13).

Outlook: Despite a 7-3 record, the Bulldogs missed out on the playoffs because of a 3-3 region record, which put them at fth place in region standings. With its leading rusher Elijah Rachell, leading tackler Andre Young and starting quarterback Devontae Carter all returning, Decatur will be competitive in a new region to earn a playoff spot.

Columbia Eagles Edwards  Head coach: David (3rd season) • Region: 6-AAAA 2013 record: 6-4

Druid Hills Devils Head coach: MarkRed Adams  

Outlook: The Eagles are expected to make some noise in their region with their leading rusher and passer Andre Brown, and leading receiver Shadell Bell returning. Brown led the team with 2,204 total yards and 20 total touchdowns. He also nished second on defense in tackles with 48. Bell led the team in receptions (37) and receiving yards (463).  

Outlook: The Red Devils have moved down a classication but are probably in one of the toughest regions with M.L. King, Stephenson, Mays and defending state champion Creekside. However,, Druid Hills should be able However to hold its own with most of its top offensive and defensive players returning, including its top three rushers (Michael Scott, Hassan Enis and Dax Tolson) who scored a combined 16 touchdowns.

(2nd season) • Region: 6-AAAAA 2013 record: 4-6

Lakeside Vikings

Head coach: Heath Hinton  (2nd season) • Region: 2-AAAAAA 2013 record: 2-8

Outlook: Lakeside’s offense accumulated 3,226 yards last season. The team hopes to collect more yards and wins in a new region behind an offensive line that includes Mike Horton, one of the top offensive linemen in the state. The offensive line will block and open holes for its leading rusher, Kellyen Walker. Walker rushed for 864 yards and scored three touchdowns last season. The Vikings will also have linebacker Darrell Patterson, who led the defense in tackles with 95.

Lithonia Bulldogs

Head coach: Marcus Jelks  (5th season) • Region: 6-AAAA 2013 record: 4-6

Outlook: In his fth season as head Outlook: coach, Marcus Jelks is Jelks is looking to get the Bulldogs at or above .500 for the rst time since 2002. Lithonia will have to replace its starting quarterback, leading rusher and two leading tacklers from last season. The Bulldogs will have its third leading tackler, Marquavious Latner, Latner, this season. Lithonia will also have running back Terence Minor back, Minor back, who averaged 11.9 yards per rushing attempt.

on the team in tackles (92).

Cross Keys Indians

Head coach: Kevin Saunders  (1st season) • Region: 6-AAAA 2013 record: 1-9

Outlook: New head coach Kevin Saunders won a state Chamblee Bulldogs championship in Virginia and hopes Head coach: Allen Johnson  to one day bring one to Cross (3rd season) • Region: 6-AAAA Keys. But rst, Saunders and his 2013 record: 6-4 young Indians team will work to get Outlook: The Bulldogs lost their 2013 Cross Keys its rst winning record leading rusher Xzavier Shugars, who since 1994. The Indians will have their leading receiver back. As a transferred to Tucker High School.  junior, Samuel McDade led the Shugars led Chamblee in yards team in receptions (32), receiving (1,071) and touchdowns (11). Young yards (548) and team touchdowns players will have to step up to ll the void of Shugars’ production. Some of (5). McDade also led the team in interceptions (6). those players include junior quarterback Kendrew Wynn, who led the team in passing yards (448); and the Burgess twins Brent and Chris, who had a combined 474 yards in receiving, rushing and passing. and passing.

Dunwoody Wildcats

Head coach: Jim Showfety  (5th season) • Region: 6-AAAAA 2013 record: 3-7

Outlook: Dunwoody will try to play for its rst winning record since 2011. With a team of mostly fouryear starters, coach Jim Showfety  believes the team can get over the hump this season. The Wildcats will have to get over that hump without Aaron Alexander, who had a total of 895 yards and 10 touchdowns. The Wildcats will have their second lead rusher, Daniel Hinton, returning, as well as quarterback Matthew Nathan and wide receiver Chase Hawkins.

Marist War Eagles

Head coach: Alan Chadwick  (30th season) • Region: 6-AAAA 2013 record: 8-2

Outlook: After another disappointing end in the seminals of the state playoffs, the War Eagles will regroup and try to make another run for a state title as coach Alan Chadwick enters his 30th season. Quarterback Samuel Phelts will lead the offense while one of the state’s top offensive linemen Sage Hardin blocks for him. The defense will have Jack Kratzenberg  and Kenneth Brinson, who were among the top ve tacklers from last season.

 

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Six new coaches take take over football programs by Carla Parker [email protected]

Gwinnett County, but resigned in 2012 because o recruiting  violat ions, accordi according ng to reports re ports . With the late hiring, Montgomery has missed all o the oseason practices and workouts with his new players. However,, the team has worked However hard all oseason to get better and to make a run to the playos,



urning a losing ootball program into a winning program can be a diicult task or coaches, especially or new head coaches. Four o the six new head ootball coaches in DeKalb

Nicolas Kashama

Chaka Mason

Roderick Moore

Kevin Saunders

County the challenges o doingare justacing that as the season gets under way Aug. 22. he new head coaches that will be on the sidelines this year are Terrance Hughey (Clarkston), Kevin Saunders (Cross Keys), Nicolas Kashama (M.L. King), Roderick Moore (Redan), Chaka Mason  (Stone Mountain) and Brian Montgomery  (owers).   (owers). Saunders is taking over a Cross Keys program that has not had a winning season since 1994. he Virginia native has experience with winning, going 49-15 in ive seasons at Gretna High School in Gretna, Va. He also won a state championship in 2011. In a March intervie w, Saunders

to work at it. “It’s going to be dierent than what they’re used to,” Saunders added. “I’ve been ortunate enough to be really successul where I’ve been, so I think it’s it’s going to be a lot dierent than what they’re used to.” Clarkston does not have as long a losing streak as Cross Keys, but the program has had its share o losing seasons. he last time Clarkston won ive games was in 2012. Beore then, its last winning season was in 1998. New head coach Hughey  will have a challenge on his hands as he tries to turn the program around.

Stone Mountain and a deensive coordinator at Stephenson Middle School. Stone Mountain lost a ew players due to the coaching change, and Mason, who has never coached on the high school level, will have to work harder to get the young team above .500. Last seas on, ormer owers head coach James Holloway transormed owers rom a winless team to a .500 team. Now new head coach Brian Montgomery  will  will try to turn the program rom a .500 team to a playo team. Montgomery was hired July

said it is going to and dedication to take win.hard work “It’s going to take players, too,” he said. “You have to have good players to win. I think there is some talent there and some kids there that can play. hey just have

Mountain is a program thatStone is starting over under Coach Mason but will do so with young and inexperienced players. Mason takes over the program ater ormer coach Dante Ferguson was let go. Mason was a head coach at

25 to replace Holloway.was It islestill unclear why Holloway t go. Holloway was not in attendance at Football Media Day July 16, but he was still head coach o the team. Montgomery was the ormer coach at Shiloh High School in

according Lewis to assistant coach Emanuel . “Wee had a strength and “W conditioning coach by the name o William Ward, who came in with a plan o building sp eed, agility, getting our players pl ayers strong, bigger, aster and quicker,” Lewis said. “Wee implemented a study hall “W or the players be cause we’re we’re also building academics. Our motto is, ‘to win today.’ I we go about the season winning winni ng each day, it’ll transer to Friday nights.” Coach Moore o Redan has had experience turning a program around. In 1999, Moore was a part o Johnny Gilbert’s coaching sta when he took over the program. McNair went rom 3-7 in 1999 to 5-5 in 2000 thenrecord. to a winning in 2011 withand an 8-3 Moore later took over as head coach rom 2005 to 2008 and had winning records each year.

See Coaches on page 16A

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Sage Hardin

Mike Horton

Christopher Fredrick

Recruits Continued from page 11A Lakeside Vikings. He was a late bloomer to ootball—introduced to the game in middle school. He credited his offensive line coach Will Hardy or developing him into one o the top offensive linemen in

Horton said he is proud to represent Lakeside as a top recruit but said his ocus is on helping Lakeside become a better ootball team in his senior year. “I’ve had to struggle with my

the country c“He ountry. . a really good job “He’ ’s done developing my technique, telling me the right things to do, and telling me how I can play on the next level,” Horton said. “He’s done an amazing job preparing me or the next level.”

team, and I’ve had to work tohard get tomy where I am, and I know how whole team has worked,” he said. “I’ve been through bad times with them and through good times. I know we’ll be much better this season.” As the Cedar Grove Saints prepare or the upcoming season,

the team is also preparing or a number o college prospects to make their college choices soon. Te 2015 class is one o the largest recruiting classes at Cedar Grove. Te Saints expect at least nine players to commit to Division I schools and at least our to play or a Division I-AA or Division II schools next year. Deensive tackle Quentez Johnson has already committed to North Carolina State and saety Christopher Fredrick committed to Syracuse University. University.

Head coach Jermaine Smith  said having a large number o college prospects means a lot or the program. “It says that we’ve been doing it the right way,” Smith said. Fredrick said that he and the rest o the senior class have worked hard to get to this point in their ootball careers. “We’re close, we’ve been together since middle school, and I think this is going to be our best season,”” Fredrick said. season,

 

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Kenneth Brinson to compete in Youth Olympic Games in China by Carla Parker [email protected]

W

hen Marist begins the new school year Aug. 27, one o its students will be competing in the 2014 Youth Youth Olympic Games in Nanjing, China. Senior Kenneth Brinson was one o 17 athletes named to the 2014 U.S. Youth Olympic eam in rack and field this summer. Brinson—a deensive end on the ootball team, a state wrestling champion and a state track and field champion—will compete in the hammer throw Aug. 24. Brinson is the first American male hammer thrower to compete at the Youth Olympics. Brinson said he is excited about the competition and is “grateul to go.” “My throwing coach and I went

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“Knowing that you’re there to compete for your country is really a great honor honor.”  .”  – Kenneth Brinson

to the [U.S. Olympic] trial [competition], got lucky, got blessed and made the team,” team,” Brinson said. s aid. Brinson competed in the U.S.

Area Youth Youth Olympic Selection Sele ction rials in Miramar, Fla., in April. Brinson and two other American athletes made it a U.S. sweep on the men’s

podium in the hammer throw competition. Brinson won gold, throwing a 63.52m/208-05. More than 3,800 athletes representing 204 nations are expected to participate in i n the Youth Youth Olympic Games in China. Te 13-day competition or athletes ages 15-18 will eature all 28 sports on the program or the Rio 2016 Olympic Games. Brinson said he is looking orward to traveling to China or the first time and being around some o the best athletes in the world. “Knowing that you’re there to compete or your country is really a great honor,” he said. Brinson will return to Atlanta afer the games end Aug. 28, just in time or Marist’s first ootball game o the season. Marist will ace No. 12

See Brinson on page 15A

Doc Talks Upcoming Seminars at DeKalb Medical

The Tucker Tigers will face new rivals in Region 2-AAAAAA. Photo by Travis Hudgons

Classification Continued from page 11A said. “But we’ve established ourselves as one o the top programs–we eel like–in the state o Georgia and the country.” In Region 6-AAAAA, one DeKalb team was added, while two teams were removed. Druid Hills moved down rom Class 6A to 5A. Te Red Devils will join

Southwest DeKalb Panthers Panthers will ace old nemeses in the Cedar Grove Saints and the Columbia Eagles. Te Panthers lead both series against the two teams. Southwest DeKalb leads the series with Cedar Grove 6-0. Te teams last played in 2007, when the Panthers won 17-6.

Clarkston, Dunwoody, M.L. King, Miller Grove, Southwest DeKalb and Stephenson in Region 6-AAAAA. Te two schools removed rom Region 6-AAAAA are Arabia Mountain and Lithonia, which joined Chamblee, Columbia, Marist, Redan and Stone Mountain in Region 6-AAAA. Cross Keys and St. Pius jumped up to Class AAAA, Region 6, rom Class AAA. Arabia Mountain head coach Stanley Pritchett said his team moved rom  rom one tough region to another. “DeKalb County has a lot o talent throughout the whole county,” Pritchett said. “[Te players] get up to play each other and they’re going to compete. A lot o these [players] grew up together, so it’s going to be a lot o riendly  riendly rivalries. “We’re looking orward to a tough schedule and competing,” Pritchett said. Cedar Grove, Decatur, McNair and owers remain in Class 3A, but transitioned rom Region 6 to Region 4, which includes mostly Atlanta Public Schools teams. Tis season will also include the resurrection o a ew county rivalries. Te

Southwest DeKalb has also dominated Columbia in the past with a 21-8 series lead. Te two teams’ last game was also in 2007, and the Panthers won that game 28-0. Southwest DeKalb head coach Michael Tanks said he appreciates the school district athletic department dep artment or bringing those rivalries back. “I think it’s great or the community,” anks said. “Columbia is about [three miles] right up the street, and going in the other direction is Cedar Grove, which is about [six miles] rom us. A lot l ot o the [players] know each other, they played together in rec [league] ball and middle school. It’s going to be a un time.” Te Panthers open the season against Columbia on Aug. 22 and play Cedar Grove the ollowing week on Aug. 29. Both games will be played at Panthersville Stadium. Tere will also be a battle o the private schools, when Marist hosts St. Pius Oct. 10. Te rivalry dates back to 1962, according to Georgia High School Football Historians Association. Marist leads the series 30-153, but St. Pius won the last matchup 28-3 in 2009.

5 Tips To Lower High Blood Pressure Tuesday, August 26, 2014 6:30–7:30 p.m. Community Communi ty Room at DeKalb Medical  Hillandale Hillanda le campus

High blood pressure, also known as hypertension, affects millions, including children and teens. Learn about causes, symptoms, diagnosis, treatment and prevention from our experts. Complimentary blood pressure and BMI measurement available. Call 404.596.4772  or visit www.dekalbmedical.org.

For a referral to a DeKalb Medical physician or to reserve your space for these free seminars, please call 404.596.4772 . Light refreshments refreshments will be ser ved. Parking is free.  www.dekalbmedical.org

 

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DeKalb County Athletics Director Horace Dunson The Stephenson Jaguars Jaguars will have to face a number of tough opponents. Not only will they face rivals in M.L. King and Southwest DeKalb back to back, but they will compete against Tucker Tucker in a preseason opener and Florida’s No. 8 nationally ranked Central High of Miami in the Chick-l-A Battle of the Borders. Photo by Travis Hudgons

Big games preview

El ij ijah Su Sulli va van

Yaquis “D “Duke”

Jakobi Meyers

Shadell Bell

Quentez Johnson

Shelley

by Carla Parker [email protected]

D

eKalb County has some o the best rivalry matchups in the state. Although there were changes made in classification and region alignments, DeKalb ootball ans will still be able to see some o their avorite rivalry games, new matchu matchups ps and even some old rivalry matchups. Preseason will kick it off with one o the most anticipated battles between two o the top programs in the county and state. Te Stephenson Jaguars and ucker igers will ace off Aug. 15 at Hallord Stadium at 7 p.m. Te two teams have only played each other twice and each team has won a game. Although Stephenson and ucker are one o the newer rivalries in the county county,, it is still a game that the players, students and ootball ans get excited or. Both teams are in a rebuilding stage afer losing a large number o seniors, but there are a ew players who ans should watch or. One o those t hose players is ucker deensive tackle Jonathan Ledbetter. Ledbetter is one o the top college prospects in the state and country (No. 24 on Rivals100, No. 62 on ESPN 300). He finished last season with 50 tackles (35 solo), five sacks and 13 tackles or a loss. Other players ans should watch or on the ucker igers are linebacker/running back Elijah Sullivan and Yaquis “Duke” Shelley . Sullivan had 48 total tackles, eight sacks and nine tackles or a loss l oss on deense, and on offense, he had 888 all-purpose yards and 13 total touchdowns. Shelly was a star on offense, deense and specials teams last season. He had 41 total tackles, six interception interceptionss and three touchdowns on interception returns on deense. On offense, he had 296 all-purpose yards and our touchdowns, and five touchdowns or 385 yards on special teams. For Stephenson, the player who has

been getting the most attention duing the offseason is deensive end Chauncey Rivers. Rivers, another top college prospect, finished last season with 100 total tackles (52 solo), 15 sacks, 28 tackles or a loss, and two umble recoveries. Another returning starter or Stephenson is deensive back Dale Warren, who finished last season with 115 tackles, three sacks and 18 tackles or a loss. l oss. When the season starts, Stephenson will have three rival games that ans will be excited about. Te Jaguars open the season against the Arabia Mountain Rams, another new rivalry that is building in the county. Some players on both teams played together in Little League or middle school and are hyped to play against each other. Stephenson’s deense will have to slow down Rams senior quarterback Jakobi Meyers. Myers threw or 1,147 yards and had 13 touchdownss with a 54.0 percent completion touchdown rate last season. He also had 120 rushing yards and scored 3 touchdown touchdowns. s. In October, Stephenson Stephenson will ace two more rivals back to back in M.L. King and Southwest DeKalb. DeKalb. Rivers and the rest o the Jaguars deensive deensive line will have to deal with M.L. King offensive guard Kwan Stallworth. Te 6-oot-3, 310-pound lineman is one o the top 51 guards in Georgia. Te Southwest DeKalb Panthers has a ew top tacklers returning to its deense, including linebacker Ashad Moore, who led the team in tackles last season with 88. Southwest DeKalb will be renewing old rivalries with Columbia and Cedar Ce dar Grove. Te Panthers will have to contain Columbia wide receiver Shadell Bell, who had 463 yards on 37 receptions. Te Panther Pantherss offense will have to deal with a Cedar Grove deense that eatures deensive back  Chris  Chris Frederick   and deensive lineman Quentez Johnson. Frederick had 92 tackles and two interceptionss last season, and Johnson had interception 65 tackles with 12 tackles or a loss.

Battle of the Borders returns with four games Georgia and Florida will clash or the second consecutive year Aug. 30 at the Chick-il-A Battle o the Borders. his year’s classic will eature our games that will be held at Hallord Stadium in Clarkston. In last year’s battle, Martin Luther King Jr. deeated Blanch Ely 42-15, and Stephenson knocked o NorlandMiami 29-12 to give DeKalb County and Georgia a sweep in the inaugural Battle o the Borders. his year’s event was expanded to our games with Marist hosting No. 12 nationally ranked Godby rom allahassee, Fla., in the opener at 11:45 a.m. M.L. King returns to the event and will ace returnee Norland-Miami in the second game at 2:30 p.m. NorlandMiami is ranked No. 8the in Stephenson their state classiication. In the third game, Jaguars will take on No. 8 nationally ranked Central High o Miami at 5:30 p.m. he inal game eatures the ucker igers and the 2013 national champion and No. 1 ranked Booker . Washington o Miami at 8:30 p.m. Presale tickets are $10 and will be available at all our Georgia schools. ickets also can be purchased at DeKalb County Chick-Fil-A locations, all metro DLR locations and online at www.to ww w.totalgatesolutions.com. talgatesolutions.com. Game day tickets are $12 or the day day..

Brinson Continued from page 14A nationally ranked Godby rom allahassee, Fla., in the Chick-fil-A Battle o the Borders Aug. 30 at Hallord Stadium. At 6 eet, 3 inches and 220 pounds, Brinson is ranked as a 3-star deensive end college prospect by Rivals.com. He has not committed to a school yet but has received offers rom approximately 10 schools. “I’m looking at Georgia ech, Wake Forest, Army and a ew other schools,” schools,” he said. He has also received offers rom the Air Force, Boston College, Yale and more. Last season, Brinson finished the season with 61 total tackles (32 solo), 12 sacks, 31 quarterback hurries and one caused umble, according to MaxPreps. com. Brinson has been a terror on the deensive side o the ball, but the Marist coaching staff is also looking at Brinson to help on

offense at tight end, despite Brinson having reservations about the move. “I’ll definitely do whatever the team needs me to do, but I guess I just like deense more than offense,” he said. When the ootball season ends, he will try to deend his state wrestling title. Brinson is a two-time Class AAAA state champion. He won the state title in the 220-pound division last year and won gold in the 195-pound division in 2013. He is also a two-time track and field state champion in the discus throw, winning the Class AAAA title in 2013 and 2014. Although he is looking orward to deending his individual state titles, Brinson is ocused on winning his first state title in ootball and improving his individual stats. “I’m hoping to get 1520 sacks, 100 tackles, and 15-20 tackles or a loss,” he said. “Tose “Tos e are my goals.”

 

THE CHAMPI ON, THUR SDAY, AUGUST 14 󰀭 20, 2014

M.L. King Lions

SPORTS

Stephenson Jagu Jaguars ars

Towers Titans

Outlook: The Lions will open Outlook: The Raiders may have the 2014 season with their fourth gotten a new coach, but coach Roderick Moore is not new to this coach in four seasons. Nicolas Kashama was the defensive  job. Moore was the head coach at coordinator at M.L. King from 2010 McNair from 2005 to 2008. Moore to 2012. Kashama said he plans to said the losing mentality that Redan implement discipline. The Lions will had when he took over was the need discipline as they face tougher same mentality McNair had when opponents in the revamped Region he began there as an assistant 6-AAAAA and rebuild the team after in 1999. Moore is changing the losing many starters. mindset of the program through discipline, hard work and better academics. He hopes the culture change translates into wins on the football eld.

Outlook: The Jaguars are “basically starting over” this season, said head coach Ron Gartrell. Stephenson lost 18 starters, mostly on defense. The Jaguars, which historically had good defensive units, led all county teams in defense last season. Stephenson will look to defensive end Chauncey Rivers and defensive back Dale Warren to lead the defense this year.

Outlook: The offseason took a surprising turn for Towers recently when former head coach James Holloway was let go and replaced by Brian Montgomery. Montgomery was the former coach at Shiloh High School in Gwinnett County but resigned in 2012 due to recruiting violations. Despite the coaching change, the Titans will try to continue to improve after going from a winless team to a .500 team in one season.

McNair Mustangs

Stone Mount Mountain ain Pira Pi rates tes

Head coach: Nicolas Kashama  (1st season) • Region: 6-AAAAA 2013 record: 7-3

Head coach: Shelton Carleton  (2nd season) • Region: 4-AAA 2013 record: 1-9

Outlook: Coach Shelton Carleton’s rst season with the Mustangs is one he would probably like to forget, but the Mustangs have a lot to look forward to in a new region. The Mustangs will have a quarterback and wide receiver tandem of Mickey Riddley and Antonio Somerset this season. Riddley threw for 1,019 yards on 88 pass completions, and Somerset caught 48 of those 88 passes for 755 yards. Last season’s top two tacklers Justin Corley and Don Evans  also will be back this season.

Redan Raiders

PAGE 16A

Head coach: Roderick Moore  (1st season) • Region: 6-AAAA 2013 record: 1-9

St. Pius Golden Lions

Head coach: Paul Standard  (14th season) • Region: 6-AAAA 2013 Record: 7-3

Outlook: St. Pius will face new challenges this season as it moves up from AAA to AAAA. The Golden Lions will face their old nemesis and new region opponent Marist. St. Pius is still expected to be a contender in the new region with a couple of returning starters, led by quarterback Joey Connors, running back Dalton Wilson and Nick Spear.

Head coach: Ron Gartrell  (19th season) • Region: 6-AAAAA 2013 record: 8-2

Head coach: Chaka Moore  (1st season) • Region: 6-AAAA 2013 record: 4-6

Outlook: The Pirates are also starting over under new head coach Chaka Moore. Stone Mountain lost a lot of players and will look to young and inexperienced players to step up this season.

Head coach: Brian Montgomery (1st season) • Region: 4-AAA 2013 record: 5-5

Tucker Tigers Head coach: Bryan Lamar  (3rd season) • Region: 2-AAAAAA 2013 record: 10-0

Outlook: With the state championship loss behind them, the Tucker Tigers are focused on competing in a new classication and facing two of the top football programs in the nation in backto-back weeks. Tucker also lost a large number of starters but still has some playmakers left in defensive end Jonathan Ledbetter and athletes Duke Shelley and Elijah Sullivan.

Coaches Continued from page 13A

Southwest DeKalb Miller Grove Wol W olverines verines Panthers Head coach: Damien Wimes  (5th season) • Region: 6-AAAAA 2013 record: 4-6

Head coach: Michael Tanks  (2nd season) • Region: 6-AAAAA 2013 record: 2-8

Outlook: After back-to-back winning seasons, the Wolverines faltered in 2013 and fell under .500. Miller Grove will try to bounce back but without its leading defender, linebacker Ray Tillman, who

Outlook: Last year, the Panthers had their rst losing season since 1979 under rst year head coach Michael Tanks. But Tanks will try to get the program back on winning ground with an experienced

had 111for tackles, sacks and The 11 tackles a loss11 last season. Wolverines will have a few returning starters on offense, including quarterback Jonathan Mitchell.

defense. The Panthers has ve of its top defensive performers, who had a combined 348 tackles, returning this season.

When Moore was hired as head co ach at Redan, he noticed many similarities between Redan and the 1999 McNair team. “No discipline–they have talent but have a losing mentality,” mentality,” he said. “Now it’s it’s my job as a coa ch and the coaching sta sta  to change that mentality and [teach them] how to ight back mentally as well as physically, no matter who you are acing. “I we change the culture and have a lot o discipline you’ll see a drastic change in our ootball program,” Moore added. One o the ways Moore is changing the mindset o the program is through academics. His sta includes academic coaches, and he has implemented a mandatory tutorial beore practices. “hey’ll go to the core classes that they’re having trouble in and they have to maintain a certain certai n grade average,” average,” he said. “I the irst progress report has a grade b elow a 74 that student will wil l have to go to Saturday school or three hours to work on that class that the y’re having problems with.” Moore said his goal is to have all o his players in the current ninth grade class to have a 2.9 grade point average or hig her by the time they are seniors. gave the challenge ademically we’ re going have“I’ve the already best grade average out o aac ll the sports int hat thewe’re school,” he to said. “Yes, “Yes, we want to be succe ssul on the ootba ll ield but my main objective and calling is to make sure our young Arican American men go to [college].”

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