Archived News

Arabia Mountain Rams

Head coach: Chris Beal (2nd season)

Region: 5-AAA

2009 Record: 2-5

Outlook: The Rams dive into region play for the first time with everyone back from last year’s inaugural team. Beal will have nearly 90 players on the varsity and JV rosters, up from 68 last season, and his first senior class. The Rams will throw the ball plenty out of the spread offense, led by senior quarterback Jon Bryant and receivers Mials Woodberry and Shamor Kribb. The defense is led by leading tackler Dustin Ingram and Case Woodard III. 

Avondale Blue Devils

Head coach: Byron McCall (1st season)

Region: 6-AA

2009 Record: 6-5

Outlook: McCall is starting from scratch and had a varsity roster of only 23 players heading into preseason practice. The Blue Devils do not much resemble last year’s team that earned a playoff spot for the first time in 20 years. Senior Bernard Garner, a multi-purpose offensive player, will be among the team leaders. He will also start at linebacker. Most of the talent pool, McCall said, will come from a large group of sophomores.

Cedar Grove Saints

Head coach: Ray Bonner (8th season)

Region: 5-AAA

2009 Record: 5-5

Outlook: Wide receiver/defensive back Vincent Dallas leads a young but experienced team. Rashad Ponder and Desi Banks also return at receiver. Bonner has high hopes for sophomore Jonathan McCrary, nephew of Columbia boys basketball coach Phil McCrary, will call the shots at quarterback. Two important pieces of the defensive puzzle are back. Linebacker Antonio Stewart led the Saints in total tackles while defensive end O’Neil Cohen had a team-high six sacks. 

Chamblee Bulldogs

Head coach: James Soza (1st season)

Region: 6-AAAA

2009 Record: 7-4 

Outlook: Soza is the third coach in three seasons at Chamblee. Improving the Bulldogs’ passing attack and becoming more balanced on offense is a top priority for the 27-year-old Yale University graduate. Chamblee was 17th among 20 public schools in passing offense with only 385 yards. The Bulldogs will be tested early with games against region powers Marist, Tucker and Southwest DeKalb on consecutive weekends in September. 

Clarkston Angoras

Head coach: Jay Rollerson (4th season) 

Region: 6-AA

2009 Record: 1-9 

Outlook: A softer pre-region schedule and a drop down from AAA should help the Angoras be more competitive. Only two playoff teams (Buford and Avondale) are on the schedule compared to four last season. Putting points on the board is a priority after being shut out seven times in 2009. Junior linebacker Antonio Kohn will lead a young defensive unit. 

Columbia Eagles

Head coach: Mario Allen (2nd season)

Region: 5-AAA

2009 Record: 3-7 

Outlook: Linebacker Demarcus Sherrod, an Oklahoma State commit who tied or led the team in several categories last season, is the marquee player on defense. Several other key defensive players also are back. Offensively, Allen will try to rebuild an offense that was one of the least productive in the county a year ago. The Eagles were held to a touchdown or less five times and scored more than 18 points in a game only twice. 

Cross Keys Indians

Head coach: David Radford (3rd season)

Region: 6-AA

2009 Record: 1-9

Outlook: Radford faces a unique struggle every year with likely the most diverse student body in the state. The only victory last season came by way of forfeit and the last game won on the field for the Indians was Sept. 8, 2006. The Indians will not play a region schedule this season and have six games against Class A schools. Druid Hills and Clarkston also are on the schedule. Senior receivers Diego Gayton and Derious Perry were among the top players last season.

Decatur Bulldogs

Head coach: Prince Jones (3rd season)

Region: 6-AA

2009 Record: 5-5  

Outlook: Senior running back/linebacker Quindarius Hall leads a team thin on returning starters. Hall rushed for 1,000 yards and led the team in tackles last season. Only three starters are back on offense and four on defense as the Bulldogs will try to earn a state playoff berth for the first time since 2003. Other returning starters include offensive lineman Sam Jones and defensive linemen Tevin Najueelah and Octavious Brightwell. 

Druid Hills Red Devils

Head coach: Kip Hall (5th season)

Region: 5-AAA

2009 Record: 2-8  

Outlook: Last year was supposed to be a breakthrough season for Hall and the Red Devils. But a swine flu outbreak that sidelined 33 players and other issues hampered the progress. Hall is touting this team as having the best team chemistry since he’s been at Druid Hills. Top players are two-way lineman Joseph Ray and linebacker/fullback Foluke Gordon-Lamar. A pair of freshmen – quarterback John Henry Carey and kicker Ben Wheeler – also are expected to make an impact. 

Dunwoody Wildcats

Head coach: Jim Showfety (1st season)

Region: 6-AAAA

2009 Record: 7-5 

Outlook: Showfety, formerly at Chamblee, returns to the county after a two-year stint at north Fulton’s Northview. Showfety will try to make the Wildcats, which move up from AAA, more balanced offensively. The Wildcats averaged 220 yards rushing and 47 yards passing per game a year ago. Key personnel on both sides of the ball return, including running back Will Crochet. Defensively, Breon Isaac returns after leading the county in interceptions. 

Lakeside Vikings

Head coach: Thomas Cox (2nd season)

Region: 5-AAA

2009 Record: 4-6  

Outlook: An experienced defense should be the calling card for the Vikings this season. The team’s top three defensive players return. Seniors Quentin Turner (defensive), Quentarius Figures (linebacker) and Langston Williams (cornerback) combined for 270 tackles, including 47 tackles for losses in 2009. Although two of Lakeside’s wins last year came by forfeit, Cox has begun the process of turning around a program that had fallen on hard times. The Vikings were 0-10 before Cox arrived. 

Lithonia Bulldogs

Head coach: Marcus Jelks (1st season)

Region: 6-AAAA

2009 Record: 1-9  

Outlook: Jelks served as interim coach before being hired as head coach and looks to build on what was a promising season before former coach Earl White was fired. The Bulldogs beat Miller Grove and Chamblee last season would have been 5-5 without four forfeits. Linebacker Cedric Cooper and defensive lineman Joe Harris, both of whom have several offers, will lead the defense. 

Marist War Eagles

Head coach: Alan Chadwick (26th season)

Region: 6-AAAA

2009 Record: 9-3

Outlook: Junior Andy Perez returns at quarterback to lead the War Eagles’ vaunted wishbone offense, but there will be plenty of new faces behind him. The starting fullback and both running backs from last season have graduated. Austin Hicks and Danny Homrich are expected to start in the backfield. Defensively, Marist will be strong up front with Justin Olderman and Mitchell Anderson anchoring the line. Chadwick will have another strong kicker with junior Austin Hardin handling field goals, kickoffs and punts.

M.L. King Lions

Head coach: Michael Carson (1st season)

Region: 2-AAAAA

2009 Record: 10-2  

Outlook: Carson, formerly at Avondale, takes over for the departed Corey Jarvis. Carson has about 30 seniors on the roster, but only a handful with previous varsity experience. The Lions will be more pass-oriented after the graduation of Florida signee Mack Brown last spring. Junior quarterback Jonquil Dawson will lead the spread attack after transferring from Avondale. Top receivers include junior Demarco Robinson, who has offers from Louisville and Minnesota, and senior Kevin Byard.

McNair Mustangs

Head coach: Tywanois Lockett
(1st season)

Region: 5-AAA

2009 Record: 4-6  

Outlook: Lockett, a former assistant at Cedar Shoals, has installed a multiple I offense and a 4-3 defense and hopes to be more balanced offensively. The Mustangs averaged only 34 yards passing per game last season. Returning seniors Darius Murphy (offensive line), Antonio Hambrick (quarterback) and Jesse Davis (tight end) anchor the offense. Linebacker Antonio Corley, defensive back Lamario Perryman, Murphy and Davis are among the key defensive players.

Miller Grove Wolverines

Head coach: open

Region: 6-AAAA

2009 Record: 6-4  

Outlook: Former coach Jasper Jewell left to take an athletic coordinator position with Atlanta Public Schools and the Wolverines were without a head coach two weeks before the season starts. The Wolverines should be stronger defensively as several key players from last season return. Offensively, the Wolverines were one of the most balanced teams in the county. 

Redan Raiders

Head coach: Clinton Lawrence 

 (1st season)

Region: 6-AAAA

2009 Record: 1-9

Outlook: Lawrence, an assistant with the Raiders last season, has implemented new systems on offense and defense. The Raiders, behind quarterback Akil Dan-Fadio, will operate out of the spread. Running backs Troy Howard and Keyshawn Sibley also return on offense. Defensively, the Raiders switch to a 4-3 and will have a strong defensive front. Lineman Ernest Moore, who led the team with 100 tackles last season, will anchor the defensive line. 

St. Pius Golden Lions

Head coach: Paul Standard (10th season)

Region: 5-AAA

2009 Record: 12-1 

Outlook: Standard lost a strong senior class to graduation in the spring but has several talented players with some experience returning. This year’s roster has 24 seniors, including running backs Cleve Kellog and Alex Avery. Junior quarterback Trey White returns to run the option after leading the Golden Lions to the AAA state quarterfinals in 2009. Among the top defensive players is junior Geno Smith, who also started last season and has offers from Auburn and Virginia Tech. 

Southwest DeKalb Panthers

Head coach: Buck Godfrey (28th season)

Region: 6-AAAA

2009 Record: 10-2 

Outlook: Unlike last season, there are not multiple superstars but should be enough talent to send the Panthers into the playoffs for the third straight season. Senior defensive lineman Terrance Smith is the marquee players and has committed to Florida State. Junior Toran Davis should have an impact on both sides of the ball. Offensively, senior Jerome Lewis and junior Dreac Jackson will replace Georgia signee Ken Malcome at running back. The entire offensive line will be underclassmen.

Stephenson Jaguars

Head coach: Ron Gartrell (15th season)

Region: 2-AAAAA

2009 Record: 11-1  

Outlook: The Jaguars are loaded again after having 29 players sign college scholarships last season. Four players already have committed to NCAA Division I schools and five others each have several offers. The most daunting task for Gartrell is to replace all of last year’s starting defensive linemen and linebackers. Jared Boyd returns in the secondary and the addition of Hillgrove transfer Kadetrix Marcus will bolster that unit. Offensively, Jordan Tarver returns at quarterback while three players will share running back duties after the graduation of Raymond Sanders. 

Stone Mountain Pirates

Head coach: Dante Ferguson
(2nd season) 

Region: 5-AAA

2009 Record: 1-9  

Outlook:  The Pirates forfeited five victories last season for inadvertently using an ineligible player. The forfeits took away from what was an impressive turnaround under Ferguson from a 3-7 season in 2008. Ferguson and the Pirates should compete for a playoff spot after dropping down from AAAA. A potentially dangerous offense is led by a trio of seniors–quarterback Jhyree Harris, running back Michael Gilbert and receiver Octavious Andrews. Linebacker Ukeme Eligwe, who has an offer from Arkansas, anchors the defense.  

Towers Titans

Head coach: Marvin Jones (1st season)

Region: 5-AAA

2009 Record: 7-4 

Outlook:  Former coach Jonathan Sanks left to take the head job at Berkmar in Gwinnett County after engineering one of the biggest turnarounds in the state last season after the team went 1-9 in 2008. Jones will continue to run the spread offense and has several productive receivers returning. The most pressing priority on offense is finding a replacement for Virginia signee Miles Gooch at quarterback. Defensively, the Titans should be strong at linebacker and in the secondary. 

Tucker Tigers

Head coach: Franklin Stephens
(4th season)

Region: 6-AAAA

2009 Record: 9-3

Outlook: Stephens will count on a star-studded defense to carry his team while the offense gels. Senior linebackers James Vaughters (Stanford) and Justin Garrett (Auburn), and safety Chris Sanders (Auburn) join lineman Jamal Davis as the top returnees on defense. Offensively, quarterback Norman Hayes returns but will be working with a new backfield. Senior halfback Dequan Maggett and senior tailback Bashir Coles will step into starting roles. The Tigers’ offensive line also will be mostly first-year starters.