Today’s interviewee is Cambridge coach Craig Bennett, whose team defeated then-No. 5 Kell 42-24 on Friday to take sole possession of first place in Region 6-5A. Cambridge can clinch its first region title in school history this Friday at Northview. Bennett started the Cambridge program in 2012.

1. What did your team do well Friday that allowed you have the edge? “We really focused on establishing the run game early. We knew they had a really good defensive line, so we challenged our guys up front to buy in to the run game, and they did a phenomenal job. Obviously, Christian Isibor had a great night, rushing for over 200 yards. Anytime you have a 200-yard rusher, your offensive line did a really good job as well for paving the way for over 400 yards in rushing and almost 500 yards of total offense.”

2. You're a victory from your school's first region title. What would that mean for your team? “It has been 11 long years since Cambridge was built, but the work it took to get here I wouldn’t take back. So many kids through the years have helped make this happen and want this for this team. We’ve had ups and downs, and we were so close last year. It would be a huge accomplishment for these kids, the school and the community.”

3. You've had teams the past two seasons that advanced in the playoffs. What's the story or personality of this team that makes it different than others? “Honestly, it comes down to experience and leadership. We returned 18 starters from last year’s team, and most of them started or played a big role when they were sophomores. We talked about raising our standards this season, not goals. We talked about not just making it to the second round but pushing past the second round. Most of these kids have had to play Buford and Lee County the last two years in the second round. Not sure of a tougher draw than that.”

4. How did last season, the ups and downs, affect this year's team, in particular, losing 42-39 to Lee County on the road in the second round? “As much as it hurt to lose that game, it helped us decide where we were and where we wanted to be. They have an elite program and are always one of the top teams in the state. We walked away from that with a chip on our shoulder to know that we can play with those teams, and we want to be in the mix come playoff time.”

Today’s interviewee is Greene County coach Terrance Banks, whose team enters a bye week with a 5-2 record. The Tigers were 4-6 last season, and the GHSF Daily’s Improvement Tracker has Greene County as the most improved winning team in Class A Division II. Banks is in his first season in Greensboro. He was Meadowcreek’s interim head coach last season and was Newton’s head coach from 2013 to 2018.

1. You were in line to become Meadowcreek’s permanent head coach. Why did you decide to take the Greene County job, effectively going from Class 7A to Class A? “A large part of it was relationships. I was encouraged to come look at Greene County because the principal [James Peek, now retired] was the former middle school principal from Newton when I worked there. The principal of the career academy [John Ellenberg] was one of my principals at Newton. The district athletic director and now the current principal [Eddie Hood] was the head basketball coach when I was an assistant coach at Duluth. And then when I got out here, the facilities and the commitment to football was nowhere close to single A, and I don’t mean that in a bad way. They have a two-sided stadium, a field house and a turf field, all the amenities that I was accustomed to in Gwinnett and arguably better than at Newton. I love this small-town feel on Friday night. Things we have here opened my eyes. It was not what I was expecting, and in a good way.”

2. What are some of the most important things that you and your staff have done to make progress? “The talent was here. There were a lot of underclassmen. So the biggest thing was showing them how that 7A mindset works of being committed to doing certain things. We had spring football. We had only 29 or 30 players due to track and other stuff, but we went through the process. We went to 7-on-7s and padded camps. We took some lumps but played with Eastside and Social Circle, some teams that are doing well this season Our players got exposure to what everybody else is doing on a bigger level.”

3. What are some of the differences between coaching in 7A vs. A? “One of the things I love about it is that it’s more hands on. When you’re at a 7A school with 100-plus kids in a program, it’s hard to lay your hands on every kid relationship-wise. It’s not an extended bond because you’re just making sure the seniors are getting a good experience and the juniors are ready to come in. Here, our middle school practices with us on the other end of the field. I know my seventh- and eighth-graders before they get to the ninth grade. I went from a school with 2,500 kids where when a kid would say Coach Banks in the hallway, I knew the kid, but I didn’t always know the name. With 450 kids, you know everybody. When a kid says something, I know exactly who they are.”

4. What does your team do well? Passing seems to be one of them. Steve Miller is fourth in Class A Division II in passing yards, and Javaris Harris is second in receiving yards. “We don’t throw the ball a lot, but we have explosive plays. We’ve got a running back [Malik West] averaging 100 yards per game, and we have some kids that are very athletic, and because of that, we have been able to take advantage of that next level and put the ball in the air. We had our 4x100, 4x200 and 4x400 relay teams make state in track. So we have speed. We’re about to find out whether we’re ready for that next step because we’ve got Lincoln County and Washington-Wilkes coming up, and coaches are doing a phenomenal job at Aquinas. Our kids have never been to the playoffs. They know the history of those before them, but they’ve never experienced it themselves.”

Today’s interviewee is Will Hammock, sports editor of the Gwinnett Daily Post. Hammock, a Gwinnett native, is in his 26th year of reporting on Gwinnett high school sports. He will be covering Friday’s Class 7A game between No. 1 Buford and No. 3 Mill Creek.

1. How do you see this game playing out? “I think it's a pretty even matchup. Buford is really strong on the defensive side, and it has an elite running back in Justice Haynes. The Wolves can run the ball well, but there will be games where they need to be less one-dimensional and show they can throw the ball effectively. This is one of those games because Mill Creek is a team that typically plays the run really well and has more issues with a passing team – like the Walton game in the Corky Kell. Mill Creek has a more balanced, high-scoring offense. It will be interesting to see how the Hawks fare against an elite Buford defense. Another thing to watch is how many snaps, and in what ways, will Mill Creek use multi-talented Caleb Downs, the nation's No. 1 safety, on the offensive side.”

2. Both teams have top-20 national rankings, but the season is early. Taking each team one at a time, starting with Buford, what do they really do well that makes them so well-regarded this season but also what is the question mark for them? “Buford is ranked high with good reason. The talent level is exceptional, and the history of success from the past at every classification warrants it. Its latest challenge is its biggest — proving it can win in the state's biggest classification. The region games week in and week out will be tougher than ever, and the state playoff games will be more challenging. This team also is fairly young. The senior class isn't huge, and the younger age groups, particularly the juniors, are loaded with talent. Those underclassmen will be very important if Buford wants another state title this season.”

3. Same with Mill Creek. What do they do that's elite, but what remains to be seen about Mill Creek? “Mill Creek is one of Georgia's most consistent programs, but it hasn't yet taken the next step. The Hawks have made playoff runs in the past with two final-four appearances, but their best teams have been eliminated by some of the most talented state championship teams in Georgia [2019 Marietta, 2016 Grayson, 2015 Colquitt County]. The Hawks have the capability to make a run at a state championship this season with an offense that can score on anyone. The one question mark is a revamped secondary from 2021 other than Downs. If those defensive backs can hold up against pass-heavy teams, I like Mill Creek's chances.”

4. What is the buildup to this game? Is it like any other big game in Gwinnett, of which there have been so many over the years, or is there something about this game that makes it even more intriguing than most? “I guess my perspective on what this game means is unique. I've been covering Gwinnett football full-time since 1997, so I've seen all the previous big games, and I live halfway between Buford and Mill Creek, so I have numerous friends at both places. There is a lot of excitement around this one, and as far as regular-season games go, I'd say it's close to the classic Brookwood-Parkview battles of the past. Maybe not to the level of when two Gwinnett teams play for a state title – like Brookwood vs. Parkview, Norcross vs. North Gwinnett, Collins Hill vs. Grayson – but it's a big one. The national rankings play into it, but the community interest is really what ramps it up. It's the first time the two neighbors have played each other in varsity football. People in the Buford community have talked to me for years about how the Wolves could beat Gwinnett's top teams in the biggest classification. They get a chance to prove that Friday.”

Today’s interviewee is Chamblee coach Robert Swank, whose team defeated Tucker 15-10 in a Region 4-5A game Friday. It was Chamblee’s first victory over Tucker since 1974. After playing a non-region schedule the past two seasons, Chamblee is 5-1 overall and 2-0 in region play, tied with Decatur for first place. Chamblee’s most recent region title came in 1982. Swank became Chamblee’s head coach in 2021 after serving two seasons as defensive coordinator.

1. What did the Tucker game mean to the program, the school and community? “We have a lot of respect for the Tucker football program. They have good coaches and tough players. They played hard, and it was a great high school football game. But I don't think it means as much to our players and coaches as it does to the Chamblee community. After the game, there were a lot of stats thrown around about the last time that Chamblee beat Tucker and other longtime accomplishments. To the players and coaches, it was just the next region game on the schedule. We needed to beat Tucker just like we needed to beat MLK the week before. The Arabia Mountain game coming up on Oct. 21 is equally important.”

2. What attracted you to the Chamblee job? What are the assets and potential of the football program? “I came to Chamblee as the defensive coordinator in 2019. Scott Schwarzer was my offensive coordinator at Duluth and took the head coaching job at Chamblee. We have a long football relationship, and there aren't many other guys that I would want to coach with than Scott. I don't think we honestly realized the potential of Chamblee when we first got here. We had 24 players in our first spring practice and went 1-9 in that first regular season. But the class of ’22 and ’23 stuck with us through the tough times and did everything that we ever asked them to do. We now have a senior class of 16, 12 of whom have been with us for all four years. Those 12 seniors have played a ton of high school football over the past four years and are a very experienced, veteran group. We have a great academic school. The facilities are excellent, and the community is very supportive of what we are doing here. We believe that 2020, 2021 and this season are no flukes and we can continue to be very successful here at Chamblee.”

3. What factors led Chamblee from going to the semifinals in 2007 to deciding not to play a region schedule in 2020, and what was your game plan to getting it back? “At the time that we made the decision to go non-region, Chamblee had been 7-52 in the previous six seasons and really had not been competitive. A large component to football success is confidence. We did not see a path for our players gaining confidence by continuing to get beat up in our region every week, so we made the decision to play a non-region schedule. First of all, we had a lot more fun. Going into every Friday night knowing that you have a chance to be competitive changes everybody's mindset. All of a sudden we had kids coming out for football from the baseball, basketball, soccer and track teams. We have improved our numbers from 24 the first spring to 85 this season. We had no idea that our players would respond so quickly to the changes in the way that we practiced, trained and our X's and O's. We got better a lot quicker than even the coaching staff expected. We went 5-1 during the COVID season and we went 9-1 last season. I do not believe that we would be in the same place as a program if we had not made the decision to go non-region.”

4. What would you want people to know about the current team? “We lost a bunch of talented players from the class of ’22, and I don't think that many people would have predicted that we would be as competitive this season. But this group of seniors are the ones who started with us as freshmen, and they are tough, committed kids who want to compete. I don't think they are surprised by our success to this point of the season. But I also don't think they are as impressed with what we have done so far this year as people outside of our program are. We have three more region games that will really decide whether we have a successful season or not.”

Today’s interviewee is Valdosta coach Shelton Felton, whose team defeated Lowndes 13-6 on Friday, Valdosta’s first victory in the Winnersville Classic since 2016. Felton, a former high school head coach at Crisp County and college coach at Akron, Chattanooga and Tennessee, was named interim coach during the turbulent 2021 offseason, when the GHSA forced Valdosta to forfeit its 2020 victories and banned the Wildcats from the 2021 playoffs for violations occurring before Shelton got the job. Valdosta was 4-6 last season but is now 7-0 and ranked No. 4 in Class 7A.

1. What won the Winnersville Classic? “Defense, man. Our defense played lights out. We had a great plan, and our kids played hard, physical and fast, what we call the standard, playing Wildcat football. I gave them the old-fashioned speech. ‘We’re winning, so if they don’t score, we win the game.’ We put the game on our defense, and coach Tracy Buckhannon [defensive coordinator] did a great job with the task at hand.” [Valdosta held Lowndes to 182 total yards and 9-of-23 passing.]

2. What’s been the reaction in the community? “The excitement and feedback have been really good. When you go so long without winning the trophy, to break that streak is awesome for the school and community. There have been a lot of texts and phone calls. The legendary Stan Rome, one of the best players ever to play here, came and saw me personally. Coach [Jerry Don] Baker told me that was Wildcat football. It meant a lot to me to hear from true Valdosta guys. It made me very proud. There are a lot of people here young and old who believe in the Black and Gold.” [Rome, a member of Valdosta’s 1971 championship team, is an inaugural inductee into the new Georgia High School Sports Hall of Fame. Baker played on 1968 and 1969 championship teams and was on Valdosta’s coaching staff from 1976 to 2005.]

3. When you were hired, Valdosta was at a crossroads. What have you and your staff done to revive the program from one of its all-time lows to where it is now? “The biggest thing when we took over was I promised the kids we’d always tell the truth. We’d work hard, and we’re not going to lie. One of our biggest mottos is control the controllables. I’ll give those returning seniors [last season] a lot of credit. They showed the younger kids that even if they had no playoffs, they had pride, and they fought. Our coaches staff, too. They could’ve tucked tail and run off when people were leaving us. It was like you said, a crossroads. Our superintendent Todd Cason and principal Janice Richardson and the board members have been supportive and bought into what we’re preaching. We believed we could mend fences. We have to give a lot of credit to these kids for not quitting on us.”

4. What has this team and this job opportunity meant for you personally? “One thing that my wife always says is that God will take you where you’re supposed to be. He led me to Tennessee and to Valdosta. Being the head coach at Valdosta, the winningest program in history, is an honor. I’m the first African American coach in Valdosta history and that means a lot to me. I want to make it better for the next African American who might coach here. I want to walk the walk and do the right thing with this opportunity. We want to show people we can win and continue to win.”

Today’s interviewee is Hiram coach Peter Fominaya, whose team defeated No. 4 Calhoun 44-34 last week in a Region 7-5A game. Hiram is 4-3 this season after 1-9 and 1-10 finishes. Fominaya came to Hiram in 2018 after successful stints at Gulf Coast and Lehigh in Florida.

1. What did your team do Friday night that made the difference vs. Calhoun? “We told them if we could keep it close at half, we can beat them. We got down 14-0 and were down at halftime 14-10. There was a great confidence in the locker room. We felt if we could stop them on the first possession, the game would turn in our direction. We have a great kicker [Oscar Castaneda], and they had to start from the 20. We actually scored on defense. We had a strip sack [Jace Presley] on third down, and the ball rolled in the end zone and we were able to recover it [Deontae Pettway] for a touchdown. Calhoun being the program they are, they returned the next kickoff for a touchdown, and it was a slugfest. But we scored 21 in the third quarter and 13 in the fourth and didn’t punt in the second half, which is a good sign. And we just played really well on defense to force them into third-and-mediums and third-and-longs, which was a great advantage for us. Our coaching staff did a really good job of preparing them.”

2. Calhoun had beaten your team decisively last season and naturally entered as a big favorite. How did your players' belief that they could win that game evolve? “For us, our confidence has been building through the season. We’ve been one of the top offenses all year. I think our kids have known we’ve been really close this season. We’re 14 points from being 6-1 [after seven-point losses to East Paulding and Dalton]. You can see the progression. We felt that if we could put it all together in one night we could play with a great team like Calhoun. Our kids came out and executed and didn’t make a whole lot of mistakes, and it turned out well for us in the end.”

3. You had a couple of tough seasons before this one. What's been the most important thing that's happened, or that you and your staff have done, so that the team is now good enough to beat a team like Calhoun? “Every community responded to the pandemic differently, and it hit a little harder here at Hiram, in my opinion. We really focused on growing the program from within, developing our younger kids. We’ve had a good group of seniors that stuck it out the whole way, but we’re still a young team. Of 22 starters, 18 are underclassmen. We’ve got only four senior starters. It’s really been about staying together. We told them they’re talented and that their best was ahead of them. There’s an advantage of playing freshmen and sophomores on varsity. We’re starting to cash in on that.”

4. What makes Hiram a good team this season? What's the identity of the team? “We try to really hang our hat on our defense. We focus on them and being the best they can be fundamentally. We run the football. We don’t try to do something we’re not. We have good running backs [Jemarion Whatley has rushed for 830 yards, including 177 vs. Calhoun; and Kaden Hamilton has rushed for 614], and our kids do a good job of executing the game plan. I can’t harp on that enough. And we have a good kicker who can flip the field. And we’ve got a few blue-chip kids as well. We’ve got kids playing hard for each other, and I couldn’t be more proud of that.” [Tight end Walter Matthews is a top-100 national prospect. He’s 6 feet, 7 inches. Offensive linemen Clinton Richard and Jameson Riggs are both around 6-4, 280, and each has several Division I offers. The three are juniors.]

Today’s interviewee is Chris Beckham, the host of the Chick-fil-A Football Friday Night Show, a six-hour scoreboard show that broadcasts on several stations throughout south Georgia. He has covered or reported on the past 33 Winnersville Classics between Valdosta and Lowndes. The crosstown rivals play tonight at Lowndes’ Martin Stadium.

1. What do you see happening in this game? Who do you favor, and why? “I think the offenses are very similar in that they've both shown some flashes but are still fairly young and improving. Valdosta's defense has been more consistent, but the turnaround in the Vikings' defense between the loss to East Coweta and the win over Grayson was remarkable. I think it will be a low-scoring game, and this series is filled with wild plays in the fourth quarter that spelled the difference. I wouldn't be surprised to see that again.”

2. Given what has happened to Valdosta in recent years, with a divisive coaching change and a recruiting scandal, are you surprised they're in this position - undefeated and ranked in coach Shelton Felton’s second season? “I'm a little surprised they've been as dominant as they have been defensively, but I'm not surprised that they're undefeated. Realistically, their schedule hasn't been great. Cook is strong but a Class 2A team. The Florida schools are a combined 1-9, and Warner Robins is way down. But more than that, I think this team was so tired of everything that happened last year that they really committed to coming back strong this year. And get used to it because most of their top players are underclassmen, so they should be even better next year and probably years to come.”

3. How do you view Lowndes football right now as it goes through changes, a new coach, a new quarterback. What can we expect from Lowndes going forward? “I thought Zach Grage's first year might be a little rough because they are really young. And the offense relied so much on Jacurri Brown the last several years, you can't help but have a drop-off. It's worth the price of a ticket sometimes to just watch Grage on the sidelines most nights because he's fiery and all over the place. But I think his biggest strength is how he runs the entire football operation, from hiring coaches, to practice schedules, to how players dress, etc. Details like that can separate good programs and great ones, but that's tough to implement like he wants in the first year, especially since he was hired so late. In every measurable way, Lowndes is set up to contend every year, and I think he'll have them back in that position.”

4. What's the state of the Winnersville Classic now? Is it still all that? “I can promise you those people who got up early and stood in line for tickets this week think it is. It's always been a big deal, and it always will be. The community is still football-minded, and they fold so many other things into this game during the week. But I think starting with this game, it's going to be even better in the coming years. It adds a lot to it because they're back in the same region and classification for the first time in seven years. Both programs should be more stable going forward and more competitive. As great as The Classic is, its history has had a lot of runs of one team dominating. Valdosta owned it for a long time, like they did against just about everybody. Then Lowndes had a good run, then the Cats won three in a row, and now Lowndes has won five straight. I'd be surprised to see that over the next few years. I mean, it's a big deal no matter what the records are because it's such a community thing. But when they're both really good, it's special.”

Today’s interviewee is Northside of Warner Robins coach Chad Alligood, whose team faces No. 10 Houston County in a Region 1-6A road game tonight at Freedom Field. Northside is 4-2 against a schedule that includes five top-10 opponents. A longtime Northside offensive coordinator, Alligood became head coach in 2020.

1. How do you feel the season has gone to this point? “We have had to face a lot of adversity so far. We had a player from the 2021 team [Jontel Williams] who was killed in the offseason and a coach [Lee Pope] who lost his daughter [Leanne] in a traffic accident. And you add in a couple of early-season losses with some injuries to key players and that makes for a tough start. But through all of that, this team has grown closer and has learned to fight for each other, and it has made us a better team/family. We started playing our best football three weeks ago when we went on the road and beat a top-10 7A team in North Cobb. Since that win, it has built confidence in our guys, and it shows every day in practice and the last couple of weeks of games.”

2. When you got the Northside job, the team was coming off its first losing season of 28 years. What needed to be fixed from that low point to where you are now? “Most people know that I have been around Northside since 1999. I started here as a ninth-grade coach and left after the 2004 season to become an OC [offensive coordinator] and came back to Northside in 2010 to be the OC and stayed until 2017. So I had seen what made Northside ‘go’ for a long time. When I took over the head coaching position 2020, it was not that anything was broken. It just needed some love put back into the program and everyone understanding that the standard at Northside is very high.

“We have gotten a lot of alumni back involved in the program, and the community support for our players has been unbelievable. We have 30 players on the team that I have coached or taught their parents, so this makes for a great family atmosphere. Everyone knows me and what I feel about Northside and this community. It is the best school/community I have had the privilege to work in.

“We also started a program called Life Wednesday. During the winter semester and summer, we teach life lessons on Wednesdays. We dress up. The community has donated so many clothes for our guys who may not have any. We teach them some of the following skills – change oil in car, proper introductions and handshakes, social media use, how to treat a lady, SAT/ACT prep, among a host of other things. This has shown the community that we truly care about their kids and the future we want for them.”

3. Do you feel the current team is better than the 2021 team that made the quarterfinals? What do you feel you do well, and what are the question marks? “I never compare teams from year to the next because there are so many variables. The belief that this group has in themselves is what you want as a coach. The leadership from some of our key players has been outstanding, and this group wants to win. We are playing some of the best defense that's been played here in a long time. That allows you to overcome some things in the other parts of the game. We have a lot of experience on the offensive side of the ball, and this has helped us to get more creative with some things. Out team motto is ‘It Matters!’ Our players understand that everything they do from the time they get up in the morning matters and affects the success of themselves and this team. We still are trying to find a little more depth in some spots and hoping some players keep developing to help us in the second half of the season.”

4. What are the main challenges that Houston County presents that might make them a little different from other good teams you’ve played this season? “Their big-play ability is the best we have seen so far. They throw the deep ball as good as any team. Also, they are another county game. That always carries a little more weight than some of the other games we have played this year. It being game two in the region raises the stakes, also.”

Today’s interviewee is Worth County coach Jeff Hammond, whose team is 6-0 after a 47-38 Region 1-2A victory over Dodge County. Worth County was 4-6 in 2021. Hammond was Coffee’s offensive coordinator last season. He was Spalding’s head coach in 2019 and was on Rush Propst’s staff at Colquitt County in 2008-12 and 2016-18.

1. What have you and your staff done that has made the biggest difference in getting Worth County going in the right direction? “There are several things that have made us successful this year. First, our assistant coaches have done a wonderful job of coaching these kids. Secondly, our community has gone above and beyond to take care of our boys and show them support. Third, I have been completely honest with them. When we practice good, I tell them it was good, and when we practice bad, I tell them it is bad. I try to lay it all out there so they know what to expect and what it will take for us to be successful. Our players have bought into the process.”

2. You had one other head coaching job, at Spalding in 2019, but you stepped down after one year. Why did you want the Worth County job? “Spalding was a good learning experience. It is a good school and has great administration. I think personally I am a better fit in south Georgia. It's similar to what I grew up in. It keeps calling me home. I always thought that Worth County was a smaller Colquitt County. There is tradition at Worth County. It’s a single-school county, so I knew we could do a lot of things that we did at Colquitt that helped to turn that program around. Funny thing is I inquired about this job a few years ago before Coach Frankie Carrol took over. I am just happy to land here. I hope this is the last place I ever have to work.”

3. You've worked for some successful coaches, namely Rush Propst and Robby Pruitt. What were the most important things that each of them taught you? “Working for Rush you have to think big. He always pushed us to do things on a championship level. Rush would talk about being elite and playing for championships way before we were ready to play for them. Robby taught me to hire good men. How coaches fit within the staff matters as much as how good of a football coach they are. They both share great leadership qualities, and it was a blessing to get to work and learn from each of them.”

4. You've got a big game this week. What do you need to do to be successful against Fitzgerald? “Fitzgerald is the king of the mountain right now. Tucker Pruitt has done an unbelievable job of establishing a culture of winning and toughness. It will be a good measuring stick to find out where our program is because that is the type of program that I want here in Worth County. To have a chance to win this week, we will need to match their physical style and execute in all three phases. I told the kids that there aren’t many times you get a chance to match up with the No. 1 team in the state, so we have nothing to lose. Just relax and go play.”

Today’s interviewee is Stephens County coach Wesley Tankersley, whose team is 5-1 and ranked No. 7 in Class 3A after a 27-24 victory over Monroe Area. This is Tankersley’s fifth season in Toccoa after previous coaching stints at Ridgeland and Gilmer.

1. What did your team do vs. Monroe Area that made the difference? “We just did what we have been doing. Our players have been playing well. We really didn’t change very much from what we have been doing. We just focused on executing what we do well. We did have a really good game in the special teams department. We blocked a punt and scored off that a few plays later. We hit some clutch field goals and caused a turnover in the kicking game as well. So it was a big part of the win.” [Colton Bartmas kicked the three field goals, including a 20-yarder for the game-winner in the final seconds. Javin Gordon rushed for 156 yards, his third 100-yard game. And while Tankersley didn’t volunteer this brag-worthy information, his youngest son, Brock Tankersley, scored the first touchdown of his varsity career.]

2. You've made steady progress with the program, especially since your senior's freshman season (1-9 record). What do you feel that you and your staff have done that's made the biggest difference? “We have a lot on continuity on staff since that season, and I think that is huge. Also a lot of our seniors got a lot of playing time that year and in the years since. Experience is a huge bonus for a football team. They have experienced a lot of different things over the last four years that they can use during close games to help them be successful.”

3. What's the scouting report on your team for those who haven't seen you play? What do you feel your team does well? “We have been playing really well on defense for most of the year. We have been pretty close to the top of 3A in points allowed this year [at 12.7 per game]. Offensively, we have a variety of experienced and young skill players that can make a play when needed.” [Stephens' only loss came to Rabun County in a 14-7 game that held Rabun to 23 points below its average.]

4. You've coached at Ridgeland and Gilmer and now Stephens County, all different parts of north Georgia. Is there something about Stephens County that's a little different? “Stephens County has a rich football tradition. And not one of just having a football team but having a successful football team. That comes with high expectations and more pressure. Also I do think our region is really, really tough. Every week is a football game that you could lose. One thing that makes it fun is that we also have a lot of rivalry games. Habersham, Franklin and Hart being the main three, but I also think we have developed healthy rivalries with others in our area as well. This makes every week very exciting.” [Stephens County played its first recorded game in 1923. The Indians have played Franklin County, Hart County, Habersham Central, Madison County and Elbert County more than 50 times each.]

Today’s interviewee is Gilmer coach Paul Standard, whose team is 5-1 after a 45-3 victory over West Hall last week. The Bobcats’ five victories are the most in a season since 2014. Standard is in his second season as Gilmer’s coach. He’s best known for his 20-year run at alma mater St. Pius, where his teams won eight region titles.

1. What did you see in this year's team that made you feel you had a chance to take a big step forward? “When we came here two years ago, the program was in a bad shape, but we had six seniors who stayed after many had quit who led us through the transition. With them were 13 juniors who are now our seniors who have been outstanding leaders. I knew we had a chance to continue the turnaround here at Gilmer with their leadership.”

2. What's been the reaction of the school, the fans and the community to the season you're having? “The reaction of our entire community has been great. The stands are full each home game, the school is buzzing with excitement, the alumni are excited. We have started an alumni group who join us on the sideline each home game. The players love it. Some [of those alumni] are their fathers, brothers, uncles, etc. Our local businesses have been so supportive. Our touchdown club has provided the support and resources to make this possible, and none of this could have happened without the total support of our administration, who have been behind our plan ‘to Restore the Bobcat Tradition.’ We have had alumni players tell us on more than one occasion how proud they are to see our boys perform and the success they have had.”

3. What do you feel that you and your staff have done at Gilmer that's made the most difference in getting things turned around? Anything about Gilmer's situation that was unique? “I think what we the staff have done was bring a total-program approach. That's been a strong middle school program, which has been very strong the past two years, having a strong parent support group, TD Club, Huddle Moms etc., a year-round strength program which sets the culture of your team, and an atmosphere of coaching our boys hard, but in a way where we genuinely care about our players. Our coaches love our players. Now some days they may not like the way we ‘care’ about them, but I believe they know we genuinely care about them. Is this unique to Gilmer? I don’t think so. I think in any program that is struggling [Gilmer was 7-43 in the five years prior] there are issues in one or more of these areas. Our administration has allowed me to hire men who are great role models, great family men, as well as great coaches.”

4. Your high school coach, George Maloof, is being inducted into the Georgia High School Football Hall of Fame this month as a player. What was Coach Maloof like, and what impact did he have on you and your career choice? “Coach Maloof had the greatest influence on me as a young person second only to my father. Coach Maloof is the reason I am in this business. I think of him often. He was a man’s man, did not sugarcoat anything, coached us hard, real hard, but we knew he loved us, and that is why we played so hard for him. Still today I use the same sayings that Coach used with us.”

Today’s interviewee is Blitz Sports producer Brian Carter. His news channel covers football and other sports for Banks County, Commerce, Dawson County, Habersham Central, Jefferson, Lumpkin County, Rabun County, Stephens County, Towns County, Union County and White County. The interview was done before Thursday night’s games, which involved some of the teams discussed.

1. The two most successful football programs in your coverage area have new coaches and are playing now without blue-chip prospects who were the faces of their teams the past few years. How are things different now at Rabun County and Jefferson this season? “Despite the mass exodus of an elite senior class headlined by Gunner Stockton and nearly every coach retiring or moving on, the DNA is still very much in place at Rabun. That's truly a testament to the guys who came before and laid this expectation for the program out and the coaches who poured their life into it. The expectation has not changed at all, and the Wildcats still believe they can win a state title. It helps having returning stars like wide receiver Jaden Gibson, who, barring injury, will finish his prep career as the state's all-time top receiver in yardage and touchdowns, a speedy back like Lang Windham, and a Swiss Army Knife like Cory Keller, to name a few. Coach Michael Davis has a different style than we saw with both Jaybo Shaw and Lee Shaw, but he clearly has his own recipe in place to still achieve the same big goals as those two greats did before him. As for quarterback, Keegan Stover was already a standout at West Forsyth, and he is putting up some crazy numbers – 1,500-plus passing yards and 20-plus touchdowns already – but the best number is the zero interceptions. He can sling it and makes good decisions.

“It's been different at Jefferson for sure with a new head coach and life without Malaki Starks. Coach Travis Noland is a winning coach, just as Coach Gene Cathcart was. Different style of coaching, but it's clear that Jefferson is serious about winning at a high level with coaches like these coming in. With Starks, the Dragons rarely aired it out, as they didn't really need to. The problem with that is when they had to have it like last year against Hapeville in the closing minutes of the round-one upset, they weren't able to. Max Aldridge has shown he's more than capable of running an offense that has a passing game to it, and Elijah Dewitt has been fantastic at WR. That probably takes a lot of pressure off the shoulders of Sammy Brown, who can still do as much damage as he wants on offense, but perhaps the passing attack opens it up a bit more for Brown.”

2. What's been the most interesting development in your coverage area at the midpoint in the regular season? “The most interesting development that I actually predicted was the rise of Lumpkin County. You could see the talent on the roster the last couple of years, but bringing in a coach like Heath Webb was the perfect fit. He retooled the staff and, with the same roster, is now 5-0 with a top-five ranked offense and defense. The schedule will get a lot tougher, but the Indians not only are confident they can win each game, they also know how to finish those games off. For a program that sat in the dark with five head coaches in an eight-year span at one point, this is a breath of fresh air in North Georgia. From winning three total games in the past three seasons to already five this year, it's a big deal in Dahlonega.”

3. Another team that’s made big strides this season is Stephens County. What can you tell us about the Indians? “Stephens County was on the verge last year of winning a region title. They lost a good deal on defense, but offensively had all the skill guys back, like quarterback Ben Stowe, three-star recruit Cam Lacy at wide receiver and the dual backs of Javin Gordon and T.J. Everett, along with wide receiver Corey Richie. Coming in, everyone thought the offense would explode from the opening game. However, it has actually been the defense that has been more dominant to date with a 10.4 points per game allowed average. That includes holding Rabun County to just 14 points (one TD and two FG) in a 14-7 loss for the Indians in Week 2. The offense took a while to heat up, scoring just 21 points in total across Weeks 1-2, but has increased each game with 27, 38, and 53 in the last three outings. That's a great sign for Stephens at 4-1 heading into the huge matchup with Monroe Area in Week 7. This team has been clear about duplicating (and surpassing) the efforts of the 2005 Indians, who won 11 games and a region title and made it to the quarterfinals.”

4. What is an interesting player, team or coach in your area that most don't know about, and what is their story? “There are lots of hidden gems up in this area, but one that most people don't know about outside of the area is Andrew Shockley, a senior for Banks County, and I'll add sophomore Zeke Whittington at Habersham Central. Shockley to date has 827 rushing yards, 107 receiving yards, 200-plus kick/punt return yards and 14 total touchdowns. He is all over the field. He's starting to get a couple of colleges rolling out offers, and that's sure to increase. Whittington at Habersham is only 5-8, but his numbers don't lie. He has 507 receiving yards and already 1,138 career yards on 105 catches just five games into his sophomore year. He runs a great route, knows how to get open and has sticky hands. These two players are not household names outside of the corner of northeast Georgia, but recruiters should take note.”

Today’s interviewee is Matt Skinner, the director of Gradick Sports and the football play-by-play announcer for the University of West Georgia. Gradick Sports is a group of six radio stations in Carrollton and Tallapoosa that covers Carrollton, Bremen, Bowdon, Haralson County, Heard County, Mount Zion, Temple and Villa Rica.

1. What’s your assessment of Carrollton so far? Is this a legit top-10 Class 7A team? “Carrollton has been extremely impressive thus far this season. They have a great mixture of experienced leadership and very talented freshmen and sophomores spread throughout the team. They are outscoring opponents 183-35 in the first half. They’ve scored five defensive touchdowns and forced 17 turnovers through six games. I think they are legit a top-10 team, and it should not surprise anyone to see them playing after Thanksgiving. Everyone wants to talk about the quarterback play and rightfully so, but Bryce Hicks at running back and the offensive line have been very impressive. They run the ball at over six yards a carry and 166 yards a game. The defense is only allowing 10 points a game and gets off the field, only allowing 26% of third-down conversions The only question marks they have presented would be penalties. They’ve averaged nine penalties a game for almost 82 yards, but to be honest that hasn’t really stopped them either.”

2. Speaking of Carrollton’s quarterback, what’s your impression of Julian “Ju Ju” Lewis? “He is definitely as great as advertised. His composure is impeccable. Nothing seems to faze him. Being a freshman, playing at the highest class in Georgia with the spotlight on you at all times is an extremely tough thing to do. He took some big hits against South Paulding and Rome and got right back up and delivered big passes in each game. Coach Joey King has a very big playbook and numerous calls that he puts on Ju Ju, and he has been really good about getting them in the right play. His footwork and awareness in the pocket are just crazy. The zip he has on the football is just ‘different’ than about anything I have seen. More importantly, he is a team guy who knows how to lead and be a follower when he needs to be.”

3. Outside of Carrollton, what's the best story line around Carroll County football? “We are blessed here in our community to cover nine different high schools. There are some very exciting things happening here. The Bowdon Red Devils are ranked No. 2 in Class A Division II, led by Robert McNeal and their experienced offensive line and their stingy defense led by defensive coordinator Jarret Thomas and senior defensive end Asher Christopher. They have a tough non-region test this week against St. Francis. The Red Devils are a team that should be playing after Thanksgiving in our area. Another team on the rise is the Central Lions. They are 4-1 including a win over Bowdon. They have their biggest game to date against the Cedartown Bulldogs Friday night. This could possibly be for the championship in Class 4A Region 7. They have a lot of talent and with a week off, the hope is they can give Cedartown everything they’ve got.”

4. Is there another player or team that you haven't discussed that people need to know about? “The talent in this area is extremely deep. Everyone knows about Julian Lewis at Carrollton, but people really need to be paying attention to Bryce Hicks. He is a very underrated player in the class of 2024 with offers from Liberty, Coastal Carolina, Bowling Green and Eastern Michigan. The Trojans also have WR Takare Lipscomb (Arkansas State), WR Caleb Odom (15-plus offers) and LB Montreze Smith (multiple offers). The Central Lions have some big-time players, as well – WR/DB Vicari Swain (South Carolina commit), DB/WR Kameron Edge (Georgia State and Georgia Tech offers), and a really fun player to keep up with for the next couple of years, freshman RB Jonaz Walton. He has had a phenomenal first season, and the offers have started to roll in, including an offer from Georgia. Villa Rica has OL Jatavius Shivers, who is committed to South Carolina. Bowdon senior QB Robert McNeal’s recruitment has really begun to take off. Bowdon also has Sr. RB/LB TJ Harvison, who also has many offers. Temple senior QB Cam Vaughn has an opportunity to be special at the next level. College coaches, if you happen to read this, watch this kid throw the football.”

Today’s interviewee is Social Circle coach Rob Patton, whose team is 4-1 after a 39-7 victory over then-No. 8 Lamar County in a Class A Division I game last week. Patton is in his third season with the Redskins. He was the defensive coordinator on Grayson’s 2011 and 2016 championship teams and was on Collins Hill’s staff when hired at Social Circle.

1. What happened in Friday's game that allowed you to win so comfortably against a tough opponent? “Our kids played their most physical football game since we have all been together the last three years. Our offensive line, backs and receivers all blocked with great effort all night, and defensively we pursued the ball and gang tackled their talented backs. I think as the game wore on, our kids grew in confidence because of how physically dominant we were playing.” [As an aside question, Patton was asked about Lamar County RB/LB C.J. Allen, who is committed to Georgia. He said, ‘’I think he is an incredible player, definitely didn't help my sleep having to watch him on film all week. The things he has done this season and previous seasons speak for itself. He made some really good plays this past week as well. We were just able to limit the long TD runs because of how hard our defense was pursuing the ball. All the accolades he has are well-deserved because he is a special player.”]

2. What made you decide that Social Circle was a good place to begin your head-coaching career? “One of the things that made this such an attractive job was the fact that Social Circle was having success in a lot of sports outside of football. The school has great leadership that is very supportive of our players and coaches, and we have unbelievable facilities for a school our size. We have a great atmosphere for home games, and the entire town is supportive and wants to see our kids and program succeed.” [Social Circle has won recent state titles in wrestling, girls soccer and fastpitch softball, and its boys basketball team was 30-1 last season.]

3. What have you and your staff done at Social Circle that's made the biggest difference? “Without a doubt the biggest thing our staff has done has been to change the mindset in the weight room. Our administration made a commitment to improve our weight room, and we have an incredible strength coach in Nate Ethridge who pushes our kids in there every single day, for all the student-athletes not just football, and their work has led to a lot of success throughout our entire athletic department.”

4. What's the identify of your team? “The identity of our team is to do what it takes to improve every single day. Every day before practice or workouts we ask our kids what is our goal today? Their answer is to just get better. We ask them to focus on whatever the task at hand is whether it’s blocking and tackling fundamentals, running routes or lifting weights, and we ask that they commit their mind fully to improving at whatever it is they are currently working on. We have had the same talk before and after practice every day for the past three years, and we don't plan on changing that moving forward. Improve ourselves as individuals and as a team, and the rest will take care of itself.”

Today’s interviewee is Troup coach Tanner Glisson, whose team defeated No. 5 Starr’s Mill 44-17 in Region 4-4A last week. Troup defeated then-No. 3 Whitewater 44-33 the week before. Troup is chasing its first region title since 1987. The Tigers have come close in Glisson’s first seven seasons, finishing with a single region loss three times.

1. You've also scored 40+ points the past two weeks against teams that pride themselves on good defense. What do you feel that you're doing offensively that is allowing you to have this kind of success? “Well, we went out in the offseason and hired Kyle Wilson from Brooks County as our new offensive coordinator. We knew that we had a great talent in quarterback Taeo Todd and some really talented guys around him, but we needed someone to bring it all together and Coach Wilson has done that for us.”

2. What does Todd do that makes him so hard to contain? “He is a fantastic runner who can also throw, so he is the definition of a dual threat. Having weapons like Qua Moss, Qua Birdsong, Noah Dixon, Logan Sinkfield and others also helps teams not be able to just sell out on Taeo.”

3. Is this the best Troup team that you've had? “It's a really good team. We have a ton of juniors, and we thought their senior year could be a good one, and right now, we are probably a little ahead of schedule. Our 2018 semifinal team that went 12-2 and lost to Cartersville and Blessed Trinity was pretty talented as well.”

4. Football in Troup County has great tradition, and all three teams have been ranked this season. What are the dynamics that allow all three teams to be pretty good? “The county as a whole is a good football place. Administrators, parents, fans, etc., really understand what it takes. They have made a commitment with building the indoor practice facilities, etc.”

Today’s interviewee is Lambert coach Marc Beach, whose team defeated East Coweta 31-24 last week and is 5-0 for the first time since 2011 and ranked for the first time since 2012. Beach had been Lambert’s offense coordinator since 2020 when promoted this offseason. He was head coach at Seabreeze in Florida from 2001 to 2014.

1. What was the significance of the East Coweta victory? “It gives us a lot of confidence going into region play. We made it like a playoff road game. We left in the middle of the day and did a walk-through at McIntosh High School and ate at a restaurant, which we don’t normally do. Our goal is to be in the playoffs, and if we get a chance to travel, we know we can handle that.” [At 78 miles, the road trip from Forsyth County to Coweta County was Lambert’s longest since 2010, when it went 84 miles to Rome.]

2. What was the difference in the game? “Our defense kept us in the game and made plays when they had to. They had a great quarterback and some good wideouts. Jack Racki made a heck of a play on a screen pass after they’d tied it up 17-17 [and returned it for a touchdown] to make it 24-17, and then our nose guard [Steven Aguilar] ended up picking a batted ball out of the air, and we scored quick to make it 31-17. We got another pick [by Harrison Richards] and had the ball down inside their 3 but turned it over. If we’d punched that in, we would’ve been up three scores, but we have to give East Coweta credit. They didn’t quit and went 96 yards in basically a minute and a half and we had to recover an onside kick.”

3. What stands out to you about this year’s Lambert team? “We have great leadership. We have a leadership council, and we talk every Wednesday about things that need to go on at practice. We have a lot of younger players. Our sophomore class is very talented. We’ve got eight or nine sophomores that get reps and play a bunch. We’re playing two sophomore corners, Cam Bland and Harrison Richard, and they got challenged the week before, and they stepped up. Our senior class just has good leaders. They do a great job.”

4. How do you see Region 6 playing out? “We’re 5-0, but there’s a lot of ahead of us. I believe our region is even and tough. Denmark is on a roll [four-game winning streak after an opening loss], West Forsyth has a heck of a defense and running back. South Forsyth has had our number for the last five years. Milton is playing one of the toughest schedules in the state, so their record [2-3] doesn’t mean anything. Forsyth Central is playing everybody tough. For our team, I ask for three things – to play as hard as you can, play with class and expect to win every play. That’s our motto. We’ve got our work cut out.”

Today’s interviewee is new Hebron Christian coach Jonathan Gess, whose Class 3A team is 4-0, matching the Lions’ victory total of 2021. Gess was head coach at Eagle’s Landing Christian from 2007 to 2021 and won 160 games and six Class A championships. He took the job at Hebron, a Gwinnett County private school, in March.

1. The question you've practiced answering many times this year: Why did you decide to leave ELCA for Hebron Christian? Did you discover the job opening and pursue it, or did Hebron approach you? “The athletic director at Hebron called me. The Lord places us in different places for different seasons of our life. I had been at ELCA a long time, 15 years, and we had a great run. I am only 43 years old and saw a great opportunity at Hebron to go and build something great. I loved the head of school, James Taylor, and the AD, Taylor Davis, and the vision they have for the school and athletic programs.”

2. Is there some things about building a winner at a small private school that would be different than at other schools? “I think what it takes to win at any place and at any level is getting people to buy in and getting them to work. That was my main focus when I got here, to get the kids who were coming back to get to work and believe they can become something great. Obviously to win, you need great players, but you have to get those great players to believe in hard work and that they can actually be great.”

3. Your quarterback, Gavin Hall, is near the top of the leaderboard in rushing yards statewide and having a fantastic year. What would you want people to know about him and his skill set? How is his recruiting going? “After I accepted the job from the head of school and told him I was taking the job, my first meeting was with Gavin. He and I have built a great relationship. Gavin was already amazingly talented. I am able to help him by letting him use his gifts and talents in an offense that is built around him. Gavin is an extremely hard worker and has a will to be great. He can run and throw. He is the hardest-working kid on the team. He has bought in to growing as a leader. He makes other people around him better. I knew he was here, but I didn't actually know he was this good. Recruiting-wise, it is picking up for him. He doesn't have any offers yet, but Boston College, Coastal Carolina, App State and a few more are real interested. Gavin can play QB or any skill position on the field. He can play at the Power 5 level.”

4. What's been the reception of the school and parents and student body to how the team has performed so far? “Of course, everyone loves you when you're winning. The parents bought in before we started to win. It started back in March and this summer. The people here want to win and be great. The students that don’t play football want us to be great. I think the sky is the limit for what we can do here.”

Today’s interviewee is Lumpkin County coach Heath Webb, whose team is 4-0 entering a bye week. Lumpkin County is the state’s most improved team from last season so far, according to the Maxwell Ratings and the GHSA Daily Improvement Tracker. Lumpkin County was 2-8 in 2021 and hasn’t won more than four games in a season since 2014. Webb previously has been a head coach at Gainesville, Winder-Barrow and North Paulding.

1. What do you feel that you and your staff have done to put the program in a better place to this point? “Our recipe, which has been a group effort between administration and coaches, has been to hire experienced coaches that are a good fit within the community. I've often described it as hiring a bunch of small-town guys to coach a bunch of small-town guys. That personality fit along with quality, experienced coaches has had a big impact on the program. Our motto has been ‘Hard Work Pays Off.’ The players bought into it right away and have done a tremendous job of being coachable on a daily basis. In short, hire the right people and get the players to buy in.”

2. What's been the response/reception from the team, the school and the parents to being off to a good start? “This community has been hungry for a successful football team. I was lucky enough to be here last semester and watch our girls basketball team win a state championship. The entire town of Dahlonega was in Macon that day. I knew then that if we could give this community something to be proud of that they would support it 100%, and that's exactly what has happened. This town is on fire for Indians football, and our team appreciates their support.”

3. Your old team, Gainesville, is also off to a great start. How do you look back on your time at Gainesville? “I'm happy to see what's going on at Gainesville. I knew it would happen in a matter of time. At the end of my first year there [2018], I made a presentation to the community entitled ‘Why not us?’ where I showed pictures of our facilities compared to others around the state with the theory that better facilities would create a better program. We were in desperate need of upgrades. Of course, the powers that be made it happen along with the Hall County ESPLOST voters, but I would like to think that maybe I got the ball rolling with that presentation back in 2018.”

4. What attracted you to the Lumpkin County job? “Dahlonega is my wife's hometown and has become my adopted hometown. We were here before, and I worked under Tommy Jones. We loved it. The only reason we left was because I was presented an opportunity to become a head coach at North Paulding. We always said we'd end up back here at some point in time. We now have three kids in school and knew this would be a great place for our children to be in school as well as a great place for Jesi and I to work. I also felt we could make it a winner, and with the support of our administration, I feel we're doing just that.”

Today's interviewee is Matthew Brown, sports editor of The Union Recorder of Milledgeville. Thirty years ago this week, Brown got his first newspaper job as a sports reporter at The Press-Sentinel in Jesup. He has since worked for newspapers in Americus, Moultrie, Houston County and Eatonton. He joined The Union Recorder in 2022.

1. You've covered high school sports most of your time in the profession. What do you like about high school sports that's kept you covering them so long? “It's the relationships I cherish most, when you see people again and they remember you and are glad to see you. That's happened so many times just recently here in Milledgeville. Then you learn things like somebody's passing, like a former Wayne County High baseball coach/administrator very recently whose age was close to mine. I've had the honor of working with Conrad Nix and Rush Propst plus Erik Soliday and Ronnie Jones. Chip Malone, Warner Robins basketball coach, was an inspirational tale, surviving a heart transplant and living long enough to make a difference in heart disease awareness. Got to tell Henry Aaron in Americus how he hit 715 on my fourth birthday. Heard Jimmy Carter say he was going to a concession stand line to get a hamburger. Got to send a picture of me and Kirby Smart to my dad on the day he had a major back operation more than four years ago saying, 'Somebody sends get well wishes.’”

2. Who are some of the most memorable players or games that you've covered? “Last year I was telling Jeff Dantzler [host of Georgia football pregame and postgame shows] about who all I've covered, highlighting Jake Fromm and Daijun Edwards. Those are just future Bulldogs. Also covered Casey Hayward at Perry. He led the NFL in interceptions one year with the Chargers. Seeing Fromm in Little League baseball, he threw the most impressive off-speed curve at the Southeast Regional Stadium, impressive in that I saw it from the side angle. My first interview with him was after winning Gatorade Player of the Year at Houston County. Never met a more humble, faith-driven youngster. Even in subsequent interviews, it's ‘God let me hit a home run.’ As for most memorable games, can't beat the buzzer-beaters, and the best wasn't so much a game as a Monday region tiebreaker the first year GHSA did those in 1996. Wayne County beat Appling County on a Hail Mary heave, fourth down from midfield after the quarterback took two big sacks in a row. They had to make the PAT, something Appling didn't do previously due to excessive celebration foul.”

3. You've worked at several newspapers and towns where football is important. What's the most vibrant high school sports or high school football community that you've covered? “When your school's the only game in town, and everywhere in the fall it’s ‘Go Packers’ or ‘Go Jackets,’ that's special to see. But even if it's a multi-school community, the 'mass of humanity' with colors blue, red, gold, green everywhere on Friday tells you all you need to know. And they support everything well. You don't want to turn your back, having to leave early to get back to office work, or you are likely to hear a sound as if Elvis and The Beatles just took the stage. Yes, they make some noise.”

4. How has the coverage of high school football changed in three decades because of newspaper industry challenges and where it might be headed? “Coverage of high school football, yes it has changed and grown. If it's a good program, everybody wants to be there, on the sideline, in the press box. Everybody's got a recruiting website, it seems. Don't think anyone in my graduating class expected something like the internet; that kind of crept in during the 1990s, and now it seems people, famous or not, base their existence by what's on a computer screen. All I've asked for is a spot to do my job, an opponent and officials to show up, and good attitudes. Oh, and people still like game stories about what the players did. The audiences I've had aren't interested in my 'takeaways.' In fact, to me that's interceptions and lost fumbles. And I don't fill the story with the same old quotes, 'We have to get better. That's what we're trying to build.' Bottom line is I still believe in newspapers, they haven't gone anywhere, and even if it all goes digital, somebody still has to write the content.”

Today’s interviewee is Starr’s Mill coach Chad Phillips, whose team defeated LaGrange 25-24 in overtime Friday in a game between top-10 teams in Class 4A. It was also the Region 4 opener for both. Starr’s Mill, ranked No. 5, will play No. 4 Troup at home Friday. Phillips is in his 13th season as head coach at Starr’s Mill. He began working at the Fayette County school in 1997.

1. How did the LaGrange game unfold, and what was the key to winning it? “We played a very tough team at Callaway Stadium. We played well in the first half, jumping out to a 10-3 lead at the break. The third quarter was a character check. We created quite a mess. LaGrange started with a big pass play, and two consecutive 15-yard penalties gave them great field position. They threw a pretty fade route for a score to tie the game. We inadvertently touched our knee to the ground while punting it away on our next series. They turned the mistake into points. The subsequent kickoff, we fair caught the kick on our own 1-yard line. We finally got things settled down and put a drive together after a disastrous quarter. A late goal-line stand put us in position to tie the game. Logan Inagawa hit Bo Walker on a 56-yard TD pass to send the game to OT. LaGrange scored first, but we answered and decided to go for two. Andersen Cardoza scored on the buck sweep to end the game. It was a tremendous high school football game. The key was relentless effort. Our kids were knocked down, but they never gave in and found a way to win it in the end.”

2. What do you make of the region you're in, with five teams [Starr’s Mill, LaGrange, Troup, Whitewater, Trinity Christian] that have been ranked at some point this season? “We feel like we are in the SEC West. The players are extremely talented, and all the teams are very well-coached. Seven of the eight were playoff teams from a year ago. Each and every week will be a massive challenge for us. We hope to battle ourselves into one of the four playoff spots. Our region will be well represented in the state playoffs.”

3. What's the biggest challenge you'll face with Troup this week? “Troup has some special players. Taeo Todd, Tray Blackmon, Qua Moss, Qua Birdsong and Noah Dixon are all big recruits. Their team speed will give us some problems. They spread the field and get the ball to all of their playmakers. We will have to play great defense to keep it close.”

4. You've been at Starr's Mill for a quarter of a century now. What explains your longevity at one school? “I have been here 26 years now. Starr's Mill is unique in that we were able to build the program from scratch. Coach Mike Earwood hired a great staff and quickly established a high standard and developed a great culture. We have been very fortunate to have strong school administrative and booster support. Our players are still willing to invest the necessary time, and we have an incredible coaching staff that is passionate about the game and the values it teaches. This place has to be one of the better jobs in the state. We are happy here.” [Phillips was on Earwood’s Cartersville staff from 1990 to 1996, which includes the 1991 state-championship team. Earwood hired Phillips on his first Starr’s Mill staff in 1997.]