Today’s interviewee is Decatur coach William Felton, whose team won its first region title since 2004 last week with a 40-38 victory in a winner-take-all game against Chamblee in Region 4-5A. Felton took over the program in 2020 and helped the Bulldogs win their first playoff game since 2003, when Decatur was a Class 2A school.

1. What was the difference in Friday’s game? What gave you the advantage? “The difference in the game was time management and fighting to the last second, literally. There was no real advantage. Both teams had great game plans, and it just came down to the last possession of the ball game. The last touchdown was one of our trick plays. Chamblee did their trick plays earlier in the game, and they were successful. We just saved ours for that critical moment when it wasn't expected. Junior running back Tristan Strickland received the toss from senior quarterback Harrison Hannah and threw it 60 yards to junior Malachi Miller for the touchdown.” [The winning touchdown came in the final minute of the game. Decatur had trailed 30-14 early in the second half. Hannah passed for 277 yards and rushed for 126.]

2. What does the win and the region title mean to your team/program? “This title means a lot for the school and the community. For me it's special because I have been coaching here since 2008 and never won region. It was great to see a team that I lead experience this.”

3. What are some things that people might want to know about your team if they haven’t seen you play? “If you haven't seen us play, just know that we are going to give you our best. We have some great kids and great athletes who can make plays for us. We are led by seniors, quarterback Harrison Hannah, wide receivers Kenric Lanier and Kedric Lackey and superstar junior Malachi Miller, a wide receiver, safety and returner. Our O-line fights hard and make it all possible for the offense to thrive like they do.”

4. What do you feel that you and your staff have done that’s made the biggest difference in getting the program to this point? Do you have a challenge that’s different than most programs? “The challenge for our program is definitely funding, which leads to lack of resources. Our approach to this season was different than it was in previous years. I decided to front load the schedule with tough, playoff-caliber opponents to help elevate our play and identify areas we are deficient in early so we could correct them before the playoffs. Working so far, I guess, right?” [Decatur was 1-4 in its pre-region schedule but is 4-0 in region play with one game left against a 2-7 team.]

Today's interviewee is Folkston native and Charlton County football historian Glenn Hughes, who will cover the Swamp War rivalry game between Charlton County and Clinch County tonight for the 32nd time for the Charlton County Herald. The game, played between south Georgia schools on opposite sides of the Okefenokee Swamp, likely will decide the Region 2-A Division II championship. Hughes hasn't missed seeing Charlton County play since 1989, a streak of 417 games. Hughes also works as a field maintenance supervisor in the Charlton County Recreation Department.

1. How do you assess this year's Charlton County-Clinch County game? “I expect the game to be close and physical as a lot of the games have been over the years. Turnovers could decide the winner if one team makes a mistake. With the region title on the line, I expect both teams to pull out all the stops.”

2. What makes this game such a good rivalry? “This game has been going on since the 1950s, and for many of those years the winner has gone on to win the region title and often the state title. By the time I arrived into the rivalry, it was full swing already. From the coaches’ standpoint on both sides, it is a rivalry of respect for the other program while fans get into the other aspects of the game.”

3. What's the most memorable Clinch-Charlton game you've seen? “Three games stand out from a Charlton perspective. In 1996, Charlton's Donahue Brunson blocked a game-winning field goal in the final seconds to claim an 8-6 win. In 2003, Charlton scored two touchdowns in the final minute to come from behind to win 16-13. Trailing 13-3, Charlton scored, recovered an onside kick. and Jeremy Privett hit Justin Mincey for a short game-winning TD with about five seconds remaining. In 2021, just a back-and-forth game that went into overtime with Charlton winning 35-34 when Wyatt Crews drilled the game winning PAT. Jaylen Lilley scored all five Indian touchdowns.”

4. Why do you feel that you've followed the team so closely all these years? “High school football is the purest form of the game, especially in small towns around Georgia. You watch these kids grow up from rec ball and see them work hard to achieve their goals and play for the community that supports them. I was fortunate enough to play high school football for the late Luther Welsh at Dougherty, then be around Rich McWhorter for many years. Those are two of the greatest coaches in Georgia high school football history. As long as I'm able, I'll continue to follow the Indians wherever they go.”

Today’s interviewee is Thomas County Central coach Justin Rogers, whose team is 8-0 after a 42-21 victory over No. 10 Houston County last week. The Yellow Jackets are playing Friday at No. 7 Lee County. Rogers was the coach at Colquitt County (2019-21) and Jones County (2014-18) before taking the Thomas Central job this season. Despite moving up two classifications into Class 6A, Rogers’ Yellow Jackets are off to their best start since 2007.

1. What did your team to well that made the difference in beating Houston County? Was it containing Houston County’s passing game and quarterback A.J. Hill? “That was the deal, being able to play the long game. Our defense did a good job not giving up explosive-play touchdowns. We only gave up one, and we kept making them snap the ball and found ways to get stops. They have a one-play mindset, and they’re really good at it, and I thought our defense was awesome. Then we finished in the fourth quarter [outscoring Houston County 21-0 after going into the final period 21-21]. We put together a good drive, and the defense comes out and forces a turnover, and we go in again on a short field. At some point we’re going into four-minute mode, trying to burn clock, and the offense did a great job of possessing the ball and we were able to punch in a touchdown run.”

2. Thomas County Central was 5-6 last season playing in Class 4A and hadn’t had a winning season since 2016. Did you expect to be in this position – 8-0 and playing for a region title in this tough region – in your first season? “I know when we took the job and got to working the boys at the school, we felt we had a chance to be a good football team. They had talent and were working their tails off, and we had good support from the school. Did you see yourself being 8-0 and the way we got here? I don’t know, but we knew we had a shot to be good because of the way the kids were working. There were some really good players on this football team who’d played a lot of snaps.”

3. What have you and your staff have done that’s made the biggest difference in the turnaround? “The biggest thing was establishing consistency in everything that we do. We have a system on how we get dressed, a system on how we practice, a system on how we meet and a system on how we lift weights. We hold everybody accountable and to the same standard whether they’re a first-string player or a fifth-string player. All of our coaches come from winning programs from the college level or high school level. We’re doing what we knew produced results and teaching that to the kids.”

4. Why is this job better for you than Colquitt County? “I think everything in life is about fits. There are a lot of women in the world, but you only marry the one that you have a good fit with. I loved my time at Colquitt County and have life-long friends there that I’ll never lose, and I’m a much better coach for the time spent at Colquitt, but I walked into a situation that was difficult. Call it like it was. It was a tough time. I’m proud of what we did there, and I’m proud of my time spent there. When the Thomas County Central job became available and they reached out to me, I did feel like it was a better fit for me and my personality and who I am. It’s a rebuilding mode, and it’s going to be mine. I’m not inheriting it. I grew up on a farm in south Alabama. We're living with a big pond in Boston, Ga., and enjoy going fishing to relax and get away. This is me. In a football game, somebody wins, and somebody loses, but in life, there are a lot of win-wins. I believe this is a win-win. Sean Calhoun [Colquitt County’s new coach] is a great coach, and I’m happy for their success this season. And I’m having fun coaching ball here. I feel it was a situation where both programs won and nobody lost. I’m pulling for them. I hope they win it all in 7A.”

Today’s interviewee is Lanier Christian coach Bruce Miller, a Flowery Branch school of about 400 students K-12 that plays in the Georgia Association of Private and Parochial Schools (GAPPS). Miller is best known for his time as Gainesville’s coach from 2002 to 2017, when the Red Elephants won eight region titles and one state championship. Miller, 70, retired after the 2017 season with 225 victories but didn’t stay off the sidelines long. This season, he's led Lanier Christian to a 6-2 record while averaging 51 points per game, more than any of his Gainesville teams, even those with Deshaun Watson at quarterback.

1. After retiring, did you expect to coach again, and what’s led to where you are now? “Soon after retirement I realized I didn’t want to sit at home and started looking for something football-related to do since football is my passion. My first stint was coaching offense at Lakeview Academy, then Flowery Branch High School and finally West Hall. Since this didn’t really scratch my itch like I had hoped, I heard about the need for a coach at Lanier Christian Academy and checked on it. I am now in my second year as head coach at LCA and loving it.”

2. How would you contrast and compare what you're doing now to coaching bigger, more high-profile schools? “Coaching football is coaching football, no matter the stage. I really enjoy the players and learning daily about the game and how to scheme and implement success. Once the whistle blows, it’s all about what goes on between the white lines. I love to study the game and try new things.”

3. It's been 10 years since you won a state title at Gainesville. Your most famous player, Watson, has obviously accomplished a great deal since then. But looking at it from the perspective of 2022, what's his place in Georgia high school football history? “Coaching Deshaun Watson and many successful players at Gainesville High was indeed a privilege. I think winning the state championship in 2012 really brought the spread offense to Georgia high schools and seeing how it can open up the field and the game. I also think Deshaun Watson will go down as one of the most prolific players in Georgia high school football. His style of play and athletic ability combined for more than 17,000 yards of total offense.”

4. What advice would you give young coaches about succeeding, something that many might not already know? “First, be yourself. Don’t try to be someone you’re not. I know we’ve all had great mentors throughout our lives, but pick and choose the best from each and find ‘your’ style and really study the game. Be a lifetime learner of the game.”

Today’s interviewee is Thomasville coach Jonathan DeLay, whose team defeated then-No. 4 and previously unbeaten Dougherty 35-20 last week to clinch the Region 1-3A championship. DeLay, a Ringgold native, had been on Thomasville’s staff since 2017 and was the Bulldogs’ offensive coordinator on last season’s Class 2A runner-up team. Thomasville got off to a 1-3 start, losing to top-10 teams Brooks County, Thomas County Central and Bainbridge, but has won five straight games, two against ranked in-region opponents.

1. What did your team do well that made the difference in beating Dougherty? “Going into the Dougherty game, we believed we had to make the quarterback [all-state junior Kameron Davis] throw and keep him in the pocket to be successful on defense. On the offensive side of the ball, we knew we had to run the football and win one-on-one balls downfield. Winning the special teams was our fourth goal; however, we fell short there, but we achieved the other three goals. We had four interceptions on defense. Jay Randall had two, and D.J. Thurman and Deltrioz Grimsley each had one. We rushed for 164 yards and one touchdown, and Cam Hill threw four TD passes, two to Jay Randall and one each to Cole Shaw and D.J. Thurman.”

2. What were your expectations for this season? On one hand, you had lots of graduation losses, you moved up in class, and there’s a coaching transition. On the other hand, you’re Thomasville. How did you see it? “In Thomasville, the expectation is always to win a championship. For us this year it has been about playing better each and every week. The Lord has blessed us with an amazing season so far. We have come from some low places, but it says a tremendous amount about the character of the kids in this program. We have faced a great deal of adversity, and they fought through it to get to where we currently are. Our goal is to continue to go 1-0 each week by playing to ‘Our Standard.’”

3. What’s the biggest difference between how your team is playing now versus the first month of the season? “We are playing with a tremendous amount of confidence right now. The kids are gelling with each other and the coaches so well. We are fully bought in to playing to ‘Our Standard’ in every practice and every game.”

4. Are there some things about being a head coach that surprised you, that you had to learn for yourself on the job? “Your phone never stops ringing. My favorite time of the day is going to practice and setting it on the speakers to play the music. I'm so thankful for this opportunity that the Lord has blessed me with. Seeing the transformation of this team has been so amazing. There is something divinely special taking place in Thomasville, and I am so thankful that I get a front-row seat to see what the Lord does on a daily basis.”

Today’s interviewee is Camden County coach Jeff Herron, whose team defeated previously unbeaten Valdosta 17-14 on Friday. Herron was Camden’s coach from 2000 to 2012, winning 12 region titles and three state championships. He returned to Camden in 2021 after coaching stops at Prince Avenue Christian, Grayson, T.L. Hanna in South Carolina and Tennessee Tech. Camden was 4-7 last season and started this one 0-2 but is now 6-3 overall, 2-1 in Region 1-7A, with a chance to finish second and get a home playoff game with a victory over Lowndes on Nov. 4.

1. What did your team do well that made the difference in beating Valdosta? “We didn't turn the ball over and didn't have the penalties we had the week before [against Colquitt County]. Our opening drive was huge. We hadn't seen anyone block their defensive line well all year, but we had an 85-yard drive that took almost seven minutes off the clock. I'm still not sure we blocked them well, but we were able to get in their way a little bit. Our offensive staff had a great plan, and our kids executed well.”

2. What are you and your team feeling emotionally after that win? Was it something your team’s soul needed? “Yes, I definitely think our team's soul, as you say, needed it. We had lost all of our region games last year after holding leads late in the game, and to win against a great Valdosta team like we did made it even more special. We blocked a field goal that would have tied it with almost seven minutes left, and our offense went out and didn't give them another chance with the ball.”

3. Has getting Camden County football back to where you want it been harder than you anticipated? “Yes, I was foolish enough to think, I guess, that I could just show up and we would get better. I guess the good Lord felt like my humility needed some adjustment. As I mentioned earlier, last year was really a struggle. It just seemed that every time we got to the fourth quarter, everyone in the stadium was just waiting to see what would go wrong, and then it would. But, as a head coach you just have to keep plugging away, you keep working hard every day and every week. The kids expect and deserve your best. I remind myself of a Bobby Bowden quote about rebuilding a program, ‘You lose big, then you lose small, then you win small, and then you can win big.’ We all want it to happen overnight, but that's not realistic.”

4. Where do you feel the program is now? What’s been achieved, and what’s needed to get to the next step, of Camden being a top-10 team again? “That's a hard question to answer. I felt really good about our team and the offseason we had, but then we stumbled out of the gate losing our first two. But our players and coaches responded great after that second loss. You could just feel a change. Six weeks later, though, we went to Colquitt and played and coached like we had never seen a high school game. But after seeing how Colquitt has played everyone else, I told our team we aren't as bad as we thought we were after the Colquitt loss and we aren't as good as we think we are after the Valdosta win. We are still a young team, and we must learn each week, good and bad, and keep working to improve. Our middle schools and ninth-grade and JV teams had great seasons, and I see that as a very good sign, but right now we will just focus on trying to go out and not take a step back against a very good Lowndes team that beat us last year.”

Today’s interviewee is I.J. Rosenberg, chairman of the new Georgia High School Football Hall of Fame. The Hall will induct its first class of 45 players Saturday at the College Football Hall of Fame in downtown Atlanta. Rosenberg is executive director of Score Atlanta, a sports marketing company that administers the Hall of Fame. Sports Atlanta announced the creation of the Hall in February. A 35-member board comprising high school coaches and administrators and media finalized the first class through board voting in July.

1. What are your thoughts now that you're on the eve of the induction, as you look back on the original vision not many months ago and now the first class about to go in? “It has been a whirlwind because this is also the busiest time of the year for my company, so there have been some long days and nights for all of us. But what is exciting is the reaction of the inductees and the fact that many of them will be there and are bringing a lot of family members and friends. Right now, we are sitting at more than 800 coming to the ceremony at the College Football Hall of Fame. From Bill Curry to Herschel Walker, and Stan Rome to Andre Hastings, and Clarence Scott to Charlie Dudish, it’s going to be a gathering of the very best that have played in Georgia. We are also going to have some real surprises, so if you are not going to be there, make sure to watch the stream.” [Fans can watch it on Atlanta First News, formerly CBS46, or the GPB app or the National Federation High School (NFHS) Network.]

2. What’s in store for those who attend? “It’s an opportunity to get up and close with greatness. For instance, Eric Berry will be there with his mother. Eric is one of the greatest defensive backs to ever play in Georgia. and it’s incredible to think about what he went through with Hodgkin's lymphoma during his NFL career and how he was able to overcome it and get back on the field better than ever. I know that is somebody I want to meet. Also, I am going to give a tease to one of the surprises. Watch ESPN “College GameDay” on Saturday from the University of Oregon and you will get to see on a national level the strength of Georgia high school football. I also think that those at the ceremony will get to rub shoulders with some of the pioneers of the Black high school football players in Georgia when the schools were mostly segregated in the state. It was very important to our board that we did a good job here and didn’t miss Black players who were great but were not afforded the exposure that white players had back then.” [Rosenberg’s “GameDay” surprise might involve one of the inductees, David Pollack. Of the 45 inductees, six played in the Georgia Interscholastic Association, which ran sports for African American schools during segregation. They are Rayfield Wright, Mel Blount, Jim Parker, Otis Sistrunk, Clarence Scott and Emerson Boozer.]

3. What's been the reaction of some of the inductees when you've contacted them about making the HOF? “I think the best one came from Richard Dent. Now Dent is one of the greatest defensive ends to play in the NFL and was a Super Bowl MVP for the 1985 Bears for perhaps the greatest defense in NFL history. He was a very, very tough guy on the field and off of it, and I had different people on our staff calling each of the inductees. On Dent, I put our general manager Graham David on him. Graham is one of the nicest guys you will ever meet, but it took some time and patience to get Richard to understand what was going to take place here Saturday. And the next thing we know, Richard is flying in from Chicago and has 14 people coming with him.” [Dent played at Murphy in the 1970s and was the first former Georgia high school football player to be named Super Bowl MVP. He was among the first to make the Pro Football Hall of Fame.]

4. What has been the vision for the Hall of Fame, and where do you see it going forward? “I think the vision is similar to what Loren Maxwell and Todd Holcomb and Becky Taylor and others were thinking when they started the Georgia High School Football Historians Association, and that is to tell the story of high school football in Georgia. The GHSFHA website has been able to do it through numbers and statistics, and we are going to do it through these players every year. At the ceremony, the inductees will answer questions from our hosts, Bill Hartman and Matt Stewart, but I asked Charlie Ward to speak for the class. I think Charlie is a perfect example of just how great high school sports is in football. Here is a guy who won a Heisman Trophy and led Florida State to its first-ever national championship. Yet he never played a down in the NFL. But he chose the NBA and played 12 seasons there. Moving forward, we will continue to build a strong class every year, and we’re in the process of developing a webpage and a strong brand and maybe, and I am being very careful here, a place to house the Hall someday.”

Today’s interviewee is Irwin County quarterback Cody Soliday. On Friday, his team will be playing Brooks County for the fifth time in three seasons, and Soliday will have been a starter in all of them, including a state finals victory in 2020 and state finals defeat in 2021. Soliday’s father, Casey Soliday, is Irwin’s head coach. His uncle (and Casey’s brother) is Tiftarea Academy coach Erik Soliday, a 34-year head coach in Georgia.

1. What is the Brooks County game like? What’s special about it? “It's tense. Every time we play there is something on the line, like a region championship or a state championship. Also, the atmosphere is always incredible. The game is special because two of the best teams in South Georgia are going head to head, and the winner gets all the hype. The Brooks game is a tough challenge because there is speed and athletes all across the field. Also, both teams are playing for a No. 1 seed in the playoffs, putting home-field advantage on the line.”

2. You've been part of three straight Irwin County teams that have won state titles or finished runner-up. How does the 2022 team stack up to the others, and how is it alike or different? “Last year's team and this year's team are really different from the first state championship team. That first state championship team was loaded with athletes. They could have a bad game and still win because of the talent on the field. The last two teams are more similar in their makeup. This year and last year, it takes all of us to get it done. It’s more team-oriented. However, this year's team is even more team-oriented. We hold each other accountable and push to get better each day. When times get tough, we reflect on the state championship, 56-28 [loss to Brooks], and this refocuses us and gets us working hard again. I feel like this year's team wants to be back on that stage holding the trophy up toward the great Indian fans more than ever. We prepare each week to put ourselves in an opportunity to do it again.”

3. What's it like being the son of the head coach? “It comes with some advantages. I know the game well. Also we talk about the play book and game plan constantly. I know every play, where everybody is on all formations and all the rules to each play, which helps in the huddle. However, he gets on me more than anyone else because he expects more out of me and wants me to play perfect. He wants me to be the leader.”

4. What are your goals and plans after high school, and do you want to coach like your father and uncle? “As of now I'm committed to Mercer to play baseball. If anything for football was to come up, I would definitely consider it. School-wise I've thought about doing something in the medical field, but us Solidays tend to end up on a football field somehow, so I guess I'll see how it pans out.”

Today’s interviewee is Northside (Columbus) coach Andrew Oropeza, whose team is 7-1 overall and leading Region 3-5A with a 2-0 record. Victories against Drew (0-7, 0-1) and McIntosh (4-4, 1-1) over the next two weeks would bring Northside’s first region championship. The school opened in 2004. Oropeza became coach in 2020. A Columbus native and Hardaway graduate, Oropeza had been an offensive coordinator at Harris County, Russell County in Alabama and Shaw.

1. For those who haven't seen you play, what would you say about your team and in particular about Malachi Hosley, your star running back? “I would say our team is one that plays hard for 48 minutes. We are a team that plays together and for each other. We have been able to do some good things in all three phases, and we hope to continue that going forward. Yes, Hosley is having a good season. He is a good football player and a good young man. It has been a team effort offensively. Our offense line has been tremendous. Quarterback play has been good, as well as our receivers catching the football and blocking on the edge. Defensively, we have done a good job running to the football, being physical and creating turnovers.” [Northside is seventh in Class 5A points per game at 33.8 and 12th in points allowed per game at 16.4. Hosley’s 1,488 rushing yards are second in 5A.]

2. I know you've got work to do to accomplish this, but what would it mean for Northside to win its first region title? “We are focused on playing Drew this Thursday in a region matchup. We look forward to competing this Thursday against Drew and taking it from there. A region title was not something we necessarily talked about going into the season. We try to take it one day or game at time and go from there. If we are fortunate enough to be in that position, it would mean a great deal to our school, players, parents and school community.”

3. What have you and your staff done in your three seasons at Northside that has been most important in improving the program? “We are fortunate that we have a great, cohesive coaching staff. The important thing for us the last three seasons was building a team that worked extremely hard in the weight room, classroom and on the field. We have also created an atmosphere where players have developed mental and physical toughness. This has translated onto the field. It was also important for us to increase participation. We roughly have over 105 players now. We were around 80-85 players the first two years. This has helped us create competition.”

4. What attracted you to the Northside job? “Northside has a great administration, faculty and student body. Northside has always had a school that cared about football and athletics in general. These were aspects that made Northside an appealing place to work.”

Today’s interviewee is Lincoln County coach Lee Chomskis, whose team has defeated top-10 opponents Washington-Wilkes and Aquinas in consecutive weeks and will play Greene County on Friday for first place in Region 8-A Division II. A region championship would be the first since 2012 for Lincoln County, a program with 33 region titles and 11 state titles since 1970. Chomskis is in his third season in Lincolnton. He coached at Vidalia from 2007 to 2019 and has 124 career victories.

1. You beat Aquinas 28-24 last week with a late touchdown. How would you describe the game, and what gave your team the edge in the end? “The game was certainly one for the fans. Two contrasting styles of offense for sure. Aquinas does an incredible job of spreading the field and finding the open man. Their receivers are all talented and never seem to drop a pass. We on the other hand are a running football team and were able to run it very effectively most of the night. Our defense was able to hold them to a field goal in the fourth quarter, and that proved to be the difference in the end. Our kids came from behind twice on Friday, and for that I am very proud.”

2. What did Friday's victory over Aquinas mean for your team? “The victory on Friday gives us a 2-0 record in the region with three region games to go. It is the first time since 2011 that Lincoln County has defeated Washington-Wilkes and Aquinas in the same season. We feel like that is a big step in the right direction for our program. We must continue to improve on a daily basis if we are to accomplish the goals that we set at the beginning of the season.”

3. What's the state of Lincoln County football in year three for you and your staff? “The state of our program is good. We had 25 players in the program in year one. Our numbers have nearly doubled this season. Our junior varsity team has been able to have a full schedule for the first time in seven years. This is critical for sustaining growth for the coming seasons. It also allows you the opportunity to develop your younger players. I truly believe the most critical part of our growth and development has been with our staff and our weight room. Everyone on our staff is a head coach of another sport in our school. This enables us to develop a consistent standard of work ethic and discipline. Everyone is on the same page, and this affects each team and our hallways. Having defensive coordinator Doug Huff and offensive coordinator Sonny Spurlock leading our young men on a day-to-day basis has quickened the process. I am very blessed to have these two men in leadership roles at Lincoln County High School.”

4. How do you feel about the creation of Class A Division II? [Lincoln County is a school of about 350 students.] “The creation of Class A Division II is a victory for all of the smaller schools in the state. So many times it seems that the larger schools dictate the direction that we take as an association. This gives the little guy an opportunity to compete for championships at the region and state levels. It certainly helped to level the playing field for those schools with very little enrollment. We are battling issues that larger schools do not have to consider. I truly hope that in the coming years that the powers that be will continue to fight for the small rural schools of Georgia.”

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.]