By Michael A. Lough

The Sports Report

centralgasports@gmail.com

 

          The GISA now has an athletics arm, the Georgia Independent Athletic Association, a difference of a letter in the abbreviations.

          Not much has really changed, other than many familiar GISA names returning to the private school association.

          Well, there’s a major – to a point - change or two.

          Multiple attempts were made to solicit information. Questionnaires were returned by ACE, Brentwood, Central, GMC, Hancock Central, Houston County, Howard, John Milledge, Jones County, Stratford, Tattnall, Veterans, and Westfield.
          Capsules include players to watch from teams that returned information.
          Questionnaires were not returned by Baldwin, Bleckley County, Central Fellowship, Covenant, Crawford County, Dodge County, Dooly County, Dublin, East Laurens, FPD, Fullington, Gatewood, Hawkinsville, Lamar County, Macon County, Mary Persons, Jasper County, Northeast, Northside, Peach County, Perry, Piedmont, Putnam County, Rutland, Southwest, Stratford, Taylor County, Twiggs County, Upson-Lee, Warner Robins, Washington County, Westside, Wilkinson County, and Windsor.
          Capsules include overall record, region record, and what round of the playoffs the team reached.

          Years ago, the GISA eliminated Class A, after so many programs left. Then suddenly, it decided to have a Class A playoff, with Class AA teams. Class AA teams decided at the start of the season if they would participate in the AA or A playoffs.

          Last year, Piedmont competed all season in AA ball, but in the A playoffs. And the GISA named a Class A all-state team despite not having Class A competition.

          The “new” GIAA has a convoluted and unique plan in which 82 percent of the football-playing schools make the playoffs. One district can have two state champions.

          Class AAA for the regular season is split up for the playoffs, with a 4A playoff field. District 6-AAA has the four Macon schools, and recent powerhouse John Milledge.

          But for the playoffs, the four Macon schools move up to 4A while John Milledge stays in 3A. Ratings determine the playoff seeds.

          Of the 25 Class AAA teams, 10 will make the AAAA playoffs and 10 will make the AAA playoffs. Of the 12 Class AA teams, 10 make the playoffs. And six of the seven Class A teams continue.

          Thus, 82 percent of the teams playing football are in the postseason. But Class AA teams stay in Class AA for the playoffs now.

Class AAA

FPD Vikings

Last year: 10-3/5-0, first (GHSA 1-A Private), quarterfinals   

Scouting Report: The Vikings have one of the state’s top QBs in Jakhari Williams, who is bigger and stronger. They lost do-it-all defender Coleman Cauley, a major defensive anchor, and a number of other defenders. But RB Griffin Green is back, and there’s a mix that makes the Vikings the district favorite and a state favorite.

John Milledge Trojans

Last year: 12-0/3-0, first, GISA 3A champion

Notable players: QB Briggs Eady, Sr.; RB Javian Butts, Jr.; OL Dawson Youmans, Sr.; LB Andrew Mullis, Sr.

Scouting Report: John Milledge started the season on a 37-game winning streak, started after losing the 3A state title game 48-0 to Frederica on Nov. 30, 2018. But the Trojans face their toughest schedule since long before the streak started, with the addition of FPD, Mount de Sales, Stratford, and Tattnall, returning from the GHSA. Returning more than a dozen seniors is countered by a chunk of youth. An undefeated regular season is unlikely. Another trophy is not.

Mount de Sales Cavaliers

Last year: 5-6/2-3, fourth, (GHSA 1-A Private), first round

Notable players: QB/LB Fernando Washington, Sr.; OL Jermaine Robinson, Sr.; DB Jordan Green, Sr.; OL Bryce Causey, Sr.

Scouting Report: New head coach Gray Yates has been on staff for seven years, so the transition is minimal. The Cavs were without A’Khori Jones most of last season (injury), but Washington expanded his role even more and is one of the underrated playmakers in the area, regardless. The Cavs were competitive in five of the six losses, including the wild 61-33 loss to Tattnall, a game that was a 33-33 tie after three quarters.

Stratford Eagles

Last year: 704/3-2, third (GHSA 1-A Private), first round

Notable players: RB/DB Keondre Glover, Sr.; OL/DL Eli Miscall, Sr.; DB/RB Shaun Wilmore, Sr.; LB Jimmy Bowden, Sr.

Scouting Report: New head coach Chance Jones knows the territory, having been at Tattnall before joining the Stratford staff, and taking over. Glover is a quality two-way player, and was co-offensive POTY in GHSA 1-A Private. The Eagles didn’t lose a huge number of players, and won’t have a major transition staff-wise, so they’re ready for a title run.

Tattnall Trojans

Last year: 9-2/4-1, second (GHSA 1-A Private), first round

Notable players: ATH Brayden Smith, Sr.; RB Demario Wilmore ; LB/RB Cam Person, Sr.; OL Web Davidson, Jr.

Scouting Report: The Trojans were a little bit of a surprise last year, rolling into the playoffs with a balanced team. DL Zavion Hardy left to transfer, but Tattnall .Tattnall has two quality GHSA opponents on the schedule that will toughen up the Trojans for familiar opponents, most of whom are hunting a state title. Smith is a fairly electric player who is all over the place as one of the GIAA’s top playmakers. A new QB and new offensive coordinator (former Mercer QB and assistant John Russ) will make that side of the ball key to watch.

Westfield Hornets

Last year: 8-3/2-1, second, semifinals (GISA 4-AAA)

Notable players: QB Hunter Kirkley, Sr.; DL/WR Cooper Avery, Sr.; LB/RB Coleman Williams, Sr.; WR/DB Ryan Powers, Sr.

Scouting Report: The Hornets are on a roll, going 15-6 the last two seasons, but they might be in a bit of a rebuilding mode, having lost a chunk of key two-way players. Kirkley is a do-everything QB, but he’s behind a line in some transition. A quality non-district schedule – including GHSA AA top-10 Bleckley County - will indicate how much of a postseason run the Hornets can make.

 

Class AA

Brentwood War Eagles

Last year: 11-1/2-0, first, GISA AA champion

Notable players: WR/DB Wes Muller, Sr.; FB/LB Colton Smith, Sr.; WB/OLB Zach Denton, So.; C/LB Cyler Bloodworth, Sr.

Scouting Report: After two straight trips to the finals, including a championship lsat year, the War Eagles might be in something of a rebuilding mode. Gone are all-staters Thomas Denton (a player of the year caliber player), Drew Johnson, and Will Wright, to name a few. Denton in particular was a huge and productive weapon. And the schedule has been upgraded with Mount de Sales, GMC, and George Walton, among others. But it’s still a small three-team region, and Brentwood being the favorite hasn’t changed.

Central Fellowship Lancers

Last year: 9-2, GAPPS AA state champion

Scouting Report: CFCA played a tough schedule last year that included 3A and 2A GISA programs. The Lancers recorded three shutouts, and the two losses were by a total of nine points. They’re back in the GISA for the first time since 2014-15, and have built up enrollment, so they should be competitive from the start.

Gatewood Gators

Last year: 5-7/0-2, third, semifinals

Scouting Report: The Gators will try to get back on track after their first losing season since 3-9 in 2014, Jeff Ratliff’s second season as head coach. That broke a streak of three straight state titles.

Piedmont Cougars

Last year: 9-4/1-1, second, Class AA regular season, Class A postseason, runner-up

Scouting Report: Class A All-State QB Justin Reynolds returns on a team that competed in AA during the season, but Landon Conner and Gavin Mask have graduated.

Trinity Christian Crusaders

Last year: 1-8/0-3, fifth (GISA 2-AAA)

Scouting Report: It was a tough first year for head coach Jedd Marsh, the Crusaders being outscored by 28 points a game, and losing the final eight games, by at least 22 points.                                   

 

Class A

Fullington Trojans

Last year: 3-8/1-1, second (GISA 6-AA), Class A semifinals

Scouting Report: The Trojans drop down into Class A, the first time the GIAA has had the class in several years, so the schedule – which includes two Florida teams – should be more manageable for second-year head coach Stacey Harden.

 

8-man

Region 2
Covenant
John Hancock
Twiggs Academy
Windsor