Chris Mooneyham

Tonight, on 680 The Fan’s Friday Night Football Game of the Week…

…The Lovett Lions host the Westminster Wildcats in “The Battle for Buckhead”.

Some might be surprised to learn that Westminster leads the all-time series 17-10. However, in the last ten years, the rivalry has been split at five wins apiece.

Let’s start with the visitors from Westminster. Last year, the Wildcats provided us with one of the more underrated, surprise, dominant teams in any class in the state. We all knew Westminster was going to be a very good team, but I am not sure any of us figured they were going to be a state title contender. The Wildcats finished 2014 at 12-2; with victories over Lovett, Laney (twice), Elbert County, Central-Carrollton, and Hart County. Their season ended in the state semifinals with a 19-8 loss to the eventual state champions, Calhoun.

Just a few of the names returning for Westminster include: JR RB Zay Malcome (5’3/ 155/ 2014: 1,642 yards rushing/ 16 touchdowns/ 604 more all-purpose yards), SR QB/ATH Rankin Woley (2014: 51-100 passing/ 604 yards/ 8 touchdowns/ 74 carries/ 470 yards/ 6 touchdowns/ LSU baseball commit), and SR K/P Blake Gillikin (2014: 40 yards per punt average/ Penn ST commit).

Westminster is led by Head Coach Gerry Romberg; who is 169-99 in 23 seasons. He is the 3rd longest tenured coach in the state behind Alan Chadwick (33 seasons at Marist) and Rich McWhorter (26 seasons at Charlton County).

Meanwhile, many people, including yours truly, is branding the 2015 season for the Lovett Lions as a bit of a “re-build on the banks”. The Lions have lost so much talent from a team that was a quarter finalist in 2012, a state champion in 2013, and a quarter finalist last year. Gone are 21 regular starters from last year’s squad. In fact, they only return three guys who saw significant time on the field in 2014.

Names like Willie Candler, Will Geraghty, Jack Gearon, Murphy Lee, Nate Offutt helped provide one of the best stretches in program history.

They do return two guys who will lead this 2015 team: SR RB Jay Harris (2014: Averaged 7.1 YPC/ 826 yards/ 7 touchdowns) and SOPH LB Sam Parry.

Head Coach Mike Muschamp, a 100 game-winner at Lovett, is going to have his work cut out for him in 2015.

Be sure to join us beginning at 7 pm on 1230 The Fan 2 and 1340 The Fan 3 in the metro Atlanta area; or on Atlantassportsstation.com.

Kickoff follows at 7:30 pm.

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Published by Chris Mooneyham

Chris Mooneyham is a twenty-year broadcast veteran employed or freelancing for multiple companies across America. Currently he is a co-host, play-by-play person and guest anchor for Atlanta’s sports leader, The Fan 680AM/ 93.7FM; and its sister stations on The Sports X. In the Fall, Chris serves as the Sideline Reporter for Kennesaw State University football. He also works as studio host, play-by-play announcer and content producer for The Fan’s coverage of Georgia High School football. Come the Wintertime, the focus shifts to the National Lacrosse League 2017 World Champions, the Georgia Swarm (play-by-play). When Spring rolls around, the Atlanta native delivers the play-by-play for the Emory University baseball team, a two-time national finalist. All throughout the year, Mooneyham is a lead play-by-play person for the NFHS Network’s high school sports coverage and over the last decade was honored to call state championships in nearly every sport. A Kennesaw State graduate, Chris holds a Communication degree in Media Studies and a Minor degree in Film Studies. He is also a two-time graduate of broadcasting school (Connecticut School of Broadcasting-1998/ Atlanta Broadcast Institute-2008).

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