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This is the first of eight 2016 GHSA football preview articles.
Tomorrow…1A Private classification
Wednesday August 10th…2A classification
Thursday August 11th…3A classification
Friday August 12th…4A classification
Monday August 15th…5A classification
Tuesday August 16th…6A classification
Wednesday August 17th…7A classification
The A Public classification, now featuring twenty-four teams in its state championship bracket come November, will once again be dominated by “the county’s.”
Championship Favorites…
A former 2A school is our favorite to win the state title. Macon County has 3A talent, is deep, and will return most of their impact players from a team that could have beaten eventual state champion Pace Academy in the state quarterfinals. The most important of which is senior quarterback Khari Lane. This is the type of kid that makes a media member love covering high school sports. Seeing him as a freshman, his maturation process has been inspiring. Last year, as a junior, he connected for thirty scores and over 3,200-yards. He should be the player of the year in 1A Public and the Bulldogs could be state champions.
People forget just how good Irwin County has been over the last three years. Thirty-one wins, back-to-back runner-up finishes and a state semifinal appearance place the Indians as the dominant team in that span. True, they lose all-everything DJ Pollard, but the other two big guys who have led the Indians, senior quarterback Zac Tolar and senior tailback Zaire Andrews, return. Also important in that offense: returning three offensive linemen. Expect IC to be a championship contender once again.
The defending state champion, Clinch County, will log in four ball carriers north of 500-yards rushing in 2016. Especially, with the return of senior running back Shannon Young and junior quarterback Charles McClellan. Sophomore Trezman Marshall is a star in the making. Expect the Panthers to be a worthy defending champion and a probable state quarterfinalist. Their level of experience achieved over the last two years is so very important. Chances are two of these three teams will meet in a semifinal. If it is Irwin, they know they can win that game; they already have. How does Clinch find an x-factor if they face Macon County’s high powered offense? The Panthers return their entire starting secondary.
Contenders…
Our sleeper pick to make a run in 2016 is…(where is the drum roll?)…Mt Zion, Carroll. Head Coach Keith Holloway’s Wing-T offense returns their entire backfield, pretty important in that offense. Plus, three offensive linemen, including Chandler Butler, who is preseason all-state. Expect for Jordan Akin, Jace Jordan, Kareem Walker and Richard Farley to produce the most productive run-game in 1A football and make a deep run in post-season.
Charlton County loses Andrew Lee, perhaps the most underrated lower classification running back in the state. Still, number-two man Eric Daniels, a junior running back, and emerging sophomore athlete Raykwon Anderson are back. The Indians have some questions which makes their outlook a bit hazy. Yet, it is Charlton; so, somehow, they will still be a playoff team with high-level potential.
No player meant more to their team over the last four years than Lorenzo Smothers did for Marion County. In his four-years in Buena Vista, the Eagles won a state title, reached a semifinal, two quarterfinals and posted a 44-7 record. They should recover nicely from the loss as senior running back Mykelle Kelley and junior quarterback Quentez Battle return.
The legendary Red Devils from Lincoln County could actually end up as THE surprise team in 2016. LC returns three all-state players to go along with two other guys, Quay Hartfield and Jamal Norman, who could be.
Commerce was a state semifinalist last year because of their physicality. As long as depth doesn’t become an issue they should write a similar storyline. Preseason All-State DB Cole Chancey, a junior who plays both ways, is back to lead the Tigers charge.
After a bit of a dip in 2013, Emanuel County Institute won eight games in 2014 and then eleven on their way to the state semifinals last year. That experience will be key for a team with a mix of youth and upperclassmen.
Playoff bound, higher seeds beware…
Turner County was one of the feel good teams of 2015 after winning eight games and reaching the postseason. Junior athlete Tyler Moore and senior wide-out Tammarion Terry, both of whom were all-state last season, will lead them back to the playoffs.
Terrell County is led by Auburn commit Tray Bishop. This two-way player, at 6’3/ 190, is as close to a one-man wrecking ball as any in 1A.
Taylor County may have the edge at this level. Lyn-J Dixon, a top 25 running back for 2018, will find help from emerging junior quarterback Gunner Watson. From 3-7 last year, to a playoff team with major upset potential in 2016.
Top Ten challengers…
Manchester, Dooly County, Hawkinsville and Schley County
Chris Mooneyham 