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Home » Football News

Georgia High School Football Daily

August 17, 2012
By Calvin Scandrett of Lamar County Trojans



Preseason All-State Teams: Class AAAAAA

GHSF Daily's final preseason all-state team, for Class AAAAAA, has 17 players who have made their college choices, more than any other class.

 

Going to Georgia are Brandon Kublanow, Naim Mustafaa, Tray Matthews and J.J. Green.

 

Auburn has claims on Jarrad Davis, Trey Johnson and Carl Lawson.

 

Travis Custis and Shamire DeVine have picked Georgia Tech.

 

Clemson has Grayson stars Robert Nkemdiche and Wayne Gallman.

 

The rest are Octavius Jackson to Florida, Tiquan Lang to South Alabama, Dominique Threatt to South Florida, Eddie Printz to UCLA and Carlos Burse to Vanderbilt.

 

But the team isn't about college prospects. Returning all-state players Alex Stoehr of North Gwinnett, Nathaniel Norwood of Lovejoy and Kasey Gaines of Grayson might not have as many offers, but they have a history of production that can't be ignored. 

 

Class AAAAAA

Offense

QB - Eddie Printz, Lassiter, Sr.

RB - Alvin Kamara, Norcross, Sr.

RB - Travis Custis, Lovejoy, Sr.

RB - Tyren Jones, Walton, Sr.

WR - Juwan Dickey, Lassiter, Sr.

WR - Carlos Burse, Alpharetta, Sr.

OL - Shamire DeVine, Tri-Cities, Sr.

OL - Alex Stoehr, North Gwinnett, Sr.

OL - Dominique Threatt, Tri-Cities, Sr.

OL - Brandon Kublanow, Walton, Sr.

OL - Octavius Jackson, Colquitt County, Sr.

ATH - Wayne Gallman, Grayson, Sr.

 

Defense

DL -  Kelsey Griffin, Mill Creek, Sr.

DL -  Naim Mustafaa, Alpharetta, Sr.

DL -  Robert Nkemdiche, Grayson, Sr.

DL -  Carl Lawson, Milton, Sr.

LB - Jarrad Davis, Camden County, Sr.

LB - Trey Johnson, Central Gwinnett, Sr.

LB - Mohamad Camara, West Forsyth, Sr.

LB - Nathaniel Norwood, Lovejoy, Sr.

DB - Tray Matthews, Newnan, Sr.

DB - J.J. Green, Camden County, Sr.

DB - Kasey Gaines, Grayson, Sr.

DB - Tiquan Lang, Lowndes, Sr.

 

Specialists

PK - Zach Wachholz, Archer, Sr.

P - Connor Rouleau, Peachtree Ridge, Sr.

Spotlight

Heritage finds star in ex-tuba player Raiford

Heritage of Conyers senior Michael Raiford is not the typical college football recruit except that he's 6 feet 6 inches and 280 pounds, just what teams are looking for in a lineman.

 

Raiford has played football for only one season. The coaching staff plucked him from the marching band, where he played the tuba. He's still in the concert band, and his first love remains the ROTC. His life goal is to become a Marine.

 

"We had a lot of FBS schools in here trying to get him, but as soon as Navy offered, he jumped on it," Heritage defensive line coach Chris Pack said. "I honestly think if he had an opportunity to turn pro or become a Marine, he'd become a Marine first."

 

This week has been a somber one for Raiford, as his father, Garland E. Raiford II, passed away.

 

Raiford's family is coming from out of town and will attend tonight's scrimmage game against Eastside in support of Michael. They will do a balloon release before the game in a celebration of Garland Raiford's life.

 

Mustafaa remains committed - to Alpharetta

Alpharetta head coach Jason Dukes set the record straight Thursday on the status of star defensive end Naim Mustafaa, who is committed to Georgia.   

 

It's common on Internet message boards recently to read that Mustafaa has transferred. Sandy Creek and Stephenson are the destinations most commonly mentioned in the false reports.

 

"Naim is in my third-period class and he's tearing it up every day on the practice field," Dukes told GHSF Daily on Thursday. "Rumors of his transfer are highly exaggerated. I'm glad to clear that up because those rumors have even gotten to college coaches."

 

It's also untrue, Dukes said, that center DeAndre Wise has transferred. Wise, one of several top recruits at Alpharetta, continues to anchor Alpharetta's offensive line.

 

It has been a revolving door at Alpharetta this offseason. College prospect linemen Khari-Waithe-Alexander and Justin Haymes transferred to Stephenson. Alpharetta picked up wide receiver Rodney Morris from Wesleyan.

 

More programs with multiple college prospects

In our Thursday feature, we listed schools that had at least three seniors with FBS offers. We also noted that reports of scholarship offers are nothing that is reported officially and that there might be omissions. To wit ...

 

*Parkview has three - RB Chris Carson (Miami and 14 other offers), LB Kyle Williams (Indiana and seven other offers) and DB Shaq Vereen (Air Force and four others). Junior DB Bryce Lewis has an offer from Vanderbilt.

 

*Norcross has four players with major college offers, two who are juniors in DE Lorenzo Carter and RB Myles Autry (both Florida State, Vanderbilt and others). RB Alvin Kamara is a consensus top-10 recruit in Georgia, and DB Shon Akins has committed to Cal.

 

*Heritage of Conyers has three with FBS offers - OL/DL Michael Raiford (committed to Navy), LB Dustyn Moore (committed to Kent State) and LB Chase Alford (Air Force offer). LB Dominque Packer has several FCS offers.

 

*North Gwinnett has two players committed to FBS schools in Donnie Miles (North Carolina) and Jalen Brooks (Maryland). Devondre Seymour has offers (Georgia and others). OL Alex Soehr has been recruited by Ole Miss, though it is unclear if the Rebels have made an official offer.

 

Korey Stringer's son plays at Woodward Academy

There was a good story with a local angle in MaxPreps on Thursday about Kelci Stringer, the widow of Minnesota Vikings lineman Korey Stringer, who died on an NFL practice field 10 years ago. Kodie Stringer, their son, began football practice this month at Woodward Academy in College Park. Kelci Stringer established the Korey Stringer Institute at the University of Connecticut to raise awareness and help create national policy on the issue of heat illness in sports. Korey Stringer died of complications of a heat stroke. The GHSA this season implemented several new rules to lessen the chance of heat-related illness and death in Georgia.

 

Where's Avondale?

We got plenty of e-mails about our story on the Maxwell Ratings and Georgia's football dynasties.

 

Steve Figueroa, the GHSA's director of media relations and a former Atlanta Journal-Constitution high school sports writer, paid homage to the great Avondale teams of the 1950s, '60s and ' 70s. Avondale closed in 2011, so Figueroa can't be accused of favoritism. Avondale was, after all, his alma mater.

 

Figueroa writes:

 

From the 1957 season through the 1972 season (16 seasons), Avondale compiled a record of 160-20-4 (including playoff games). They won the state outright in 1963, tied for it in 1958 and lost in the title games in 1960, 1964 and 1971. Avondale was ranked in the AJC final top 10 rankings in 15 of 16 years, missing only 1970 when they finished 8-1 and did not make the playoffs in those days.

 

As for the quality of opponent and dominance of scores, etc., I would point out that Avondale was playing in the largest class (AAA) the majority of those years in the same region as Southwest DeKalb and Decatur (which was a power back then), and routinely scheduled Marist and Westminster in those days. Also quite a few meetings with Jim Cavan's R.E. Lee outfit.

 

The Blue Devils not only compiled a pretty good won-loss record, but they did dominate:

1959 - Outscored opponents 262-32 with six shutouts.

1960 - Outscored opponents 300-67 with six shutouts.

1961 - Outscored opponents 251-60 with four shutouts.

1962 - Outscored opponents 272-34 with five shutouts.

1963 - Outscored opponents 345-63 with five shutouts (won state title game 40-0).

1964 - Outscored opponents 374-101 with six shutouts (lost title game 21-18).

1965 - Outscored opponents 251-72 with four shutouts.

1966 - Outscored opponents 374 -113 with four shutouts.

 

And Lakeside of DeKalb?

"How about Lakeside from 1970-78? They were 93-16 during one of the best times of high school football in the state and won titles in 1970 and 1972." That was from IJ Rosenberg, former Lakeside player, of ScoreAtlanta. Like Avondale, Lakeside was not among Maxwell's top 35 dynasties.  

Any love for Cairo?

Matt Yandle, a Thomasville football historian, asked about Cairo. Maxwell replied and pointed out that Cairo is the only school in Georgia with four dynasties - 1958-64, 1981-85, 1990-2001 and 2006-11. But none was higher than No. 38 all-time.

 

Statesboro was no slouch, either

Mike Rollins, the director of parks and recreation for Bulloch County, wondered how Statesboro didn't make the top 35. "Especially during the years 2000-2005," he said. "Two AAAA state championships, three runner-ups and a combined record of 76-9-1." Maxwell said the 2000-05 dynasty ranked No. 40. Those for 1966-70 and 1956-60 also made the top 100.

 

Ever heard of Dan Pitts?

Frank Thomas, a former assistant at Mary Persons, wondered why MP didn't make the top 35 dynasties. "I worked for Coach [Dan] Pitts for five years back in the '80s as a new young coach who thought he knew football until I met him. Found him to be a great teacher of the game and amazing knowledge and strategist. I played and coached at Washington-Wilkes (LMC & MTSU in college) back when they were all good so was shocked at his small football players! He sure coached them up and got amazing effort and results out of his kids. Got to believe he was one of the best all time, especially if you consider how few college prospects he had each year.''

 

Wait 'til next year for Clinch County

Maxwell noted that Clinch County is in danger of its dynasty ending. We checked with our best Clinch County source, who replied: "Only seven starters return. We'll be fortunate to finish .500 with our schedule. Good news is we will be better next year, and loaded the following four to 10 years after that."

 

Miscellaneous

Johnny Walton, a Lincoln County football historian who is also accomplished as a Webmaster for some good football sites in Georgia, now has the all-time victory totals for schools nationwide on his Football Friday Night site. Valdosta is No. 1 with 869 victories. ... Camden County all-state halfback/cornerback J.J. Green is a cousin of former Peach County and Florida star Jacquez Green. ... Carver (Atlanta) lineman Delando Crooks has not missed a practice in four seasons. His teammate, Roc'M Nesbitt, has a great name for a defensive lineman. ... Greenbrier coach Kevin Hunt's daughter, Kaila, was the starting shortstop for Alabama's national championship softball team. ... New Coffee coach Robby Pruitt's first game as a head coach in Georgia in 2000 was against Coffee. He (and Fitzgerald) lost, then won 13 consecutive games to the Class AA final against Swainsboro.

Trivia

Which ACC school is the alma mater of head coaches Rick Tomberlin of Effingham County, Blair Armstrong of North Forsyth and John Kovzell of Ola? (Answer Monday)

 

Answer to Thursday's question: Doyle Orange of Waycross was the first Georgia high school player to rush for 2,000 yards in a season. He finished with 2,289 in 1969. 

Corrections

Stephenson QB Justin Holman has committed to Central Florida. We had his name incorrect in Thursday's issue. ... Miller County was included in the answer to our trivia question about schools not winning a state championship among those listed in the Maxwell Ratings' top 35 dynasties of all-time. Miller was not among those 35, so it should not have been listed as an answer. Also, Fitzgerald won a state title in 1948, but not during its dynasty period (2004-11). Fitzgerald was the correct answer, but the question was not clear.


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In This Issue
Preseason All-State Teams: Class AAAAAA
Random Stuff: Heritage finds star in ex-tuba player
Trivia: ACC school alma mater
Corrections
List: Super 11 from 2002
Scrimmages

List

Super 11

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution will release its Super 11 team on Saturday on ajc.com and in Sunday's newspaper. Here is a list of the Super 11 team 10 years ago:

 

Sean Bailey, Milton

Richard Cook, Washington-Wilkes

Jason Evans, Harrison

Kregg Lumpkin, Stephenson

Zeb McKinzey, Parkview

Blake Mitchell, LaGrange

Paul Oliver, Harrison

Avery Roberson, Washington

Josh Thompson, Statesboro

Coleman Watson, North Springs

Des Williams, Dacula

Scrimmages

Here is our updated list of scrimmage games. If you have updates or corrections, let us know.

 

Today

Alpharetta at Roswell

Arabia Mountain at Forest Park (T)

Archer at Collins Hill

Armuchee at Sonoraville

Atkinson Co. at Wheeler Co.

Baconton Charter at Mitchell Co.

Banneker at Creekside

Benedictine at Calvary Day

Berkmar at Buford

Bleckley Co. at Irwin Co.

Bradwell Institute at Wayne Co.

Brantley Co. at Bacon Co.

Brooks Co. at Albany

Butler at Warren Co.

Campbell at Sprayberry

Cedar Shoals at Oconee Co.

Cedartown at Coosa

Chamblee at Bainbridge

Chapel Hill at Alexander

Cherokee at Hixson (Tenn.)

Christian Heritage at Central (Tenn.)

Clarkston at Meadowcreek

Clinch Co. at Miller Co.

Columbia at Tri-Cities

Commerce at Franklin Co.

Cook at Coffee

Dacula at Duluth

Dodge Co. at Toombs Co.

Dooly Co. at Crisp Co.

Dunwoody at Alcovy

East Paulding at McEachern

Eastside at Heritage, Conyers

Elbert Co. at Apalachee

Emanuel Co. Institute at Fitzgerald

Fayette Co. at Lithia Springs

Gainesville at Creekview

Georgia Military at Oglethorpe Co.

Gordon Central at Cass

Glascock Co. at McCormick (S.C.)

Glynn Academy at Liberty Co.

Grady at Mays (L)

GAC at Woodward Academy

Griffin at Newnan

Habersham Central at Hart Co.

Hardaway at Brookstone

Harlem at Hephzibah

Harris Co. at Worth Co.

Heard Co. at Haralson Co.

Henry Co. at Ola

Hiram at Harrison

Holy Innocents at Decatur

Houston Co. at Perry

Jackson at Woodland, Stockbridge

Jackson Co. at Athens Academy

Johnson, Gaines. at Riverside Military

Johnson, Savannah at Effingham Co.

Jonesboro at Thomas Co. Central

Kendrick at Stewart Co.

King's Ridge at Prince Avenue

Lakeview Academy at Mount Pisgah

LFO at Northwest Whitfield

Landmark Christian at Walker

Laney at Jefferson Co.

Lanier at Lambert

Lithonia at Salem

Locust Grove at Strong Rock

Lovejoy at Peachtree Ridge

Luella at Stockbridge

Manchester at Mary Persons

Marietta at Kell

McCallie (Tenn.) at Heritage, Ringgold

McIntosh Co. Academy at Brunswick

McNair at South Atlanta

Metter at Claxton

Miller Grove at Westlake

Model at North Murray

Monroe at Tift Co.

Mountain View at South Gwinnett

Murray Co. at Southeast Whitfield

New Manchester at B.E.S.T. Acad.

Norcross at Colquitt Co.

North Clayton at Drew

North Gwinnett at Stephenson (HS)

North Hall at Amherst Co. (Va.)

North Springs at Mundy's Mill

Northside, Columbus at Pacelli

O.L. of Mercy at Whitefield Academy

Pace Academy at Wesleyan

Parkview at Mill Creek

Peach Co. at Northside, W. Robins

Pelham at Lanier Co.

Pepperell at Darlington

Pickens at Fannin Co.

Pierce Co. at Charlton Co.

Pike Co. at Spalding

Pinecrest Academy at St. Francis

Richmond Acad. at Lakeside, Evans

Riverwood at North Forsyth

Rockdale Co. at Shiloh

Rockmart at Paulding Co.

Savannah at Groves

Shaw at Callaway (H)

South Cobb at Camden Co.

South Effingham at Richmond Hill

South Paulding at Pope

Southeast Bulloch at Statesboro

St. Pius at Stephens Co.

Swainsboro at Burke Co.

Terrell Co. at Early Co.

Thomasville at Lowndes

Thomson at Evans

Towns Co. at Dawson Co.

Twiggs Co. at Portal

Union Grove at Eagle's Landing

Upson-Lee at Lamar Co.

Valdosta at Ware Co.

Vidalia at Lincoln Co.

Walnut Grove at West Hall

Washington Co. at Dublin

Washington-Wilkes at Aquinas

Westminster at Temple

Westover at Central, Macon

Westside, Augusta at Greenbrier

Wilcox Co. at Johnson Co.

Wilkinson Co. at Baldwin

Winder-Barrow at South Forsyth

Windsor Forest at Beach (SM)

Woodland, Cartersville at Cartersville

Woodstock at River Ridge

 

Saturday

Banks Co. at Lumpkin Co.

Cedar Grove vs. M.L. King (PV)

Druid Hills at Lakeside, Atlanta (A)

M.L. King vs. Cedar Grove (PV)

Morrow vs. Mt. Zion, Jonesboro (T)

North Atlanta vs. Jackson, Atl. (G)

North Cobb at Allatoona

N. Cobb Christian at Mount Vernon

Southwest DeKalb at Newton (SH)

Washington vs. Douglass (L)

 

Aug. 23

Carver, Columbus at Central (Ala.)

Howard at Jones Co.

LaFayette at Gordon Lee

Montgomery Co. at Long Co.

North Oconee at Clarke Central

Spencer at Russell Co. (Ala.)

Troup at Auburn (Ala.)

Union Co. at White Co.

 

Aug. 24

Americus-Sumter at Lee Co.

Appling Co. at Jeff Davis

Berrien at Sneads (Fla.)

Bowdon at Handley (Ala.)

Bryan Co. at Savannah Country Day

Calhoun Co. at Randolph-Clay

Carrollton at Douglas Co.

Central, Talbotton at Crawford Co. 

Central Gwinnett at West Forsyth

Columbus at Chattahoochee Co.

Dade Co. at Fort Payne (Ala.)

Dougherty at Seminole Co.

Eufaula (Ala.) at Cairo

Etowah at Sequoyah

First Presbyterian at Hawkinsville

Hancock Central at Putnam Co.

LaGrange at Valley (Ala.)

Lassiter at Flowery Branch

Macon Co. at Schley Co.

Madison Co. at Athens Christian

Marist at Centennial

McIntosh at Hughes

Monroe Area at Social Circle

Mount Zion, Carroll at Wadley (Ala.)

North Paulding at Kennesaw Mtn.

Northeast vs. Westside, Macon (ED)

Northgate at Veterans

Rabun Co. at Hebron Christian

Redan at Cross Keys

Riverdale at Carver, Atlanta (L)

Screven Co. at Jenkins Co.

Taylor Co. at Marion Co.

Telfair Co. at Treutlen

Trion at Chattooga

 

Not playing scrimmages

Bremen

Grayson

Turner Co.

 

Scrimmage status unknown

Cross Creek

George Walton Academy

Glenn Hills

Greene Co.

Greenville

Hapeville Charter

Islands

Jordan

Southwest Atlanta Christian

Southwest, Macon

Wheeler

 

Stadium abbreviations:

(A) Adams; (ED) Ed DeFore Sports Complex; (G) Grady; (H) Hendrix, Hogansville; (HS) Hallford; (L) Lakewood; (PV) Panthersville; (SH) Sharp; (SM) Savannah Memorial; (T) Tara

 
 
 
About Us
GHSFD logoGeorgia High School Football Daily is a free e-mail newsletter produced
and owned by Todd Holcomb and Chip Saye. Holcomb is a former lead high school football writer for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution and co-founder of the Georgia High School Football Historians Association. Saye is a 25-year veteran of the newspaper industry who has covered high school sports for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Athens Banner-Herald, Anderson (S.C.) Independent-Mail and Gwinnett Daily News.

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