Archive for December, 2009

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution and the Associated Press announced their all-state teams on Christmas Day. This week, GHSF Daily is going through each classification, one per day, to look at the selections and provide some insight on how these teams are chosen.

The AJC’s all-state team was picked this year by GHSF Daily. Todd Holcomb, a former AJC sports writer, has coordinated the selection of the AJC’s team the past three years. The AP team is chosen by a panel of Georgia sports writers.

Here are players who made first-team all-state in Class AA:

Coach of the Year: Jess Simpson, Buford (AP, AJC)

Offense

Player of the year: Da’Rick Rodgers, Calhoun (AP)
Player of the year: B.J. Bostic, Jefferson County (AJC)

QB: Nash Nance, Calhoun (AP)
QB: B.J. Bostic, Jefferson County (AJC)
RB: Ralph D. Abernathy, Westminster (AP, AJC)
RB: Marquis Terrell, Callaway (AP)
RB: Keith Christopher, Brooks County (AJC)
WR: Markeith Ambles, Henry County (AP, AJC)
WR: Da’Rick Rogers, Calhoun (AP, …

Continue reading Georgia High School Football Daily Spotlight: All-State Teams: Class AA »

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution and the Associated Press announced their all-state teams on Christmas Day. This week, GHSF Daily will go through each classification, one per day, and look at some of the choices and provide some insight on how these teams are chosen.

The AJC’s all-state team was picked this year by GHSF Daily. Todd Holcomb, a former AJC sports writer, has coordinated the selection of the AJC’s team the past three years. The AP team is chosen by a panel of Georgia sports writers.

Here are players who made first-team all-state in Class AAA:

Coach of the Year: Chad Campbell, Peach County (AP, AJC)

Offense

Player of the year: Blake Sims, Gainesville (AP)
Player of the year: Connor Shaw, Flowery Branch (AJC)

QB: Connor Shaw, Flowery Branch (AP, AJC)
RB: Isaiah Crowell, Carver-Columbus (AP, AJC)
RB: Git Aiken, Eastside (AP, AJC)
WR: Tai-ler Jones, Gainesville (AP, AJC)
WR: Lamar Zanders, Peach County (AP, AJC)
TE Jremetries Kirksay, Washington County (AP, AJC)
OL: …

Continue reading Georgia High School Football Daily Spotlight: All-State Teams: Class AAA »

Happy Holidays from the AJC's Michael Carvell

Hutson Mason and Connor Shaw, the highly-touted quarterbacks for the North team, combined for a pair of touchdown passes in the fourth quarter of the 27-20 loss to the South in Tuesday’s GACA All-Star high school football game.

The South, led by Northeast Macon’s Michael Palmer, built a 24-0 advantage before allowing any points. Palmer threw a 55-yard touchdown pass, and also had a 70-yard scoring reception.

With 27 seconds remaining in the third, the North finally got on the scoreboard after a 52-yard fumble return by Sandy Creek’s Isaiah Johnson.

In the final minutes, Mason connected with Alpharetta’s Michael Bennett on a 28-yard touchdown pass. They have both pledged to sign with UGA.

For Sandy Creek DB Isaiah Johnson (No. 37 in white jersey), December has been the best football month of his life. Johnson has committed to Georgia Tech (AJC file)

Shaw, who has committed to South Carolina, threw a 15-yard scoring strike to Blessed …

Continue reading Sandy Creek’s Isaiah Johnson, NE Macon’s Michael Palmer are MVPs of GACA All-Star football game »

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution and the Associated Press announced their all-state teams on Christmas Day. This week, GHSF Daily will go through each classification, one per day, and look at some of the choices and provide some insight on how these teams are chosen.

The AJC’s all-state team was picked this year by GHSF Daily. Todd Holcomb, a former AJC sports writer, has coordinated the selection of the AJC’s team the past three years. The AP team is chosen by a panel of Georgia sports writers.

Here are players who made first-team all-state in Class AAAA:

Coach of the Year: Chip Walker, Sandy Creek (AP, AJC)

Offense

Player of the year: Rajion Neal, Sandy Creek (AP)
Player of the year: Storm Johnson, Loganville (AJC)

QB: Ronnie Bell, Sandy Creek (AP)
QB: Jerick McKinnon, Sprayberry (AJC)
RB: Rajion Neal, Sandy Creek (AP, AJC)
RB: Storm Johnson, Loganville (AP, AJC)
WR: Dimitri Holmes, Clarke Central (AP, AJC)
WR: Chris Conley, North Paulding (AP)
WR: Ronald Carswell, Westside …

Continue reading Georgia High School Football Daily Spotlight: All-State Teams: Class AAAA »

Happy Holidays from the AJC's Michael Carvell

Who is the state’s best quarterback?

Sometimes, the answers can be complicated, as if comparing apples to oranges. However, the GACA All-Star Game at 2 p.m. today in Columbus will give us some insight. Two of the nation’s top quarterbacks, UGA-bound Hutson Mason and South Carolina commitment Connor Shaw are both on the North roster.

Which QB will start? North coach Jimmy Dorsey isn’t saying. “We’ll probably flip a coin to decide who will start. They will both play equally, as we will try with all the kids on the roster.”

Mason set GHSA single-season records for passing yards (4,560) and touchdown passes (54) at Lassiter this past season. However, some have hinted that Mason is a “product of the system” — referring to Lassiter’s high-octane, spread offense.

Dorsey disagrees. “I’ll tell you what. He can deliver it very well. He’s got a quick release, and is extremely accurate as a high school quarterback. I know it’s easy for some to …

Continue reading Who is the best QB in Georgia? GACA all-stars may provide insight »

A Georgia high school legend, Lauren Chambers, has been selected for the DyeStat ESPN RISE All-Decade Girls Track and Field team.

Chambers chased after national marks in the weight and hammer during her prolific career at Kell High, where she graduated in 2009. One person was picked per event on the All-Decade team.

Wrote DyeStat, “Near the top of the weight and hammer lists her entire career, Chambers pushed hard for the high school records as a senior.  In the weight, she improved early to 59-09.50, then in February went to The Armory and exploded out to 61-07.50, No. 2 all-time.  She went on win at Simplot and (nationals), but would have to settle for second-best ever.  In the hammer, she went from her junior year (personal record) of 184-09 to 191-11 early, then in May reached 201-06, a big (personal record) and No. 2 all-time, but an agonizing inch short of the (U.S. record).  She would add a 201-03 later, and win (nationals), but couldn’t quite get the mark …”

Lauren …

Continue reading Kell High grad named to All-Decade Track and Field team »

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution and the Associated Press announced their all-state teams on Christmas Day. This week, GHSF Daily will go through each classification, one per day, and look at some of the choices and provide some insight on how these teams are chosen.

The AJC’s all-state team was picked this year by GHSF Daily. Todd Holcomb, a former AJC sports writer, has coordinated the selection of the AJC’s team the past three years. The AP team is chosen by a panel of Georgia sports writers.

Here are players who made first-team all-state in Class AAAAA:

Coach of the year: Jeff Herron, Camden County (AP, AJC)

Offense

Player of the year: Rajaan Bennett, McEachern (AP)
Player of the year: Hutson Mason, Lassiter (AJC)

QB: Hutson Mason, Lassiter (AP, AJC)
RB: Rajaan Bennett, McEachern (AP, AJC)
RB: Ean Pemberton, Grayson (AP)
RB: Charles Perkins, Collins Hill (AJC)
WR: Quin Roberson, Colquitt County (AP, AJC)
WR: Griffin Roelle, Lassiter (AP)
WR: Brad Roby, Peachtree Ridge …

Continue reading Georgia High School Football Daily Spotlight: All-State Teams: Class AAAAA »

There’s nothing quite like the wacky world of recruiting.

And few other states are affected like Georgia, which has more than 200 high school seniors sign with major colleges every year. If there is a soap opera playing out somewhere across the landscape of college football, chances are good that there is a Georgia connection involved in some way.

Take, for instance, M.L. King’s Mack Brown, one of the nation’s top-rated running backs. He woke up the morning after Christmas as a Florida Gator. Later that night, while saying all the right things publicly (more details in this blog by the AJC’s Chip Towers), Brown’s future is not as clear after the stunning resignation of Urban Meyer.

Urban Meyer (left) shook up Georgia by beating out UGA for the commitment of M.L. King RB Mack Brown. Now that Meyer is gone, will Brown stick with the Gators? (AJC Photo)

Brown and Meyer were more than just a coach and a prospect. They had developed and nutured a friendship during the recruiting …

Continue reading Georgia’s prospects are leading characters in ‘Wacky World of Recruiting’ »

Happy Holidays from The AJC's Michael Carvell

Continue reading How to get a college scholarship if you’re an overlooked senior »

Throughout the season, we hear that the only rankings that matter are the final rankings. Then when the final rankings come out, we find that those are the most controversial of all.

These are the ones that live in history. So I hope I haven’t messed them up too badly.

Now, a look back at the finals. If I were a head coach, or a fan of a particular school that’s playing for a championship, I might feel differently, but as a fan of high school football in general who lives within easy driving distance of the Georgia Dome, it’s pretty nice having the finals in one spot.

Congrats to Wilcox County and Sandy Creek for winning their first state titles. Before the playoffs, I claimed that only SWD and Griffin could win AAAA. That wasn’t smart. On the other hand, I’m proud that I stuck w/ Wilcox in the rankings when others didn’t after the Pats lost two games. One of my favorite posts: “Can you guys explain to me how a two-loss Wilcox Co. team gets the nod … ? … Man you guys haven’t …

Continue reading Final rankings: At least we agree on who’s No. 1 »

Chat live on Fridays with the AJC's Michael Carvell

It’s the FINALS of HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL PLAYOFFS. AJC high schools beat writer Michael Carvell will try to blog live and take your questions about high school football and related topics.

We are here to talk football, football and more football. Going to a game? Take the cellphone or PDA and let us know what’s going on at YOUR game. Got a score update, see a killer play? Keep it clean, and POST IT HERE.

SEND GET WELL WISHES: One of the FFA blog regulars, AVikingFan, recently had emergency surgery and is now recuperating. In the spirit of the holidays, good cheer and fine Georgia football fandom, please post your “get well” wishes to him on this forum along with your football chatter.

GHSA BRACKETS: AAAAA | AAAA | AAA | AA | A

Here are the finals games you can find stories and photos from this weekend on ajc.com…

Class AAAAA – Camden Co. vs. Northside-Warner Robins
Class AAAA – Clarke Central vs. Sandy Creek
Class AAA – …

Continue reading Free-For-All Forum: Georgia high school football FINALS scores, updates, photos and chat – LIVE! »

Northside of Warner Robins has climbed 19 spots to No. 4 nationally in the RivalsHigh 100 rankings.

Northside is coming off a 29-24 victory over Newnan, the last of the unbeaten teams in Georgia’s Class AAAAA to fall. Northside will be playing in its fifth state final this decade on Saturday against Camden County, which is ranked No. 25 by RivalsHigh.

Northside apparently has no shot at a national title because No. 2 Don Bosco Prep of New Jersey has finished its season at 12-0.

Here’s a look at Georgia teams in the national rankings:

RivalsHigh 100
4. Northside
25. Camden County
35. Newnan
44. Grayson
47. Gainesville
80. Colquitt County
81. North Gwinnett
86. Lowndes

ESPN Fab 50
30. Northside
35. Camden County

USA Today
12. Camden County

MaxPreps Xcellent 25
10. Northside

National Prep Poll
19. Northside

Note: No Georgia teams are ranked in the Massey or MaxPreps computer polls.

Georgia High School Football Daily is a free email newsletter. CLICK to join the mailing list

Continue reading Georgia High School Football Daily Spotlight: Northside-Warner Robins jumps in national rankings »

Northside and Camden County will play on Saturday for the Class AAAAA championship.

Is this also for the title of ”football program of the decade”?

Let’s look at the candidates:

Northside: 121-13 record this decade, two state titles, two runner-up finishes, but is it significant that the titles were won in Class AAAA, below the highest level?

Camden Couty: 120-13 record this decade, two state titles, but are Camden’s W-L record and playoff draws enhanced from playing in the state’s weakest Class AAAAA region?

Lowndes: Three state titles and six championships in the state’s toughest region, but does that make up for having only 106 victories this decade and a 2-4 record vs. Camden County?

Buford: 137-7 record this decade and five state titles, with a sixth possible, but how do you compare AA vs. AAAAA?

Is there another program that deserves consideration? Parkview? LaGrange? Charlton County?

As far as the other finals, there are no great surprises that I see except Clarke …

Continue reading Program of the decade? Camden, Northside stake claims »

By CHIP SAYE
For the AJC

Football fans of a certain age might remember “Leonard’s Losers.” The long-running syndicated radio show, which featured the late Leonard Postero of Athens predicting which teams would lose college and pro football games, aired on more than 1,400 stations during its heyday. The show was popular because of Postero’s humor and down-home style, but he also was quite accurate with his predictions.

Last week, I was successful in picking the loser in 12 of the 20 quarterfinal games. Unlike what Postero did on his show, however, I was trying to pick the winners. Not good. Considering my inability to spot the winners last week, I figured I’d stick with what worked and pick the losers for the semifinals.

Class AAAAA
I didn’t see Colquitt County being able to stop Lassiter last week. I might be just as wrong this week, but I don’t see the Packers beating Camden County tonight, either. … Northside-Warner Robins avoided a quarterfinal loss to Peachtree Ridge last …

Continue reading The Georgia High School Football Daily’s Weekend Predictions: Who’s winning and losing in Playoffs Semifinals »

Chat live on Fridays with the AJC's Michael Carvell

It’s the semifinals of HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL PLAYOFFS. AJC high schools beat writer Michael Carvell will try to blog live and take your questions about high school football and related topics.

We are here to talk football, football and more football. Going to a game? Take the cellphone or PDA and let us know what’s going on at YOUR game. Got a score update, see a killer play? Keep it clean, and POST IT HERE.

HOT TOPIC: The GHSA has released the 2010-11 region realignments but the bigger news may be a possible return to the old two-year reclassification cycle from the current four-year cycle. Post your thoughts on the two-year cycle vs. four-year cycle (and region changes) RIGHT HERE.

GHSA BRACKETS: AAAAA | AAAA | AAA | AA | A

Here are the semifinals playoff games you can find stories and photos from later tonight on ajc.com…

Northside-Warner Robins vs. Newnan
Griffin vs. Sandy Creek
Flowery Branch vs. Gainesville

Don’t …

Continue reading Free-For-All Forum: Georgia high school football semifinals playoff scores, updates, photos and chat – LIVE »