NWGA HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL PREVIEW
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2026 HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL PREVIEW 2026
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PUBLISHER’S NOTE The dog days of summer are upon us, but the transition to fall starts with Friday Night Lights and V3 Magazine is excited to deliver our annual Between the Lines High School Football Preview Edition. We are truly blessed with outstanding teams in Northwest Georgia, and this issue is dedicated to introducing our readers to the coaches that run those programs while highlighting the on-field expectations and communities that support each squad. Our young gun Grayson Atkins chatted with 15 area coaches to pick their brains and find out what makes their programs successful both on and off the field. From my interactions with these leaders of men, I’d say we are O W N E R & C E O Ian Griffin lucky to have such a wonderful group of coaches, as each of them strive to mold players into the best versions of themselves on Friday nights and beyond. One storyline to watch this season is a trio of new coaches at high-profile programs. Bill Stewart, who took North Gwinnett to a 7-A State Championship takes over for the retired legend John Ried at Rome, Rich Fendley brings his championship pedigree (4 straight State Titles at Bowdon) to a Rockmart program that captured 8 straight region titles under Biff Parson and Jason Howard looks to build something special at Coosa after Geoff Cannon’s move to Offensive Coordinator at Rockmart. Coaches Aaron Avery, Andy Scott and Tommy Atha enter their second seasons at Armuchee, Woodland and Cedartown, looking to put their stamp on those programs. Brandon Haywood and the Pepperell Dragons aim to build on their trip to the state semifinals in 2025. Jeff Hunnicut’s Blue Devils are experienced and ready to make a splash in their region. Wayne Groves enters year four at Darlington, and his Tigers are hungry to win. The Unity Lions are the kings of 9-man football and David Humphrey’s aims to keep them there as they pursue back-to-back titles. In Bartow County, Connor Foster’s Canes are still the standard-bearer, but Steve Gates’ Cass Colonels have become a perineal contender and Jon Cudd’s Adairsville Tigers bring back enough experience to compete for their region in 2026. Roone Gable’s Chattooga squad will also be improved and looking to return to the playoffs, while Sean Patrick’s Trion Bulldogs gained a wealth of experience last season and are ready to return to championship form in 2026. If you love football and haven’t experienced watching our local teams, I implore you to get out there this season. And I’m excited to announce a new project I’ll be working on this season with WLAQ Sports. From 6:00-11:30 p.m. every Friday night, I’ll be joining host, Matt Davis for Friday Night Fever and Friday Night Final on WLAQ 1410 am and 96.9 FM, YouTube and Facebook Live. Fever is the pregame picks show where we will talk to broadcast teams and fans in the know to preview the night’s match ups and Final will be our scoreboard show where we will hear from the area coaches themselves to give you the story behind the final score. It's been a long time in the making, and we hope to help create a new one-stop shop for your local high school football consumption. So, enjoy the previews in the following pages and tune into WLAQ every Friday night this season!
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HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL PREVIEW 2026
OWNER & CEO Ian Griffin
MANAGING PARTNER Chris Forino
CREATIVE DIRECTOR Katelyn Roman
WRITERS Grayson Atkins, Ian Griffin
PHOTOGRAPHER Ivan Felipe
PUBLISHER V3 Publications, LLC
CONTACT hello@v3collective.com
READV3.COM ReadV3.com: Where you can find all the print content from this issue, our archives and exclusive ReadV3 digital features.
Henderson & Sons Funeral Homes wish all of our local teams success in their upcoming seasons!
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NWGA HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL PREVIEW 2026 F LOYD 10-
ARMUCHEE INDIANS
12-
COOSA EAGLES
14-
DARLINGTON TIGERS
16-
MODEL BLUE DEVILS
18-
PEPPERELL DRAGONS
20-
ROME WOLVES
22-
UNITY LIONS
B ARTO W 26-
ADAIRSVILLE TIGERS
28-
CARTERSVILLE HURRICANES
30-
CASS COLONELS
32-
WOODLAND WILDCATS
C H ATTO OG A 36-
CHATTOOGA INDIANS
38-
TRION BULLDOGS
P OLK
6
42-
ROCKMART YELLOW JACKETS
44-
CEDARTOWN BULLDOGS
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Supporting Our Community Together We proudly support our local teams and wish them the best of luck in the upcoming season! We are proud to offer a full range of Business and Personal banking products and services that are designed for your specific needs. Personal Checking Accounts (including FREE Checking!)
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eBANK Always Open At: fncbank.com We have 11 branch locations throughout northwest Georgia.
DOWNTOWN ROME 501 Broad Street 706.378.5300
WEST ROME 2211 Shorter Avenue 706.378.5305
ARMUCHEE 2950 Martha Berry Blvd. 706.314.0560
WLAQ Sports has local high school football covered.
DESTINATION FRIDAY NIGHT 6:00
ALL
GAMES
Friday Night Fever: Previewing all the area games w/ the WLAQ team and special guests.
6:45
The Coach Groves Show
7:15
Tiger Pre-game Show
7:30
Darlington Tigers Football
10-11:30
Friday Night Final: Recapping the night’s action with calls from Coaches, special guests, and you the fans.
From 6-11:30 p.m listen LIVE on 96.9 FM, 1410 AM, 1410WLAQ.com or via the Tune in App | Facebook: WLAQ - Rome Friday Night Fever and Friday Night Final can also be accessed on YouTube & Facebook LIVE.
And don’t forget to tune in live Wednesday nights @ 7pm for the Coach Groves Show via Youtube & Facebook LIVE. HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL PREVIEW 2026
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ARMUCHEE INDIANS R E G I O N
S C HE D ULE
Senior
8.21 Banks County
#69 JOSH SHAW (DT,RT)
8.28 Walker
6 - A A
9.4 BYE week
9.11 @ Southeast Whitfield
9.18 Heard County
9.25 G O
Pepperell
10.2
I N D I A N S !
@ Coosa
10.9 BYE Week
10.16 @ Bremen
10.23 Temple
10.30 @ Model
Senior
11.6 Darlington
#1 BRAXTON WAGNER (WR,LB)
Senior
#7 JASE STOCKTON (QB,S)
Senior
#58 MICAH BOOZER (RG,LB)
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BETWEEN THE LINES 2026 | HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL PREVIEW FROM OFF THE-FIELD-TRAGEDY TO ON-THE-FIELD GROWING PAINS, IT WAS TOUGH SLEDDING FOR ARMUCHEE LAST SEASON. While it didn’t look good from a wins-and-losses standpoint, the guys still bought in and are on a mission to improve in 2026. “While last season didn’t go like we wanted it to, I felt confident saying that that group got better week in and week out,” said Head Coach Aaron Avery. “They competed, played hard, and got better. Our season off the field was difficult, but they handled it with maturity. In those situations you find out who you are when things get tough. That group showed what kind of people they are, and it made me even prouder to be their coach.” A point of emphasis for the Indians has been getting more conditioned, getting faster and hitting the weight room hard. “One of the recurring themes was to continue to get bigger, faster, and stronger. When our season ended, we started attacking that area vigorously. Our kids from a speed perspective have continued to grow, and from a strength and size perspective, we have grown tremendously there, and we are a much stronger group than we were this time last year. The guys have put a lot of time in the weight room.” Expectations for Coach Avery’s squad have not changed; to be the best version of yourself. “Our job is to become the very best version of ourselves every single day. We want to be the best everyday. On the practice field, that looks like flying around from drill to drill. That looks like competing in every single thing that you do. That looks like playing with a high level of physicality
2025 RECORD:
0-9, overall (0-7, Region 7-A D 1)
HEAD COACH: Aaron Avery 0-9
and confidence. We can’t win a game on a Monday, but we can get better and become the best version of ourselves on a Monday.” The Indians have a returning class of strong and fast players that should turn heads this fall. Jase Stockton will be the starting quarterback, with guys like Rowen Campbell and Braxton Wagner out wide to feed the ball to. Aiden Williams, Josh Shaw, and Noah Rayburn will be some leaders upfront. On the defensive side, Sam Hakala comes back at linebacker, and Locke Williams is the spotlight of the defensive back core. Micah Boozer will be a two way player after not playing much last season. For Coach Avery, this season provides more than an opportunity to coach and impact his players, it’s a chance to make a community that has embraced him since his arrival last season a very proud tribe. “Coming here is one of the best decisions that we've ever made. Being able to represent those people that have taken such good care of me and my family this last year is one of the things that gets me super energized about doing everything I can do to get us where we want to go.” The Indians put in the work throughout the off-season that will make them competitive this fall. A big jump in year two under Aaron Avery is a strong possibility.
ALL TIME RECORD: 665 games games - 222-416-11
REGION CHAMPIONSHIPS: 2 (1994 last)
TOTAL SEASONS: 67 first season, 1951
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COOSA EAGLES 8.21
R E G I O N
SC HE D ULE
Junior
#7 JAURICE WARREN (S,WR)
Murray County
8.28
6 - A A
BYE Week
9.4 @ Gordon Central
9.11 Chattooga
9.18 @ Model
9.25 @ Heard County
G O
10.2 Armuchee
E A G L E S !
10.9 @ Darlington
10.16 BYE Week
10.23 Mt. Zion
10.30 @ Bremen
11.6 Pepperell
Senior
#55 RODRIGO CRUZ (RG,N)
Senior
#70 ANDREW SMITH (LT,DE)
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BETWEEN THE LINES 2026 | HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL PREVIEW THE COOSA EAGLES HAD SOME STRUGGLES IN THE WIN COLUMN I N 2 0 2 5, but were able to finish the season on a high note with a win at home versus Chattooga. After Coach Geoff Cannon left for an assistant job at Rockmart, the Eagles now looked toward a familiar face in Jason Howard, who will lead the program going forward. “I was already attached to the kids, because I’ve been over here for several years already, so the opportunity, when it did arise, I thought it was just good timing for everything for me,” said Head CoachHoward. Howard is no stranger to running a program, having success in the state of Alabama where he coached Spring Garden for 18 seasons among other stops. He brings that experience to Coosa, where he looks to finish his career strong at the helm of the Eagles. “We had an intersquad scrimmage in the spring, which carried over into summer workouts. We have had good attendance, and I can promise you our kids are gonna play hard,” said Howard. While it has been a good summer, it is still a fairly young and inexperienced group that will count on a lot of underclassmen at key positions. “We're going to be very young in a lot of critical areas. So, summer's been good as far as allowing some of our younger kids to learn and really not just our younger guys, but all of our kids to learn the system that we're putting in. And that'll be a progression. I mean, as they mature and as the season goes on, I think they'll get more and more comfortable with it,” said Howard. The expectations for this group are simple; do everything with respect.
“Our expectations really are more along the lines of just the way, like I said, hopefully, respect for everything. We want to put out a product that our kids are gonna play hard, and they're always gonna play hard. And then everything else will sort of fall into place. If we can do everything right off the field, it will translate on the field,” said Howard. The Coosa Eagles should have a talented group this upcoming year. Brodi Thomas and Jordan Scott will get time at tailback, with JJ Warren in the receiving core. Sawyer Wingate and Keelan Buffington will be key pieces on defense, and Brayden Akins will play quarterback for Coach Howard this fall. As Howard builds the program in his vision, he tries to keep his eyes on the prize while teaching his players the game. Winning for him is a byproduct of buying in and developing a love for the game. “I think number one is just the love for the game and the love to compete. If you have those 2 things, then, of course, Friday night's going to be special everywhere,” said Howard. The Coosa Eagles have some local rivalries that kick back up, and while it will be a fairly young team, there’s still a lot of potential for success this coming fall.
2025 RECORD:
ALL TIME RECORD:
REGION CHAMPIONSHIPS:
HEAD COACH:
TOTAL SEASONS: 72
STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS:
3-7, overall (2-5, region 7-A D 1) Jason Howard 134-93
751 games - 355-368-16
first season, 1955
5 (1975 last)
2 (1969 last)
PROUDLY SERVING CARTERSVILLE & BARTOW COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL PREVIEW 2026
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DARLINGTON TIGERS R E G I O N
S C HE D ULE
8.21 @ Christian Heritage
8.28 @ Mount Paran Christian
6 - A A
9.4 BYE Week
9.11
Senior
Sonoraville
9.18
#5 NATE KUNCZEWSKI (QB,S)
@ Pepperell
9.25 @ Mt. Zion
10.2 G O
Heard County
10.9 Coosa
T I G E R S !
10.16 BYE Week
10.23 Model
10.30 @ Armuchee
11.6 Bremen
Senior
#1 BODIE POWERS (RB,S)
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Senior
#6 TREYLIN MOORE (DB,WR,QB)
BETWEEN THE LINES 2026 | HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL PREVIEW “One of the expectations is to be here and to be on time, to start with. Next is to be committed to the team, and to keep working to improve your daily skills. Like I tell them, if you improve yourself, you improve the team. Let's be enthusiastic and locked in and asking pertinent questions and getting coached in film. Let's come in here and let's get every rep in the weight room they're supposed to get.” With those 23 lettermen returning, Darlington will have some depth at their disposal. Nate Kunczewski is back at quarterback to run the triple option, and has guys like Bodie Powers, JB Ragland, Jaetyn Mazzo, and Mattias Selle to tote the rock. Lane Brasington, Colten Momon, and Ty Wood all return at offensive line, and new faces such as Rex-George Taylor and Nicolas Brust will be forced on the line. Levi Duggan and Trey Moore are both players who are dangerous at receiver. Caleb Covington and Ty Wood along with JB Ragland have high expectations at linebacker, and in the secondary, you have Stewart Grigsby, Trey Moore, and Zaiden Simpson. This incoming talent mixed with the veteran leadership will allow for some new wrinkles in the offense, while Groves' hallmark defense will look to shut down opposing offenses. The ingredients for success are in place and for Groves that is a product of the Darlington culture. “Darlington is just a special community. They have committed to improving athletics and committed to improving our facilities, and as a coach, that’s all you want. I put my daughter here in a great environment that's supported athletically and academically, so it was pretty special.” The Tigers have the bodies and talent to create some waves down the stretch of the season. Year four at the helm could be a special one for Groves and his Tigers.
2025 RECORD:
ALL TIME RECORD:
REGION CHAMPIONSHIPS:
HEAD COACH:
TOTAL SEASONS: 116
STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS:
3-8, overall (1-5, Region 6-A D1) Wayne Groves 14-19
Go TiGers!
Go TiGers!
THE 2025 DARLINGTON FOOTBALL SEASON WAS A TEXTBOOK LESSON IN ADVERSITY. From early season injuries to turnover issues, the Tigers had their struggles, but never lost their resolve to compete. Adversity, however, is a great motivator and the 2026 are a hungry bunch of Tigers. “Last year was a little frustrating in the fact that even though we made the playoffs, our numbers are not where they needed to be,” said Head Coach Wayne Groves. “We had the injury bug hit us pretty hard and really never had the opportunity to have all our starters out there on the field together. Because of that, we had a lot of young guys and got a lot of experience last season and that should pay off for us this season.” Coach Groves knows his job never stops and has been preparing his team for this season ever since the final whistle was blown in 2025. His first chance to work with them on the field came in the spring, where he opted for valuable practice time over competition from someone else. “We're always going to choose to do the spring practice over the extra scrimmage. I mean, 10 full padded practices over a 2 hour scrimmage is always going to be what we do. It's invaluable for our young guys, and they get a lot of reps.” From there, it was on to summer workouts, where players shaped and conditioned their bodies for the rigors of the regular season. “We returned 23 lettermen. There is a lot of want to, a lot of motivated kids. We didn’t have to start from ground zero. We are just trying to get these kids ready. That is what summer is about, improving the older kids skills and getting the young guys ready to contribute. We are slowly but surely laying the foundation for the season.” Unsurprisingly, Coach Groves aims high for his guys, and those expectations are never going to change.
1094 games - 641-395-37
12 (2022 last) 1 (1998 last)
first season, 1910
611 Turner McCall Blvd., Rome, GA 30165 · 706.291.0202
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MODEL BLUE DEVILS R E G I O N
SC HE D ULE
Senior
8.21 @ Walker
#55 JESSE AYER (C)
8.28 @ Trion
6 - A A
9.4 @ Chattooga
9.11 BYE Week
9.18 Coosa
9.25 G O
@ Bremen
10.2 Mt. Zion
B L U E
10.9 Armuchee
10.16
D E V I L S !
BYE Week
10.23 @ Darlington
10.30 Pepperell
11.6 @ Heard County
Senior
#2 RANCE CUNNINGHAM (WR,S)
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Senior
#24 COLLIN WATSON (ILB,RB)
BETWEEN THE LINES 2026 | HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL PREVIEW M O D E L F I N I S H E D L A S T S E A S O N 2 - 8 , falling to the bottom of the standings in Region 6-A D1. It was the second straight year of not making the postseason. While the season may have not gone the way Jeff Hunnicutt and the coaching staff envisioned, the players were still applauded for their commitment. “2-8 is never a fun season. But the kids never quit. We never lost the locker room, and I think it was evident in how we went out and played against a really good Heard County team and finished with a win to end the season against Temple,” said Hunnicutt. For the Blue Devils, the summer has been fun and productive for all, and the depth chart is looking to have more bodies compared to years past. “It’s a good group. When you're averaging over 60 kids, uh, I think everybody likes a little bit more rotation in their line so they get a little extra break,” said Hunnicutt. “Kids have shown up and competed day in, day out in everything we've asked them to compete in. We want to break down with our leadership teams and make sure kids are doing the right things.” For Coach Hunnicutt and his program, the expectations remain the same; make it to the postseason. “I'm hoping we’re hosting a playoff game, and definitely playing in a playoff game. So that's our goal. I want to get back to the playoffs with this group. I'm looking forward to working with these kids.”
The Blue Devils have a lot of experience returning to the field for this upcoming fall. Brenten Bell looks to be the signal caller, and will have guys like Collin Watson in the backfield, with Rance Cunningham, Malachi Shelley and Zac Nichols out wide. Jesse Ayers will be a four-year starter at center, and alongside him is Tristan Coover. Noah Fox is a freshman that has caught the staff’s eye at receiver. Overall, there is an exciting amount of depth that is at the disposal of Coach Hunnicutt and his staff. “There’s not a place in Floyd County I’d rather be. It is a special place because of the people; we have struggled the past two seasons and the community has stayed behind me. Hopefully, this group can go back to winning. They’re a fun group that understands we are going to be accountable for everything we do.” The Shannon faithful have every reason to look forward to this fall. New faces, a deeper roster, and a team hungry to make it back to the hunt for a playoff spot come November.
2025 RECORD:
ALL TIME RECORD:
REGION CHAMPIONSHIPS:
HEAD COACH:
TOTAL SEASONS: 85
STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS:
2-8, overall (1-5, region 6-A D 1) Jeff Hunnicutt 33-42
815 games - 376-431-18
first season, 1931
3 (1979 last) 3 (1979 last)
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PEPPERELL DRAGONS Junior
8.21 @ Dade County
#53 JALONNIE ADAMS (NG)
8.28
R E G I O N
S C HE D ULE
North Cobb Christian
6 - A A
9.4 Christian Heritage
9.11 BYE Week
9.18 Darlington
9.25 G O
@ Armuchee
10.2 Bremen
@ Mt. Zion
Sophomore
10.16 BYE Week
#1 CHANCE HOPPER (WR,FS)
10.23 Heard County
10.30
Senior
@ Model
11.6
#79 STEPHEN SAPP (DE,OT)
@ Coosa
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D R A G O N S !
10.9
BETWEEN THE LINES 2026 | HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL PREVIEW THE 2025 PEPPERELL DRAGONS EXCEEDED EXPECTATIONS. After a 2024 season that yielded enough heartbreaking losses to last a lifetime, those experiences built the character and moxy needed to make a deep run in the playoffs. Those fiesty Dragons made it all the way to the final four, before losing to eventual state champion Worth County. “Everybody bought into last year,” said Head Coach Brandon Haywood. “They showed me that they could learn from adversity, and they were buying into the vision and culture of our football team. We stayed committed to the plan, and made a run at a championship.” Coach Haywood is losing over 90% of this offensive production with the graduation of 19 seniors from last year's squad. However, while it is a big loss, this group is still committed to the process. “Our kids are working out harder now than we did last year because they saw success. They saw the Final Four, and they know what it takes to get there again. We have to have comprehension of the scheme. We are running a whole new defense and picking up new offensive verbiage, and they’ve locked into that and done what we have asked,” said Haywood. With success come high expectations, but expectations are always high in Lindale, which is what attracted Coach Haywood to the job in the first place. “Standards are the same. When you think of Pepperell football, you think of tradition, you think of Friday nights and the environment and what this community brings. I won’t change my expectations because of graduated production, and it is an opportunity for kids to step into a role. All I am
asking is that our kids be the best version of our 2026 Pepperell Dragons that we can be,” said Coach Haywood. Even though the Dragons lose a big senior class, there’s still a lot of leadership and talent scattered throughout the roster. Ben Bailey and Stephen Sapp are elite guys on both sides of the trenches and provide some senior leadership. Carson Crabtree will play a variety of roles, and Kaiden Allen is going to have a big season at DE. Tyler Barkley should have a huge sophomore season at TE and defensive end, and Chance Hopper will play a ton of roles for the Dragons. Jamison Kimbrough will be a reliable freshman linebacker. It’s obvious Coach Haywood believes in his players, but he also believes in Dragon Nation. “I appreciate how the community helps, and they do it in a lot of different ways. We got people dropping off food and drinks and milk and anything to help this football program, people are picking up pieces without being asked, even if they want to stay anonymous. There are just different ways of trying to help continually build this program up in the right way and this community always answers the bell,” said Coach Haywood. With a good mix of experience and talented young guys, Coach Haywood has a squad that is bound to bring a lot of growth and success to Dragon Stadium this fall.
2025 RECORD:
ALL TIME RECORD:
REGION CHAMPIONSHIPS:
HEAD COACH:
TOTAL SEASONS: 76
STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS:
9-5, overall (5-1, region 6-A D 1) Brandon Haywood 14-30
821 games - 434-358-14
4 (2016 last) 1 (1990 last)
first season, 1951
GO DRAGONS! 706.236.2808 | No Hassle With Corntassel HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL PREVIEW 2026
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ROME WOLVES R E G I O N
SC HE D ULE
8.21 Carrollton
8.28 Tucker
6 - A A A A A A
9.4 BYE Week
9.11 @Creekview
9.18 Sequoyah
9.25 @ Douglas County
10.2 Kell
G O
10.9 @ Woodstock
W O L V E S !
10.16 BYE Week
10.23 River Ridge
10.30 @ Pope
11.6 Lassiter
Senior
#9 AJ ADAMS (DT)
Senior
#36 KEATON MULL (FB)
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Senior
#55 JYQUICE MCCRARY (DL)
BETWEEN THE LINES 2026 | HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL PREVIEW TH E ROM E WOL V ES F IN I S H E D L A S T S E A S O N 1 1 - 3 O V E RA LL A N D 7-0 IN THE REGION, claiming another region championship. The Wolves would move on to the semifinals before falling to Gainesville. Following the season, former head coach John Reid, who brought the program two state championships and a plethora of deep playoff runs, retired from head coaching duties. Fast forward to now; Bill Stewart, who won a state championship at North Gwinnett in 2017, coached under Brent Key at Georgia Tech and then became the DC at Rabun County, was hired as the next head football coach of the Rome Wolves. “I’m blessed and honored to be here,” said Stewart. “I understood what I was getting into. When I saw this had opened, it was something I wanted to look at. I was excited when they actually chose me.” Since his arrival, he has built his staff and hit the ground running in preparation for his first season in Rome. His first glimpse at his squad in action came via an intersquad scrimmage in the spring and they have continued to grind through summer workouts, camps, practices and scrimmage games. “Kids have been consistent and persistent in what they're doing. I told the guys that it's time to go. We talk about grind, refine, and repeat everyday; there’s no more waiting. That’s what we preach every day,” said Stewart. Coach Stewart expects the absolute best out of his players, demanding that they represent Rome well in every aspect. “We always talk about DMGB; don’t matter, get better. We want our kids
to represent themselves, their families, and this community in a first classway,” said Stewart. “The greatest success is marked by giving everything you have and everything out of what your ability is that God's giving you.” For Rome, there is always going to be a handful of talent that walks through the program. Coach Stewart has the challenge of breaking in freshman quarterback Zayden Winston. Protecting him are Juice Collins and Josh Reynolds, who have FBS-level talent on the offensive line, with JR Ferguson back to tote the pill after an outstanding campaign in 25. In the receiving core, Kaiden Waters, Khaison Beasley, and Christian Maxwell will be standing out. On the defensive side of the ball, JyQuice McCrary and AJ Adams will headline a stout defensive line. Seth Hooker and Jaden Clowers are some standout linebackers, with Eli’zha Mathis, Tylan Simpson, and DJ Watkins headlining the secondary. For Stewart, the opportunity to guide the Wolves program is one he doesn’t take lightly. “This community loves football. This place is very supportive, from the school board level to the community. They want the best for the kids. There is a legacy here, a tradition of football. There’s an expectation and we want to live up to it,” said Stewart. While it is a new face at the head of the helm, one thing hasn’t changed; Rome is a force to be reckoned with. They’ll be in the running for not only a region championship, but a state championship come December.
2025 RECORD:
ALL TIME RECORD:
REGION CHAMPIONSHIPS:
HEAD COACH:
TOTAL SEASONS: 35
STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS:
11-3, overall (7-0, region 5-AAAAA) Bill Stewart 101-45
415 games - 288-114-1
first season, 1992
15 (2025 last) 2 (2017 last)
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UNITY LIONS G A P P S
S C H E D ULE
8.14 Young Americans Christian
8.21
A A
@ Lafayette Christian Academy
R E G I O N
8.28 @ North Georgia Christian Academy
9.4 Horizon Christian Academy
1
9.11 BYE Week
9.18 @ Fideles Christian
G O
9.25 Georgia Force Christian
10.2
L I O N S !
@ Harvester Christian Academy
10.9 Pinecrest Academy
10.16 BYE Week
10.23 @ St. Francis
10.30 Lanier Christian Academy
Senior
#20 WILLIAM WILSON (LB)
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Senior
#1 COOPER MATHIS (LB)
Senior
#88 ISAIAH GIDDENS (CB,Y,K)
BETWEEN THE LINES 2026 | HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL PREVIEW UNITY CAPPED OFF YET ANOTHER SUCCESSFUL SEASON, winning yet another state crown in 2025. With a defense just as stingy as their offense was explosive, Unity kept their stride all season, going undefeated on their way. “We had good senior leadership, and they had been in the battle before. We came strong right off the bat. The team we put on the field was the most physical one I have had here,” said Head Coach David Humphreys. “We were a matchup nightmare for teams, offensively and defensively.” This offseason, Coach Humphreys and his squad have focused a lot on getting stronger. “We jump right into it. We immediately get back into lifting. We go four days a week, and we are doing the Iron Lion, and our guys have gotten stronger. The offseason flies by, spring came and went and here we are ready to start the season,” said Humphreys. Expectations are sky high at Unity, even if a state title isn’t talked about on the daily. “We don’t believe in excuses at our place. We hold everyone accountable. We have played for four state championships in a row, so the expectation is to win our region, then get the opportunity to play for a title. The other thing is developing well-rounded football players. We challenge our kids to grow every day, and they take that challenge to heart,” said Coach Humphreys. Unity has a lot of top-end talent that comes back, which puts them once again in the hunt. While they lost three starters on the offensive line, they
2025 RECORD:
12-0, overall (5-0, region)
have bodies to return, like Ace Hitchcock, Landon Stephens, and Xander Leonardi. All-American linebacker William Wilson comes back, who averages over 100 tackles, along with a hidden gem in Cooper Mathis. Brady King and Isaiah Giddens will be lockdown in the secondary, and Tyler Ford will tote the rock on offense at tailback. Miles Schwartz is back at quarterback, with his favorite target from last season, Beau Madson, returning as well. That duo connected for 11 touchdowns last year. “Unity is a special place. We're going to play football hard, but we're going to teach Jesus each and every day. We teach them that you can be extreme competitors and still be a follower of Christ. The good Lord has given us talents, all talents. And he expects us to take those talents and maximize them. It's my job to take whatever talents they have and to make them the very best they can possibly be,” said Humphreys. It’s no coincidence that Unity finds themselves back in state titles year after year. Heavy is the head who wears the crown, but expect them to live up to the challenge.
TOTAL SEASONS: 16 first season, 2010
HEAD COACH: David Humphreys
REGION CHAMPIONSHIPS: 5 (2025 last)
STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS: 3 (2025 last)
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ADAIRSVILLE TIGERS R E G I O N :
SC HE D ULE
8.21 @ Sonoraville
8.28 @ Woodland
7 - A A A A
9.4 North Murray
9.11 @ Cedartown
9.18 Pickens
9.25 BYE Week
10.2 @ Northwest Whitfield
G O
10.9 @ Heritage-Catoosa
T I G E R S !
10.16 BYE Week
10.23 Southeast Whitfield
10.30 Ridgeland
11.6 Calhoun
Senior
#23 JAKE BARSZCZ (LB,RB)
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Senior
#5 BRAXTON ELROD (QB)
Senior
#11 MATTHEW COOK (LB,TE)
BETWEEN THE LINES 2026 | HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL PREVIEW ADA IRSVIL L E H AD A R O CK Y S T A R T T O T H E I R S E A S O N, but they didn’t let an 0-3 start shake their resolve, winning 4 of their last seven games. After two good region wins against NW Whitfield and Ridgeland, the Tigers dropped their last two, missing the playoffs. “Starting off, we couldn’t get any momentum,” said Head Coach John Cudd. “We couldn't get anything positive. Nothing really clicked for us early on. As we got into the season, we had some really good moments. It could have been a really good season considering where we started.” With last year’s squad being a relatively young team, it molded those inexperienced players into veterans. Over the course of the summer and spring, those players have developed into great leaders as they get ready for the season. “We really focus on leadership. We focused on the weight room really and during class as well, where we embedded competition into our daily routine. So every day was a competition. We’ve had a great summer, and we are ready to get out and face some competition,” said Cudd. That work will pay off on Friday nights, but another area Cudd would like to see growth and additional leadership development is on the vocal side to avoid miscommunication when it comes to X’s & O’s. “Our kids have got to do a better job communicating. Making sure we have the right call, coverages, stunts up fronts, checks, and making sure we get lined up correctly,” said Cudd.
2025 RECORD:
4-6, overall (3-3, 7-AAA)
HEAD COACH: Jon Cudd 28-16
The get better every day mantra may feel cliché at this point, but it absolutely applies to what Cudd wants his guys to achieve on the field or as a person. “We want to get better daily. Are we better this week than last? I fully expect us to be in every single ball game this year, and what that means is, I fully expect that we can compete with anybody on our schedule. If the ball bounces the right way, I see us having a great season.” For the Tigers, there’s a lot of returning experience that should prove to be key pieces. Jake Barr and Matthew Cook are going to be back at linebacker. Max Hatch and KJ Smith are good cover guys in the secondary. On offense, Eli Burke and Hunter Gilley are back, along with Javian Carson and Zeke Carter. Bryson Elrod is back at quarterback. “This is year 19 for me. This is a special place. I can't imagine being anywhere else, and it's such a good community, a lot of good people. It’s a great school, and I couldn't imagine my kids going anywhere else.” Adairsville has the dudes to win and last year’s failures are fuel for the fire to win. The Tigers will be on the prowl in 2026
ALL TIME RECORD:
REGION CHAMPIONSHIPS:
753 games - 407-322-11
10 (2023 last)
TOTAL SEASONS: 71 first season, 1956
Proud Sponsor of the Adairsville Tigers!
• • • •
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Interventional Pain Specialist Sports Medicine Non-surgical Orthopedics PRP (platelet-rich plasma )
• • • •
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CARTERSVILLE HURRICANES 8.21
R E G I O N
S C HE D ULE
Senior
@ Hiram
#4 TYON COE (RB,CB)
8.28 Mt. Zion
7 - A A A A A
9.4 @ Woodstock
9.11 West Forsyth
9.25 Villa Rica
10.2 @ Cass
10.9 @ Cedartown
G O
10.16 Allattoona
10.30
C A N E S !
Dalton
11.6 @ Woodland
Senior
#55 JORIAN BAILEY (OG)
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Senior
#17 DIXON LINDSEY (ILB)
BETWEEN THE LINES 2026 | HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL PREVIEW CARTERSVILLE FINISHED LAST SEASON 12-1, winning another region championship after going 6-0 in region play. The Canes had an average margin of victory of over 30 PPG in the region, and went on to make the quarterfinals before falling to Kell. “I thought that it was a reflection of guys that had played 2-3 years. It was a fun group to coach. Our guys were bought in, there wasn’t too much drama. Our group got better every week,” said Head Coach Conor Foster. The Canes have made a habit of reloading, not rebuilding, and they’re encouraging new guys to step in and figure out what they have to continue that tradition. “We feel like it's been a productive off-season. We've got some different challenges with this group. We are replacing four offensive linemen, and we have a lot of young guys that are eager to work. We may look a little bit different, and we may play the game a little differently, but in the end, we still feel like we can have a really good football team and compete for championships,” said Foster. At Cartersville, the expectations are absolutely never going to change. “Our goal is to be a championship program in every measure, and everything, and we do, whether it be on the field, in the classroom or the community. For us, it looks like pursuing excellence in everything that we do,” said Foster. Even with the youth up front, the Canes goals are still the same; giving themselves a shot at a state title.
“We will be working to build towards being our best in November or December. We want to be playing our best football in the playoffs. And so everything that we will be doing will be to give ourselves a chance in those region games, and those playoff games, to be peaking and playing at the right time,” said Foster. The reloaded roster will feature a number of standout players. Cole Crawford, a Georgia Tech verbal, begins his senior campaign. Grayson Villar and Grayson Warmack, Georgia State verbal, will headline a stout defense along with rising star Atkins Davenport. Maddox Davis, ranked as high as the #5 receiver in America by some recruiting services, should be a star. The winning tradition on the field is only part of what makes Cartersville a special place and Coach Foster certainly appreciates the community that supports his program. “This community loves our school system. They love our football program, and we're a reflection of them. We got a lot of kids that grow up dying to be Purple Hurricanes from the time they're kindergarteners. There are so many people that come together on Fridays to make this a special place,” said Foster. Cartersville has what it takes to win yet another region championship and it wouldn’t surprise anyone if they are playing for all the marbles at the end of the season.
2025 RECORD:
ALL TIME RECORD:
REGION CHAMPIONSHIPS:
HEAD COACH:
TOTAL SEASONS: 114
STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS:
12-1, overall (6-0, region 7-AAA) Conor Foster 83-9
1143 games - 755-334-30
first season, 1909
25 (2025 last) 4 (2016 last)
Proud Sponsor of the Cartersville Canes!
• • • •
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Interventional Pain Specialist Sports Medicine Non-surgical Orthopedics PRP (platelet-rich plasma )
• • • •
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CASS COLONELS SC HE D ULE
R E G I O N
Senior
8.21
#20 ELIHUE SIMMONS JR (LB)
@ at Flowery Branch
8.28 Sprayberry
7 - A A A A A
9.4 Creekview
9.11 @ Heritage-Catoosa
9.18 @ Villa Rica
9.25 @ Woodland
10.2 Cartersville
G O
10.9 BYE Week
Cedartown
10.23 @ Allattoona
10.30 BYE Week
Senior
11.6 Dalton
#58 CORDAE REED (DT)
Senior
#13 LANDEN NELSON (OLB)
Senior
#59 TREMON BUCKNER (OL,DL)
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10.16
BETWEEN THE LINES 2026 | HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL PREVIEW CASS HAD YET ANOTHER SUCCESSFUL SEASON UNDER STEVE GATES, making it to the Sweet Sixteen, before falling to state championship runner-up Benedictine. “We just generated a lot of buzz,” said Gates. “We were heavy with seniors, and we came together and played well. We were on the peak for most of the season. It’s a double-edged sword, we were happy that we had a lot of experience since it was a senior-heavy group, but the downside is next year we don’t have a lot of experience.” Coach Gates has attacked the task of that large senior group head on, and this offseason has been geared towards getting this green group ready through competition. “We are young. We need experience. Each time we have gone out in the summer, we have gotten better and better and better. We are going to have to be competitive with the inexperience that we have. We have very good players all over, but we have little to no playing experience. We are trying to minimize our mistakes; you can’t replicate game speed, so a lot of that learning will come under the lights on Fridays.” While the group is young, the lofty expectations Gates has created in the Colonels program, remain the same. “Those expectations never change. It doesn't matter if we're talented, not talented, seniors or no seniors. The summer expectations, the offseason expectations, the discipline in the classroom, never change.”
Coach Gates preaches toughness to his group, and that reflects in the win column. “We've beaten some teams we shouldn't have beaten because our kids are fearless and aren't afraid to play anybody. They may be outmatched or outmanned, but they're going to go fight for four quarters and give it everything they've got. We get better every day.” The Colonels have some dudes on each side of the ball. Kalil Charles returns after leading the state in rushing last year, and Noah Rogers takes over quarterbacking duties. Jahil Abdullah-Korte is going to be a star receiver, with guys like Sebastian Castaneda and Lawson Weeks on the o-line. On defense, Logan Crisp, Eli Simmons, and Zach Styles headline a deep linebacker core. Demarcus Ballenger, Xzavion Turner, and Tyson Beauford are some names to watch in the secondary. “As long as we can keep these expectations up as we've already talked about and the kids keep fighting and have great attitudes and efforts, we'll continue to have some fun around here. The community supports these kids. They thrive to do it, and the Friday night lights here are pretty fun.” The Cass community should have a lot of fun watching this group play this year. Expect to hear the cannon blast in the Doug a lot.
2025 RECORD:
ALL TIME RECORD:
HEAD COACH:
TOTAL SEASONS: 74
9-3, overall (5-1, region 7-AAAA) Steve Gates 38-31
REGION CHAMPIONSHIPS:
750 games - 254-478-5
1 (1983 last)
first season, 1953
Proud Sponsor of the Cass Colonels!
• • • •
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Interventional Pain Specialist Sports Medicine Non-surgical Orthopedics PRP (platelet-rich plasma )
• • • •
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WOODLAND WILDCATS R E G I O N
SC HE D ULE
8.21 @ Pope
8.28 Adairsville
7 - A A A A A
9.4 North Spings
9.11 BYE Week
9.18 @ Northwest Whitfield
9.25 Cass
10.2 @ Villa Rica
G O
10.9 BYE Week
W I L D C A T S !
10.16 @ Dalton
10.23 @ Cedartown
10.30 Allatoona
11.6 Cartersville
Junior
#28 PEYTON YOUNG (MLB,TE,HB)
32
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Senior
#1 CLAYTON MCARDLE (WR,DB)
Junior
#6 SOLOMON JAMES (RB)
BETWEEN THE LINES 2026 | HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL PREVIEW WOODLAND FINISHED LAST SEASON BELOW THE EXPECTATIONS O F H EA D C OAC H ANDY S CO T T . They were much improved, but still not exactly where they wanted to be. ‘We did not have as good of a season last year as I would have hoped, and it was discouraging. It was a much-improved group. At the end of the day, our region got better, and we have to rise to that challenge.” said Head Coach Andy Scott. With many programs making a huge leap forward in year 2 under a new head coach, Scott is quick to point out that his players have bought in since day one and that buy-in should yield dividends in 2026. “Ever since we got here, our guys have made great improvements in the weight room. We hit the ground running in January. We played North Cobb Christian in the spring, and did extremely well. We return 17 starters, and we are trying to expose our kids as much as humanly possible so they’ll be ready once we hit fall scrimmages and games.” With all that returning talent, Scott feels good about his team’s prospects in 2026. “I really feel like this can be one of the better teams Woodland has ever had. Expectations are high on my end. Obviously, none of that means anything unless you play people and beat people. I really and truly feel like we can do that once we get into the regular season.” Building a winning culture requires a lot between the lines, but off the field, Coach Scott holds his players to a high standard, and those standards create better leaders.
2025 RECORD:
2-8, overall (1-7, region 7-AAAA)
HEAD COACH: Andy Scott 61-105
“We spend a lot of time on character and character development and leadership. We spend a lot of time in devotionals and a lot of time on team and character building because at the end of the day, you know, that, that, they say one percent of your team goes to college and plays, and that 99% never plays a down in college football. It’s our job to make them good players, but we want them to be even better men off the field.” Coach Scott has taken charge of what he thinks needs to be improved in order to have success, and that starts on both lines of scrimmage. “We have been really bad on the offensive line. If it doesn’t get fixed, we are not going to ever be any good. We needed to touch up on not giving up big plays, so we’ve revamped our defense.” The Wildcats should have plenty of talent to get where Andy Scott wants his guys to be. Noah Ogle will play center, with Treyshawn Brown and Cameron Quinney beside him at guard. Cooper Shedd is back at tackle as well. Solomon James at tailback and Sammy Ray at quarterback are some great names to watch for. Guys like Clayton McCardell, Trevor Mann, and Eli Osborne spotlight a deep receiving core. On defense, Evan Torres and Carson Darby head the linebackers, and Peyton Young is the guy who makes it go. Cooper Higdon and Elijah Fuller are strong defensive linemen. “We’ve got great kids. They’ve allowed us to coach them hard. Just going to work every day with a bunch of kids that will allow us to coach them and help them and things like that, man that's been such a good deal.” The Wildcats have a deep roster with some great returning talent that will allow Coach Scott to make a big jump in year two at the helm.
ALL TIME RECORD: 289 games - 79-200
TOTAL SEASONS: 29 first season, 1998
Proud Sponsor of the Woodland Wildcats!
• • • •
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Interventional Pain Specialist Sports Medicine Non-surgical Orthopedics PRP (platelet-rich plasma )
• • • •
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CHATTOOGA INDIANS 8.21
R E G I O N
S C HE D ULE
Junior
Lafayette
8.28
#44 KAINE BAKER (FB,DE)
BYE Week
7 - A A
9.4 Model
9.11 @ Coosa
9.18 @ Ridgeland
9.25 G O
Gordon Lee
10.2
I N D I A N S !
Gordon Central
10.9 BYE Week
10.16 Dade County
10.23 @ Lakeview-Fort Oglethorpe
Senior
10.30 @ Fannin County
#2 AIDEN FLETCHER (RB,OLB)
11.6 @ Christian Heritage
Senior
#72 RYLAN LEDFORD (C)
36
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BETWEEN THE LINES 2026 | HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL PREVIEW A F T E R A W I N L E S S N O N - R E G I O N S T A R T , the Indians fell short of what they wanted to accomplish in 25-26. Chattooga were set to make the playoffs if they won their last game against Coosa, but a last-second field goal from the Eagles ended their season. “We felt like we didn’t get the most out of the season last year, and that was disappointing,” said Head Coach Rune Gable. “That hurt. We didn’t reach our ultimate goal of making the playoffs.” This summer, the group has shown up and showed out. They have worked ridiculously hard. “This group of seniors have really worked hard in the weight room, in the spring, and in the summer to correct these things, and we could be in a better position than we were last year. We have gotten better each month, and I’ve been pleased with their accountability, and they’ve bought into the changes,” said Gable. Coaching his players is about more than football and he expects his Indians to be excellent on and off the field. “We talk about our behavior in the classroom, being a leader, and doing little things the right way. We want to put ourselves into a position to be competing for a region championship. We want to make the playoffs, and to host a playoff game at home,” said Gable. “We have been working all offseason on improved quarterback play. We have focused on getting more athletic, finding more athletes and getting them into the right positions. To us, that is the difference between an average team and a good team.”
Chattooga is fairly young, but there is still some experience and talent throughout the group. Aiden Fletcher is one of the leading rushers from NWGA that will come back. Kane Baker is back at tight end, who is returning from an all-region campaign. Javion Cotton and Jayden Foster headline an athletic linebacker core. Major Blair starts at corner, and is an explosive weapon at receiver. Jovanni Hill is a good backup runningback to Aiden Fletcher, providing depth at the position. Building a winning culture takes time and reaching your goals takes support from the community and beyond. Coach Gable certainly understands and appreciates the community surrounding his program. “Chattooga is a small community, but they support our athletes in anything that we do. Our community supports our athletes and school in general. We are a blessed community, and when you reach out to our community for support, they respond,” said Coach Gable. The Indians are scrappy and hungry. The lessons learned last season should have the Indians playing with a chip on their shoulder, and they have their sights focused on a run to the playoffs.
2025 RECORD:
ALL TIME RECORD:
HEAD COACH:
TOTAL SEASONS: 66
3-7, overall (3-4, region 7-A D 1) Roone Gable 11-20
667 games - 317-348-12
REGION CHAMPIONSHIPS: 2 (1974 last)
first season, 1961
Yancey’s Boom Truck Service LLC Est. 1998
“Our Business Is Picking Up”
Marcell Yancey Owner/Operator Home Office 706-862-6569 Cell 706-857-8351 28500 Hwy 157 Cloudland, GA 30731
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TRION BULLDOGS R E G I O N
S C HE D ULE
8.21 Gordon Lee
8.28 Model
7 - A
9.4 @ Ridgeland
D 1
9.11 @ Dade County
9.18 Lakeview-Fort Oglethorpe
9.25 @ Northview
G O
10.2 BYE Week
B U L L D O G S !
10.9 @ Greenville
10.16 @ Bowdon
10.23 Manchester
10.30 BYE Week
11.6 B.E.S.T. Academy
Senior
#36 COLEMAN LEE (LB,TE)
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Senior
#8 LINC ALLEN (QB,FS)
Senior
#0 HUDSON THOMAS (DE,TE)
BETWEEN THE LINES 2026 | HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL PREVIEW
AFTER A HISTORIC RUN THAT INCLUDED A REGION TITLE IN 2024, Trion faced a rebuilding season in 2025, but still found their way to the playoffs after replacing 18 seniors from that championship team. “It was not up to standard for where we want to be in this program,” said Head Coach Sean Patrick. “We played a lot of close games, and we were not very experienced. We knew we were going to have to replace a lot, and now we have a lot of pieces back that gained a lot of experience last season, which is a positive thing.” So far, things have been good over the summer for Coach Patrick and his squad, but the intangibles still need some touching up on. “I thought we had a good showing against North Murray in the spring. We have to strive on being consistent, and this group has to do a better job controlling their emotions. We have to go play ball,” said Patrick. While the Bulldogs are on a path back to competing for championships on the field, Coach Patrick and his staff have a vision for their players that goes far beyond on-field success. “From a football standpoint, we want to win. We want to win region and state titles. To achieve that, we've got to come to work every day and with a mindset that we want to go out and get better. We've got to work with a purpose. And I think we still are developing that mindset. I hope our kids learn lessons from this program,” said Patrick.
The Bulldogs have a lot of talent that returns from last year's squad that looks to rebound from a down season. Link Allen is back at quarterback. Landon Kimble accounted for over 800 yards of offense, and Jackson Wood and JC Morales are back on the offensive line. Dawson Crane at receiver will be a key piece, and on defense, Hudson Thomas will lead the way along with Coleman Lee and Frank Curillo. Jace Wells is a talented ball carrier, along with McKinley Mann at defensive back and receiver. “I’m very blessed to be a part of this program. This community rallies around this program and not just this program, this community rallies around this school. Hopefully we can find a way to continue to have success on the field and make them all proud,” said Coach Patrick. With a lot of key pieces returning, Trion should be back in the running for region championships and beyond.
2025 RECORD:
ALL TIME RECORD:
REGION CHAMPIONSHIPS:
HEAD COACH:
TOTAL SEASONS: 93
STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS:
4-7, overall (2-2, region 7-A D ii) Sean Patrick 47-23
998 games - 590-372-20
first season, 1933
13 (2023 last) 2 (1974 last)
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ROCKMART YELLOW JACKETS R E G I O N
S C HE D ULE
8.21 @ Dalton
8.28 Cedartown
7 - A A A
9.4 @ Mary Persons
9.11 BYE Week
9.18 Coahulla Creek
G O
9.25 @ Union County
10.2
Y E L L O W
BYE Week
10.9 Ringgold
10.16 Murray County
J A C K E T S !
10.23 @ North Murray
10.30 LaFayette
11.6 @ Sonoraville
Senior
#55 JAIDEN THOMPSON (OL,DL)
Senior
#4 CHARLIE CANNON (QB)
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HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL PREVIEW 2026
Senior
#9 DEVIN MCCOY (RB,DE)
BETWEEN THE LINES 2026 | HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL PREVIEW THE ROCKMART YELLOW JACKETS MADE YET ANOTHER DEEP P L AYOF F RUN IN 2 0 2 5, winning another region championship along the way, before exiting in the Elite 8. Shortly after the season, the Biff Parsons era came to a close after he made the move to his Alma mater in Hart County. Rockmart didn’t waste any time making a home run of a hire by getting Rich Fendley from Bowdon, who led the Red Devils to 4 straight state titles. “I’m a builder. I had the itch to go somewhere else,” said Fendley. “I thought it was a great opportunity to come somewhere, put a staff together, and see if we could do a lot of little things right, build that same championship culture here, and see if we could bring a title to Rockmart.” In his first offseason in charge, he has put a lot of emphasis on getting guys stronger and putting his stamp on the program. “We hit the ground running in the spring, and then we’ve had a great summer with our Iron Jacket competition, seeing who our 10 strongest guys are in the program. We want our guys to practice the right way, and see how much of this work has paid off for us when the season starts,” said Fendley. It is safe to say that Coach Fendley’s standards are extremely high, and he expects his players to live up to them. “We want to win the region championship. This program has done it 9 years in a row, so we are going for the decade. We want to get back to the quarterfinals, and then goal number three is to make it to the state championship,” said Fendley.
Coach Fendley will have some experience and talent that should prove to make tidal waves. Charlie Cannon will be his quarterback, with AAA’s leading receiver in Gavin Green out wide. Jaiden Thompson, Noah King, and Caden Mahoney headline an experienced offensive line. Ryder Brinkley and Kaumari Wilson are some big tight ends. On the defensive side of the ball, guys like Cortez Wright and Devin McCoy will be some leaders on the defensive line and linebacker core, and Earnest Stephens may be one of the best recruits to come through that program. For Fendley, the opportunity to elevate this already successful program to new heights is something he relishes. “Here's a football community that is licking their chops to kick this ball off Friday night. When you have that kind of support, everyone in the community feels like they have a role in the program. We have awesome parents, fans, and alumni that support us along with a great student body. You want to win for yourself, but you want to win for them too ,” said Fendley. With a deep and talented squad, the sky is the limit for the Yellow Jackets.
2025 RECORD:
ALL TIME RECORD:
REGION CHAMPIONSHIPS:
HEAD COACH:
TOTAL SEASONS: 103
STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS:
11-2, overall (8-0, region 7-AA) Richard Fendley Jr 81-44
960 games - 515-399-25
first season, 1923
18 (2025 last) 1 (1950 last)
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CEDARTOWN BULLDOGS R E G I O N
S C HE D ULE
8.21 Ridgeland
8.28 @ Rockmart
7 - A A A A A
9.4 @ Alexander
9.11 Adairsville
9.18 Allatoona
9.25 @ Dalton
10.2 BYE Week
G O
10.9 Cartersville
B U L L D O G S !
10.16 @ Cass
10.23 Woodland
10.30 @ Villa Rica
Senior
#1 CHRIS JOHNSON (LB,TE)
Senior
#55 ELI CARTER (DL,OL)
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Senior
#23 ROHAN KENT (S,RB)
BETWEEN THE LINES 2026 | HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL PREVIEW
THE BULLDOGS ENDED UP FINISHING BELOW EXPECTATIONS L AST YEAR , missing the playoffs for the first time since 2016 in Tommy Atha’s first year. “It wasn’t the kind of season we had hoped to have. We lost a lot of close games, and that’s part of maturing. We didn’t do the things we needed to. I hope we have grown from that,” said Head Coach Tommy Atha. A lot of valuable lessons can come from a tough season like the Bulldogs experienced last year, and Coach Atha has set the standard he expects from his players to build a winning culture. “The biggest thing that we needed to see in the spring is who's grown up as a player. We were 4 days a week this summer, and the participation was outstanding. I’m proud of the kids for how they showed up, that was very encouraging. We want to see effort, and the players that give the best effort will be playing on Friday nights,” said Coach Atha. So far, playing in the open field and finishing drives have been clear points of emphasis for this fall. “We've got to be better tacklers. We’ve got to do a better job with ball security this year. We've got to finish drives. We need to put the ball in the end zone,” said Coach Atha. To improve in those areas, Atha and his staff have a clear message for their team; control the controllables.
“Control the things that you can control. Are you doing things to prepare yourself as a player? Are you lifting hard? Are you practicing hard? Are we practicing hard as a team? Are you gonna be on time when you go to class? Are you gonna be a good student? I've always believed that regardless of how much talent you have, you ultimately become a product of your habits,” said Coach Atha. The Cedartown Bulldogs will have plenty of talent for this upcoming season. Jayden Dowda returns at center, and Bryson Duggan at tackle along with Ollie West at tight end. The team's leading rusher in Jacobe Dorsey is back, and Wyatt Mosley at quarterback as well. Rohan Kent is the permanent team captain, and Chris Johnson and Will Worthington are key playmakers at linebacker. “When you talk about Cedartown, community and tradition come to mind. There’s a lot of tradition in being a Cedartown Bulldog, and our young men want to play to that standard” said Atha. With key players back and Atha in his second year at the helm, Cedartown will be gunning for a return to the playoffs this season.
2025 RECORD:
ALL TIME RECORD:
REGION CHAMPIONSHIPS:
HEAD COACH:
TOTAL SEASONS: 118
STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS:
2-8, overall (0-6, region 7-AAAA) Tommy Atha 181-74
1108 games - 658-396-36
16 (2022 last) 1 (1963 last)
first season, 1907
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