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12 BEARS From page 4 M.L. King. Whether it was on the offensive line, defensive line or backfield, Houston sent the most players to the college level in one Signing Day ever. Collins said the sting of los ing those players is still being felt, as most of them were a part of the program all four years. For 2007, Houston County isn’t short on seniors - 18 on the roster - and has some juniors with play ing experience. Collins said it’s all a part of high school football where players come and go every year, pav ing the way for others to step in and be the next great team. “Some of our younger kids have accepted some of the leadership roles,” said Collins. As for the makeup of his first Bears team, Collins said it’s not too big on defense, but there are players who go with a lot of heart. “Offensively, we don’t have the breakaway speed or great quick ness we had with Eric (O’Neal),” he said. “It’s the same type attitude the defense has. We’re going to plus at it. Not that we want to go three vards-and-a-cloud-of-dust, because we’re going to have to put the ball in the air a little bit. I don’t know if H.E4fiIEDE^^frNMON rally IhsuretfFy'The.Natforial Credit Union A'Siffijlstratlon Wishing Everyone A GreatV, Football Season! . Great Certmcateßa^es! . Low Loan Rate _ WK °? l °V “"SSSSfiSS 478-988-7477 or 80C£671^6969 _ *“ 9am-18nSH|ji|| i 1601 Macon, BoadWffegy OA 31069 Parry Office: M-W-F SUELIVAN HEATING ii IS PROUD TO SUPPORT THE FOOTBALL TEAMS OF COUNTY .^A WE WISH FOR YOU A VERY GOOD YEAR. >' * 515 GRAYRD. PERRY, GA. 31069 we’ll have any big plays, but it’s an offense that may be capable of mov ing the ball on people.” Even back in spring practice, Collins said the Bears were working with a base offense and adding bits and pieces as time moved on. Even more was added when fall practice began at the start of August, and the coach said yet even more will be added after the season begins. “We’re going to be playing some great defenses, starting on week No. 1 with Northside,” said Collins. “We’re going to have to do things offensively that give us a chance to move the football.” The major development last sea son with the Bears was then-sopho more Jeff Thompson’s insertion as the starting quarterback prior to the trip to Parkview three weeks into the campaign. Thompson stayed the starter until the end and now enters the fall No. 1 at the key offensive position. “Jeff had the luxury last year of being the quarterback for a very talented offense,” said Collins. “He had Eric, D.J. Dodson, Ben Col lins, Dylan Thompson and Reggie Smith. This year, he has to do some things to carry the offense. Last year, his big thing was getting the ball to Eric, throw the ball a little bit and let the offense take care of itself. “This year ... that’s the thing we have to look at. Can Jeff make the play he has to make for us to be successful? From every indication, when there was a situation where he had to make a play (last year), he made it. So far this fall, we’ve been very pleased with Jeff. He’ll be fine.” The loss of O’Neal to Coastal Carolina took away the Region T AAAAA Offensive Player of the Year and a player who scored five rushing touchdowns in the playoff win at Newnan. He lined up at tail back for virtually every snap in 2006 with Dodson ahead of him at full back, so those jobs this year became wide open. Garrick Davis and Ra shad Gay, a pair of juniors, are the leaders to line up in the backfield, Collins said. But he said there could be a lot of rotation of fresh players, especially with the weather still hot in September. “By the end of the year, Davis may be the tailback we can really count on as he grows into the role and gets experienced,” said Collins. “Craig Presley is a very talented receiver. We have Michael Ragan, Nic Adkins and Kevin Dees all working with the first group. And it’s a big group. Everywhere you will start to see a kid step up a bit that you weren’t really counting on. That’s going to have to happen for | 52465 us.” Thompson and Smith were just two major players on Houston’s all-senior offensive line that also lost Michael Cuppett and Jimmy Bailey. “Up front we lost starters and backups,” said Collins. “(This year) Ricky Williams is a guy who can play good for us (at tight end). Jus tin Kitchens, whom we’ve said time and again can be one of the best if not the best lineman to come out of this school in a long time, is a very talented young man. “We’re showing some signs. We’re not there yet, but there are some linemen starting to move up a bit and take some leadership at their positions. It’s probably one of the hardest positions on the field to learn, so you have to know what to do but you also have to make ad justments on the fly Communica tion up front will be big for us.” Houston County lost a big and powerful defensive line with Princ eton Dean, Brandon Craig, Dexter Holman and Roddy Nixon gradu ated. This year, Collins said the defense will revolve around middle linebacker Chris Prewett, a return ing senior who is coming off a strong 2006 and a good summer practice. “He’ll have to be a leader for us,” said Collins. “We have (senior) Wes Johnson at strong safety I don’t WR /—/ [iNSU.ANCtJ ()wi 2007 J§ommy He<xm& /t (foot SecMm! Siprey 1001 Washington St. J Stafefcarm Perr * GA 31069 r 3 ■k of < mrenjm gr a s (x i <3 nMW ear* ■ Bring in This Coupon For hrm t : 15% Off One Item • 9/1 S/07 Nothing Perry Market Place (Next to the Kroger’s Grocery store) 1369 Sain Nunn Blvd • Perry, GA 31069 478«224«9327 (WEAR) HOUSTON COUNTY FOOTBALL 2007 think there’ll be a senior playing up front. We have Jacob Walker (ju nior), Keith Thomas (junior), those two have shown out this summer. We have others who have a shot. There are some battles for posi tions.” Along with Johnson, the second ary has the seniors with Jontavious Smith and Rico Hendricks. Collins said all four defensive seniors need to stay healthy and play like seniors. When the Bears had a scrimmage at Jones County, Collins said he did notice the lack of size, but liked the way the defenders went after the football, worked hard and showed a desire to play that should carry them through the season. The coach just wonders if there will be a scene like the playoff game against M.L. King when the Bears had possession of the football for eight minutes of the second quar ter, putting more pressure on that team’s defense while Houston got all that rest time. “This year I’m afraid a lot of the three-and-outs will be on of fense,” said Collins. “We have a lot of growing to do offensively If the past offensively we’ve been able to help our defense a great deal with long drives. This year I think both the offense and defense will See BEARS 1, page 16 1877 L 52030