About Fayette County news. (Fayetteville, GA) 2009-current | View Entire Issue (Aug. 16, 2023)
V4 Fayette County News Wednesday, August 16,2023 MCINTOSH CHIEFS McIntosh football is on the move. In their first year under head coach Derek Smith, the Chiefs scored a lot of points and enter tained a lot of fans. Their 5-6 record wasn’t what they wanted it to be, but they held their own in region play and earned a state playoff berth, something that hasn’t happened often for the green and black. The question now is how to build on success, and they think they have the pieces. With seven returners on offense and nine defense, the Chiefs hope to take that taste of the play offs and go back for a big bite this season. OFFENSE The biggest change for the Chiefs is at quarterback. Gone is Tate Morris, who torched the school record books last season. Next in line is Elliott Stur- baum, a more tradi tional pocket QB than Morris. He has enough wiggle to keep the defense honest, but he does his best work with his arm. Behind him, sophomore Elijah Strader is a dual threat type, with freshman Will Downing wowing with a big arm. Sophomore Bran- dan Ridley is a bud ding star who can do it all, whether it’s as the lead running back, split out wide, or even under center. Mason Green, Aaron Ajie, and Yuri Ajie are lightning-fast op tions. Freshman Col lin Sellers is an old school power change of pace back. At wide receiver they have a lot of ex perience with Lan- don Dolhancyk, Cole Landgaard, Nick Glozier, and Hollis Davidson. Dolhan cyk, a Navy commit, can burn past corners or go up and catch the ball over them. Landgaard and Glozier are tough to contain un derneath or on the jet sweep. Davidson is a big body matchup nightmare that they can line up at out wide or at tight end. Promising freshmen Chris Kea ton and Knox Lof- stad will also see action. Lennon Liburd is a stud capable of playing anywhere on the offensive line, and he is joined by returning starter Matthew Woods. Boris Zdravkov saw a lot of action last year and is expected to step up. Jayden La- mons, Jacob Lutz, and Westen Homan are battling for the other two starting spots, with freshmen Nick Matthews and Clark Anderson flashing potential. DEFENSE The defensive line returns intact to ter rorize offenses. De fensive end Uche Iloh is a menace gar nering a lot of big time college interest. He’ll be flanked by the massive Maddox Dykeman, who flashed a lot of po tential last year be fore he got hurt. Dean Gregory is un dersized but relent less, just like running mate Ben Logan. Sophomore Brian Tatum and a host of talented freshmen could fit into the ro tation. Evan Lisitza is a captain who will an chor the defense from middle line backer. Fast-rising Zach Profit, Soma Hall, and Ford Lam bert are in the mix. RT Barber and Chayse Wright are fast on the outside and strong in cover age. David Kienast figures into the mix, along with freshman Daynen Manley. The secondary is back. Montana Cody is explosive with great instincts and can play corner or linebacker. Shakur Simpson has track speed, and Santana Cody is rising. RJ Barber can start at cornerback or safety. Gehrig Rogers is new to the team from baseball, and he has impressed with his potential at safety. SPECIAL TEAMS The kicking game is in great hands with Arthur Richez. Richez can do it all, and colleges are tak ing notice. Jacob Lutz looks great at long snapper. The return game is looking for a spark, with Aaron Ajie, Simpson, and Land gaard among the op tions looking to make an impact. SEASON OUTLOOK Getting back to the playoffs is the easy part. They want to make sure it’s not a short stay this time. The Chiefs are loaded with return ing talent at most spots, and they know how to wear out the opposition. If they have found a steady quarterback, they are capable of making noise in the postsea son as they continue to build the founda tion for new McIn tosh football. # NAME Y 24 Isaiah Harbin 12 71 Jacob Heinecke 11 2023 SCHEDULE 0 Drew Meszar 10 25 Zach Proffitt 11 72 JJ Clonts 12 Aug. 18 Fayette County 1 Brandan Ridley 10 26 Yuri Ajie 10 73 Cole Campbell 11 2 Mason Green 12 27 RJ Barber 12 74 Westen Homan 10 Aug. 25 at Hampton 3 Cole Landgaard 12 28 Chayse Wright 11 75 Jake Lutz 11 4 Uche Iloh 12 29 JJ Willingham 11 76 Matthew Bailey 10 Sept. 1 Woodland 5 Shakur Simpson 11 30 Cole Herman 10 77 Boris Zdravkov 12 6 Evan Lisitza 12 31 Soma Hall 12 78 Lennon Liburd 12 Sept. 8 Central 7 Rahtrez Barber 12 37 John Mcmahan 9 79 Jayden Lamons 11 8 Hollis Davidson 11 39 Collin Sellers 9 80 Daynen Manley 9 Sept. 15 at Landmark 9 Elliott Sturbaum 11 46 Dean Gregory 12 82 Knox Lofstad 9 10 Aaron Ajie 12 51 Ben Logan 12 84 Landon Dolhancyk 12 Sept. 29 at Heard County 12 Elijah Strader 10 52 Hayden Mallard 11 88 Christopher Keaton 9 15 Nick Glozier 12 53 Landen Reeves 11 91 Maddox Dykeman 11 Oct. 6 Northgate 18 Arthur Richez 12 54 Soren Tharp 10 99 Chance Tyson 10 19 Will Downing 9 55 Chris Bennett 9 Oct. 13 at Drew 20 David Kienast 11 56 Matthew Woods 12 21 Santana Cody 11 57 Brian Tatum 10 Oct. 27 Northside 22 Gehrig Rogers 12 58 Ford Lambert 12 23 Montana Cody 12 59 Roth Bates 10 Nov. 3 at Harris County
