Newspaper Page Text
August 27, 2008
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PAGE 11B
2008: No more sub-region
MP faces a schedule of unknowns
August 29 • 7:30 p.m.
Dan Pitts Stadium at Mitchell Field
Region: 8-AAA • Colors: red, black & white
Coach: Bill Malone
2008 Record: 8-4 • Region: 4-0
The Mary Persons Bulldogs will be tested right out of the starting gate with their
season opener. One of only two non-region games this season, the face-off with the
Morgan County Bulldogs may reveal what the MP Bulldogs are really all about.
Morgan County’s Bill Malone is entering his second year as head coach, but he has
been serving as an assistant coach at Morgan County for 13 years. The team is con
sistent and will have nine returning starters on offense.
.1 lotgan Co. Bulldogs
Madison, Ga.
September 5 • 7:30 p.m.
Barnesville
Region: 5AA • Colors: navy & white
Coach: Jason Strickland
2007 Record: 1 -9 • Region:
Lamar County lost all but one game last season. They also lost several of their
starters. But, the Trojans have a new head coach, Jason Strickland formerly from
Charlton County, who says the team is improving. The Bulldogs should stomp the
Trojans, but must come to play. The Dogs can’t afford to be looking past the Trojans.
Remember 2006 - when what should have been a sure win turned into a big upset
for MP?
Lamar Co. t rojans
Barnesville. Ga.
September 12 • 7:30 p.m.
ePM 2851 Heath Road
i . « ,
Region: 4-AAA • Colors: green, orange & white
Jutland Hurried C ° aCh: Ge0r 9 e Coll ' nS
Macon, Ga. Record: 7-4 • Region: 6-2
September 19 • 7:30 p.m.
Dan Pitts Stadium at Mitchell Field
i Region: 4-AAA • Colors: purple & teal
Coach: Michael Howard
SouthAtkmta Hornets _ _ __ . _ _ _ _ .
Atlanta. Ga. 2007 Record: 3-7 • Region: 2-4
MP will have only two weeks to get ready for region play, which begins on the road
with a tough Rutland team. Rutland is now the second largest school in Bibb
County and moved from AA to AAA this season. Last year Rutland made the state
playoffs for the first time in school history, losing to Pepperell (7A-AA) in round one.
Among the returning starters is quarterback Jamel Hickey, who rushed for 731
yards and 7 touchdowns and passed for 632 yards and 8 touchdowns in 2007.
Now in a region that stretches from Lakewood to Macon, the Bulldogs will be fac
ing South Atlanta, one of several unknown teams on the schedule this year. The
Hornets have not had a winning season since 1995. And the Hornets will have to
play here, which should give the Bulldogs a chance to show off offensively in front of
a home crowd. Coach Walker says he’s never seen them play.
Backyard Brawl • September 26 • 7:30 p.m.
/||jk Rfid Devil Hill • Franklin Street • Jackson
Region: 4A-AAA • Colors: red, white & blue
Coach: Mike Parris
,iackson Red Deals 2007 Record: 3-7 • Region: 2-3
Jackson, Ga.
x October 3 • 7:30 p.m.
/iJE} Homecoming
( Dan Pitts Stadium at Mitchell Field
Region: 4-AAA • Colors: red & white
Woodland, Henry Wolfpck Coach: SCOtt Schmitt
* *■ 2007 Record: 2-6
Jackson has not had a back-to-back losing season ever under Coach Parris. The
Red Devils are returning nine defensive starters and are looking to prove that 2007
was a fluke. Once again the Bulldogs will have to play on Red Devil Hill, which
could get brutal. The Bulldogs MUST stay focused. They cannot afford to stroll into
Jackson with a cocky “we beat you in your own stadium last year” attitude or they
will be torn to shreds. Jackson will be the team to beat to win the region this year.
And you can be sure, they will not be beaten two years in a row without a fight.
Woodland is entering its second year as a school. Since there was no senior class in
2007, the Wolfpack is returning all 22 starters. This will be the team’s first year for
region competition. The players are athletic and will be as tough as they can be after
only one year as a team. This is MP’s homecoming.
, October 10 • 7:30 p.m.
Dan Pitts Stadium at Mitchell Field
' Region: 4A-AAA • Colors: blue & gold
Coach: JoeTeknipp
Eagles Landing Golden Logics „ , _ _ , „ „
Afeitfkmsit go. 2007 Record: 0-10 • Region record: 0-6
■ "\ October 24 • 7:30 p.m.* Senior night
m 1662 Ru 9 b V Ave -> College Park
JIU , Region: 4A-AAA • Colors: red & white
Coach: Mark Miller
2007 Record: 4-6 • Region: 3-5
The Eagles didn’t win a single game last year. But this team may be the most
improved team in the region. For one thing, they have a new coach, Joe Teknipp,
who was the offensive line coach at Henry County last year. Under Teknipp, Henry
County’s offense allowed only 4 sacks in 2007. The Eagles have a real chance at a
playoff spot this year.
ALthough a private school, Woodward Academy has been playing public school
football for years and has a consistently good football program. Coach Walker played
the War Eagles six times while he was a coach at Sandy Creek. “They will have good
athletes in skilled positions and will be very well coached,” said Walker. “They will
be a factor in the region.”
October 31 • 7:30 p.m.
Dan Pitts Stadium at Mitchell Field
tT Region: 5AA • Colors: navy & silver
1W Coach: Clint Ashmore Colors: navy & silver
.SjwtMfrt" Jm'rrrrrs . _ _ _ _ _
Grtmn. go. 2007 Record: 5-5 • Region: 2-3
November 8 • 7:30 p.m.
801 Glenwood Ave, Atlanta
La Region: 4-AAA • Colors: gold & cardinal
^ Coach: Eric Williams
■^SSSP* 2007 Record: 4-6 • Region: 3-3
Last year the Bulldogs beat Spalding in the last game of the regular season. But,
the Jaguars have a new coach this year. Jackson’s 2007 offensive coordinator is
now Spalding County’s new head football coach. The good news is the Bulldogs
play them later in the season and will be able to see how they play before facing
them.
The Bulldogs will have to play another school named Jackson this year. In the
final game of the regular season, MP has to travel to Atlanta to play the Maynard
Jackson Jaguars, the team formerly known as the South Atlanta Lasers. The team
has not had a winnning season in 15 years.
Mary Persons High School Bulldogs football coaches: Athletic director and Head Coach Rodney Walker; Grant Chesnut - special teams and offensive line coach; Kevin Yancey - defensive ends coach; Brian
Nelson - defensive coordinator and safties; Jason Morrow - offensive coordinator and quarterbacks; Jeff.”Doc” Quinn - athletic trainer; Jeremy Rayburn - wide receivers coach; Jonathan Gastley - B Team
coach; Pat Burdette- assistant head coach and defensive line coach; Denarius Thomas - cornerbacks coach; David Care - running backs coach; Lang Oglesby - B team coach.