Landmark Christian has been one of the most successful teams in the state over the last six years, having won the Region 5-A title each year (last year, Landmark finished in a three-way tie for first; the other five were outright titles).

Last year’s Our Lady of Mercy Bobcats varsity football team enjoyed more success than any team in the school’s history, but the head coach and several of the players have moved on. The team is now coached by Chad Flatt, an assistant coach and coordinator last year for the Bobcats, who admittedly has a different style than his friend and former coach Bryan Pinabell.

The local teams who competed in Region 2-AAAA last year — Starr’s Mill, Whitewater, Fayette County and McIntosh — were accustomed to beating up on each other.

Change is inevitable, an old adage that the Whitewater Wildcats must face — and overcome — this season.

Whitewater reached the second round of the state playoffs last season, but 28 of its players from that team graduated, leaving the Wildcats with only six returning starters: offensive tackle Andrew Dean (6-0, 235), running back Thomas Frierson (5-11, 185), defensive end Thomas Richard (6-1, 200), outside linebacker Zac Mann (5-11, 193), free safety Jake Fisher (6-1, 175) and cornerback Jack Grove (6-0, 175).

The Starr’s Mill Panthers are coming off a season in which they went 5-5 and missed the state playoffs for the first time since 2003.

One step at a time.

That’s the McIntosh Chiefs’ unofficial motto this season under their new head coach, Glenn Griffin.

Last year was one for the ages for the Fayette County Tigers.

They went undefeated during the regular season and won a region championship, both firsts in school history. Plus, the Tigers advanced to the second round of the state playoffs (the first time Fayette made the playoffs since 1997) and finished with an impressive 11-1 record.

Perhaps no coach in the county is sitting on a hotter seat right now than Fayette County’s Tommy Webb.

September
1 - @ Mt. Zion, Jonesboro
7 - @ Jonesboro
14 - vs. Whitewater
21 - @ Woodward Academy
28 - vs. Northgate

1 - Tashawn Pettaway
2 - Brandon Boykin
3 - Matt Daniels
4 - Barack Little
5 - Marquis Dixon
6 - Jonathan West
7 - Terrow Davis

Name: Tommy Webb

Years coaching: 28 years

Years coaching at your current school: 5 at FCHS
Playing career: Played high school baseball and JV football

When you go 0-10, the only place you can go is up.

The McIntosh Chiefs did not have a good season last year and the entire coaching staff and roster of players is hoping to put that memory far out of their minds this year.

August
31 - vs. Sandy Creek

September
7 - @ East Coweta
14 - @ Westlake
21 - vs. Banneker

October
5 - @ Starr’s Mill

1 - John Koob
2 - Spencer Wood
3 - Nick Popiel
4 - Eddy Gomez
5 - Nathan Enzor
6 - Ben Sims
7 - Nick Morrow
8 - Bradley Larson

The increased importance on National Signing Day has put an almost full-year focus on high school and college football and that means recruiting has become a big business. Players who are looking to extend their athletic careers into college and beyond have to start thinking about recruiting as early as possible these days if they are to get a jump on the competition.

Name: Dwight Jones

Years coaching: 28 years coaching

Years coaching at your current school: 2 years at McIntosh

When the state playoffs are held each year, it’s almost a foregone conclusion that the Starr’s Mill Panthers will be playing in the postseason.

Fayette County has produced and continues to produce an astonishing number of college level football talent.

Throughout the 2007 season, we will be following the progress of our former local standouts on the college gridiron for their respective teams.

September
1 - @ Cherokee (Georgia Dome)
7 - @ Rockdale County
14 - @ Creekside
21 - vs. Westlake
28 - @ Banneker

1 - Daryl Hunt
2 - Duane Davis
3 - Kyle Porche
4 - Matt Sweat
5 - Trenton Edwards
6 - Isiah Carthern
7 - Spencer Penson

Name: Mike Earwood

Years coaching: 29 years in coaching

Years coaching at your current school:10 years at Starr’s Mill

1 - Nick Kornmeier
2 - Thomas Frierson
3- Dashwa Rodgers
5 - Jack Grove
6 - Reggie Pope
7 - Chase Penland
8 - Austin Faulkner

August
31 - vs. Newnan

September
7 - @ Sandy Creek
14 - @ Fayette County
21 - vs. Creekside
28 - @ Westlake

October

One of the Police’s most popular songs is “Can’t Stand Losing You.”

Name: Amos McCreary

Years coaching: 27 years coaching

Years coaching at your current school: 5 years at Whitewater

August
31 - @ McIntosh

September
7 - vs. Whitewater
14 - vs. Franklin County
28 - @ Villa Rica

October
5 - vs. Cartersville

1 - Jordan Griffin
3 - Josh Holt
4 - Julian Holmes
5 - Mike Spaulding
7 - Devon Hughes
8 - Marc Ellis
9 - Patrick Alexander

Two things are certain in life: death and taxes.

A third thing is almost certain: the Sandy Creek Patriots will reach the state playoffs.