TWIN CITY — Emanuel County Institute left no doubt as to who was the No. 1 team in Class A in the state of Georgia in 2007. Now they’re ready to make sure no one’s asking questions in 2008.
The Bulldogs steamrolled to a 15-0 record and a state title last year. Only once did they fail to beat an opponent by less than at least 16 points.
“Last year we had a tremendous amount of fun — it was an exciting year,” said coach Milan Turner, with no visible signs in his office that last year was a championship year. “This year — it’s a different team. Sometimes a lot of people don’t realize, even though you have some significant players coming back, you’re still mixing them in with some other guys that weren’t in the mix last year.
“This year we’re trying each day to focus on ECI. We can’t worry about region titles and state championships. Those are our goals, and they’ll always be our goals — but we’ve got to look at the small picture.”
A state title has brought plenty of notoriety to the small town of Twin City. It’s also brought plenty of goodies. Rountree Stadium is now featuring a new scoreboard, championship board and concession stand in the south end zone.
Emanuel will be going for its sixth straight playoff berth and third straight region title. Record-setting running back Washaun Ealey leads a group of at least six Division I college prospects.
J.C. Lanier, Dexter Moody, Cody Todd, Brooks Kirkland and Mark Flott will be giving the opposition plenty of headaches all season. That’s not even mentioning quarterback Michael Robertson who is just a junior.
The Bulldogs must get through a brutal stretch to open the season, hosting Savannah Country Day and Savannah Christian, then traveling to Bryan County in consecutive weeks.
“Being completely honest, we’re not as good a football team as we were last year,” said Turner. “We really have a long way to go to get where we want to be. I always tell my kids, ‘Fear no, but respect everyone’. Every night that we play this year there’s an opportunity for ECI to get beat.”
Bryan County
For a program that made its first playoff appearance in 2006 in its young, 30-year history — Bryan County is headed in the right direction at full strength.
The Redskins are coming off back-to-back playoff appearances and now appear to be one of the favorites to at least make the play-in game in Region 3-A this season.
Running back Ivey Mutcherson leads the way for BC. Despite his 5-foot-8, 140-pound frame, Mutcherson packs a punch and is the catalyst that makes Bryan go.
The Redskins will have to find a new quarterback, however, and chemistry could be an issue for a group that was hit hard by graduation.
If Bryan can beat the teams they’re supposed to beat and stay competitive with favorites Savannah Christian and Savannah Country Day, another playoff berth is in the making.
Pinewood Christian
After a 10-3 finish in 2007 and a 42-7 loss to champion Tattnall Square, Pinewood has its work cut out for it in 2008.
Graduation stole at least four major players that helped the Patriots to another memorable season in ‘07. Coaches never like to use the forbidden word ‘rebuilding’, but PCA may be staring a more difficult year in the face.
Big play weapons Trent Sikes and Lane Miller are gone, leaving big voids in the offensive production.
Bulloch Academy faces its traditional rival on Sept. 5 in Bellville.
David Emanuel
Coach James Ferry is in his second year at the Stillmore school and has the Eagles of David Emanuel Academy headed in the right direction.
Emanuel finished 4-6 last year, but won three of its last five. The Eagles will be looking for their first playoff berth since 2005.
The Bulldogs steamrolled to a 15-0 record and a state title last year. Only once did they fail to beat an opponent by less than at least 16 points.
“Last year we had a tremendous amount of fun — it was an exciting year,” said coach Milan Turner, with no visible signs in his office that last year was a championship year. “This year — it’s a different team. Sometimes a lot of people don’t realize, even though you have some significant players coming back, you’re still mixing them in with some other guys that weren’t in the mix last year.
“This year we’re trying each day to focus on ECI. We can’t worry about region titles and state championships. Those are our goals, and they’ll always be our goals — but we’ve got to look at the small picture.”
A state title has brought plenty of notoriety to the small town of Twin City. It’s also brought plenty of goodies. Rountree Stadium is now featuring a new scoreboard, championship board and concession stand in the south end zone.
Emanuel will be going for its sixth straight playoff berth and third straight region title. Record-setting running back Washaun Ealey leads a group of at least six Division I college prospects.
J.C. Lanier, Dexter Moody, Cody Todd, Brooks Kirkland and Mark Flott will be giving the opposition plenty of headaches all season. That’s not even mentioning quarterback Michael Robertson who is just a junior.
The Bulldogs must get through a brutal stretch to open the season, hosting Savannah Country Day and Savannah Christian, then traveling to Bryan County in consecutive weeks.
“Being completely honest, we’re not as good a football team as we were last year,” said Turner. “We really have a long way to go to get where we want to be. I always tell my kids, ‘Fear no, but respect everyone’. Every night that we play this year there’s an opportunity for ECI to get beat.”
Bryan County
For a program that made its first playoff appearance in 2006 in its young, 30-year history — Bryan County is headed in the right direction at full strength.
The Redskins are coming off back-to-back playoff appearances and now appear to be one of the favorites to at least make the play-in game in Region 3-A this season.
Running back Ivey Mutcherson leads the way for BC. Despite his 5-foot-8, 140-pound frame, Mutcherson packs a punch and is the catalyst that makes Bryan go.
The Redskins will have to find a new quarterback, however, and chemistry could be an issue for a group that was hit hard by graduation.
If Bryan can beat the teams they’re supposed to beat and stay competitive with favorites Savannah Christian and Savannah Country Day, another playoff berth is in the making.
Pinewood Christian
After a 10-3 finish in 2007 and a 42-7 loss to champion Tattnall Square, Pinewood has its work cut out for it in 2008.
Graduation stole at least four major players that helped the Patriots to another memorable season in ‘07. Coaches never like to use the forbidden word ‘rebuilding’, but PCA may be staring a more difficult year in the face.
Big play weapons Trent Sikes and Lane Miller are gone, leaving big voids in the offensive production.
Bulloch Academy faces its traditional rival on Sept. 5 in Bellville.
David Emanuel
Coach James Ferry is in his second year at the Stillmore school and has the Eagles of David Emanuel Academy headed in the right direction.
Emanuel finished 4-6 last year, but won three of its last five. The Eagles will be looking for their first playoff berth since 2005.
