MT. AIRY — Benji Harrison has been in this spot before: taking over a program in the midst of tough times.
The coach did much to banish those tough times at his last stop, envigorating long-dormant Jackson County. Starting this season he aims to do the same for Habersham Central -- and the Raiders are ready to do everything in their power to help him.
"The support here for the program is as good as anywhere I've seen," said the coach, who has also been an assistant at Flowery Branch and grew up playing for Stephens County. "The kids are excited too, and they're hungry. Everybody is ready to get Habersham back where it wants to be."
Harrison knows that won't be easy, as Habersham embarks on its fourth season in the state's largest classification -- a place where the Raiders have won just two games in three seasons -- but he believes he has the players and the method to spark the turnaround.
"We're just breaking it down to small steps; be perfect on this play -- not getting caught up in looking ahead," said Harrison, who brings his brand of aggressive, constantly-moving offense and defense to Mt. Airy. "Habersham was known for being physical, and we're going to get back to that. We're going to play every play with great effort and passion."
To that end, Harrison believes he has a running back ready for the big-time in Michael Babers, along with a strong and experienced offensive line. Quarterback Cole Wilbanks also has the tools to excel in Harrison's spread attack. Likewise the defensive line of scrimmage could be a strength.
"The kids have been receptive to changes since day one," Harrison said. "We want to play extremely fast and dictate the pace of play on both sides of the ball -- but we also have to be fundamentally sound."
HABERSHAM CENTRAL: NEED TO KNOW
- MASCOT: Raiders
- TEAM COLORS: Blue and Orange
- CURRENT REGION: 6-AAAAAA
- HEAD COACH/RECORD AT SCHOOL: Benji Harrison, first season
- 2014 RECORD/ ACCOMPLISHMENTS: 1-9
- KEY LOSSES: OL Corey Robinson, OL Ryan Kelly, WR John David Herrin, DL Sidney Cantrell, LB Braxton Cole, Saf Steven Loudermilk
- OFFENSIVE STYLE: Spread, multiple -- The Raiders want to use speed on the perimeter and power up the middle to stay aggressive and keep defenses on their heels. Harrison used the system to impressive effect at Jackson County and at Flowery Branch beforre that.
- KEY OFFENSIVE PLAYERS: 7 returning starters -- Jr. RB Michael Babers, Jr. QB Cole Wilbanks, Sr. WR Marcus Wilbanks, Sr. WR Mason Kinsey, Sr. OL Carson Ivester, Sr. OL Clay Nelson
- DEFENSIVE STYLE: 4-3 -- Like its offense, Habersham wants to put pressure on opponents and will move around pre-snap in an effort to find different angles of attack.
- KEY DEFENSIVE PLAYERS: 6 returning starters -- Jr. DE Austin Frady, Jr. DE Dylan Holcomb, Jr. MLB Gavin Jones, Sr. OLB Cody Patterson, Sr. CB Jeremy Jones, Jr. Saf Michael Oren
- SPECIAL TEAMS: Sr. PK Alex Alverado, Sr. P Cody Patterson, So. KR Jim Barnett, Jr. KR Trey Hyrt
- STRENGTH: Offensive line/running backs -- Coaches have raved about Babers since day one, and he showed plenty of ability last season. The offensive front, while a little banged up in preseason, has two anchors in Ivester and Nelson that Harrison believes can play on the next level.
- QUESTION: Secondary/depth -- The defensive backfield will feature a few new faces. Meanwhile, the Raiders are working to build the kind of experienced depth it will take to compete in the state's largest classification.
- KEY GAMES: The season opener, already big for a new head coach and systems, takes on added interest because it is against a neighbor and mentor, as Harrison once coached for Lee Shaw, now at Rabun County, at Flowery Branch. The Region 6-AAAAAA opener (Sept. 4) against Northview will also give fans and players a good glimpse of how their new style will fit it league play -- the Titans were a playoff team a season ago. In fact, four of Habersham's first five 6-AAAAAA contests come against 2014 playoff teams, including a Sept. 25 showdown with Class AAAAAA second round foe Alpharetta.
- TRENDING: Habersham has struggled since moving up to Class AAAAAA, winning two games in three seasons, yet Harrison says his team is impressively hungry and far from beaten down by the experience. The coach that helped invigorate Jackson County to rarified territory says there is enough talent and excitement in Mt. Airy to revive a once-proud program.
2015 SCHEDULE
Aug. 28 vs. Rabun County
Sept. 4 vs. *Northview
Sept. 11 at *South Forsyth
Sept. 18 at *West Forsyth
Sept. 25 vs. *Alpharetta
Oct. 9 vs. *Lambert
Oct. 16 at *Centennial
Oct. 23 vs. *Johns Creek
Oct. 30 at *North Forsyth
Nov. 6 at *Chattahoochee
* -- indicates region contest
(All kickoffs scheduled for 7:30 p.m. unless otherwise noted)
