NOTE: There are only 38 days left until the start of the 2015 high school football season -- both around the state and right here in northeast Georgia. With that in mind, AccessWDUN is already in full preparation mode. Over the next three weeks we will give you a sneak peek of what’s in store for 2015 with our "Two-A-Days" series. We will bring you two key questions -- and answers -- for each program in our coverage area, twice a day. Each morning will start a new program, with another highlighted each afternoon. And at the end of each week we will also provide some video footage and commentary from area coaches. Programs will run in alphabetical order.
Habersham Central football has a strong history, and new head coach Benji Harrison is determined to return the Raiders to their past when he gets things underway this season. Recent seasons have not been kind to Habersham, which has won just two contests in three campaigns -- all of which coming after the leap to Class AAAAAA.
Harrison helped build Jackson County into a state playoff team, however, and he is now bringing what made the Panthers successful to the Raiders -- and he has found a willing squad to help implement his schemes. We caught up with Harrison to ask him about the changes underway in Mt. Airy, as well as some of the faces that have impressed so far this summer.
QUESTION: Is the team handling the changes well? Is everyone learning their new schemes at the pace you hoped?
ANSWER: I think so. We’re all getting more comfortable with each other. We’re getting to know the personalities of the players; the players are getting to know the personalities of the coaches. They’re getting really comfortable scheme-wise on what we’re doing on both sides of the ball. The kids are getting excited. I think they really want to get Habersham back to where it has been in the past, and that’s kind of been our thing all summer is getting back to where they need to be and getting them to buy in to everything we’ve done. The kids are really having a lot of fun with each other. I like the chemistry of the team. I like how our kids interact with each other and the coaches. We’ve had a lot of time together now, and, hopefully once the season gets here the hard work will show off.
QUESTION: Have you found the players you need to run your brand of spread offense?
ANSWER: Yeah, I feel really good about where we’re at skill-wise. Our quarterback’s name is Cole Wilbanks; he’s getting better, and I say that and really mean it. He’s getting better every day; he’s getting more comfortable with the offense, taking a little more control of it every day as he gets more comfortable with what we’re doing. He’s had a great summer. I feel like we’ve got some good receivers that can do what we need them to do. Mason Kinsey is one; he’s a senior, he’s been a good player for them here last year. He really likes the offense and fits well into it. Jim Barnett’s another one -- he’s just going to be a sophomore -- an explosive player, really fits what we’re doing. And I think we’ve got a good running back that really compliments everything else really well in Michael Babers. He’s a good player. I feel like we’ve got the right pieces. I feel like our offensive line has got good size. And I like where we’re at. I feel like we’re going to be a pretty balanced team and be able to run and throw the football.
COMING UP NEXT: Jackson County
