SUGAR HILL — Last year Lanier football was looking to make a name for itself. Capturing the Longhorns first-ever region title and knocking off traditional powerhouse programs like Gainesville, Clarke Central, and Flowery Branch got them noticed.
Now, the challenge will be maintaining that level while going from the hunter to the hunted despite graduating 36 seniors.
Lanier still has perhaps the best player in northeast Georgia in senior defensive end Derrick Brown, who will be complemented by senior linebackers Devin Miller and Juwuan Jones. The defense will have to be sharp early as the offense tries to replace four linemean as well as receiver Timothy Leazer and running back Tario Fuller.
"We lost a lot of really good players but also have a lot of talent in the younger guys," Lanier coach Korey Mobbs said. "I think our defense will have to carry us a little early. But I think we will up for the challenge to try and defend our title."
A tough non-region tilt to open the season against Class AAAAAA Lambert could help them get ready for a crucial opening stretch in Region 8-AAAAA with three of their first five region games on the road, including Gainesville and Flowery Branch.
LANIER: NEED TO KNOW
- MASCOT: Longhorns
- TEAM COLORS: Orange, Black and White
- CURRENT REGION: 8-AAAAA
- HEAD COACH/RECORD AT SCHOOL: Korey Mobbs, 2nd season, 10-1
- 2014 RECORD/ ACCOMPLISHMENTS: 10-1, Region 8-AAAAA champions, reached Class AAAAA first round
- KEY LOSSES: 36 seniors, including WR Tim Leazer, RB Tario Fuller, 4 starters on the OL, and 4 starters in secondary, PK/P Mason Harwood
- OFFENSIVE STYLE: Spread -- The Longhorns like to use a no-huddle approach and tempo to wear down defenses. They do like balance on offense but run it more than throw it, however.
- KEY OFFENSIVE PLAYERS: 5 returning starters -- Sr. QB Tahj Tolbert, Sr. RB/WR Ashton Barnes, Sr. RB/Slot Marcella Baity, Sr. OL Juan Marn, Jr. RB/Slot Marcko Baity
- DEFENSIVE STYLE: 3-4 -- Lanier uses an aggressive pass rush and speedy linebackers to create chaos and turnovers.
- KEY DEFENSIVE PLAYERS: 3 returning starters -- Sr. DE Derrick Brown, Sr. LB Devin Miller, Jr. LB Juwuan Jones
- SPECIAL TEAMS: Sr. PK/P Noah Thomas
- STRENGTH: Defense -- behind Brown, Miller, and Jones, the unit will feature a front-seven that should be stout, and the secondary, though inexperienced, is young and talented.
- QUESTION: Offensive line/inexperience -- youth and inexperience on the offensive line and replacing four starters in the secondary are questions that need to be answered. Thomas, however, may have the biggest shoes to fill at kicker.
- KEY GAMES: They have a tough opening stretch with non-region AAAAAA Lambert before beginning region play at home vs. Clarke Central. They also have tough region road games against Flowery Branch, Cedar Shoals, Gainesville, Salem, and Winder-Barrow.
- TRENDING: Lanier has definitely been on the upward trend with back-to-back playoff appearances and its first-ever region title last year. But the Longhorns will need to put the bad taste of a stunning first round los to Sequoyah behind them. May be the early front-runner to repeat as region champs.
2015 SCHEDULE
Aug. 21 vs. Lambert
Sept. 4 vs. *Clarke Central
Sept. 11 at *Flowery Branch
Sept. 18 at *Cedar Shoals
Sept. 25 vs. *Loganville
Oct. 9 at *Gainesville
Oct. 16 vs. *Heritage, Conyers
Oct. 23 at *Salem
Oct. 30 at *Winder-Barrow
Nov. 6 vs. *Apalachee
*- indicates region contest
(All kickoffs scheduled for 7:30 p.m. unless otherwise noted)
