There are just 20 days remaining until the kickoff of the 2018 high school football season. But make no mistake, preparations for the upcoming campaign got underway months ago in weight rooms, sand pits and practice fields throughout the state. And teams throughout northeast Georgia are in full countdown mode.
With that in mind we spent the last couple of weeks catching up with programs around our area to get a feel for how spring practice went, how the summer is going and what coaches believe the fall will look like. We call the series "Two-a-Days" in honor of those old-school grinding sessions that lead us out of summer and into fall, asking each area coach two key questions about the state of their respective programs.
This is the last of our Two-a-Days for 2018. But we're far from finished and in the coming days will bring you our 2018 full season preview that will get you everything you need for the upcoming campaign.
WHITE COUNTY
The Warriors put together an impressive turnaround in their first season under coach Tim Cokely, going from a combined 4-16 over the previous two campaigns to 7-4 in 2017. Over the course of the year White County also outscored their previous two seasons, putting up 345 total points with a revamped spread attack -- compared with 281 combined from 2015-16. As Cokely's charges prep for their second season under the veteran coach they do so with a now veteran quarterback and a belief that they have turned a corner -- though continuing their ascent will not come easy in a deep and stout region that includes both the defending Class 4A champion (Blessed Trinity) and runner-up (Marist), as well as a Flowery Branch team that made the Class 5A second round in 2017.
QUESTION: Last season's inaugural campaign proved one of the more impressive stories in northeast Georgia prep football, have you sensed that this year's team is working to improve on that? What has been the players' response to the Warriors' best season since 2013?
ANSWER: The players have responded well. Our offseason was productive, and we improved the way we practice and work. We now need to take that to the field and play well. This year will be difficult in our region with the addition of Flowery Branch and Denmark.
Q: Freshman quarterback J Ben Haynes was a revelation last season, how has he progressed through the summer and offseason workouts? How is he developing into a team leader beyond just a talented athlete?
A: J. Ben has had a really good summer in 7-on-7. He has developed both mentally and physically. His role will be expanded both on and off the field.
- Previously in Two-a-Days: WEST HALL
- Up Next: The 2018 Season -- Look for the Friday Game Night season preview in the coming days...
