GAINESVILLE — Chestatee football finds itself in an unusual position in 2018.
The War Eagles have a fairly experienced corps of players, and yet Chestatee will look very different from the team that closed out the 2017 season just short of a second straight state playoff berth under coach Shaun Conley.
Despite featuring 12 returning starters out of 22 a number of those players will open the campaign in new positions, especially on defense where new coordinator Ben Corley installed a 4-2 front to take adavantage of a strong pair of linebackers and solid defensive front. Even those linebackers, Robbie James and M.J. Jarrard, were standouts in different positions last season -- James playing defensive end and Jarrard at safety.
On offense, the War Eagles return an explosive dual threat QB in Christian Charles, who moved into a starting role during 2017 and has grown -- both physically and psychologically -- into a leader for the Chestatee attack.
The War Eagles will have to replace one of the most dynamic playmakers in northeast Georgia from last season in graduated running back Nick Lyles, as well as the physcial presence of Reggie James on offense and defense. And they will have to do so in a Region 7-4A that has added one more strong program in Flowery Branch (Class 5A second round playoff appearnce) and another expected to be stout in new Forsyth County school Denmark.
Conley and his staff have undoubtedly turned the fortunes of a program that struggled in the aftermath of two historic seasons in 2012-13, but they know they'll have to learn on the go in 2018. The key to a playoff push could come from a large sophomore class that is ready to step into key roles after learning the process under Conley.
CHESTATEE: NEED TO KNOW
- MASCOT: War Eagles
- TEAM COLORS: Black, Silver and Maroon
- CURRENT REGION: 7-4A
- HEAD COACH/RECORD AT SCHOOL: Shaun Conley, second season, 8-13
- 2017 RECORD/ACCOMPLISHMENTS: 4-6
- KEY LOSSES: RB Nick Lyles, QB Storm Yarbrough, LB/RB/WR Reggie James, LB Chance Gean, CB Charles Jackson, PK/P Steven Martinez
- OFFENSIVE STYLE: Spread -- The War Eagles will strive for a run-pass balance, though they hope to take advantage of what opposing defenses give them. This year's squad features an athletic dual threat at quarterback that is ahead of the curve mentally, and a veteran offensive line (five players started or saw significant snaps in 2017) should also be a strength.
- KEY OFFENSIVE PLAYERS: 7 returning starters -- So. QB Christian Charles, Sr. OL Josh Hamilton, Sr. OL Eduardo Jordan, Jr. WR Seth Pressley, Sr. WR Bryson Nowlin
- DEFENSIVE STYLE: 4-2 -- Chestatee will still play an aggressive brand of defense but is switching from the odd front due to the presence of some strong linemen and two stellar linebackers. New coordinator Ben Corley has also moved some players around, breathing a new energy into the War Eagles. The secondary will be young and untried, however.
- KEY DEFENSIVE PLAYERS: 5 returning starters -- Jr. LB Robbie James, Jr. LB M.J. Jarrard, Jr. DL David Woodard, Sr. DL Terrell Dixon, Jr. DB Benny Head
- SPECIAL TEAMS: Jr. PK/P Edwin Morales, Jr. LS Hunter Chambers
- STRENGTH: Overall experience -- There are plenty of snaps returning for the War Eagles, including in both trenches -- a huge boost for any program. And Charles received a number of snaps at QB last season as a freshman, so he enters the season a relative veteran. Meanwhile, James and Jarrard both played key roles last season.
- QUESTION: New roles -- While there is plenty of experience, several players are in new positions. James was a defensive end last season and Jarrard a defensive back (both will anchor the linebacker corps this year). Meanwhile, following the graduation of dominant players like Lyles, new leaders must also emerge -- not just after the snap but also in the huddle and on the sideline.
- KEY GAMES: The season opener versus longtime rival North Hall is always a big test -- and figures to be even moreso this season against an improved Trojans squad (Aug. 17, away). Then comes a road trip to a Dawson County team (Aug. 24) that has been one of the most consistently successful in northeast Georgia over the past three seasons. The newly-shaped Region 7-4A also figures to present one of the toughest -- if not THE toughest -- 4A slates in the state thanks to the presence of defending state champ Blessed Trinity AND runner-up Marist, along with the addition of 2017 Class 5A Sweet 16 program Flowery Branch and a Denmark (Forsyth County) program that figures to hit the ground running. The War Eagles open 7-4A at home to Denmark (Sept. 21) -- then comes a rugged three-game stretch of Marist, Branch and Blessed Trinity.
- TRENDING: There's no doubt Conley and his staff have gotten Chestatee back on firm footing, making the playoffs in 2016 and just missing out last year. And it is a big leap forward from the one win combined of 2014-15. But the War Eagles also know they must continue to build and take another big step forward if they want to become a playoff regular in the brutal landscape that is now 7-4A. Players trust the process in place, and believe they have what it takes to compete.
2018 SCHEDULE
Aug. 17 at North Hall
Aug. 24 at Dawson County
Sept. 7 vs. East Hall
Sept. 14 at Fannin County
Sept. 21 vs. Denmark*
Sept. 28 vs. Marist*
Oct. 5 at Flowery Branch*
Oct. 19 vs. Blessed Trinity*
Oct. 26 at White County*
Nov. 2 at West Hall*
*- Indicates region game
(All contests start at 7:30 p.m. unless otherwise noted)
