HOMER — Banks County saw its program-best two consecutive playoff seasons come to an end in 2018 but second-year head coach Jay Reid believes that may have been the prelude to what could be the turning point for the Leopards program in 2019.
“Last year was a struggle,” Reid admitted. “There has been some turnover at the top the last few years and with us bringing in totally new systems and a new attitude about things there was some pushback early. But by the end of the season and in the offseason, the kids have begun buying into what we’re doing. I really think this team may be ready to make a move. The chemistry and attitude are much more positive this year.”
Despite a 4-6 record in 2018, the Leopards’ worst since 2013, a gut-wrenching 36-33 loss to Monticello in Week 9 was all that kept them from a third-straight playoff appearance.
They return five starters from an offense that relied heavily on the graduated Terrance Walker (1,192 yards, 15 TDs rushing) in 2018. But three hogs upfront in seniors Braxton Simpson and Zeke Brown and junior Josh Stapleton, along with additions in juniors Tanner Kaminski and Dawson Welborn, should give senior returning starting quarterback Sawyer Pace time to find a bevy of playmakers.
Senior halfback Sean Hall, junior tailback Jonathan Moon, senior tailback Chandler Payne, junior halfback Jace Bennett, senior receiver Mason Marlow, junior tight end Wyatt Whitfield, and junior receiver Carter Stroud give Banks County a plethora of options in Kerry Kidd’s formidable wing-T attack. However, Moon may be questionable for the first two games after suffering an injury during the fall.
“We’re going to open up the offense some this year. You’ll see a little more gun and some r-p-o in multiple formations,” Reid said. “Sawyer is much-improved and could be ready for a breakout season, as are several guys. Payne and Hall will be a tough duo for defenses. We have the guys up front, as long as we stay healthy.”
They also return five starters on defense. Senior Braxton Simpson will lead what could be a good linebacking group with Payne, Bennett, Welborn, and senior Erwin Durmic. However, they may be thin early on on the defensive line and in the secondary, though Pace and Hall give them some experience on the back end.
Of course, Region 8-2A will be stacked once again with perennial playoff powers Rabun County and Elbert County, along with an always tough Union County, a rising Monticello, and what is expected to be improved Social Circle and Putnam County squads. It is expected to be a seven-team race for the four playoff spots and the Leopards will need some early success to build confidence before opening region play at home against Social Circle (Sept. 20) and then traveling to Oglethorpe County the following week.
But the key stretch begins October 4 when they start their five-game gauntlet in Tiger against five-time defending champion Rabun County and culminating with a road showdown at The Granite Bowl in Elberton on November 8 in the season finale.
“The region is always competitive and this year will be no different, in fact, it may be tougher than it’s ever been,” Reid said. “We’re just going to take things one at a time. You can’t look past anyone in this region. But if we keep improving as we have since the end of last year, we have a chance to be pretty good. I feel real good about where we are right now.”
BANKS COUNTY: NEED TO KNOW
- MASCOT: Leopards
- TEAM COLORS: Blue and White
- CURRENT REGION: 8-2A
- HEAD COACH/RECORD AT SCHOOL: Jay Reid, second season, 4-6
- 2018 RECORD/ACCOMPLISHMENTS: 4-6
- KEY LOSSES: RB/LB Terrance Walker, RB/DB/P Jacob Lehotsky, OLB Cody Dodge
- OFFENSIVE STYLE: Wing-T -- The Leopards' have a year under offensive coordinator Kerry Kidd’s system and now they will look to open up the playbook a little more in 2019. The backfield has talent and experience and QB Sawyer Pace could be poised for a breakout season.
- KEY OFFENSIVE PLAYERS: 5 returning starters -- Sr. QB Sawyer Pace, Sr. C Braxton Simpson, Sr. HB Sean Hall, Jr. OL Josh Stapleton, Sr. OL Zeke Brown, Jr. TB Jonathan Moon, Sr. TB Chandler Payne, Jr. HB Jace Bennett, Sr. WR Mason Marlow, Jr. OL Tanner Kaminski, Jr. OL Dawson Welborn, Jr. TE Wyatt Whitfield, Jr. WR Carter Stroud
- DEFENSIVE STYLE: 3-4, multiple -- The Leopards will look to be physical and display the toughness that coaches worked to instill throughout the summer. Banks County will look to bring pressure off the edge and has two outside linebackers capable of providing that.
- KEY DEFENSIVE PLAYERS: 5 returning starters -- Sr. LB Braxton Simpson, Sr. S Sawyer Pace, Sr. CB Sean Hall, Sr. LB Chandler Payne, Jr. LB Jace Bennett, Jr. DL Tanner Kaminski, Jr. LB Dawson Welborn, Sr. LB Erwin Durmic, Jr. NG Ben Carlan
- SPECIAL TEAMS: Sr. PKP Erwin Durmic, Jr. Wyatt Whitfield & Jr. LS Austin Hensley battling for LS duties, So. PR/KR Roman Haynes, Sr. PR/KR Chandler Payne, So. PR/KR Cade Herrin
- STRENGTH: RB/LB -- The Leopards have several capable guys returning in both areas that should be the anchors on both sides of the ball. Moon was the second-leading rusher in 2018 while Simpson, Paye, and Bennett should be a formidable group in the middle of the defense.
- QUESTION: DL/Secondary/OL depth -- Depth across both lines could be an issue in a tough region while after Pace and Hall the defensive backfield will be inexperienced.
- KEY GAMES: An early run through Region 8-3A in their non-region schedule with winnable games against Jackson County, East Jackson, and Franklin County precedes what should again be a tough Region 8-2A.They do get the two bottom teams in 8-2A from 2018 in Social Circle and Oglethorpe County to begin region play. But a road tilt against defending region champ Rabun County and a home date with Union County in back-to-back contests will be huge to see if they can pull into the upper-tier, especially with a season finale road date against Elbert County looming.
- TRENDING: The Leopards narrowly missed out on a third straight postseason in 2018 in a very tough Region 8-2A dropping their final two games of the season. Reid feels that after a year installing the new systems his charges are ready to make a move toward consistent playoff runs. The chemistry and attitude from when he took over are "night and day different," he said, with the kids buying into the new concepts. A playoff run in 2019 could be just the push Reid and his staff needs to begin putting the Leopards in the yearly conversation.
2019 SCHEDULE
Aug. 23 at Jackson County
Aug. 30 vs. Franklin County
Sept. 13 at East Jackson
Sept. 20 vs. Social Circle*
Sept. 27 at Oglethorpe County*
Oct. 4 at Rabun County*
Oct. 18 vs. Union County*
Oct. 25 vs. Putnam County*
Nov. 1 vs. Monticello*
Nov. 8 at Elbert County*
*- Indicates region game
(All kickoffs scheduled for 7:30 p.m. unless otherwise noted)
