New-look Bears strive to keep momentum going

FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. — Cherokee Bluff just completed the best start-up for a new Hall County program, snagging 25 wins and a pair of region titles in its first four seasons.

Of the four Hall County schools to open since 1988 -- West Hall, Chestatee, Flowery Branch, Cherokee Bluff -- the Bears’ 25 wins set a new standard, surpassing West Hall’s 21 wins in the Spartans’ first four seasons. Flowery Branch posted 17 wins and Chestatee 9 in their first four.

However, coach Tommy Jones said the REAL measure of the program begins now.

“We just finished our first four years, which means there are no holdovers from the kids that helped build this thing from scratch. It may not sound like that big a deal but all of those guys had the pride of building something from nothing into how they left it,” said Jones, who left Dacula after the 2017 season to build the fledgling program. “The challenge now is keeping the program moving forward with guys that will be getting their first real chance to play after sitting behind a lot of seniors. How they handle the success that has been handed to them will be huge.”

Jones made no bones that Year 5 is the most pivotal so far for the program.

“The challenge is keeping the program moving forward,” Jones said. “These kids do have some big shoes to fill but we also feel they are ready to accept that challenge. The biggest transition these kids will face is just making the program their own now.

“Success in sports is always measured in wins, at least when you look at the bigger leagues. For us this year, we’re not focusing on the wins. For us coaches, we want to see the positive culture we’ve built continue. We also want to maximize the talents of the players we have, which is a challenge every year.

“If we can do those two things, the wins will come again. We’re just going to try and be the best we can be this year. But we do believe this can be a very good team by the end of the season.”

After a "really good spring and summer," Jones said, the Bears are in as good a shape as ever to do that, with 75-plus making it into fall practices. However, finding the right combinations to replace over 2,200 yards rushing (Furman-signee Jayquan Smith had 1,673 yards and 22 TDs), all but 150 yards passing, and Louisiana Tech-signee at wide receiver Marlion Jackson (636 yards, 10 TDs) may well decide whether the Bears continue their winning ways or undergo a rebuilding season.

“We lost some great players,” Jones said, “and not just among the skilled guys but on the lines of scrimmage as well. I don’t think you try to replace anyone, so to speak. You really can’t replace guys like Jayquan and (quarterback) Sebastian (Irons), Marlion, and (offensive lineman) Mateo (Guevara).

“Every year is a different team. What you hope is the guys coming behind them have learned and are ready when it’s their turn to hit the field. We have a lot of new faces and parts. It’s (the coaches) job to put it all together.”

There will be changes all over the field for the Bears in 2022. And both the offense and defense will be following big legacies. Bluff scored 501 points (top 10 in Class 3Ain 2021) and averaged 41.75 points/game on an offense that graduated eight starters. Only once, in a 34-20 loss to Appling County in the second round of the Class 3A playoffs, did they fail to score 21 or more.

The defense allowed just 11.67 ppg -- also top 10 in Class 3A in 2021 -- and lost seven starters, including four of their top five tacklers. The one area returning with experience will be in the secondary, which returns four players that collected six total interceptions in 2021.

On the offensive side, junior Asher Wilson, the backup to Irons last season, will open the season at quarterback. In limited action, he went 8-for-12 for 150 yards and 2 TDs in 2021.

The backfield, however, may require a weekly program check, at least early on. Junior Jaylon Carroll has the most returning production with 164 yards and 2 TDs on 31 carries. Senior Max Eubanks, who will be used in a variety of ways, had 114 yards and two scores in 2021. Juniors Connor Hulsey and Perry Haynes, and sophomore Connor Griffin all will get some looks early in the season.

At receiver, Eubanks, fellow seniors Jhace Justice and Carlos Marlowe, and sophomore Jordan Justice will see the bulk of the snaps to start the season. Junior tight end Ryan Graves was projected to have a breakout year but was hurt during spring practice.

“Asher is big, athletic, and has a big-time arm,” Jones said. “He just needs more experience on Friday nights and to just be himself. He has the weapons around him.

“Jhace, Carlos, Jordan, and Max give us a talented group of receivers. Initially we’ll be a running back-by-committee. We feel good about all the guys in the backfield and we’ll see if one of them breaks out of the pack.”

Another challenge will be Wilson having enough time to find the open guy in the passing game. The Bears have just one returning starter on the line in senior All-Access First-teamer Jacob Benjamin. A trio of juniors in Caleb Williford, Parker Waldrop, and Will Hansen all saw action in 2021. Junior Noah Davis is expected to jump into a starting spot but finding depth behind the starters will be a priority, Jones said.

“Like I said before, we have a lot of new parts that need to come together as a unit. That has been our focus during the spring and summer and into the fall,” Jones said. “The goal is to find out what this group does well, and not so well, and play to their strengths. No two teams are the same, no matter how much you practice the same things from year-to-year.”

The defense also is replacing a lot but may have one experienced core group to lean on in the early part of the season. The secondary, led by Jhace Justice, who had 3 INTs, 1 fumble recovery, caused a fumble, and had 19 tackles, returns three that saw significant action in 2021. Marlowe and Jordan Justice each had one pick in 2021. Sophomores KT Thompson and Landon Kemp at safety also help give the Bears a solid back end of the defense while they find a formidable front-7.

The defensive line, led by Benjamin and junior Nathan Richardson, should solidify by the opener as several guys rotated in last season. 

The big hole is at linebacker, where sophomore Connor Griffin is the leading returning tackler with 42 stops in 2021. Senior Carter Daum, who had 1 INT in 2021, played significant minutes and sophomore Rylan Ackerman started last year as a freshman. The rest of the lineup will come from a group of junior Jeremiah West, sophomore Caleb Copper, both of who saw limited action last year, senior Reid Silver and sophomore Jacob Kelley.

The Bears will be moving up in class for the first time, joining what was already a good, and deep, Region 8-4A. A third straight region title will be put to the test with the likes of Cedar Shoals, Madison County, and North Oconee, an early favorite to win the Class 4A state title.

They open the season against Class 5A Kell in the Corky Kell Classic and will open region play in Week 4 on the road against Madison County after a week off. They do get Cedar Shoals at home and close out the season at home against North Oconee.

“We have a tough schedule and of course moving up in class usually means everyone is tougher,” Jones said. “We will have to be ready every single week for sure. Our goal is to be in position for the playoffs and maybe another region title by the end of the season.”