Fresh off playoff return, Panthers hoping for more

HOSCHTON, Ga. — The 2021 season was an exciting one for Jackson County football.

After building for two years, Rich McWhorter was able to bring the program back into the state playoffs for only the fifth time ever and the first time since 2017. He attributed success to a senior class that bought into the program he was trying to create.

However, that means the team has some work ahead of it if it hopes to recreate that success this year.

“It was the best senior class we’ve had. They really provided so much on and off the field for us,” McWhorter said. “They really carried the load for our football team a year ago. So with their departure, it leaves some huge voids for us. It’s a new-looking team.”

Graduating off last year’s team is the school’s all-time leading rusher, Tray Ransom, and both of their top quarterbacks, Isaiah Maxey and Connor Bejin. Defensive leaders in Bailey Hamm and J.T. Sosebee are gone as well.

Still, McWhorter says this year’s team has taken the right attitude into trying to fill those holes his offseason.

“We’re going to have a lot of new guys out there, but we’re really excited about the way our kids will work. When we show up, we know we’re going to get a great ethic from these guys, and they’re going to be prepared,” McWhorter said.

The Panthers have some wind under the sails as a program now, as their win total has improved every year so far under McWhorter. 

However, McWhorter says it's been one change after another for the program between the COVID-19 impacted season of 2020 and the school moving campuses from Jefferson to Braselton in 2021.

“We’ve experienced a lot of change since we’ve been here. We’ve had change in classification; now we’re going up to 6A,” McWhorter said. “Every year is a new year. Every team’s going to have their own story.”

Offensively, the system will not change. Jackson County will continue to operate out of a balanced spread attack, with Chase Berrong taking the reins at quarterback. McWhorter said he has a lot of confidence in the junior.

“He’s got really good arm strength, and he thinks like a quarterback as far as asking questions and really wanting to get the ball to the right place,” McWhorter said. “Accuracy is something we’re really working on, but I really like the way he’s studied the position, and I’m excited to see how far he can take it.”

As for replacing Ransom at running back, junior M.J. Spurlin will take the lead role. He was the Panthers’ primary backup in 2021. He’ll be joined in the backfield this year by sophomore Luke Mobbs.

One position Jackson County will return plenty of production at this year is receiver. Markel Oliver returns for his senior year after averaging more than 20 yards per catch on 23 receptions in 2021. He’ll be the leader of the group, according to McWhorter.

“Markel’s really an outstanding football player. Good track guy and a good student. He’s going to play both ways for us,” McWhorter said.

Rounding out the receiving corps will be senior Matthew Whaley and junior Elijah Ling. Junior defensive back Xavier Bailey will also contribute at receiver this year.

“It’s probably the most depth we’ve ever had at the receiver position,” McWhorter said.

While the Panthers return two offensive line starters in senior center Holden Gilstrap and fellow senior tackle Dylan Starnes, the rest of the unit has been in flux through the offseason. Juniors Ethan Mathewson and Blake Burge will start at guard.

On defense, far more contributors from last year’s team are returning for the Panthers. McWhorter said they will continue to operate out of multiple fronts.

Senior Jesse Combs and junior Peyton Scott will anchor the defensive line, giving Jackson County a strong interior presence. Scott has started every game at Jackson County since his freshman year.

Senior Riley Konarski and sophomore Josh Medoza will start at the defensive ends.

At linebacker, junior Daniel Stites returns after earning first-team all-region honors in 8-5A last year. M.J. Spurlin will also play inside linebacker along with Luke Mobbs and junior Bo Souto at outside linebacker.

Xavier Bailey will be the leading returner in the secondary at safety. Markel Oliver and Matthew Whaley will also start in addition to their contributions on offense.

“We lost some good players back in the secondary. We’re going to have to have some kids who are going to have to play both ways,” McWhorter said.

Jackson County used two placekickers in 2021; both are back for this year. Junior Brice Rogers and sophomore Carson Odom will be used for placekicking and punting.

Jackson County is now in the new Region 8-6A. It’s a region with very few familiar faces for the Panthers. Only Apalachee joins them as a former member of their old region, 8-5A. Newcomers include former 7A schools Gainesville and North Forsyth as well as longtime 8-6A members Habersham Central and Lanier. 

McWhorter said he’s expecting a step up in competition.

“Shiloh made a really good run last year. Apalachee made the playoffs last year as a number two seed,” McWhorter said. “It’s going to be a brutal schedule. There are some really good teams.”

Jackson County will open the season on the road at Dawson County before their first home game against Class 7A Duluth the following week. They’ll also face two other 7A Gwinnett County schools in Central Gwinnett and Mountain View.

“We’ve got to get better every day,” McWhorter said. “Like I said, the work ethic is there, and I think they’re a very competitive group of kids. We’ve got to be able to put things together on a Friday night to come up with some wins, and the only way you know if that’s going to happen is to actually get out there and put them in their costumes and let them play football.”