Veteran Raiders ready to tangle in 8-6A

MT. AIRY, Ga. — Habersham Central head coach Benji Harrison said his team has something that can be as important as size, strength, or speed when it comes to winning football games: Confidence.

They went 3-7 in 2021, but that was a young team that spent much of the year simply trying to find their footing. That will not be the case to start this season.

“This group is a very confident team. They’re a team that believes that we can compete in this region,” Harrison said. “Whenever you’ve got guys coming back that have played football on Friday nights, it’s a huge advantage.”

Harrison has experience as well. He’s entering his eighth season as the Raiders' head coach. The last coach to stay in Mt. Airy that long, Larry Black, ended up having the stadium named for him.

Harrison said he’s in a comfortable place in Habersham.

“I’ve been here a while. It’s a great place. The support here is crazy,” Harrison said. “They really care about the kids. It’s a cool place. They show up for Friday nights, and I think our kids can sense the fact that there’s a lot of communities that don’t care as much as ours does.”

So can the Raiders turn all of that experience into success this fall? Harrison thinks so.

Habersham Central is staying in Region 8-6A, but they’re one of the only schools doing so. Gainesville and North Forsyth are moving down from Class 7A, and Jackson County and Apalachee are coming up from 5A. 

“Everybody in the region feels like they can win the region or compete for one of the playoff spots, and when you have that, you create excitement,” Harrison said. “Overall, there’s a lot of teams that are probably feeling the same way I am right now, but there’s a lot of optimism for this team.”

Harrison has been well known as an offensive mind at all of his coaching stops, and he will continue to employ a spread attack this year. 

“I think the best offenses you have are ones that are capable of running and throwing. I think this team can. We’ve gotten a lot better up front, so I think we’ll be able to get more push and run the football,” Harrison said.

Harrison said the offensive line is likely the most improved group on the team. Four out of five starters return. Senior center Davey Sanders, who only played one game last year before going down with an injury, will start along with junior Jacob Adams, senior Eddie Jenkins and junior Christian Remillard

Returning to quarterback duties is junior Carson Parker. Parker was in a heated battle for the position before last season, but he took the reins and produced well as a sophomore. 

“Carson proved last year that he can lead this football team, and we’re excited about him moving forward,” Harrison said.

One of the biggest standouts for Habersham last year was the rise of receiver Zeke Whittington, who made first-team all-region as a freshman. Sophomore Landyn Savage, senior Seth Dover and junior Jonah Wilson will be the other starters. 

While the rest of the Raiders’ starting receivers last year graduated, Harrison said he’s confident in the rest of the unit.

Senior Blandon Grizzle will take over running back duties after the graduation of Simarcus Burney.

On defense, Habersham will need to replace nearly its entire line after losing Jonathan Adams and Alex Aaron. They also lost some key pieces in safety: Caleb Wade, linebacker, and Noah Wilson.

Still, there is some talent ready to step into those roles. Senior linebacker Brayden Wright will be the leader of the unit after missing much of 2021 due to injury.

Junior Keller Green and senior Garrett Turner will start at defensive end.

Junior Carter Barrett will take Wade’s spot at safety, and Harrison said he has faith he’ll fill the role well.

“We’ve been very fortunate at that position going all the way back to Patrick Tedder several years ago, then to Caleb Wade, and now Carter Barrett. They’ve all kind of fit the mold of what we want that guy to do, and that’s be aggressive, and he is that,” Harrison said.

Defensively, Harrison said the Raiders will continue to base out of a 3-3-5 alignment.

Habersham Central will open the season with a road trip to their biggest rival, Stephens County, in non-region play, followed by a home matchup with another rival, White County. It will be an emotionally charged start to the season for what Harrison called an already excited team.

Harrison believes all the pieces are in place for his team to have a great season, but he said they will need to keep their noses to the grindstone in order to make that a reality.

“Where we are right now, we can’t stay there,” Harrison said. “The biggest concern is just, are we happy where we’re at, or are we excited about where we want to be, and I think our guys are excited.”