There are just 29 days remaining until the kickoff of the 2023 high school football season. But make no mistake, preparations for the upcoming campaign got underway months ago. And teams throughout northeast Georgia already are in full countdown mode.
With that in mind, we spent the last couple of weeks catching up with programs around our area to get a feel for how spring practice went, how the summer is going, and what coaches believe the fall will look like. Our "Two-a-Days" series honors those old-school grinding sessions that lead us out of summer and into fall, asking each area coach two key questions about the state of their respective programs.
Over the next two weeks, AccessWDUN's Friday Game Night will get you prepped for the start of gridiron action with responses from coaches throughout northeast Georgia.
(Teams run in alphabetical order)...
FLOWERY BRANCH
The Falcons missed out on the playoffs in 2022 for the first time since 2016. A pair of close Region 8-5A losses and turnovers at key stages of games led them to their just their second losing season (3-7) since 2004.
But head coach Jason Tester is hoping new coordinators at the top of the offense and defense will be just what they need to get back to their winning ways and playoff runs. They will be breaking in another new quarterback but do return Malik Dryden and playmaker Jeremiah Ware.
We caught up with Tester to see how the change in offensive and defensive philosophies are going so far during the spring and summer.
QUESTION: Y’all are breaking in a new offensive coordinator (Michael Hill) and a new quarterback (Josh Oliver) this season. How has the transition gone for Oliver and the entire offense so far in the summer?
A: Josh finished the 2022 season as our starter the last two games. That finish led into his eagerness to own the spot and have a great offseason. Between workouts, training and QB school with coach Nance, Josh was checking all the boxes leading into spring. When Coach Nance got the head job at East Hamilton, that put us in a challenging spot as to which direction we were going to go offensively. Having faced Coach Hill's offense during his time at Archer, I knew we were in a great hands. He challenges defenses in so many ways and utilizes his players so well. Josh and him got right to work as we approached spring practice.
Q: You also have a new defensive coordinator in Jarrod Rickman, who came over from Class 7A state champion Mill Creek. How has that transition come along as he adds in some wrinkles?
A: Coach Rickman and I have a history together as he was a linebacker for me on our 2009 semifinal team at Eastside. He's climbed his way up the coaching ranks and worked for some great coaches (Jeff Lovelady at Mill Creek, Troy Hoff at Eastside). The original plan was for me to take over the defense. All offseason and through spring practice, that was the case. I got back to my roots and was having a blast calling the defense. The only way I was going to give that up was if I was able to get a top-tier guy to add as a teacher/coach. When Coach Rickman and I talked, I knew he was the guy I wanted to add to our staff. From there, it was a matter of which direction we headed defensively. Having been a young coordinator before, I knew in order for him to maximize his system, he needed full control over the defense. That was how I grew as a coordinator and I want him to have that same opportunity. So far, our kids have taken well to his approach. I'm excited about the defensive progress so far and look forward to how we gel as a unit moving forward.
- Up Next in Two-a-Days: GAINESVILLE
- Previous Two-a-Days: EAST JACKSON
