There are just 28 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)...
HABERSHAM CENTRAL
The usually potent Raiders' offense suffered through its toughest season in head coach Benji Harrison's spread attack, averaging just 17.2 points/game. But they return eight in a group that is expected to be markedly better in 2023.
The defense returns five from a group that was better than its numbers indicated. But they are having to rebuild the defensive line.
We asked Harrison about the offense and its development and about having to replace the key spots up front.
QUESTION: The offense really struggled at times in 2023. But you return seven, including QB Carson Parker and dynamic receiver Zeke Whittington. How has their development come along this summer?
A: We didn't play offensively last year like our guys are accustomed to. I think our guys returning have a little chip on their shoulder. We have focused on making sure that we are able to run the ball physically. Anytime you can do that, I think it creates opportunities for explosive plays in the pass game. Carson and Zeke have had excellent summers and worked very hard to make sure that their third year together in this offense is a very productive one. I think we have multiple guys that can be very productive and hopefully force the defenses to cover the entire field.
Q: You are having to rebuild the defensive line. Who has stepped up so far for that group during the summer?
A: I think the D-Line as a whole has stepped up. To name just one, would probably be unfair. They are a unit that compliments each other well. Different kids have different skill sets. Some are better pass rushers and some are better against the run. So, I think we will play 6 or 7 kids on Friday up front and whoever is in is expected to have the same standard.
- Up Next in Two-a-Days: JACKSON COUNTY
- Previous Two-a-Days: GAINESVILLE
