There are just 21 days remaining until the kickoff of the 2023 high school football season. But make no mistake, preparations for the upcoming campaign began months ago. And teams throughout northeast Georgia are already 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)...
TOWNS COUNTY
The Indians were another area team just one win from perhaps a playoff spot in a brutal region in 2022. Coach Jason Roquemore feels the program, which has had just one winning season and one playoff appearance in its history, is on the verge of taking that next step.
They return 15 starters from last season, including quarterback Connor Chastain and linebackers Ian Arrowood and Colton Garrett. We asked Roquemore how the summer has come along on the continuing progress of the defense and if the offense, which took a step back in 2022, is ready for a turnaround this season.
QUESTION: Y'all return eight on a defense that showed vast improvement last season. How much have they continued to progress during the spring and summer?
A: We do return eight; however, the three that we lost were all 1st-Team Region 8-A Division 2 guys (Gillis, Schmeltz, Dockery). That being said, I feel like our unit has made some strides in June but still has some work to do. Linebackers Ian Arrowood and Colton Garrett have done a great job of leading this unit, and sophomore Morgan Walker has made huge strides.
Q: The offense, however, took a step back in 2022. But you return seven on a group that also seems ready to make its own improvement. What has that group shown you during the summer?
A: Offensively, I have been very impressed by how quickly this unit has come together. Coach Woodard and our offensive staff have done a phenomenal job of being intentional with our offensive approach this summer. QB Connor Chastain and WR Julian Mosley have had a great summer to this point. Up front, we are starting to figure some things out and play with more confidence. Like every year, developing O-Line depth and being able to stay healthy will be huge factors for us moving forward this fall.
- Up Next in Two-a-Days: UNION COUNTY
- Previous Two-a-Days: RIVERSIDE PREP
