Taking over a new program, whether you are a seasoned veteran or its your first-ever head coaching job, is never easy in that first season. Six northeast Georgia programs covered by AccessWDUN and Friday Game Night came into 2025 sporting new head coaches.
How did they fare in Week 1? Two coaches -- Donavon Odom at Johnson and Jaybo Shaw at Dawson County -- did not play on Week 1. Of the other four, they went 1-3 as a collective last week.
Rance Gillespie’s return to Rabun County could not have gone much better as the Wildcats hammered White County in Tiger.
However, Naji Lyon at West Hall lost 48-12 to Class 5A Seckinger and Michael Perry, now at Flowery Branch, lost to Jackson County, 36-13. Lenny Gregory’s debut at Commerce also was spoiled in a 45-27 loss to Wesleyan.
In fairness to the three coaches who were not able to snag wins in their season debuts, all had some tough assignments.
West Hall was taking on one of the quickly rising Gwinnett programs in the Jaguars. Seckinger is now led by former West Hall coach Tony Lotti, who was the last coach to lead the Spartans to the playoffs in 2017.
Perry and the Falcons drew another program on the rise in the Panthers, who tied their record for wins in a season and finished second in Region 8-5A in 2024. And the Panthers returned the majority of the roster as well. The bigger and deeper Panthers wore down the Falcons in the second half.
And Gregory is transforming the Commerce offense from the triple-option, which the Tigers had run for 60 years, to a spread attack. The offense put up some numbers last week against a quarterfinalist team in 2024 but the defense still has some work to do.
Shaw and Dawson County take on East Forsyth (1-0) this week on the road while Johnson travels to Franklin County (1-0). East Forsyth knocked off Class 6A Forsyth Central last week while Franklin County beat Chestatee on the road.
DEFENSE WINS CHAMPIONSHIPS
Most coaches will tell you that offense sells tickets...but DEFENSE wins championships! Jefferson, Buford, Gainesville, Jackson County, Rabun County, and Lanier Christian all flexed some mighty defensive muscles last week.
Buford turned a powerful Milton squad one-dimensional in a 20-13 win while Jackson County held Flowery Branch to just 13 yards rushing. And Jefferson handed Marist its first shutout loss since 2018, 19-0. LCA picked off four Lakeview Academy passes while holding a Lions offense that averaged 32.6 points/game last year to just 10 points.
And Rabun County held White County to less than 100 yards of offense in a 42-6 rout to open its season under its new coach.
The Red Elephants continued it on Thursday with a total dismantling of Moody (Ala.), a team that was the preseason favorite to win the Class 5A championship in the Yellowhammer state. Gainesville led 49-0 before Moody got a late score in a 49-7 romp.
IT’S CALLED (FOOT)BALL FOR A REASON!
In the era of spread offenses and teams wanting to throw the ball early and often, it was good to see teams go to the run in Week 1. There were 10 rushers who ran for more than 100 yards last week but three really set up their offenses with their legs.
Senior East Hall quarterback Jamarcus Harrison had 215 yards on just 13 carries (16.5 yards/carry) against Banks County. Habersham Central senior Donnie Warren had his breakout game with 193 yards on 26 carries (7.4 ypc) as the Raiders ended a long losing streak to Stephens County.
And Jackson County senior Daylan Maxwell churned out 147 yards on 18 carries (8.16 ypc) in the Panthers' win over Flowery Branch.
On Thursday, Gainesville junior Nigel Newkirk rushed 120 yards against Moody, his second straight 120-yard game so far this season.
Hopefully the trend of old-school football will continue in 2025.
