West Georgia faces opening test against Carson-Newman

Posted 7:50AM on Sunday 8th August 2004 ( 20 years ago )

ATLANTA - Coming off back-to-back 3-8 seasons, West Georgia coach Mike Ledford says he won't have to wait long to learn if his 2004 team has a chance for a winning season. Poking fun at himself, a smiling Ledford said ``some nut'' scheduled the Braves to open against Carson-Newman, which beat Valdosta State in last year's Division II playoffs. The Sept. 4 game will be played in Rome, which Ledford said ``will be away, but it's kind of like a home game for us.'' ``What a great challenge,'' Ledford said. ``It gives us an opportunity to really see just how far we've been able to move our program forward.'' Added Ledford: ``West Georgia has been too good of a football program to back down from the challenge.'' The Braves were outscored 420-191 last season. The deficit was especially lopsided in the second half, when West Georgia was outscored by a 3-to-1 margin (229-73). Ledford says the defense made a stand in spring practice. ``I was very, very pleased that our defense made great strides and dominated the first two weeks of spring,'' Ledford said. ``As head coach, I was very excited, but as offensive coordinator I was happy that in our third week our offense drew a line in the sand and said 'OK, that's enough.''' Additions to the defense include Georgia transfer B.J. Fields and Clemson transfer Kevin Johnson, who are expected to start at cornerback. Another transfer, linebacker Keith Staple, moved to Carrollton from Troy State. Ledford had to rely heavily on freshmen last year, especially on defense, where four returning starters are sophomores, including linebacker John Perkins, who had 53 tackles last year. Senior linebacker Jonathan Sello is the team's top returning tackler after making 61 stops despite being slowed by injuries last year. Sello, Perkins, Staple and Neal Bell a senior Ledford says was the biggest surprise of the spring should make linebacker a strong position. Senior running back Michael Alexis returns after rushing for 583 yards and four touchdowns last year. Ledford likes to emphasize the one-back scheme with Alexis, who averaged 5 yards per carry in 2003. Senior quarterback Lucas McMichen passed for 1,072 yards with four touchdowns and eight interceptions last year and ``has great leadership qualities,'' Ledford said. He will get some competition for the starting job from Derek Boykin, a former Carrollton High standout who recently signed with the team. The Braves also have sophomore signal caller Brent Owen. Tight end Jesse Marinko, a senior, had 26 catches for 330 yards last year. The team's only returning All-Gulf South Conference player is punter Jeff Carpenter, who averaged 42.1 yards on 76 punts last year. Ledford notes that it's not a good sign when the team's only all-conference player is the punter. Carpenter gained attention because he was so busy a reflection on the team's poor offense. Ledford said the team should have more depth and experience than last year. ``Last year we had as many as 11 freshmen on defense, and they got beat up,'' he said. ``When you've got to make the transition to college in football games, you are shellshocked and overwhelmed.'' Ledford hopes the season opener against Carson-Newman ``is the beginning of hopefully a new era, and we want to start that out right win, lose or draw. We need to say we have come a long way, and we're almost there.''

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