There are just 26 days remaining until the kickoff of the 2024 high school football season. But make no mistake, preparations for the upcoming campaign began 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 (5-6 in 2023; 1st round Class 6A playoffs)
The Raiders advanced to the playoffs last season for the first time since 2020. They return the bulk of their playmakers in 2024 and could be poised to challenge for a Region 8-5A title.
The key will be how much a young roster has matured on and off the field during the offseason.
We asked coach Benji Harrison, who is now in his 10th season in Mount Airy, about the progress his group has made during the spring and summer.
QUESTION: Coach, you return a lot of your skilled guys from last season on offense, which saw y’all improve as the season progressed. How much has that group progressed during the offseason so far?
A: I think this group has gotten better as a whole and has another year of experience. As we mature on the offensive line, this group needs help to take some pressure off of those guys.
Q: Who are some guys that have begun to stand out on offense?
A: (Receiver) Zeke Whittington comes back for his senior season and has been really good for three years. So we expect a special year from him. Our quarterback DJ Pass comes back after becoming the starter last year. He looks like a kid with experience now. Donovan Warren and Antonio Cantrell offer a pretty good tandem at running back and newcomer Jay Feltus at receiver has a chance to be special.
BONUS QUESTION: The defense may be under a rebuild. Who are some guys on that side of the ball that have stood out as you try to reload on that side of the ball?
A: We lost a lot of defensive production from last year. Guys that we expect a lot from and have the ability to lead that side of the ball are Everett Rudaseal (linebacker) and safety Landyn Savage. At corner, Sonny Satiphone is back. He has speed and a year of experience under his belt. Aaron Hitchcock (defensive end) will anchor our defensive line.
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