Jones County head coach Justin Rogers finished his second season at the helm with a 9-2 record and a second consecutive playoff birth. The Greyhounds lost in the first round of the state playoffs to Class AAAAA runner-up Glynn Academy 28-22. With a leading cast of returning players, the Greyhounds have the Corky Kell Classic and a trip to Washington County to prepare for a nine-team race for the Region 4-AAAAA crown. Jones County’s last region title came in 2001. Rogers was previously the offensive coordinator for Griffin High School during its 2013 championship run. Since becoming head coach in 2014, Rogers has brought a winning culture to the Greyhounds, who are 19-5 record the past two seasons. Rogers’ 10-win season in 2014 marked the most wins in school history for a program that had just two winning seasons over the previous 12 years.
Rogers installed an explosive offense that averaged 37 points per game in 2014 and 35 per game in 2015. Quay Pitts and Quay Betha are two offensive linemen that have helped protect senior quarterback Bradley Hunnicutt. Hunnicutt, a true pro-style quarterback, threw for 2,463 yards and 21 touchdowns. while only tossing three interceptions last year. Wide receiver Nick Singleton finished his junior season with 70 receptions for 905 yards and four touchdowns in nine games. Wide receiver Drae Butts will gain more playing time now that wide receiver Shareez Haam has graduated. The big play receiver finished his senior season with 24 receptions for 724 yards and a team-leading 10 touchdowns. Jones County replaces running back Chandler Ramage, who rushed for 982 yards (five games with 100+ rushing yards) and had 20 receptions for 296 yards with a total of 13 touchdowns in 11 games last season. Juniors Drake Bolus and Teldrick Ross return with the most experience in the backfield.
Two-time state champion wrestler Torrez Finney leaves a massive hole along the defensive line. The defensive tackle stood only 5-foot-8, but his power disrupted offenses as he led the Greyhounds tackles for loss and sacks. Defensive end Justin Chambers and linebacker Dophie Thomas were also among the team’s leaders in tackles and must be replaced. Demonte Trawick showed signs of becoming a star at his linebacker position as a sophomore and should be the leader of the defense his final two seasons.
Trojans’ Target
Head Coach Dean Fabrizio has been with Lee County since 2009, overseeing a program rooted in consistency, with the talent to compete with the state’s best. In 2015, Lee County did not make it to the playoffs for the first time in three years, in part due to a 6-4 finish in the daunting Region 1-AAAAAA with two-time defending state champion Colquitt County. During Fabrizio’s seven seasons with Lee County they have compiled a 44-31 record while in the seven seasons prior to Fabrizio’s control the Trojans went 20-54.
In 2016 the Trojans will be led by starting quarterback junior Jase Orndorff, who replaces Garet Morrell after the senior threw for 1,499 yards and 19 touchdowns. As a sophomore, Orndorff went 30-of-55 for 262 yards and one touchdown. Big play threats Tray Eafford and Ahrion Covington leave voids at wide receiver. Eafford totaled 706 receiving and 12 touchdowns, while Covington caught 24 balls for 332 yards and one score. Rising senior Kono Smith totaled 10 catches for 79 yards and will be asked to try and replicate the success seen with Eafford and Covington flanking a physical running game. Wide receivers DreQuan Garmon and Josh Asbury will be making their debuts with the varsity as juniors.
TJ Harris, who completed the 2015 season with four interceptions and 61 tackles, will lead the defense. There is an opportunity at linebacker for someone to fill the void left by Cole Maxwell, who tallied 85.5 tackles last year. Senior defensive end Tory Carter returns after making 49 stops and collecting eight quarterback hurries. With the graduation of Collins Tensley, the team’s leading sack-man with 8.5 last year, Carter will be asked to finish plays produced by Lee County’s aggressive pass rush. Jones County has won its last four seasons openers, while Lee County has won its last six openers by an average of 35.2 points per game.
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