Class 3A Blog: Jefferson, Sandy Creek bring storied histories to Mercedes-Benz Stadium

When Jefferson and Sandy Creek take to the field to end the Class 3A football season at 4:15 p.m. Wednesday at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, the programs will represent the business ends of two deep football histories.

Jefferson’s football-playing history dates to 1947 when head coach Frank Snyder led the Dragons onto the field for the first time. A bit younger of a program, Sandy Creek was created in 1992 when Don Tyre began working to build the Patriots into what would become a perennial playoff power.

Interestingly, Tyre also coached Jefferson to a 6-4 record in 1983, his only year coaching the Dragons.

In Jefferson’s 78-year history, it has had 20 head coaches. Stooge Davis is Jefferson’s longest-tenured head coach, staying for 14 seasons from 1951-1964. Jim Lofton (1965-1974) led the program to its first region title and playoff victories (1971) when the Dragons lost in the quarterfinals. Coach Jim Stoudemire (1975-81) led Jefferson to its two championship appearances, both losses, in 1975 and 1977.  

After the finals loss in 1977, the Dragons did not see the postseason again until 1998 under Bob Gurley (1997-2001). From 2000-2009, Jefferson never made it past the second round. In 2009, the team hired legendary coach T. McFerrin (2009-2012), who coached the Dragons to its only state championship victory in 2012 when it beat Calhoun 31-14 in the championship game.

Gene Cathcart (2017-2021) was hired in 2017 and coached the program to another state championship appearance in 2020. Current coach Travis Noland led the team to the first round, semifinals and championship, respectively, since taking over in 2022 following Cathcart’s departure.

Notable Jefferson alumni are Malaki Starks, who starred at the University of Georgia from 2022-2024 and was selected by the Baltimore Ravens as the 27th overall selection of the 2025 NFL Draft. Sammy Brown, Jefferson Class of 2024, is a linebacker for Clemson and won the ACC Defensive Rookie of the Year in 2024.

On the other side of the 3A football championship game, Sandy Creek might be a program younger than Jefferson by 45-some-odd years, but the Patriots have carved out a championship-caliber program year-in and year-out in Tyrone.

The team has had five head coaches since 1992, inaugurated by Tyre’s 3-7 finish that season.

Rodney Walker (1999-2004) led the Patriots to their first playoff appearance (1999) and victory (2000) as well as the team’s first two region titles in 2003 and 2004. Chip Walker (2005-2016) took over for his dad and coached the team to a region title in 2008 and then back-to-back state championship victories in 2009, beating Clarke Central 29-15 and 2010, beating Carrollton 14-7. Sandy Creek exited the playoffs in the quarterfinals in 2011 but won another state title in 2012, beating Ridgeland 45-10.

Brett Garvin (2017-2022) coached the Patriots to its fifth championship victory in 2022 in controversial fashion against Cedar Grove in a 21-17 victory. The controversy was not at the fault of the Patriots, but the play in question caused the GHSA to initiate instant replays in the championship games.

Darius Smiley took over in 2023 and led the Patriots to the first round and second round, respectively, in his first two seasons.

The most notable Sandy Creek alumni needs no introduction. Pro Football, College Football and Georgia High School Football Hall of Fame member Calvin ‘Megatron’ Johnson starred for the Patriots before graduating in 2004 and taking his talents to Georgia Tech (2004-2006) and then the Detroit Lions, who selected Johnson as the second overall pick of the 2007 NFL Draft.

While the football season is coming to an end this week, the basketball season is in full swing. See the latest Score Atlanta Boys and Girls Class 3A Basketball Rankings below.

Class 3A Boys Basketball Top 10

1. Baldwin

2. Sandy Creek

3. Cross Creek

4. Cherokee Bluff

5. Douglass

6. Cedar Grove

7. Calhoun

8. Harlem

9. Westover

10. Lumpkin County

Class 3A Girls Basketball Top 10

1. Cherokee Bluff

2. Monroe

3. Jenkins

4. Sandy Creek

5. Luella

6. White County

7.  Oconee County

8. Heritage-Catoosa

9. Dawson County

10. Pickens

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