Corky Kell & Dave Hunter Classic Team Previews - Houston County

Jeremy Edwards is leading Houston County onto the field for the fourth season and will look to build upon the successes from last year’s quarterfinals run. The team returns five offensive starters and will offset those numbers with eight returning offensive starters. Edwards has won at least one playoff game in each year of his tenure at Houston County, coaching the Bears to the quarterfinals in 2022, his first season at the helm, and the second round in 2023. Houston County beat Alpharetta 57-10 in Mercedes-Benz Stadium in last year's Corky Kell + Dave Hunter Classic.

Mascot: Bears

County: Houston

Head Coach: Jeremy Edwards

Coach’s School Record: 27-11

Coach’s Overall Record: 27-11

2024 Record: 8-5

2024 Region Record: 2-3

2024 Playoff Finish: Quarterfinals (L 56-14, Milton)

Overall School Record: 200-177-1

State Championships: N/A

Returning Offensive Starters: Center JW Fite, T Brandon Stokes, RB Austin Stinson, WR MJ Mathis, WR/CB Kavon Conciauro

Returning Defensive Starters: DT Jakobe Bryant, MLB Westen Ard, MLB/OLB Jase Jordan, OLB Zion Paul, OLB Kam Brown, CB/SS Trey Leary, FS/SS Jordan Smith, CB/SS Jecorien McCoy

Returning Kickers: Harrison Ludwig

Offensive Formation: Multiple Spread

Defensive Formation: 3-4

School Enrollment: 2,113

The Bears offense will be the biggest question mark entering the season after the graduation of quarterback Antwann Hill Jr., who was 255-of-398 passing for 3,742 yards and 44 of the team’s 49 touchdowns last season. Also graduated is Hill’s favorite target Isaiah Mitchell, who had 91 receptions for 1,662 yards and 19 touchdowns.

Returning for his junior season is running back Austin Stinson, who led the team in rushing last season and was also a threat as a receiver. As a sophomore, Stinson had 133 carries for 956 yards and 10 touchdowns while catching 25 passes for 387 yards and six touchdowns. Rising senior MJ Mathis was the No. 2 receiver last season with 64 catches for 1,025 yards and 11 touchdowns. Another contributing factor to the receiver’s corps last season was Kavon Conciauro, who had four touchdown receptions as a junior.

On the defensive side, the team returns its leading tackler in rising senior middle linebacker Westen Ard, who had 78 solo and 45 assisted tackles last season with 24 tackles for loss. Jase Jordan, a rising senior middle linebacker, made 70 solo and 37 assisted tackles last season with 10 tackles for loss. Defensive tackle Jakobe Bryan has 21 tackles, 17 assists and four tackles for loss and will be a threat entering his junior season. Senior linebacker Kam Brown led the team in sacks with 11 as a junior. As juniors, cornerback Trey Leary led the team with three interceptions and Jordan Smith made two interceptions and could be a two-headed ball hawk now in their senior years.

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