Wheeler football

4 East Cobb teams reach high school football playoffs

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When the Georgia High School Association football playoffs start on Friday, four East Cobb teams will be participating.

Sprayberry football, East Cobb football

(You can view the playoff brackets here.)

Three of them have been familiar faces in the post-season in recent years, while the other will be returning to the playoffs for the first time in a long while.

Sprayberry pounded River Ridge 40-7 Friday to close out the regular season at 6-4, and earn the No. 3 seed in Region 6 of Class 6A.

It’s the first playoff bid since 2011 for the Yellow Jackets, whose third-year head coach, Brett Vavra, is a former Sprayberry player and graduate.

Sprayberry must travel in the playoffs, visiting Lanier of Gwinnett County. The Bulldogs are 9-1 on the season and are ranked 8th in Class 6A. The Yellow Jackets’ star player, running back Damarion Owens, ran for more than 300 yards Friday, and is the leading rusher in Cobb County with more than 1,500 yards.

Comeback for the Wildcats

Wheeler’s last season in Class 7A will come with a playoff appearance. The Wildcats came from behind late on Friday to defeat Pebblebrook 21-14, getting the winning touchdown with one second remaining on the game clock.

Wheeler (5-5) earned the fourth and final playoff spot from Region 2 of Class 7A, its first post-season berth in four years. On Friday, Wheeler, under first-year coach Bryan Love, will play at Roswell.

Earlier this week the GHSA announced that Wheeler and Lassiter would be dropping to Class 6A next season, based on enrollment projections.

A Longhorn stampede

Kell had already nailed down the No. 3 seed from Region 7 of Class 5A before Friday’s regular season finale at winless Woodland, but didn’t let up in a 51-7 win to improve to 8-2.

The Longhorns’ high-powered offense led by quarterback Corbin LaFrance was clicking from the outset. Two early-season losses to Rome and Carrollton, however, have prevented them from starting their playoff run at home.

Kell, ranked No. 11 in Class 5A, travels to DeKalb County on Friday to play Columbia, which is 5-5.

A familiar foe for the Raiders

Walton was hoping to close out the regular season as champion of Region 4 of Class 7A. For most of Friday’s game at Raider Valley against Woodstock, the game was close.

But the teams were tied at 22-22, forcing overtime. Walton scored first to lead 29-22, then Woodstock tied the game with a touchdown. Then the Wolverines, who had only two wins on the seasons, went for a two-point conversion and got it to win 30-29.

It was the third heartbreaking loss of the season for the Raiders, who are 5-5 but get to play at home in the playoffs. They will be playing host on Friday to Newnan, 6-4, which defeated Walton earlier in the season in one of those close games, by a 10-7 score.

The loss also prevented an all-East Cobb contest in the playoffs, since Walton, and not Roswell, would be facing Wheeler.

 

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Wheeler football falls short in playoff bid; Walton, Kell solidify seeds

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Wheeler football

After starting the season 5-0, the Wheeler football team sputtered out of any chance to reach the playoffs in what turned out to be the Wildcats’ final game of 2018.

Wheeler was clipped at home by Pebblebrook by a 38-35 score, as the Falcons claimed the final playoff berth from Region 2 of Class 7A. Although the Wildcats finished with a winning record overall at 6-4, their 1-4 region record was fifth in the region. Pebblebrook is 4-6 but 2-3 in the region.

The Wildcats led 21-7 at one point on Friday, and then almost clawed their way back after trailing 35-21.

Wheeler had a high-powered offense, led by quarterback C.J. Ogbonna, but it was the defense that faltered down the stretch of the season. Last week, the Wildcats were torched by Westlake 76-35, setting up a win-or-go-home finale against Pebblebrook.

The Walton Raiders nailed down the No. 2 seed in Region 4 of Class 7A with a 30-7 win at Woodstock. The Raiders, who scored 21 points in the third quarter, are 9-1 and 4-1 and will have a home playoff game next week. Walton has defeated seven teams who also are going to the playoffs.

The hottest of the East Cobb teams to finish the regular season is Kell, which rolled to its sixth consecutive win Friday by a convincing 41-18 score against Woodland. The Longhorns are 8-2 and 6-2 in Region 7 of Class 5A, and also will be playing at home to start the playoffs.

Sprayberry ended a long season on a high note, defeating River Ridge easily, by a 44-6 score. The Yellow Jackets finished 3-7 overall, and 3-6 in Region 6 of Class 6A.

Lassiter’s long season didn’t fare as well, however. The Trojans were looking for their first win in Region 4 of Class 7A, and had a good chance after taking the lead in overtime on Friday. However, playoff-bound Cherokee prevailed 26-23, as Lassiter turned in a 1-9 season, and 0-5 in region games.

The only win of the season for Lassiter came early, against Pope, by a 30-24 score. The Greyhounds ended their regular season last week at 5-5 and 5-3 in Region 7 of Class 6A. That was good enough to nail down the final playoff spot from that region.

The Georgia High School Association will announce first-round playoff pairings later this weekend.

 

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East Cobb Football Update: Walton upset by Roswell; Kell, Pope, Wheeler stay in playoff hunt

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Daniel Brunner, Walton football
Walton coach Daniel Brunner’s first regular-season loss came at the hands of Roswell, his alma mater. (ECN file photo)

Friday was a dramatic night for East Cobb football teams, with four of them still involved in playoff drives. But a Walton upset at the hands of Roswell has implications for region play as well as the state rankings.

The No. 2 Raiders fell 32-31, the first regular-season loss for coach Daniel Brunner. Khaleed Mobley of Roswell blocked a 26-yard field goal attempt by Walton in the dying seconds, after the Hornets had taken the lead on a two-point conversion after a touchdown.

The Senior Night loss at Raider Valley means Walton (7-1, 2-1) will likely not be the top seed coming out of Region 4 of Class 7A. Roswell, led by former Pope coach Matt Kemper, has an identical record and a tiebreaking win, if necessary, over Walton.

Walton quarterback Austin Kirksey threw for two touchdowns and ran for another, and found star receiver Dominick Blaylock wide open down the stretch of fourth down to set up the field goal try by Jack Westbrock.

The Raiders finish up the regular season the next two weeks on the road, at Cherokee and Woodstock.

Not far away, the Wheeler Wildcats were trying to bounce back from two consecutive losses and stay in playoff contention against a Campbell team suffering through a long season.

Wheeler dashed out to a 28-0 lead in the first half, then went ahead 41-20 in the third quarter before Campbell came charging back.

The Wildcats held off the upset bid 62-56, improving to 6-2 and 1-2 in Region 2 of Class 7A, as quarterback C.J. Ogbonna threw two touchdown passes. Next week Wheeler faces region leader Westlake.

The Kell Longhorns rolled up some points as well, but the outmatched Cass Colonels couldn’t keep up, as Kell won in a 63-3 rout. Quarterback Evan Conley threw five touchdown passes for the Longhorns, who are 6-2 and 4-2 in Region 7 of Class 5A.

The Pope Greyhounds also dug out a dramatic win to keep their post-season hopes alive, as they went to Cambridge and came away with a 29-26 win. Pope pulled off an 85-yard drive in the final minute, scoring on a 9-yard touchdown pass with 21 seconds to play.

Next week the Hounds, who improved to 4-5 and 4-3 in Region 7 of Class 6A, play Northview, which also is battling for a playoff spot.

The Sprayberry Yellow Jackets threatened to upset playoff-minded Sequoyah, and took an early 13-0 lead. But the Chiefs rebounded for a 35-28 win in Class 6A Region 6 play. Sprayberry, which fell to 2-6 and 2-4, continues a tough stretch next week, visiting region leader Creekview.

A long season for the Lassiter Trojans continued Friday in a 23-6 loss to Woodstock. The Trojans, who are 1-7 and 0-6 in Region 4 of Class 7A, play Etowah next week.

 

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PHOTOS: Wheeler defeats Sprayberry in renewal of old East Cobb rivalry

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Wheeler defeats Sprayberry
Jeremiah Pruitte (right) gets a high-five and more after his first touchdown catch for Wheeler. (East Cobb News photos and video by Wendy Parker)

Jeremiah Pruitte caught two touchdown passes and Taylor Smith ran back an interception 91 yards for another score as Wheeler defeated Sprayberry 40-20 Friday Night.

The Wildcats (2-0) were playing their first game at home. Sprayberry had the early momentum on its first drive but fumbled near the Wheeler goal line, and the Wildcats recovered.

Wheeler struck right away, with Zack Atkins scoring on a long touchdown pass.

Wheeler defeats Sprayberry
Myles Worthy sets up Sprayberry’s first touchdown in the first quarter.

Sprayberry scored a touchdown on its next possession when Aaron Bibbins ran into the end zone on quarterback keeper. But Wheeler blocked the extra point to make the score 7-6.

Although they mounted a comeback in the second half, the Yellow Jackets (0-2) would get no closer.

It was the first game between Sprayberry and Wheeler since 2013.

The Wildcats got big plays all night when they needed them, this one on an open-field run by JD Thomas (12), who also scored a touchdown.
Young Wheeler fans line up before the game to greet the Wildcats.
Deonte Trotman gains against Wheeler’s defense as Sprayberry tried to close a 31-13 deficit in the third quarter.
Pruitte (13), a receiver who’s 6-foot-6, was tough for Sprayberry’s defense to handle all night.

Pruitte’s second touchdown pass from Chidi Ogbonna came with 2:02 to play in the third quarter, and gave Wheeler a 31-13 lead.

Sprayberry fought back in the fourth quarter, as Bibbins scored another touchdown on a keeper to make the score 31-20.

But he made some crucial mistakes down the stretch. The Jackets were driving to Wheeler’s goal line when he was intercepted by Derrick Dunn. Later, he was sacked in the end zone for a safety.

With the score 33-20, Sprayberry was knocking on the door again in the final minute of the game. Bibbins aimed a pass toward the goal line, but Wheeler’s Taylor Smith reached up and picked the ball off, then ran it back 91 yards for a TD and the final scoring of the night.

Wheeler defeats Sprayberry
A pleasant, picturesque evening for Friday Night Lights in East Cobb.

In other games involving East Cobb teams, Walton came from behind on the road to defeat Collins Hill 29-25.

In another East Cobb rivalry game, Pope led Lassiter 7-0 at halftime, and then the Trojans scored two touchdowns to take a 14-7 lead.

The Greyhounds came back with a touchdown of their own, but missed the extra point. Lassiter added another touchdown late for a 20-13 win.

Two more East Cobb rivalry games take place next week. Lassiter remains at home against Kell, which was off this week. Pope’s home opener next Friday is against Walton.

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East Cobb high school football teams kick season off on Friday

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Walton, East Cobb high school football teams
The Walton Raiders will open their season again at the Corky Kell Classic, along with the Kell Longhorns, at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. (East Cobb News file photo)

Earlier this week we reported from the East Cobb Pigskin Preview breakfast about what the coaches of East Cobb high school football teams had to say about their squads.

Friday scrimmages were the final tuneups as five of the six teams get started with regular season games starting this week.

On Friday, three teams will be in action. The Lassiter Trojans are playing at home against Harrison; Sprayberry plays at South Forsyth; and Wheeler visits Lambert. Kickoff times are all at 7:30 p.m.

On Saturday is the return of the Corky Kell Classic, to be played at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in downtown Atlanta, and it will be an early morning for the Kell Longhorns and Walton Raiders.

The Longhorns play at 9 a.m. against East Coweta, followed at 11:45 a.m. by Walton against Mill Creek. If you can’t attend, here is viewing information.

The Pope Greyhounds don’t get started until next Friday, Aug. 24, when they play at Lassiter in the first all-East Cobb game of the season.

 

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East Cobb Pigksin Preview: high hopes abound for local prep football teams

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Walton football, East Cobb Pigskin Preview
Walton football coach Daniel Brunner welcomes back many talented players from last year’s 11-1 team including Dominick Blaylock (third from left), a star wide receiver who’s heading to UGA. (East Cobb News photo by Wendy Parker)

At the East Cobb Pigksin Preview breakfast Thursday morning, high school football coaches took time out from pre-school weightlifting, teaching and other activities to share their thoughts on the coming season with community business leaders.

The breakfast was held by the East Cobb Area Council of the Cobb Chamber of Commerce at the Indian Hills Country Club. Coaches brought key players and school administrators also attended.

All six coaches from last season are back, after four of the six East Cobb high schools introduced new coaches last year. Here are brief overviews five of the coaches gave about their teams at the breakfast. Kell High School coaches were not in attendance.

Jep Irwin, Lassiter (6-4 in 2017)

Jep Irwin, East Cobb high school football
Jep Irwin is in his 10th season as Lassiter coach.

The Trojans will be without a seasoned quarterback for the first time in many years. “No one on our roster has any varsity experience,” Irwin said. One of those vying for the starting job “needs to step forward” to fill a leadership role and to provide confidence for the rest of the team.

“We lost a lot of seniors, the skill players on offense, and we will be young in the secondary.”

Lassiter is playing a home scrimmage Friday against Sprayberry at 7 p.m. Season opener is Aug. 17 against Harrison.

Brett Vavra, Sprayberry (2-8 in 2017)

The second-year coach said creating a culture of “old school football” has been the Yellow Jackets’ priority during the off-season, and they’ve addressed those changes in the weight room and with their strength and conditioning program.

“We want to become a more physical football team,” said Vavra, a former Sprayberry player. The team’s motto is “TPW,” or “Tough People Win,” and it’s about instilling mental as well as physical toughness.

Sprayberry was young last season, and graduated nine seniors. Now there are around 30 seniors, and 19 starters are returning.

“I think we have the tools to win some games,” Vavra said. “But we’re not just about wanting to win. We’ve got an awesome group of players who have been working hard. I can’t wait to see how it translates on the field.”

Tab Griffin, Pope (4-7 in 2017)

Zack Owens, Pope football
Pope’s Zack Owens has signed to play college football at Georgia Tech.

The Greyhounds reached the playoffs in their first season under Tab Griffin a former Pope player. Senior wide receiver Zack Owens, is a versatile two-way player, and pre-season practices have emphasized how to efficiently use his talents.

“He’s our go-to guy, he’s going to touch the football,” Griffin said, adding that Owens may see less time as a defensive back because of Pope’s grueling schedule. It calls for 10 consecutive games without a bye week.

Pope has 15 starters returning. “We want to take the mindset that we have a playoff caliber team,” Griffin said. “Our schedule isn’t favorable for that, but as I tell our players, that’s life.”

Daniel Brunner, Walton (11-1 in 2017)

After reaching the state playoffs, the Raiders will step into an even brighter spotlight in 2018. And not just because the Raiders have many of their key players returning, including UGA-bound wide receiver Dominick Blaylock.

On Sept. 14, Walton plays host to defending Class 7-A state champion North Gwinnett at Raider Valley, in a game to be nationally televised on ESPN. The Raiders were the only team to defeat North Gwinnett last season. Brunner said keeping distractions to a minimum will be essential.Walton football vs. Colquitt County

“It’s a good platform for our kids and branding for our program and for our sport in the state,” Brunner, a former Walton assistant, said of the North Gwinnett game. “But it’s all about the process” and keeping to a disciplined regimen for what could be another banner season in Raider Valley.

Brunner said of 2017, his first year at the helm, “we had a successful season because we didn’t have drama.”

One concern he has is that Walton will be young and inexperienced on the offensive line.

Michael Collins, Wheeler (2-8 in 2017)

“We were rebuilding last year with lots of young guys,” Collins said. But the Wildcats were competitive in some of those close games they lost, and he’s looking for better results this year.

“I love coaching this team,” said Collins, who is starting his 10th season at Wheeler. “They’re young, and they have very high character.”

Wheeler opens the season on Aug. 17 at Lambert and plays its first home game the following week in its traditional East Cobb rivalry against Sprayberry.

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East Cobb football players honored at Cobb County Touchdown Club dinner

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Players, coaches and parent volunteers from all high schools in the county were honored at the Cobb County Touchdown Club dinner Sunday night.Cobb County Touchdown Club

The dinner was at the Atlanta Marriott Northwest Hotel. From Walton, Daniel Brunner was named coach of the year, Dominick Blaylock was named offensive player of the year and Austin Kirksey was named quarterback of the year.

Although the Raiders finished 11-1 and reached the second round of the state playoffs, they were not named the Cobb team of the year. That went to McEachern, which reached the Class AAAAAAA semifinals.

Walton’s Chris Hirschfield was named offensive coach of the year and Raiders player Cole Arendsen was named 48 Minute Man of the Year. From Lassiter, Derrik Allen was named defensive back of the year.

On the all-county offensive and defense teams of the year, the following East Cobb players were recognized:

  • Evan Conley, QB, Kell;
  • Josiah Futral, RB, Kell;
  • D.J. Soyoye, RB, Walton;
  • Michael Luckie, WR, Kell;
  • Zack Owens, WR, Pope;
  • Connor Gates, OL, Kell;
  • Justin Talley, DL, Kell;
  • Chance Jones, LB, Wheeler;
  • Aaron Bibbins, DB, Sprayberry;
  • Christian Jackson, DB, Lassiter.

A player from each school was also selected as a scholar-athlete of the year:

  • Connor Gates, Kell;
  • Chase Branch, Lassiter;
  • Ryan Inskip, Pope;
  • Zack Heib, Sprayberry;
  • Kris Kollias, Walton;
  • Jake Pereira, Wheeler.

And parents from all schools were recognized as volunteers of the year:

  • Richard Luckie, Kell;
  • Kate and Adam Beckerman, Lassiter;
  • DJ Van Deusen, Pope;
  • Jackie Blalock, Sprayberry;
  • Stuart Gurr, Walton;
  • Shontai Davidson, Wheeler.

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Wildcat Nation community food truck event returns for Wheeler football

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Wheeler food truck

Press release:

On Friday, September 1, 2017, East Cobb Middle School PTSA and Foundation, Wheeler High School PTSA and Wheeler Football Booster Club are collaborating to present the 2nd Annual WILDCATNATION Community Food Truck Night!

This year’s diverse offering of food trucks – The Blaxican, Bollywood Zing, The Mad Greek, Righteous ‘Que BBQ, Mac the Cheese, Waffle House, Saporito’s Pizzeria, Cherry on Top Delights, and King of Pops – are sure to please everyone in the family.  

Our first Food Truck Night was a huge success, with #WILDCATNATION represented by students & their families from all Wheeler feeder schools and attendees from all over the East Cobb!  #WILDCATNATION invites the community to kick off the Labor Day holiday weekend in Wheeler’s parking lot at 5:30PM, prior to the Wildcat’s game against the South Cobb Eagles. It’s Jr. Wildcat Night for the Wildcat Football Program and Food Truck Night will benefit the four local school organizations. The Food Trucks will be set up at 5:30 so you can get some great food and then stay for the game at 7:30!

“The ECMS PTSA and Foundation are excited to co-host this fundraising event that involves the whole Wheeler community,” says Sandy Welfare, co-president of the ECMS PTSA. “We look forward to seeing people from all over East Cobb come out for a fun evening.”

“We are hoping this tailgate will encourage Wheeler football fans to gather earlier and create an atmosphere full of Wheeler pride,” says Kelly Feddersen, President of the Wheeler Football Booster Club.

PHOTOS: East Cobb Pigskin Preview breakfast at Indian Hills Country Club

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East Cobb Pigskin Preview
East Cobb high school football head coaches, from L-R: Tab Griffin (Pope); Brett Sloan (Kell); Daniel Brunner (Walton); Brett Vavra (Sprayberry); Mike Collins (Wheeler); and Jep Irwin (Lassiter). East Cobb News photos by Wendy Parker.

The banquet room at the Indian Hills Country Club was filled Thursday morning with local business leaders, hungry high school football players and their coaches at the annual East Cobb Pigskin Preview breakfast.

The six high school head coaches briefed attendees about the season ahead and answered audience questions at the event sponsored by the East Cobb Council of the Cobb Chamber of Commerce.

East Cobb Pigskin Preview

Four of the six coaches are new to the job. Only Jep Irwin of Lassiter, and Mike Collins of Wheeler, both in their eighth seasons, return to the sidelines at the same school.

Two of the newcomers are returning to their alma maters: Brett Vavra of Sprayberry, and Tab Griffin of Pope. The other first-year coaches are no strangers to the East Cobb prep football scene. Brett Sloan of Kell was an assistant at Walton the last two years. Daniel Brunner, also a Raiders assistant, was named head coach when Mo Dixon resigned to take a job at south Georgia powerhouse Colquitt County.

Pope graduate Tab Griffin returns as head coach of the Greyhounds.

Griffin, who had been an assistant coach at Mount Paran Christian School, said returning to Pope is “kind of a homecoming for me. It’s been my dream ever since Pope opened to come back and be the head football coach.”

Vavra, who was an assistant at Etowah, echoed similar thoughts. “I’m super excited to be back home,” he said, noting “the great sense of pride in the community” that welcomed him back to Sprayberry.

Brett Vavra, Sprayberry football
Sprayberry head coach Brett Vavra.

The energetic Brunner said bringing the entire Walton football community together is an important objective for him, and last weekend the first “Raider Day” event took place (see East Cobb News coverage here).

Kell also went looking for a new coach when Derek Cook resigned in the spring after nine years on the job. The Longhorns tapped Sloan, who had come to Walton with Dixon from South Carolina, and who had helped guide the Raiders into the post-season.

Pope High School football
Pope football players

Sloan, who’s also anxious due to the upcoming birth of his first child, said Kell’s goal is simple: to reach the state finals. The Longhorns were eliminated in the semifinals, so there’s no need, Sloan said, “to replace what they’ve done at Kell, but to build on it.”

Wheeler is hopeful for a playoff berth after going 5-6 and reaching the region playoffs. The Wildcats’ main objective is to be more consistent; in 2016 they weren’t able to put together a winning streak. “It had a lot to do with the teams we were playing the following week,” Collins said.

Lassiter also reached the post-season with a 6-5 finish, and the Trojans boast one of the best high school players in the nation in defensive back Derrik Allen. He has been chosen to play in the Army All-American all-star game in January and will play college football at Notre Dame.

Some East Cobb teams are holding scrimmages this week and next. Walton and Kell will be playing next Saturday at the Corky Kell Classic in downtown Atlanta. The first full slate of games is Friday, Aug. 25.

East Cobb Pigskin Preview