CKC2 | SCORE ATLANTA Get In The Game! WWW.CORKYKELL.COM 2012 METRO PCS CORKY KELL CLASSIC SCORE ATLANTA | 3CKC the grind of a season in one of the state’s tough- “I’ve always been a big proponent of (tough est football regions. season-openers) wherever I’ve coached,” said “It should raise everyone’s game and if Sphire. “And I’ve always felt like you can dangle you’re going to try to compete for a region title that carrot out in front of your players and your INVITE in the region we’re in, this can do nothing but community. If you get in these settings and don’t help you get ready for that,” said Sphire. do well, you get embarrassed. And nobody ever Sphire also stated that an opponent from wants to get embarrassed.” ONLY South Georgia’s vaunted Region 1 adds a little something extra to the Kell Classic date, due to A LOT AT STAKE … the region’s tradition and reputation. From Herron’s perspective playing Peachtree “I think it probably adds a little spice to it Ridge in the opener will help his team prepare for Tough early games benefit top programs with our kids,” said Sphire. “There’s no question what will be a gauntlet of a region schedule this that that area is really kind of what Georgia high year, as the Wildcats move to Region 1 from a pe- By Stephen Black school football is identified with nationally.” rennially unbalanced region. “You kind of get that Gwinnett-South “If I’d have known what was coming I prob- ome coaches like to pad their teams’ sched- know is a quality opponent and playing in a ven- Georgia thing, you get that North-South thing, ably wouldn’t have chosen to do (the Kell Clas- ules with easy wins in non-region games. ue like the Dome excites your kids,” said Herron. so there’s obviously some elements there that sic),” joked Herron. “We feel like Boise State. SBut none of the coaches here today at the 2012 “It carries you through spring practice, preseason spice it up for the fans, and I’m sure the kids get We’ve been sitting there in the Mountain West Metro PCS Corky Kell Classic believe in that practice and the summer. We’ve always tried to caught up in that.” all these years and all the sudden somebody’s philosophy. play somebody good at the beginning of the year Sphire’s Bulldogs have even more motiva- dropped us in the SEC West. (Region 1) is defi- For a variety of reasons, each of the ultra- for those reasons and we always will no matter tion in this year’s matchup, as North Gwinnett nitely going to be different for us.” successful coaches involved in today’s event what region we’re in.” lost in last year’s Kell Classic to McEachern, Now in Region 1, Herron realizes he and believe in scheduling tough, early-season games Another reason for coming back to the then to Colquitt County – this year’s Kell Classic his team have an obligation to represent their for their programs. Some do it for motivation, Kell Classic was starting the season in the opponent – in the playoffs. It is safe to say the new region and their part of the state. others do it for the experience. All of them Dome, which has been beneficial to the Wild- Bulldogs have plenty to play for today. “We’re isolated down here, there’s no choose to participate because of the challenge cats in the past. “It’s kind of a double whammy,” said question,” said Herron. “There are some un- and prestige of the event. “We’ve had a lot of good memories of Sphire when told of the potential revenge fac- dertones there of metro Atlanta versus our one coming up there (to Atlanta) and playing in the tor in this year’s game versus Colquitt County. South Georgia region. We’re going to do a good DANGLING THE CARROT … Kell Classic,” said Herron. “We’ve missed it the “That’s two bad memories. But it’s a new sea- job representing our region, Region 1, in this Coach Jeff Herron of Camden County led last two years quite honestly.” son, it’s a new year, I’m just focused on trying classic and representing the six or seven of us his program to the Kell Classic six straight years “In 2008 and 2009, we were fortunate to get these guys better and get them into the deemed to be South Georgia schools. It’s kind from 2004-2009. The Wildcats have returned to enough to start the season there and finish the whole process that we’re working to improve of us against the world.” the Dome today to play Gwinnett County-power season there so we’re hoping we can have a every day. This game can do nothing but help Today in the Dome, it is abundantly clear Peachtree Ridge. Herron believes early-season similar path this year.” you get better.” that there is a lot more at stake than just wins games against big-name opponents help motivate North Gwinnett’s Bob Sphire also thinks The motivation of playing a program like and losses. his team in the offseason. the motivation of playing a quality program in Colquitt County in the opener brings to mind an Black can be reached at “Playing somebody in the first game you the season-opener helps his players get ready for analogy for Sphire. [email protected]. The Metro PCS Corky Kell Classic Guide was produced and published by Score Publishing, a division of Score Atlanta. The publisher is I.J. Rosenberg, editors are Stephen Black and Fletcher Proctor and creative art director is DJ Galbiati. Score is a full-service marketing company and can be reached at 404-256-1572 and SCOREATL.COM. WWW.CORKYKELL.COM CKC4 | SCORE ATLANTA Get In The Game! WWW.CORKYKELL.COM 2012 METRO PCS CORKY KELL CLASSIC SCORE ATLANTA | 5CKC WWW.CORKYKELL.COM CKC6 | SCORE ATLANTA Get In The Game! WWW.CORKYKELL.COM 2012 METRO PCS CORKY KELL CLASSIC SCORE ATLANTA | 7CKC WWW.CORKYKELL.COM CKC8 | SCORE ATLANTA Get In The Game! By Fletcher Proctor CHATTAHOOCHEE KELL ast season, the Kell Longhorns nearly pulled off what would have been the upset of the year before falling to eventual Class AAAAA champion Grayson 7-0. The Longhorns are back in the Metro PCS Corky Kell Classic looking for a win over 2010 Class AAAA champion Chattahoochee. Talent wasn’t an issue last season for Kell and it shouldn’t be this year Leither. The Longhorns’ defensive secondary is led by Brendan Langley and Quincy Mauger, two players who will be teammates this season and SEC foes next year at South Carolina and Georgia, respectively. Look for both Mauger and Langley to also play some wide receiver as Kell searches for playmakers on offense. Julian Burris is back on offense. Derek Cook took Kell to its best-ever season in 2010 and he hopes to top that mark in 2012. Chattahoochee has been impressive of late under head coach Terry Crowder, going 25-2 over the last two seasons with a state title. The Cougars will look to challenge for a Class AAAAAA title with dual-threat quarterback Travis Marshall leading the way. Marshall started all 12 games one season ago and he had a tremendous spring according to his coach, put- ting on muscle before his senior season. Marshall will be helped out by Chase Nelson and C.J. Leggett out of the backfield. Defensively, the Cougars will be paced by linebacker Brian Sykes and cornerback Justin Jackson. Sykes stands 6-foot-2, 200 pounds and Crowder said the team looks to him for leadership, as only three starters return from last season’s defense. Cook and Crowder both bring plenty to the table as each has taken his respective program to new heights. Chattahoochee will look to the Metro PCS Corky Kell Classic as a crucial starting point as the Cougars move up to the state’s highest classification. If Chattahoochee can earn a victory here, look for the Cougars to make some noise in Class AAAAAA. If Kell can snag a victory, perhaps it will ease the pain of last year’s near miss and set the Longhorns up for an extended playoff run in Class AAAAA. MCEACHERN GRAYSON he Grayson Rams own the longest winning streak in the state after going 15-0 en route to the Class AAAAA state title one year ago. The Rams got off on the right foot last season when a 7-0 win over Kell ignited the magical run. The Rams return nearly all of its defense from one year ago including the top recruit in the nation, Robert Nkemdiche. The future TClemson Tiger was a beast at defensive end all last season, but he was also featured as an unstoppable short-yardage back whenever Mickey Conn needed it. Nkemdiche will be joined on the defense by Jack Banda, David Kamara, Ryan Carter and Zach Barnes. The unit is littered with BCS-caliber players other than just Nkemdiche. Offensively, running back Wayne Gallman will makeQB David McTier’s job easier. Gallman stands 6-foot-1 and is a blur out of the backfield. Don’t be surprised to see Nkemdiche in there near the goal line snagging a carry, and likely a touchdown if he gets the ball. He is hard to stop once he gets going.