After an un-McEachern-like 4-7 season in 2020, the Indians will try to bounce back and win its 19th region title, and first in Region 2AAAAAAA
since the last reclassification.
30 KICKOFF 2021
REGION 2AAAAAAA
Special - John Silas
McEachern looks for bounce-back to top of region
By Jake Jennings
MDJ Sports Writer
One season after the Georgia High School
Association region realignment there is still no
clear leader in Region 2AAAAAAA.
With a couple of young teams on the rise
and big programs that underwhelmed last
year, the region could go in any direction as
the season plays out this fall.
“I feel like the region is wide open,” Pebblebrook
coach Leroy Hood said. “Campbell was
young last year, McEachern is going to be good
and Newnan and East Coweta are not gonna
settle for anything less than the playoffs.”
East Coweta claimed the region title in 2020
behind a 9-2 record. Despite the return of quarterback
Daniel Shoch and most of the Indians
offense, East Coweta took a big hit on defense
this offseason. Nine of its 10 leading tacklers
on the defensive side of the ball graduated,
leaving them with plenty of holes to fill.
Behind East Coweta in 2020 was Newnan
who finished with a 10-1 record. Unlike the
Indians, Newnan returns a good chunk of it’s
defensive starters in 2020. The Cougars problems
will come on offense as they lose starting
quarterback Michael Maginnis, leading rusher
Bryson Moss and leading receiver Josh Harris.
“East Coweta and Newnan lost some guys
and we lost some guys, too,” McEachern coach
Franklin Stephens said. “It should be a competitive
region this year.”
McEachern, who finished third, could see
a bounce-back season. The Indians return
Bryce Archie at quarterback, who coach
Franklin Stephens said is the best kept secret
in the state. They also return leading
rusher Makari Brodiford who rushed for
nine touchdowns last year.
Wide receiver will be one spot the Indians
have to reload but Kaleb Webb has the potential
to be a great option for Archie. The loss of
runner/receiver Sutton Smith to Walton is
one hit to the Indians offense that Stephens
has come to expect.
“This is high school football, so you don’t
know who is going to transfer in or who is going
to transfer out,” Stephens said. “There are
so many things that you can’t control so it is
really hard to predict.”
Pebblebrook and Campbell, which rounded
out Region 2AAAAAAA last year, both look to
improve upon disappointing records in 2020.
The Falcons return experience on offense behind
junior quarterback Craig Adams Jr. and
have a chance to really make some noise as the
season rolls around. Hood said he knows in
order to have success his team needs to stay
away from injuries.
“We want to get through that non-region
schedule healthy and gain some confidence,
and I have confidence that we can make a
push,” Hood said.
Campbell did not win a region game in 2020
and finished just 2-8 overall. With strong returning
offensive linemen, Trevion Florence and Kevron
McCloud, and a few more weapons, coach
Howie Decristifaro will try to improve on that
mark this season.
Prediction
1. McEachern
2. East Coweta
3. Newnan
4. Pebblebrook
5. Campbell