Kevin Patterson.....................DC
Matt O’Brien ........................ OC
Steven Humphrey ............RB/ST
Torrey Howard ......................OL
Anthony Blaine .....................DB
Assamee Asad ....................... LB
Chris Cody .............................DB
Derek Russell ........................ LB
Everett Kitchens ..................WR
Jahad Riley ...........................WR
Kendall Knight ......................OL
Kris James .............................DL
Tony Olgesby ........................ TE
KICKOFF 2021 37
FIVE 2020 LEADERS
YEAR
RECORD
45-17
2020
4-6
2019
12-1
2018
8-4
2017
10-4
2016
11-2
RUSHING
Makari Bodiford
93 Att., 355 Yds., 3.8 Avg., 9 TD
Mekhi Crawley
58 Att., 320 Yds., 5.5 Avg., 3 TD
PASSING
Bryce Archie
78/123, 936 Yds., 7 TD, 6 INT
Reese Kingeter
18/34, 152 Yds., 3 INT
RECEIVING
Caleb Brown
25 catches, 343 Yds., 13.7 Avg., 4 TD
Sutton Smith
20 catches, 253 Yds., 12.6 Avg., 2 TD
Johnmanuel Arnold
23 catches, 249 Yds., 10.8 Avg., 1 TD
TACKLES
Ese Dubre
53 tackles, 12 Ast., 65 Total
Victor Okafor
41 tackles, 15 Ast., 56 Total
SACKS
Ese Dubre 6 sacks
Jermaine Barber 3 sacks
VARSITY COACHING
STAFF
ALL TIME RECORD
423-252-10
Historical Info from
Georgia High School Football
Historians Assocation
REGION CHAMPIONSHIPS (18)
2019, 2016, 2015, 2012, 2010,
2009, 1999, 1998, 1997, 1996,
1995, 1993, 1992, 1991, 1990,
1989, 1987, 1986
COACH:
FRANKLIN
STEPHENS
3 Years at School
Record: 16-7
Career: 149-33-1
STADIUM:
Walter
Cantrell
Stadium
2 02 0 R E S U LT S
NORTH GWINNETT 7-35 L
GRAYSON 21-55 L
MARIETTA 49-28 W
HILLGROVE 29-38 L
NEWTON 8-7 W
MILTON 3-16 L
CAMPBELL 44-7 W
NEWNAN 27-46 L
EAST COWETA FORFEIT L
PEBBLEBROOK 15-13 W
WALTON (PLAYOFFS) 9-49 L
Indians set for rebound season
By Jake Jennings
MDJ Sports Writer
For McEachern coach Franklin
Stephens, youth does not always
mean inexperience.
The Indians will field a young
team in his third year at the helm,
however, the players will not be
seeing action for the first time.
In 2020, they fielded an inexperienced
offensive line and defense,
which became apparent as
the team worked through a tough
schedule. It found itself unable
to protect quarterback Bryce Archie
and the defense was unable
to force many takeaways.
“It’s one thing to be young and it’s
another thing to be inexperienced,”
Stephens said. “They’ve been in
the weight room, you know, some
of those guys kind of got thrown
in the fire last year. That’s part of
growing up, especially up front.”
This year, the offensive line will
field only one senior, and the defense
is stocked with sophomores
and juniors, but the experience
is there. Last year was a stepping
stone for this historically successful
program and Stephens
said he thinks his quarterback
and the weapons around him can
surprise some people this year.
“Last year, I thought (Archie)
was one of the best kept secrets
in the state,” Stephens said. “We
couldn’t protect him as well as
we’d like to have protected him
last year. We want to give him an
opportunity, you know, to really
throw the football this year.”
Last season Archie threw the
ball 123 times. He completed 78
passes for 936 yards and seven
touchdowns. Returning senior
center Daniel Smith will lead
the young offensive line, while
Ovie Dubre could also be a force.
Archie loses his two top pass
catchers from last season in Caleb
Brown and Sutton Smith, however
returning senior Kaleb Webb should
be able to fill the void. Webb, who
is committed to East Carolina, is
one of Stephens’ secret weapons
and will look to break out this year.
Stephens said Webb and Archie
will need to lead through example
if the Indians want to find
success with such a young roster.
Makari Brodiford returns at
running back for the Indians.
He ran for 355 yards and nine
touchdowns in 2020.
A defense that struggled last year
should improve according to Stephens.
Leading tackler, Ese Dubre,
graduated and went to Stanford,
but both Victor Okafor and Jermaine
Barber who ranked second
and third in tackles respectively,
are expected to return.
On the defensive line, Dre Hatcher
has shown a strong work ethic and
improved tremendously over this
offseason. Stephens said he sees him
as a big piece to the Indians puzzle.
“Dre is just so consistent showing
up each day and getting to work,”
Stephens said. “So, right now, you
know, defensively, he is going to
be our defensive leader.”
One of the main holes in the defense
last season was the pass defense.
The secondary did not have
an interception and Stephens said
he sees that as a large point of focus.
“You have to create turnovers,”
he said. “When you are on defense
you have got to get the ball
back to the offense as much as
possible, to give them as many
opportunities as possible.”
Josh Grant and Mike White are two
who Stephens highlights as potential
breakouts in the secondary this year.
/WWW.tuttoncdjr.com