Reece Fountain enters the 2021 season as the undisputed starter at Rome.
14 PIGSKIN 2021
REGION 5AAAAAA
Special
Rome looks to dethrone three-time champ Carrollton
By Brandon Dyer
News-Tribune Sports Writer
Region 5AAAAAA is expected to be
another dogfight as last season saw
all but two teams finish with winning
records.
The Carrollton Trojans go for the threepeat
as region champions, but they have a
difficult path ahead after the resignation of
fifth year head coach Sean Calhoun earlier
this year. The vacancy was filled by a familiar
face to Trojan fans, Joey King. King,
who coached Cartersville High School to
back-to-back state championships from
2015-2016, was an assistant coach for the
Trojans from 2008-2013.
John Reid’s Rome Wolves completed
2020 as region runners up and will challenge
Carrollton once again for the region
crown. During Reid’s six-year tenure at
Rome, the Wolves have won three region
titles and two state championships, going
66-14.
The receiving core at Rome stays mainly
intact, with Jaquavious Wise being the
only senior to depart. Reece Fountain
heads into his sophomore season ready
to take the next step for the Wolves while
also having senior running back Bryson
Hill and fellow sophomore tailback Shaun
Nelson to help in the run game.
Alexander was able to claim the third
playoff spot in the region last year after
finishing the regular season at 7-3 and
will lean on experience due to its talented
senior class.
The Cougars have dual-threat quarterback
Donovon Hoskins and running back
Tradon Foster returning for their senior
seasons after showing out last year.
Hoskins led the offense in both rushing
and passing, accruing 1,781 yards
(639 pass, 1,142 rush) with 18 total
touchdowns in 2020. Foster, meanwhile,
recorded 427 yards with five
rushing TDs.
The fourth and final playoff spot last
season went to the Douglas County Tigers,
who are led by head coach Johnny White.
White enters his sixth season as head coach
at Douglas County.
The Tigers featured a stout defense
in 2020, allowing more than 16 points
only three times. However, the Tigers
will need to rely on some new faces,
as six of the seven leading tacklers
have departed the program due to seniority.
Though, a big sigh of relief is
leading tackler Shakai Woods is back
next season. As a sophomore, Woods
registered 146 total tackles, including
94 solo.
South Paulding was just one region win
away from making the playoffs last season,
but finished the regular season 5-5.
It will have a strong junior class behind
center, with quarterback Kasen Weisman
along with running backs Jamarion Wilcox
and Ronnell Caffey due for breakout
seasons.
However, the Spartans have several gaps
to fill on the defensive side, as the program
graduated its top five tacklers from
a season ago.
Just behind South Paulding last season
were the East Paulding Raiders. The
Raiders head into this season with senior
running back Justin Williams, who
committed to West Virginia earlier this
summer.
Dalton and Paulding County rounded
out 5AAAAAA last fall. Both have their
starting quarterbacks from last season
returning along with a great amount of
production at the wide receiver experience.
While Dalton looks to return to the
playoffs after a one-year hiatus, Paulding
County will be trying to make the playoffs
for the first time since 2017.
There are playmakers on every team in
this region, so Friday nights should be entertaining
to watch this season.