REGION 2AAAAAAA
eerook gets to ne signifiant aengers
By Banji Bamidele
MDJ Sports Writer
It’s been since 2006 when Pebblebrook last
won a region championship. That drought may
come to an end in 2022.
However, to do it, the Falcons will have to
face some new region rivals, and former Class
AAAAAA powers, in Carrollton and Westlake.
The Trojans advanced to the state semifinals
last season, beating the Lions in the quarterfinals
in the process.
“We’re familiar with all of the teams, with
the exception of Carrollton,” Pebblebrook coach
Leroy Hood said. “They have incredible facilities
and a really good coach, along with the town
and the tradition that they have. It’s something
that is a given when you play schools like that.”
The Falcons had yet another season eclipsing
the previous year’s win total, finishing with a
9 -2 overall record. They came up short in the
region title game against McEachern, but they
are set to bring back the majority of their players
from the skill positions.
“We got enough experience to where we feel
like we have just as good a shot to win the region
as anybody,” Hood said. “We know the
22 KICKOFF ‘22
type of talent everybody has. They’re going to
be big. They’re going to be fast. They’re going
to be well coached. So we are just going into
it, one game at a time.”
Campbell had a disappointing season finishing
3-6 and losing all of their region games
for the fourth year in a row. Despite this, coach
Howie DeCristofaro believes his squad has as
good of a shot as any to run the table.
“We played East Coweta and Pebblebrook
the last four years, so we’ve got a pretty good
idea what they do and what they’re about,” De-
Cristofaro said. “Westlake we played a couple
years ago and there’s Carrollton, but you know
what, the world is full of G oliath’s. Somebody’s
got to go slay them.”
The Spartans return starting quarterback
Luke Marble who led the offense throwing for
1,404 yards and 13 touchdowns.
East Coweta finished third after going 2-2 in
region play and 7-4 overall. The Indians will
look to fill the hole at quarterback among the
other skill positions on the offensive side. They
will rely on the defense and the return of top
tacklers Deliyon Freeman, Brandon Johnson
and K eelan K ornegay.
Carrollton, under first year coach Joey K ing,
secured the Region 5AAAAAA title and reached
the semifinal of the state playoffs. The Trojans
were led by quarterback MJ Morris, but are set
to premier his replacement and heavily recruited
quarterback prodigy, Julian Lewis. Last season’s
top three pass catchers graduated, and it
is a position of need.
The final new addition is Westlake, who finished
last season with a 10-3 record and advanced
to the quarterfinals of the playoffs where
they were defeated by Carrollton.
The Lions previously won their region title
seven years in a row, but are under new management
with coach Rico Z ackery taking the
reins. They return the majority of their skill
positions and are poised to have a big year.
PREDICTION
1. Carrollton
2. Pebblebrook
3. Westlake
4. East Coweta
5. Campbell
File
Pebblebrook will face off with Carrollton and Westlake with a chance to win its first region championship since 2006.