Region 6-A: Trion Bulldogs, others looking to chase down Bowdon
The region got a whole new look in 2020 as Armuchee and B.E.S.T. Academy made the drop down in classification to fill out the redesigned public school-only lineup. However, it would be two of the region’s old guard battling it out for the league title.
That trophy ultimately went to Bowdon, who defeated Gordon Lee back on Oct. 16 by just two points (23-21). The Red Devils finished up undefeated in region play to hold off the Trojans, who ran the table after that initial region setback.
Both Bowdon and Gordon Lee would go on to win their first-round playoff matchups before falling in the second round. The Devils dropped a 34-17 home decision to Washington-Wilkes, while a late touchdown helped Region 8 champion Commerce turn away the Trojans, 28-14.
Looking ahead to the 2021 season, Bowdon is bringing back two big-time playmakers in the backfield, while Gordon Lee will have to replace a very good senior class that included the second-leading rusher in the entire state, though the Trojans do return another solid collection of skill position players with good team speed.
With a huge senior class and 19 starters returning, it could be the year for Trion to put itself back in the region title picture and Mt. Zion has some key players coming back after winning eight games in 2020. B.E.S.T. Academy proved to a formidable foe last fall and should be again this time around, while Armuchee has a nice collection of skill players returning to give the region six potential playoff-worthy teams.
With a more in-depth preview of Gordon Lee found elsewhere in this edition, here’s a closer look at the other five teams the Trojans will need to get past to claim a region championship.
ARMUCHEE INDIANS 2020 record: 2-6 overall, 0-4 region Jeremy Green (4th season, 4-24 overall)
Head coach:
The Blue-and-White haven’t made the state playoffs since 2009 when they finished second overall in Region 7-AA. It marks Armuchee’s only postseason appearance in the last 21 seasons and the Indians haven’t won more than two games in any season since 2011, when they went 5-5.
However, if you are looking a surprise team to make a move in 6-A this fall, Armuchee might be your best bet. The Indians will have some of the region’s better skill position players back in the fold and the now-veteran team is potentially poised for a breakout year.
Armuchee could have one of the top passing attacks in the entire region with junior quarterback Chandler Desanto (638 yards, 5 TDs in 7 games) back under center and two solid receivers to throw to in senior J.J. House (438 yards, 4 TDs) and senior Kameron Parker (652 all-purpose yards). House was a first team AllRegion selection in 2020, while Parker was a second team pick. They will be among five starters back on offense this fall.
On the ground, senior Alex Wright and junior Jesse Smith should see the bulk of the carries, while senior Malik Drinic will give the Indians an additional weapon at tight end.
Six starters are back on defense, including House
in the secondary. Parker will get help at linebacker from Wright, Drinic and Smith, while Desanto was All-Region as a punter last fall. The question mark is in the trenches where the Indians lost three to graduation, meaning some younger players, such as sophomores C.J. Collins and Cameron Anthony, will have to step up if the team is to get to the postseason for the first time in over a decade.
B.E.S.T. ACADEMY EAGLES 2020 record:
3-6 overall, 1-3 region
Head coach: Joshua Moore (10th season, 34-60 overall)
There were many unknowns surrounding the Eagles coming into last season, but it didn’t take opposing teams long to discover that the only team in the region from Atlanta was no pushover.
Despite having one of the smallest rosters in the region, the Eagles proved their toughness on a weekly basis. They ended up as the No. 4 seed from the region and nearly knocked off Region 7 Champion Hancock Central in the opening round of the playoffs before losing by just two points.
And while a couple of key players have graduated, the Eagles should once again provide stiff competition for the rest of 6-A. Senior Willie Myrick will anchor the secondary, but the 6-3 senior could also be this year’s starting quarterback. The Eagles’ top two receivers from last year have graduated, but the backfield trio of senior Nique Bell, senior Khaliq Brock and sophomore Amir Robinson will be threats in both the running and passing game.
Up front, seniors Dakarai Davis and Justice Hammonds are two big bodies that will anchor both sides of the line of scrimmage. The hard-hitting defense will also feature Bell and Brock at linebacker. Brock is the team’s leading returning tackler, while Bell paced the Eagles with three picks last year.
Other names to know include senior linebacker Clarence Stargent, junior defensive end Javon Brazil, junior defensive back Montravis Capers and sophomore defensive back Malachi Scott, who along with Robinson will give B.E.S.T. a pair of young weapons in the return game.
BOWDON RED DEVILS 2020 record: 7-5 overall, 5-0 region Rich Fendley (4th season, 16-17 overall)
Head coach:
When Fendley took over the proud Red Devil program in time for the 2018 season, the team was coming off a two-win campaign, the lowest win total for a Bowdon team since 1981. His first team managed a 1-9 record, but it didn’t take long for his new players to get up to speed.
Bowdon rebounded with an 8-3 record in 2019 and followed up last year with the program’s first region championship since 2014 and its 17th overall in the past 50 seasons. They will go into the 2021 campaign as one of the favorites to repeat and have their eyes set on getting past the second round of the playoffs for the first time since 2013.
It starts under center where dual-threat junior Robert McNeal is coming off a 2020 season that saw him earn All-State honorable mention honors by throwing for 1,699 yards and rushing for 1,067, while accounting for 28 touchdowns (17 passing, 11 rushing).
Although graduated AllState receiver Tray Wyatt will have to be replaced, the offense will bring back 10 total starters from a year ago. Those returning veterans include senior first team All-Region tailback Gage Stephens — already with over 2,800 career rushing yards — and five returning offensive linemen, featuring 6-foot-2, 285-pound Aiden Nunn.
On the opposite side of the ball, the Red Devils will bring back eight more starters, including senior defensive end Tanner Langley, who had 56.5 tackles a year ago, junior lineman Quay Calloway and sophomore defensive back Chris Wyatt. First team All-Region linebacker Jarrett Anderson was another graduation loss, but Fendley is also banking on production from some talented upcoming freshman, who helped Bowdon to a middle school title last fall.
MT. ZION EAGLES
2020 record: 8-3 overall, 3-2 region
Head coach: Brad Gordon (5th season, 29-17 overall) On the heels of back-toback 10-win campaigns
and deep runs in the postseason, extremely heavy graduation losses led to a 1-9 rebuilding year in 2019. However, the Eagles bounced back last fall to post an eight-win season and earn the No. 3 seed for the state playoffs.
And although they have a few holes to fill this time around, most notably at the quarterback and running back positions, there are plenty of building blocks for head coach Brad Gordon to
work with in his fifth season at the helm.
The experience can be found up front on offense where 6-foot-4, 290-pound lineman Garrett Gordon might be the best trench man in the entire region. He will anchor a solid line, while the strength of the defense will be in the secondary. The Eagles also have three solid linebackers in senior Dylan Roulaine, senior Ethan Lepard and junior Aiden Spradlin.
Sophomore Stanley Cross looks to be Mt. Zion’s next quarterback, but whomever gets the job will have a nice target to throw to in 6-3 senior receiver Christian Terrell. In the backfield, it could be a running backby-committee with Lepard, juniors Jasiah North, Preston Denny and Sidney Baker, along with promising sophomore Sharrod Montgomery.
TRION BULLDOGS 2020 record:
3-7 overall, 1-4 region
Head coach: Sean Patrick
(2nd season, 3-7 overall) Offense wasn’t the issue for the Bulldogs during the 2020 season. Trion put up 35 or more points in a game four times and went over 40 twice, while three other games saw them put up three touchdowns. It was on the opposite side of the ball where the Bulldogs struggled as they gave up 30.7 points a game, the most a Trion team had allowed since 2007.
However, with nine starters coming back, expect a much stingier Bulldog defense in 2021. It starts with first team All-Region selection Brantley Willbanks, who recorded 128 tackles as an end/linebacker hybrid last year, while senior Ben Allen will join Willbanks up front. Throw in a pair of sophomores in linebacker Lucas Stoker and defensive back Toby Maddux, who like Allen was a second team AllRegion pick a year ago, and two more sophomore newcomers in linemen Ezra Adams and Colby Evans, and the defense should be much improved.
Fans of Region 6-A know the name Rob Brown and defensive coordinators in the league are well aware of what he can do. The senior also garnered first team All-Region status after piling up 1,245 yards and 20 rushing touchdowns a year ago, while he’ll have a veteran offensive line set to block for him, featuring senior second team 6-A pick Kaleb Park and additional seniors Zach Sharp, Issac Stewart and Bladyn Bowman.
Junior Logan Eller is poised to take over at quarterback this fall and he’ll have a nice target to throw to in 6-foot5 tight end Cole Cavin, who already has an offer from North Alabama. Throw in second team All-Region receiver Linkin Farrar, one of 10 returning starters on offense, and it’s easy to see why there is so much optimism in T-Town.
Patrick adds that finding ways to improve every day and becoming a more physical football team will be the keys to making the postseason and, potentially, a run at a region championship, something Trion fans haven’t seen since 2003.