a high note against Twiggs with a pair
of interceptions on defense and 253
all-purpose yards.
“With the momentum he created in
that Twiggs County game last year, I
think he can make a splash at running
back and carry the load for me,” said
Coleman.
As often is the case with small teams,
depth up front will be a question mark
for the Bulldogs this season. Both the
offensive and defensive lines lost their
best player in Class of 2020 graduate Josiah
Cleveland, but the O-line is at least
stocked with guys who got snaps last
season, along with a couple of promising
freshmen.
Moving over to the defensive side of
the ball, a lot of the names mentioned
on offense will be expected to contribute
— some more heavily than others — on
defense as well. Coleman is encouraged
by what he’s seen from a couple of his
linebackers in junior Tra Woods and
incoming freshman Jesse Washington.
“He made some strides last year,”
Coleman said of Woods. “He was there
to make the plays, but he just didn’t have
the weight. He came back looking like a
different person.”
The GMC Prep head used the word
“intrigued” in talking about the young
Washington who is in the mix for the
middle linebacker job.
“He is a natural leader and a natural
football player,” said Coleman. “He’s the
type of kid that will break down a huddle
and everyone follows him. I’m not the
type of guy that will force anybody to
be a leader. He just has that trait. I’m
excited to see what he does this year. My
future looks bright because of guys like
him.”
Bush’s ball skills as a wideout will
likely come in handy on defense where
he’ll move around the secondary.
The Bulldogs have been placed in a
favorable region starting this academic
year. Only one 2020 Region 7-A Public
school, Warren County, made it to the
postseason in 2019. Hancock Central
likely would have made it had it not been
for the forfeitures, but beyond those two
teams, the region doesn’t look too strong
in football. Powerhouses Lincoln County,
Aquinas and Mount De Sales are either
in new regions or classifications while
the often-competitive Washington-Wilkes
program has moved as well.
“I think this region allows us to be
competitive,” Coleman said. “We were so
far behind that we weren’t going to compete
in that region last year. We played
hard, but it really didn’t matter because
that region was just too strong.”
Also gone is the GHSA power ratings
system, meaning that playoff berths
will be determined by region records.
For GMC Prep that means their games
against Hancock Central, Wilkinson
County, Crawford County, Warren County
and ACE Charter will dictate whether
or not they can get into the postseason.
While that is a result the team hopes for,
the Bulldog head coach is mostly looking
for continued growth.
“I want to see mental and physical
toughness,” Coleman said. “I think we
played hard last year, we just weren’t
physically strong enough. We didn’t
know football because we were so young
besides my seniors that had played a lot
of football. I’m hoping to see the summer
workouts, film watching and skill development
translate to the field. Hopefully,
the game comes easier and slows down
for my guys this year.”
GMC Prep football is scheduled to
open its season Sept. 4 at Creekside
Christian Academy, a GISA school. The
Bulldogs’ home opener is set for Sept. 11
against Central High School of Talbotton.
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