Expect dog fight in 1-A

• With Region 1-A split into two subclasses, there’s no shortage of teams vying for a conference title.

Derek Barichello

Coaches from Region 1-A all agree: It just got a whole lot tougher.

With Class AA Randolph-Clay added this year, the region is split into two divisions — the A Division (East) and the B Division (West). At the end of the season, the top three teams from each will be paired against each other in a region playoff.

The top two teams from each region automatically clinch a playoff berth and compete for the right to be called “region champs,” while the other two games will feature the two No. 2 teams from each division crossing over to play the No. 3 teams. The winner of both of those will advance to the postseason.

Defending region champion Clinch County, who went undefeated in the region last season and reached the Class A Final Four, is a favorite to lead the East, while Miller County, who returns eight starters, is pegged to top the West.

Coaches agree there is added parity this year to the region and The Herald has done its best — based on their coaches’ thoughts — to decipher which teams will end up where: (* — denotes predicted playoff teams.)

Region 1A-A (East)

*1. Clinch County Ð After a Final Four run and a perfect 8-0 season in the region, the Panthers return five starters on offense and defense, each smelling another title.

The Panthers have won 17 consecutive region games and have not lost one since Oct. 14, 2005.

Coach Jim Dickerson is excited to bring back junior QB and two-year starter Vintavious Cooper to

distribute the ball in his spread offense. Receivers Dominique Ellis and Carlos Likely will serve as his big targets.

“The quarterback is very key to what we do,” Dickerson began, “and he’s a special guy. He’s one of those guys you coach maybe once or twice in a lifetime.”

*2. Atkinson County Ð The Red Raiders, who finished 5-3 in the region last season, have size up front and experience in the offensive backfield. The offensive guards average 225 pounds, while the tackles range from 260-270. The Red Raiders welcome back leading rusher Akeem Thomas, RB Tez Vickers and QB Drew Meeks in the multiple I-formation.

The defense returns seven players but is inexperienced in the secondary.

“I like our chances,” coach Ken Stoudenmire said. “We’re going to match up pretty well with anyone we play.”

3. Lanier County Ð The Bulldogs went 3-5 in the region last Fall in what coach Daniel McFather called a rebuilding year. They return seven on each side of the ball, including QB Joshua McFather, who leads the spread-gun offense. The Bulldogs have only seven seniors but two of them are offensive linemen Grady Curtis and Austin Connell.

4. Bacon County Ð The Rebels are hoping they can crack the top 3 and play in the region playoffs. They were 2-6 last season and return six starters.

Four-year starter OT/DE Chris Murray anchors what coach Scott Brown calls a “small but feisty” line. Reed Burkett handles the quarterback duties for the third year in a row out of the I-option offense.

“We have a long way to go if we want to get in the top three,” Brown said. “So far, I’ve liked the attitude and the effort.”

5. Pelham Ð First-year coach Jim Morrell is trying to change the culture of a Hornets team that is mired in a 28-game losing streak and lost by an average of 30.5 points per game last year.

With the Hornets returning their entire offensive line and QB Matt Hilliard back under center, should be much improved and more competitive.

Region 1A-A (West)

*1. Miller County Ð The Pirates are raising eyebrows in the region with eight returning starters on both sides of the ball to a team that finished runner-up in 2007 with a 6-2 region record.

The Pirates are led by running back Shawndre Sheffield, who rushed for 1,082 yards and scored 10 touchdowns.

*2. Seminole County Ð The Indians will be looking for an identity after the loss of all-everything player Bacarri Rambo. They return four on the offensive line; seven total on offense and defense. Herald Dynamite Dozen DE William Parks should give offenses in the region fits with his combination of size and speed. Johnnie Jones could carry the load at fullback after rushing for 684 yards.

3. Calhoun County Ð With the lack of depth and experience on offensive line, combined with depth and speed at the skill positions, coach John Williams is going away from the power running game to the spread offense this year. The Cougars are led by QB Freddie King and Jimmy Glover. They finished 4-4 in the region last fall and narrowly missed the playoffs.

4. Randolph-Clay Ð The Red Devils look to be in a rebuilding year as 10-15 sophomores are expected to play a role, including running back Emmanuel Clay.

New head coach Kerry English hopes Emmanuel, who is the younger brother of Chris Clay -— the third-leading rusher of all-time in GHSA history — can keep the ground attack moving. DeVontrey Burks, who has not played football until this fall, controls the offense at QB.

5. Terrell County Ð The Greenwave have not made the playoffs since back-to-back appearances in 2005-06. They return four starters on offense and five on defense and will be hungry as ever to return.

Terrell needs its running game,

led by Montavious Kimbrough, Tom Rogers and Terrill Chester, to come through as new quarterback Albert Brown adjusts from playing receiver. Dontel Glover should be a playmaker on defense.