Americus-Sumter enjoying first region title

AMERICUS — Erik Soliday enjoyed plenty of success with the former Americus High in the early 2000s.

Americus had a good run going in the final years before it consolidated with Sumter County. Soliday led Americus to back-to-back GHSA titles in 2000 and 2001, continuing a run of 10 straight playoff appearances right up to consolidation.

Soliday didn’t take over the combined Americus-Sumter program, instead going to Turner County. After nine years there and two years at Perry, however, Soliday had the chance to return to Americus in 2015 as the Americus-Sumter head coach.

Things are working out again for Soliday and the Panthers. What was a 3-7 team in 2014 became an 8-2 squad this year, in the process bringing home the consolidated school’s first region football title.

Friday night, Americus-Sumter hosts Howard in the first round of the GHSA Class 4A playoffs. The game is slated for a 7:30 p.m. start.

“It’s been nice getting to that point,” Soliday said. “It’s taken a lot of work, not just short-term. We’ve got next year’s group in line, and the group after that in line. We’re getting things in place for the long haul.”

Americus-Sumter ran the table in Region 1-4A, going 7-0 with just one victory by a single-digit margin.

How did Soliday and the Panthers do it? They turned their playmakers loose, with quick receivers like Braelin Williams (767 yards, 10 touchdowns) complementing running back Kobe Lewis, a Central Michigan commitment (1,390 yards, 17 touchdowns) who could make things happen in both short-yardage and open field situations.

The Panthers opened the season with a two-point loss to eventual Region 1-3A champion Crisp County, followed by a comfortable win over Dooly County.

Lee County, the eventual Region 1-6A champion, rolled to a 49-14 win over Americus-Sumter, but Lewis still made some big plays that night, scoring both of the Panthers’ touchdowns.

After that loss, Americus-Sumter began to roll. The Panthers opened region play with a 21-0 win over Westover, then wins over Northside-Columbus and Cairo created some separation with the rest of the region.

“They have an outstanding offense that can score from anywhere on the field,” Howard head coach Barney Hester said. “The thing that is impressive about Americus-Sumter is how good the receivers run once they catch the ball. And that quarterback (Kierston Harvey) can throw that football.”

Americus-Sumter faces a Howard team that is making its first playoff appearance in program history.

In its 10th year of varsity competition, the school from Macon (6-4) posted just its second winning season this year. Hester, who won more than 300 games with then-GISA member Tattnall Square, is in his fifth season as head coach of the Huskies.

Sophomore running back Jeremiah Kelly paces the Howard offense with 1,020 rushing yards and six touchdowns. Quarterback Quintan Sewell has eight passing and 12 rushing touchdowns.

“They’re very athletic,” Soliday said. “Barney does a great job. They do things the right way.”