HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL PREVIEWS: Baconton Charter seeks to continue improvement

BACONTON — Johnny Hayes smiles when he thinks about the dedication of his football team.

Of the 24 players on the Baconton Charter School football roster, 18 made 23 of the voluntary summer weightlifting workouts.

A total of 19 players made 18 or more workouts.

But the statistic that gets Hayes really excited is that 11 players made all 23 of the workouts, a small step for a program that continues to make positive strides.

The players’ efforts garnered them a “Summer Sacrifice” T-shirt.

“I wish we had more players, but what we have, I really like,” Hayes said. “Football is not for everybody. Some of these kids don’t realize that they need football as much as football needs them.”

In seven years, the Blazers have steadily improved. And while last season’s 3-7 finish won’t raise eyebrows at most football-crazed schools, it did in Baconton. Last year’s team tied the record for most wins in school history, and the Blazers ended with a big 28-14 victory over Calhoun County, their first region victory ever.

That was enough to generate an offseason of optimism.

“Every year we’re making progress,” senior offensive/defensive lineman Justin Youmes said. “It may not be where we see it on the field, but we can see the progress. We had one of the best summer workouts I’ve ever been in. I think this is going to be a good year for us.”

The Blazers are playing a region schedule for the third straight season. With former Class AA members Pelham and Seminole County dropping back to Class A, Baconton will play a brutal Region 1-A schedule.

The team welcomes the return of eight starters, many of whom will play on both sides of the ball. Only three return on the offensive side, including Youmes at center.

“We only return one on the offensive line, but some of these guys got playing time last year even though they aren’t starters,” Hayes said. “But we have a lot of holes to fill on both sides of the ball.”

The good news is that sophomore Zeke Deen returns at quarterback after a promising freshman season. One of his top targets — senior wide receiver CJ Everson — is also back.

“He’s smooth,” Hayes said of Deen. “It’s tough to start as a freshman at any position, but quarterback might be the toughest of all. He’s done a good job getting everybody lined up right and running the right play.”

On defense, Youmes and Max Deen return on the defensive line, while Everson and Darian Jackson return in the secondary. Junior outside linebacker Luke Hall also returns.

Zeke Deen is confident the Blazers will continue to show improvement, even though graduation last year took a big toll on the program.

“We lost some players, but we’ve had a lot of people step up,” he said. “I believe we’re going to have a pretty good season. The team is working hard.”

And that makes Hayes smile.

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BACONTON BLAZERS

• REGION: GHSA 1-A

• 2015 RECORD: 3-7

• COACH: Johnny Hayes (5th season)

• RETURNING STARTERS: C/DT Justin Youmes (Sr.); WR/CB CJ Everson (Sr.); QB Zeke Deen (So.); DE Max Deen (Jr.); OLB Luke Hall (Jr.); CB Dorian Johnson (Jr.)

• 2016 SCHEDULE:

Aug. 19 — at Pataula Charter

Aug. 26 — Pelham

Sept. 1 — Chattahoochee County

Sept. 16 — at Miller County

Sept. 30 — at Terrell County

Oct. 6 — Randolph-Clay

Oct. 14 — at Stewart County

Oct. 21 — Seminole County

Oct. 28 — at Mitchell County

Nov. 4 — Calhoun County