HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL PREVIEWS: Terrell County not looking back

DAWSON — Terrell County High School football coach William Huff was stern when a reporter asked him about last season.

A loss to eventual Region 1-A champion Randolph-Clay late in the season cost the Greenwave the region crown and ultimately, the postseason.

The Greenwave were edged out in the Georgia High School Association’s Class A public school power rankings by a hundredth of a point and failed to qualify for the 16-team state playoff field. It was a frustrating end for a team that won four of its last five games and finished with a 5-5 record.

“We don’t look back, we look forward,” Huff said. “We don’t talk about last season … we’ve moved on. It’s not even up for discussion, not since last December.”

The Greenwave return perhaps the best skill players in the region, headlined by athlete Tray Bishop. The senior, a four-star prospect by many recruiting services, has verbally committed to Auburn and returns at quarterback. He will also play safety.

A pair of returning speedsters — Joe Minter and Shondarious Kimbrough — are also back.

“As far as skill players, they don’t come any better than Bishop and Joe Minter,” Huff said.

But the concern for the Greenwave is on the offensive front. Just three starters return — offensive tackles Rodriguez Hudson and Justin Powell — and tight end Trey Daniels.

“We’ve got to have some more guys on the line,” he said. “We’ve got two or three guys who still need to develop, but we’ve got some good seniors coming back.”

Hudson, the 6-foot-4, 250-pound senior is drawing strong Division I interest from a handful of colleges. He will also anchor the defensive front.

Bishop, strong safety Keyshawn Jones and cornerbacks Chris Clay and Nino Brown return in the secondary, perhaps the strength of the team.

Minter and Daniels are back to lead the linebacking corps.

The experience will be a big help in the much-improved Region 1-A. Pelham, Seminole County and Chattahoochee County drop from Class AA to make the region even stronger. After the Greenwave play at Taylor County in the season opener on Aug. 19, Terrell has nine straight region games starting with Miller County.

The GHSA expanded its playoff format, which Huff hopes will help several region teams qualify for the postseason.

“With those teams (Pelham, Seminole County, Chattahoochee County) coming in, the region is only going to get crazier,” he said. “It should help the entire region because of the power rankings.”

The Greenwave are looking forward to the 2016 season. But one thing is for sure — they won’t be looking back, at least at the 2015 season.

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TERRELL COUNTY GREENWAVE

• REGION: GHSA 1-A

• 2015 RECORD: 5-5

• COACH: William Huff (20th season, 18th as head coach)

• RETURNING STARTERS:QB/FS Tray Bishop (Sr.); RB/LB Joe Minter (Sr.); RB Shondarious Kimbrough (So.); TE/LB Trey Daniels (Jr.); OT/DE Rodriguez Hudson (Sr.); OT Justin Powell (Jr.); SS Keyshawn Jones (Sr.); CB Chris Clay (Sr.); CB Nino Brown (Sr.)

• 2016 SCHEDULE:

Aug. 19 — at Taylor County

Aug. 26 — Miller County

Sept. 2 — at Pelham

Sept. 16 — at Seminole County

Sept. 23 — Mitchell County

Sept. 30 — Baconton Charter

Oct. 7 — at Stewart County

Oct. 21 — at Chattahoochee County

Oct. 28 — Calhoun County

Nov. 4 — Randolph-Clay