Season Preview: New era begins for Sherwood Christian football

ALBANY — For the past four seasons, Sherwood Christian Academy has been one of the most dominant football programs in the Georgia Independent Athletic Association.

The Eagles won three state championships in four years, compiled a remarkable 45-2 record and enter the 2026 season riding a 23-game winning streak.

Everything changes next Friday night.

Sherwood opens its season at Central Fellowship Christian in Macon, marking the beginning of a new chapter as the Eagles transition from eight-man football to the traditional 11-man game. The move also places Sherwood in what many consider the toughest Class AA region in the GIAA, forcing the Eagles to replace an accomplished senior class while facing a dramatically higher level of competition.

“We have a lot of new faces,” Sherwood Athletic Director Jay Flynt said. “We know what we have signed up for. This will give us a chance to see where we stand against some really tough competition.”

No team in Southwest Georgia has undergone a bigger transformation this offseason.

The Eagles must replace perhaps the greatest senior class in school history, led by two-time GIAA Player of the Year Tripp Roberts, who is continuing his football career at Georgia Military College. Also gone are an entire offensive line anchored by all-state performers Micah Hall, Aaron Mackey and Jack NeSmith, along with standout receivers Qwinton Murray, Grady Mills and Wesley Brooks. Defensively, Sherwood must replace impact players David Albano and Dallas Williams.

Head coach Doug Eason knows replacing that production won’t happen overnight.

“We graduated one of the best senior classes in school history,” Eason said. “Those seniors set a tremendous standard for leadership, preparation and unselfishness.”

The encouraging sign, Eason said, is how quickly the next generation has embraced those expectations.

“Our young players are beginning to understand what it takes to prepare every day,” he said. “The biggest area we’re still developing is consistency. Young players have great moments, but great teams learn to perform at a high level every single day.”

The move to 11-man football presents another significant challenge.

While Sherwood’s winning tradition provides confidence, Eason said the physical demands and strategic differences require adjustments across the roster.

“Moving from eight-man to 11-man football has been exciting, but it’s been an adjustment,” Eason said. “Schematically, there are more moving parts, more personnel to manage, and the game is much more physical at the point of attack.”

Even so, he believes the core principles that fueled Sherwood’s championship success remain unchanged.

“Whether it’s eight-man or 11-man football, we focus on discipline, physicality and doing your job every single play,” Eason said. “Our players have embraced that challenge. We’re not trying to prove we belong; we’re trying to build a program that can compete at a high level for years to come.”

The Eagles won’t have much time to ease into their new surroundings.

Sherwood joins a loaded Class AA region featuring defending state runner-up Southwest Georgia Academy, perennial contender Southland Academy and former Class AAA powers Valwood and Brookwood. Valwood captured the GIAA state championship three years ago and reached the state finals again two seasons ago before falling to Deerfield-Windsor.

“Playing great opponents forces you to improve every week,” Eason said. “You quickly find out your strengths and weaknesses, and there’s no room for complacency.”

The schedule doesn’t get any easier after opening night.

Sherwood hosts defending GIAA Class AA state champion Robert Toombs on Aug. 28 in its home opener, giving the Eagles another early opportunity to measure themselves against one of the state’s elite programs.

Despite the inexperience, Eason believes several players have emerged as leaders during the offseason. Dylan Clark, Hunter Gregg and Chuck Lagrange have helped fill the leadership void, while the team’s work ethic has impressed the veteran coach.

“The biggest surprise has been how quickly this group has embraced the challenge,” Eason said. “They know people have questions about how we’ll transition to 11-man football, but instead of being intimidated, they’ve been motivated.”

As campus pastor in addition to head coach, Eason said his mission extends well beyond the scoreboard.

“Coaching has always been about more than wins and losses,” he said. “It’s about developing young men who love God, love people and become leaders in their homes, churches and communities.”

That philosophy also shapes how he will judge the season.

Sherwood certainly hopes to contend for a playoff berth, but Eason believes success will be measured by more than victories.

“If this team finishes the season more disciplined, more united, stronger mentally and spiritually, and playing its best football in November, then we’ve had a successful season,” he said.

The Eagles may no longer be the experienced powerhouse that dominated eight-man football, but they enter a new era determined to establish the same championship standard in 11-man football.

The journey begins Friday night in Macon.