Pigskin

Preview

Nick Brown of Silver Bluff, right,

catches a touchdown pass as Emory
Jones of Fox Creek defends the play
on Sept. 10, 2021. File photo by Mike
Adams

Friday, August 12, 2022 • A supplement to The Augusta Press • CSRA High School Football Preview
Table of Contents Football Preview
An advertising supplement to the Augusta Press.

Chris Rickerson: Ten interest-

ing matchups for area 2022 high
school football. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
It’s all about relationships for
owners of Johannsen’s Sport-
ing Goods . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Publisher
Game Day Schedules. . . . . . . . 8 Joe Edge

Columbia County updates Executive Editor

Bryce Ivey of Academy of Richmond County, center,
county high school fields. . . . 12 tries to hurdle Harlem defenders on Friday, Sept.
Debbie Reddin van Tuyll

24, 2021 at Richmond Academy. File photo by Mike Managing Editor

Adams Charmain Brackett
Previews
Section Editor
Charmain Brackett
Westside High School. . . . . . . . 4
Photographers
Silver Bluff High School . . . . . 7 Mike Adams
Chris Rickerson
Liz Wright
Thomson High School. . . . . . 13
Writers
Evans High School . . . . . . . . . 14 Charmain Brackett
Chris Rickerson
Burke County High School . . 15 Liz Wright

Account Executive

Athlete Spotlights Kevin Sapp of Lakeside rushes as he’s tackled by

North Augusta defenders Amir Young, Jaydon Eason
Donna Schlagel

and Coyln Moore Aug. 20, 2021. File photo by Mike

DJ Curry, North Augusta High Adams

School . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Keshaun Sanders, Laney High
School . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Clark Jackson, Aquinas High
School . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
11
Malik Leverett, Greenbrier
High School. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Mason Short, Evans High
School . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Arthur Walker of Silver Bluff, center, rushes up field as
Fox Creek defenders Chandler O’Brannon, left, and
Cover design: Debbie Reddin van Tuyll
Cover photo: Mike Adams
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 Quincy Wells pursue in this photo from Friday, Sept. In the photo: Nick Brown of Silver Bluff,
10, 2021. File photo by Mike Adams and Emory Jones of Fox Creek

Coming this Fall:

Collegiate football coverage every Saturday

The Augusta Press brings the college gridiron

home with results as they become available every

Saturday for local area favorites starting.

Starting Aug. 27.

2 The Augusta Press
Chris Rickerson:

Ten interesting matchups for

Area 2022 high school football
By Chris Rickerson
Staff Writer

As school is beginning to start for much of the

local area, Friday nights will be filled with foot-
ball games. The season promises to have exciting
contests with tried-and-true rivalries plus some
games you don’t see often. Here are a few of my
picks for the season.
One of the first matches to kick off the 2022
season will be a scrimmage between Hephzibah
and Aquinas on Aug. 12. Both teams had the
same winning percentage in 2021 with Aquinas
finishing 6-6 and Hephzibah 5-5.
Senior quarterback and defensive back Jalen
Patrick leads the Rebel, while junior linebacker
Clark Jackson (who also plays quarterback) and
the Fightin’ Irish defense will look to shut the
Rebels down.
Thomson Bulldogs will face their rival Burke
County Bears at the Brickyard on Aug. 19. Thom-
son won this matchup last season by a score of
27-14 and has beaten Burke County the last two
years, but the Bears have had their share of victo-
ries in these contests.
The Bulldogs will be without star quarterback
Tay Martin who graduated in the spring, while
Burke County has returning seniors Marshall
Flowers and Charlie Dorsey.
North Augusta will begin the year at Evans
on Aug. 19. The last time we saw this matchup
in the regular season was in 2019, which North
Augusta won 14-7. This game has always been a
very close game in years past with North Augusta
usually coming out with the win in recent years.
I suspect this will be a good tight game just like
in years past with both teams continuing to stay
competitive this year.
The Butler Bulldogs will open their season at
Cross Creek on Friday, Aug. 19. Both teams have
struggled to find wins in recent years with Butler Nathan Smith, an Evans senior, is consoled after losing to Johns Creek 45-10 in the second round of the Georgia
finishing 0-10 last season and Cross Creek ending High School playoffs in Evans on Nov. 19, 2021. File photo by Mike Adams.
at 1-9. Cross Creek is beginning its season with a
new head football coach, Ezzard Horn. We will
30. Running back Temarcus Elam, one of the top Patriots without their previous top talent, this may
see who can get the early momentum win to begin
rushers for the area, leads the Panthers. Elam fin- be an interesting game.
their season.
ished last season with 1,350 rushing yards and 14 One of the final matchups of the season will
Another early season matchup will be the
touchdowns. The Panthers also have one of the be at the Brickyard when Thomson plays Westside
Grovetown Warriors traveling to play the Green-
top 10 kickers in the state of Georgia in senior on Nov. 4. While I think Thomson should win this
brier Wolfpack on Aug. 26.
Will Hattaway. While the Knights did lose some game, this is not a clash we see every season. Both
The Warriors lost to the Wolfpack 34-16 last
of their talent last season, they still have a strong teams had some of their best players graduate last
season and will be looking for revenge. Green-
offensive line and many different weapons. season in Thomson’s Tay Martin and Westside
brier will be without former star quarterback
Laney travels to play Westside on Oct. 21. The running back Xzavier Green.
Brooks Pangle, who graduated. That will be a ga-
Wildcats haven’t beaten the Patriots in the regular These are not the only good matchups will we
mechanger to the Wolfpack’s season. Grovetown
season since 2018. The Patriots will only have two see this season on Friday nights but are just 10
is led by a strong backfield in seniors Joseph Jean
returning starters according to Coach Lee Hutto. games that catch my eye and are interesting con-
and Zaidon Gunn. With the loss of Pangle, the
With the Wildcats rich in upperclassmen and the tests to look forward to this season.
outcome could be different this season.
One thing I like are the atypical pairings --
games you don’t get to see every year. One of
those contests will be on Sept. 2 when Augusta
Christian travels to play Hephzibah. This is one
game I am not sure what to expect but could be
interesting to say the least.
The Harlem Bulldogs will travel to Aquinas to
play the Fightin’ Irish on Sept. 16. Harlem fin-
ished last season at 5-6, which was near the same
record as Aquinas. Running back Jason Williams
and defensive back Johnathan Howard are two
key seniors to watch out for at Harlem. Williams
had 1,123 rushing yards and 15 touchdowns last
season for the Bulldogs.
Lakeside will play rival Evans at home Sept

The Augusta Press 3

Westside to field
young 2022 Team

Xzavier Green (4) dives for a score in Westside’s 28-6 victory over Laney on Oct. 15. File photo by Chris Rickerson.

By Chris Rickerson Kamga. He also says he is excited to see some of While Hutto says winning football games is
Staff Writer the other young guys. important to him and his players, it is not always
“He (Goss) makes us a little more athletic at the most important thing.
Westside High School football will rely on quarterback than we were last year and is going to “The biggest thing for us is we’re going to pour
young talent in 2022 after the Patriots lost a num- have a big role for us,” Hutto said. “Really excit- into our kids spiritually every day,” Hutto said.
ber of graduating seniors in the spring. ed about lineman David Brown, I think he will be “We want our kids to be really good football play-
The team only has two returning starters go- able to fill a big void for us on the offensive line. I ers, but we also want them to grow in the lord.
ing into the 2022 season according to Coach Lee really like our sophomore class and our freshmen We’re fortunate to have the platform of football to
Hutto. class. The best thing for them is to get game expe- be able to share that with our kids.”
“It’s tough because you lose so much experi- rience, but they’re not going to be young for long Westside will begin the season at home against
ence and a lot of good football players,” said Hut- with our tough schedule.” Hephzibah Friday, Aug. 19.
to. “We lost all our offensive linemen; we lost our
tight end, our running back, all four of our defen-
sive linemen, so we’re starting from scratch. We
have only got two returning starters coming back,
a defensive back and our kicker.”
Last season, Westside finished its year with a
9-3 record and made it to the second round of the
AA Georgia High School State Playoffs, losing
to South Atlanta 22-17. The Patriots were led by
many seniors in running back Xzavier Green, quar-
terback TJ Price, wide receiver Kaleb Hutchinson
and a talented offensive line and defense.
One player Westside relied on last season was
its kicker Sean Medcalfe, who will be returning
for his senior season.
“The good thing is, we probably got the best
kicker in the area in Sean Medcalfe,” Hutto said.
“He is phenomenal, a do-it- all guy. We are going
to have to win some games with our kicking game,
which we did last year.”
Hutto says he expects to see some new talent
emerge this season in junior quarterback Xavier
Goss, junior offensive lineman David Brown and
sophomore running back and linebacker Jeanarion Westside running back Xzavier Green (4) runs for daylight in the Patriots’ 40-13 victory over the Josey Eagles
on Oct. 1, 2021. File photo by David Bulla.
4 The Augusta Press
football is ‘therapeutic’
for North Augusta’s DJ Curry
DJ Curry is a senior at North Augusta High School. Photo by Liz Wright
By Liz Wright
Staff Writer
 
DJ Curry believes football makes him a better
person.   thing to better himself and his gameplay, whether
Unlike other sports, football is therapeutic,
providing an outlet for the North Augusta High
School senior running back.   And that dedication shows, according to head
“I’m able to take out all my pain and anger all
out on the field, and then later, I feel better because
I ran everything I was feeling off. You can’t al-
ways do that with other sports,” he said.   any time for fun. You have to play with a team and
Curry said playing sports such as football and
participating in track and field have kept him from
ever being lazy and getting stuck in the house.
Without football, “I wouldn’t go anywhere, I’d be
sitting around the house. I like running people over
and fighting to get where I need to be instead,” he
said. 
Defensive Line coach Jackson Webb described
Curry as unlike any other player on the team.  
“He gives 110% every day. He’s not afraid to
crash into you and give it all he’s got to get the
other guy down,” he said. 
Webb also said Curry is a strong silent lead-
er and pushes his teammates to be better through
their competitive nature, especially when it comes
to weightlifting and running.  
“He’s just massive and is easily the best and
strongest player we have,” said Webb. “He even
makes his younger brothers want to be better, he
brings them to a lot of the practices.” 
Along with his brothers, Curry mentioned how
having some of his cousins on the team gives him
a great support system and even better connection
with his teammates. However, Curry says his old-
er brother and mom are the ones that keep him in-
spired and encouraged. 
“My mama, she’s never missed a game. Every
game I ever had, she never missed one,” he said.
All the while, Curry said his older brother was al-
ways very supportive behind the scenes and en-
couraged his dream to play professionally by re-
minding him to improve every day.  Curry also hopes to eventually play in the NFL
As a result, Curry is almost always doing some-
that is weightlifting at home, running track and
field, or playing football with his team.  just see them throw somebody or work a long run
coach Matt Quinn.  I can do it, try to be like them,” he said. Although,
 “Football is not an easy sport to play. It’s not
like basketball where you can play by yourself at
in an uncomfortable uniform. You really have to
love the game itself, and DJ does. He loves it and
DJ Curry, right, runs for positive yards against Bluffton during the first round of the high school playoff game
Nov. 6, 2021 between North Augusta and Bluffton in North Augusta. Photo by Mike Adams
he’s our best player.” 
Looking back on his time playing at North Au-
gusta High School, Curry said his favorite game
was against Burke County last year. He said his
team lost the game, but that it stuck with him
because it was the first time his teammates and
coaches pushed him to not lose sight of the goal
and to persevere. 
“My teammates were telling me, ‘Hey, you
need to pick it up and do better. You need to better
yourself right now cause you can’t let that one play
put you down. You gotta keep going,’” said Curry.
“That was the game where my coaches and team-
mates picked me up when I was down and made
me strive to do better and do more.” The positive
lesson stuck with him despite the frustrating loss. 
  From that point on, Curry realized “you win
some, you lose some. You gotta pick up your
teammates. When they make a bad play you gotta
tell them. It just taught me to always try and better
myself and better my teammates by helping out
and being a leader.” 
Curry says he has many good memories in-
volving football and will always strive to play it
if able because of the incredibly positive impact it
has had on his family and his personal life. 
Although he thinks it will be bittersweet when
he graduates and no longer plays for North Au-
gusta High School, Curry says “I’m ready to go to
college. I will miss it here, but it’s all part of the
process.” 
He hasn’t decided what college he wants to at-
tend yet.  
Quinn said Curry desires to play for a college
that has a safe community, great learning environ-
ment and provides him with the best opportunities
for the future. 
like his idols Derrick Henry and Alvin Kamara,
and to one day be as talented as they are.  
“When I first started watching them, I would
and it just made me want to do it. I want to see if
according to his coaches, Curry already plays very
impressively and even inspires his teammates to
be better players. 
“He’s such a good kid. He always tries to do his
best and never backs down,” said Quinn.
The Augusta Press 5
It’s all about relationships for
owners of Johannsen’s Sporting Goods
Steve Johannsen said his grandfather brought
little league baseball to Augusta which gave his fa-
ther’s store its first customers for sporting goods.
To Steve and Pat Johannsen, the family business
started with connections and continues to thrive
because of them. 
 “Today more kids are not involved with sports.
I know some kids are not as physical as other kids,
but sports play a fantastic role in the community
because it keeps parents involved with schools,”
Steve Johannsen said. He also said, in most cases,
kids’ love for the game and competition encour-
ages them to stay out of trouble in order to keep
playing. 
 “Sports keeps kids off the street, keeps them in
school. I’s a huge thing for the community,” said
Steve Johannsen. “With sports, you make friend-
ships forever.” 
Because of the business’ wide involvement with
various sports leagues, the Johannsens said they
prefer to support events and games that benefit
several teams within the community as opposed to
just one, such as the upcoming 2023 Border Bowl
and High School Football Game of the Week. 
In addition to supporting local teams within the
community, Pat Johannsen also believes in sup-
porting his staff and treating all as though they are
family. 
“We’re not ones for titles. We just come in and
go to work and do business every day,” he said.
“Everybody in here gets treated like family. We’re
Sports equipment such as balls and helmets are also available at Johannsen’s. Staff photo by Liz Wright.
a pretty close-knit group here; everybody takes
By Liz Wright  believes sports teaches children important life skills good care of each other.” 
Staff Writer like discipline, responsibility, and punctuality.  His belief in taking care of his staff made a spe-
“That’s what’s wrong with this world. You got cial difference during the COVID-19 shutdown
What started as a small trophy engraving shop kids sitting at home while mom and dad are at and quarantine. Even though his store was shut
in 1969 has grown to a larger sporting goods store work, and all they’re doing is looking at a screen. down, through smart saving and some government
that provides many local schools with uniforms, The only thing that upsets them is when the bat- funding, he was able not only to support his busi-
supplies and equipment. Employees also do in- tery dies,” he said.  ness, but he also kept his employees on a steady
house screen printing, uniform embroidery and   His son, Steve Johannsen, nodded and said, payroll throughout the pandemic. 
trophies created from scratch.   “They don’t go outside; they don’t play. The inter- “We were able to take care of our people,” said
“We pretty much do anything a high school net has been a killer.”   Steve Johannsen. “People work here for years and
needs. From field paint, to uniforms, to trophies, Pat Johannsen said his belief in the importance years and just become part of our family.” 
to equipment. Whatever they need,” said Pat Jo- of sports and its ability to encourage relationships Due to an encouraging family workplace en-
hannsen, owner of Johannsen’s Sporting Goods, plays a major role in his business,  vironment, Pat Johannsen said he enjoys coming
1116 Broad St. “We probably do business for “It’s all about relationships. If you have a good to work every single day. Even though some days
around 35 to 40 schools all over, Richmond and relationship with a coach, we take care of them the might be hard, “I still get up in the morning and
Columbia County, Greensboro, Warren County, best we can,” he said. look forward to work,” he said. 
Statesboro.” 
Johannsen says he inherited his shop’s first lo-
cation from his parents who were optometrists.
However, eyeglasses were never really an interest
for him compared to sporting goods. 
“I just opened a trophy store and went to work,”
he said. 
Growing up in Augusta, Johannsen fondly re-
members playing basketball, football and base-
ball, which strengthened deep connections with
peers and teammates over the years. 
“I think it’s a big part of kids growing up, and
they don’t realize it, until they get to be about 55-
60 years old, how much they enjoyed what they
did and howmany friends they made,” Johannsen
said. 
The father of three says his children are all
heavily involved with the store and that he always
emphasized to them the importance of honesty
when running a business.  
“You always got to tell the customer the truth.
If you made a mistake, be truthful about it and
own up to it,” he said. “Always tell the truth and
stand by your product.” 
Johannsen said all his children were involved
in sports and he believes this is an enormous factor
in shaping children over time.
 Johannsen says that video games and the
internet have trained kids to stay indoors. He
The inside of Johannsen’s Sporting Goods’ Broad Street store. Staff photo by Liz Wright
6 The Augusta Press
Silver Bluff hopes to
repeat 2021 successes
Arthur Walker of Silver Bluff, center, rushes up field as Fox Creek defenders Chandler O’Brannon, left, and Quincy Wells pursue in this photo from Friday, Sept. 10, 2021.
File photo by Mike Adams
By Charmain Z. Brackett
Managing Editor
Last year was a dream year for the Silver Bluff
Bulldogs.
All the pieces fit together, according to coach
De’Angelo Bryant.
“Last year had magical moments,” he said.
“We saw so much growth in our team.”
The goal was to get to the state championship,
and the team did just that with a loss in the state
championship game against Gray Collegiate on
Dec. 8, 2021. Up to that point, it was everything
Bryant and the team had hoped for.
The Bulldogs were undefeated heading into
that final game and had handily defeated its op-
ponents in many games, blanking them in most
cases.
With 17 seniors, the Bulldogs had a strong
team with members who’d played together for
several years.
They’d finished a COVID-shortened 2020 sea-
son by losing only two games by a combined score
of three points. The feeling they couldn’t lose per-
meated the ranks.
Now that those seniors have graduated, Bryant
has his work cut out for him to develop another
powerhouse, and he said he’s got some players
who he believes can rise to fill some of those gaps.
One of those is starting quarterback Maleik
Williams who put up just under 2,600 total offen-
sive yards last season.
The junior passed for 1,791 yards while rush-
ing for another almost 800.
Protecting Williams from the line is Christian
Echols, a 6-foot-4-inch tall 220-pound tackle, who
Bryant expects great things from.
On defense, Bryant is looking to Ricardo Jones
Jr. and Jordan Boyd to lead the team.
Jones, who plays several positions including
cornerback, is more like the “quarterback of the
defense,” Bryant said. His strong on-field leader-
ship skills come into play, and Boyd started as a
sophomore.
Even with those players, Bryant admits the sea-
son won’t be a walk in the park.
“This year will have a lot of challenges,” he
said. “There’s never a dull moment.”
He expects the challenges to begin on the first
game of the season at home against South Aiken
Aug. 19.
“They are a well-coached, disciplined team,”
he said.
Conference matches as well as non-region
games have their own sets of challenges, and you
never know what can happen on the gridiron. Fox
Creek, Strom Thurmond and Barnwell will all be
tough games and don’t forget nearby Midland Val-
ley.
Despite losing 17 strong players, Bryant is
heading toward the year with a positive outlook.
“We’re really looking forward to the challenge
overall,” he said. “We have to find our identity.
And we have to realize this is not 2021. This is
a new year with a lot of challenges, but that also
creates a lot of excitement.”
The Augusta Press 7
 The Augusta Press presents the Fall 2022

Game Day schedules

Luke Gay of Greenbrier, right, intercepts a pass over Harlem’s Brett Sterner in the first half of Aug. 27, 2021 matchup at Greenbrier. File photo by Mike Adams

Jaylen Golphin of Burke County, left, catches a

touchdown in the first half as North Augusta’s Marquel
Weston defends the play on Friday, Sept. 17, 2021. Bryce Ivey of ARC, center, tries to hurdle Harlem defenders on Friday, Sept. 24, at Richmond Academy. File
File photo by Mike Adams. photo by Mike Adams
8 The Augusta Press
 9-Sep Midland Valley, SC 30-Sep Putnam County
Evans 16-Sep At Aquinas Cross Creek 7-Oct At Washington County
19-Aug North Augusta S.C. 30-Sep Cross Creek 19-Aug Butler 21-Oct Laney
2-Sep Greenbrier 7-Oct At Hephzibah 26-Aug At Glenn Hills 28-Oct Butler
9-Sep At Burke County 14-Oct Richmond Academy 9-Sep Jenkins County 4-Nov At Thomson
28-Oct Salem
16-Sep Strom Thurmond
4-Nov At Morgan County
16-Sep Savannah Aiken
23-Sep Grovetown 23-Sep At Hart County
30-Sep At Lakeside, Evans Augusta Christian 30-Sep At Harlem 19-Aug At Lakeside, Evans
14-Oct At Effingham County 7-Oct Richmond Academy 26-Aug At Appling County
21-Oct At Glynn Academy 19-Aug Ridge Spring Monetta 14-Oct At Salem 2-Sep Strom Thurmond
28-Oct Brunswick 26-Aug Bulloch Academy 28-Oct Morgan County 9-Sep Clinton
4-Nov South Effingham 2-Sep At Hephzibah 4-Nov At Hephzibah 16-Sep Barnwell
9-Sep At Bethlehem Christian Academy 30-Sep Airport
Greenbrier 16-Sep Trinity Collegiate Laney 7-Oct North Augusta
19-Aug Harlem 23-Sep Heathwood Hall Episcopal 19-Aug Strom Thurmond 14-Oct Midland Valley
26-Aug Grovetown 30-Sep At Hammond 26-Aug At Hephzibah 21-Oct Lexington
2-Sep At Evans 14-Oct At Laurence Manning Academy 9-Sep First Presbyterian 28-Oct South Aiken
21-Oct At Ben Lippen
16-Sep At Lakeside, Evans
28-Oct Cardinal Newman
16-Sep Thomson South Aiken
23-Sep At Aquinas 24-Sep Butler(D)
19-Aug Silver Bluff
7-Oct Statesboro Augusta Christian 30-Sep At Washington County
26-Aug Lexington
14-Oct At Jenkins 7-Oct Josey
21-Oct At Ware County 19-Aug At Cross Creek 21-Oct At Westside, Augusta 2-Sep Gilbert
28-Oct Coffee 9-Sep Savannah 28-Oct At Putnam County 9-Sep River Bluff
4-Nov Bradwell Institute 16-Sep At Putnam County 4-Nov Glenn Hills 16-Sep White Knoll
24-Sep At Laney(D) 23-Sep Clinton
Augusta Prep 30-Sep Glenn Hills North Augusta 30-Sep North Augusta
7-Oct Thomson 19-Aug At Evans 14-Oct Airport
19-Aug  At Bethlehem Christian
21-Oct Washington County 26-Aug Dorman 21-Oct Midland Vallery
2-Sep  Gatewood
28-Oct At Westside, Augusta 2-Sep Lakeside, Evans 28-Oct Aiken
9-Sep  At Piedmont Academy
4-Nov Josey
16-Sep  Bulloch Acdemy 9-Sep Greenwood Silver Bluff
16-Sep Dutch Fork
23-Sep  At Glascock County Hephzibah 23-Sep At Strom Thurmond 19-Aug South Aiken
30-Sep  At Thomas Jefferson Academy
14-Oct  Southwest Georgia Academy 19-Aug At Westside, Augusta 30-Sep At South Aiken 26-Aug At Socastee
21-Oct  At Briarwood  26-Aug Laney 14-Oct At Aiken 2-Sep At Midland Vallery
28-Oct  Edmund Burke Academy 2-Sep Augusta Christian 21-Oct Airport 16-Sep Orangeburg-Wilkinson
4-Nov GSIC 9-Sep At Tattnall County 28-Oct Midland Vallery 23-Sep Barnwell
23-Sep Southeast Bulloch 30-Sep At Fox Creek
Richmond Academy 30-Sep At Salem Jefferson County 7-Oct At Batesburg-Leesville
19-Aug At Veterans (FF) 7-Oct Harlem 19-Aug At Aquinas 14-Oct Saluda
26-Aug At Savannah 14-Oct At Morgan County 26-Aug At Thomson 21-Oct Strom Thurmond
2-Sep At Josey 28-Oct At Richmond Academy 9-Sep Toombs County 28-Oct At Pelion
4-Nov Cross Creek
9-Sep East Laurens 16-Sep At Grovetown Strom Thurmond
23-Sep Lincoln County 23-Sep Elbert County
30-Sep Morgan County
Fox Creek 30-Sep At Emanuel County Institute 19-Aug At Laney
7-Oct At Cross Cree 19-Aug At St. Joseph’s Catholic 7-Oct At Swainsboro 26-Aug Midland Vallery
14-Oct At Harlem 26-Aug At Lakewood 14-Oct Bleckley County 2-Sep At Aiken
28-Oct Hephzibah 1-Sep McCormick 21-Oct At Dublin 16-Sep At Evans
4-Nov At Salem 16-Sep Airport 4-Nov East Laurens 23-Sep North Augusta
30-Sep Batesburg-Leesville
Glenn Hills 23-Sep Ga. School for Innovation/Classics Josey 7-Oct At Saluda
30-Sep Silver Bluff
19-Aug At Hancock Central 7-Oct At Pelion 19-Aug At Savannah 14-Oct Pelion
26-Aug Cross Creek 14-Oct Batesburg-Leesville 2-Sep Richmond Academy 21-Oct At Silver Bluff
1-Sep At Washington-Wilkes 21-Oct At Saluda 16-Sep Westside, Augusta 28-Oct Fox Creek
16-Sep Washington County 28-Oct At Strom Thurmond 23-Sep At Putnam County
23-Sep Westside, Augusta 30-Sep Thomson
Lincoln County
30-Sep At Butler Burke County 7-Oct At Laney 19-Aug Bryan County
7-Oct At Putnam County 19-Aug At Thomson 21-Oct Glenn Hills 26-Aug At McCormick S.C.
21-Oct At Josey 26-Aug Effingham County 28-Oct Washington County 2-Sep Emanuel County Institute
28-Oct Thomson 9-Sep Evans 4-Nov At Butler 16-Sep At Commerce
4-Nov At Laney 23-Sep At Richmond Academy
16-Sep Oconee County Westside 30-Sep Aquinas
Midland Valley 23-Sep At Statesboro
30-Sep At Wayne County 19-Aug Hephzibah 7-Oct At Washington-Wilkes
19-Aug Grovetown 7-Oct At Benedictine (M) 26-Aug Aquinas 21-Oct Greene County
26-Aug At Strom Thurmond 14-Oct Islands 2-Sep At Screven County 28-Oct At Warren County
2-Sep Silver Bluff 28-Oct New Hampstead 16-Sep At Josey 4-Nov Towns County
9-Sep At Harlem 4-Nov At Southeast Bulloch 23-Sep At Glenn Hills
16-Sep Westwood
23-Sep At Swansea
Lakeside
7-Oct Airport 19-Aug Aiken High School, SC
14-Oct Aiken 2-Sep At North Augusta, SC
21-Oct At South Aiken 9-Sep At Veterans
28-Oct At North Augusta 16-Sep Greenbrier
30-Sep Evans
Thomson 7-Oct At Brunswick
19-Aug Burke County 14-Oct At South Effingham
26-Aug Jefferson County 21-Oct At Grovetown
2-Sep At Grovetown 28-Oct Effingham County
16-Sep At Laney 4-Nov Glynn Academy
23-Sep Washington County
30-Sep At Josey
Aquinas
7-Oct At Butler 19-Aug Jefferson County
21-Oct Putnam County 26-Aug At Westside, Augusta
28-Oct At Glenn Hills 2-Sep At Savannah Country Day
4-Nov Westside, Augusta 16-Sep Harlem
Grovetown 23-Sep Greenbrier
30-Sep At Lincoln County
19-Aug At Midland Valley 7-Oct Towns County
26-Aug At Greenbrier 21-Oct Washington-Wilkes
2-Sep Thomson 28-Oct At Greene County
16-Sep Jefferson County 4-Nov Warren County
23-Sep At Evans
30-Sep Brunswick Westminster
7-Oct At Effingham County 26-Aug  At Twiggs Academy
14-Oct At Glynn Academy 2-Sep  Windsor Academy
21-Oct Lakeside, Evans 9-Sep  At John Hancock Academy
28-Oct South Effingham 16-Sep  Holy Spirit Prep 
Harlem 23-Sep  At Young Americans Christian
30-Sep  Monsignor Donovan
19-Aug At Greenbrier 7-Oct  At Westminster Christian
26-Aug Hancock Central 14-Oct  Dominion Christian
2-Sep At Elbert County 21-Oct  David Emanuel Academy
28-Oct 
Bye Week4-Nov
The Augusta Press 9
Laney’s Sanders shines on
the field and in Academics

Laney’s Keshaun Sanders is an all-sround star. Photo by Chris Rickerson

By Chris Rickerson
Staff Writer

A star on the field and in the classroom.

At 6-foot-1-inch tall, Laney High School’s se-
nior quarterback Keshaun Sanders can make plays
with his arms and feet, but his most important at-
tribute is his intelligence.
“The biggest thing for Keshaun is his foot-
ball IQ,” said Laney Coach Ronnie Baker. “He is
a high character kid with a high GPA and on the
field, he is a leader for us.”
Sanders currently has a 3.5 GPA at Laney. Bak-
er says one of Sanders talents for the Wildcats on
the field is his big play ability with him being able
to run and throw the football.
“What he does after the ball is snapped with
him completing over 60% of his passes last season
and he also can make big plays, running with the
football and threw for over 1,500 yards and ran for
another 300, so he does a lot for us before and after
the ball is snapped,” Baker said.
Sanders helped lead the Wildcats to a 6-5 re-
cord last season and to the first round of the AA
Georgia High School State Playoffs. He goes into
his final season hoping to help the team make it
even further this season.
“I am hoping to throw for 1,500 yards this sea-
Saunders in the shotgun. File photo by Chris Rickerson
son and make it pass the first round of the play-
offs,” Sanders said.
Sanders has been a starter at Laney since his “I believe offers are coming with a kid academ-
freshman year. Baker says he has seen Sanders ics that high and with the ability that he has shown,
leadership skills grow, especially going into his all we have to do is win some football games and
senior season. then the offers will come,” Baker said.
“The biggest thing is, he has became a leader,” Sanders agreed with his coach and thinks he
Baker said. “He now has to be the voice of the needs to help lead the Wildcats to more wins this
team, and at first, he was kind of hesitant about season to get more recognition,
that and as coaches that is our job to push them “I just feel like I have to make bigger plays and
into that role. He is leading us in the right way, and put my team up on the map, so we as a team can
it is a pleasure for us to have him.” get out there and get myself out there too,” Sand-
Currently, Sanders has no college offers going ers said.
into his final season, but Baker says he thinks that Laney’s first game of the season will be at home
will change this year. against Strom Thurmond on Friday, Aug. 19.
10 The Augusta Press
Aquinas’ Jackson is No. 12 tackler
among Georgia High schoolers
By Liz Wright 
Staff Writer

Clark Jackson came from a family of soccer

players to find his home on the football field.
The Aquinas High School football standout
plays on both the offense and defense for the Figh-
tin’ Irish. As a linebacker, he was a force to be
reckoned with on the field last year, ranking as the
No. 12 tackler in the state, racking up 158 of them
including 90 solo tackles.  
Jackson was the first of his four siblings to
make the switch from soccer pitch to football field.  
“It was a little disappointing to my family at
first because we’re big, big soccer players, but
they supported me anyways,” Jackson said. “My
mom was just happy I was doing something that
I loved.” 
His coach is glad that Jackson made the switch. 
“He reminds me a lot of Brendan Douglas and
Joseph Douglas, two other well-known athletes
we had play here. Clark is an extremely talented
athlete and young man. He comes from a very ath-
letic family,” said James Leonard, Head Football
Coach and Athletic Director. 
Jackson is a well-rounded athlete who plays Clark Jackson is a formidable opponent on offense and defense for Aquinas. Photo by Liz Wright
multiple sports including basketball. And he might
against Savannah Country Day School. It was a work because it allows him to meet new people
not be the biggest player on the field, but Leonard
narrow one-point win in OT 28-27. while benefiting those in need. 
said he’s one of the most dedicated and physical
 “We could have lost like the previous year, Jackson’s biggest inspiration is Ray Lewis, for-
players on the team. 
but we saved it that year. We were down a couple mer linebacker in the NFL, because he aspires to
“After every single game, the opposing coach-
of players, and it was a close-tight game, but we be an equally talented athlete as a future career. 
es just tell me how physical he was, how hard he
made a different play and won the game,” said With 491 rushing yards and 17 sacks last year,
hits, he’s always around the football,” said Leon-
Jackson.  Jackson is eager to continue playing and many are
ard. “He’s one of the best players we’ve ever had
Jackson is also involved in some community looking forward to seeing how he will play this
at this school. He’s just that kind of kid.” 
work, such as March for Life, and says he thor- upcoming school year at Aquinas. 
During the summer, Jackson is well known for
oughly enjoys helping others through volunteer
attending a different football camp almost every
single weekend with his father to network and
practice. Jackson is still deciding on where he
would like to attend college, but knows he defi-
nitely wants to continue playing and pursuing a
professional career in football. 
Leonard said Jackson leads by example and
action which encourages the other players to also
improve, since many of them grew up together
by going to the same schools, the team is a very
close-knit group compared to others. 
“A lot of us have known each other since day
one so we’ve grown up together which is pretty
cool,” said Jackson. “We support each other a lot
on and off the field.” 
Leonard said Jackson stays busy between
working, clubs and football, and does not like to
stay still which also makes him a great asset to
the team. Leonard described Jackson as a kid who
refuses to back down and recalls during Jackson’s
freshman year an impactful game. 
“When it came down to it, we needed a
game-winning field goal from 38 or 40 yards out.
As a freshman, we don’t really ask a freshman to
do that a lot, but we asked him if he could do it
and he said ‘course.’ Then he hit it and won the
game for us. He’s just that kind of kid,” he said.
“He doesn’t really know what pressure means. He
thrives under it and does a great job for us.” 
Jackson said, while he takes football very se-
riously, it is important to have fun and thrive on
his love for the game over getting consumed by
the idea of winning. “It’s just something you gotta
have fun with.” 
He also said playing football has taught him
discipline and to always push through, even if he
thinks he has nothing left.  
Jackson said he practices often and during dif-
ficult or stressful games he keeps his focus by tak-
ing deep breaths and focusing on his individual
tasks that will help win the game for his team.   Clark Jackson of Aquinas (1) rushes up field against Savannah Country Day on Oct. 15, 2021. File photo by
His favorite game occurred Oct. 15, 2021 Mike Adams
The Augusta Press 11
Columbia County Updates
County High School Fields 
 

Grovetown High School stadium is astroturf. Photo courtesy the Columbia County School Board.

By Liz Wright  Jackson said attempting to maintain the grass investment for us,” she said. “We’ve just had a lot
Staff Writer fields would have been just as, if not more, expen- of rain and the grass fields were just taking a beat-
  sive than purchasing turf fields.  ing, trying to maintain that was just becoming a
Columbia County has finished updating and in- She said the school board’s decision on replac- very expensive venture.” 
stalling artificial turf fields and fresh running tracks ing the fields was not only swayed by economic New goal posts have also been replaced along
at its high schools in time for the new school year.    factors but was also influenced by their athletes’ with the new perimeter fencing which Jackson
The contract was given to Sports Turf and each safety. Jackson said the grass fields were becom- said will make the fields look modern and will
field cost approximately $1 million to replace. Af- ing old and getting harder to maintain which made keep the students safe.  
ter about one year of installation, fencing, painting it unsafe for heavy usage.    Jackson also said she hopes the community
and cementing, the fields are finally ready for use.  “We wanted to do it because it’s safer. Turf will appreciate the updated areas, “It looks nice,
“They will all start out with those new fields fields are meant to withstand wear and tear from and the community can enjoy coming to events
this coming fall, and we’re very excited about the weather and usage. So being able to allow and seeing a field that’s pleasing to the eye and
that,” said Associate Superintendent Penny Jack- all our high school sports teams and our middle safe for the athletes. It’s going to withstand time a
son.  schools usage of those fields is a good long-term little bit better than our other fields.” 

Leverett elects to stay in school

By Chris Rickerson Kramer. “The big thing is that he goes to a place
Staff Writer that not only develops him as a football player but
develops him as a man and I think the ECU coach-
Greenbrier High School wide receiver Malik ing staff has done a really good job of establishing
Leverett had his best football season of his career a relationship and making that important.”  
as a junior last year.  Leverett begins his senior season at Greenbrier
Leverett finished with a total of 1,326 receiving High School, but things will be a little bit differ-
yards on 77 catches and had eight receiving touch- ent. He will be without star Greenbrier quarter-
downs. He had 14 touchdowns total on the season.  back Brooks Pangle, who graduated last spring. 
After an incredible season, Leverett had 14 “I’m confident my quarterback will get the
college offers total, but decided to commit to East job done,” Leverett said. “We’re not throwing as
Carolina University on June 26.   much as we did last, but I’m sure we can throw it,
One key factor in Leverett’s decision was run it and do it all with the quarterbacks we got
his relationship with ECU wide receiver Coach right now.”  
Re’quan Boyette.  Kramer says it is tough to lose a talent like Pan-
“Great relationships, I have a great relationship gle at quarterback, but Leverett will continue to
with Coach Boyette,” he said. “I was talking with be extremely involved in the offensive gameplan. 
them (ECU) for a while, went to a camp and we “It is always going to be tough because you
have just been building a relationship from there. have a trigger guy like Brooks Pangle that can
It just felt like home.”  make a lot of different throws,” he said. “Our guys
Leverett may have some big shoes to fill as one that are competing for that spot have had a really
the most notable recent names to go to East Car- good off season. What makes it tough is, as coach-
olina from Columbia County was Grovetown’s es we have to find creative ways to get Malik in-
D’Ante Smith. Smith was an offensive tackle at volved in not just the passing game but put him in
East Carolina and was drafted to the NFL by the a bunch of different places and make teams game-
Cincinnati Bengals in 2021, who went on to play plan for that.”  
against the Los Angeles Rams in Super Bowl LVI.  Going into the football season, Kramer says he
“I just play football,” Leverett said. “If it hap- feels like Leverett has grown as a player and a per-
Malik Leverett. Photo courtesy Chad Cook
pens, it happens. But that is the main goal, to get son. One of the biggest areas of growth that Kram-
to the league.”   er saw in Leverett was in his leadership ability.   ly good plays, but great players not only make
Greenbrier Coach Tony Kramer says he thinks “The physical tools and honing his route run- themselves better, but they make everybody else
Leverett is in good hands at ECU and is excited ning is always things he is working on, but it is around them better.”  
for him.   his leadership and being a more vocal guy,” said Leverett and the Wolfpack begin their season at
“I think he is going to be in a good place,” said Kramer. “Good players on a team make real- home Friday, Aug. 19 against Harlem.

12 The Augusta Press

Thomson Needs Returning
Players to stay Healthy
By Charmain Z. Brackett
Managing Editor

If Michael Youngblood has one wish for the up-

coming football season, it would be for his players
to stay healthy. 
“It’s going to be a challenge because we are
thin on the offensive and defensive line,” said
Youngblood, Thomson High School coach. 
The Bulldogs were undefeated during the
regular season last year. Their single loss came
during the quarterfinals of the AAA playoffs
against Appling Co. in November 2021. The
Pirates beat the Bulldogs 21-7 at the Brickyard. 
“We were tied 7-7 at the half,” he said. “We had
a rough night.»
The Bulldogs handily defeated many of its foes
last year, blanking Grovetown 40-0 on Aug. 27,
2021 and Cross Creek 55-0 on Oct. 8, 2021 as well
as pummeling May River 48-7 on Sept. 18, 2021,
Harlem 53-7 on Oct. 22, 2021 and Hephzibah 42-6
on Nov. 5, 2021.  
Thomson had several seniors graduate, and
Youngblood’s having to replace them. 
One key role is quarterback. Taymarion Martin,
who led the team at a young age, graduated and is
playing for Savannah State University this fall. 
Another important area Youngblood is Taymarion Martin fakes a pass for Thomson High School against Harlem Oct. 22, 2021, Photo by Chris Rick-
concerned about is his kicking game.  erson
“We graduated our punter and our kicker,” he
said. “Kicking is your secret weapon.”  Over the summer, Youngblood worked to bring want to get everything down pat before the season
While he doesn’t have a lot of depth in his his team together during practices and an Aug. 5 starts,” he said. 
offensive and defensive lines, he does have several scrimmage.  The season opens Aug. 19 against their non-
returning players who just need to stay healthy.  “We’re trying to make sure we gel together. We region rival Burke County in Waynesboro.

Colleges already eyeing Evans’ Short

Mason Short at a recent Evans High School football
practice. Staff photo by Chris Rickerson
By Chris Rickerson
Staff Writer
Mason Short is already a hot college prospect,
and he’s only entering his sophomore year at Ev-
ans High School   his agility.  “I always want to go for that state title, but we
The 6-foot-6-inch tall, 280-pound offensive
tackle is one of the top young high school football
recruits in the nation. So far, Short has 16 college
offers with schools such as Alabama, Georgia, press, power clean, all that has increased. We’re
Ohio State, Florida State, Minnesota, Kentucky, all getting better as a team.”  
Auburn, Coastal Carolina, Georgia Southern, Davis says he has seen the improvements in
Georgia Tech, Louisville, Miami (OH), Penn Short’s game and thinks he already has the talent
State, South Carolina, Texas Tech and Virginia to play at the collegiate level. 
Tech courting the young player.   “With three years left of high school, I think he
“Right now, I am fully focused on my high is seeing where he needs to grow and he has got
school career,” Short said. “All the college offers a lot stronger in just one year of high school and
are a blessing and everything, but that blessing he has got the physicality and that is not some-
will probably come true my junior or senior year, thing you can really teach,” Davis said. “He al-
once I have time to commit, but right now I’m just ways works and sees what he needs improve on.
trying to focus on high school.”  He could go right now and start in college at 16
Evans football Coach Barrett Davis says Short years old, but he is just progressing and enjoying
is extremely humble and continues to stay focused playing football right now.” 
and put all his effort on and off the field.   Ryan Bowers, a former Greenbrier High
“It is good to have a kid that is that young and School football star who also played at the colle-
also humble,” Davis said. “He is a hard-working giate and professional levels, is one of the people
kid. He has all the ability and size in the world, but Short says has helped him get where he is today.
still works hard every day. He gets a college offer Bowers operates a company called “ATHELITE
from whomever and he hasn’t batted an eye to it Academy,”  helping train youth and some college
and still remains the same type of kid.”   and pro athletes.  
Size isn’t the only way Short stands out. Da- “The support from family and my teammates
vis says his knowledge and the way he studies the and coaches have helped me get where I am to-
game of football is one way he stands out from day, they make me better every single day,” Short
other talents.   said. “A big person apart of what I have accom-
“He has got good feet and strength and is a stu- plished so far is Ryan Bowers. I have a great sup-
dent of the game,” Davis said. “He is able to listen port system and on visits if I have questions, I ask
and make adjustments as the game goes on, that is my coach. If I want to get some extra work in the
what helps him separate himself from others. He is field, I got my teammates to ask. I have always got
6-foot-6, but also studies the game and knows his people to make me better.” 
opponents well.”  Short and the Evans Knights will begin their
Short says he has made big strides going into season at home against North Augusta on Friday,
his sophomore year, improving his strength and Aug. 19.  
“Definitely my agility has gotten better,” Short do as best as we can every year. I would love to
said. “I have definitely got more mobile; I have see us to go as far as the state title this year,” Short
gotten a lot stronger. A lot of my squat, bench said. 

The Augusta Press 13

Evans faces new season
minus star players
Joe Hampton of Evans rushes for three touchdowns in the first half of the Oct. 1, 2021 against Grovetown. File photo by Mike Adams
Nick Jordon of Houston County upends KD Dorsey as
Evans defeats Houston Co. 19-10 in the first round of
the Georgia State High School playoffs on Saturday,
November 13, 2021. File photo by Mike Adams
14 The Augusta Press
By Chris Rickerson Evans Coach Barrett Davis has had to find the
Staff Writer players to fill their cleats.  
“You lose players, but you now got to find the
A pool of talented players, including two who next missing piece to fit in,”  Davis said. “Joseph
won player of the year honors, led the Evans High Hampton is one that is tough to replace.”  
School football team.  Although Davis says the Knights now may be
Joseph Hampton rushed for over 1,400 yards lacking the lead guy at running back, they will
and had 19 touchdowns in 2021, winning the have a lot of depth at the position. 
3AAAAAA special teams Player of the Year award “We got a lot of skilled guys, so our strength is
while Trey Morris was one of the key Knights on in numbers,” he said. “We will mix guys around to
the other side of the ball, winning the Defensive find success at running back.” 
Region Player of the Year.  The Knights will now be led by senior D.J.
Other stellar players included quarterback Walton as quarterback. Walton was a receiver and
Kaleb Jackson, who threw for 1,213 yards and backup quarterback for the Knights last season. 
12 touchdowns. He helped the Knights to a 9-3 “Our quarterback situation, we fill good about
record and a playoff spot, before losing to Johns
it with DJ Walton,” Davis said. “He won us a play-
Creek in the second round.  off game last year and knew all the plays last year
But those players have since graduated, and continued on next page
Burke County changes
class for 2022 season
By Chris Rickerson
Staff Writer

The Burke County Bears head into the 2022

football season after coming off a 9-3 season and a
trip to the quarterfinals of the AAA Georgia High
School Football State Playoffs last year.  
The Bears lost the quarterfinal game 46-14 to
the Carver High School Panthers, the 2021 AAA
state champions. 
“Last year, we had a pretty good team going
into the season, but if you were to tell me we were
going to go to the quarterfinals, I would have taken
than and run with it,” said Burke County Coach
Eric Parker. “Our kids came in, and we got the ab-
solute most out of them.” 
The Bears will have many returning key offen-
sive impact players for the 2022 season and are
looking to make it back to the playoffs this year. 
Senior quarterback Marshal Flowers threw for
1,482 yards last season with 11 touchdowns and
five interceptions in 2021. Senior running back
Charlie Dorsey ran for 845 yards and eight touch-
downs. Jaylen Golphin and Kohen Rogers are also
two senior wide receivers Parker says he is really
excited for this upcoming fall. 
Charlie Dorsey of Burke County, left, rushes for positive yards as Jackson Davis of North and Augusta tries to
“We’re really excited about a couple of our se-
make the tackle Sept. 17, 2021. Photo by Mike Adams
niors coming back. It starts with Marshal Flowers
our quarterback. We’re really excited about him;
he will be a three-year starter,” Parker said. “Then
we have a couple pieces around him that had good
years last year.” 
The upcoming season will look a little different
for Burke County as the team will be moving from
class AAA to class AAAA.  
Burke County’s schedule for 2022 is filled with
competitive matchups, especially early on, he said. 
 The Bears begin their season Aug. 19 at the
Brickyard against rival Thomson Bulldogs. 
“Thomson is coming, and they’re our rivals but
start looking at the teams behind them,” said Park-
er.  “We just got a tough first part of the season.” 
The Bears will have a couple tough home
games early in the season as they will face Evans
and Oconee County week three and four. Parker
says his team will have to be prepared for a long
and tough competitive football game every night. 
“Our thing is, we’re not just going to focus on
getting ready for Thomson, we got to focus on be-
ing in a battle every Friday night,” Parker said. “I
think that starts by being mentally tough and ob-
viously getting yourself in shape and getting the
reps in and trying to be as efficient as you can in North Augusta’s Amir Young grabs the shirt of Marshall Flowers of Burke County as makes his way to the end
all phases of the game.”  zone for a touchdown on Friday, Sept. 17, 2021. File photo by Mike Adams

Evans faces new season DJ Walton of Evans gets the

continued from previous page
ball knocked loose during
as a backup. He is a good runner and thrower.”  a run as the Knights fall to
Evans is also protected by a good offensive Johns Creek 45-14 in the
line, especially with one of the top young linemen second round of the Georgia
recruits in the nation in sophomore Mason Short.   High School playoffs in
Evans on Friday, Nov. 19,
While the Knights still have a talented roster
2021. File photo by Mike
after losing key seniors, they will have to over- Adams
come the losses with a tough 2022 schedule.  
“Our schedule is a lot tougher than it has been
in a long time and our region is a lot tougher,”
Davis said. “I made our non-region games a lot
tougher to get us ready for region. We let the play-
ers know there is not going to be any cupcakes
this season. You’ll have to go out and earn every
victory.” 
Evans will begin its season at home against
North Augusta on Friday, Aug. 19.  
The Augusta Press 15
16 The Augusta Press