By Kyle Dean/Sports Editor
TIFTON — Head coaches from seven of the eight schools in Region 1-AAAAA were in Tifton today, talking about the fast approaching football season, which begins with scrimmages on August 21.
Colquitt County’s Rush Propst was on the way back from the Birmingham (Ala.) area, where his team had just finished 7-on-7 competition at Hoover High School.
The event was sponsored by Tift Regional Medical Center, who gave free health screenings to men from 9-11 a.m.
Each coach was given an opportunity to speak about their respective teams.
Lowndes head coach Randy McPherson said it was “an honor to represent this region.”
“I have been a lot of places. It is not like this everywhere else,” McPherson said.
The Vikings will have 15 returning starters including offensive tackle Ed Christian, who has verbally committed to play for Bobby Bowden at Florida State University in 2010.
Houston County head coach Greg Robinson said, “When I was playing in this region a long time ago, I always wanted to coach in it.”
“Be careful what you wish for because sometimes, your dreams may come true,” Robinson joked.
The Bears finished 3-7 in the Packer alum’s first year in Region 1-AAAAA.
Tift County head coach Jay Walls said he was “truly blessed to be apart of this region.”
Walls said the offensive line will be the strength of the team, as three starters return in Lawrence Cooper, Ryan Popp and Dylan Gray.
Walls said he believes quarterback Malcolm Dixon is “one of the best in the state” and that the other players will look for Dixon to be the leader of the team.
Dixon will have an experienced receiver to throw to in Jarrod Bateman.
Walls said the coaching staff will look for Bateman to “have a great year.”
After each coach gave their team overview, the floor was opened up to questions for the coaches.
Among the topics: Do Georgia high school teams need to play out of state teams for national respect?
“We’re already playing Ware County and Peachtree Ridge,” McPherson said.
“I think we have our hands full.”
“I don’t think it’s who you play. I think it’s how many you can win in a row. That helps you with the national polls,” according to Northside head coach Conrad Nix.
Football season will begin August 28 across south Georgia.
