First-year coach wants wins now, not later
Here's the scoop on the Evans High School football team: This year the Knights sport a large junior and sophomore class and a talented freshman group. With the team moving into a new region in 2004, the future looks bright.
Back
But what about now?
Evans currently competes in Region 7-AAAAA, which features some of the biggest and strongest athletes in the state.
First-year head coach Marty Jackson does not have the luxury, nor the intention, to kill time and wait for Evans to become a winner.
//
"Next year hasn't even crossed my mind," Jackson said. "We're trying to do it this year. If you're playing hard and getting a little better every day, wins will take care of themselves."
Evans won just three games over the past two years under coach Lee Chomskis, who resigned under pressure last January.
Evans' Jay Acree has the ball jarred loose by Greenbrier in last year's season opener. Evans hopes to get a stronger hold on winning this season.
Photo by Jim Blaylock
After a successful 10-year run at Aquinas, Jackson was hired in April to guide the Knights.
His plan for the 2003 season sounds simple enough - limit turnovers, commit no stupid penalties and play hard for four quarters.
" We have to win the games we're supposed to, and the ball needs to bounce our way," Jackson said. "We can't play poorly and win."
As Chomskis discovered during a 2-8 campaign last year, playing well doesn't guarantee victories against the mean Atlanta-area teams in Region 7-AAAAA.
Jackson's job isn't just to draw up a battle plan. It's also important to find field generals who are willing to work hard in practice and play smash-mouth football Friday nights.
"You can't make a leader, but coaches can encourage leadership," Jackson said.
It's still early in his tenure, but Jackson already has seen signs of leadership - Cheng Ho, Ben Stapleton, Cliff Hancock, Bryan Kelley and Ryan Crislip are some of the Knights who Jackson says have led the way during summer workouts and preseason practices.
When kickoff time arrives at Blanchard Stadium on Aug. 29 against Greenbrier, the Knights returning starters will have to step forward and lead by example - Ricky Crawford, Jay Acree, Robin Jacobs, C.J. Wiltz and Allen Ligon bear that responsibility.
Brad Freeman, meanwhile, has established himself at quarterback. The junior replaces Travis Clark, who transferred to Lincoln County for his senior season.
Offensively, Evans seems to be well-armed. Along with Freeman, running backs Ho and Acree are explosive players, while Ligon (wide receiver) and Crawford (split end) have big-play capability.
Linemen Wiltz, Kelley, Jacobs and Hancock will help pace the offense.
Evans coach Marty Jackson gives last minute instructions to his team during their
scrimmage against Westside last Friday night.
Photo by Jim Blaylock
"I think we'll do real well," Kelley said. "Brad Freeman has really taken control of the offense. We've got a pretty good (offensive) line and our defense is looking pretty good."
Kelley, who plays defensive end and guard, is one of many Knights going both ways this season.
With a lack of depth, plus the fact that Evans lost all of its starting linebackers and defensive backs from last season, the Knights will have a tough time matching up physically with many of their region opponents.
Despite those shortcomings, the will to win is there.
The Knights have too much pride to say, "Wait till next year."
"I think we're going to turn things around," Hancock said. "We're going to surprise some people."
2002 game results
overall record: 2-8
L at Greenbrier, 43-26
W Lakeside, 28-14
L vs. Southwest DeKalb, 28-6
L at Tri-Cities, 49-7
L vs. Lithonia, 14-13
L at Cedar Grove, 24-13
W vs. Lakeside-DeKalb, 13-6
L at Stephenson, 62-7
L vs. Redan, 27-3
L at Douglass, 34-27
2003 schedule
Aug. 29 - vs. Greenbrier
Sept. 5 - open
Sept. 12 - at Lakeside
Sept. 19 - at Southwest DeKalb
Sept. 26 - vs. Tri-Cities
Oct. 3 - at Lithonia
Oct. 10 - vs. Cedar Grove
Oct. 17 - at Lakeside-DeKalb
Oct. 24 - open
Oct. 31 - vs. Stephenson
Nov. 7 - at Redan
Nov. 14 - vs. Douglass
Evans High School 2003 Football Roster:
# Player, Grade
2 Andrew Robinson, 9
3 Douglas Coley, 9
4 Luis Chavez, 11
5 Tim Steflik, 11
6 Orlando Bradley, 11
7 Allen Ligon, 12
8 Reid Tankersley, 11
9 Chris Pickett, 9
10 Sebastian Hodges, 9
11 Buddy Dymeck, 11
12 Brad Freeman, 11
13 Greg Martin, 10
14 Josh McDaniel, 9
15 William Davis, 12
16 Gabe Corral, 9
17 Brandon Skinner, 9
18 Jeff Mishoe, 10
19 Israel Machovec, 10
20 John Paul Stout, 12
21 Michael Culverhouse, 10
22 Kyle Golden, 9
23 Nathan Smith, 9
24 Ryan Crislip, 11
25 Brandon Savoy, 10
26 Andrew Knight, 9
27 Ben Stapleton, 12
28 Brandon Gray, 9
29 Jacob Gibbs, 9
30 Roddy Witter, 10
31 Dustin Perdue, 12
32 Zack Miller, 10
33 Chang Ho, 11
34 Gabe Greer, 10
35 Sidney Walker, 9
36 Josh Warner, 9
37 Daniel Crawford, 11
38 Ryan Alford, 9
39 Thomas Harrington, 9
40 Tyler Sims, 11
41 Jay Acree, 11
42 Jacob Magneson, 11
43 Marshall Sullivan, 12
44 Steven Hardy, 9
88 Brad Arrington, 10
89 Wes Wuchte, 9
68 Rashawn Vernon, 9
57 Jeff Pritchard, 9
45 Darrell Ketchup, 10
46 Jonathan Amerson, 11
47 Ben Hromyek, 9
48 Chris Dorris, 9
49 Chris Baugh, 10
50 Jake Cartledge, 11
51 Camerson Deborde, 9
52 Josh Holloway, 11
53 Jonathan Scott, 10
54 Jonathan Watts, 11
55 Mike Stephens, 11
56 Tyler Leonard, 10
57 Cliff Hancock, 11
58 Tyler Werrick, 10
59 Jonathan Harnish, 10
60 Nick Parr, 11
62 Jason Douglas, 10
63 Zac Allsup, 11
64 Wes Baxter, 10
65 Luke Warner, 11
66 Chandler Sims, 9
67 Patrick Downs, 10
68 Pat Cullen, 12
70 Andrew Lewis, 12
71 Jimmy Waldron, 10
72 C.J. Wiltz, 12
73 James Archer, 10
74 Bryan Kelley, 11
75 Ben Bianchini, 9
76 Josh Gibbs, 11
77 Chris Powell, 11
78 Robin Jacobs, 12
79 Eric McCarty, 10
80 Matt Stark, 10
81 Clay Etterle, 11
82 Ricky Crawford, 12
83 Jesse Daines, 9
84 Davis Haskins, 10
85 Alex James, 9
86 Will Grooms, 10
87 Ben Dieterich, 9
88 James Mullins, 9
89 Tyler Swain, 9
42 Addie Youngblood, 9
82 Taylor Shellito, 9