Bulldogs looking for big victories
There's one thing you can certainly say about Harlem High School football coach Jimmie Lewis - he's not shy about setting high standards.
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Lewis has set specific goals for his team this season, and they are written prominently on a board inside Harlem's football field house.
The item atop the list is no secret: Make the state playoffs.
Some of the other goals are more ambitious, and are best left unsaid, at least until they are achieved.
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But here's a hint - Lewis isn't intimidated by the strongest teams in Region 3-AAA. He believes that the Bulldogs can compete with the likes of Washington County and Westside, and that hasn't always been the case.
Harlem's roster was down to 19 varsity players in 1996, and the next season the Dogs had an 0-10 record.
Harlem's team hits the field to run drills. The Bulldogs must pull off a couple of big region upsets for home-field playoff advantage.
Photo by Jim Blaylock
Things have turned around, and Lewis is loving every minute of it.
"When you start winning a little bit everyone wants to come out and jump on the bandwagon," Lewis said of the excitement spawned by Harlem's football resurgence, which included trips to the Class AAA state playoffs in 2000 and 2001.
Last year Harlem posted a 5-5 record. In the recent past, that would have been cause for celebration, but seeing the playoff string snapped was enough to make Lewis a little angry.
"Due to injuries and other things beyond our control, our playoff opportunity slipped away," he said. "The season was really disappointing to me."
Now, as Harlem prepares for the season opener Aug. 29 against Aquinas, Lewis is using that disappointment to fuel the Dogs' desire.
That's why "Finish the job" is Harlem's team slogan in 2003.
"Our goal is to make the state playoffs and try to play here," Lewis said.
To secure a state playoff game at Harlem, the Dogs have to finish no worse than second in Region 3-AAA.
Translation: Harlem has to beat the region opponents its supposed to, and the Dogs have to whip either Westside or Washington County - or both.
If Harlem pulls that off, Lewis would be the happiest man in Columbia County.
Still, achieving any team goals comes down to individual performances, and that's where the Dogs take over.
Donny DeMore (punter) and David Dye (placekicker) will handle special-team duties.
Harlem's offensive line looks solid, with senior starters Dye, Robert Jones, Foster Moore, Jordan Whitaker and Mike Waldoch returning. Waldoch will be a key defender also. He stepped in at linebacker last season and played well when defensive leader Josh Wilmoth was injured.
In addition to punting, DeMore will play defensive back and will see plenty of action at the A-back position on offense. Chris Newsome is at fullback, but the key to Harlem's triple-option attack is quarterback Tim Camp.
Harlem head coach Jimmie Lewis is trying to help his team shake off a disappointing 2002 season to make the playoffs this year.
Photo by Jim Blaylock
The senior is one of the strongest and fasters players on the squad, and although quarterback is a new position for him, Camp has been impressive during preseason practices.
Though Camp is confident about his prospects at playcaller, he prefers to focus on the big picture.
"All of the seniors have set goals for this season," Camp said. "We all want to have a winning season and go to the state playoffs."
2002 game results
Overall record: 5-5
W at Aquinas, 24-0
L vs. Elbert County, 27-20
W at Greene County, 20-12
W vs. Warren County, 22-0
L at Washington County, 40-10
W vs. Josey, 20-14 (OT)
W at Richmond Academy, 35-14
L vs. Jefferson County, 12-0
L vs. Westside, 29-22
L at Laney, 34-7
2003 schedule
Aug. 29 - vs. Aquinas
Sept. 5 - at Elbert County
Sept. 12 - vs. Greene County
Sept. 19 - at Warren County
Sept. 26 - open
Oct. 3 - vs. Washington County
Oct. 10 - at Josey
Oct. 17 - vs. Richmond Academy
Oct. 24 - at Jefferson County
Oct. 31 - open
Nov. 7 - at Westside (ARC Stadium)
Nov. 14 - vs. Laney
Harlem High School Football Roster
# Player, Grade
3 Donny Demore, 12
5 Ben Hill, 12
6 Chris Page, 9
7 Chris Chavous, 9
8 Tim Camp, 12
10 Kenny Stampley, 9
11 Dominic Abrams, 9
14 C.J. Baldwin, 9
15 Zack Becker, 12
16 Theo Miller, 11
17 Alex Curiel, 9
19 Jonathan Norman, 9
20 Renard Wright, 11
21 Travis Perry, 10
22 Ryan Hatchett, 11
23 Randal Nowill, 12
24 Barry St. John, 9
25 Edward Richardson, 10
27 Mark Hanna, 11
28 Alex Hintz, 9
30 Ricky Benning, 11
31 Jacob Hutchings, 11
32 Melvin Johnson, 11
33 David Scruggs, 11
34 Sean Ledoux, 10
35 Jordan Yates, 10
37 Lavenskie Harris, 9
40 Vincent Ovalle, 9
41 Kenny Anderson, 9
43 Jason Smith, 9
44 Chris Newsome, 11
45 Caleb Cosby, 9
47 Easi Hatchett, 9
48 Tyler Croutharmel, 10
50 Robert Jones, 12
51 C.J. Hampton, 11
52 David Dye, 12
53 James Gagner, 10
55 Paul Grimes, 12
56 Mike Waldoch, 12
57 Mike White, 10
58 Stanley McIntire, 11
60 Maurice Williams, 9
61 Foster Moore, 12
62 Troy Moore, 10
63 Chip Dowdy, 9
64 Jonathan Jones, 9
65 Byron White, 9
66 A.J. Ortiz, 9
67 Adam Oliverie, 11
68 Eric Luke, 9
70 Steven Jankus, 9
71 Nick Blankenbeckler, 11
72 Aaron Holland, 11
73 Brandon Ramsey, 10
75 Jordan Whitaker, 12
76 Matt Pitchford, 9
77 Antonio Bell, 9
79 Brandon Bennett, 10
80 Patrick Mott, 12
81 Josh Thomas, 9
82 Derrick Villeza, 10
83 Steven Galloway, 11
84 Bo Inglett, 9
86 Robbie Perkins, 11
87 Lee Crews, 9
88 Andy Cottingham, 9
89 Cedric Howard, 9
90 Elston Steele, 9