Additions at Grovetown reunite football coach, AD

Rodney Holder and Todd Booker worked together for two years on Terry Holder's football staff at Greenbrier, from 1998-2000.

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The two set up for a reunion last week when Grovetown High School principal Penny Jackson's first hires were confirmed by the Columbia County school board.

Booker will serve as the Warriors' athletic director and defensive coordinator on the football staff. Rodney Holder landed the job as head football coach.

"I think we've put together a great team," Jackson said. "With that comes a lot of -- not just knowledge and athletics -- with both (Holder) and Coach Booker, it's a good network of people from the community."

Holder stepped down as the Wolfpack's head baseball coach after last season, making way for Richmond Academy's Chris Wilkins. Holder said at the time he would apply for Grovetown's open football and AD positions.

Jackson said in the spring that she would consider candidates for both positions.

Holder said he is comfortable heading only the football program, which he said is a year-round job.

"In order to be one of the top programs, you can't take a day off," Holder said. "That responsibility was going to be so big that we felt like this was a best-case scenario."

Booker was head football coach at Hephzibah for three seasons before becoming assistant principal and assistant football coach at Burke County. Hephzibah finished with two winning seasons during Booker's three years as head coach.

Booker's contract at Grovetown will begin in July, but he will be active in the housekeeping duties before then.

Holder wants to hold spring practice in late April or early May. Booker will begin looking for other coaches once the new school's enrollment is determined and the teacher transfer requests are in.

Holder said the Warriors should be able to field a varsity and junior varsity squad. The varsity team will be in Class AAAA, but won't play region games this year. Instead, Holder said he would schedule 10 games pitting the Warriors against the state's other first-year programs.

Coaches settle on All Region squad

The postseason football accolades are in, as decided by Region 3-AAAA coaches.

Evans was well-represented after an undefeated regular season.

Marty Jackson was named Coach of the Year and running back Jonathan Finch was the Offensive Player of the Year. Reuben Faloughi, Nigel Charles and Brandon McCladdie were recognized on defense.

Region 3-AAAA All-Region Football

Offensive Player of the Year:

Jonathan Finch, Evans, running back, Jr.

Defensive Player of the Year:

Lonnie Moore, Glenn Hills, linebacker, Sr.

Special Teams Player of the Year:

Eric Osteen, Richmond Academy, kicker, Sr.

Offense

Quarterback:

Mar-Quon Medlock, Richmond Academy, Jr.

Chad Chandler, Lakeside, Sr.

Running back:

Chris Hunter, Westside, Jr.

Seth Hill, Harlem, Jr.

Antoine Nabors, Hephzibah, Jr.

Offensive line:

Martin Seymore, Lakeside, Sr.

Brian Lamarr, Westside, Sr.

Ethan Gaddy, Westside, Jr.

Victor Moli, Glenn Hills, So.

James Ryan, Glenn Hills, Sr.

Wes Ivie, Evans, Jr.

Receivers:

Brandon Vereen, Richmond Academy, Sr.

Dee Howard, Richmond Academy, Sr.

Pat White, Cross Creek, Sr.

Tight end:

Kevin Davenport, Glenn Hills, Sr.

Matt Menger, Westside, Jr.

All Purpose:

Keenan Grissett, Cross Creek, Sr.

Coach of the Year:

Marty Jackson, Evans

Defense

Defensive line:

D.J. Brook, Richmond Academy, Jr.

Jerico Brown, Glenn Hills, Sr.

Tavarius Washington, Hephzibah, So.

Michael Thomas, Hephzibah, Sr.

Nigel Charles, Evans, Sr.

Linebackers:

Tywain Brown, Josey, Sr.

Bobby Liggins, Hephzibah, Jr.

Darnell Jackson, Evans, Jr.

Edmond Jones, Harlem, Sr.

Allen Marionneaux, Lakeside, Jr.

Reuben Faloughi, Evans, Senior

Defensive backs

Evans Dansby, Richmond Academy, Jr.

Aaron Umansky, Westside, Sr.

Khadi Tshishiku, Lakeside, Jr.

Brandon McCladdie, Evans, Sr.

Terrell Fitts, Glenn Hills, Jr.

Athletes:

Funtes Brown, Butler, Sr.

Collin Bing, Glenn Hills, Sr.

Honorable mention

Glenn Hills:

Jermaine Harris

Mike Clark

Justin Lord

Chris Washington

Hephzibah:

Corey Campbell

Demetrion Washington

C. Owens

Marlon Jones

Blake Bush

Connell Reddick

Lakeside:

David Poole

Michael Paul

Chris Hartfield

Cross Creek:

Sheldon Counts

Terrell Woods

Richmond Academy:

Jontavious Williams

Jerrel Anderson

Don Reed

Harlem:

Zach Morris

Marvon Danzie

Justin Fenwick

Forrest Christian

Dominique Mingo

Westside:

Nick Bowman

Josh Edmund

T.J. Ramsey

Evans:

Troy Griffith

Jamie Galvin

Tevin Nelson

Jamerson Turner