DAVID MUNDEE
Early County head coach Frank Killingsworth doesn’t sugarcoat the type of season it appears to be for his Bobcats in 2024, but also expresses optimism.
“It will be a rebuilding year for us,” Killingworth said of Early County, which opens the season two weeks from Friday at home against Westover of Albany. “We graduated 21 players from last year. I lost a 2,000-yard rusher, lost four of five offensive linemen and lost our quarterback (on offense). On defense, I lost our best defensive lineman.
“I have three starters coming back on defense and have four starters back on defense, so it is a rebuilding year, but the kids are enthusiastic and have been working hard. A lot of the kids got playing time last year in some of the games where we scored a lot of points, so they have some experience. It is not like we are totally green.”
Last year in Killingsworth’s first season as the head coach, Early County finished with an 8-5 record and reached the Class A, Division II quarterfinals, while earning the Region 1-A title.
People are also reading…
Two of the top players from that team – all-state running back Ty Stovall and all-state defensive lineman B’Anthony Wade – graduated and are now playing college ball at Fort Valley State. Stovall rushed for nearly 2,000 yards last year, finishing with 1,955, and earned 24 TDs. He amassed 3,353 yards and 45 touchdowns over three years in his career. Wade delivered 80 tackles with 15 for losses and eight quarterback sacks last season and made 201 tackles over the last three seasons.
“A of tackles, a lot of rushing yards and a lot of momentum changes,” Killingsworth said of what is lost from the two. “That is the biggest thing – momentum changes. We could be down and all of a sudden, one of them makes a big play, everything changes, and the momentum runs to our sideline.”
However, Killingsworth feels the pieces are around to help offset the graduated production of the two, especially on offense where a handful of players return in the backfield.
“It will be more by a committee,” Killingsworth said of the running game, which he feels is the strength of the offense. “We have five or six guys that will play the (running back) positions back there.”
Senior Charles Williams, who rushed for 482 yards and five TDs last year, and senior Eddie Stapleton will split time at fullback. Devonis Lee, a junior, returns at halfback. All three played in all 13 games last season. Sophom*ore Chandler Means, junior Quay Jones and junior Jaylen Mays are others expected to see a lot of action in the backfield.
On the other side of the ball, Killingsworth said Early County will rely on two areas to help fill the void left in the middle by Wade.
“We have Ry’Quavius Cratic (6-foot, 300 pounds) who will play the nose guard, which was what Wade was playing,” Killingsworth said. “Him and Kanye Smith (5-11, 320). They are different kind of kids. They are bigger kids. They are more stoppers.
“We will put fast kids on the end. Jalen Mays, Kanye Cooper and Jazpan Hallman are the ones who we will put out there. Hopefully, between the run stoppers in the middle and those kids that can run out there, we can make up a Wade.”
Early County also has to replace three-year starting quarterback, Ashtyn Grimes.
“The quarterback position is kind of up for grabs right now between Evan Grist and Michael Perry,” Killingsworth said. “Both of them have looked good. We are running some option this year because they are not big kids that can stand back there and throw it, but they are fast.
“We are looking for good things from both. I think they will both get playing time because it (the option) is a physical offense when you run it and it is a great compliment to the Wing-T.”
Grist, Grimes’ cousin, is a junior who saw limited time during the last two seasons. Perry is a sophom*ore. Whoever is not playing quarterback will likely play at wide receiver.
Early County’s three returning starters on offense are Lee (Sr., 5-10, 190) at running back, Cratic (Jr., 6-0, 300) on the offensive line and Jamarion Price (Sr., 6-0, 180) at wide receiver.
The other expected starters on offense are Stapleton at running back, Cooper at tight end along with Mays, Quay Jones, Isaiah Chambliss, Cornell Hayes and Javion Eaford on the offensive line.
Defensively, four starters return – all seniors. Williams (6-0, 215), Stapleton (5-9 210) and Lee are back at linebacker and Price at defensive back.
“Our linebacker area is our strength on defense with Eddie Stapleton, Charles Williams, Jimmyan Jones, Devonis Lee and Chase Harris,” Killingsworth said. “We will play with five linebackers as we play a 3-5 (defensive alignment). All of them can run and all of them have experience.”
Killingsworth said Jimmyan Jones, who returns to the lineup after missing the later part of last season with a knee injury, is a special player. He already has an offer from Sun Belt Conference program, Georgia State.
“He is 6-5 and can run,” Killingsworth said. “He is going to be a good one.”
The Bobcats have to replace last year’s kicker and punter. Killingsworth said sophom*ore Kobe Lingo will handle punting and kickoffs, but no player has been named for extra points and field goals. Jacob McKie, a junior, is the long snapper.
With little returning starting experience back, Killingsworth said how less-experienced players blossom early will be key for the Bobcats, who have three non-region games and an off week before their first region game on Sept. 13.
“We have to grow up very fast,” Killingsworth said. “If we grow up quickly, get a little experienced and get better every week, we will be OK.”
BOBCATS AT A GLANCE
>> Head coach: Frank Killingsworth (2nd year at Early County, 8-5; 13th year overall as a head coach, 72-53)
>> 2023 record: 8-5 overall, 6-0 in Georgia Region 1-A, Class A state quarterfinal round
>> 2023 results: Miller County # (W, 29-15); Seminole County # (W, 33-13); at Schley County (L, 0-30); at Terrell County # (postponed to later date); at Baconton Charter # (W, 45-0); Mitchell County # (W, 34-8); Randolph-Clay # (W, 29-14); at Terrell County (5 p.m.) # (W, 45-22); at Brooks County (L, 6-14); Irwin County (L, 28-31); at Eufaula (Ala.) (L, 24-27). STATE PLAYOFFS: Hawkinsville (W, 42-20); ECI (W, 43-34); at Schley County (L, 24-28)
# Denotes region contests
>> Points scored/per game: 382/29.4
>> Points allowed/per game: 256/19.7
>> Returning offensive starters (3): OL Ry’Quavius Cratic (Jr., 6-0, 300); RB Devonis Lee (Sr., 5-10, 190); WR Jamarion Price (Sr., 6-0, 180).
>> Returning defensive starters (4): LB Charles Williams (Sr., 6-0, 215); LB Eddie Stapleton (Sr., 5-9, 200); OLB Devonis Lee (Sr., 5-9, 180); DB Jamarion Price (Sr., 6-0, 180).
2024 Schedule
Aug. 16 Westover
Aug. 23 at LaGrange
Aug. 30 Off
Sept. 6 Schley County
Sept. 13 at Miller County #
Sept. 20 Terrell County #
Sept. 27 at Seminole County #
Oct. 4 at Randolph-Clay #
Oct. 11 Off
Oct. 18 Pelham #
Oct. 25 at Mitchell County #
Nov. 1 Eufaula (Alabama)
# Denotes region games
0 Comments
'); var s = document.createElement('script'); s.setAttribute('src', 'https://assets.revcontent.com/master/delivery.js'); document.body.appendChild(s); window.removeEventListener('scroll', throttledRevContent); __tnt.log('Load Rev Content'); } } }, 100); window.addEventListener('scroll', throttledRevContent); }
Get in the game with our Prep Sports Newsletter
Sent weekly directly to your inbox!
