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For teams thinking that the defending state 2A champions Gray Collegiate lost their team with the graduation of All-State running back KZ Adams, they need to think again. Yes, the War Eagles lost the state’s top player from the 2022 Class to Georgia State, but this team has the ingredients for another run at a state title.
The War Eagles return six starters on offense, along with six returners on defense, but as with a lot of 2A teams, many will play both ways so they will have a ton of experience on both sides of the football.
On offense, junior quarterback Riley Staton (6’3,190) returns to take the reigns. Staton started the last six games of the 2021 season, completing 50 of 72 passes for 917 yaqrds and 9 touchdowns to just 1 interception. His weapons out wide incluode senior WR Devin JOhnson (5’9, 170) and WR Savion Smith (5’9,170). Protecting him up front will be SCVarsity.com Top 100 player OL Elijah Radden (6’2,285), juniors JT Sowell (6’3, 225), Carson Atkinson (6’2,m 245), and Trey Craig (6’3,220). And while losing Adams was huge, they return two of the best sophomore running backs in the state in Caleb Ford (5’10, 220) and BJ Montgomery (5’9,170) whom they have tagged as “Thunder and LIghtening”.
The guys who will be playing on defense are some of the same guys from offense. Senior LB Jordan Robinson (6’1,200) is back, just playing defense, along with seniors DEvin Johnson at DB, Radden at DL, and Brandon Ivy (6’3,225) at DE. Juniors Sowell (DL), Blake Croft (6’0,195) at DB, Savion Smith (DB) and Trey Craig (DL) are all back.
“We have a good group coming back from our State Championship team,” said head coach Adam Holmes. “We have a good group of Seniors and a really big Junior Class. We will be a little different on Offense this year. We will be able to stretch the field throwing more this year with a good running game. Our Defense is more athletic this year and will be able to run mutiple fronts. We have one goal, a State Championship!”
2022 FOOTBALL SCHEDULE
| AUG 26 | @ CRESTWOOD |
| SEP 3 | @ SOUTH ATLANTA |
| SEP 9 | CAMDEN |
| SEP 16 | EAU CLAIRE ** |
| SEP 23 | MID CAROLINA** |
| OCT 7 | @FAIRFIELD CENTRAL ** |
| OCT 14 | NEWBERRY ** |
| OCT 28 | KEENAN ** |
** INDICATES REGION GAME
