Chapel Hill stood out among the county crowd as the only team to make the state playoffs. They were able to accomplish this despite losing their best players to graduation last year and also their coach. In stepped Geoff Pastrick, and coach from McEachern High School who looked to bring that winning tradition to the Panthers.
The season did not start off well for CHHS. The team struggled out of the gate, losing two of their first three games, including a blowout to county rival Douglas County High School.
However, something clicked in the fourth game and all of a sudden the Panthers just got it, going on a four game winning streak against all region 4-AAA foes.
“We came into the season with a new offensive and defensive scheme and had a lot of pieces to put together in the puzzle,” Pastrick said. “We continued to work hard and started putting the pieces together by the middle of the season.”
During the streak, Chapel Hill first took down Douglass, then BEST Academy. They followed that up with victories over Haralson and Central-Carroll, the latter cliched a home field game in the state playoffs.
“Everyone wants to make the playoffs,” Pastrick said. “Football is big in the south and Chapel Hill has had some success in the past but had not made the playoffs in three years. It was big for the boys and this school.”
Chapel Hill lost their final regular season game, perhaps looking ahead at State, which gave them a 5-5 overall record and a 5-2 region record.
Throughout the season, the Panthers were led by running back Tre Mitchell, who amassed over 1,500 yards. He had a 200-yard game against Osborne in the opener and then a 300-yard game against region opponent Rockmart.
Chapel Hill looked to ride Mitchell again in the playoffs and he did not disappoint. The running back picked up his third 200-plus yard game of the season, but the Panthers struggled to score and Johnson-Savannah came away with a 32-23 victory to end the county football season.
Despite the loss, Chapel Hill had a great season, and for that they have been named the 2012 Douglas County Sentinel All-County Football Team of the Year. For his leadership ability and performance as a first year head coach, Pastrick takes home the DCS All-County Coach of the Year honor.
“It all comes down to the kids,” Pastrick said when notified that he had received the award. “It is a great honor but I am more happy for the kids. This is a team award as well. The staff and kids deserve it.”
Mitchell, by far was the most talented kid on the field in 2012. For his performance, which included a county high 1,844 rushing yards and 18 touchdowns, he is named the DCS All-County Player of the Year.
“Tre in my book, is the best running back I have been around and I have seen some good ones at McEachern,” Pastrick said. “He is a great back because of the work he puts in. He works his tail of in the weight room and does the running. It is awesome for the young kids to see how hard he works. The sky is the limit for him.”
Mitchell isn’t the only standout in the county this season. Douglas County quarterback Ellis Richardson also put up some numbers for his 2-8 Tiger team. The record for DC is not as bad as it seems.
The Tigers made vast improvements as the season went along, losing two games close at the end, 21-13 to Newnan, and 38-33 against East Coweta. Richardson’s skills at QB also improved as the season progressed as he ended up with 1,610 yards passing, 485 yards rushing, and 16 touchdowns.
“He is a talented kid that God richly blessed,” said DC coach Jason Respert. “He was able to settle into his identity and improve along with the team. He took a new playbook and incorporated it well into his game.”
For his play, Richardson is named the DCS All-County Offensive Player of the Year.
On the other side of the ball, one player was a man among boys on the gridiron. Over the past two seasons, Joseph Ross of Lithia Springs has posted over 200 tackles. This year alone he had 119. He was the only player over 100. He also had five forced fumbles, three fumble recoveries, seven sacks, and a county leading 36 tackles for a loss. No other player in the county had more than 19 tackles for a loss.
“What can I say about this kid that I haven’t already said,” said LSHS coach Scott Dean. “He was certainly a team leader on the field and off. You will be hard pressed to find a situation where he did not give it his all.”
For Dean, it was also nice to have a kid that could play nearly all of every game despite injuries, which plagued the Lions this season.
“Many people don’t know that there were at least three games where we did not think he would play but he did anyways,” Dean said. “He played those three games on a bum ankle. His time here has reflected well on Lithia Springs High School as a whole, and he represents all of us.”
There were many more outstanding talents to make the DCS All-County First Team and Second Team in 2012. Every single school was represented by multiple individuals on the list. Provided is the list of names that made the All-County First Team, Second Team, and Honorable Mention list.
FOOTBALL ALL-COUNTY TEAM
Team of the Year
Chapel Hill
Coach of the Year
Geoff Pastrick
Offensive Player of the Year
Ellis Richardson
Defensive Player of the Year
Joseph Ross
Player of the Year
Tre Mitchell
FIRST TEAM OFFENSE
Quarterback
Ellis Richardson (DCHS)
Running Back
Tre Mitchell (CHHS)
Avonte Boyd (LSHS)
Wide Receiver
Anthony Graves (DCHS)
Tabashi Thomas (NMHS)
Ramon Ogando (LSHS)
Tight End
Brandon Walton (AHS)
Offensive Line
Josh Turner (AHS)
Quinzavious Sands (DCHS)
Skyler Thomason (CHHS)
Josh Liebbrand (AHS)
SECOND TEAM OFFENSE
Quarterback
Brian Dansereau (AHS)
Running Back
Anthony Garner (DCHS)
Mikell Lands (AHS)
Wide Receiver
Jacob Harris (AHS)
Jacob Battle (NMHS)
Tight End
Danny Williams (CHHS)
Offensive Line
Collin Giesey (AHS)
Cameron Carder (AHS)
Cody Gruey (CHHS)
Rashard Leonard (LSHS)
FIRST TEAM DEFENSE
Defensive Line
Julian Morgan (LSHS)
Kreg Jenkins (NMHS)
Tony Watkins (LSHS)
Daryl George (CHHS)
Linebacker
Joseph Ross (LSHS)
Mundarius Wright (NMHS)
Marquise Bedford (CHHS)
Jeffrey McMichael (DCHS)
Safety/Corner
Shandon Hart (LSHS)
Jalen Dixon (AHS)
Derrick White (LSHS)
SECOND TEAM DEFENSE
Defensive Line
Josiah Coatney (CHHS)
Deon Evans (AHS)
Archie Humphrey (AHS)
Collin Giesey (AHS)
Linebacker
DeAndre Sims (AHS)
Taylor Schartle (AHS)
Jabarrie Lee (DCHS)
Jovan Citizen (CHHS)
Safety/Corner
Germaine Burroughs (DCHS)
Tre Owens-Foster (CHHS)
Brian Dansereau (AHS)
FIRST TEAM SPECIAL TEAMS
Kicker
Juan Serna (DCHS)
Kick/Punt Returner
Mikell Lands (AHS)
SECOND TEAM SPECIAL TEAMS
Kicker/Punter
Brian Dansereau 32.1 punt yard average
Kick/Punt Returner
LAvonte Boyd
HONORABLE MENTIONS
Sammy Cornelius, Zach Kidd, Jack Dow, Travon Powell, Kalil Talps, (LSHS); Terrell Gibson (DCHS); Paul McGregor, Austin Morris, Leundre Agee, Evan Wood (AHS); Rico Flemister, Brandon Brooks, Aaron Jeffries, Akil Shaw, Brett Roberts (CHHS); Malik Thomas (NMHS)
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