Corky Kell Classic Preview: Carver (Atlanta) at Cherokee
Carver (Atlanta) at Cherokee When: Wednesday, September 2 Where: Tommy Baker Field, Cherokee High School Kickoff: 5:30 p.m. On television: WPCH-TV Peachtree T.V. On the radio: WLJA 101.1 FM Key players: Cherokee: QB A.J. Swann A.J. Swann 6'3" | 200…
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Continue ReadingCarver (Atlanta) at Cherokee
When: Wednesday, September 2
Where: Tommy Baker Field, Cherokee High School
Kickoff: 5:30 p.m.
On television: WPCH-TV Peachtree T.V.
On the radio: WLJA 101.1 FM
Key players:
Cherokee: QB A.J. Swann A.J. Swann 6'3" | 200 lbs | QB Cherokee | 2022 State GA , RB Keith Adams Jr. Keith Adams Jr. 5'10" | 195 lbs | RB Cherokee | 2022 State GA ., LB Braesen Parker, WR Adarrius Harshaw Adarrius Harshaw 5'9" | 155 lbs | WR Cherokee | 2022 State GA , OL Nason Simmons, DL Toby Thompson, DB Riley Lyons, WR Brady Bocherer, DB Austin Trimble
Carver: ATH Kiontae Strozier, RB Jarveous Brown, CB Tobias Fletcher, LB
Dialo Mosley
Dialo
Mosley
6'1" | 193 lbs | LB
Carver | 2022
State
GA
, LB Devonte Amasiani, ATH Bobby Sims Jr., WR Quintavious Davis, WR Deandre Buchannon
Preview: An offseason of turmoil and uncertainty will come to a conclusion this week as high school football officially returns in the state of Georgia.
The first game of the annual Corky Kell Classic — and the first game in the state for the 2020 season — will feature two teams which have never played each other, each with high hopes for the new year.
Carver (Atlanta) will travel to Cherokee on Wednesday to take on the Warriors at Tommy Baker Field. Both teams were in the state playoffs in 2019 with the Warriors advancing to the second round. Attendance will be limited in accordance with COVID-19 protocols, however, the televised game will undoubtedly garner attention from around the state from football-starved fans.
Cherokee is coming off consecutive playoff appearances and its best season (8-4) in over a decade. Optimism surrounding the program is high with a number of key players returning for the Warriors. The junior offensive trio of quarterback A.J. Swann A.J. Swann 6'3" | 200 lbs | QB Cherokee | 2022 State GA , running back Keith Adams Jr. Keith Adams Jr. 5'10" | 195 lbs | RB Cherokee | 2022 State GA . and wide receiver Addarrius Harshaw are all returning first-team All-County selections and should be the linchpins of an offense that averaged 24 points a game last year. Swann holds an offer from Troy and interest from a number of Power 5 teams. Adams Jr. holds an offer from Middle Tennesee State and Harshaw will likely draw offers during this recruitment cycle.
Senior linebacker Braesen Parker (2021) set a program single-season record for tackles in 2019 and holds offers from a number of Division III programs including Berry, Dickinson College, Sewanee. Defensive lineman Toby Thompson (6’4″ and 230 pounds) could see a bump in his recruitment as well as he begins his junior season.
Carver — only three years removed from a state semifinal appearance — is coming off a 7-4 campaign and its eighth consecutive playoff appearance. The Panthers will need to replace All-State running back Jo’Quavious Marks, who signed with Mississippi State after an outstanding career, along with quarterback Amari Jones who transferred to Valdosta in the offseason. Despite the attrition. there is no shortage of returning playmakers on the Panthers’ roster.
Kiontae Strozier (2022 ATH) was second on the team in total yards last year and seems the likely candidate to take snaps behind center after splitting time with Jones in 2019. Strozier should be joined in the backfield by Jarveous Brown (2022) and Bobby Sims Jr. (2021) who combined for 688 rushing yards and seven touchdowns last season. On the outside, look for Quintavious Davis and Deandre Buchannon to be the primary weapons for Carver and the keys to the Panthers’ deep-play ability. Buchannon (2023) turned heads during the summer camp circuit and could break out this fall as a sophomore.
On the defensive side of the ball, Carver returns several experienced players with college offers. Tobias Fletcher — a three-star cornerback who is committed to Coastal Carolina — should help lead the secondary while linebackers Devonte Amasiani (2021) and Dialo Mosley Dialo Mosley 6'1" | 193 lbs | LB Carver | 2022 State GA (2022) continue to draw attention from college coaches. Amasiani recently received his first Division I FBS offer from Akron while Mosley drew attention during the summer camp circuit and could be poised for a breakout junior campaign.
Prediction: Cherokee 28, Carver 20