Breakout Preview: Peachtree Ridge Lions

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Head Coach Matt Helmerich enters his 2nd year with the Lions. He led them to a 6-5 record in '22, their most wins since 2016, and Peachtree Ridge made the playoffs for only the second time in 7 years. They return a lot of playmakers in 2023. The biggest lost to graduation was '23 Senior Jordan Ghant who led the team in all-purpose yards with 949 and was 3rd on the team in TT with 73.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>On a positive note the Lions return their leading passer in Senior [player_tooltip player_id='1197755' first='Joshua' last='Evans'] who was also 3rd on the team in rushing last season. They should be solid on defense returning 2 of their top 3 tackle leaders from '22. Seniors Darius Wallace and Taysean Wilson combined for 158 TT with 23 TFL.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>2023 Schedule</em></strong> (* Region Game)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>8/18 Home vs Seckinger</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>8/25 Home vs Lanier</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>9/1 Away at Loganville</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>9/8 Away at Winder-Barrow</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>9/15 Away at Berkmar *</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>9/22 Home vs Meadowcreek*</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>10/13 Away at North Gwinnett*</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>10/20 Home vs Discovery*</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>10/27 Away at Norcross*</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>11/3 Home vs Duluth*</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Schedule Analysis</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>North Gwinnett and Norcross are tough games no matter who you are. The games to circle are Meadowcreek, Discovery, and Duluth. The Lions lost to Meadowcreek last season (42-19) and beat Discovery and Duluth by a combined 4 points to finish with a 3-3 Region record and the 4th seed for the playoffs. They get Meadowcreek at home 9/22 and a win would give them momentum going into the 2nd half of the season to play for a potential playoff spot if not a possible home playoff game. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>A Closer Look at the Top Returning Players</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"[player_tooltip player_id='1197755' first='Joshua' last='Evans']","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2024","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"6'1u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"2409","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Peachtree Ridge","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"The 6'1 Senior dual threat QB accounted for 1218 total yards last season with 8 TDs. Had an outstanding Spring game throwing for 3 TDs and 250 yards vs Kell in 2 Quarters.  The left-handed QB is confident in the pocket and is quick decision maker. Has a good throwing motion and gets the ball downfield with ease. Accurate. Has the athletic ability to get positive yardage with his legs if the play breaks down. On the football side he has received an offer to play QB at D2 Shorter U. but his bread and butter is baseball. The #1 ranked LHP in the State is a baseball commit to UGA.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-64d2a16c5049a"} /--> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/joshevans_Qb1/status/1660025946303262721","type":"rich","providerNameSlug":"twitter","responsive":true} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/joshevans_Qb1/status/1660025946303262721 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Josh Brown","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2024","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"6'1u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"2411","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Peachtree Ridge","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"Athletic 6'1 Safety for the Lions. Picked up an Official offer from Eastern Kentucky after August 1st. Good strong build with speed. Good in 1v1 coverage. Jams the receivers at the line of scrimmage and keeps hips turned in proper position. Hard tackler that can comes up in run support with speed and purpose. Had 73 TT last season from the safety position. Multisport athlete that is also a very good baseball player.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-64d2a16c5056c"} /--> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/josh_brownapt/status/1624496246231650304","type":"rich","providerNameSlug":"twitter","responsive":true} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/josh_brownapt/status/1624496246231650304 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Darrius Wallace","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2024","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"6'3u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"2496","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Peachtee Ridge","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"6'3 220 DE/LB is a tackling machine. Had 81 TT last year including 17 TFL and 7.5 sacks and forced 3 fumbles. Has the speed and strength to fight through blockers, many times fighting through double teams. Good nose for the football and a sure tackler. Picked up interest from several programs over the Summer including Syracuse, Western Kentucky and Tennesse Martin among others. Plays power forward on the basketball team. Definitely a stock riser that will be a good one to watch this Fall.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-64d2a16c505f9"} /--> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/TheJuiceOnline/status/1658427408930750465","type":"rich","providerNameSlug":"twitter","responsive":true} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/TheJuiceOnline/status/1658427408930750465 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["401493"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"One of the top DB prospects in the 2026 Class in the State. Great instincts that tracks the ball well with his eyes. Has the speed and recognition to makes plays on balls that aren't directly thrown at him. He had 5 INTs this summer at the Ga Tech 7v7 competition against some of the more u0022seasonedu0022 QBs in the State. He is already a name on all P5 recruiting boards and with a productive 2023 campaign he will be a name to watch next Spring in the recruiting world.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-64d2a16c50652"} /--> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/1dorianbarney/status/1678463648505667597","type":"rich","providerNameSlug":"twitter","responsive":true} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/1dorianbarney/status/1678463648505667597 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Other Players to Watch</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Tyeion Cofied:</em></strong> The rising Junior is the returning yards receiving leader for the Lions in '23. Had 13 receptions for 206 yards in '22.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Taysean "Tay" Wilson: </em></strong> 6'0 LB that plays bigger than his size. Had 77 TT last season with 6 TFL.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>[player_tooltip player_id='334942' first='Myles' last='Abernathy']:</em></strong> Another returning WR that will be counting on heavily in 2023. The returning reception leader with 16 catches last season. The 6'3 senior was a 2nd team All Region selection in '22 and will be a big part of the Lions passing game this Fall. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->