CHULA — Tiftarea Academy wrapped up the first half of their summer offseason work last week. After a holiday break, the season gets ever-closer with only three weeks of July to go before the 2023 campaign kicks off in August.
“So far, it’s been productive,” said head coach Erik Soliday of their initial summer drills. “Right after the 4th (of July) kind of leads you into the season.”
That season is a month away. For those anxious to see the Panthers against another team, they have set their scrimmage against Southwest Georgia Academy. Alas, that scrimmage will be in Damascus — SGA came here a year ago — meaning a nearly two-hour trip.
The Panthers have that excursion, but to Soliday’s delight, they miss out on another. Bulloch Academy will be in Chula this year, sparing Tiftarea a brutal bus ride to Statesboro. The Panthers will also travel to Frederica Academy, though that trip is much more straightforward. After they get on US 82 in Tifton, they won’t have to turn again until making a right after crossing the big bridge to Brunswick.
Bulloch will be the regular season opener on Aug. 18. The Gators were 3-7 a year ago, with Tiftarea as one of those victories. Like the Panthers, they were involved in a number of high scoring games, only once holding an opponent under 20: a 42-0 victory over public Savannah High School.
June is the busiest of the summer months for Georgia high school football teams, with its slate of practices, camps, 7-on-7s and organized team activities, many of them far out of town.
Tiftarea was able to get a few 7-on-7s before the break. “Between the rains,” said Soliday. They played Irwin County, but were rained out of Randolph-Clay and Schley County.
They also went up to Athens for a University of Georgia 7-on-7 and lineman camp.
“I think we sent a good group up there,” he said. “We got a lot out of it.”
Soliday said they have workouts at Turner County and at Irwin in mid-July.
“Our experience level is pretty decent,” said Soliday of the crew returning to the gridiron for 2023.
Though most of the Panthers were young in 2022, Soliday must replace several key members of the squad. Among the biggest names to graduate were Kam Brown, Cubbie Crosson, Hershel Moore and Matthew Malone.
Unfortunately for last year, but fortunately for this one, the Panthers will have experience at quarterback and in the kicking department. Both Crosson and Malone missed time at those positions a year ago, allowing J.R. Walker and John Jackson valuable time.
Walker threw for 885 yards in a handful of appearances with nine touchdowns. Jackson, the Panthers’ leading receiver at 700 yards and nine touchdowns, kicked a pair of extra points. Soliday said Jackson will punt and placekick this year.
“He’s coming in with a half a year of experience, which is good,” said Soliday of Walker.
Brown will be the most difficult replacement. Though he was one of the smallest players on the roster, Brown rushed at an average of 5.7 yards per carry. Brown was nearly single-handedly responsible for Tiftarea’s win over Valwood, figuring into five of their six touchdowns.
Lane Cole and Eli Stevens figure to be the primary backs. Walker is quite mobile and ended up being their leading rusher despite beginning the season primarily as Crosson’s backup.
Jackson has gotten much bigger and stronger in the offseason, Soliday said, words he applied to several other players. The weight room is where it pays off, joining size and with technique and the experience they earned during last year.