Classic City Championship: three things to know
The Cedar Shoals Jaguars will kick-off their 2022 season against their crosstown rival, the Clarke Central Gladiators, on Thurs. Aug. 18 at 7 p.m. This year’s matchup will be the 56th edition of the Classic City Championship, one of the most anticipated annual games in the Athens area. For the past three years, the Gladiators have gotten the best of the Jags, but like most rivalry games, this matchup could go either way. Here are three things to know ahead of Thursday’s matchup.
Cedar on the road
The game will be hosted at Central for the second year in a row, returning the favor to Cedar after Clarke Central’s artificial turf installation. Notorious for its tough environment, Billy Henderson Stadium is ranked 6th on Athens Banner Herald’s list for toughest home stadiums to play in, with Central having a 40-17 (70.2%) game record over the past decade. The season opener for both teams, the game will also be one of two non-region games this season for Cedar Shoals.
After Central moved out of Cedar’s region in 2020, this game has become more of a progress check for Cedar Shoals Head Coach Leroy Ryals.
“My expectation will be different than everyone else’s, because I want to see the team’s improvement,” Ryals said. “I know it’s big to the kids in the schools, but apart from me, I want to see how we play against good competition.”
Key Players
Cedar Shoals
Cedar quarterback Mandrell Glenn will be looking to start his final season as a Jag with a bang. The senior is expected to be the starting quarterback for Cedar.
Junior wide receiver and return specialist Devin Hester is likely to step up to be Cedar’s number one receiver this season, being named to the “Terrific 20” by the Athens Banner Herald along with defensive back Toby Bolton, who committed to Tennessee Tech, a Division I school, back in mid-summer. Bolton has been a key defensive player for the Jags, racking up 34 total tackles last season.
Junior Dewan Foote totaled 41 tackles last season, a dangerous threat on the defensive line. Paired with fellow junior Jose Balver, defensive and offensive lineman, Cedar’s run defense could be much improved this season. Kicker/punter Michael Hermitano will also be a point of interest, ranked third in the region for points after touchdowns made in 2021. Elsewhere, expect explosive plays from the likes of Kayden Scott (junior, RB/DB), Anthony Hubbard (junior, QB), and Damir Pittard (senior, LB).
Clarke Central
Coming off of their first 10-plus win season since 2011, the Gladiators’ roster is still mostly intact after reaching the quarterfinals of the 5-A state tournament last season. Leadership will be one of Central’s strengths: a majority of key players are seniors.
Dual-threat quarterback senior Lucian Anderson III is a strong part of both the running game and passing game.
“He can run the ball well, he can pass the ball well, so we’re going to be able to lineup and play base fundamental defense,” Ryals said.
The rushing attack will be powered by running back Jadayvion Adkins, likely getting his shot as the everyday starting running back.
The Glads will also bring back two of the best defenders in the Athens area for their final seasons. Defensive end Dailen Howard averaged just under a sack a game last season, and cornerback Malachi McNeill makes quarterbacks think twice before passing a ball in his direction.
A “Terrific 20” selection, Howard obtained 11 sacks and seven quarterback hurries last season, and he will be a major factor in pressuring Cedar’s offense.
“They’re pretty good on defense, especially the defensive front, but all that comes down to is pass protection,” Ryals said.
Also on the defensive front, senior Jaylon Stone will line up at defensive tackle after 76 tackles last season. Look for him to line up against Balver.
Another “Terrific 20” selection, McNeill picked up six interceptions last season. McNeill and Hester will likely go head-to-head throughout the game, providing an exciting matchup.
Adkins averaged 50 rushing yards per game last season, and 4.8 yards per carry, a major part of Central’s revolving door of running backs last year.
Then there’s dual-threat quarterback Anderson, with 75.7 yards per game and 984 passing yards in total in 2021. Anderson also picked up 279 rushing yards over the course of 13 games for the Gladiators.
Who has the edge? How the teams stack up
Cedar offense vs. Central defense
Cedar threw for 196 yards against Central last year, their second highest total of the season. Glenn accounted for 49% of those yards, with junior Anthony Hubbard gaining most of the rest. The Jags struggled with the run last year, only obtaining 33 yards as a team against Central. This may be a point of concern with the departure of running back Jerdavian Colbert, who led the Jaguars in rushing yards the past three seasons. With Colbert gone, someone will have to step up and fill in the gap. Current running backs on the roster include sophomore Taiwan Green and Scott.
Like Cedar, Central lost some stars to graduation like linebacker Javion Davenport, who had an impressive 76 total tackles last season including 5 against the Jags. Even with Davenport gone, players like Stone can still cause disruptions in the offensive front.
Cedar defense vs. Central offense
One of the biggest questions headed into this game is how Cedar will respond to Central’s rushing attack. In last year’s matchup, Central ran for 160 yards, scoring four touchdowns in the process. However, Central’s leading rusher in 2021 William Richardson graduated last year, but you can never rule out Anderson at quarterback. Keeping Anderson in the pocket while applying pressure will be one of the most important challenges. The Jags will also have to settle in with new defensive coordinator Stanley Lattimore, a graduate from Cedar Shoals and former player himself.
Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. Thursday night at Billy Henderson Stadium at Clarke Central. Tickets are on sale via Gofan, and fans who wish to stay at home can tune in through an NFHS Network subscription.
