Valley Preps

Manchester looks to build on last year’s success

Jontavious Ferguson is a tight end and a linebacker for Manchester.
Jontavious Ferguson is a tight end and a linebacker for Manchester. mhaskey@ledger-enquirer.com

Quick facts

Coach: Evan Hochstetler, second year; 8-4 at school, 8-4 overall

Assistant coaches: Dwight Hochstetler, Joseph Turner, Tracey Prather, Jason Dothard, Jeff Collins, Chess Owens, Jasper Harvey

2015 record: 8-4, lost in Class 2A second round

Region: GHSA 4-A-A

Breaking down the team

The Good: After an 8-4 season in the first year under coach Evan Hochstetler, Manchester is back for a second straight year with the same coaching staff. There will be consistency in the approach, and that always helps a team maintain its progress.

The Bad: Losing its two biggest weapons in Anthony Bell and Demarcus Addie will definitely have an effect on the Blue Devils. Bell rushed for nearly 1,200 yards and had 67 tackles and two interceptions on defense. Addie had 884 yards receiving and seven interceptions. Those numbers aren’t easily replaced.

Our take: The move from Class 2A to A will likely prove beneficial for Manchester, though the region doesn’t necessarily get that much easier. It will be in a group with Marion County, Brookstone and Pacelli. With all that said, expect Manchester to be one of the early-season favorites to contend for the top of that division in Region 4-A.

Roster

No.

Name

Pos.

Cl.

2

Denizeo Gamble

RB/DB

So

3

Tra Gamble

RB/DB

Sr

4

Tre’Von Stanford

WR/DB

So

5

Tra McGruder

WR/DB

Jr

6

Ashton Bell

WR/DB

Jr

7

Jordan McGlaughlin

WR/DB

Jr

8

Kevin Turner

FB/LB

Jr

9

Khalil Brawner

WR/DB

Jr

11

Jontavious Ferguson

TE/LB

Jr

12

Garrett Brown

QB/DB

Jr

13

Keith Heffermon

QB/DB

Jr

14

Nick Foster

WR/DB

Jr

15

Aspen Williams

WR/DB

Jr

16

Franke Prather Jr.

TE/DE

Sr

19

Bailey Cummings

WR/DB

Sr

24

TJ Mason

TE/DE

Jr

27

DJ Deloach

RB/DB

Sr

30

Qua Mahone

TE/DE

Jr

36

Jylan McCrary

WR/DB

Jr

45

Zach Phillips

TE/DE

Sr

49

Bryce Jones

TE/LB

Jr

50

JT Waller

OL/DL

Jr

51

Danny Marshall

OL/LB

Sr

52

Rashawn Walton

OL/DB

Jr

56

Jamal Scott

OL/LB

Jr

64

Dra Jones

OL/DL

Jr

65

Christian Burson

OL/DL

Sr

66

Joe Hendrixs

OL/DL

So

67

Fabian Dunlap

OL/LB

Jr

69

Makeron Mosely

OL/DL

Jr

75

Darius Jackson

OL/DL

Jr

77

Jaquavious Stargell

OL/DL

Sr

79

Devonta Evans

OL/DL

Sr

2016 schedule

Date

Game

Time

Aug. 19

Greenville

7:30 p.m.

Aug. 26

at Luella

7:30 p.m.

Sept. 2

Southwest-Macon

7:30 p.m.

Sept. 16

Jordan

7:30 p.m.

Sept. 23

at Marion County

7:30 p.m.

Sept. 30

Central-Talbotton

7:30 p.m.

Oct. 7

Pacelli

7:30 p.m.

Oct. 14

at Brookstone

7:30 p.m.

Oct. 28

Region Crossover

TBA

Nov. 4

Region 4-A Play-in

TBA

2015 results

Date

Game

Results

Aug. 29

Charlton County

L, 33-7

Sept. 4

Taylor County

W, 32-27

Sept. 10

Columbus

L, 20-13

Sept. 18

Mitchell County

W, 32-7

Sept. 25

Northeast

W, 40-10

Oct. 2

Bowdon

W, 27-14

Oct. 16

Heard County

L, 35-21

Oct. 23

Bremen

W, 26-20

Oct. 30

Chattahoochee County

W, 45-17

Nov. 6

Temple

W, 41-13

*Nov. 13

Washington-Wilkes

W, 41-14

*Nov. 20

Brooks County

L, 41-26

*Playoffs

This story was originally published August 21, 2016 at 2:55 PM with the headline "Manchester looks to build on last year’s success."

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