New Team, Same Dream
By Diana Royal Staff Writer

JEREMY BLACKSTOCK Athletic Director/Head Football Coach/Head Baseball Coach Age: 28 Hometown: Augusta, Georgia Family: Wife, Jennifer; Children, Joshua, 5, and Janelle, 2 Flashback: Played defensive back for Maranatha Crusaders in college and wide receiver for Augusta Christian Lions in high school Coaching philosophy: To teach the basic skills of the sport and how those skills teach life principles Favorite thing about game night: Watching kids who have worked hard enjoy themselves on the field Favorite college team: University of Georgia Favorite NFLteam: Atlanta Falcons

They've spent the last three months in the weight room and practiced in the blistering heat. The team has practically been remodeled, complete with a brand new head coach, but one thing remains the same - their dream for a championship.

Will the Edmund Burke Academy Spartans claim a state title in '07?

If one thing is certain, says EBA Head Football Coach/Athletic Director Jeremy Blackstock, the team is better than people give them credit for.

TODD LAYTON Assistant Football Coach/Head Basketball Coach/Health-PE Teacher Age: 35 Hometown: Pelham, Georgia Family: Wife, Stephanie Flashback: Attended Valdosta State University and served as quarterback for the Ravenwood Raiders in high school Coaching philosophy: Give 110 percent Pre-game rituals: Eat a good meal and listen to music Favorite thing about game night: Pep rallies and pregame excitement Best game predictions: Briarwood - evenly matched teams and rivalry

"Even though we are replacing eight starters on each side of the ball, our kids refuse to use that as an excuse," Blackstock says. "They worked hard every minute of every practice to prove people wrong."

Blackstock says his biggest concern is that some people won't be patient with his young team.

"So many times people go by appearances and don't see the heart of these kids and how much they want to succeed," he says. "I want people to support the ones that have chosen to be a part of something special."

JERRY DAVIS Offensive Coordinator/Offensive & Defensive Line Coach/Strength Coach/ Middle School Boys Basketball/Middle School Baseball Age: 42 Hometown: Brunswick, Georgia Family: a grumpy, 10-year-old Border Collie named Belle Flashback: served as center in high school for the Glynn Academy Red Terrors, in college for Southern Methodist College Circuit Riders (also played guard) and for the minor league football team the Lynchburg Jaguars for two years Coaching philosophy: Stick to the basics and hit hard. Best game predictions: Trinity - it will be for the Region title. Off-season activities: Camping and helping run the family pecan farm

For the returning Spartans, last season defined "special" as the team pushed its way into the AA Final Four. EBA finished the season as the Region 2-AA runnersup with an 8-3-1 record. The only two AA schools to defeat the Spartans were Valwood School and Trinity Christian School; both teams went on to compete for the AA state title.

If you ask the players, they want a repeat and then some - most of them have already predicted the best game of the year will be the state championship.

ANNE MARIE RAINES AND KALEA MCDANIEL Team Managers - Juniors Experience: This is Anne Marie's first year and Kalea's second. Pre-game rituals: Eating breakfast with the team at Taylor's Duties: Keeping water bottles full, washing towels and clothes, making sure the guys are well taken care of Dirtiest job: Washing girdles! Favorite thing about game night: Anne Marie - Being able to see what they see and feel the excitement they feel What's it like behind the scenes?: Kalea (laughing) - You really do get to see a side of the guys no one else sees.

They'll look to their team captains, senior Adam Oglesby and juniors Jeremy Hayes and Hamp Wade, for leadership this fall as they compete once again in Region 2-AA against some of the toughest AA schools out there - reigning state champs Trinity and Bulloch Academy, Windsor Academy and Memorial Day School.

But Blackstock has a positive outlook for the games that lie ahead for the Spartans, who he predicts will be more explosive and focused on what needs to be done on the field.

"I think our biggest advantage is that our kids work extremely hard," he says. "Their work ethic alone will cause them to excel in many areas."

COACH'S CORNER:

What's the Spartans' scoring strategy for this season?

To be honest, I don't care how

we score as long as we score.

Because of our ability in the

backfield, we will still do everything

we can to establish a running

game … as a coach I want to

see a 'good' passing game. We

won't throw just to throw - it will

be part of our overall strategy.

What are you doing differently as head coach?

I am doing some things differently

only because I am a different

person with a different personality.

There are some things

we are keeping because some

things just don't need to be fixed.

I am really stressing the team

mentality. Yes, we have our key

players, but we are still a team.

I am also stressing that everything

on the field is a competition.

We are not running a charity.

No matter who you are, you

have to earn everything you're

going to get.