In many ways, Apalachee High School head football coach Shane Davis said be believes he is simply the one who directs the ship when it comes to the Wildcat program.
Davis often gives credit to his coaching staff for the work they put in. The head coach is loyal to his assistants and in return, they have shown a tremendous level of loyalty to him.
“At the end of the day I have the title of head coach, but I believe we are just a group who loves the kids and find a way to get the best out of them,” Davis said. “There is no ego in this bunch.”
Several members of the AHS football coaching staff have been with Davis since he arrived at the school five years ago. Turnover has been low, something rare in today’s high school coaching ranks.
Offensive coordinator Joel Miller, who also worked with Davis when the two were assistants at Elbert County, knows the coaches and players have accomplished a great deal by going 10-0 during the regular season.
“To have a 10-0 season is something that I can’t explain,” Miller said. “I am just so proud of our players and coaches for the hard work that they have put in. I was here in Coach Davis’ first year when we were 1-9 and the program has come so far since then. I will always remember this season for all the great games, but also for the relationships that have been formed with these coaches, players and supporters.”
Miller, who is the team’s offensive coordinator said making the playoffs is what you work for all year.
“We are one of the 32 teams competing for a state championship,” Miller said. “We have our work cut out for us beginning in round one with Starr’s Mill, who is a very good football team. However, I have no doubt that our coaches and players will be prepared and I hope we play well enough to get the win and advance on. I look forward to a very large and loud crowd on Friday.”
Matt Sorrells was a holdover from the previous coaching staff whom Davis retained. A Winder native, Sorrells helps guide the players in the trenches on the offensive line.
“This season has been a lot of fun for me, especially from an offensive line perspective,” Sorrells said. “We’ve had a lot of guys step up this season and contribute. We have had 10 different guys start at least one game and 12 total that have seen significant playing time. For these guys to be able to do this is a real testament to their hard work each week.”
The 10-0 season is not lost on defensive coordinator David Wagner.
“Undefeated seasons don’t come along very often,” Wagner said. “This was the first one I have been a part of as a coach in 14 seasons. I would have to go back to my own junior year of high school to find the last one I was apart of. I cannot say enough about what this group of seniors have done in their high school careers with us. They don’t have memories of the days when this school was known as ‘CRAPalachee.’ All they know is ‘playoffs’ and instead of hoping for the post season, this group has changed that to an expectation for the post season. They have been a huge part of the driving force that has molded Apalachee football into what it is today.”
Assistant coach Scott Bates echoes his fellow coaches’ comments and said the success this season can be traced back to the preseason.
“During our coaches retreat, just before school started back, Coach Davis asked us to write down what we thought our record would be at the end of the season. To a person, every coach put down that 10-0 was achievable.”
Bates admits while some may have put down 9-1 or 8-2, each knew if the team played up to its potential then “we were good enough to win all our games.”
“That being said, I think we are all aware of how just rare and special a perfect regular season is,” Bates said. “Having been part of an 0-10 season my first year coaching at another school, it is nice to come full circle.”
The 2009 Wildcat team has talent, but more importantly, has “great kids,” Bates said.
“These guys really deserve to be part of something special,” Bates said. “So many things in their lives aren’t perfect, but now they have something perfect that can never be taken away from them.”
Completing a 10-0 regular campaign is not lost on assistant Ben Highfield.
“Finishing the regular season with a perfect record and capturing the region title is a tremendous accomplishment for the program,” Highfield said. “It’s a reflection of the countless hours of hard work put in by our players and the coaching staff over the past five seasons. Going 10-0 is just surreal. We knew back in 2006, when this groups of seniors were freshmen, they were a very talented group of young men. We felt that if they stayed with it and worked hard, by the time they were seniors they could put Apalachee on the map. They’ve done exactly that.”
The players having the drive and will to set high goals played a role in the Region 8-AAAA title, assistant Tim Laturell said.
“The senior class is a very special group of players,” Laturell said. “I have worked with some of them since their eighth grade year and watching them grow into great football players and great men has been a blessing. Playoffs are nothing new to most of our guys and they know what it takes to win. These guys will set a new goal each week and we are starting a new season at Apalachee and week one is Starr’s Mill. We will be preparing everyday, because we believe we will win.”
For Davis, he takes the approach of allowing his assistants to coach.
“If you are on this coaching staff, you are going to be allowed to do your job,” the head coach said. “I don’t micromanage. I coach a position as well.”
That approach has helped the staff become a solid unit and one that has now arrived to a perfect 10-0 season.
“Finishing 10-0 for the season has been a remarkable experience,” said defensive line coach Julius Hooper. “This season will be a lifetime of memories for our players, school and community.”
Highfield added: “As long as everyone continues to work hard and do their part, then the sky is the limit. It’s an exciting time to be an Apalachee Wildcat.”
While the coaching staff has worked long hours to get this point, each one knows now is not the time to let up.
“Coach Davis regularly points out that our kids really believe they can’t lose, sometimes making all of us coaches a little nervous,” Bates said. “However, we are now entering a phase of the season where most teams feel that way. Only 32 teams are left, and most of them are just as hungry as we. All the coaches and players alike can’t take anything for granted now. We have to continue to prepare for each game with the same intensity and attention to detail as we have all season, if not more.”
Bates also pointed out last year’s region champion — Loganville — lost in the first round at home.
“We think we have the talent and work ethic to advance far into the playoffs, but so does everyone else for the most part,” Bates said.
“I am very proud of our boys,” said running backs/defensive backs coach Mark Moore whose players have performed well throughout the season. “We have worked hard throughout the offseason, and it takes a lot of focus to come out to practice everyday and make sure it is better than the previous day. We are very excited to see what else these boys will accomplish as we start the playoffs.”
