NFC
Pro Bowl Sting
By: Colin Lacy
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
The NFL world flocked to Orlando last weekend to watch the game’s best in the 2025 Pro Bowl Games. The “game’s best” applies in a couple of different scenarios.
The obvious is that of Jared Goff, Fred Warner and Bijan Robinson, some of the best in the NFL, but also applies to the names Jaci Kitchings and Jadyn Williams.
Jaci and Jadyn are two seniors that wrapped up their careers at Southeast Bulloch with the school’s fourth consecutive state championship back in December but represented the NFC squad in the first NFL Girls Flag All-Star Game.
The inaugural event put on by the NFL saw thirty high school girls from all over the country (even two from Alaska) which included the two SEB Yellow Jackets competing in a flag football All-Star game to kick off the festivities on Sunday at the 2025 NFL Pro Bowl Games.
The NFL rolled out the red carpet for the Girls Flag Football All-Star Game participants including Kitchings and Williams.
The two Jacket players were flown down to Orlando on Friday before the Sunday afternoon game and not only got gear for the event, but the opportunity to take in some of the local attractions in Orlando and events with the NFL Pro Bowl players.
“They have had the best experience,” said SEB Head Flag Football Coach Marci Cochran. “What a great event by the NFL and I’m super excited they both got to participate.”
Jaci and Jadyn found out that they were named to the thirty-girl roster just before the semifinals of the GHSA state tournament and were ecstatic to get the news but had unfinished business to take care of.
They would find themselves in familiar ground on the stage in Atlanta after an overtime thriller having won their fourth consecutive state championship and capping off an 82-1 record in their SEB careers.
Southeast Bulloch Flag Football burst on the scene in 2021 when the program began (when Kitchings and Williams were freshmen) and have won the state championship each of the first four years of the program’s existence and winning 82 out of 83 games played in program history. The lone loss in program history came this year against the private school sector in Calvary Day out of Savannah.
I got to catch up with SEB Head Coach Marci Cochran as she watched Jadyn and Jaci play in the All-Star game in Orlando and looking back on the last four years she said “After starting four years ago and lost our first game this year which was devastating but in the long run it helped us win another state title. Four in a row which is more than any other team in the state of Georgia. We’re super excited about the growth of our program and adding a middle school program last year which helped us too.”
Coach Cochran has seen every snap that both Jadyn and Jaci have taken in their flag football careers and have become not only trendsetters on the national level at the Pro Bowl Games but also helped set the fantastic foundation of the SEB program.
“They’re the first seniors that have completed all four years, so they’re very special to us and we hate to be losing them,” Cochran said holding back tears. “Jaci has grown so much. Her development and dedication are awesome. Jadyn was always a really good player, but to watch her learn the game and understand the game is fun and to watch both of them grow from freshmen to seniors is really impressive.”
The NFL has made a concerted effort from the NFL League Office all the way down to the different teams investing in the sport of flag football at all levels, but especially at the high school level.
“For the sport as a whole, the Falcons itself sponsor a team in Alabama and there’s a couple other states that they’re starting to dive into to be able to start flag football there,” said Cochran. “Just the money and support they give for all these schools to be able to provide a flag football program without it having to come out of their own pocket is huge. It’s expensive to start a new sport, so their involvement in flag football has been awesome.”
While Kitchings and Williams will get to do it one more time as SEB heads to Canton, Ohio for the National Flag Football High School Tournament, the experience at the NFL Pro Bowl Games really put a nice bow on a historic career for these two and would have been hard to believe a couple years ago said Coach Cochran.
“To see them get to play down here (in Orlando) and see this opportunity. To be in this stadium, to have the game broadcasted on ESPN even with the Goodyear Blimp. Who would have ever thought that four years ago? So, it’s really special to be down here with them.”
The GOAT
By: Michael Spiers
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
Legendary Camden County High School football coach Jeff Herron may have hung his whistle up for good at the end of the 2023 season, but those that know this man like I do understand that he has never been one to stand on life’s sideline.
Coach Herron is the living embodiment of “Team First”, but all of us that call Camden home are thrilled to see him get the individual honors that he so justly deserves.
This week the National High School Football Hall of Fame announced that it will induct Jeff Herron into its newest class.
Coach Herron roamed the sideline for 32 years as the head man at high schools in Georgia and South Carolina, compiling an overall record of 334 – 69. His record of 312 – 54 in Georgia alone, a winning percentage of 85.3%, is good enough for second best in the state’s history and 34th best in national high school football history.
Herron was named Region or Area Coach of the Year 25 times and the Georgia Coach of the Year 9 times in those 32 years. He was the Atlanta Falcons High School Coach of the Year in 2009. He has led 19 region champions, had 10 final four appearances and five state championships.
He is the only head football coach in Georgia High School Association (GHSA) history to win state titles at three different schools. He won his first state championship while at Oconee County in 1999, three at Camden County in 2003, 2008 and 2009, and his final at Grayson High School in 2016. That 2016 team at Grayson went 14-1, winning the GHSA 7A State Championship and the Public-School National Championship.
Coach Herron’s Camden County Wildcat teams also won 12 straight region championships, and hold the state record with a 58-game regular season winning streak, and a 28-game overall winning streak.
During his tenure, the Wildcats were ranked in the USA Today Top 25 six times and selected by ESPN as the program of the decade in Georgia for the 2000-2010 decade.
He also coached Walton (1989), Cedar Shoals (1990-93), Wheeler (1995-96) and Prince Avenue Christian (2013-15) in Georgia, and at T.L. Hanna (2017-18) in South Carolina.
In 2022, Jeff Herron was inducted into the Hall of Fame at Emory & Henry College in Virginia, where he was a starter and four-year letterman.
He was the team captain for the 1981 season when he was named a 2nd Team All Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) player.
In September of 2024 it was announced that Coach Herron will also be inducted as part of the 2025 Georgia Athletic Coaches Association (GACA) Hall of Fame class, which will also include former Charlton County High School head football coach Rich McWhorter, former Dougherty County and Troupe County head coach Charles Flowers, and basketball coaches Anzy Hardman and Rufus McDuffie.
The GACA induction will be on May 31, 2025 in Dalton, Georgia.
Its going to be a busy summer for Coach Herron. Two weeks after the GACA ceremony, he will be inducted into the National High School Football Hall of Fame on June 14th in Canton, Ohio.
All of us in Georgia’s southeasternmost county are eternally grateful for everything Coach Herron has accomplished as a coach, but we are most indebted for his role as a teacher, and a leader of young people when we needed it most.
The best news of all…Jeff Herron goes into the National High School Football Hall of Fame, and into coaching eternity, as a Camden County Wildcat.
Cats QB Ones
By: Jason Bishop
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
Let me start by saying there is no quarterback controversy. I repeat there is no QB controversy whatsoever.
Now that we have addressed that what we can say is that the Camden County Wildcats will have great QB play for at least the next three years.
Currently, the Wildcats will have Parks Riendeau returning for his senior season as the signal caller for Camden.
The Cats have also had a talented young QB transfer in. William Jackson is now on campus in Kingsland, GA. Jackson is a four-star recruit that stands at 6’4 196 pounds, has a cannon for an arm, and is a killer in the rushing game.
Jackson transferred into Camden County High School from Winter Park High School in the Orlando area at the beginning of this current Spring Semester.
The great thing for Camden fans is Jackson is only a sophomore. Jackson has offers from Virginia Tech, South Carolina, Arkansas and Marshall to name a few. He has also taken visits to Ohio State, Florida, USF, Auburn, Miami and Florida State. The offer list will only grow over the next few years.
Jackson played in four games as a freshman for Winter Park. He went 18-27 for 145 yards with no touchdowns or interceptions. He also rushed seven times for 68 yards and a touchdown on the ground.
Jackson should thrive when it is his turn in Coach Roland’s Spread offense as Riendeau did as a junior.
Riendeau threw for over 1800 yards and 21 touchdowns. He only threw 5 interceptions all season. At one point, Riendeau led all of 6A in passing yards.
He also led Camden to the GHSA 7A Final Four in 2023 under then Head Coach, Jeff Herron running the Wing-T offense.
Riendeau has been on the varsity roster since he was a freshman.
The Camden County Coaching Staff has told SSE the plan is to have Riendeau lead the Wildcats in 2025 and then have Jackson take over for 2026 and 2027.
Region 1-6A is the region Camden plays in and it is the best region in the state top to bottom. Region 1-6A consists of Camden, Colquitt, Lowndes, Valdosta, Richmond Hill and Tift County.
The future is bright in Kingsland, GA for the Camden County Wildcats.
Turn The Page?
By: TJ Hartnett
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
There are really only two things that a fanbase can discuss at the water cooler when their pro football team is having a miserable season: potential upcoming draft picks and whether or not the coach should be able to keep his job.
That’s been the hot topic since it became clear that the Falcons weren’t going to turn their abysmal start into anything noteworthy: should Dan Quinn be fired?
The answer seems to have complicated itself as the Atlanta Falcons have managed to win back-to-back games again, bringing their win total over the past six games up to four (and, consequently, their draft pick slot number is rising). The main hole of the season and, really, of the last several years has been the defense.
They’ve seemingly righted their ship, helping Atlanta score road wins against the two best teams in the NFC in the Saints and the 49ers.
Maybe the players realized that they’d be subjected to a new head coach and coaching staff if they continued to tank for the rest of the season. Quinn has surely been on the hot seat for more than just this past season: his track record post-Super Bowl has been quite a disappointment.
This season may have just been the peak of how bad things could get for the Falcons.
The start of the season saw Matt Ryan get decimated and then culminated in a blocked punt, of all things.
Since then it’s been a parade of sloppy play and stupid penalties and post-game interviews about their rough start.
All of a sudden, the Atlanta Falcons, who have Ryan and Julio Jones and a host of other incredibly talented footballs players, were 1-7 to start the 2019 season. The team knew they weren’t making the playoffs before turkey was served at the end of November.
Is that Dan Quinn’s fault? The beginning of the season saw the both of Atlanta’s first round draft picks go down with injuries and after the defense coordination was reshuffled, they began to play at a significantly higher level.
Offensive coordinator, Dirk Koetter and his ineffective and sterile offense can be fixed; and it’s clear enough that the Falcons roster likes playing for their current regime.
Is that enough to justify keeping Quinn around for at least another year – another attempt to recapture that 2017 glory?
The thing is even with the cold start and the hot streak over the past six weeks, things haven’t looked all that different from the previous years of Quinn running the show and calling the shots.
The Falcons have always been streaky under him, dating back to his first season at the helm. The team started off hot as hell (going 4-0 to begin the campaign) but went 4-8 the rest of the way to finish at .500 in 2015.
Even their Super Bowl season in 2016 was streaky. The Falcons didn’t see a win streak longer than 4 games at any point (playoffs, obviously, excluded).
So, while wining 4 out of the last 6 may seem to indicate that things have turned around for the Falcons, it’s really more indicative of the same old, same old and that hasn’t gotten winning results lately.
Dan Quinn and Falcons had to have come into this season knowing that Quinn’s job was on the line.
Frankly, it’s a miracle he wasn’t fired midseason, after that dreadful 1-7 start. But just because he wasn’t doesn’t mean that a chance won’t be made once the season wraps up here shortly. And despite his successes and his reputation in the locker room – maybe it’s time.
Grades for the NFC South
By: Kenneth Harrison Jr.
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
We’re in Week 8 of the NFL season so it’s about half way over. We have an idea who the contenders and pretenders are around the league. I’m going to take a look at the NFC South and see what grade each team earns on their midterm.
Atlanta (5-3) is first place in the division. Last season they had the same record after their first eight games. We all remember them starting hot and winning their first five games but only finishing 8-8. It appeared they might be doing the same this year after loses to Seattle and San Diego in consecutive weeks.
They scored in the final seconds to beat Green Bay 33-32. We think of Green Bay as an elite team but they are dealing with several injuries. Their top two running backs were out and they also did not have two receivers (Randall Cobb & Ty Montgomery). So, Aaron Rodgers was still able to throw for 246 yards, 4 touchdowns, no interceptions, complete 74% of his passes and rush for 60 yards with a depleted offense. That’s scary.
The defense is 25th in the league in total defense. The offense ranks first. The defense has to play better to make the Falcons contenders. They gave up a 17-point lead to the Chargers last week. They also came back to take a fourth quarter lead at Seattle but they could not stop the Seahawks offense. They could easily be 7-1 right now. I give them a B-.
Tampa Bay (3-4) is tied for second in the division. The Buccaneers are dealing with injuries to their top two running backs, Doug Martin and Charles Sims. Jacquizz Rodgers played well the last three weeks but suffered a foot injury in Sunday’s overtime loss to Oakland. He may also miss some time. Receiver Vincent Jackson was placed on injured reserve with an ACL injury.
The Bucs are shorthanded so understandably they are having problems moving the ball and being consistent on offense. Their ranked 16th in total offense and 26th in total defense. They swept Atlanta last season and beat them in the season opener. They play the Falcons at home Thursday night and a win will put them back in the playoff hunt. Expectations were low before the season started so I give Tamp Bay a C.
New Orleans (3-4) is tied with the Bucs. They had the upset of the week, beating Seattle at home. The Saints are second in the NFL in total offense and Drew Brees is still one of the best quarterbacks even in his late 30’s. He’s third in the league in passing yards and he’s completing 70% of his passes.
Have you noticed a theme yet with the defenses? It’s like a competition to see who can do worse. New Orleans is winning that with the 28th unit in total defense. The Saints finished 7-9 the last two years. I think head coach Sean Payton is in danger of being fired with another losing record. Grade: C-.
Carolina (2-5) has not lived up to expectations in 2016. The Panthers are the defending NFC Champions and they had the best record in the NFL last year at 15-1. They used to take team pics on the sideline and Cam Newton would smile and ‘dab’ after scores. Now things aren’t going so well. They lost cornerback Josh Norman and the secondary really misses him.
They gave up 300 yards to Julio Jones in Week 4 and currently rank 20th in total defense. Grade: F.
NFC South Overview
By: Kenneth Harrison Jr.
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
The first week of the NFL is over and now we have the chance to analyze every team. Obviously, it’s just one game so a lot can change as the season progresses. I’m going to take a look at the NFC South.
