Lowndes football locked, loaded for state title defense

There is bad news for all of those football teams wanting to win the 2008 Class AAAAA state championship. Lowndes, winners of three of the last four state titles, might field one of its best teams in years. Fourteen starters return on offense and defense, and both kickers also return from last season's dominant football team. The defense could be even better after yielding only eight points a game last year. Cornerback Greg Reid, a Florida commitment, and safety Gerald Demps, who has committed to Florida State, lead the way. The defensive front welcomes back five of six starters. Lowndes Vikings Region 1-AAAAA Spring practice dates: Held in February. Last year's record: 14-1, defeated North Gwinnett 34-6 for the state championship. Reclassification challenge: Region adds two-time Class AAAA champion, Northside-Warner Robins. Worked on: Physicality. Mastering the fundamentals of tackling and blocking has always been coach Randy McPherson's credo, and that lunch box approach is exactly what the Vikings focused upon. Key starters lost: RB Darriet Perry (Florida International); CB Kelly Dawsey (Western Michigan); LB Tavaris Williams (Georgia Southern); LB Blake Summers. Key starters returning: DB-WB — Greg Reid, Sr., (5-9, 175); FS — Gerald Demps, Sr., (6-1, 205); QB — Khary Franklin, Jr., (5-6, 165); DT-FB — Devin Simmons, Sr., (5-9, 255); DE — Michael Copeland, Jr., (6-3, 215). 2008 strengths: Both sides of scrimmage will be formidable with several major-college players. Reid may well be the state's best all-around player. 2008 weaknesses: Perry, a four-year starter, will be hard to replace. But the biggest hurdle may be mental. This team is favored to win it all again, so handling that will be the question. This season's projection: From a talent standpoint, this may be the program's best ever, so all preseason talk of championships rightly start and end at Martin Stadium.