Photos Andy Calvert - L-R: #2 REECE FOUNTAIN- QB #19 BRYSON HILL- CB/RB #4 MARTEL HIGHT- WR/DB
ROME WOLVES
2020 RECORD: 8-4 overall (6-1, REGION 7-AAAAAA)
HEAD COACH: John Reid (66-14, 3 region championships, 2 state championships in 5 seasons at Rome; 140-46 overall In Georgia)
ALL TIME RECORD: 342 games – 237-104-1 (69%)
TOTAL SEASONS: 29 FIRST SEASON: 1992 ALL STATE PLAYERS: 67
REGION CHAMPIONSHIPS: 10 (2018 LAST)
STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS: 2 (2017 LAST)
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- #91 Stephaylin Green-DL
2020 REVIEW
In 2015, in his first season as head football coach at Rome High School, John Reid had a team of very talented underclassmen. That team went 7-3 during the regular season, was 3-3 after 6 games, reeled off at least five consecutive wins, and made it to the second round of the GHSA playoffs, going on to finish the season with an 8-4 overall record.
Flash forward to the 2020 season, and all of that happened again, in the middle of a pandemic, without any sort of normal high school offseason.
“I don’t know how many people recognize the fact of what we were able to accomplish with the situation we were behind,” Coach Reid says, “but I thought our kids, even being as young as they were, did great. And the coaching staff did a great job of finding flexibility and a never-quit attitude that put our team in the second round of the playoffs.” He adds, “I don’t think people thought that was possible, against all odds and with a young team that didn’t get to practice in the spring or summer.”
2021 PREVIEW
Coach Reid cracks a smile when thinking of the upcoming season. “I’m excited about 2021,” he says. “I think we have some really good players at numerous positions, and now that we’ve had a regular style offseason, it will be good for us. I think we do a really good job here at Rome in the area of preparation. As for the kids, it’s given them the chance to be more muscular, more physical, and to work on their speed.”
Rome added new coaches to the staff this year: an offensive coordinator, Shane Sams; a wide receivers coach, DJ Hazelray; a defensive backs coach, LaBrandon Hudson.
“I’m excited about the new coaches,” Reid says. “We were able to add some coaches that a number of the top programs around the state had tried to attract. We were able to lure them here and they have put new energy and life into our program.” He goes on: “I think they do a great job. The kids are excited about the additions, and I think the returning coaches are excited to have some of that fire and energy injected into the program.”
OFFENSE
Last season, Rome ended up playing freshmen on offense early in the season, and that evolved into eventually starting a Fab-4 of freshmen for 7 or more games: quarterback Reece Fountain, running back Shaun Nelson, wide receiver DeKaylon Daniel, and tight end Martavious Collins. All four received valuable gameday experience and are expected to be big-time playmakers as sophomores.
“I’m happy the quarterback position is pretty solid,” Reid says. “Reece has grown physically and mentally, and he has a stronger arm than people think.”
At running back, Rome has Nelson and his multi-talents as a runner and pass catcher returning. And the Wolves add a senior ball carrier, Jamerius McDearmont, a dynamic athlete with the ball in his hands.
The Wolves have depth at the wide receiver position, starting with an all-world athlete, junior Martel Hight. The rest of the corps includes juniors Patrick Cromer and Will Bray, and sophomores RJ Marshall, RJ Hodges, Corey Gardhigh, and the aforementioned Daniel, who has the potential of making big plays this season.
Collins started every game as a freshman at the tight end position and will again (with his size, speed, and strength) make his presence felt in the Wolves’ offense in 2021.
The Wolves are working hard to establish a strong offensive line, which will be led by senior Demond McCombs.
Reid says to not underestimate Rome at the offensive line of scrimmage this year. “We really have a bigger offensive line than people think,” he says, “and they’re coming along and will end up doing a good job.”
DEFENSE
The Rome defense will be young, again, in 2021, as they won’t have many seniors at all.
On the defensive line, the Wolves have a bunch of guys that can play. The line will be led by junior Stephiylan Green. Green is a force; opposing teams will notice him almost immediately. Seniors Jalen White and Nick Monroe, junior Tyson Brown, and sophomores Justin Terrell and Treyvon Adams will all bring the pressure to the opposing offensive lines this season.
The Wolves’ linebacking corps is said to be the deepest group the school has had in years. Heading the charge will be sophomore Alto Moore, who had a good season last year and eventually became another freshman starting for Rome. Senior Jyrine Griffin, juniors Grant Bullard and Darius Smith, and a host of other sophomores and freshmen will keep the RHS linebacker corps fresh and active.
The cornerback position is as solid as can be with senior Bryson Hill and Martel Hight in those positions. The safety position is currently up for grabs, as three or four players are fighting for playing time, starting with seniors Jakiah Webb and Joshua Barosay.
LASTING THOUGHTS
“This team has a lot of spirit, but it’s always hard to define a Rome football team because of Rome,” says Reid. “There’re so many things that come with being a Rome Wolf that everyone knows about, so it’s hard to be unique when you put that into perspective.” He adds, “These guys haven’t gotten that confident swagger yet, and they do really respond well to the coaches and enjoy the coaching. They are coming around and beginning to see what we want and are trying to get it done. They have a great work ethic and attitude.”
This season, when this team hits the field, Wolves’ fans will get a lot of what they’ve seen in the past on special teams and defense. On offense, the Wolves’ plan is to be ahead of the game. They don’t want wasted downs. They will always be in attack mode, utilizing what they have and putting the opposing defense in panic mode all game, all season.
2021 GAMES OF SIGNIFICANCE
The only things Rome’s Historic Barron Stadium will need in 2021 are a red-carpet runway and bright lights (well, maybe additional seating also) for all the prize fights that will be played there this year. Nearly every big game will be a home game for the Wolves.
- 8/20/2021 @ Rockmart
This is going to be an exciting game and interest will be high as Rockmart played Rome very close last year at Barron Stadium in the Corky Kell Classic before the Wolves closed the game out with a final score of 28-21.
- 9/3/2021 vs Cherokee
Cherokee was a top ten 7A school last season. Rome traveled to Canton and let one slip away to the Warriors 15-21.
- 9/10/2021 vs Collins Hill
The Wolves entered the fourth quarter of last year’s (Collins Hill’s Homecoming) game versus the 7A runner-up tied 14-14. A couple of errors allowed the Eagles to put the game away in the fourth quarter as Rome fell 14-28.
- 9/24/2021 vs Carrollton
The Trojans have won the last two games versus the Wolves after Rome had won the previous three meetings. This game will have a huge impact on the region championship and has the extra intrigue of a matchup between two people who won’t be suiting up: Rome’s John Reid on one sideline and Carrollton’s Joey King on the other.
- 10/1/2021 vs Dalton
This is a game that can have an impact on the region’s standings. Rome needs to be wary of this matchup regardless of what happened the previous Friday.
- 10/29/2021 vs Douglas County
This was a battle last year. It was a hard-hitting game, featuring impenetrable defenses that forced the offenses to play most of the game between the 20 yard lines. It was an old school football fan’s dream game that Rome pulled out 16-15 on a last-minute field goal. This year, this game will again have an impact on the region championship.
