Banner Image
Blog
Section Branding
Header Content
Newnan, Coach Walker Have Many Reasons To Celebrate
Primary Content
Last Friday night, Newnan outlasted McEachern 46-27 in a game that was memorable for many reasons. The win lifted the Cougars' record to a perfect 7-0 and 1-0 in Region 2-7A. Perhaps the biggest reason to remember the victory is because it was career win No. 150 for Coach Chip Walker.
Now 150 wins is one of those career milestones that people love to count down to and plan to celebrate. While others were thinking about that special moment, the coach was focusing his attention elsewhere.
"I think my wife must have told somebody," says Walker. "I don’t think I really knew much about it before, and I was glad about that because our focus was on winning the football game and being 1–0 in the region. Once it was over everyone got to have a little fun with it. I think the kids enjoyed that, too."
There were smiles and "150" signs all around after the game. And why not? The win came over a McEachern team the Cougars had been looking forward to facing.
"It was a big game for us," said Walker. "We had it circled because going into the season most people had them as the favorite to win our region. The schedule played out for us to have an open week before it. What I was probably most proud of is how we played. When we got down 14-6, our kids just battled back and kept plugging along. They (McEachern) took the second-half kickoff and scored. Just like that our lead was 22-21, but our kids never flinched. I heard some of the guys on offense say, ‘OK, let’s go and score.’ That's the mentality of this team. Not all offense, not all defense. We play all phases of the game."
It takes about 30 minutes to drive from Sandy Creek High School in Tyrone to Newnan High School. After 12 very successful seasons that included three state championships, Walker took the drive and the head coaching job at Newnan and something happened to him that had never happened before. He coached a team that had a losing season at 4-7. The past two years saw the Cougars post back-to-back 6-5 marks. This is Walker's fourth season at Newnan and the 7-0 start may be a surprise for some, but not for the coach.
"They better understand expectations and what we want out of them," says Walker. "The other thing has been injuries. Last year the tailback (Bryson Moss) missed the season with an ACL. One of our real good wideouts (Quanard Arnold) missed eight games with an ACL and an offensive linemen missed 10 games with a broken leg. Now all of those guys are back.
“We missed those players last year, but it made us play a bunch of guys. Now they are all out there together and we’ve got five or six wideouts who can make a catch at any time. We have two or three tailbacks that can make a big run at any time. Those injuries were a curse last year, but a blessing this year because all those guys are back."
That's right. The gang’s all here! Because so many young players were forced to play last season, the Newnan offense had 15 returning players who had started at least one varsity game. You won't find many teams with that kind of experience on one side of the ball. It made what was a difficult off-season at many schools less of a challenge at Newnan.
The Cougars have solid leadership that begins with senior quarterback Michael Maginnis. Against McEachern, Maginnis completed 13 of 23 for 195 yards and a touchdown. The coach is a big fan of his signal caller's leadership and decision making.
"He’s something special," says Walker. "He is as good as I have ever been around. Michael really is our coach on the field. He gets us in the right positions that we need to be in, whether it’s a route or run or protection or formation. Whatever it is, he can get us to it. He is such a student of the game, he loves to learn. He’s a really good one to coach."
Then there is senior tailback Bryson Moss, who scored three touchdowns in the McEachern win. It is the third three-touchdown game of the season. It's the kind of dependable production that any coach would welcome.
"I’ll take three scores from him every time we play," says Walker. "He is another one that has played a bunch of football around here. We missed having him last year after that ALC. It's so good to get him back."
Like any high school football players around our state, Maginnis and Moss enjoy the spotlight, but Walker will tell you that it's not the most important thing to them. The 7-0 start has Newnan football back in the state rankings and sharing first place in the region. The last time the Cougars won a region title was back in 2009. This year's team has set its sights on higher goals.
"It seems like nobody cares who gets the credit," says Walker. "We have great linemen, receivers, quarterback and running backs. All they seem to care about is winning football games, instead of who gets credit. These days I find that refreshing."
Refreshed might be a good word to describe Walker at this juncture in his career. He took the baton from his father, Rodney Walker, and led the Sandy Creek program to three state championships. Naturally, the folks around Tyrone expected a new state championship trophy to be added to the trophy case every year.
Newnan presented a different challenge for Walker -- a chance to work at a place filled with history and tradition. According to the school's website, it was founded under the name Temple Avenue School and graduated it first class in 1888. According to the Georgia High School Football Historians, the school's first football team was formed in 1901.
"It’s a special community," says Walker. “The people in this town love Newnan High School. Not just Newnan football, but Newnan High School. With the success this season, former players have been back to speak to the team. There is a ton of history here. Last year Coach (Max) Bass came and talked about the history. Drake Stadium on Friday night is a special place to play."
No doubt, the folks at Newnan know they have someone very special leading the football program and while they are thrilled to have Chip Walker, it sure would be nice if he brought a pocket full of that magic dust from Sandy Creek. For all the success that the Newnan football program has enjoyed, a state championship remains elusive.
That brings a burning question from this sports reporter -- one that may or may not be fair. With the 7-0 start, does the coach see something in this year's Newnan team that reminds him of one of his state championship teams at Sandy Creek?
"This team is special," says Walker. "This team has great chemistry. Our second state championship team (2010) had great chemistry. They may not have been the most talented team in the state. This team reminds me of that team. They got along good, practiced good, had a really good quarterback. If I was going to compare them to a Sandy Creek team it would be that one."
The Cougars have earned the right to have some lofty goals, but next is a date with region rival Pebblebrook this Friday night. It will be Chip Walker's chance to earn career win No. 151 and try and close the gap between he and his father. Rodney Walker won 302 games and one state championship during his career. Chip Walker is careful to tap the brakes when talking family bragging rights.
"I don’t know if I’m going to make it quite that far," says Walker. "He won a lot of them. I would have to coach a long time. He may get me on the wins, but I got him on the state championships, how about that!"
This week Football Friday's in Georgia will Grayson at Brookwood. Kickoff is at 7:30 p.m. on the Great GPB!
Secondary Content
Author
Bottom Content
