Skilled George County looks to break through in ‘16

The George County High School football team flirted with putting together a special season in 2015, but turnovers and poor luck contributed to some stumbles down the stretch.

With many of the key players back from last year’s squad that finished 6-5, a talented group of seniors provides hope of fulfilling the potential many saw during a 4-0 start in 2015 that included wins over Class 6A South State champion Petal and Pascagoula.

There will be one big difference for George County this season on the sideline: Matt Caldwell has replaced John Douglass as the head coach.

Caldwell, who went 41-13 in four seasons at Taylorsville, makes the jump from Class 2A to Class 6A, taking over a program that returns plenty of experience at the most important positions on offense.

“I think we’re pretty good at the skill positions, receiver and quarterback,” Caldwell said. “They’ve played a lot of games, but we only have one starter back on the offensive line (senior guard Nathaniel Hembree). Those guys will have to grow up in a hurry for us.”

Senior LaRaymond Spivery returns as the starting quarterback after showing great promise as a dual-threat player in his first year as the starter, throwing for 17 touchdowns and running for 17. He completed 69.1 percent of his passes for 2,273 yards a year ago and will look to improve on his 15 interceptions this season.

Spivery, who will run a spread offense, was the team’s second-leading rusher with 135 carries for 896 yards.

It’s in the passing game where George County has a chance to be among the better Class 6A teams in the state when you consider that Spivery will be throwing to two of the better receiving options on the Coast – Six-foot-2, 195-pound senior Tyrese Fryfogle and 6-2, 233-pound senior Dwan Williams.

Fryfogle, who holds scholarship offers from Ole Miss and Idaho, is coming off an outstanding junior campaign that featured 52 catches for 919 yards and eight touchdowns. Williams, who has the ability to run over defenders, caught 59 passes of 772 yards and six scores.

Senior Fisher Ray and junior Jordan Ladner will also see time at receiver.

Fryfogle feels good about the chemistry that Spivery has with his recevers.

“(Spivery) has gotten a lot better,” Fryfogle said. “He’s always been good at running the ball. At passing the ball, he’s becoming a better quarterback.”

George County will have to replace Khalil Burns, who rushed for 1,034 yards, at running back and senior Kaleb Gentry may be the answer there after getting only a handful of carries at fullback a season ago.

Fryfogle and Spivery should also see time on defense in the secondary, but Caldwell expects three returners to hold leadership roles on the defense – senior middle linebacker Cole Contestabile, senior strong safety J.J. Lawrence and 6-foot-1, 245-pound defensive tackle Justice Havens.

Contestabile stands 5-foot-11, 215 pounds, and is the team’s top tackler from a year ago with 91.

Havens, a senior, accounted for 47 tackles and a team high of 3.5 sacks. Lawrence registered 54 tackles and an interception.

Junior linebacker Austin Walker, who is listed at 6-foot, 200 pounds, is also a returning starter for George County.

“We’re going to develop some depth in the secondary,” Caldwell said. “We’re inexperienced there. Tyrese and LaRaymond will have to help in the secondary.”

George County has a chance to reach the playoffs for the first time since 2010, but a difficult Region 4-6A awaits.

“We’re going to have to avoid the injury bug,” Caldwell said. “I feel OK with the team. We have a chance. If everything comes together, we have a chance to have a good football team.”

This story was originally published August 4, 2016 at 9:00 AM with the headline "Skilled George County looks to break through in ‘16."