First wins at new schools

Twenty-three GHSA football coaches got their first victories at their new schools last week.

For Jasper County’s Dondrial Pinkins, the 32-14 victory over then-No. 10 Mary Persons of Class 4A marked the coach’s 100th career victory. Jasper County was a 14-point underdog, according to the Maxwell Ratings.

Pinkins formerly coached at alma mater Mitchell County and Pelham.

Several other new coaches got their first wins in significant upsets.

Those who won as underdogs of 12 or more points include Mark Buchanan of King’s Ridge Christian (against Westminster), Anthony Williams of Locust Grove (against Dutchtown), Jacob Nichols of West Forsyth (against Norcross) and Justin Pearce of Woodstock (against Cambridge).

  • Apalachee: Chuck Kenyon
  • Appling County: J.D. Sellers
  • Bowdon: Jamie Abrams
  • Brantley County: Matt Hickox
  • Brunswick: Byron Slack
  • Charlton County: Brandon Byram
  • Jasper County: Dondrial Pinkins
  • King’s Ridge Christian: Mark Buchanan
  • Locust Grove: Anthony Williams
  • Lovejoy: Jabari Wilder
  • McDonough: Joe Dupree
  • Redan: Ronald Lewis
  • Riverdale: Marcus McKinney
  • Rockmart: Richard Fendley
  • South Atlanta: Keith Whatley
  • Southeast Bulloch: Jason Anthony
  • St. Pius: Adam Pullen
  • Swainsboro: Dwight Smith
  • Terrell County: Art Anderson
  • Twiggs County: Ashley Harden
  • West Forsyth: Jacob Nichols
  • Westside (Macon): James Harris
  • Woodstock: Justin Pearce

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