Turner County Rebels

ASHBURN, Ga. — Football has unofficially arrived.

While teams have been practicing and participating in organized team activities and 7-on-7s all summer, the Turner County Rebels took a big step towards the 2016 Saturday morning by donning the uniforms, braving the heat and posing for team pictures at Alan Hobby Stadium.

Thirty-five players were dressed out and head coach Ben Simmons is looking forward to a big season from the group, especially from his 13 seniors.

“They’re a big, solid group,” he said. He arrived at the school as defensive coordinator in 2014, a season they went 4-6. They rebounded in 2015 with a 6-0 start and finished 8-3, falling in the first round of the state Class A public school playoffs.

Turner has come a long way. Simmons agreed. “They truly have.”

“I’m just so proud of them,” he said. “I’m excited about this group.”

A trio of his players, Tamorrion Terry, Ontario Wilson and Malik High are expected to be among the anchors of the squad. All three are already getting college attention. None can really believe they have made it this far.

Terry, a wide receiver and linebacker who has played nearly every position during his career, said “it feels great” to be a senior for Turner. Simmons has been an inspiration for him. “He made me become a better man,” he said. If he “keeps doing” right, Simmons said he would not be surprised to see Terry eventually playing on Sundays, in the NFL.

For Wilson, “it’s like a dream.” A receiver/defensive back, Wilson believes they have a chance to win region. The Rebels will have to upend defending champion and two-time state runner-up Irwin County to do so, but he has confidence it can happen. If everything works out for Turner, “we’re going to be great,” he said.

High is a lineman who is getting looks from two in-state colleges. He’s hopeful for more and it won’t matter to him who gives him an offer. “I just want to play college football,” he said. High has felt like he has had a leadership role since his sophomore year. It’s something he enjoys, being able to “lead my teammates.” Even with the experience, it seems like his senior year came in a hurry. “It came fast,” he said.

Besides those three, Simmons and his staff will be working with a group that he said will be dedicated. They had to forego spring football this year, the reason being “we’re so spread out” with nearly all players being involved in multiple sports. “We share athletes,” he said.

For teams who do not play in the spring, the Georgia High School Association allows for a second scrimmage. Turner is taking full advantage by hosting Cook Aug. 5 before playing at Tift County Aug. 12. Fans will see Simmons in Tifton early; he is scheduled to speak at next Saturday’s Kick-Off to Men’s Health Event at the Tift Regional Community Events Center.

Following the pair, the Rebels take to the road, playing Dougherty Aug. 18 at Hugh Mills Stadium. Their home opener will be Aug. 26 against Worth County. Their non-region schedule will conclude a week later with another neighbor, Crisp County.

Playing the area schools is important to Simmons. “I wanted to relive some of the rivalries,” he said. Crisp will be the final non-region game before they jump into Region 2-A, a region loaded with talent from Irwin to Telfair County to Charlton, Clinch and Wilcox counties.

Turner will need a deep roster to make it through their schedule and he has just the right players to lead them through. “We are returning our entire offensive line,” he said. Linemen had been a focus for them and he said the coaches had been working on building up their depth.

Simmons said his offense was going to be a pro/multiple set.

He has returning experience at quarterback with returning junior Tyler Moore, who took over midseason from an injured Briand Wynn. That position is secure, but he has had to shift some at running back. Both Lorenzo Bolden and Lawton Merriweather have graduated, leaving fullback Deontae Crockett as the most experienced man in the backfield.