Page 14
August l5, 20l8
By Richard Dumas best in the might have six.” assured his parents, Jarvis
Hartage said his favorite
lorsyih@mymcrnet mid-state Unfortunately, MP has and Nikesha Wilson, that
play of his career so far was
and now all seen Wilson far too fre— he’ll spend more time on his a
25—yard TD pass on a fade
A common denominator five starters quently on the training classwork and
less time in route to De’Adrek Alford
in the success of most great are back table during his first three
Nelson’s doghouse during just before halftime of last
Georgia high school football in 2018 seasons. Despite his unique his senior
season. year’s state semifinal loss
teams is an elite one—two ; (although blend of speed and agility, Wilson
said of his vow to to Blessed Trinity. As for
punch in the backfield. left tackle the 5’8”, 164-pound back has his
parents: “I told them I’ll his two least favorite plays,
Just look at arguably the Nate How- yet to rush for 1,000 yards turn it up
this year.” one was an errant slant
two most successful Mary ard will be in a single season. Wilson Wilson
actually started pass to De’Adrek Alford on
Persons teams of all time. sidelined tallied 885 yards as a sopho— his
middle school career on fourth-and— goal in the 2017
In 1980, it was thunderous much of the more and was expected to defense as
a cornerback It opening game loss to Lee
running back Alvin Toles year with a eclipse easily the LOGO-yard wasn’t
until eighth grade County and the second was
and steady quarterback broken leg). mark as a junior. However, that Monroe
County Middle a perfectly thrown bomb
Greg Elrod leading the way Hartage an assortment of injuries School coach
Kurt Greene to Condarius Alford in a
while in 1993 it was elusive said of MP’s caused Wilson to end up
inserted him at tailback at 28-21 win over Upson~Lee
tailback Quentin Davis and offense: “In with just 972 yards despite a
Wilson’s request. last year that his receiver
strongvarmed quarterback the off- torrid finish to the season. “When I
was in seventh dropped. The Condarius
Justin Elder providing the season we MP head coach Brian grade, I told
Coach (Thom- Alford miscue came in the
heroics. brought it Nelson said much of MP’s as) Yawn, ‘Put me at run-
midst of a career night for
By year’s end the 2018 all together offensive success in 2018 ning
back’” Wilson recalled. Hartage in which he set a
Bulldogs squad could be And now could rest on Wilson’s avail— “He was
like, ‘Nah, you’re new single-game passing
mentioned in a similar we’re just ability. too little.’ So my eighth
grade yardage record with 292
breath with those two clicking.” “When he’s healthy, he’s year, I
told Coach Greene, yards as well as throwing for
historic teams, and ironi- = ~> 1 Making as good as there is,”
Nelson ‘I’m the best running back, a career-high four touch~
cally perhaps the biggest Quarterback J.T. Hartage, left, and tailback
Hartage’s said. “We’ve just got to keep coach.’ He said, ‘We’ll
give downs.
reason why could be two Quen Wilson, right, should make life hard for jOb
much him healthy. And then you a And then I went Nelson said as MP’s
first
of its smallest weapons. But opposing defenses this season. (File photo)
eaStet is the ObViOUSIY his Speed allows 0“ from there? returning Starter
at the QB
what senior quarterback LT. _ . explosive- him to do a lot of things that
From the moment he position in three years,
Hartage and senior tailback caleb SPelf 0“ vatSItY 1h ‘ness Wilson
other people can’t. We just started taking handoifs from Hartage has
emerged as the
Quen Wilson give up in 2016' brings to the MP backfield need him to
stay healthy and Hartage as an eighth grader, Bulldogs’ clear leader.
height, they more than make AS Hartage enters hls hhat The Bulldogs’
offense didn’t have a big year for us if we’re Wilson was a standout,
“I think a lot of those guys
up for in bite. Sta??? as a Bulldog, the P05; really take off in 2017 until
gonna win some games.” capping a spectacular eighth look up to himl’
Nelson said.
The 5’10” Hartage t00k Slb‘htles ate ehdless for MP5 Wilson returned
at midsea- Wilson, who said he’s grade season with a 300-plus “And a
lot of the stuff that we
over as MP’s starting OflCehS‘? thh etght Starters son from an ankle
injury spent his off-season getting yard outburst in an area do is
dependent and based
quarterback in the 2017 tetuthlhg trom a 2017 533‘ he suffered in the
open- stronger and bigger while championship game win. on him. I think
offensively
campaign and promptly re— 30“ 1“ WhJCh the Buudt’gs ing quarter of
the season. also improving his footwork, As for the dual-threat that’s
the guy people look
corded the greatest statistical techtdhd the SecondmeSt By state playoff
time, the said he’s getting some looks Hartage, although he joking- to.
And he’s done a good
season ever by a Bulldogs’ Pths 1“ Program hIStOtY Bulldogs’ aerial
and ground from college coaches but ly said his parents Maurice job with
that role, and he’s
quarterback Named Region thh 431- Nt’t Ohh’ (1095 MP attacks were both
in full said he hasn’t received an and Tawania Hartage often continued to
grow and fill
2-AAAA Offensive Player return W115”, Its leathhg flight, capped by a
51—point offer yet. He said he wants tell him he’s too lazy, Hart- that
role a little bit, the true
of the Year, Hartage passed when but thehthldogs 3:150 outburst in a state
quarterfi— to play at the University of age said he’s being work—
leadership role.”
for a school record 1,840 bung baCk thfht “70,15an nal win over
Jefferson. Georgia but consider ing hard in the off-season. The kind of
explosive of—
yards and 21 touchdowns, receivers: 53mm? DeAdtt3k That victory was perhaps
joining the US Army if Hartage said many of his fensive nights that Hartage
completing 67 percent of Alford ahdhhtome D aVIS’ the greatest night thus
far UGA doesn’t come calling. pre-season drills have been put up against
Upson—Lee
his passes with just three Who comblhed for 74 recap" of Wilson’s MP
career with Nelson said Wilson should focused on staying inside could
become common—
interceptions. Hartage’s im— “0113 for 1,066 Yards and 10 210 rushing
yards and four have the opportunity to the pocket and keeping tabs place
for him in 2018, but
mediate success was hardly tOUCththh Yeahago- touchdowns and included play
college football if he so on his receivers rather than Hartage said he’s
not think-
a surprise to close observ— _Hattf‘~ge §a1d 9th3 {813‘ a 54-yard
touchdown run chooses. bailing out and taking off ing about his statistics.
ers of the MP program, As (t‘lthhIP Wlth ht? tecelvets; down the right
sideline that “He might have to take an when pressure comes. “I don’t
really have any
an eighth grader, Hartage Our ChemIStrY 15 waif he identified as his
favorite unconventional route if he “The biggest improvement individual
goals, but team
quarterbacked the Monroe better; Those guys are JUSt play ever. wants to do
that,” Nelson in my game I would say is goals,” Hartage said. “I just
County Middle School athamhg' Tho? are the two Hartage said of his
back— said. “The speed factor is keeping my eyes downfield want to
bring state home.
squad to an undefeated beSt Wldh “Sewers Ive ever field mate: “When
you’ve got what everybody looks at longer instead of letting After so
many years, bring-
championship season, Then, Playet1 Wlth. a dude like that who’s fast, You
can’t coach that or teach off a route,” Hartage said. ing one home in
such a
as a ninth grader in 2015, We MP (’93th 2017 quick. you give it to him in
that or anything else. You’ve “Because I feel like if I let small town,
it would be
Hartage led the MP IV thh “0 tetumthg Stfhtets space and it’s hard to
tackle just got it. That’s one thing everything fizzle out, then amazing
for us and for our
squad to a 5-1 mark before $1th the hfiehSIVe hhe’ the him. So when he
makes a he’s got.” someone will come open. community as well. We’re a
backing up former starter “mt grew mto one Of the move, he’s just gone
and you With college on the I’m keeping my eyes out for football town.”
horizon, Wilson said he’s that.”
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