Douglas County Head Football Coach Johnny White said the motto for the 2024 season is to start in the dome and end in the dome.
The Tigers are coming off a 13-1 season capped by an appearance in the state semifinals.
They’re ranked 18th in the nation and No. 3 in GHSA Class 6A after trouncing Cedar Grove 42-7 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Week 1 of the 2024 season and following that up with a 48-8 victory over Jonesboro in Week 2.
White, in his ninth year at DCHS, said “this is one of the most talented groups” he’s coached. He understands that all of the Tigers’ recent success brings new challenges.
“I think the biggest issue and the biggest thing that they don't understand yet is they are now going from the hunter to the hunted,” White said… “I think our game is going to be circled on everybody we play this year. We're not going to sneak up on anybody.”
Douglas County has four games against ranked teams, including a Nov. 1 showdown at home against region foe and current Class 6A No. 1 Carrollton in a game that will be televised on ESPN.
The Tigers are loaded with talent this year.
Four-star prospect WR/DB James Johnson, last year’s region player of the year, is back for his senior season. Johnson announced during a ceremony at the school Friday he plans to play collegiately at the University of Southern California.
Wideouts Devin Carter and Aaron Gregory, both of whom are also 4-star prospects, are considered among the top-10 players in Georgia. Junior DE Jordan Carter is also a 4-star prospect and senior DE Michael Hastie is a 3-star prospect.
Johnson, Gregory and Carter were all named to the Touchdown Club of Atlanta's Preseason All-Steam Team.
Junior DJ Bourdeaux moves into the quarterback position with last year’s Howard Thompson Award winner, Sire Hardaway, graduating.
White said another of the strengths this year is his offensive line, which returns every starter from last year’s team.
“You win games in high school up front,” he said. “Because if they can’t block, it doesn’t matter.”
White spotlighted five seniors he calls “under-the-radar players” that he expects to make a difference this season: WR Brandon Ellison, DB Michael Thomas, LB Braxtin McLester, DB Karson Kindred and FB Bryce Anderson.
Among underclassmen, he said junior center Joshua Vaughn falls into that same camp.
“I think Josh Vaughn is the smallest of the group because he's just at 6 feet, but he's probably the most dominant,” White said. “He was first team all-state last year as a sophomore.”
White said he doesn’t “want to say championship or bust” when asked about his expectations this year.
“Great teams are coach-led, but championship teams are player-led,” he said. “So they need to lead this team. They need to make the decisions they need to make. Some of them can be by example, but there's some gonna have to be more verbal as well. So, when it comes to the point where I feel like I ain't gotta talk no more, I know this thing's going to be special.”
The Tigers play at Newton in a rare Saturday game this week. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m.