
The Newnan Times-Herald
I have had the privilege of closely watching high school football for the last 30 years.
After starting this journey in 1990 with Newnan High super supporter Walter Moss, we didn’t miss a single Newnan High School football game until 2007.
Walter, the father of future Newnan High School players Tony Moss and David Teagle, and band member Taneisha Moss, were serious about not only attending the games but arriving an hour early.
We followed Northgate and East Coweta games when Newnan wasn’t playing. In 2007, with the assistance of Emmanuel Bridges Sr., Tony Moss, Clifford Bridges Jr. and David “Snake” Godfrey, we started “Empowered 4 Life,” which gave us a chance to be involved closely with all three programs.
We were the mentor of so many student-athletes in our county. We watched all three teams play, which lad me to ask the question: Who was the best? Who was the best player? Best team? Best coach?
I have my list: the all-time best Coweta County football players.
This county has produced so many big-time players. After consulting with Walter Moss, we have come up with our list.
We have also included the best team list which was so hard when you think about the Newnan early 90’s team with the fastest backfield in the nation, the loaded East Coweta mid 90’s team, the EC team that went to the Final 4, the Newnan team lead by Tyler Horne, Goodman, Steagall and that defense or the 2008-2010 Newnan squad.
We can ask the question, how would that Northgate squad led by James Skalaski and those two 1,500-yards rushers stack up?
1990-2020
All Coweta County Team (Public)
MVP: Alec Ogletree
Best Offensive Player: Derrick Steagall - Newnan
Best Defensive Player: Ernest Mitchell - Newnan
Best Coach: East Coweta Danny Cronic
Best Team: Newnan Football 2008
OFFENSE
DT QB - Dantre Clements - East Coweta
PP QB - Russell Powell - Newnan
RB - Tony Portress - Newnan
RB - Marvin Smith - East Coweta
RB - Tay Willis - East Coweta
WR - Karsten Bailey - East Coweta
WR - Durell Steagall - Newnan
WR - Alan Bonner - Newnan
WR - Markell Boston - East Coweta
TE - Keith Brooking - East Coweta
TE - James Warner - Newnan
OL - Ray Beno - Newnan
OL - Sergio Render - Newnan
OL - Ryan Storms - East Coweta
OL - Adam Herring - Newnan
OL - Micheal Cheevers - Newnan
OL - Roydrell Alford - Newnan
AP - Corey Bridges - Newnan
DEFENSE
DL - Eric Geter Jr. - Newnan
DL - Santaz Mays - Newnan
DL - Deandre Johnson - Northgate
DL - Tony Moss - Newnan
DL - Eric Emerson - East Coweta
LB - Rod Strickland - Newnan
LB - James Skalski - Northgate
LB - Jeremiah Gemmel - East Coweta
LB - Zander Ogletree - Newnan
LB - Emmanuel Bridges Jr. - Newnan
DB - Tray Matthews - Newnan
DB - John Keith - East Coweta
DB - Antwoine Nolan - East Coweta
DB - Chris Young - East Coweta
DB - David Godfrey - Newnan
K- Will Lutz - Northgate
P- Chris Hanson - East Coweta
KR - Gerald Green - East Coweta
PR - Jamal Ransby - Newnan
Athlete - Rod Gray - Newnan
Honorable Mention
Brad Hill - East Coweta
Derrick Holloway - East Coweta
Marlon Cruver - Northgate
Brantley Kendall - East Coweta
Peyton Usher - Northgate
Preston Stricklin - East Coweta
Tyler Horne - Newnan
Cedric Stegall - East Coweta
Kendreas Wynn - Newnan
Devontae Brown - East Coweta
Mark Jordan - East Coweta
Van Tucker - Newnan
Dedrick Riley - East Coweta
Ton Evans - Northgate
Mitch Stewart - Northgate
Lamar Gay - East Coweta
Kenny Strozier - Northgate
Fernando Phillips - Newnan
Nathan Cronic - East Coweta
Lendell Arnold - Newnan
Emmanuel Bridges Sr. - Newnan
Carson Bird - Northgate
Lamar Gay - East Coweta
Brandon Facyson - Northgate
James Godfrey - Newnan
Tim McGill - East Coweta
Adam Strakose - Newnan
Alex Holloway - East Coweta
Derrick White - East Coweta
Demiko Goodman - Newnan
Kyle Cater - Northgate
Eric Horsley - East Coweta
Zack Smith - East Coweta
Charles Wood - Newnan
Drew Latham - Northgate
Chris Robinson - Newnan
Alex Lakes - Northgate
Renaldo Warner - Newnan
Quinton Arnold - Newnan
Antonio Strobridge - East Coweta
Andre Morris - Northgate
Woody Waters - Newnan
Jarvis Hill - East Coweta
Thomas Darrah - Newnan
Adrian Colton - Newnan
Stanford Philpot - East Coweta
Chris Reid - East Coweta
Derrick A. Teagle is the founder and director of Empowered 4 Life, a local athletic mentoring program and co-host of the 'Monday Night Motivation' radio show.