Raider's State Titles Begin to Roll

Raiders’ State Titles Begin to Roll By Coach Craig Rhodes Asst. Football Coach \ \ J inning football games has always been a tradition at Southland Academy in Americus, Georgia.

In 1986, on the fifth trip to the Georgia Independent School Association AAA Title Game, the Southland Academy Raiders won their first State Championship. disaster struck Southland as their record reached a dismal 12-20 with two consecutive loosing seasons in 1988 and again in 1989. From State Champs to repeat losing seasons, the Raiders were looking at at a possible third losing season with no real promise for the future.

During this time the Raider coaches decided that a change must be made in order for Southland to reclaim its title as the best AAA team in Georgia.

Considering the teams’ physical size and the Dave Walls, # 20, finds running room against small number of kids out for team in the spring, and continuing through the fall, the Raider Coaching Staff decided they needed a change in the weightlifting pro- | “From State Champs to repeat | | losing seasons, the Raiders were looking at a possible third losing | season” gram.

Head Coach Loveard McMicheal and his staff, g Rhodes, Tony Anderson, and Carl Pollock considered many different approaches and techniques, and Program.

Mainly due to the success they knew other schools were having using the program in similar situations.

In the winter of 1990 the rebuilding of a championship team began. needed to expand the weight room facilities and make a With the help of truly dedicated players and two weeks of hard work over the Christmas holidays, the team renovated an old locker room and made it into the Raiders’ new weight room.

As the foundation for the Southland program, the core lifts have formed the base. the intensity began to build as the team began to work harder than ever before. changed tremendously. The small team that came out in the spring of the year suddenly became more confident while the Raiders grew to become bigger, faster. and stronger.

Chris Castleberry, #30, opens a hole for #20, Dave Walls, in a brawl against Tattnoll The months of hard work and dedication began to show on the field as Southland went 10-2-1, making it to the State Semi-finals that 1990 season. was yet to come. and determined commitment to becoming the best grew.

The team continued to use the Bigger Faster Stronger program which brought the Southland Academy Raiders an undefeated, 14-0 season and a State Championship. In 1992, it was twice as nice, the Raiders finished 12-2 and secured for the second time running, the State Championship in a tense game decided in double overtime by a score of 27-21.

Southland Football Coach Craig Rhodes stated, "Because of the information provided by Bigger Faster Stronger, we coaches feel that BFS has definitely made a difference in Southland’s program." the Southland Academy Raiders for their commitment to excel and their determination to win.

Quarterback Chad Roland, #16. a difference in Southland's program"

From BFS Magazine — Spring 1993. Part of the BFS Magazine Archive (1980–2014).