Summary of last season:
It was an anomaly. One of those rare occurrences you see only once in every great while. Charlton County missed the playoffs in 2016. The Indians had their worst record since 1988, going 3-6 in a storm shortened season. The Indians did not make the playoffs for the first time in Coach Rich McWhorter’s 27 year tenure at the school. Indications started at the beginning of the season when Charlton fell to Brantley County in their season opener at home. The Indians showed flashes of offensive brilliance in their three wins but not the rest of the season.
The Coach:
Coach Rich McWhorter is The Patriarch of Southeast Georgia football coaches. A past “In the Game” SEGA Coach of the Year, he has spent all 27 years of his coaching career at Charlton County and has won four state championships in seven trips to the big show. A master of conforming his offense to fit his talent pool, Coach Mac finds ways to win.
Outlook for this season?
“We hope and expect to be better than last year,” Coach McWhorter said. “We had very good winter workouts and spring went well.”
A total of 13 starters return from last year’s team. Charlton County has always had great athletes and that continues this year. Raykwon Anderson has already committed to the University of Florida and hopes to have a strong junior campaign for the Indians as they work their way back to playoff form. Several seniors dot the lineup as well as some young players who will take some important snaps.
Big games this year:
“Every game,” Coach McWhorter said.
Because of the power ratings system used to seed Single-A public schools in the playoffs, every game a team plays is important. This year’s road opener in Nahunta against the Brantley County Herons will determine how the season will go. Home games follow against Appling and Savannah Christian and then road trips to Atkinson and Turner. The annual Swamp War against Clinch will be on the Panthers’ turf in Homerville this season on October 27.
SE-SF-0817-Charlton
Indians Working Their Way Back to the Playoffs
