We tell you everything you need to know about the 2022 Irwin County football team in this preview. We take a look at roster changes and what fans can expect from the team this season.
2021 Stats
- Overall Record: 12-3
- Points Scored: 584
- Points Against: 258
Key Losses
Among the losses for Head Coach Casey Soliday and the Indians headed into 2022 are RB/ILB Nehemiah McCoy and RB Matthew Payne. McCoy was a force from his linebacker spot and came up big in several contests last season, including the Indians’ win over Wilkinson County, blocking two punts in the game.
Other highlights during McCoy’s career included a game-clinching interception returned for a TD against Tift County in the 2020 season. McCoy was the ITG Next-Georgia Irwin County Defensive Player of the Year last season. Payne, used primarily on offense, rushed for 404 yards and a couple of TDs, and TE Eli Roberts, a favorite target during his time at Irwin, hauled in 23 passes for 440 yards, averaging 19.1 yards per catch. Roberts also reeled in six TDs while at Irwin County. The Indians also will miss the services of graduating two-way standouts in Noah Brown and Toby Brown.
Who’s Back
Returning to lead the Indians in 2022 will be several big-time playmakers who have been instrumental in Irwin’s success not just last season, but during their careers in Ocilla. Leading the way back is QB Cody Soliday, who has thrown for 3,712 yards over the last couple of seasons as the Indians’ starter. He has also tossed an incredible 49 TDs with only 11 interceptions over that time. The senior has contributed 231 rushing yards and 12 TDs on the ground as well.
Speaking of the ground game, RBs Damarkas Lundy and Shane Marshall return to give Irwin stability in the run game in 2022. Lundy has carried the ball 211 times for 1,720 rushing yards and 21 TDs for the Indians during his career. Two receivers who will return to provide Soliday targets are Mason Snyder and Malachi Hadden. Snyder has 14 catches for 271 yards receiving and three TDs, while Hadden caught 17 passes for 364 yards and three TDs. Bo Payne has 321 combined rushing and receiving yards with three TDs so far at Irwin, and he’ll also be a playmaker in the defensive secondary for Irwin this season. TE/LB Bryce Clements returns with seven career TDs, and he will also serve as the Indians’ lone experienced ILB.
What To Expect
The biggest question on everyone’s mind will be can Irwin make it back to yet another state title game? They have appeared in six of the last seven, including last season’s loss to champion Brooks County. They may return just have enough key talent to do it.
According to Soliday, a few areas will determine his team’s success this season, and one of those is how fast his team’s offensive line can develop. “We will be bigger and stronger than last year’s line, but experience will be lacking,” the Indians head coach said. “This summer and the first half of the schedule will be important to them.”
Another important piece of the 2022 puzzle for Irwin is with their linebackers, specifically the inside backers. “We have three inside linebackers returning, but Bryce Clements is the only one with multiple game experience,” Soliday said.
Finally, Soliday points to the one element so important to every team: senior leadership. “We have a great group of seniors, academically and athletically, and if they will lead us, we have a great group of younger players who will follow and fight for them,” he said.
Prediction
Great players plus great coaching gives Irwin County another great opportunity to make the state title game.
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