Stone Mountain Welcomes Back 15 Starters

Stone Mountain Coach Dante Ferguson welcomed back a lot of returning starters when spring football practice began. There were eight on the offensive side and seven more on defense.

Ferguson hopes to leverage all that experience into a few more wins this season and a trip to the state playoffs. Not that it will be easy playing in Region 5-AAA.

On the eve of the season opener, Ferguson said, "The outlook is positive for the 2011 Pirates. With multiple starters returning, we are counting on their experience to help lead us to a region title."

The team faces Westside Macon tonight at 8 pm, Adams Stadium.

The Pirates will have to break in an inexperienced quarterback, but offense, which averaged 22.4 points a game last year, still should be potent.

Ferguson says sophomore Corderal Cook will share signal calling duties with Markuss Eligwe and both will have multiple weapons at their disposal.

Starters returning at the running back positions are William Parker (6'0, 205) and Rickie Little Jr. (5'10, 210). Holdover wide receivers are Armagedon Draughn (6'4, 189), Tamarick Johnson (6'0, 170) and Fred Scott (5'9, 168) who can also fill in at running back. All are battle tested seniors.

Leading the way up front will be tackles Micah Anderson (6'4,355) and Blake Rushing (6'2, 240) at the tackles and center Coy Reliford (6'2, 230).

When he's not playing quarterback, look for Eligwe (6'3, 215) to return to his position at linebacker where he won All American honors last year. He anchors an experienced corp of defenders that led DeKalb county last season in total defense. Alongside him will be Little, Jordan Collier(5'11, 178lbs) and Timothy Webster (6'2, 219).

Three starters also return in the secondary, including Johnson, Scott and Aaron Sibley(5'11, 171).