Vikings Are Working Hard

It has been a rough few years for the Treutlen County High School Vikings. They are hoping to see some changes under new leadership with Head Coach Alan Shurling taking over at the helm. The Vikings were 0-10 two years ago and went 3-7 last season. They are hoping to improve on those numbers this season.

The Vikings will be in Region 4 of Class A Division 2 this year, and this is going to be a very competitive Region. They will also be back in a Region with both of their rivals, Montgomery County and Wheeler County this year.

Coach Shurling is coming to Treutlen from Cedartown where he was the Offensive Coordinator and the line coach. He is taking over at Wheeler and will have some new names on the staff there. This is the first Head Coaching position for Shurling, and he is hoping that he will be able to make an impact for the Vikings. Shurling will also be the Offensive Coordinator for the Vikings. He is adding Rodrick Williams as the Defensive Coordinator who is coming in from Tattnall County. Coach Davis Brinson, who is a returning coach, will be taking over the running backs and outside linebackers. Coach Travis Clark will handle the linemen, Coach Tavares Lewis will be in charge of the secondary and is another of the returning coaches. Coach Mason Beacham will help with the offensive line.

Shurling was able to get to Treutlen at the end of January this year, so he has had time to get to know his players and to start getting them on track. He said that the summer went really well as they attended and OTA at Dublin. They started off slow at the OTA, but as it went on, they began to find their feet and picked up as their confidence grew. They had good attendance in the summer at workouts, and then at Johnson County for an OTA, Coach Shurling said that he really saw the kids coming together and he saw a real change in attitude and growth.

He added that he knows that he has been demanding of the team so far since he has arrived, but that they have responded well, and they have really stepped up, and the players are really seeing the benefits of what is being asked of them. And he added that he is proud of all that they have accomplished so far.

Coach Shurling said that there are two players who have really stepped up as leaders for the program with Jake Brooks on the defensive side of the ball and Kylan Page on offense. Brooks has learned the new system and has taken the defense under his wing to help teach and get everyone in the current position. Page has never been a quarterback before but has been working hard and has become a real leader for the offense. He has made big strides and has transitioned well to quarterback.

On the offensive side of the ball, the Vikings will have Kylan Page and Kavion Peeples taking snaps at quarterback. Page is more of a dual threat player. Peeples is a good game manager and is the better passer of the two. In the backfield, they will look to Roderick Fuller who will be their power back, with Deverin Knowles at wing, with Za’Kian “Peanut” Tobler at fullback. At receiver, Jordan Coney and Zan Stokes will be the main two guys to fill the role at wide receiver. Tyler Gillis and Caden Perish will be a tight end for Treutlen.

Up front for the Vikings, they will have Tegan Phillips taking over at center. It will be his first year as a starter, and they are looking for him to step up and take on the challenge. There will be a total of three new starters on the line for the Vikings this season. Carter Roberson will start at right guard and is also a first-time starter. Tyrone Jones will also be a first-year starter and will be at right tackle. Coach Shurling added that they are expecting the right side of the line with two new starters to step up and to make plays and to continue to develop over the season. On the left side, they will have Jake Brooks at guard, and then Charvis Givens will be at left tackle. They both have experience and will help anchor the line.

Up front on the defensive line, they will be looking to Givins and Roberson to start at defensive end with Jones rotating in. Gillis will be up front at nose guard, and they are looking to him to be a force in the middle of the line.

At linebacker, they will be looking to Brooks to head up the defense as a four-year starter. Johnny Johnson will be another key inside linebacker who has a good eye for the football, as will Tobler who has really grown into the position. Fuller will be a solid player at outside linebacker, with Knowles at the other side who will be a good blitzer.

At corner back, the Vikings will look at Coney and Page, with Zion Brown rotating in. Coney and Page are both seniors and four-year starters and are the two most athletic kids on the team. Stokes will be over the top at safety for the Vikings and can cover a lot of ground. continued from page

The punter for the Vikings will be Brooks. Fuller and Johnson are both working with kickoffs and extra points. The long snapper will be Tobler.

Coach Shurling stated, “The administration has just been great. They have worked to help us get our kids together in the weight room, getting us things that we need and helping a ton with the day-to-day things that a program needs to work well. Our Principal, Brandon Tucker, has been so helpful. Our Athletic Director, our Superintendent, Assistant Superintendent, they have all been really supportive.

“The community has been really supportive as well. We have gotten lots of donations already, food, drinks, they have just been great for these kids.

“I think that we are going to surprise people with what we have been able to accomplish so far and they should be able to see it on Friday nights.”

Treutlen Sophomores – (L to R): Jermarvian Wicker, Caleb Powell, Deverin Knowles, Jalek Johnson; (Back): Tegan Phillips, Zan Stokes, DiByro Wiggins, Jabari Taylor, Za’Kian Tobler, and Tyler Gillis.Photo by Pix Photography

Treutlen Coaches – (L to R): Defensive Coordinator Rodrick Williams, Tavares Lewis, Head Coach Alan Shurling, Travis Clark, Davis Brinson, and Mason Beacham.Photo by Pix Photography

Treutlen Cheerleaders – (L to R, Front): Carly Braddy, Camdyn Brantley, Addyson Horne; (2nd Row): Londyn Johnson, Abigale Walker, Takyla Wadley, Natalie Meeks; (3rd Row): Alexia Boynton, Lilly Meeks, Kaylyn Kight, Kenley Kight, Scout Braddy; (Back): AnnaReese Lamb, Jayden Rogers, Marley Strickland, Cloey Hutcheson, and Kaitlyn Hackle.Photo by Pix Photography

Treutlen Seniors – (L to R, Front): Jake Brooks, Roderick Fuller; (Back): Kylan Page, Jamorion Thomas, and Jordan Coney.Photo by Pix Photography