MaxPreps 2013 Preseason Xcellent 25 Football preview: No. 5 Sandy Creek

No team has dominated its playoff bracket in the state of Georgia recently like Sandy Creek (Tyrone, Ga.), which has captured state titles in three of the last four seasons.

In 2013, the alma mater of Calvin Johnson has a chance to have its best, most talented team yet.

Head coach Chip Walker returns at least a half-dozen starters on both sides of the ball, including most of the team's premier playmakers from a year ago.

Leading the charge is explosive receiver Demarre Kitt. The Clemson-bound senior recorded nearly 1,200 yards as a junior and gives experienced quarterback Cole Garvin a trustworthy target.

The team features a pair of exciting junior running backs in Eric Swinney and Delvin Weems, who combined for nearly 2,500 yards last season.

Swinney already has multiple SEC offers and Weems isn't too far behind.

Defensively, the team boasts an almost equal level of talent, starting up front with Chris Williams.

The 6-foot-2, 270-pound defensive tackle is an extremely disruptive force. He had 56 tackles (17 for loss) and 11 sacks as a junior and has offers from the likes of Ohio State, Tennessee and South Carolina.

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Khari Lain, an extremely productive linebacker last year, returns. He'll be joined by 6-foot-3 Javonte Lain. The secondary loses Shaq Wiggins to Georgia, so it will be an inexperienced but talented group and should feature sophomores Javon Jackson and Ronnie Blackmon.

Local look: "They could win an all-class state title in Georgia, and I don't often say that about teams below the highest classification. They've got a half dozen or more D-1 prospects, a couple of returning 1,000-yard rushers, a 2,000-yard passer and 1,000-yard receiver. They had one close game last year. Unfortunately, they won't face a nationally elite team this year to prove exactly where they stand in the nation or even in Georgia."
- Todd Holcomb, Atlanta Journal-Constitution