While trying to bring a state championship home to Prince Avenue Christian School for the first time in program history, head coach Greg Vandagriff is battling a bigger concern.
That is the health of his son, five-star University of Georgia quarterback commit Brock Vandagriff.
“At the end of the day, my job is to deliver my son healthy, ready to play for Georgia,” Vandagriff’s dad said. “That’s all I care about.”
The Class A Private state championship game is scheduled for Monday, Dec. 28, at Center Parc Stadium in Atlanta. With Vandagriff planning to early-enroll at Georgia when the spring semester starts on Jan. 13, that would make it just 15 days between Vandagriff’s potential final game at Prince Avenue and the time he starts his college tenure at Georgia.
Vandagriff and the Wolverines host Eagle’s Landing Christian Academy in a state quarterfinal game at 7:30 p.m. Friday. The Chargers knocked out Prince Avenue in the second round last year in a 62-57 shootout then went on to win the 2019 Class A Private state championship, their fifth straight.
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After suffering a broken left leg a year ago that forced him to miss four games of his 2019 junior campaign, Vandagriff has been taking precautions in his playing style.
“Probably not running as much this year and trying to do what the team needs, and right now it’s just giving it to other guys,” Vandagriff said.
One of those weapons is senior wide receiver Logan Johnson. Through 11 games played on the season, the senior has amassed 1,004 receiving yards on 58 receptions with 17 of those going for touchdowns.
Johnson is just one piece of this versatile offensive arsenal that is helping give Vandagriff a break from his feet as he prepares for his freshman year at Georgia.
“We’ve developed a good offensive line and some people that can give Brock some time,” Johnson said. “We have a great receiving corps and great running back … so it’s more of both a game-plan thing and health thing for Brock.”
Senior receiver Zac Dyer is second on the team in receptions, receiving yards and receiving touchdowns behind Johnson. Dyer has 47 receptions for 950 yards and nine trips to the end zone on the year.
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Senior running back Landon Owens has compiled 895 yards on the ground with 13 touchdowns while averaging nine yards per carry.
When Vandagriff began his senior season at Prince Avenue this fall, the circumstances surrounding this season were very much in doubt due to impacts from the coronavirus.
Vandagriff is attempting to make his own mark and reverse the shortcomings that the Wolverines have faced in the playoffs throughout their program history.
Prince Avenue won four consecutive region titles when Vandagriff was in grades five through eight. Having regained a region crown in 2020, he is looking to go much further by capturing a state title.
Prince Avenue last won a region title in 2016, when Greg Vandagriff first took over head coaching duties for the Wolverines.
The Wolverines have looked virtually unstoppable on offense all year, amassing more than 40 points in all of their games this season other than two, where they scored 35 and 31, respectively.
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Vandagriff has thrown for 3,342 yards, connecting for 40 touchdowns with just six interceptions this season. Vandagriff’s quarterback rating is an astounding 141.8. He has also tacked on 394 rushing yards and 13 more scores on the ground, despite his limitations.
Vandagriff said he hopes that by keeping his legs fresh and healthy this season, he can provide Georgia with some mobility at quarterback.
“I don’t think that’s something they’re missing,” Vandagriff said, “but I think that some of that could help out the offense.”
After decommitting from Oklahoma in January 2020, Vandagriff decided to commit to his hometown team. His parents, especially his father who grew up coaching him, couldn’t be happier.
“It’s really nice and comforting for us as parents to know that we’ll be able to make again, you know, all the home games and three-fourths of the away games,” Vandagriff’s dad said.
Georgia has had some controversy surrounding its quarterback situation this season. After D’Wan Mathis was pulled after just six offensive series versus Arkansas, junior Stetson Bennett replaced him and started the next five games for the Bulldogs. Former five-star and USC transfer JT Daniels was then called upon by coach Kirby Smart after Bennett’s struggles, and Daniels has thrived in the role in the two games that he has started.
Asked about the possibility of Vandagriff starting at Georgia as a true freshman, his dad said he wants what’s best for both the team and his son.
“We want to win, you know, next year, we want them to do what’s best for them,” his dad said. “You know, and again, we obviously selfishly would want our son to be playing quarterback.”
When Vandagriff begins his time at Georgia, he will look to have a state title under his belt while maintaining his health in order to help the Bulldogs.
Jackson and Taylor are students in the sports media program at the University of Georgia’s College of Journalism and Mass Communication.
