Category: Atlantis

Inaugural Football All-Conference Team Announced

The first-ever New South Athletic Conference Football All-Conference Team has been selected as voted by the league’s coaches.

NSAC champion Clayton State led the way with quarterback Sire Hardaway voted as Offensive Player of the Year and returner Darrell Bland, Jr. selected as Special Teams Player of the Year.

Lighthouse safety Kemontre Current was voted as the Defensive Player of the Year.

“My congratulations to each team and player for a tremendous first season,” said NSAC commissioner Mike Davis.” These young men have laid the foundation for success that others will build on in the coming years.”

2025 NSAC All-Conference Football Team

FIRST TEAM

Apprentice:

  • TK Petty
  • Hunt Kendall
  • Brian Lucas
  • Caleb Davidson
  • Wilberto Sanchez

Atlantis:

  • James Lewis
  • Cris Thornton

Clayton State:

  • Sire Hardaway (Offensive Player of the Year)
  • Savion West
  • Darrell Bland, Jr. (Special Teams Player of the Year)
  • Cendray Dixon
  • Davion McGill
  • Maxton Patterson
  • Charles Gordon

Gordon State:

  • Dontevius Williams
  • Marvin Howard

Lighthouse Christian:

  • Kemontre Current (Defensive Player of the Year)
  • Jamarkus Jefferson
  • Josh Crandle
  • Paul Gatley

SC Central Christian:

  • Kelvon Lee
  • Kylar Barkley

Westgate Christian:

  • Kiram Dallas
  • Jonathan McCoy
  • Josh Miller

SECOND TEAM:

Apprentice:

  • Chase Gayness
  • Logan Eastman
  • Baker Green

Atlantis:

  • Thomas Schuck
  • Jamarri Wright
  • Christopher Hamilton
  • D’Ryan Bartley

Clayton State:

  • Danirion Moxey
  • Clinton Rafe
  • Matthew Faulkner

Gordon State:

  • JD Trail
  • Jaden Dorsey

Lighthouse Christian:

  • Kabron Purifoy
  • John Sessions
  • Troy Medlin
  • Deontae Reinhart
  • Bryce French
  • Bodie Hardy

SC Central Christian:

  • Dexter Gunter
  • Nicholas Holmes
  • Timyris Lippett
  • Joseph Tolbert

Westgate Christian:

  • Jayir Nelson
  • Darren Durand
  • Maurice Hubbard
  • AJ Scott
  • Tresean Wiley

Photo by George Pisarevsky on Unsplash

Clayton State, Lighthouse Dominate Division Championships, Setting Up Title Tilt

After Saturday’s action, the stage is now set for the first-ever New South Conference Football Championship.

Clayton State asserted control and defeated the Apprentice School 42-13 on Saturday at Steele Road Stadium in Morrow, Georgia, clinching the NSAC North Division championship.

The Lakers opened the scoring early in the first quarter when Zsewaun Smith powered into the end zone from three yards out, putting the Lakers ahead 7-0. The Builders responded with a 3-yard run by Alvin Hicks, knotting the game at 7-7. But Clayton State took over before the quarter ended, with quarterback Sire Hardaway throwing a 43-yard touchdown pass to Savion West, and Avon Findley running in from a yard out to cap the opening stanza on a 20-7 lead.

The second quarter saw the Lakers extend their lead when Ray Storey intercepted a pass and returned it 25 yards for a touchdown. That made it 28-7 at halftime.

In the third quarter, Clayton State delivered the knockout blow on a single play: Smith found Clenton Rafe on an 80-yard touchdown pass. That put the Lakers ahead 35-7. And in the fourth quarter, after a short scoring push by the Builders, a 1-yard run by Kendall Hunt, the Lakers answered with a 72-yard pass from Hardaway to West, sealing the 42-13 outcome.

Clayton State outgained the Builders 495 yards to 313, including 352 passing yards and 143 rushing yards. The Builders managed 240 passing yards and 96 rushing yards. Turnovers also hurt the Builders with three fumbles lost, while Clayton State lost one.

For the Lakers, Hardaway was 14-24 passing for 272 yards and two TDs, while Smith added the 80-yard scoring strike and also rushed for 94 yards and a TD.

For the Builders, Kendall Hunt completed 11 of 28 for 240 yards, but threw two interceptions and no touchdowns.

The win moves Clayton State to 8-1 overall and 4-0 in conference play. Apprentice School falls to 5-4 overall, 3-1 in conference.

Also on Saturday afternoon, Lighthouse Christian ran away from Atlantis 48-6 in Milton, Florida to lock up the South Division Championship with an 8-1 overall record and 3-1 in conference play. The Makos were led by Kemontre Current’s stellar defensive performance with four interceptions, including three consecutive pick-sixes to put the game away.

That sets the stage for the inaugural New South Athletic Conference football championship between Clayton State and Lighthouse on November 15 at Steele Road Stadium.

Photo by Keith Johnston on Unsplash

Clayton State, Lighthouse Top Preseason Predictions

In a poll of the league’s football coaches, Clayton State and Lighthouse Christian are the projected winners of the NSAC’s North Division and South Division respectively for 2025.

The poll, taken earlier this week, sets the expectations (and bulletin board material) for the New South’s first season of gridiron action.

The season opens on August 23 as Atlantis hosts South Florida Tech. The game will count as a conference game for the Atlanteans and serve as the first ever NSAC context.

NORTH DIVISION

  1. Clayton State
  2. SC Central Christian
  3. Apprentice
  4. Barber-Scotia

SOUTH DIVISION

  1. Lighthouse Christian
  2. Gordon State
  3. Atlantis
  4. Westgate Christian

The two division champions will meet for the inaugural NSAC Football Championship on November 15 in Metro Atlanta, Georgia.

Graphic by WildCard Entertainment