Staff file photo by Jon-Michael Sullivan
The Raiders will be nationally televised on Oct. 26 when they host Milton. Kickoff is scheduled for 9 p.m.
It was the Milton game that suited both interests of the team and the network. Now Region 5AAAAAA rivals, the two teams met in the first round of the Class AAAAA state tournament last season when they played in different regions with Walton winning 48-14. Milton is expected to be a playoff contender in 2012.
It’s the first time since the school opened 37 years ago that Walton football is being televised nationally. The game was pushed back to 9 p.m. from its standard 7:30 start to suit the needs of markets on the west coast.
“They wanted to profile us and find a good game that we play, and (Milton) worked out best for them and for us, and the rest is history,” Walton athletics director Christian Suttle said. “It was crazy.”
Walton’s Oct. 5 matchup with reigning state semifinalist and region rival Lassiter would likely have been the more fitting matchup for the Walton community, but Walton plays Lassiter on the road and ESPNU preferred to profile the Raiders at Raider Valley.
“We were all very excited for Coach (Rocky) Hidalgo and his coaching staff,” Suttle said. We’re very excited to showcase our school and athletic program. It’s a great opportunity for the kids who will be playing in a year or so on a larger platform, and it gives them exposure.”
Walton had a perfect season prior to its 24-0 loss to Grayson in the state championship. The Raiders cruised through region competition by averaging 35 points a game while giving up just eight.
The Raiders appear to be in good shape offensively, and the nation will have a chance to see it firsthand. Tyren Jones was Cobb County’s leading rusher last season with 2,375 yards and 33 touchdowns. Quarterback Parker McLeod is also returning, and both are on track to be teammates at Alabama next year. Walton should also benefit from a strong offensive line behind Georgia commit Brandon Kublanow.
Its defense took a hit to graduation led by twin defensive backs Zack and Daron Blaylock, who are both starting their college careers at Kentucky and will be less experienced this season with only three starters returning.
The Raiders have a knack for reloading instead of rebuilding and are expecting big things from lineman Blake Montz, who had seven sacks last season.
“I think it will be a great experience for our kids,” Hidalgo said. “It kind of shows where our program is. ESPN wants to come show Walton on a national scale, and that shows what caliber players we have.”
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Try not to choke when you play on TV. Little bit of free advice for your Raider Coaches - Brookwood is gonna stuff the run like Grayson did and force you to throw the ball. There is your exposure. The joke of the GA Invitational 7on7 was how many INTs your High Profile QB threw. I guess you haven't figured out how to get Tyren to throw the ball for you yet. Haha. Our Sophomore QB is better than your guy.
FYI: "For what?" is too stupid to be a Lassiter parent.
I do like the excerpt:
The Raiders have a knack for reloading instead of rebuilding and are expecting big things from lineman Blake Montz, who had seven sacks last season.
"The Tyren Jones Show" was fun to watch last year. You can't be serious by saying he only got an Alabama Scholarship because he went to Walton. He would have gotten a scholarship to where ever he wanted because of his talents.
A lot of people were laughing at the 7on7 when the entire Walton team was between the 20 and the 40 yard lines except for Tyren and his Dad. You don't coach Tyren, his Dad does and don't you forget it.
This is nothing new. Walton has had that for years in football and to a somewhat lesser extent, basketball. Lassiter has had people move in to the district for baseball for a number of years. Just because a school has transfers and such doesn't mean it is recruiting...if that was the case any number of schools all over the state would be in deep, deep trouble.
While it is true there are new faces at Lassiter this year, I also expect there are new transfers/move-ins at Walton/Kell/Grayson/N. Gwinnett/Camden/Colquitt/etc. As long as they have addresses in a given district or were given transfers by the DISTRICTS for whatever reasons, there should be no complaining by any school.
Happy Cobb gets to have a team on national TV though. Wish it was Walton-Lassiter, since that is a very big rivalry, but since it is at Lassiter this year no dice.
How do you know the other students who transfered didn't transfer for the very same reasons that Tyren did. I guess for you the only good transfer is a Walton transfer.
If you have evidence to support your claims, we will be happy to talk with you about it. However, if you are unwilling to go on the record, please stop throwing out unwarranted accusations.
I was on the team in 2007 and sorry to burst your bubble but we were not in the finals. North Gwinnett was the semifinals. Last years team was the first to ever make it to the State Championship