Lovejoy High School football's new head coach Edgar Carson hopes to lead the Wildcats to their first state championship after several years of falling short.
Lovejoy introduced Carson Wednesday at the Clayton County High School Football Media Day Thursday at Southern Crescent Stadium on the campus of Charles Drew High School.
Carson is a familiar face around high school sports as he was the athletic director and defensive coordinator for the Wildcats before taking the head coaching position. Carson replaced longtime head coach Al Hughes, the winningest football coach in Clayton County Schools football history.
"The transition hasn't been that bad," Carson said. "The only thing that hasn't happened since I've been at Lovejoy is winning the state championship. Hopefully, we can keep pushing forward."
Carson said he and his team are trying to rid themselves of the sour taste they have suffered from through the offseason following their second-round loss to Lowndes in the region playoffs last season. It was the team's first home loss since 2010.
"It left a very bad taste in our mouth," senior defensive back Montrell Custis said. "This year, we're going to come hungry."
Custis, along with teammate Preston Williams, participated in Nike's The Opening football camp in Oregon.
Custis said working with some of the best athletes in the country was a great experience that taught him there will always be better athletes on the field than him, but the smartest people on the field are going to be the best.
Custis has committed to the University of Tennesee, and senior wide receiver Williams has committed to Alabama. Williams was the 2013 AJC Offensive Player of the Year.
Lovejoy was the State Championship runner-up in 2012 (Class AAAAAA) and in 2011(Class AAAA). The Wildcats won four consecutive region championships from 2008-12.
Lovejoy opens its season at Mundy's Mill High School Aug. 29.
