A pair of former Griffin Bears will lace it up in Saturday's SEC Championship game at the Georgia Dome, second-string safety Corey Moore for No. 3 ranked Georgia and starting linebacker Xzavier Dickson for No. 2 ranked Alabama.

Griffin High joins Buford, Calhoun and Harris County as one of only four high schools — across the country — to have a player on each roster.

Few will be as proud to watch the game as Bears head coach Steve DeVoursney.

"To have two kids who graduated in the same year and signed in the SEC now playing against each other for the SEC Championship is an honor," said DeVoursney. "I'm pulling for both of them."

Dickson and Moore played at Griffin from 2007-2010 during which time the Bears posted records of 9-2, 10-4, 13-1 and 10-2, respectively, and made it to the state semifinals in 2008 and 2009.

"I remember Xzavier as a great defensive end," said DeVoursney. "People didn't want to run the ball at him, and he was a great pass rusher too. He started as a sophomore. By the end of his senior year he played some tight end too."

"Corey didn't start until his junior year, but did a good job in the secondary," said DeVoursney. "He was real physical. By his senior year he also played some quarterback and wide receiver too."

Of course, neither wasted any time getting action once they transitioned to college for the 2011 season.

Dickson played in seven games as a true freshman and even had a tackle on special teams in the BCS National Championship game against LSU to end the season with 2 unassisted tackles, 1 assisted tackle, 1.5 tackles for a loss and .5 sacks. Moore saw action in 12 games as a true freshman, including the SEC Championship game against LSU, to end the season with 1 unassisted tackle.

Both have seen considerably more playing time this season.

Dickson played in 12 games this season for the Tide, starting in six — including four in a row at one point — and five of the last seven. He has 9 unassisted tackles, 19 assisted tackles, 1 unassisted sack, 1 assisted sack, 1 unassisted tackle for a loss and 4 assisted TFLs as well as 1 forced fumble. His two best outings this season came against Tennessee (3 unassisted tackles and 1 assisted tackle) and Texas A&M where he had 2 unassisted tackles and 4 assisted tackles, including half a sack and a tackle for a loss.

Moore played in 12 games and started in one, a 37-12 win on Nov. 3 against Ole Miss. He has 4 unassisted tackles and 9 assisted tackles this season, including 1 tackle for a loss. His best game game against Georgia Southern where he logged 2 unassisted tackles and 2 assisted tackles.

"That says a lot about both of those kids," DeVoursney said. "I know both of their parents, Anthony Dickson and O.J. Moore, are proud. They did a lot to make sure those kids got into those programs — grades, SAT scores and giving support to the coaches and the program."

Both players are shining examples of where football can take you.



(John Sullivan is the sports editor at the Griffin Daily News.)