University of Georgia head football coach Mark Richt and several of his assistant coaches were in town Tuesday to pay recruiting visits to Griffin High and Spalding High.

Thereafter, Richt, newly acquired Bulldogs defensive coordinator Todd Grantham and defensive backs coach Scott Lakatos as well as long-time assistant head coach/defensive line coach and recruiting coordinator Rodney Garner left for Class AAAA state champ Sandy Creek in nearby Tyrone, Ga.

Richt was scheduled to fly to Calhoun later in the day.

Second-year Spalding High head coach Clint Ashmore said UGA was interested in junior defensive tackle Chris Mayes. Across town, ninth-year Bears head coach Steve DeVoursney said the entourage was interested in juniors Xzavier Dickson (DE) and Corey Moore (S).

National Signing Day is Feb. 3, a week from today. It’s the first day seniors can sign National Letters of Intent.

Dickson has already fielded offers from Auburn, Florida State, Oklahoma State, Arkansas and Mississippi State as well as Georgia. Other Griffin players to receive offers include Ty Turner (Wake Forest) and Chandler Worthy (Oklahoma State).

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TAKING VISITS AND GREETING HEAD COACHES: Griffin High has five seniors — defensive end Brandon Williamson, running back Buck Hancock, linebacker Cartavious Woods, lineman Demetrius Williams and quarterback Marcus Waller — expected to take a visit Saturday to Fort Valley State University.

GHS junior Xzavier Dickson is expected to take a visit to Alabama. Toward that end, Alabama head coach Nick Saban is expected to visit Griffin High on Thursday. Florida head coach Urban Meyer is also expected to pay Griffin a visit one day this week, according to Griffin head coach Steve DeVoursney.

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2010 SCHEDULES RELEASED: Griffin head coach Steve DeVoursney and Spalding head coach Clint Ashmore each released their team’s 2010 schedules (see below).

Griffin has non-subregion games against Spalding, Upson-Lee and Harris County, while Spalding has non-region games against Griffin and LaGrange.

The two local teams will meet in the season opener Aug. 27. Also of note for Spalding is a Thursday game against LaGrange and a Saturday game against Henry County as well as a Week No. 11 open date. Also of note for Griffin is a Week 11 crossover subregion playoff games where 1’s play 1’s and 2’s play 3’s. Four’s will 4’s, 5’s will play 5’s, 6’s will play 6’s and 7’s will play 7’s.

Griffin High 2010 Football Schedule

Date Opponent

Aug. 27 Spalding

Sept. 3 Upson-Lee

Sept. 10 @ Harris Co.

Sept. 16 Jones Co. *

Sept. 24 Alcovy *

Oct. 1 @ Woodland *

Oct. 8 OPEN

Oct. 15 Union Grove *

Oct. 22 @ Dutchtown *

Oct. 29 @ Ola *

Nov. 5 Region playoffs

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Spalding 2010 Football Schedule

Date Opponent

Aug. 27 @ Griffin

Sept. 2 LaGrange

TBA @ Drew *

Sept. 16 Stockbridge *

Sept. 24 @ Eastside *

Oct. 1 Eagle’s Landing *

Oct. 8 @ Jackson *

Oct. 16 Henry County *

Oct. 22 @ Sandy Creek *

Oct. 29 Locust Grove *

Nov. 5 OPEN

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GRIFFIN HIGH FOOTBALL BANQUET TONIGHT: The Griffin High football team will have its annual banquet 6:30 p.m., today to celebrate the 2009 season.

The Bears (13-1) made it back-to-back trips to the Class AAAA state semifinals in 2009. All players, coaches, family and fans are welcome.

Cost is $6 per plate for fans.