The Atlanta Falcons Coach of the Week program recognizes high school football coaches across the state of Georgia for their hard work and dedication to making a difference in student-athletes' lives on and off the field.

 

	Photo by _ISmoothShots

The first winner of the 2018 season comes just five miles down the road from Mercedes-Benz Stadium with Douglass High School Athletics Director and head football coach Rodney Cofield, who has been leading student athletes within the Atlanta Public School system for more than two decades.

 

Cofield was inspired to become an educator and coach during his own playing days at Fulton High School in the early 1980's under his celebrated head coach Willie Hunter. As Hunter's quarterback, Cofield led the Redbirds to back-to-back region titles (1982-83) and when he accepted his first-ever head coaching job at Booker T. Washington High School in 1995, it wasn't long before his former head coach joined his staff. The Bulldogs had tremendous success during Cofield's 13 seasons spent as head coach and he would remain on campus in the role of assistant principle from 2008-11.

 

A chance to return to coaching and also turnaround a struggling program opened up down the road at Douglass High School in 2012 and Cofield stepped in as the head coach and athletics director. The Douglass football team had gone 1-49 in their last 50 games when Cofield arrived, but he quickly drove up participation numbers and the program successfully turned the corner. Now, the Astros have posted three straight winning seasons, have reached back-to-back playoffs and have no intention of slowing down anytime soon.

 

Sparked by their electric senior quarterback, receiver and cornerback Juan Powell, this year's Douglass Astros are 3-0 for the first time since the 2006 season. The offense is averaging 48.7 points per game and Powell has already racked up 180 yards passing, three passing touchdowns, 507 rushing yards, six rushing touchdowns and an 81-yard interception return for a touchdown.

 

"Coach Cofield exemplifies everything it takes to be a true leader and coach," stated Chick-fil-A Play it Smart Academic Coach Stephanie Wallace." He is passionate about his job, he loves his players, but he also knows how to be tough when he needs to be. His greatest desire is to see these young men who live in an area that is considered disenfranchised succeed in life."

 

Each week, one coach will be selected to be the Atlanta Falcons Coach of the Week based on his commitment to his team, community and player safety. The winning coach will receive a $1,000 equipment grant, a commemorative football and tickets to an Atlanta Falcons home game.

 

To nominate a varsity football coach:  Click Here

 

Rolling nominations will be accepted until Nov. 1.

In Tuesday night softball action, Calhoun defeated Murray County 13-1 in four innings. The Lady Yellow Jackets star Lyndi Rae Davis went 3-for-4 with a home run, a double and four RBIs. Erin Barnes went 3-for-4, Bailee Pullen was 2-for-2 and Molly Walker, the winning pitcher, went 2-for-3 with four strikeouts and one hit allowed. Cambridge outclassed Johns Creek for a 10-0 victory. The win marked the fourth-consecutive win for the Lady Bears. Flowery Branch blanked Chestatee 15-0 in a region win.

In volleyball, Heritage-Catoosa got two wins on the evening. The Lady Generals first defeated Fannin County in three sets. After falling in the first set 20-25, Heritage stormed back supported by Kali Brown's 11 digs, seven kills and one ace. Heritage won the second set 25-16 and third 17-15. Morgan Trotter had 10 kills in the win. The Lady Generals then won the second match over Ringgold (25-22, 25-22) with Avery Phillips (21 assists) and Kayla Varnon (five kills) leading the way. Fellowship Christian won two matches tonight over King's Ridge (25-6, 25-4) and Mt. Pisgah (25-19, 25-16).

Remember, each Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday we will pack our scoreboard with softball and volleyball scores from all over the state. You can follow us on Twitter (@scoreatlanta) or download our app to follow along!

Softball

Allatoona 8, South Cobb 2
Appling County 6, Liberty County 3
Bacon County 5, Jeff Davis 1
Bainbridge 9, Thomas County Central 0
Beach 20, Groves 10
Blessed Trinity 17, West Hall 0
Brantley County 3, Camden County 2
Brookstone 10, Crawford County 1
Calhoun 13, Murray County 1
Cambridge 10, Johns Creek 0
Cedartown 10, Cartersville 3
Centennial 23, Northview 7
Central-Carroll 4, LaGrange 1
Chamblee 16, Lithonia 0
Chapel Hill 6, Troup 4
Chattahoochee 8, Alpharetta 6
Cherokee Bluff 10, Pace Academy 0
Coahulla Creek 2, Lakeview-Fort Oglethorpe 1
Coffee 8, Tift County 5
Dacula 13, Gainesville 0
Fellowship Christian 5, Mt. Pisgah Christian 2
First Presbyterian 9, Tattnall Square 5
Flowery Branch 15, Chestatee 0
Gilmer 8, Southeast Whitfield 2
Gordon Lee 8, Bowdon 0
Hampton 12, Jackson 0
Haralson County 17, Douglas County 0
Hardaway 10, Callaway 7
Harlem 3, Greenbrier 0
Hawkinsville 9, Taylor County 0
Heritage-Catoosa 6, LaFayette 0
Houston County 5, Jones County 1
Jenkins County 12, Jefferson County 3
Kell 3, Rome 2
Lake Oconee Academy 8, Glascock County 7
Loganville 3, Archer 1
Lumpkin County 14, Rabun County 1
Marietta 19, North Atlanta 2
Mt. Zion, Carroll 2, Christian Heritage 0
North Cobb Christian 11, Whitefield Academy 0
North Oconee 19, Clarke Central 0
Northgate 10, Woodward Academy 2
Northwest Whitfield 10, Pickens 0
Pataula Charter 11, Baconton Charter 0
Pike County 15, Westside-Macon 0
Rockdale County 14, Cedar Shoals 1
Sandy Creek 19, Lovejoy 3
Shaw 12, Spencer 0
Southwest DeKalb 6, Miller Grove 2
Statesboro 7, Screven County 3
Stratford Academy 11, Mt. de Sales 2
Trion 13, Darlington 3
Upson-Lee 3, Spalding 2
Veterans 13, Warner Robins 5
Vidalia 15, Bryan County 0
Walker 6, King's Ridge 2
Westlake 11, Wheeler 3
White County 9, Denmark 8
Wilcox County 7, Clinch County 1

Volleyball
Burke County 2, Butler 0
Clarkston 2, Columbia 1
Clarkston 2, Cross Keys 0
Coosa 2, Adairsville 0
Coosa 2, LaFayette 0
Dade County 2, Gordon Central 0
Eagles Landing Christian 2, Our Lady of Mercy 0
Eagles Landing Christian 2, Trinity Catholic 0
Fellowship Christian 0, Mt. Pisgah Christian 0
Fellowship Christian 2, King's Ridge 0
Gordon Lee 2, Chattooga 0
Habersham Central 2, Gainesville 1
Hardaway 2, Shaw 0
Hart County 2, Monroe Area 0
Jackson 3, Peach County 0
Jackson County 2, Hart County 0
Jackson County 2, Monroe Area 0
Jefferson 3, Franklin County 0
Kell 2, Cass 0
LaFayette 2, Adairsville 0
Lake Oconee Academy 2, Putnam County 0
Lake Oconee Academy 2, Union County 0
Landmark Christian 3, SW Atlanta Christian 0
Lookout Valley 2, Dade County 0
Mt. de Sales 2, Lee County 1
Mt. Pisgah Christian 2, Greenforest 0
Peachtree Ridge 2, Providence Christian 0
Pope 2, Centennial 0
Pope 2, Northview 0
Providence Christian 2, Wesleyan 1
Riverwood 3, North Springs 0
Savannah Country Day 2, Hilton Head Christian 0
Shaw 2, Americus-Sumter 0
Stewart County 2, Randolph-Clay 0
Temple 2, Central-Talbotton 1
Temple 2, Manchester 0
Thomasville 2, Randolph-Clay 0
Villa Rica 2, Hiram 1