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Mays and Tucker headline 2019 high school kickoff jamboree

ATLANTA VOICE — The 2019 Corky Kell Classic is upon us and the Mays Raiders are the lone football club from Atlanta Public Schools seeking their first victory in the classic. Last year, the Raiders appeared in the Classic for the first time ever but fell to a tough Norcross Blue Devils team. They finished the 2018 season at 6-5 with a 20-12 loss in the opening round of the playoffs to the Lanier Longhorns.

Published

7 years ago

August 30, 2019

Oakland Post

Photo of the Mays Raiders in Corky Kell action at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. (Photo by: Itoro N. Umontuen | The Atlanta Voice)

By Anfernee Patterson

The 2019 Corky Kell Classic is upon us and the Mays Raiders are the lone football club from Atlanta Public Schools seeking their first victory in the classic. Last year, the Raiders appeared in the Classic for the first time ever but fell to a tough Norcross Blue Devils team. They finished the 2018 season at 6-5 with a 20-12 loss in the opening round of the playoffs to the Lanier Longhorns.

The Raiders are more motivated for a great season. By great season, a shot at the 5-A championship title is the only option. For Raiders head coach Niketa Battle, he knows what it will take for the Raiders to get to Georgia State Stadium in May.

“We just have to stay consistent,” said Battle. “Keep on grinding everyday and doing what we’re supposed to do [which is] getting better as a coaching staff. If we do those things, the sky’s the limit.”

This year, they face an opponent in 5-A powerhouse, Kell Longhorns. The Longhorns finished 8-3 last season with an opening playoff loss to the Buford Wolves. They come into this season looking to avenge last season’s disappointment with a win.

In this year’s Classic against the known powerhouse, the Raiders are confident in their ability to compete and earn their first victory in the Classic. To earn that victory, Battle knows his defense has to show up and is confident that they will.

“[Our] defense is lights out,” Battle said. “Last year we were young. Now they are returning starters, are bigger, faster and stronger [plus] they are relentless. They’re playing with a chip on their shoulder and I love it.”

Along with the defense, the Raiders have a weapon in tight end/defensive end Jaquari Wiggles.

The senior Georgia Tech commit is the leader for this team and is great on both sides of the ball. This makes Wiggles a huge asset for this team but he knows what he is up against battling the Longhorns.

“One thing that jumps out to me [on film] is that they’re disciplined,” said Wiggles. “They’re coachable and disciplined, we can not make any mistakes or they will capitalize on what we do.”

The Tucker Tigers are no stranger to the Corky Kell Classic or Class 6-A. Not long ago in 2016, the Tigers made a state title appearance but lost to the Valdosta Wildcats.

The Tigers appeared in the Corky Kell Classic last year but lost to a talented Buford Wolves team 40-14 to open their season. Their season ended last year with a loss to 6-A State Runner up, Northside Eagles ending their season at 7-4.

This year, the Tigers play against a Gwinnett County powerhouse in the Archer Tigers. The Tigers were also in the Classic last year but lost to eventual 7-A champion Milton Eagles. They finished the 2018 season 10-2 with a loss to 7-A runner-up Colquitt County Packers.

Tucker Tigers head football coach, Bryan Lamar. (Photo by: Itoro N. Umontuen | The Atlanta Voice)

Tigers head coach Bryan Lamar sees this game as an opportunity and ceiling potential for his young players.

“Coming into this game, we will see improvement and find out who we are against a really good football team who is going to challenge us,” Lamar said.

“I don’t really know how good we are going to be early because we have a lot of new guys.

For Tucker and coach Lamar, he knows who is up against and knows Archer is nothing new to Georgia football.

“They are well coached and they have great players who are going to play extremely hard,” said Lamar.

“They’re definitely going to test us on both sides of the ball and special teams. Coach Dyer does a great job preparing his guys.”

On the offensive side of the ball, everything for Tucker begins and ends with Isaiah Dunson.

The Florida State commit stood out last year in the Corky Kell Classic with six catches for 121 yards to ignite the Tigers offense.

For Lamar, he is proud of Dunson and his leadership and knows what he brings to the team.

“He is a great athlete and leader,” said Lamar. “He epitomizes what we look for in our players. on and off the field. He works extremely hard and does everything he can to help the team win; we are glad to have him on our team.”

Meanwhile for the Archer Tigers, they have not forgotten about their heartbreaking loss to the Packers in the 7-A semifinals last season.

This season, they look to avenge not only their loss in the classic last season but their chance for their first state title.

Tigers head coach Andy Dyer understands the expectations of playing in the big games such as the Corky Kell Classic and is using last season as a learning experience.

“We expect our team to be well prepared and ready to play hard,” said Dyer.

“We talked about it every year about getting the big games and the margin for error is little. It’s all about eliminating mistakes whether its on offense, defense or special teams to make sure we put ourselves in a good position.”

Dyer has done his research and knows that Tucker is not to be taken lightly.

“Defensively they’re always going to be good, prepared and physical,” Dyer said. “Offensively they want to control the football and play with physicality and run the Wing-T., we just have to read our keys and do a great job of being where we’re supposed to be.”

The Tigers are known for their offense and they return their starting quarterback Carter Peevy.

Peevy finished last season with a 66.5% completion rate, 27 touchdowns and five interceptions.

Dyer has the utmost confidence in Peevy and is glad to have him back on the field one last time.

“I’m really looking forward to watching him play, said Dyer. “He’s a coach on the field for us and is an absolute honor for me to be able to coach.”

In this year’s classic, Archer is one of six Gwinnett teams invited to play in the Corky Kell. Out of all six teams, two are staying in county to play at Coolray Field while the other four will play at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.

The two teams playing at Coolray Field are Archer and Buford. Buford will face Milton at 8:30 to cap off Friday night.

The four teams playing at Mercedes-Benz include Norcross, North Gwinnett, Brookwood and Mill Creek. Norcross battles Walton at 11:45 A.M., or twenty minutes after Kell vs. Mays concludes.

North Gwinnett faces Colquitt County who will be playing under new head coach Justin Rogers. The next two games will feature Brookwood and McEachern with Mill Creek and East Coweta capping off the night.

Gwinnett County also features top state talent which includes Carter Peevy, Josh Downs, Barrett Carter, Sean Hill, Elijah Turner to name a few.

Mays vs. Kell will kickoff Saturday, August 24 at 9 a.m. at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Tucker vs. Archer will kickoff Friday, August 23 at 5:30 p.m. at Coolray Field in Lawrenceville.

Tickets can be purchased at the door or online at www.corkykell.com/fan-info/buy-tickets/.

This article originally appeared in The Atlanta Voice.

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Smooth Ride! Car Suspension & Comfort Tested #shorts

Smooth suspension meets surprisingly spacious legroom. Experience true comfort on any road!

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Car suspension test demonstrating a smooth ride, comfort features, and handling on various terrains.

Experience the difference smooth suspension makes on rough streets. Check out the surprisingly good second-row legroom – test it yourself for true comfort.

Watch the full video: https://youtu.be/l9Z571za5Gc

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61 years since Selma, Houston leaders say the bridge remains to be crossed

61 years after Selma, Houston leaders say the fight for equality continues. The issues that sparked the marches still impact Black Americans today.

Published

1 month ago

October 4, 2026

Oakland Post

Houston leaders discuss the ongoing struggle for civil rights 61 years after Selma, emphasizing the need for continued action.

It has been 61 years since the Selma marches. But political leaders in Houston say that the issues protesters were marching for still plague the lives of Black Americans.

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Here is what you need to know about finding unique white elephant gift ideas that everyone wants to steal

The best white elephant gift ideas are funny enough to get a reaction but useful enough that people actually want to steal them. Look for gifts with a surprise factor, broad appeal, an inside joke, and just enough personality to spark some friendly competition. The wrapping paper comes off, the room goes quiet for half […]

Published

1 month ago

October 4, 2026

Oakland Post

The best white elephant gift ideas are funny enough to get a reaction but useful enough that people actually want to steal them. Look for gifts with a surprise factor, broad appeal, an inside joke, and just enough personality to spark some friendly competition.

The wrapping paper comes off, the room goes quiet for half a second, and suddenly everyone wants the same gift. That is the sweet spot. A great white elephant pick should make people laugh, lean in, and start plotting their next steal before the turn is even over.

Should a White Elephant Gift Be Funny or Useful?

A white elephant gift can be funny or useful, but the strongest choices usually give people a reason to laugh and a reason to keep the item. A practical gift with an odd design, unexpected feature, or playful theme can get a reaction without becoming something the recipient immediately wants to give away.

The right balance depends on the group. Close friends and family members may enjoy a ridiculous gag gift because they already understand one another’s sense of humor.

A workplace exchange, neighborhood party, or mixed-age gathering usually calls for something with broader appeal. In those settings, humor works better when it is built into an item people could still use afterward.

It also helps to think about how quickly the gift will make sense once it is opened. A strangely shaped kitchen tool, oversized mug, quirky desk accessory, or unexpectedly fancy everyday item can create an immediate reaction. Guests understand the joke right away, while the item still has enough practical value to attract a steal.

Pure gag gifts can be harder to pull off. Something that exists only for the punchline may get a big laugh during the reveal and then sit untouched for the rest of the game. If the goal is to bring one of the gifts everyone keeps fighting over, usefulness gives the joke staying power.

Memorable Present Ideas: Creating Inside Joke Gifts

Inside joke gifts can make a white elephant exchange feel much more personal, especially when most of the group shares the same stories. The trick is choosing a reference that people will recognize quickly instead of building the entire joke around something only two guests understand.

You can turn a memorable vacation mishap, office catchphrase, family story, or long-running group joke into the theme of the gift. A personalized comic book can work especially well when it turns familiar people or a ridiculous shared moment into part of the story.

Think carefully about who the joke involves before ordering anything permanent. The gift should make the person feel included in the fun, not singled out for the wrong reason.

Can You Bring Something You Already Own?

Holiday gift exchanges can be a good place to re-gift something you never used, especially if it is unopened and clean.

The following can all work if they still look presentable:

A duplicate kitchen gadget
An untouched game
A decorative item
A sealed gift set
An unopened candle
A new travel accessory

The goal is to give the item a second chance, not use the exchange as an excuse to clear out damaged or unwanted clutter.

Take a close look at the packaging before wrapping it. Faded boxes, missing pieces, visible wear, or anything that looks obviously used can make the gift feel careless.

Wrapping Budget-Friendly Gifts

Wrapping can make gifts more entertaining before anyone even knows what’s inside.

Misdirection works especially well for fun party games. Put a small gift inside a much larger box. Use packaging from an unrelated household item.

Add harmless weight so guests cannot guess what they are holding. The reveal becomes part of the joke without changing the gift itself.

You can also lean into the theme of the exchange. Bright paper, oversized bows, reusable bags, or deliberately over-the-top wrapping can make an ordinary item feel more memorable. If the gift itself is already funny, simple wrapping may work better so the surprise stays hidden until the last second.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Picking Last an Advantage in White Elephant?

Picking last can be an advantage because you get to see almost every gift before making your move. Instead of choosing blindly from the remaining wrapped presents, you can steal something that has already caught your attention if the rules still allow it.

That advantage depends on the house rules. Some games limit how many times a gift can be stolen.

Others lock an item once it reaches a certain number of steals. If the most popular gifts are already unavailable, the final player may have fewer strong options than expected.

The first player can also get another turn at the end in some versions of the game. That rule can balance things out, since the person who started with the least information may get one final chance to steal.

How Do You Plan White Elephant for a Large Group?

For a large white elephant exchange, set a firm spending limit and establish the stealing rules in advance.

Create a clear turn order before the game begins. Drawing numbers as guests arrive can save time once everyone is ready to start.

Keep the number of steals per gift limited so the game does not drag on. It also helps to have one person track which creative holiday presents have been stolen and when they are locked, especially if dozens of people are participating.

Can You Play White Elephant Virtually?

A virtual white elephant exchange can work over a video call, with one person keeping track of the turn order and each steal. Guests can either mail physical gifts ahead of time or use digital gifts that can be delivered once the game ends.

Set the spending limit and stealing rules before everyone joins. It also helps to decide how gifts will be revealed and who is responsible for sending each one afterward so the exchange does not become confusing.