North Atlanta High senior honored by the National Football Foundation and Chick-fil-A Bowl

APS Director of Athletics Jeff Beggs was excited to share this press release with us:

The National Football Foundation & College Hall of Fame (NFF), in partnership with the Chick-fil-A Bowl, announced today that Marcus Mack, a senior linebacker from North Atlanta High School in Atlanta, Ga., has been named the Play It Smart Student-Athlete of the Month for February 2011.

(Check out Mack, at left, with Gregory Eason, at right, on National Signing Day in the video above.)

“It’s fitting that Marcus Mack is the winner for the month of February,” said Gary Stokan, president and CEO of the Chick-fil-A Bowl. “To honor his accomplishments during the same month he signed a letter of intent with the U.S. Naval Academy underscores the importance of our partnership with the National Football Foundation and Atlanta Public Schools.”

Mack, a senior linebacker and team captain for the Warriors, has developed an impressive resume during his career at North Atlanta High School. A volunteer with Hosea Feed the Hungry, Each One Reach One, and Help ATL, he also assists disabled students at North Atlanta. Despite his busy community schedule, he maintains a 3.6 grade point average in his school’s most challenging academic program, and this past fall he registered 77 total tackles on the field.

High school playoffs: Mays High vs. Clarke Central High

We continue our high school playoff coverage with a preview of Mays High vs. Clarke Central High, courtesy of Mays High senior and Summit newspaper sports editor Drew Underwood:

ALSO: Check out Southerner staffer Mason Gepps‘ preview of tonight’s Grady-Gilmer match-up here.

UPDATE: Mays fell 52-31. Scoreboard.

The Mays Raiders football team’s first playoff game (Region 6AAAA) will be a rematch of last year’s first round match up of the Class AAAA playoffs against the Clarke Central Gladiators. The Raiders’ 7-3 record earned them a tough game on the road against an experienced Clarke Central team. The teams will take the field tonight at 7:30 p.m. from Billy Henderson Stadium in Athens. With talented offensive weapons from both teams, this game is anticipated to be shootout that may be decided by the last possession.

The Gladiators are the favorites to win, coming off of an undefeated season, but the Raiders come into the game riding a wave of momentum after a 54-0 win last week against Chamblee. Last season, the Gladiators were able to come from behind to defeat the Raiders 31-28 in a game that went down to the wire, for their first playoff win since 1997. They would ultimately lose in the state championship game.