Construction is underway at Sprayberry High School, where new buildings are being funded through the Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (Ed-SPLOST). The renovations aim to modernize one of Cobb County’s oldest schools.
Meanwhile, on the football field at Jim Frazier Stadium, the Yellow Jacket program is also undergoing changes. Pete Fominaya has taken over as head coach in his first year and is working to build on last season’s success, which saw the team reach the quarterfinals of the GHSA 5A State Playoffs.
Last year’s team was led by Brett Vavra, a Sprayberry alumnus who recently became head coach for Etowah High School. In his time at Sprayberry, Vavra had a record of 30-43 over seven years and four postseason appearances. His final season saw significant improvement with an 11-2 record and a deep playoff run.
The recent matchup between Sprayberry and Etowah brought Vavra back to his former school—not as an honoree but as a competitor. The game started strongly for Sprayberry, with senior Jaden Duckett connecting with Alabama-commit Jorden Edmonds for an 80-yard touchdown pass on the first play. Georgia-commit Kealan Jones added another score soon after, giving Sprayberry a quick 14-0 lead.
Sprayberry held off Etowah with a defensive stand before halftime but faced challenges in the second half when Etowah capitalized on turnovers and took a 24-21 lead early in the fourth quarter.
“With 15-, 16-, and 17-year-olds, you’ve got to be able to dictate and control your emotions,” Fominaya said after the game. “This was a good night for us to learn about ourselves and learn about how we can become a better football team throughout the season.”
Sprayberry responded quickly after losing their lead. Duckett gained significant yardage on consecutive plays, leading to more touchdowns from both Edmonds and Jones. The team finished with a 42-24 win over Etowah.
“It’s a long process. We’re only two games into it,” Coach Fominaya cautioned when talking about what he’s trying to build. “My goal is not to be peaking now, but to be peaking in October and November.”
The construction projects at Sprayberry High School reflect ongoing efforts to improve facilities while the football program seeks continued growth under new leadership.
