"Nobody wins here and you won't either!" It was a comment that was left beside the job listing for a new head football coach at Meadowcreek High School in Norcross. A glance at the record book brings easy confirmation for the comment. For much of Meadowcreek's 32-year history, the school has struggled at football. Now, this is a school that has become linked with the best high school football in the state of Georgia.

It was almost three years ago that Jason Carerra saw that comment and said that it really stuck in his mind, and he decided to answer the call. "I saw it as a good opportunity to hopefully lead some kids in the right direction," says Carerra. "I feel like God just puts you in certain places at certain times. He opens the right doors and puts you where you need to be."

Having served on the coaching staff at Eagles Landing Christian Academy, and Stockbridge High School, Carerra saw Meadowcreek as a chance to coach in Gwinnett County and was positive that he could succeed at a school that last had a 5-5 season in 1997. Meadowcreek has one of the top 5 enrollments in the state, with perhaps one of the state's most diverse student bodies. There are many students who are not exposed the American Football at an early age, and youth football in the community has proven to be an inconsistent feeder program. Matters that would cause some coaches to run in the other direction, but Jason Carerra saw something that brought him comfort.

It was the administration and the vision that helped seal the deal for Carerra. Dr. Tommy Welch arrived at Meadowcreek in 2011 and since that time test scores and graduation rates have been on the rise and it's not going unnoticed." I read somewhere that you don't chase players, but you chase administration," says Carerra. "Dr. Welch has won state principal of the year and is in the final 3 for principal of the year in the country."

Athletics is also a part of the turn around at Meadowcreek as the boy's soccer team captured the schools first GHSA State title of any kind last spring. The administration feels like football is on the way up under Carerra's leadership. "Coach Carerra selflessly cares," says Welch. "He is more than football for the students, parents and community. The things he does far exceed the job description but he does them because he knows it has to be done to build a successful program."

It's true, some of Carerra's biggest work has been after practice. "I have several homeless kids," says Carerra. "Some just living with a neighbor so they can stay at Meadowcreek." No doubt this and some other living situations have gone into this team's theme, Neighborhood To Brotherhood, or N2B17. "Our goal for this year was to go from being a neighborhood to being a brotherhood," says Carerra. "It takes 11 guys doing their job day in and day out. We also like to say 'We're All We've Got' because their parents may not be with them or they are staying in an extended stay hotel. For some, their teammates and coaches are all they've got."

Seeds for a great season were planted at Fellowship Of Christian Athletes camp at the University of West Georgia during the summer. "The guys were able to get away from the distractions of life and really concentrate on football for a few days," remembers Carerra. "We grew as a team and as a coaching staff." The team's 4-0 start is the best in school history, led by the running of Chauncey Williams behind an offensive line that features several players who tip the scales at over 325 pounds. "It's great to have the big guys up front," says Carerra. "Three hundred and fifty pounds leaning on you gets old by the third quarter."

Homecoming is always an exciting time, but with a 4-0 start it will have a whole new meaning at Meadowcreek. This Football Friday in Georgia the Mustangs will host Lakeside in a game that has become a pretty hot ticket. The impact to the teams success is being felt away from campus. "I have had administrators tell me that various alumni have been calling this week," says Carerra. "They want to come and check it out to see if it's real. We are looking for a big crowd and lots of people who have never seen us before."

A win this week would leave Meadowcreek a win away from a 6th win and a guaranteed winning season. That would be something else that most of those fans haven't seen, because the Mustangs last winning season came in 1990.