DAWSONVILLE — There must be something to this comfort thing.
Dawson County coach Sid Maxwell, in just his second year guiding the Tigers, said earlier in the season it can “ take a year or two” before everyone gets used to each other after a coaching change. Well, the Tigers must be sitting around in their slippers, feet propped up, sipping coffee because of late, they have looked pretty comfortable indeed.
Dawson County’s stunning 57-26 demolition of Union County last week was the Tigers third straight win behind an offense that is starting to fire on all cylinders. The Tigers (4-1, 2-0 Region 7-AAA) have scored 148 points during the streak, the best three-game offensive stretch in school history. The best such output until now was 140 points in a three-game win streak back in 1999.
The defense has contributed with several huge stops against the high-powered offenses of North Hall and Union County, and the special teams -- behind dynamic returner Kolton Brumbelow -- has added a pair of touchdowns and set up three other scores during the win streak.
“Well, I said (back early in the season) it takes some time for everyone to understand what we want them to do, where to be, what reads they need to execute,” Maxwell said. “We are much more comfortable now. We’re not playing perfect but I do feel we’re getting just about everything we can from the kids, who are really working hard.”
Offensive balance has been the key behind one of the more dynamic playmakers in northeast Georgia in junior quarterback Coey Watson. The TIgers rushed for 318 yards, including four rushing touchdowns by Watson, and passed for 180 against Union County -- one week after rushing for 180 and passing for 226 in a win at North Hall.
Watson’s effort of late has been even more remarkable considering he suffered what looked to be a fairly significant arm injury during a 30-23 overtime loss to West Hall back on Sept. 16. He was virtually unable to throw the ball over the final three quarters of that game but nearly willed the Tigers to a win anyway.
It turned out to be a tendon issue that Watson addressed between games. In fact he started and threw the ball well the very next week.
“Coey is a tough kid to be able to come back from something like that,” Maxwell said. “He’s as close to 100 percent as you can be this time of year. But we’re not a one-man show.”
Watson has become more of a balanced dual-threat in 2016. He passed for 2,171 yards (19 TDs, 13 INT) and rushed for 499 yards (10 TDs) in 2015. He is on pace for similar yardage totals this season but has thrown for 899 (7 TDs, 2 INT) yards and already has rushed for 393 yards (12 TDs) in just five games.
The junior is getting help from running backs Payton Myers (292 yards, 3TDs) and Taylor Cronan (211, 1 TD), while Austin Young (27 rec. 429 yards, 3 TDs) leads a balanced receiving corp -- 11 different receivers have caught passes so far. As a team they have rushed for 984 yards and passed for 934 yards.
“Coey is making good decisions, cutting down on the mistakes, and we have a lot of guys we feel are playmakers for us,” Maxwell said. “I definitely think we’re more balanced and a lot more dangerous as an offense this year.”
With the speed at which the Tigers operate their spread attack -- the 201 points scored puts them 11th in Class AAA -- it can leave their own defense gasping at times. But, led by senior linebacker Luke Martin, the defense has not only held its own, it has been a main catalyst for the last two wins.
They have allowed just 91 points (18.2 points a game), which puts them 10th in Class AAA. Only No. 1 Greater Atlanta Christian (6-1, 3-0) has allowed fewer points among Region 7-AAA teams (84, 12 ppg). Martin leads the team in tackles with 95, including 13 for loss, and is averaging 19 tackles a game.
Dawson County stuffed North Hall twice inside its own 10-yard line to grab momentum for its offense. Last week the Tigers held down the Panthers, who came in leading Class AAA in scoring, while building a 29-6 first half lead.
“Our defense is what has kept us in a couple of games, especially the West Hall game,” Maxwell said. “Luke is a football player and is built to be a linebacker. He plays with a lot of emotion but uses his experience to keep everyone lined up. He’s as key to this team as Coey is. But it’s also about comfort on that side of the ball. Last year everything was new. Just having a whole year together the guys know what we want and are understanding it better and going out and executing it. I’m not surprised at all at their success.”
Yet there are three phases of the game, and the Tigers have gotten huge contributions from its special teams as well. While the defense may have kept the Tigers in the game against North Hall -- they trailed 14-10 at halftime -- it was the special teams, behind Brumbelow, that broke that game open.
Brumbelow’s 99-yard kickoff return to open the second half sparked a 35-point second half. He also added kickoff return for a touchdown in the win over Union County. Even more remarkable is that Brumbelow, who has only gotten three chances, is averaging 77.7 yards per return and is playing in his first season of varsity football despite being a senior.
“He’s a great athlete,” Maxwell said. “I saw him on the baseball field and asked him if he would be willing to come out for football. He’s got tremendous speed and has picked up things quick. Kolton is becoming a weapon for us, and not just on the field. The other teams are having to game plan for him, which takes time away from other planning I’m sure. You don’t get that many returns nowadays with the way teams can kick it into the end zone, so to see that kind of success without many opportunities is something else. I know I wouldn’t kick to him.”
Teams also have learned not to kick to senior punt returner Drake Samples, who only has two chances but is averaging 20.5 yards a return.
The Tigers enter Friday’s 7-AAA showdown with Fannin County (2-4, 0-2) trying to keep the train rolling. However, Blue Ridge has not been a friendly place for the Tigers. Dawson County is just 2-4 all-time at Rebel Stadium and Fannin County has won two straight in the series, including a 31-15 victory last year. It’s an eerily similar position for both teams as in 2015. Dawson County was 4-2 and riding a three-game win streak and the Rebels were just 3-3 and needing a win to get back in the playoff race.
“All I know is that last year we went up there and they kicked our butts,” Maxwell said. “The kids that were on the team last year I’m sure remember that. They took it to us. It was a good reminder that you have to be ready every week. They have a great quarterback (Brad Davis) and slowing him down will be a big key for us if we want to win. If he has a big game, we could have a long night. We have a young secondary so they will be challenged.”
All in all, the Tigers, who are the defending 7-AAA champions, are coming off their best-ever season playoff-wise after advancing to the Class AAA quarterfinals in 2015. Watson was in his first season under center with a new coach and system. Martin and the defense were still learning a new system, and the Tigers did not have the dynamism of Brumbelow or Samples to returning kicks.
Dawson County has East Hall and Lumpkin County to follow Fannin County before returning home to take on No. 1 GAC in the season finale -- in what could prove a shot at defending the region title -- and to make a statement.
“We can’t look down the road at future games,” Maxwell said. “We’re still learning how to win as a program. We’re making progress. I like this group.
“We hope we can get to that point with a chance to accomplish some of the goals we have. But to be able to do that we have to focus on ourselves and the moment at hand.”
DAWSON COUNTY at FANNIN COUNTY
-- WHEN: 7:30 p.m.
-- WHERE: Rebel Stadium, Blue Ridge
-- RADIO: www.northgeorgiasportslink.com
-- DAWSON COUNTY (4-1, 2-0 Region 7-AAA): Defeated Union County 57-26 last week
-- FANNIN COUNTY (2-4, 0-2 Region 7-AAA): Bye last week; lost 52-10 to No. 1 GAC two weeks ago
-- NOTABLE: Fannin County leads series 8-4. The Rebels won 31-15 in 2015 in Blue Ridge. The two teams have met every year since 2006. ... Dawson County is just 2-4 all-time in Blue Ridge. Fannin County has won two straight in the series.
