SUGAR HILL — For both Lanier coach Korey Mobbs and Dacula coach Tommy Jones, the end of the 2016 regular season is playing out the way both had envisioned -- and hoped.
It was the beginning and the middle of the season that went nothing like either had expected.
The Falcons suffered several key injuries in a season-opening win over Central Gwinnett and limped into region play with a 1-4 record after a brutal schedule and four straight losses. They still are not at 100 percent.
“We lost probably our two best players on defense (Jr. LB Landen Berlin, out for the season, and all-state Sr. NT Allen Daniels, still not back) and when you have to play teams like Mill Creek and West Forsyth and Walton you have to be at 100 percent,” Jones said. “Our guys had to work through a tough stretch. I think our guys have shown a lot of fight and resiliency. I’m proud of them.”
The Longhorns suffered through their first two-game losing streak in four years after off-the-field issues forced the dismissal of their top running back and another player after just two games. (The second player has since rejoined the team). Coupled with a new quarterback and several young players, they began with a 1-2 start.
“Every team is going to have adversity during the season,” Mobbs said. “We certainly had ours early. The guys have done a good job of shaking that off and focusing on each week. They have grown up a lot since then.”
Both teams come into their Friday night showdown at Barron Field with the fate of Region 8-AAAAAA resting in each of their hands. And both seem to finally be peaking at just the right time.
Lanier (6-2, 3-0 Region 8-AAAAAA) is riding a five-game winning streak. The Falcons (4-4, 3-0) have won three straight. And both have their sights set on the top spot from 8-AAAAAA heading into the state playoffs.
Dacula can claim the region title outright with a victory after knocking off Gainesville two weeks ago. The Longhorns can stay alive for a third straight region crown with a win but would then need to beat Gainesville in next week’s season finale to avoid a three-way tie.
“This is actually coming down to the way I thought it would at the beginning of the season,” Mobbs said. “All three teams still can win the region. We were hoping that when the last two weeks got here we would be in the middle of the race. Now we just have to go out and win it.”
“The injuries hurt us a lot early, especially against the teams on our schedule,” Jones said. “But we also knew that with the (all-important) region games at the end we had a chance to get healthy when it mattered most. Our goal of a region title is still within reach.”
Despite it being the first-ever meeting between the two Gwinnett County schools, both coaches and staffs know what to expect from the other.
“Dacula is big, physical, and they like to run the ball. And you know they are going to play great defense,” Mobbs said. “Stopping the run will be a priority for us but I also think that plays to our strength on defense. Offensively, we’re going to have to find a way to make some plays.”
Dacula too believes that scoring could be at a premium.
“Lanier has one of the best defenses around so we’re going to have to eliminate mistakes, execute, and try to be balanced,” Jones said. “Their quarterback (Sr. Noah Fritz) really sets the tone for them. We will have to slow him down.”
Fritz had perhaps his best game of the season last week in a 45-9 win over Apalachee. The Wildcats had not given up more than 28 in a game all season but Fritz rushed 22 times for 166 yards and four scores and passed for another 91 yards and a touchdown.
“I feel our offense has gotten better every game,” Mobbs said. “A big part of that is Noah. He is a first-year starter so it took a few games for him to understand what we were trying to do. He has really picked things up the last few games.”
After scoring just 41 total points in that 1-2 start, the Longhorns have averaged 34.2 points a game during their enusing five-game win streak. Fritz has 772 yards and 7 touchdowns passing and 448 yards and 8 touchdowns rushing. Five different receivers have eight or more catches on the season.
Junior Tywon Reaves, who replaced Marcko Baity at running back, has pounded out 699 yards with 8 touchdowns rushing, with most of that coming over the past six games.
The Falcons' defense presents perhaps Lanier's toughest matchup since taking on then-No. 1 Northside-Warner Robins (in a 38-7 Northside win on Sept. 9). Dacula has allowed 158 points (19.6 ppg) but just 27 points (9.0 ppg) in region play. They have 51 tackles for loss and 29 sacks on the season. They have created 20 turnovers, including 14 interceptions, including five by sophomore Jalen Perry. They also have broken up 38 passes.
“They may have the best defense other than Northside we’ll see all year,” Mobbs said. “Finding a way to make some plays, without turning it over, will be the key. I don’t think we’ll see a lot of points either way so we have to execute.”
The Dacula offense also will find the matchup tough against the Longhorns defense, which has allowed just 145 points (18.1 ppg) on the season but has given up just 39 points over the past four games (9.9 ppg). The Falcons have the 14th-lowest scoring offense in Class AAAAAA, tallying just 129 points (16.1 ppg) on the season.
But, the Falcons are pounding out over 200 yards a game on the ground behind a good offensive line and running backs Ty Harris (109-615, 5 TDs) and Tre McMillan (65-553, 5TDs) who are averaging 6.3 yards a carry combined. Junior quarterback Shayne Buckingham has rushed for 256 yards and passed for another 580 yards but has just four touchdown passes to go with six interceptions on the season.
“You know Dacula is going to run the ball first. But their quarterback can keep plays alive so you have to keep someone on him,” Mobbs said. “Like I said before, I think that plays to our strength but it’s all about execution. If they’re able to get those guys into the secondary that will be trouble for us.”
The Longhorns' front seven -- defensive linemen Michael Allen, Peyton Bergman, and Devon Martin, and linebackers Tyler Taylor, Jake Ludwig, Juwuan Jones, and Kameron Brown -- have a combined 30 sacks on the season.
And each team knows it better come ready to play in a game that bears plenty of postseason implication -- even if both teams are already qualified for state, seeding is still very much to be determined.
“Seedings do matter in the playoffs so every game is important, even if you’re already in,” Mobbs said. “(Dacula) is going to be ready I’m sure. Our guys need to be ready also. I believe we will be. But I’m sure it’s going to be a huge battle for both teams. It should be fun.”
LANIER at DACULA
-- WHEN: 7:30 p.m.
-- WHERE: Barron Field, Dacula
-- LANIER (6-2, 3-0 Region 8-AAAAAA): Defeated Apalachee 45-9 last week
-- DACULA (4-4, 3-0 Region 8-AAAAAA): Defeated Habersham Central 9-0 last week
-- NOTABLE: First-ever meeting between the two schools. ... Both teams already have qualified for the playoffs. Now, it’s just about positioning. ... It’s simple for Dacula after last week’s victory over Gainesville: win tonight and claim the region title. ... However, a Lanier victory and the Longhorns would still need to beat Gainesville next week to claim their third straight crown. If Lanier wins tonight AND loses to the Red Elephants next that would set up a 3-way tie and bring tiebreakers into play to decide the champion.
