DAWSONVILLE — Dawson County football is 7-1, has dominated Region 7-AAA and is ranked eighth in Class AAA.
The Tigers also know that most around the state consider them firm underdogs in Friday's regular season finale.
And that's just fine with Dawson County -- which is more concerned with finding a way past top-ranked Greater Atlanta Christian and a route to its second straight region title than righting any perceived slights.
"I think we've turned some heads throughout this season. But I still don't think anybody (outside of Dawson County) really thinks we can compete with them -- but we'll just have to see when we get out there," said Tigers junior quarterback Coey Watson. "Everybody's pumped up. Practice is a lot more enthusiastic (this week). I can't wait for Friday."
A palpable excitement engulfed Dawson County from the beginning of the week -- and should hit fever pitch by kickoff, as the battle for first place commences (the loser will finish as the No. 2 seed in 7-AAA).
"Everybody will be buzzing. The emotions will be built up, everybody's going to be excited," said Tigers senior linebacker Zack Martin. "I know for me, playing my senior night here is going to be an honor. Because being in a region championship game and playing against the team we're playing... The thing is though we know they're a good team; we know we're a good team too. So we're just going to go in there and fight and give it all we've got."
Both the Tigers and Spartans have given their all to Region 7-AAA this season -- and the results have been definitive. Dawson County enters Friday's showdown 5-0 in league play, winning by an average margin of 30 points. GAC is 5-0 and winning by an average margin of 36 points.
Both are also coming off region titles and deep playoff runs from a season ago -- in other words it is the 7-AAA finale that both sets of coaches and players could only have hoped for when the schedules were released back in the spring.
"Any time I think as a coaching staff if you're playing Game 10 for a region championship it doesn't get any better than that," said Tigers coach Sid Maxwell, who is in his second season with Dawson County. "That's what you strive for; it's a great opportunity, and we're looking forward to it."
So are prep football fans around northeast Georgia -- and for good reason, as two very similar squads prep for battle.
GAC's star-studded offense -- led by Elite 11 and Stanford-bound quarterback Davis Mills (1,331 yards passing, 20 TDs, zero interceptions, 68 percent completion rate; 154 yards rushing, 3 TDs) -- has lit up opposing defenses this season, passing for 180 yards and rushing for 191 yards per game.
But so has Dawson's own spread attack, with Watson (1,440 yards passing, 14 TDs, 2 INTs, 60 percent completion rate; team-high 555 yards rushing, 14 TDs) guiding a unit that averages 185.3 pass yards and 213.1 rushing yards per contest.
"It's not going be a 7-3 game; these are two very good offenses," chuckled Spartans coach Tim Hardy. "And what impresses me is just how good their special teams is too."
The same could be said for GAC, as both teams have returned three kickoffs for touchdowns this season
Kolton Brumbelow has all three Tigers return scores, while Trey Morrison (two) and starting running back Kyler McMichael (one) have split the Spartans' kickoff jaunts. McMichael has also been a huge weapon in the offensive backfield, rushing for 957 yards (7.4 yards per carry) and 12 TDs. Conversely, senior Payton Myers has been a key part of the Tigers rushing attack with 515 yards rushing and 9 TDs. Austin Young also leads all Tigers receivers with 37 catches for 698 yards and 7 TDs.
Yet both teams also possess stout defenses -- units that have often dominated early while their counterpart offenses rung up points and big leads.
"That's been the most consistent part of our team this season," Hardy said of a GAC defense led by senior strong safety Davis Markham (team-high 63 tackles) and senior middle linebacker Devin Thomas (50 tackles).
GAC also has 10 interceptions on the season. Dawson County, meanwhile, has 12 picks -- though both units know that loose passes will come at a premium on Friday against two quarterbacks that protect the ball despite slicing up defensive backfields.
"Obviously they've got one of the top quarterbacks in the country, not just the state but the country," Maxwell said of Mills. "Then they have a very good offensive line and they're solid from head-to-toe with their kicking game and everything they do so it's going to be a challenge for anyone who plays GAC. But, again, we're blessed to have this opportunity for this challenge."
And the Dawson County defense -- led by Martin's 121 tackles and senior safety Colin Glover, who has 76 tackles -- believes it is up to that challenge.
"We've just got to be able to cover the run and cover the pass, because they've got a running back just as good as they do a quarterback," Martin said. "But like I said, it's going to be fun. We're ready."
The experiences of last year -- which included Dawson's first-ever region crown and state quarterfinal appearance -- have helped ready the Tigers.
"I'd be nervous as a cat right now if I didn't know how this feels. I feel like I'm a veteran walking into this game. I'm not nervous; I'm not scared to play them," Watson said. "I'm not going to get overwhelmed at their size or how big the game is or region championship or whatever. We're all going to go in there with our focus. We've done it before; we've been through it all. We're all veterans when it comes to playing high school football -- so that helped a lot, getting to go through all the experience of last year and all the experience we've had."
Of course the Spartans have had plenty of their own successes, including a trip to last season's Class AA semifinals (where they fell to eventual state champion Pace Academy) and a 2014 Class AA runner-up finish (to Savannah's Benedictine). And it is that pedigree -- combined with their star-studded roster -- that made the Spartans a heavy pre-season favorite in 7-AAA.
Dawson County, however, is hoping to show that it can be the difference in the postseason standings.
"We've just got to play the way we know how to play. They're going to come after you, and we've just got to be physical like they are -- more physical than they are," Martin said. "It's just going to be a huge game, it's going to be fun."
GREATER ATLANTA CHRISTIAN at DAWSON COUNTY
- WHEN: 7:30 p.m. Friday
- WHERE: Tiger Stadium, Dawsonville
- RADIO: Northgeorgiasportslink.com
- GAC (8-1, 5-0 Region 7-AAA): Bye last week after defeating North Hall 42-14 on Oct. 21. The Spartans are ranked No. 1 in Class AAA
- DAWSON (7-1, 5-0 Region 7-AAA): Defeated Lumpkin County 54-8 last week. The Tigers are ranked No. 8 in Class AAA
- REGION CHAMPIONSHIP: The winner will claim the 7-AAA title. The loser will finish as the No. 2 seed for the playoffs
- NOTES: Harrison Sloan leads GAC in receiving with 27 catches for 499 yards and 10 TDs. Six other receivers have TD catches, including Jake Floyd, Max Burke and Trent Fowler. Spartans senior placekicker Brooks Buce is 6 of 10 on field goal attempts with a long of 54 yards. ... There are 15 seniors on the GAC roster and 21 juniors. ... Kolton Brumbelow is second for the Tigers with 18 receptions for 289 yards and a TD. Nick Murphy also has 16 receptions, 271 yards and 5 TDs. Dawson County placekicker Cole Dennis is 3 for 3 on field goals this season with a long of 31 yards. ... The Tigers have 35 seniors on their roster.
