JEFFERSON — By this time last year Jefferson star running back Colby Wood admits he was just plain tired.
“A little bit,” Wood recalled earlier this week.
And who wouldn’t have been? The then-sophomore was having a breakout season as the main offensive weapon for the Dragons (323 carries, 2,119 yards, 32 TDs; 17 rec. 203, 1TD) in 2015 as well as being a main cog in the defensive secondary. The 2,119 yards was good enough to lead the state through the first round of the playoffs.
He entered their second round game against Blessed Trinity last year averaging 184 yards and three touchdowns a game. The question was, could anyone stop the 5-foot-10, 180-pound dynamo?
The Titans provided the answer, unfortunately, holding Wood to his lowest output of the season: 92 yards and no touchdowns in a 38-12 win that knocked the Dragons from the postseason.
Jefferson coach Ben Hall acknowledged that few players could have held up for that long.
“He played almost every play on offense and almost every play on defense and on special teams -- and that’s a lot of time on the field for anybody,” Hall said. “I think the amount of work he saw had an affect on him when we got to the playoffs. It was something we wanted to look at coming into this season.”
Yet, in the opening weeks of 2016, Wood was still the main focus of an offense that was looking for some balance. It wasn’t until after a 42-20 loss to No. 2 Thomson that Hall decided to make some changes.
Enter Colby Clark. The freshman linebacker had a breakout game himself that night, leading Jefferson in tackles. Clark remembers Hall coming to him the following Monday and saying he wanted him on the field even more.
However, it was not where he thought he would be.
“I had a pretty good game on defense but coach came to me and said he wanted to move me. He wanted to try me at quarterback and I was little surprised, I have to admit,” Clark said.
Bryce Moore had been the starter at quarterback through the first three games and was more than serviceable. But Hall said they were looking for something different.
“We were a little hesitant at first to play a freshman quarterback but we felt that we needed to make a change and (Clark) has really added another dimension to the offense with his running ability. And he can throw ball pretty well also,” Hall said.
Outsiders looking at the pure stats may have been wondering if there is something wrong with Wood in 2016. He is more than 1,000 yards behind his state-leading pace of 2015 (still posting an impressive 1,111 yards). He has almost 20 fewer touchdowns (14) and has touched the ball half of what he did a year ago (173 carries).
It's all part of the master plan Hall said.
“We had to use him way more than what we really wanted to last year,” Hall said. “Which is why bringing in (Clark) has really given us another dimension.”
Clark is a dual-threat. He has 559 yards rushing and eight TDs in seven games. He has also completed 19 of 39 passes for 356 yards and four touchdowns but has big-play capability.
Hall said Clark’s ability to improvise is what encouraged him to give Clark a shot. The Dragons offense had been a more pro-style attack -- the same that helped them to the 2012 Class AA state title when Hall was
the offensive coordinator.
“When you line up under center and the defense knows the quarterback is not a threat to run and will hand it off, it makes it easier for them to defend you,” Hall said. “We felt we needed another option and liked what we saw in (Clark).”
Are they a more dangerous offense this year as they head into Friday night’s 2016 Class AAAA playoff opener against Pickens at Memorial Stadium?
“Well, we’re different. Dangerous has yet to be determined,” Hall said. “But with (Clark) and the play-action game that we like to use he has the ability to turn an incompletion into a 10- to 15-yard gain with his running ability. He gives us balance in terms of personnel in that the defense can’t just key on one person. We can run misdirection with (Clark) in the quarterback run game, which is something we didn’t have before.”
The Dragons also have a third option in their ground attack in Zack Boobas, who has 526 yards and 12 TDs on the season. But Boobas is also nearly indispensable on defense. In the Thomson game, for instance,
Boobas got extra work subbing for Wood while playing full-time on the defensive side.
With Boobas in the game defensively, the Thomson offense had trouble moving the ball. But cramps at various times during that game forced Boobas off the field and Thomson took advantage with several big plays.
The emergence of Clark as a running threat has helped Boobas, who also plays on special teams, take more rest as well.
“Zack is a busy guy for us on Friday nights,” Hall said. “He does a lot for us so keeping him fresh is big also.”
Wood said he can feel a difference this time around as they prepare for the playoffs.
“I feel real good. I’m not as tired as I was last year,” Wood said. “I know that with Colby (Clark) and Zack behind me and able to take some of the pressure off me I can play a little harder on every play. Colby has been huge for us this year, and I think he gives us something we were missing last year.”
Clarke said he’s expecting a few butterflies when he gets out on the field Friday for his first-ever playoff game. But he also knows once that first hit arrives, it’ll be just like any other Friday.
“I’m going to be a little nervous. I always am before a game,” Clark said. “But I think after that first series is over and I’m into the game I’ll be fine. I’m really looking forward to it.”
Clark smiled, though, when asked if having Wood behind him would aid his relaxation -- and also when asked if a rested Wood is what they need to make another run at a state title.
“He’s fun to watch run,” Clark said. “I just have to make sure I don’t watch too much. I knew of him when I was in middle school so to be in the game with him at the same time is pretty cool.
“If (Wood) is fresh, I like our chances against anyone. The way we’re playing now I feel like we’re hard to stop. I can see us going pretty far.”
The Dragons face a draw that could include Cairo or Marist in the quarterfinals and -- should they keep winning -- another shot at Thomson in the semifinals.
That brought a smile to Wood’s face.
“I feel like we could have won that game,” he said. “We’re going to take it one at a time. But I would definitely like another shot at them. Especially with this guy at quarterback (pointing at Clark) now.”
PICKENS at JEFFERSON
-- WHEN: 7:30 p.m.
-- WHERE: Memorial Stadium, Jefferson
-- PICKENS (REGION 6, No. 4) (5-5): Lost 48-35 to Heritage-Ringgold last week
-- JEFFERSON (REGION 8, No. 1) (9-1): Defeated Oconee County 31-7 last week
-- NOTABLE: Series is tied 2-2. The two teams have not met since 1989, a 17-6 Pickens win in Jasper. ... Jefferson is making its sixth straight playoff appearance and ninth in the last 10 seasons. It is the third straight trip to playoffs for Pickens, who has yet to win a playoff game in program history (0-8 all-time). ... Jefferson should be a heavy favorite, especially at home. Jefferson is 8th in AAAA in scoring (33 ppg) while Pickens is in the bottom 16 in defense allowing 24.7 ppg on the season. Pickens is 11th in scoring (31.1 ppg) but Jefferson is 6th in defense yielding just 11.9 ppg. ... The trio of Wood, Clark, and Boobas 2,196 yards and 34 touchdowns rushing combined. Pickens has 38 TDs as a team in 2016. ... Jefferson is looking for its fifth-straight first round win in the playoffs.
