East Hall is in the midst of its longest winning streak since closing out the 2015 season with five consecutive victories. The Vikings (4-1, 1-0 Region 7-AAA) already have surpassed their win total from 2016 and are doing it with one of the most explosive offenses in the state (in any classification).
They own the No. 1 scoring offense in Class AAA, averaging 52.2 points a game (261 total points) -- and that against teams from Class AAAAAA, Class AAAAA, Class AAAA, and Class AAA during their non-region schedule. Only Lowndes County in Class AAAAAAA (277, 55.4 ppg) has scored more points and averaged more than the Vikings in the entire state.
Senior quarterback Austin Parker (86-for-133, 1,727 yards, 22 TDs, 1 INT; 20 carries, 256 yards, 4 TDs) navigates the Vikings offensive ship and leads the state in passing yards.
On Friday night East Hall plays host to perennial playoff team Union County, which was second in scoring in Class AAA until a 47-7 loss to No. 3 Greater Atlanta Christian last week. This week's battle with the Panthers represents the first of four consecutive games against 2016 state playoff teams from 7-AAA. East Hall went 0-4 against the same group last year, missing out on the playoffs for the first time since 2013.
AccessWDUN’s Jeff Hart recently asked Vikings’ coach Bryan Gray to what he attributes his team's turnaround so far in 2017 -- and what it will take to get back into the playoffs.
QUESTION: Coach, first off, just how good is this offense?
ANSWER: I feel like we’re pretty good. To be No. 1 in (Class AAA) is really a testament of how hard these guys are working and how much they have improved the last couple of years. For me it’s about balance and we’re balanced this year -- much more so than the past couple of years [1,807 yards passing; 1,039 yards rushing so far]. We’re still a passing team but we’ve been able to run the ball this year, and that is the biggest difference. The offensive line [seniors Andrew Crawford and Isaiah Jenkins and juniors Gio Rebollar, Daniel Restrepo, JD Lee, Marco Gonzalez, Athyn Thurmond] is the real key to our success. They are an experienced group; it’s their second year playing together and they’re mostly juniors. But the whole team is a year more mature and that also is a key. We’re improving every week, but I think they can get even better.
Q: That being said, the offense has weapons all over the field. Receivers Sedrion Morse (21 rec., 502 yards, 9 TDs), Austin Brock (15 rec., 276 yards, 3 TDs), Tripp Rider (8 rec., 196 yards, 3 TDs), and running back Cambren Harrison (64 car., 603 yards, 7 TDs rushing; 15 rec., 324 yards, 2 TDs), supply Parker with multiple targets on every play. And Parker is spreading the wealth, so to speak, giving you that balance.
A: The last couple of years we were really just one or two guys and defenses could focus on those guys. This year we have several guys, and that makes a big difference. They can’t focus on any one guy. Every week it seems like we have a different person step up to have the big game. I believe our ability to run the ball, going back to the line play, is what is making us so explosive this year. Teams think we’re going to pass every play but now we can run it past them or through them. (That's) just a huge factor. But when you also have a guy like Austin (Parker) it makes things easier. He is extremely knowledgeable about the game, and he has the vision to see the whole field. We give him several options with each play, and he always knows what to change to based on what the defense is giving us. He’s just a remarkable quarterback.
Q: Let’s talk defense. You opened against explosive Habersham Central and they put 72 on your defense. I’m sure there were fans thinking, ‘uh oh, here we go again.’ But since then, the unit has really seemed to step forward. They have given up just 84 points (21 points a game) during a four-game win streak. They also have been ball-hawks, forcing 11 turnovers. To what do you attribute this turnaround and how key will the defense be in making a run at a region title or the playoffs or both?
A: First off, Habersham has an explosive offense like ours so you really just try to slow them down. Stopping them is almost impossible. But since that first game I think it’s just been about our kids getting more comfortable with the scheme and just really playing fast. It starts with each player doing their job and buying into what we want them to do. They have been doing that much better the last month. Guys like (junior linebacker) Kylan Curry (44 tackles, 2 fumble recoveries), (senior linebacker) Isaiah Jenkins (35 tackles, 2 fumble recoveries, 2 INTs), and (junior linebacker) Jacob Wade (30 tackles) have really been flying around. Our ability to get some stops on third and fourth down has been key and will continue to be key for us.
Q: On Friday against Union County, you begin a four-game stretch against the four teams [Union County, Greater Atlanta Christian, Dawson County, North Hall] that made the playoffs from Region 7-AAA in 2016. Y’all went 0-4 against that group last year and were outscored 226-124. What will be the key to breaking through against one or any of them this year and do you feel you have to beat one or more of them to get back into the playoffs?
A: We’re not looking at it as a four-game stretch where it’s all or nothing. We just need to focus on each game, each week, and get better as a team each week. To me there is no one particular area that we have to be better in; we need to be good in every phase to have a chance in any game we play. Last year we didn’t do a good job of getting off the field so I guess that will be an area we have to do a better job. But if the offense doesn’t move the ball then the defense will have extra pressure, so it really all just works together. Our entire schedule is tough and each team offers different challenges. Union is explosive on offense; GAC may be one of the top two or three teams in the state in any classification; Dawson has a great offense and a really good defense; and North Hall is always tough with that offense and they are young and seem to be getting more confidence every week. The seniors’ goal this year was to get back in the playoffs. We need to find some wins somewhere, but right now we’re only worried about Union County.
Q: Are the kids beginning to believe that they can be a real darkhorse, not just in Region 7-AAA, but in the state as well? I doubt many teams would want to have to face your team, playing the way it is now, in the first couple rounds of the playoffs, if you can qualify.
A: You can see that they are more confident, especially the older kids. This is really a senior-oriented team and they have taken the lead in working with the younger kids. It really all started back in January with the older guys organizing the workouts and telling the younger guys what is expected. Everyone is buying in right now and it started with the older guys and has trickled down. They have taken on the mindset to keep working hard. Mentally and physically they are much stronger this year than the last couple of seasons. However, we’re not going to think about anything but this week. But I would agree that IF we can keep playing at the level we are right now, AND we can get into the playoffs, I feel like we have a team that would be tough to face and that we can have some success. Once you get into the playoffs anything can happen. I love this team and I love being around them. I’m excited for them right now and for what they can accomplish if they keep working hard to improve. Personally, I don’t think they’ve reached their true potential yet as a team.
