Elephants glad to see playoffs

GAINESVILLE - For the past month, the Gainesville football team has gone about its business anticipating the start of the playoffs.

Gainesville coach Bruce Miller said his team always focused on who they playing down the stretch, but he said the look in his players' eyes changed when Monday's practices to prepare for Villa Rica began.

The Class AAA No. 1-ranked Elephants (10-0) play host to the Wildcats (7-3) Friday night in the first round of the Class AAA playoffs.

"I could see the look on their faces and knew they were ready to get going. I think we're all glad to get the regular season behind us and get to the real games," Miller said. "They did a good job of not letting down when it looked like we had spot secured, particularly after the West Hall game."

Villa Rica, however, may be the best No. 4 seed in the state. Their only losses were to the fourth and seventh ranked teams and to perennial playoff team Carrollton.

"They come out of one of the best regions in the state in any classification. They're big, fast and probably the best team we've faced this season," Miller said. "I don't expect this to be an easy game."

With every game now a win-or-go-home scenario, Miller said they understand the bullseye is on their back.

"As a team we talked about it being basically sudden -death. Win, and you get to play again. Lose, and you're waiting until next fall to put the pads back on. I think they realize that," he said.

Gainesville has far more explosive weapons than the Wildcats on both offense and defense. But both teams are peaking at the right time.

After a 2-2 start, the Wildcats won five of their last six, including a 17-15 win over Cedartown that knocked them out of the playoffs. Over that span, the Wildcats surrendered just 8.3 points a game.

Gainesville has one of the most explosive offenses in the state, however, averaging 46.5 points a game for the season, including five straight games of 40 or more. Four times this year the Elephants have scored 50 or more and over 60 once.

"Their defense has really been tough the last month or so. But we feel we can score and move the ball against anyone. Offensively their not as explosive as say a North Hall but they will come at you and we'll have to keep them from holding the ball and keeping out defense on the field," Miller said. "If we can get an early lead I think we'll have a good chance to win."