Vikings relax before 'second season'

GAINESVILLE - The East Hall Vikings football team, which has already finished its season and secured a spot in next week's state playoffs, have the week off.

The Vikings, the fourth seed out of Region 7-AAA, will travel to No. 4 LaGrange next week in the opening round of the Class AAA playoffs.

For coach Tim Marchman, it couldn't come at a better time. In fact, he sort of plans it that way.

"There are a couple of trains of thought but I've always felt it was important to rest up and get people healthy for the playoffs. It also gives you a couple of weeks to prepare for your opponent if you know who it is," Marchman said. "I like the week off before the playoffs because I always expect to be there."

The other theory is that if you are hot and playing well, you don't want to have that momentum stopped with a week off. And the Vikings (6-4) have been playing as well as anyone over the last two months going 6-2. They did lose last week to Johnson, 43-25, but trailed just 27-25 before a couple of strange plays helped Johnson pull away.

"We didn't play well in the fourth quarter and you don't like to end the regular season that way," Marchman said. "But, we were in the game and I think the kids realize we can play with people. We just have to focus and not make mistakes."

The Vikings, if not for Flowery Branch winning four games in its second season, would probably be considered the surprise team of the region.

After two straight 3-7 seasons, and a 1-2 start that included blow out losses to North Hall and Gainesville, East Hall looked to be headed in that direction again. But Marchman said practice the week heading into the Gilmer game had him thinking they would rebound.

"The kids listened to what we were trying to teach them and saw that they would need to work harder than they had before but that it would pay off," he said. "We came out and beat Gilmer (32-14) and I think that was the turning point to the rest of the season."

That started the Vikings on a stretch of five wins over their next six games. Marchman said another key was the maturation of sophomore quarterback Lee Coleman.

"The opening snap he took against Chestatee was the first varsity snap he ever took," Marchman said. "Once he got a few games under his belt he began to understand how things are and really took off.He's been a catalyst for us all year."

Coleman ended up throwing at least one TD pass in every game during the regular season. But as he goes so go the Vikings. He struggled against Pickens and threw five interceptions in the loss to Johnson.

"Those things are going to happen when you're young. He needs to put those behind him and learn with each mistake how not to do it again. He's done that very well so far this year so I expect him to learn as we get ready for the playoffs," Marchman said.