Dragons flying high after playoff win

JEFFERSON - Sitting 2-3 heading into their Region 8-A schedule, the Jefferson Dragons football team was wondering whether the season was getting away from them.

But coach Bill Navas said they never lost faith that it could be a special season. They were right.

As the the Dragons prepare to travel to Trion Friday night in the second round of the Class A playoffs, they are playing perhaps their best football of the season.

Jefferson (7-4) has won five of its last six games, including a 21-13 win last week over Heard County in the opening round.

"We've had a lot of injuries during the season but we've hung together and fought them and now we're playing pretty well," Navas said. "I couldn't be more pleased with these kids than I already am."

For the Dragons recently, it starts with the defense. In the five wins, they have allowed just 8.6 points a game.

"We've been playing very well defensively. When we play good defense, we can beat anyone," Navas said.

The only letdown was a 35-14 loss to rival and eighth-ranked Commerce three weeks ago. It will have its hands full again this week against Trion.

The Bulldogs (10-1) are the Region 6-A champs and have won nine straight since losing to Class AAA Ringgold. They come in having scored 48 or more points four of their last five games and are averaging 47.2 points during that span and 37.8 points for the year.

"The are very potent and if you make a mistake they will take advantage of it," Navas said. "It will take our best defensive game of the year to slow them down. I don't think we can just stop them, but if we can control the ball on offense and keep it away from them, we have a chance to win."

The offense has been efficient behind fullback Wes Satterfield and running back Brandon Vinson averaging 26 points a game.

"The offensive line has just been outstanding the last few games and Wes and Brandon have hit most of the holes," Navas said.

Last week Vinson ran for 123 yards.

Even if the Dragons lose, Navas said it's been a satisfying year. They were clobbered by Landmark Christian 48-7 last year in the first round of the playoffs.

"Our goal is to get better each year and we already have. But that doesn't mean we're satisfied. Our goal was to win a playoff game and we did. Now we want to keep going," he said.