FLOWERY BRANCH -- Something will definitely have to give tonight at Falcons Field when No. 5 Flowery Branch plays host to No. 1 Clarke Central for the Region 8-AAAA title.
Both teams are in the top 14 in points allowed on defense (Flowery Branch 10th, Clarke Central 14th) while both offenses are ranked in the top four (Clarke Central No. 2, Flowery Branch No. 4) in Class AAAA.
It's enough to give Flowery Branch defensive coordinator Chris Griffin some sleepless nights -- especially when it comes to stopping Gladiators' quarterback Martay Mattox (96-of-162 passing, 1,607 yards, 19 TDs, four interceptions), who has helped his team score more than 44 points a game so far this season.
"He looks nearly unstoppable on film," Griffin said. "No one has really been able to stop him, so that would be a little naive to think suddenly we were the ones to be able to do that. However, they run a very similar offense (to Flowery Branch) so we've seen what they do. Maybe that will give us a little edge about what to expect on certain things."
Griffin said a key for both defenses will be the play of the offenses.
"Whichever team is able to control the ball and keep their defense off the field will give their team a great chance to win," he said. "Also, turnovers will be huge. We pride ourselves on taking the ball away so if we can get the ball back for our offense that will help. But we will need our offense to make some plays to take some pressure off the defense."
But if there is a unit that has the potential to do the unthinkable, it could this particular Falcons defense -- which resembles the 1970s Miami Dolphins No-Name Defense. Flowery Branch is allowing just 11 points a game and averaging nearly two takeaways per game.
More importantly, the Falcons have something Griffin says can't be measured by numbers.
"There are few superstars and I doubt there will be anyone on this group that goes on to play at the next level," he said. "But these guys have a lot of pride and heart. They listen and are coachable and take their work seriously. They are a very blue-collar group and just have a real understanding about where to be.
"Going into this season we really didn't know what to expect. Am I surprised at how well they have done? Yes, a little. But I felt we could be good if everyone got on the same page."
No one personifies that attitude more than Kyle Famiano. The senior free safety was the backup quarterback the last two seasons whose main responsibility was to run the scout team offense. He had never played a down of high school defense until this season.
Famiano, however, said he was actually ready to make a change.
"I have always loved hitting and kind of wanted to play defense so when they asked me to switch I was ready to do it," he said. "It took me a little while to get used to being on the other side, but I think I know what I'm doing now."
That's a good thing because Famiano and the rest of the Falcons defense will need to play a near-perfect game to stop the Gladiators. Yet the senior says he and his fellow defenders have looked at Mattox and the high-flying Gladiators and are ready to accept the challenge.
"They are fast and we know no one has slowed them down this year," Famiano said. "But we're looking at this as an opportunity to show people how good we are. Hopefully we'll play one of our best games."
Griffin said they have approached this game as one of those once-in-a-lifetime opportunities where they can look back at having accomplished something special. The coordinator says his squad took early notice that Clarke Central would be the team standing in their way of a region title and have told the team this is their time to shine.
"This is the kind of game where coaches and players started playing at five-years-old to be in," he said. "If you can't get up for a game like this then you shouldn't be playing."
-- NOTES: Flowery Branch is allowing just 11 points a game, the fewest in Region 8-AAAA. ... The Falcons have held five opponents to seven points or less with three shutouts. ... Apalachee (35) is the only team to score more than 21 points versus Flowery Branch (Loganville scored 21). ... The Falcons offense is averaging 39 points -- fourth most in Class AAAA. ... Flowery Branch is 12-2 at home since 2008 (Gainesville in 2009 and Creekview in 2008 only losses). ... Clarke Central is 13-2 on the road since 2008. ... Clarke Central is averaging 44 points per game, second in Class AAAA behind Tucker. ... The Gladiators have scored 42 or more points in six straight games and hit 55 or more twice in that span.
Friday
January 31st, 2025
5:45AM
