GAINESVILLE -- Gainesville defensive coordinator Jim Pavao will be the first to tell you that his 2011 Red Elephants aren't the second coming of the "steel curtain."
"We're not a dominant defense," Pavao said. "We're not going to go out there and just destroy opposing offenses and get them off the field three-and-out every single time."
And that's just fine with Pavao -- because these Red Elephants are plenty fearsome in their own right.
"We've found ways to get offenses off the field; we've forced turnovers; we've come up with big stops," Pavao said. "We may be giving up some yards -- but in the end it's all about how many points you give up. And we aren't giving up many."
Indeed, the Red Elephants are allowing just 13.5 points per game. And as for big plays, look no further than last week's Class AAA quarterfinal victory over two-time defending state champion Sandy Creek.
Facing an offense anchored by numerous FBS (Division I-A) prospects, Gainesville forced three turnovers on downs -- including on back-to-back possessions in the fourth quarter -- and a fumble that the Red Elephants recovered in Patriots territory and turned into a quick, and important, touchdown in a 35-21 victory. The momentum swings were more than enough to offset the 278 rushing yards Gainesville surrendered to an attack featuring Ole Miss commitment Michael Hilton.
"When those guys absolutely had to make a play, they made it; that's kind of how I would best describe these guys," Red Elephants coach Bruce Miller said. "They're a no-name bunch that works hard. And they've come a long way this season."
Gainesville entered the 2011 campaign featuring just two returning starters on defense, and, having graduated FBS signees A.J. Johnson (Tennessee) and Thomas Niles (Central Florida), had more questions than answers -- questions that were only amplified in a preseason scrimmage against Class AAA playoff team St. Pius and in the season opener against four-time defending Class AA champ Buford (a game the Red Elephants lost 49-0).
"Early in the season there were a lot of players frustrated, wondering who was going to step up and take control," said junior safety Fred Payne -- one of the team's two returning starters from 2010. "But as we kept playing we found a whole bunch of leaders, and we found a lot of trust in each other."
Gainesville bounced back quickly from the disappointing start, doing so with a mix of athleticism and effort, as new starters like safety Eli Nwefo, linebackers Devon Stringer and J.J. Johnson and defensive linemen Jeremiah Ledbetter and Connor Calvert each began to grow into their roles -- both as starters and leaders.
"We were missing a lot of key players at the start of the season," said Payne, who is second on the team with 123 tackles. "But we've had so many guys step up and start to play well. Everyone is trying to make a name for themselves; everyone's giving it everything they've got. And that's what we've got right now, a bunch of unknown heroes."
Effort has never been a question for the attack-minded, 3-4 unit, and once experience began to take hold, the results quickly followed. For example, Stringer, a sophomore, leads the team with 128 tackles -- including a 17 tackle, 2 pass-break-up performance in last week's win. Meanwhile, Nwefo is third with 119 stops. Johnson also has 110 tackles, while Clavert has 91 stops. The group thrives on creating confusion for opposing offenses, blitzing and stunting from one position, dropping in another.
"We've had so many different guys step up and play well this season, and to watch them all reach their potential has been great," Pavao said. "They just play hard every game. They give you everything they've got."
And the Red Elephants (12-1) know that must continue if they are to reach the Class AAA title game next week at the Georgia Dome. Standing in Gainesville's way is a Burke County team that is averaging 44.2 points per game and will test the Red Elephants' run defense.
"It will be a good challenge," Payne said of facing the Bears (12-1). "They're great at running the football."
Basing out of a shotgun, spread formation, Burke County will look to pound the ball with one quarterback (senior Corey Mayton -- 1,011 yards rushing this season) and then hit for big plays with another (sophomore Donquell Green -- 834 yards rushing).
"They're fast paced, run a no-huddle, have a good offensive line and are well-coached," Pavao said. "It will probably be our toughest challenge yet."
Yet the Red Elephants are undaunted, especially after ending the state's longest active winning streak (41 straight games) last week.
"We're one game from playing for state and just trying to make history," Payne said. "We know we have to keep our composure. There will be ups and downs in every game, but of course we're excited."
"Steel" or not, the Red Elephants are contenders -- and no one will quibble with that.
BURKE COUNTY at GAINESVILLE
-- WHAT: Class AAA football semifinal
-- WHEN: 7:30 p.m. Friday
-- WHERE: City Park, Gainesville
-- RADIO: 1240 AM
-- BURKE COUNTY (12-1, No. 1 seed Region 3-AAA): Defeated Allatoona 32-28 last week.
-- GAINESVILLE (12-1, No. 1 seed Region 8-AAA): Defeated Sandy Creek 35-21 last week.
-- WINNER PLAYS: Peach County vs. Cairo winner in state championship game
Tuesday
April 15th, 2025
12:07PM
