RABBITTOWN -- For eight years the challenge has seemed almost as big as Mt. Everest itself.<br />
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For eight years the East Hall football program has gone to practice dreaming and building for the day when it would once again be a player on the state scene.<br />
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For eight years, however, they were stuck on a ledge on the side of the mountain, unable to climb higher but refusing to go back down. <br />
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Last Friday, the wind changed, the skies suddenly cleared, and a path upward materialized and the Vikings finally can step off the ledge and begin the climb toward the summit.<br />
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East Hall (6-4) knocked off Banks County 35-21 in last week's season finale to claim its first playoff spot since 2005. The Vikings will travel to Hart County (9-1) in the first round of the Class AAA playoffs. <br />
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For eighth-year coach Bryan Gray, it has been a long wait, but one they felt was closer than most thought all along.<br />
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"We had three 5-5 seasons in a row but really I don't think there was much frustration because we felt like we were competing," Gray said. "We were climbing the hill, climbing the hill, but we just couldn't quite get over the hump. This year, the ball just kind of bounced our way for a change.<br />
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"We were one win away each year and just a few points in key games but things would happen and we would be the odd man out. It was looking like the same scenario this year but we found a way to win those games this time. It was just a feeling of pure excitement, pure joy when we found out we were in (the playoffs)."<br />
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East Hall won three key Region 7-AAA games down the stretch to claim the No. 3 seed. One slip would have left the Vikings once again stuck on the side of the mountain wondering how to climb higher. They knocked off Franklin County and Fannin County before dispatching rival Banks County in a game in which the loser was virtually eliminated.<br />
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"We knew we probably had to win out and the kids worked hard and prepared and responded each week," Gray said. "We feel like we've been in the playoffs for three weeks now so really this is just like any other game to us as far as the pressure and intensity goes. I think that should help us."<br />
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The Vikings will face a team in Hart County that has been among the state's best all season but dropped a heartbreaking 21-14 decision in last week's season finale to Jefferson for the Region 8-AAA title. Hart County was stopped on a potential game-tying touchdown on a goal-line stand by the Dragons with just over one minute left in the game.<br />
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Could the Vikings be catching the Bulldogs at a vulnerable time? <br />
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The Vikings, behind a healthy and rejuvenated Devin Watson at quarterback, averaged 37.2 ppg during their current four-game win streak. The Bulldogs, however, are giving up just 12.4 ppg on defense. The other matchup also appears to favor Hart County, which is averaging 38 ppg on offense while East Hall is yielding over 27 ppg on the season. <br />
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"I don't know if we're getting them at a good time or not. They could be mad," Gray said. "When you get to the playoffs everyone is good. (Hart County) is so talented on defense and they have a bunch of play-makers on offense. It's going to be a huge challenge for us.<br />
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"We will have to find a way to stop them on defense and be able to make some plays on offense. I don't think getting into a shootout would be a good thing for us. Turnovers will play a factor and hopefully we can force them into a couple."<br />
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On paper, Region 7-AAA does not appear to stack up with the powerhouse 8-AAA, which had both the Bulldogs and Jefferson ranked in the top 10 all season. Elbert County, the No. 3 seed, has state-title talent and Oconee County is perhaps the most improved team in Class AAA in 2014.<br />
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Other than West Hall, the No. 1 seed from 7-AAA who takes on Oconee County, 8-AAA teams are favored to win the other three matchups. Is it important that 7-AAA have a strong showing to quell some of the doubts of the strength of the region as a whole?<br />
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"There is no doubt that 8-AAA is stacked top to bottom," Gray said. "They have three teams that could make the semifinals. I would love to see (7-AAA) steal a game somewhere.<br />
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"But, I don't think it will be a referendum on 7-AAA if we only get one team through (to the second round). If you look at all the teams, we were all competitive outside the region during the season and improved as a whole as the season went on. Having everyone be competitive will make everyone stronger and better."<br />
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Gray also sounded optimistic about the long-term prognosis for the Vikings -- no matter how things turn out Friday night.<br />
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"We've made progress. This has been a goal and now we're here so the kids and the community can see that we're moving upward," he said. "Win or lose we're making progress. We're just a local community with home-grown kids working hard to get better and make a name for ourselves.<br />
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"The future will take care of the future."<br />
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And the future definitely looks bright as the Vikings begin the next step Friday night to making it to the summit of Class AAA.
