The word "adversity" is a favorite for coaches -- often with good reason.<br />
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And when East Hall coach Bryan Gray and Jackson County coach Benji Harrison brought out the "a-word" this week, they had as good a reason as any.<br />
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The Vikings are coming off a bye -- one week remove from a brutal 38-10 loss to Pickens in which East Hall saw starter after starter leave the field via injury.<br />
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The Panthers, meanwhile, have had their own injury issues while battling through a 0-3 start.<br />
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The thing about adversity is not that you face it -- nearly every team does -- it's how you respond to it; and both coaches are interested to see how his program responds this week. So when East Hall and Jackson County face off on Friday in Rabbittown know there is plenty more than a non-region showdown on the line.<br />
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"It's huge, no doubt -- this is a big game," Panthers coach Benji Harrison said. "We need to have some confidence heading into the region season."<br />
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Jackson County has watched victory brush agonizingly past in all three games, falling to Madison County 27-21 in the season opener, White County 34-26 in game two and 34-21 to Rabun County last Friday -- a contest in which they led in the second quarter.<br />
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"We've had a chance to win each of the three games we've played," Harrison said. "The good news is that the kids' confidence has not been rattled. They feel like they're close and know we've just got to keep getting better."<br />
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Certainly Gray expects a motivated foe when the Panthers pay a visit to Valhalla.<br />
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"They're motivated and hungry; they've just had some tough luck," Gray said. "They're a good team, and they're going to be in the playoff hunt (in Region 8-AAA) when it's all said and done."<br />
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The Vikings (1-1) believe the same will be true of them in Region 7-AAA, and Friday will represent a great opportunity for them to show that they have the kind of depth and quality to compete -- even when facing that "a-word."<br />
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"We're going to get a lot of quality work for a lot of kids on Friday in an important game," Gray said. "We're going to have to rely on a lot of kids if we want to make it through to the playoffs, and this is a great opportunity for some younger players."<br />
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That opportunity is there thanks in large part to a slew of injuries to starters.<br />
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"We had six or seven guys go down against Pickens -- but that's football," Gray said. "You just plug the next guy in there and get on with it."<br />
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It's a refrain that Harrison has also uttered after watching his quarterback, Jacob Lewis, work to get on the same page with an altered line-up of skill players.<br />
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"It changes some of what you do, and it's tough, but you just work and try to get through it," Harrison said. "The best thing is that Jacob is prepared and is a leader for this team. He knows there's pressure on him every week in this offense, and he would tell you he hasn't played to the level he wants. But he's an extraordinary player and is a big plus for this team."<br />
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Lewis, along with running back Malik Tuck, will have to deal with an East Hall defense that will look to get as much pressure on them as possible from an impressive front line.<br />
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"They're scary up front," Harrison said. "Our offensive line has to play well."<br />
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Led by Abraham Sepulveda, Hosea Jackson, and Alan Silva, the Vikings will look to disrupt the Panthers' spread attack.<br />
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Meanwhile, Gray says his own offensive line must improve.<br />
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"They've got to get cohesion," Gray said. "They've had moments, and if they can get on the same page they've got tremendous potential."<br />
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At this point both teams are still trying to realize their potential -- before every game holds playoff portents.<br />
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"We're a little shell-shocked right now, with everyone figuring out where they fit in to play on Friday night," Gray said. "But we've got to get them out there and get hit and see how they react. It's much better to have this in a non-region game. And we're going to be getting players back as we go. <br />
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"Our region's going to be tougher than many people thought. There won't be any gimmes, so games like this will be a great test for us."<br />
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Harrison agreed.<br />
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"That's why scheduled games like this," Harrison said. "This will be our fourth straight tough non-region game, and every team we've played has been different. They've all been good, and that was the point. We need that to get ready for (Region 8-AAA)."
