GAINESVILLE — Greed is not always a bad thing.
For Gainesville coach Bruce Miller and his Red Elephants, however, it may actually be holding them back from even bigger things. Which is something opponents should be scared of since Gainesville is averaging 38.6 points a game during its current three-game win streak.
“Sometimes I think I am too greedy as a coach,” Miller said. “I want seven (points) every time. But I know that three is good too. I guess I have so much confidence in our guys right now I feel they can score on every drive. Hopefully I don’t cost us something down the road.”
In last week's win over Heritage, the Red Elephants scored 28 points but still missed out on more scoring opportunities after failing to convert on four fourth down conversion attempts inside their opponents' 25-yard line.
“We could have kicked field goals, and I know that we will need to do that in close games,” Miller said. “We did not convert on fourth down four times and that is something we need to improve on for sure. Sometimes I just need to take the (three) points and be happy.”
As Gainesville (3-1, 3-0 Region 8-AAAAA) prepares to travel to Salem (4-1, 3-1) Friday night for a huge region battle between two teams expected to challenge for the region title, Miller also knows his offense will have to keep the momentum going. The Seminoles are averaging 31.2 ppg on offense and feature a defense that had allowed just 23 total points until last week’s stunning 35-34 loss to a Winder-Barrow team playing without star running back Cece Green.
A second straight loss for the Seminoles would put a dent in their playoff hopes, while a loss for Gainesville would bring them back to the pack and give Salem the tiebreaker advantage. And there's another monster showdown against defending region champion and Class AAAAA sixth-ranked Lanier looming next week at City Park for the Red Elephants.
“(The fact they lost last week) may make this game even bigger than if we were both undefeated in the region,” Miller said. “I feel like it’s probably a do-or-die for them. I’m sure they’re going to pull out all the stops to try and get a win.
“This region is so tough that you can’t ever really feel like you can relax, though. We won’t win the region even if we can come away with a victory but it would put us in a much better position going into next week.”
After a season-opening 34-0 loss to Class AAAAAA No. 2-ranked Grayson and then a bye week to work out the kinks, the Red Elephants already are showing signs of midseason form. The offense has put up big numbers behind seniors Messiah Dorsey (quarterback) and Chris Byrd (running back), while five different receivers have caught four or more passes. Meanwhile, the defense, after surviving a 351-yard rushing effort from Winder-Barrow’s Green, has pitched two consecutive shutouts.
“The defense has been playing very well. The offense has shown the ability to move the ball but I would still like to see a little more consistency in the red zone. We also need to improve on special teams,” Miller said.
The Grayson loss may have had a bigger impact on the Red Elephants’ current run than the score would indicate. Miller said they were hoping to avenge a shutout loss to the Rams in 2014.
“I saw a lot of fight in the team. They never quit against a really good football team that was bigger and faster than us,” Miller said. “I thought we would be able to score and I think the offense took that personally. I think Messiah in particular took that game as a motivator for himself to work harder and get better. He is playing very well right now.”
Dorsey has passed for 565 yards and seven touchdowns and added another 257 yards rushing and four touchdowns, most of that coming over the past three weeks. Byrd leads the team in rushing with 307 yards and three scores and in receptions with 14 for 72 yards.
“Overall I think we have improved as a team,” Miller said. “But we still have a lot of season left. We’re real good right now, but I just feel like we can be even better all around. We’re still not improving fast enough for me. I guess I’m just being greedy again.”
NOTES: Gainesville is 5-0 all-time against the Seminoles. ... The Red Elephants have won four straight regular season road games going back to a 26-23 loss to Lanier in 2014. They are 6-2 in their lost eight road games overall. ... The Seminoles are 5-1 in their last six home games. Their last loss was to Flowery Branch, 7-6, last season.
