JEFFERSON — Both Jefferson and Stephens County know the window of opportunity to grab a Region 8-AAAA championship is open for the first time on Friday night.
Whether either team can charge through, however, is the main storyline as the two foes meet at Memorial Stadium for the first time since 1955.
Stephens County (7-1, 3-0 Region 8-AAAA) has the opportunity to grab the trophy off the shelf, dust it off, and bring it back to Toccoa for its first region title of any kind since 2007. A win for the Indians over the Class AAAA fourth-ranked Dragons (7-1, 3-0) would give them the title outright title despite still having to play North Oconee next week in their regular season finale. Stephens knocked off Oconee County last week to set up the opportunity.
“There is a small window for us this week,” Stephens County coach Frank Barden said. “Every game is important, and the wins before this gave us this chance. Now we just have to go and try and win it.”
For Jefferson, a win only cracks the window open a little more -- as the Dragons would then face a one-game showdown with Oconee County (6-2, 2-1) next week for the region title. However, a Jefferson win and a Oconee County loss to Madison County (6-2, 1-2) on Friday would give the Dragons the region title regardless of next week’s outcomes. (There is also the possibility of a three-way tie for the crown depending on the Jefferson-Oconee County result, but we'll cross that bridge if and when we get there.)
“We haven’t discussed a region title or anything with our guys because we still have two tough games to get through,” Jefferson coach Ben Hall said. “I think our kids are just hungry to win each week, and right now they’re just focused on Stephens County. If we manage to win (Friday) then we’ll look and see what the situation is. The region is too good and too balanced to worry about anything other than that week’s game. That’s the approach we try to take every week.”
Both teams offer plenty of playmakers on offense. The Indians have quarterback Jackson Bell, running back A.J. Howard and receiver A.J. Curry. The Dragons counter with running back Colby Wood, quarterback Colby Clark and running back Zack Boobas.
Both teams also offer hard-hitting, 11-man, play-making defenses that are among the best in Class AAAA. Both teams have forced 10 takeaways. Jefferson has 11 sacks and the Indians 7 on the season.
Stephens County is sixth in AAAA, allowing just 93 points (11.6 points per game), and, after yielding 44 points in their first two games, the Indians have surrendered just 49 points (8.1 ppg) since. Meanwhile, Jefferson is eighth, allowing 13.1 ppg on the season. But 70 of their 105 points allowed so far were given up to No. 2 Thomson and Class AAAAAA Gainesville. The Dragons have allowed just 35 points (5.8 ppg) in their other six games combined, including three shutouts.
Barden said he expects another defensive struggle -- much like last week’s 16-9 victory over Oconee County.
“You have two talented teams that are well-coached and playing very well right now,” he said. “I think the (offensive and defensive) lines of Jefferson may be the difference. They are big and talented and will be the best we’ve faced so far this year by far. We have to find a way to win the battle up front.”
The Indians could look to crowd the line of scrimmage in order to try and slow the two Colbys and Boobas, who have combined for 1,725 yards and 27 touchdowns in the Dragons’ powerful ground attack. Yet Hall said that will be nothing new for his offense.
“Our kids have gotten used to seeing teams load the box, and for the most part they have done a good job of executing,” Hall said. “The line has played extremely well. Staying out of long third-down situations is crucial, but we also like to use play-action to balance things and keep the defense off-balance. I think that will be a big key as well.”
Special teams and field position will play a huge factor and Jefferson has been among the best in the state in winning that battle. The Dragons' average starting field position for the season has been roughly their own 40-yard line.
“We’ve been able to use our defense and kicking game to help our offense have some shorter drives,” Hall said. “I think that has been a real key to our success this year. We will definitely need to win that battle to have a chance against (Stephens County).”
If it comes down to field goals, the Dragons may have the edge. Sophomore Hayden Kilgore has been perfect on all 34 extra points and is 8-of-10 on field goals, with his longest clearing 38 yards. Stephens County junior Luke Pearson has missed both field goals he has attempted and is 14-of-18 on extra points this season.
“If it comes down to a field goal to win I don’t know how comfortable either coach will be because anything can happen,” Hall said. “But we have confidence in Hayden, and he has had a good season so far.”
Barden, who took over the Indians in 2014, has been pushing to get the Indians back into the statewide conversation as a team that can challenge for a state title. Will a win over the Dragons provide that validation?
“I don’t know,” he said. “We’ve been a good program for a long time. But how to go from being a good team or program to a great one is always the question. Being able to beat a team as good as Jefferson obviously would give us a lot of confidence and I guess people would notice that. But it’s not a make-or-break game for us. Regardless of the outcome we feel we can play with anyone.”
STEPHENS COUNTY at JEFFERSON
-- WHEN: 7:30 p.m.
-- WHERE: Memorial Stadium, Jefferson
-- STEPHENS COUNTY (7-1, 3-0 Region 8-AAAA): Defeated Oconee County 16-9 last week
-- JEFFERSON (7-1, 3-0 Region 8-AAAA): Defeated St. Pius 24-0 last week
-- NOTABLE: Stephens County leads the series 3-2. It is the first meeting since 1955 between the two powers. Stephens County won that meeting 27-7 in Jefferson. The last Dragons victory in the series came in 1950, 65-6, in Jefferson as well. ... Both teams are rolling coming into this one. Stephens has won six straight and Jefferson five straight. ... The Dragons are 8th in AAAA (264, 33 ppg) and the Indians are 13th (239, 29.9 ppg) in offense.
