HOSCHTON — This time a year ago, Mill Creek football players found themselves elbow-deep in hype -- a major hindrance for a team the verge of its first ever state semifinal.
"I think last year after the big win against Archer (in the quarterfinals), and then hosting Colquitt County (in the semifinals), I think we all were very excited about where we were at," said Hawks coach Shannon Jarvis, whose team succumbed to the Packers 52-31 in last year's Final Four.
This week the Hawks could so easily have found themselves right back in the same spot: in the semifinals again, facing a team replete with stars -- perhaps more than any faced in team history -- and one win removed from a first-ever championship game berth.
Instead, Mill Creek spent the week focusing on one thing: itself.
"This team has been a lot more business-like in its approach to the practices. And, truthfully, there hasn't been as many distractions off the field," Jarvis said. "And I love it when people get excited, but also we've got too be able to control that a little bit and make sure we're doing our process of preparing for this game."
Considering the level of opponent, the Hawks (13-0) know they will have to be at their absolute best.
Grayson features at least seven Football Bowl Subdivision-bound seniors, a dominant defense and an offense capable of pounding foes into submission or striking for game-changing plays through the air. Just ask Colquitt County. The Rams (12-1) ripped through the two-time defending state champs last week, building a 49-7 lead en route to dethroning the Packers.
This is the same Grayson team that has risen as high as No. 6 in the national rankings (for whatever those are worth).
In other words there is plenty to talk and think about in this latest foe. And yet Mill Creek remained tight-lipped this week. Talking only of what it can do to improve -- and find a way to its ultimate goal.
"I think the mindset is from last year, we just had our hearts broken -- after the loss against Colquitt (in the Class AAAAAA semifinals)," Mill Creek senior defensive end David Milon said. "So we critiqued a lot and made sure we fixed things, cut out the little nonsense we had last year and make sure we had the right mindset."
For, as the Hawks have shown over the past two seasons, they have the ability to stand against any team in the state.
This season has seen Mill Creek perched above Grayson in the Class AAAAAAA rankings -- the Hawks have been No. 1 in the AP poll for most of the campaign -- while displaying a defense as dominant as any in the state -- they are yielding less than 25 rush yards per game -- and an offense that can equally pulverize or electrify.
This is the same team that threw quarterfinal victim McEachern for minus-39 yards rushing. And features a number of standouts on offense, including four players that have rushed for 200 yards or more and three more with 100 yards or more on the ground.
"I feel like we're kind of always underrated when we face teams with better athletes per se, teams with four stars," said Mill Creek quarterback Cameron Turley, who has passed for 2,309 yards and 30 touchdowns this campaign en route to setting just about every program record. "We still have all the confidence in the world in ourselves and that's all that matters."
Thus a team with just one FBS commit so far -- lineman Tyler Fannin (University of Virginia) -- enters Friday's showdown feeling no fear against a team strewn with major commits.
Just don't misconstrue confidence with cockiness. The Hawks know they are in for an absolute war if they are to progress.
This is the same Rams team that rushed for 373 yards in the quarterfinals -- largely behind Michigan commit Kurt Taylor (204 yards), and South Carolina commit Jamyest Williams (103 on five carries). Quarterback Chase Brice (Clemson commit) has also thrown for 2,385 yards and 25 touchdowns.
"I definitely give them props; they are a very talented team, and I believe that our team... We'll give them our best and we'll get their best," Milon said.
But after facing a tough schedule of their own, the Hawks believe they are prepared for the challenge.
"All the teams we played this year were playoff teams except three. So we've played good competition. We've played high-level athletes," Jarvis said. "This past week against McEachern, that quarterback and skill guys and corners -- they've got a Southern Cal commit -- so we've played tremendous players week-in, week-out.
"It's really more about our preparation, and we're not going to do anything special for Grayson. We're going to line up and do what we do and get ready to play a great team in a great atmosphere. So we're really not sitting here worried about how mythic they are or anything. We really could not care less. We're going to worry more about our execution."
As they have shown already this season, a Hawks team executing at a high level is a dangerous thing indeed -- no matter the foe. And, after last year, Mill Creek is determined to give its best showing now.
"I've been here all four years and just seeing the progress we've made, seeing the growth coach Jarvis has put into this program -- it would just be a dream come true (to make the championship game), and I would love to do it for the coaches," Milon said.
MILL CREEK at GRAYSON
- WHEN: 7:30 p.m. Friday
- WHERE: Grayson Community Stadium, Grayson
- MILL CREEK (13-0, No. 1 seed Region 6-AAAAAAA) Defeated McEachern 31-28 in the quarterfinals
- GRAYSON (12-1, No. 1 seed Region 8-AAAAAAA): Defeated Colquitt County 49-21 in the quarterfinals
