JEFFERSON — Ben Hall and Gene Cathcart knew this week would present unique challenges -- and that was long before Irma got involved.
As it stands, this week's storm only added a minor storyline to one of the most anticipated showdowns of 2017.
Hall will lead his new Flowery Branch team into Jefferson's Memorial Stadium on Friday, facing Cathcart's Dragons on the turf Hall called home just one season ago.
And if that dimension was not enough, there is the fact that the Falcons are rolling -- 3-0 under Hall, already matching last year's win total and receiving votes in the polls.
They face a fifth-ranked Dragons team that -- as expected -- has impressed on the young season, going 2-1 with the only loss coming at Class AAAA No. 2 Thomson (20-14 after a last-minute touchdown from the Bulldogs in a rematch of last year's state semifinals).
In fact, the only thing missing from this week's contest is playoff implications. But it is not necessary to create a postseason atmosphere for this face-off. In fact, Cathcart, who was on Hall's staff last season at Jefferson before taking over as head coach, says his team must look past the emotion of the situation.
"I think there's certainly a little more buzz than usual. The thing when it washes out and we're out there and on the field it'll be Flowery Branch and Jefferson; it won't be Ben and Gene. Ben can't make a block; he can't make a tackle. I'm too fat and old to do either one myself. ... Ultimately, when it all washes away, it's a non-region game, has a lot of excitement for the area, but in terms of chasing a region championship it's just more of one of those non-region measuring stick games to see where we both stand," said Cathcart, a state-championship winning head coach who was the team's offensive coordinator last season.
"Our friendship will remain strong and we'll shake hands after the game. ... Sometimes it's better to play someone you don't know that well. It's kind of like getting in a fight with your brother. Sometimes it's a little more emotional."
"It's going to be a physical game," Ben Hall confirmed. "It's a lot like playing your brother. You know each other so well, and the two teams are very similar."
Just like siblings the two programs bear resemblances, and Hall's new squad is already taking on the hallmarks of his Dragons teams -- squads that went 44-8 with two region championships, a state semifinal berth and two quarterfinal appearances.
"Number one they're not beating themselves. They're taking care of the football and very good on both lines of scrimmage," Cathcart said. "Their kids are playing very, very hard. And that's a sign of a good staff and a sign that they've bought in very early. And they're looking for a signature win, and certainly Ben coming to our place, where he had such a good run -- both as an assistant under (coach) T (McFerrin) and as the head coach -- would be a huge feather in their cap. And with the chaos of the week, we just hope we're able to stay focused and make Friday a night where we protect our home field."
As well as the Falcons have played so far, they know that the Dragons represent a different level to what they have faced so far.
"It's one of the best teams we'll play this year. We realize that -- not to take away from the other three opponents. But everybody in the community realizes this is the toughest test to date," Hall said. "It's going to be a physical game. It's a lot like playing your brother. You know each other so well, and the two teams are very similar. And our kids are starting to take pride in playing a physical brand of ball. And I think that's made us a better team."
Even the most similar of siblings feature unique traits, however, and there are differences between each team.
True, the Dragons and Falcons each lean on physical rushing attacks and defenses that focus on stopping the run first. But Jefferson has tweaked its attack since Hall's departure. And while senior running back Colby Wood (31 car., 328 yards, 6 TD) is still a focal point of the offense, the Dragons are mixing the pass more frequently.
"(Jefferson is) throwing the ball more. They're not as big up front -- which they still have the state's leading rusher, if not the leading rusher one of the leading rushers in Colby Wood, who's a dynamic player. And he's as good a receiver as he is a running back. But they're taking some stress off him and taking some stress off their offensive line, and throwing the ball around more," Hall said. "We're expecting them to try and hit us with the quick game and spread us out a little bit, quick game and then toss it to Colby when they're under center, and that's where they've had the most success this year."
Jefferson quarterback Bryce Moore, says he and his teammates are prepping to face an aggressive Falcons defense led by coordinator Bill Ballard -- a group that has allowed just 13 points in three games combined.
"I've been watching film; they like to blitz. But our offensive line's the best in the state. And we're going to be ready for it," Moore said.
Indeed, the Dragons' men in the trenches have impressed despite graduating two standouts from last season now playing collegiately (Caleb Chandler and Dontae Wilson) and also battling injury early in 2017. And the unit performed admirably two weeks ago against an experienced Thomson squad.
"Our kids competed awfully well in a very hostile environment, a playoff-type atmosphere -- so we're very encouraged about the positives," Cathcart said. "And hopefully we can take the negatives and learn from them, and when we're in that situation maybe respond a little bit more positively."
The challenge on Friday will also come for Jefferson on the defensive front, where they will try to neutralize a Falcons front that has opened holes for 220-pound running back Malik Damons (68 car., 458 yards, 7 TD, 3 100-yard games) and the more nimble Malik Drayton (23 car., 251 yards, 5 TD, 10.9 ypc).
"Our style of play we feel fits our personnel. Offensively, we have some big linemen; we have a big back in Malik Damons, who's 220 pounds. And we have a sophomore quarterback (Elijah Gainey) who has a strong arm who's getting better each and every day," Hall said. "That's what I know. And the kids bought into it, and they saw the results we had with it last year, and they've been excited about the opportunity to learn a new system on each side of the ball."
They will battle a Jefferson defense that has long been stingy and physical -- one that is looking forward to the challenge on Friday.
"We're expecting it to be as physical as any game, but that's not going to change how we play," said Dragons senior linebacker Matthew Nelson.
In fact, the key on Friday could come down to controlling emotion.
"As much as you try to downplay it as a coaching staff, there are variables that are coming into play this week that you don't face every week," Hall said. "Our kids are excited. They're excited about an opportunity, not to play the team I coached previously, but to have an opportunity to play a quality opponent."
Hall admits, however, it is not a situation he necessarily relishes.
"It's not fun at all. I care deeply for people in that community and the kids that I've coached for the last eight years and it's not fun," Hall said. "But I'm not going to do anything to take away from the opportunity our kids here have to play a quality opponent. They just need to play ball and have fun doing it."
After a week off to prep for the contest, the Dragons are also more than motivated to get back on the field.
"It's going to be an emotional game; it's just another game on the schedule; it's non-region -- it's not going to effect us in the playoffs. But it's also emotional. It's going to be fun -- every time we play on Friday is fun," Moore said.
Certainly there is the potential for plenty of fun for fans on Friday.
"It has a lot of excitement for the area -- but in terms of chasing a region championship it's just one more of those non-region measuring stick games to see where we both stand," Cathcart said.
Not a bad way to make a measurement.
