Back during the summer workouts, Nov. 2 was a date many North Hall and Dawson County football fans, and probably others around the northeast Georgia area as well, circled on their calendars in permanent marker.
Both teams were expected to be playoff contenders and in the middle of the Region 7-3A playoff race and hopefully something bigger: a region title chase.
Well, one out of two isn’t so bad.
Nov. 2 is here, or least one day away, and the two teams will meet in Dawsonville, unfortunately not for a region title as many had hoped -- that belongs to Greater Atlanta Christian after the Spartans knocked off both during the regular season -- but for a just-as-important No. 2 seed heading into next week’s Class 3A playoffs, which is expected to be one of the more brutal classifications overall.
The winner at Tiger Stadium will capture the No. 2 seed and the home playoff game that comes with it. The loser will take the No. 3 seed and be forced to hit the road in the first round.
Neither coach -- David Bishop for North Hall nor Sid Maxwell for Dawson County -- wanted to downplay the season finale showdown. But neither coach was overly eager to put the stamp of “must win” on it at the same time. Instead, both seemed more content to use what is expected to be a hard-hitting affair as a building-block and preparation for a bigger prize on the horizon.
“The mood has been about the same as it has all year,” Bishop said of his charges. “This has been a very business-like group. They come to work every day, practice hard, and try to improve each day. They set a goal of a home playoff game and a state title. Both of those are still within sight for us.
“But Class 3A is so tough it really doesn’t matter if you’re at home or on the road. Every round you will have a quality opponent. Of course we love playing at home but as far as the competition, it won’t matter that much. It will be great to play a team the caliber of Dawson County right before the playoffs because that will certainly help us get prepared.”
Maxwell said virtually the same about his team.
“We know the importance of this game and we know it’s going to be a big challenge for us,” he said. “But we also know that we’re in no matter what happens. That doesn’t lessen the importance necessarily, but playing a team as good as North Hall in the final game will help us get ready for the playoffs.
“There is still something to play for -- like a state title -- but whether we get to be at home or have to go on the road it probably won’t matter that much with the quality of opponent we’ll see in the first round. Our goal is be better after this week than we were last week.”
The matchup will feature two of the state’s most potent offenses and ground attacks. The Trojans are second in Class 3A in scoring (421 points, 46.7 points per game) buoyed by 208 points over the past three weeks, including a school-record last week in a 76-0 shellacking of East Hall. They are averaging 313 yards a game and 9.37 yards per carry on the season.
The Tigers have been just as devastating sitting sixth in Class 3A with 387 points (43.0 ppg) and averaging 319 yards rushing, led by senior quarterback Sevaughn Clark (647 yards rushing, 12 TDs; 680 yards passing 7 TDs, 1 INT) and senior running back Ahmad Kamara has been a workhorse with 871 yards rushing, including 9.8 ypc and 11 TDs.
North Hall senior running back Daniel Jackson has been a one-man wrecking crew in 2018 with 862 yards rushing, 331 yards receiving, both of which lead the team, and 23 combined TDs (16 rush, 4 receiving, 3 on returns).
But both defenses also are in the top eight in Class 3A. The Trojans have yielded just 84 points (9.3 ppg) while the Tigers have allowed just 103 points (11.4 ppg).
Neither coach was ready to predict offensive fireworks or a good, old-fashioned defensive slugfest. But both said they expect a 48-minute battle to the final whistle.
"It’s hard to say what kind of game it will be,” Bishop said. “I feel like both teams will be able to move the ball and score some points. Both offenses are hard to stop.
“Dawson County has two big, physical guys that can run you over and with speed behind a good offensive line. We have to make our reads on defense and make sure we wrap up and tackle on first contact. If they get through that first guy that’s when they really hurt you.”
“I see a very even matchup,” Maxwell said. “I don’t see a 7-0 type of game. I’m sure (North Hall) will have a chip on their shoulders after the last couple of meetings.
“They have an explosive offense and eliminating those big plays -- and they’ve got about four or five guys that can really do damage -- will be the key for us. If they’re getting loose behind us it could be a long night.”
Maxwell said what he may enjoy the most may be what he sees when he comes out of the locker room.
“I’m expecting a packed house all around,” he said. “It should a great environment. That’s what I love the most about high school football. Hopefully we can put on a good show for the fans.”
