MT. AIRY — The Goliath at Six Flags has had nothing on the Habersham Central football team in 2019.
The Raiders opened the season with a pair of tough losses to Dawson County and Madison County but then responded with three straight wins over White County, Stephens County, and Franklin County. That was followed with three consecutive losses to open their Region 8-6A schedule, including a 41-0 loss to No. 1 Dacula last week.
“It’s been a pretty good roller coaster for sure,” Habersham Central coach Benji Harrison said this week. “We told the kids we're basically at the same point this year that we were last year except that we beat Stephens and lost to Gainesville. We know what we need to do going into the last two weeks of the season and the kids have been practicing hard and I feel that we're ready to get going to try to make a run for the playoffs.”
Despite the recent downturn, the Raiders (3-5, 0-3 Region 8-6A) control their own playoff fate. They will begin that trek Friday night playing host to Winder-Barrow (2-6, 1-2 Region 6-A). Kickoff is slated for 7:30 p.m. at Raider Stadium.
The offense is not as prolific as the past two seasons where the Raiders were among the top 10 in Class 6A averaging 32.9 points a game combined for the two campaigns. This year they are scoring just 22.3 ppg and managed to score more than 30 just twice.
Defensively they allowed 33.0 ppg the past two seasons and have given up 31.5 ppg so far in 2019. But before the current three-game losing streak, which included No. 1 Dacula, No. 5 Lanier, and a streaking Gainesville squad, they were allowing just 24.2 ppg.
The Raiders have little margin for error, however, if they want a repeat trip to the playoffs. A win and they go to their season-finale against Apalachee with a chance to play an 11th game. Lose and they begin planning for next season.
WHAT HAPPENED IN THE PAST STAYS IN THE PAST
“I think (the kids) understand that there is no time to worry about what happened last week. I think our guys are in a really good place and I think they're focused and we talked about when you have a little adversity not to flinch and to deal with it and to fight back and I think that they understand that. I think they're ready to do that this week.
“The playoffs start for most people in two weeks but for us it starts this week because we have to win or we're not going to be able to get back to the playoffs. We have to get this one this week.”
TO EXECUTE OR NOT TO EXECUTE, THAT IS THE QUESTION
“I think it's a game between two evenly-matched teams. Basically I think it's whichever team plays well and executes what they do well will probably come out as the winner in this game. I know that sounds simple but that's usually the case so we're focusing on just trying to make sure we execute what we do.”
IT IS YOUR DESTINY...AND DOES THAT HELP?
“The good thing is we do control our own destiny. If we win the last two games, we’re in the playoffs. I don't think that you can minimize the game to your kids but also to sit back and act like it's not a big game is also a way to get yourself in trouble and not be focused and prepared for what you need to do.
“But I don't see this group coming out and playing real tight. I think they're excited about the opportunity that's in front of them knowing that if they win (the last two games) they’re going to be in the playoffs and that's all you can ask for.”
The Players
Senior quarterback Ryte Woodruff [95-for-199 1,366 yards passing, 8 TD, 7 INT]
On how this year has gone and trying to accomplish personal and team goals...
“I've been ready for this for three years. When I was on the scout offense I was learning a lot and I told people that my goal was to always make the defensive coaches upset with me while I was running the offense. I was able to do that sometimes.”
“I've accomplished some personal goals but our team goals are still ahead of us. Our goal is to make the playoffs and that is still in front of us and that's our goal as we get ready this week. Last year we went in as a No. 3 seed and we beat the No. 6 team in the state (Douglas County) so we're ready to see if we can do that again this year. But we know we have to make the playoffs first.”
On whether the offense or the defense is the key for this team...
“I think it's a little bit of both, really. Against Dacula we just did not play very well as a team and I think that showed. If we can get the run game going on offense it opens up our RPO options and I think that's a big key for the offense having success. The defense has played well, in my opinion, most of the season. We have confidence in them.”
On knowing it’s basically a do-or-die last two weeks for the Raiders...
“The playoffs definitely start for us this week we've been talking about that as a group. We have a trophy that we do every week and the trophy this week is just a picture of the playoff bracket and we circled the spot of where our name would be. That's all we're focused on right now.”
Junior WR/CB Joshua Pickett [42 receptions, 581 yards, 4 TD; 39 tackles, 3 pass break ups, 1 fumble recovery]
On how getting a win over Stephens County for the first time in 20 years has helped the Raiders’ confidence...
“That was a huge win for us. I really think it brought the morale up really high as a team. That really helped us come in strong once the region play started and I think that has really helped us. We're going to have to pick it up these last two games but we feel pretty confident right now that we can do that and make the playoffs.”
On the mood of the team as they basically begin their playoff quest and the keys moving forward...
“The mood is really good. We've had some really good practices the last few days. We really want this so I feel really confident that we're going to go get this and get back into the playoffs. Just like the Stephens County game. We wanted to win that game and we went and got it and I see the same kind of mentality right now as we get ready this week.
“I think if we just do our jobs, run our routes, and try to execute our offense we're going to be fine and we're going to score some points. We're going to have to make some big plays on defense but we feel our defense is better than it showed the last couple of games.”
