While most fans in northeast Georgia -- and many in the state -- may be surprised by East Jackson’s 2-0 start to the 2019 season, one key person is not.
“Not really,” said first-year East Jackson head coach Cameron Pettus. “The staff has been here since January and the kids have taken to what we wanted them to do right from the beginning. They have really worked hard.
“The staff has worked hard to get them here. To be honest, based on what I was seeing in practice all the way back in the spring, I felt we had a good chance to have a strong start.”
Strong may not be strong enough of an adjective.
The Eagles (2-0) are off to their best start in a decade. The two wins represent as many of the entire 2017 and 2018 seasons combined. They are drawing the attention of area and fellow Region 8-3A foes alike.
Such as Banks County head coach Jay Reid, whose Leopards (1-1) get the next shot at the Eagles Friday night traveling to Commerce in what should one of the more intriguing battles in northeast Georgia.
In fact, the Leopards can throw themselves in the “improved” category as well. Their 1-1 start is a game better than last season and Reid, now in his second season in Homer, thinks continuity has played a big part.
“East Jackson is very much improved,” Reid said. “Coach Pettus and his staff are doing a great job over there. He’s got them believing they can compete and win. We have a tough task ahead.
“But I feel we’ve improved also. It’s Year 2 of our system. Our kids are understanding things more. I think that has shown, especially defensively.”
And the early numbers say to expect a defensive showdown.
Banks County, which yielded 27.3 points a game in 2018, has given up just 14 points (7.0 ppg) in its first two games -- both Region 8-3A opponents -- which puts the Leopards fourth in Class 2A in fewest points allowed in the early going. The defense has been led by Sawyer Pace, Braxton Simpson, Jace Bennett, and Carter Stroud, who already has two interceptions. The Leopards held Franklin County to its lowest output ever in the series in a 15-7 victory last week.
East Jackson, which yielded 49.1 ppg in 2018, has given up just 29 points (14.5 ppg) so far. The Eagles have created nearly a half-dozen turnovers in their first two games. In the Eagles’ 30-7 win last week over Oglethorpe County, the defense had two pick-6s, one each by RJ White and Kahlil Watkins, in the opening quarter, giving the offense plenty of cushion to work with.
Neither coach expects anything close to the 50-10 shellacking Banks County put on the Eagles in 2018 in Homer. But the Leopards have won three straight and four of the last five meetings overall since 2012.
“I really don’t see anything like that this year, either way,” Pettus said. “Both defenses are playing well. The key will be which defense can create some turnovers and which offense can get one or two sustained drives. I think it could be a great game for the fans.”
Despite managing just 15 total points on the season, Reid thinks the Leopards’ wing-T offense is ready to get unleashed.
“We’ve played two really good defensive football teams. I think we’re right on the cusp of getting the offense going,” Reid said. “We’re doing a few new things with the offense and we’re still working out some of the kinks. We feel good about where we are right now.
“But I do think both offenses have enough to get some points. I don’t know how many but hopefully we can get one more than they do.”
The Eagles offense has scored 55 points in their first two games, already more than the 41 total points they managed in all of 2018 and has gone primarily through running back Nino Brown and the versatile Caleb Adair in the early going. Brown is averaging over 100 yards a game rushing. Adair, last year’s leading rusher, has gotten plenty of touches as both a runner and receiver adding to his threat level.
For Banks County on offense, quarterback Sawyer Pace and running backs Chandler Payne, Sean Hall and Roman Haynes give the wing-T several viable options.
BANKS COUNTY at EAST JACKSON
-- WHEN: 7:30 p.m.
-- WHERE: Eagles Stadium, Commerce
-- BANKS COUNTY (1-1, 0-0 Region 8-2A): Defeated Franklin County 15-7 last week
-- EAST JACKSON (2-0, 0-0 Region 8-3A): Defeated Oglethorpe County 30-7 last week
-- NOTABLE: Banks County leads series 5-4. The Leopards won 50-10 in 2018 in Homer. Banks County has won three straight and 4 of the last 5 meetings since 2012. ... For Banks County, the Eagles are the third straight Region 8-3A team they have faced to open the season. The Leopards are just 12-24 all-time vs. current 8-3A teams but last week’s win was their first-ever over the Lions. They are 6-16 vs. Jefferson and 6-8 vs. the rest of the region. ... The Eagles are one of just 12 teams in Class 3A still unbeaten.
