Several key football games across the region, including region battles starting for more than half the area's teams in Week 6. Friday Game Night checked in with coaches around northeast Georgia to find out how many ingredients are needed to get a win Friday night.
Below are comments from the area’s coaches about either the keys to a win or about the game, in general. Friday Game Night will have coverage of the 19 games in the area Friday night. You can track these games on the FGN twitter page at www.twitter.com/fridaygamenight or on the live scoreboard at www.accesswdun.com/fridaygamenight.
Banks County coach Jay Reid on traveling to Oglethorpe this week:
“For us to be successful, we know we must do four things. We must, first and foremost, protect the ball as turnover margin is the most important stat for us. Number two is that we play with passion and excitement on defense, we must hustle and swarm the ball. Third, we must limit our penalties, which helps us stay in phase or ahead of the chains. Lastly, we must have a clear mind so that we can play a physical brand of football and execute in all three phases of the game.”
Buford coach Bryant Appling says tackling and establishing the run will be key against Archer:
"No 1 is going to be tackling. We can fill our gaps and put guys on the group where they stand instead of giving them three or four yards after contact. That will set us up on second and long or third long situations that we can hopefully send a little bit of pressure to get the quarterback off-kilter. We have to establish a run game -- get three to four yards a pop to put us in good situations. It's going to be a long night for both sides."
Chestatee coach Shawn Conley on opening Region 7-4A play against Denmark:
“We are going to have to play a complete ballgame in all 3 phases of the game … be fundamentally sound and take care of the ball.”
Cherokee Bluff’s Tommy Jones on opening Region 7-3A play against North Hall:
“North Hall has an excellent football team. They always play with tremendous confidence and energy. In order for us to be successful, we need to match their intensity and execute at a high rate of speed on both sides of the ball.”
Commerce coach Michael Brown on the keys to beating Madison County:
“Execute offensively and make each drive count in terms of points on the board. Play disciplined defense... do your job, not your job plus someone else's. We cannot beat ourselves with fumbles, penalties and busted assignments.”
Dawson County coach Sid Maxwell says executing in all phases of the game against rival Lumpkin County:
“Ball security and gang tackling to bring down their hard running backs and prevent them from controlling the tempo of the game. Our primary focus for every game is for each player to do their job with efficiency and with a great attitude.”
East Hall coach Michael Perry talks about how to beat No. 3-ranked GAC:
“We cannot turn the ball over on offense. Our defense is going to have to steal possessions. Special Teams will have to be phenomenal. Coach Hardy and his team are exceptional in every phase of the game. We simply cannot make mistakes against a team of this caliber.”
East Jackson coach Cameron Pettus on the keys to beating No. 7-ranked Jefferson:
“We’ve got to score on offense to take some pressure off the defense. We’ve got to run the ball and make those catches when we get those one-on-ones on defense. We’ve got to put some points out there because we know that they’re so good offensively, so we’ve got to help our defense out.”
Flowery Branch’s Ben Hall talks about the keys to beat Gainesville:
“The biggest concern for us is Gainesville’s lines of scrimmage -- they’re huge upfront. We’re going to have to play fast and hard to find a way to offset that.”
Gainesville coach Heath Webb talks about getting back on track at rival Flowery Branch:
“For us, we can’t get wrapped up with who we’re playing. Our young guys tend to get too emotional in these rivalry type games, and we’re going to have to combat that.”
Habersham’s Benji Harrison on Franklin County:
“We will have to do our best to control the line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball. Tackle well and make some big plays when having the opportunity.”
Jefferson coach Gene Cathcart says controlling the line of scrimmage will be key in the Region 8-3A opener at East Jackson:
“Obviously Coach Pettus and his staff have them playing very good football, and they have a great deal of confidence right now and are doing a tremendous job. I am certain we will face a full house and a great atmosphere similar to Gainesville last week. Being the first region game for both teams, the intensity will ratchet up. We must try to control the line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball and seek to win the turnover battle. Hopefully, we will continue to improve executing our offense and continue to tackle well and prevent big plays. Lastly, we will also need to continue our improvement in special teams as they are extremely well-coached in all phases of the game.”
Lanier Christian Academy's Blake Anderson on the matchup against at Central Academy:
“The biggest keys this week are to forget last week, learn from it, and correct our mistakes so we don’t have a repeat performance against Central Christian. If we fix those problems, I believe we have a great opportunity for success on Friday night. I’m proud of these young men for persevering through adversity; it will only make our team stronger.”
Lumpkin County’s Caleb Sorrells on the Region 7-3A opener against Dawson County:
Offensively, execute … Don't get behind the chains with penalties and concentration errors and take care of the football. Defensively, get lined up quickly and correctly against their high tempo and tackle well, especially in space.”
North Hall’s David Bishop on opening Region 7-3A play against Cherokee Bluff:
“We have to execute our base plays on offense which has been a struggle to this point but we are getting real close to being very good ... Play well in our base defense and force them to have to throw the football … Line up correctly to their offensive shifts … Limit our turnovers especially in critical situations”
Rabun County’s Jaybo Shaw on traveling to Monticello:
“We will have to play fundamental football in all three phases of the game. When we are on defense, we have to get off the field on third down and, on offense, we need to keep drives alive. We will have to play our brand of football which is starting fast, playing for the brotherhood and playing with relentless effort. Our defense has created a defensive touchdown in each of the last three games, so if we can continue to create turnovers, it always gives you a chance in the ball game. So winning the turnover battle will be a huge thing for us this week.”
Riverside coach Nick Garrett says Prince Avenue has a pedigree of winning:
“They have a lot of talent across the board. All we can do is just try to control the things we can control. No big plays on defense; no special teams mistakes; adjust on offense to what is working.”
Towns County coach Jason Roquemore on playing No. 1-ranked Athens Academy:
"Execution in all 3 phases....they are REALLY, REALLY GOOD. They may be the best high school football team I have seen on tape in years.”
Union’s Brian Allison on Region 8-2A foe Putnam County:
“Stopping their run game … Taking care of the football on offense … Being physical up front on defense … Sound on special teams.”
West Hall’s Krofton Montgomery on No. 4-ranked Blessed Trinity:
“We need to establish the line of scrimmage, especially C-gap or you’re in for a long night of power, isolation and counter coming at you relentlessly, which can wear you down physically and mentally. Compartmentalize series to series and play to play. Focus on your 1/11 on all three phases within the scheme. To beat a program like BT, you got to play a game with limited penalties, win the turnover battle and have success with your specials.”
White County’s Tim Cokely on the keys against Class 4A No. 2-ranked Marist:
“They’re a ball-control team, so hanging on the ball against a team like Marist holding on to the paramount. We’ve got to be able to handle the special hidden yardage situations in the kicking game and things like that, so when they are doing ball control, they have to go the length of the field.
