GAINESVILLE, Ga.— Gainesville hopes its second showdown with a top-ranked team in less than a month plays out better than its first.
And this time, the stakes will be much higher than just bragging rights.
In the first of possibly three massive showdowns for the Region 7-5A title, the Class 5A sixth-ranked Red Elephants will play host to top-ranked Milton at the nearly complete and newly-renovated City Park Stadium on Friday night.
No titles will be won when the two teams walk off Bobby Gruhn Field, but one will have struck the first blow in their title quest. For Gainesville, the game is eerily similar to when they traveled to Carrollton last month to take on the Class 6A No. 1-ranked Trojans.
Coach Josh Niblett is hoping for more composure from his group, whose emotions got the better of them with ill-timed penalties and missed assignments in the second half of that game. There were several offsetting penalties, and Big Red also had a kickoff return for a touchdown called back. Two other massive chunk plays were called back because of penalties. They also gave up a kickoff return for a score and several big plays on defense.
The Trojans used those momentum swings to turn a slim 7-3 lead in the second quarter into a 45-16 rout by the end.
“We just talked about it in our room. It's all about holding each other accountable,” Niblett said after practice on Tuesday. “It's all about responding, not reacting. It's all about pressing pause. We can't get caught up if, you know, guys are talking to us during the game or something happens extracurricular during the game.
“You have to walk away from it. Winning in the (individual) matchup has got to be a whole lot more important than getting the last word in. That was a little bit of a deal back when we played Carrollton. But I think we're beyond that. I expect us to be beyond that.”
The challenges will be just as daunting against the Eagles (7-0, 3-0 Region 7-5A). The Trojans had Julien Lewis. The Eagles have senior quarterback and Miami commit Luke Nickel (1,556 yards, 16 TD, 5 INT).
A trio of Carrollton receivers caused havoc in the Gainesville secondary. Milton also has a solid receiving trio that has combined for 71 catches, 1,180 yards and 12 TDs, paced by senior Florida State commit CJ Wiley (30 rec., 577 yards, 6 TD).
Gainesville (6-1, 3-0 Region 7-5A) counters with a defense that, minus the Carrollton game, has surrendered just 31 points in its other six games (5.2 points/game). The Red Elephants’ front-7, led by Julius Columbus, Xavier Griffin, Brandon Bailey, and Zion Cooley, will have to make their presence known better than they did against Carrollton.
Big Red struggled to slow down Lewis and the Trojans. A one-game shot for the region title against Roswell in two weeks may hinge on their ability to make just one stop against an Eagles’ offense averaging 43.83 ppg vs. everyone not named Buford.
“I don't think you can compare teams. Just know they got players everywhere personnel-wise,” Niblett said. “They got a big-time receiver, and you have to know where he's at. One of their tight ends (Georgia commit Ethan Barbour), they'll move him out to a single receiver. That kid’s 6-foot-4, 235 pounds. He’s a matchup problem.
“But it’s more about making stops than shutting down teams. You don’t stop good offenses. But if you can make one more stop than the other team, that a lot of times is the difference.”
The Gainesville offense also will need to be more productive against the Eagles than what they mustered against Carrollton. Milton is yielding just 9.43 ppg and just 6.3 ppg vs. teams from Georgia [American Heritage out of Plantation (Fla.) scored 28].
“Defensively, they're big up front and create problems,” Niblett said. “And then on the back end, they've got some really good players that got a lot of length.”
That brings us to Gainesville quarterback Kharim Hughley. The sophomore was thrown into the fire to start the season and is already showing his star potential. He has thrown for 1,749 yards and is still learning the offense.
He said they feel more aware of what is needed coming into this one.
“We had a rough week of practice (after the Carrollton game),” he said. “We knew we had to step everything up, step our games up, come back stronger than ever. I think we're ready to play this one.”
For Hughley, who was not expected to be the starter when spring practice began, it has been a chance to play alongside guys he looked up to as a freshman. He has also quickly become a mentor for those younger than him.
“It's been really fun being able to play with all the other older guys that I watched last year and been able to learn from in previous years,” he said. “Now I’m able to help the younger guys understand the offense more.”
Hughley also understands that success is about trusting the coaches and his teammates.
“I think we'll have success with any play that's called as long as we execute our job, do our responsibilities, and play smart,” Hughley said.
He obviously got the message Niblett, and his staff has been trying to instill since the Carrollton loss.
“It's not about (the opponent),” Niblett said. “It's about how we execute versus our matchups. The individual matchups. The group matchups. There's the box, the secondary, the perimeter, the kicking game. There's a lot of different matchups that you have to win.
“I think our kids understand that. Now we just have to go out and execute and do it well.”
MILTON at GAINESVILLE
Records: Eagles (7-0, 3-0 Region 7-5A); Red Elephants (6-1, 3-0 Region 7-5A)
Last week: Milton beat Lanier, 49-7; Gainesville beat Seckinger, 41-0
Where: City Park Stadium, Gainesville
Radio: 94.5 FM The Lake
Time: 8 p.m.
The Statisticals: Gainesville leads series 3-1. This is the first meeting, however, since 1985, a 12-0 Gainesville win in Milton. The previous four meetings all came between 1980 and 1985. This may be the biggest of all of their showdowns, as the Eagles are ranked No. 1 in Class 5A, and Gainesville sits 6th in the latest 5A rankings. This is the 2nd game this year for GHS vs. a top-ranked team, losing 45-16 to Carrollton (6A) last month. The winner will have the inside track to the region title, but both also still have Roswell left to play. It also pits the top two offenses in 7-5A against the top two defenses in 7-5A. Something will have to give no matter who has the ball.
What to watch for: The Gainesville offense vs. the Eagles defense. Only once has Big Red been held under 31 this season against a tougher overall schedule. Only once has the Milton defense allowed more than 14 in a game. They held Buford, which has averaged 38.4 ppg over its last five games, to just 10 points. The Eagles have collected 53 TFLs, including 16 sacks, 48 QB hurries, and forced eight turnovers, including 5 INTs, on the season. Ty Redmond had a pick-6 last week for the Eagles.
