Sid Maxwell and Dawson County are used to being in the playoffs. His first eight Tigers teams all advanced to the postseason.
Chestatee, on the other hand...
The War Eagles have made just five postseason appearances in their first 22 seasons. When Chestatee last made the playoffs—2016—the entirety of the current roster was still in elementary school.
But with the wild-and-wacky roller coaster that has become Region 6-3A in 2024, both teams -- neither of which was projected to make the playoffs in the preseason -- find themselves right in the middle of the playoff picture this week.
Chestatee (3-4, 2-2 Region 6-3A) jumped into the postseason frame with a stunning 37-14 win over Pickens last week. The Tigers (3-4, 2-2 Region 6-3A) did the same, shutting out White County, 14-0. Both were underdogs heading into those matchups.
The two teams will square off at Lynn Cottrell Complex on Friday. The winner will move into fourth place alone and most likely stake a claim in the playoff Power Rankings System. The loser will be on the cusp of elimination with just two weeks left in the season.
Nothing to stress over, right?
Chestatee coach Stuart Cunningham, however, said his group does not seem affected by the pressure of being in a playoff race for the first time in nearly a decade. This is just the latest in a series of contentious games over the past month for the War Eagles.
After two closer-than-the-score-indicated losses to North Hall (28-14) and Lumpkin County (49-25), Chestatee has reeled off two straight region wins.
“Every game here is the biggest game they have ever played in,” Cunningham stated about his roster. “We have told them that all year.”
It has been a slow climb the last 18 months for Cunnigham, his staff, and the players as they have transformed the program from a spread to the wing-T on offense. They scored just 162 points (11.57 points/game) over their first 14 games under Cunningham.
But over their past three games, they have exploded for 118 points (39.3 ppg) and have averaged over 300 yards rushing behind Ben Plemons (880 yards, 10 TD, six 100-yard games) and Hector Espinoza (241 yards, 4 TD, two 100-yard games).
But perhaps the biggest transformation has been on a defense that had allowed 40.75 ppg over the previous two seasons combined. They are yielding a respectable 25.29 ppg in 2024. Cunningham basically said that just improving on all the little but necessary things has been the biggest change.
"We've just worked hard and gotten better at block destruction and block avoidance. Running to the ball and less missed tackles," he said.
The War Eagles will be challenged by a Dawson County offense that has also been undergoing some changes. Sophomore Gunnar Weaver has taken over at quarterback, and the Tigers have gone 2-2 with a near-upset of GAC in his four games.
But for the Tigers, a defensive surge has fueled their turnaround, as they won two straight games over Johnson and the Warriors last week. After surrendering 75 points (37.5 ppg) in their first two games, they have given up just 63 points (15.75 ppg) over their last four.
And they’ve done it while missing several key players. However, senior defensive lineman Elijah Odom, who is third on the team in tackles (33) and has 14 TFL, including 4.5 sacks, has been a matchup problem for everyone so far. The Tigers have 33 TFLs as a team.
“We actually lost a couple of players who were starters, but these guys are focused and just trying to maximize their ability (on the football field),” Maxwell said.
But as in most games, the little things usually have the greatest impact. Both coaches said the keys to staying alive for a playoff spot were pretty simple.
“Stopping the run, allowing no big plays in the passing game, and winning the turnover battle,” Cunningham said.
“Ball security and executing in all three phases of the game,” Maxwell said.
While the Dawson County seniors more than likely remember the Tigers last playoff foray in 2022, for the War Eagles, a win with the playoffs on the line could be the final step to get the program back on even footing in the area.
“It would be a huge boost for the morale of our program and our entire athletic department and school,” Cunningham said.
DAWSON COUNTY at CHESTATEE
Records: Tigers (3-4, 2-2 Region 6-3A); War Eagles (3-4, 2-2 Region 6-3A)
Last week: Dawson County beat White County, 14-0; Chestatee beat Pickens, 37-14
Where: Lynn Cottrell Complex, Gainesville
Radio: www.northgeorgiasportslink.com
Time: 7:30 p.m.
The Statisticals: Series is tied 4-4. This is the first meeting between the two teams since 2019, a 45-42 Dawson County win in Gainesville. The Tigers have won two straight in the series. This is the first time they have met as region foes, and it has huge playoff implications. They are tied for fourth, but neither team will be eliminated with a loss. However, a Chestatee win would give the War Eagles a full-game lead and the tiebreaker edge over both Pickens and the Tigers with two games left. Dawson County has won two straight and needs a win to stay alive. It has the toughest finish in the region, with Lumpkin County and North Hall left to close out the season.
What to watch for: The Chestatee offense vs. the Tigers defense. Dawson County has surrendered just 21 points (7.0 ppg) over its last three games, including last week’s impressive shutout of a Warriors team that had been averaging 29.7 ppg and had not been shutout in 21 games, the last time ironically by the Tigers in 2022. Chestatee’s wing-T is starting to come into form. They have scored 118 points (39.3 ppg) over their last three games and have averaged over 300 yards rushing.
