Two coaches and two teams with very different expectations will open the 2025 campaign at Panther Stadium on Friday in Hoschton.
Jackson County is coming off a record-setting season in 2024 and wants to build off that momentum. Flowery Branch is looking to recapture past glory after three consecutive losing seasons and no playoff wins since 2021.
For first-year Falcons coach Michael Perry, it’s about resetting the foundation of a program that had just one losing season over a 17-year stretch from 2005 to 2021.
“Our expectations are for our guys to go out there and compete in all three phases, give everything they have, and be a great teammate,” Perry said. “We’ve got to take pride in our own job and not let the guy beside you down. I don't want to see a lot of lows. I don't want to see guys being selfish.”
For the Panthers’ Korey Mobbs, it’s about transforming that once one-story ranch house into a three-story mansion. They tied the program record in wins (8) and earned the program’s first-ever home playoff game in 2024. They want more in 2025.
And preseason chatter has them as a dark horse to win Region 8-5A, something the program is not accustomed to.
“Look, preseason expectations are just that. They're preseason talk, and they mean nothing,” Mobbs said. “But our guys do have to show that with the added expectations, they can handle what comes with that. That’s what I’m going to be looking for.
“Kids, they read and they see stuff on social media. Our guys have never been in this situation before, so we've got to make sure that we're a group that can truly just focus each week for the next opportunity.”
On the field, and on paper, the Panthers are bigger and bring in a ton of experience on both sides of the ball. Three-year starter RJ Knapp III is back under center, as is leading rusher Daylon Maxwell, who rushed for over 1,000 yards last season. They return all five starters along the offensive line.
"Jackson County is HUGE! They will be a big challenge for us," Perry said. He also said the Falcons will be “a work in progress.”
But they do have former West Hall standout and three-year starter Brett Sturm at quarterback to lead an offense that should be able to put up some numbers. Besides Sturm, they have senior RB Griffin Harper back and a trio of speedy receivers in Riley Bourrie, Tyler Robinson, and Treasure Demary along with tight end Brooks Recinella in the passing game. The passing game looked solid against North Hall in their scrimmage last week.
“Branch is much improved, and I think Coach Perry does a tremendous job on offense,” Mobbs said. “It helps that they have a quarterback that moved in, and he's a good player. And they've got a couple guys that can make you pay offensively. For us, it's about preparing the right way this week.”
Defensively is where the Falcons struggled against North Hall. They gave up several long touchdown passes.
“Just trying to get that cleaned up, you know. Just normal early season stuff,” Perry said. “You have to remember, all of us are new, trying to do the old things a lot different than what was done before. In terms of scheme, Rome wasn't built in a day.”
Mobbs has been here before, taking a program from little to nothing to perennial playoff contender at Lanier. But he acknowledged the Longhorns did not come with baggage.
“There's some similar paths,” he said. “But here, there's a little bit bigger of an obstacle because of the past. We had to get past the past, so to speak. I think we did that last year.
“Now, we’re trying to take the program to that next step of expecting to win and being able to win when you’re expected to win. We still have to take things one game, one week at a time. But I like where we are right now and I think this is a group that can overcome that challenge.”
