If it is, it starts Friday night against Class AA No. 2-ranked Gainesville in a battle of Region 7-AAA unbeatens. Of, course we were at this exact moment last year and the Red Elephants rolled to a 49-0 win.
"Last year anyone thinking it was going to be a contest wasn't very bright," Johnson coach Blair Armstrong said. "We were no match for them."
But this truly is a different year.
"But this year we're as strong as them, if not stronger, and I think we've leveled the playing field a lot. I expect it to be a different game this time around," Armstrong said.
Gainesville coach Bruce Miller agrees.
"They have done a great job down there and we're going to have to be ready to play. They have one of their best teams ever and it's by far the best team we've seen this year," he said.
Defensively the Knights (4-0, 4-0) have been stout. Opponents are averaging just 5 points a game, and that includes the 14 they gave up last week to Fannin County in a 28-14 win. Gainesville, however, is no slouch giving up just 6.7 points a game.
Offensively the Red Elephants (3-0, 3-0) are scarey averaging 58.6 points a game. Johnson's offense scores 25 points a game.
It's the classic immovable object versus the irresistable force on both sides.
Miller thinks how well they're able to contain Johnson's running back tandem of B.J. Jackson and Cardy McKensey could decide the game.
"We've got be able stop them. They are a great double team back there and if you try to stop one, the other gets you. We have to come up with a plan to stop both of them. And so far, no one has been able to do that," Miller said.
Armstrong said it was much of the same from his perspective.
"They have so many weapons (on offense) we're going to have to play our assignments and not miss any tackles. If they get loose, they'll be running all day long," Armstrong said.
Armstrong said their slower-paced offense won't give them much margin for error.
"Our offense isn't as explosive as theirs and as long as we can move the ball without making mistakes and turnovers I expect us to hang in there with them. But it's going to take our absolute best game to win," Armstrong said.
While this one game won't decide the region title, both teams still have to play North Hall over the next two weeks so a win would go a long way to that end.
"If we want to win the region we have to beat the best teams. It starts here for us," Armstrong said.
"We know everyone is gunning for us since we won it last year and if we want to repeat we have to be able to rise to the challenge. We'll see (Friday)," Miller said.
http://accesswdun.com/article/2003/10/171586