This year, the Eagles are ready to do some damage.
RMA will travel to Americus Friday night to play Southland Academy, the No. 2 seed from Region 3, in the first round of the GISA I-AAA playoffs. The Eagles are the No. 3 seed from Region 1.
The Eagles (6-4) completed their first winning season in more than a decade last week and Coach Doug Dixon said the only similarities between 2002 and 2003 is that both teams made the playoffs.
"There is no doubt we are a much better team now than last year," Dixon said. "This is a new season and anybody can beat anybody. We're really not the same team from last year because our kids are bigger, more experienced and understand how the playoffs work."
Last year they came into the playoffs on a six-game losing streak before falling to Pinewood Christian 14-9.
This year, they're coming into the playoffs on the heels of perhaps their best performance of the season - a 61-25 win over Eagles Landing Academy. Southland (4-6-1) won its final two games of the season and finished in a three-way tie for first in its region.
"Southland is a smashmouth football team. They're a big, powerful football team," Dixon said. "I feel we can play with them if we play our game."
In common opponents this year, RMA beat Mount de Sales while the Golden Raiders lost to Mount de sales. But Southland beat Windsor Academy while RMA lost to Windsor. Both teams were beaten by Augusta Christian.
The Eagles have found a productive combination on offense with the midseason insertion of Bill Daly at quarterback. Daly has been solid in finding receivers Broderick Stewart, Justin Curry and Chris Seymour. Running backs Carl Robinson and Reggie Robinson give Riverside a potent ground attack.
"The offense last week played outstanding and if can get that kind of execution and production, I like our chances," Dixon said.
While last week's win did snap a three-game losing streak, the Eagles took the No. 3 team in the state - Augusta Christian - virtually down to the final minute before losing 13-0. They lost No. 1 George Walton the week before.
Dixon said they definitely have improved since both of those losses and said only George Walton is head-and-shoulders above the rest of the field.
"I consider 15 teams as darkhorses and George Walton as the favorite and I think we have an opportunity to something special in the playoffs this year, if the kids realize the opportunity they have in front of them," he said.
If the Eagles get by Southland, they most certainly will face Tattnall Square, the No. 2 team in the state. Tattnall Square beat Augusta Christian and lost to George Walton just 10-6 in the regular season.
"We have to get by Southland first, but like I said, I feel if we play to our abilities, we can beat anyone," Dixon said.
http://accesswdun.com/article/2003/11/169597