Experienced Shaw ready to lead Rabun's charge for more history

TIGER -- How in the world will a 2009 Class AAA semifinal in Columbus have an effect on Friday night's Class AA second round showdown in Tiger?<br /> <br /> It's all relative. No, this is not one of those, "a butterfly flaps its wings in Brazil and a hurricane slams into Japan," references. This is much simpler and more direct.<br /> <br /> Then-Flowery Branch coach Lee Shaw was on the winning side five years ago in Columbus, as his Falcons knocked off a heavily-favored Carver team that included current running back Isaiah Crowell. Now he hopes to lead his Wildcats down the same path as they play host to Benedictine Military Academy.<br /> <br /> "I've shared with the team about us beating Carver that night -- we made two huge late fourth down conversions and just hung around and found a way to win," Shaw said. <br /> <br /> That will be the coach's directive to his Wildcats this week against a team that reached last season's Class AA semifinals: play with grit, emotion and -- most importantly -- belief.<br /> <br /> "We believed we could find a way that night in Columbus and we did," Shaw said. "We're underdogs this week, but if the kids see the coaches worrying then it's easy for them to think, 'we're not supposed to win, and we probably won't.' You can't trick kids. It all starts with me, if I don't believe we can win this week then that will definitely spread to the team -- and what happened with Flowery Branch made a believer out of me."<br /> <br /> Rabun County has certainly earned the right to believe in itself this season.<br /> <br /> The Wildcats (9-2) have already made history, claiming their first region championship in 16 years and equalling the second-highest win total in program history. And a win on Friday would equal Rabun's best ever postseason showing.<br /> <br /> "Everyone is excited; we've already reached some goals that a lot of people didn't think we could reach," Shaw said. "But they want to keep it going. They've taken a lot in stride this season."<br /> <br /> That said, the Wildcats know the size of the task facing them on Friday, as the Cadets (9-2) bring with them a team that features the bulk of a roster that reached last year's Final Four.<br /> <br /> "They will be the best team we've faced all season -- which is saying something considering we've played Jefferson," Shaw said. "They returned nine starters on defense from last year, and nine of their 11 players on defense are seniors. They're just a very solid team in all phases."<br /> <br /> Benedictine's veterans are yielding just 12 points per game and, perhaps most impressive, have forced 32 turnovers on the season (almost three per game). The group is led by linebacker Jack Muller (team-high 118 tackles, six for loss), linebacker Tru'self Cooper (116 tackles, 8 for loss, 3.5 sacks) and defensive lineman D.J. Owens (team-high 4.5 sacks).<br /> <br /> It's not all one-way traffic for the Cadets, however, who also feature an offense scoring 45.9 points per game -- one that throws opposing defenses a curveball by lining up in one of three different bases according to game situations.<br /> <br /> "They can base out of the wing-T, the spread shotgun or the 'I,' so we're having to prepare for three different systems," Shaw said. "And they've got playmakers at every position."<br /> <br /> Leading Benedictine is senior quarterback Stevie Powers (2,542 yards passing, 24 touchdowns, 5 interceptions, completing just under 69 percent of his passes). He is aided by a deep stable of running backs and receivers. Senior Chance Jackson leads all rushers with 669 yards and 12 TDs, while sophomore John Kennedy has 623 yards and 9 TDs and sophomore Chris Harris also has 9 TDs and 376 yards for an offense that is averaging 210 yards rushing per game. Meanwhile, senior Brad Stewart paces the receiving corps (1,086 yards, 14 TDs), along with senior Joseph Holguin (663 yards, 4 TDs).<br /> <br /> "We can't miss tackles if we want to slow them down," Shaw said.<br /> <br /> Rabun County also knows it must make the most out of its scoring opportunities this week -- something that made the going tougher than it should have been in the past few contests, when penalties cost the Wildcats some shots at the end zone.<br /> <br /> "We would have a hold that would take away a touchdown -- they were effort penalties, but we're working to clean that up," Shaw said.<br /> <br /> As the Wildcats have proven all season, they have a deadly offense of their own, one averaging 29 points and 421 yards per game. And the Cadets can expect a steady diet of junior standout Charlie Woerner (1,169 yards rushing, 11 TDs; 597 yards receiving, 5 TDs -- he leads the team in both categories). Quarterback Collin Grant has also developed into a dependable weapon, passing for 1,204 yards and rushing for 691 yards. <br /> <br /> Yet perhaps the biggest key will come on both lines of scrimmage.<br /> <br /> "When it comes down to it, it's just about lining up and playing ball. It comes down to blocking and tackling," Shaw said. "We've got some seniors with a sense of urgency, and sometimes when you have guys like that special things happen.<br /> <br /> "We've got to play our best football of the year on Friday, but that's what you do this time of year, and we're in a great position."<br /> <br /> As Shaw's past teams have already shown, that belief -- allied with talent -- can go a long way indeed.<br /> <br /> -- NOTES: Despite possessing a state-of-the-art indoor practice facility Rabun County spent the week practicing outdoors. "You've got to play in the elements, so we want to practice in the elements if we can," Shaw said. "We really only go inside if its storming." Shaw hopes his team's acclimation to the frigid temperatures of the past week can be an advantage, as Benedictine will travel six hours north from Savannah. "We live in it (the cold) up here," Shaw said. Friday's temperatures in Tiger are predicted to be in the 30s -- it will be almost 16 degrees warmer in Savannah at the same time.

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