Preview: Dragons and Panthers dodge smack-talk for focus <b>(VIDEO)</b>

JEFFERSON -- Jacob Lewis wouldn't be baited -- neither would Tyreke Shelton, TJ Skelton or Kendrick Robinson for that matter.<br /> <br /> Given the opportunity to talk about the rivalry between Jackson County and Jefferson, players from each team pointed to something else: the Region 8-AAA schedule.<br /> <br /> Forget any smack-talk, the Panthers and Dragons care only about going 1-0 in region play when they face off tonight at Jackson County's Panther Stadium.<br /> <br /> "It means more in the region standings, getting to 1-0 in the region," said Lewis, Jackson County's senior quarterback. <br /> <br /> "They're an in-county rival, but now they're in region so we have to go out there strong," said Skelton, a senior receiver for Jefferson.<br /> <br /> <b>(NOTE: To watch a video preview of the game, simply click "play" in the box to the right.)</b><br /> <br /> "It's a region game. It's big. It's a rival. But we're not really worried about the rivalry; we're worried about region," said Shelton, a senior linebacker for the Panthers.<br /> <br /> Don't mistake that focus for a lack of edge, however. Both teams want to win this game badly -- they're just not going to let any rivalry talk get in the way. And there will certainly be some electricity in the air come kickoff in Jefferson.<br /> <br /> "Everybody's kind of always thought Jefferson was a higher up school than us. We don't believe that; we expect to win games," Lewis added. "And I'd just like to beat them one good time before I leave."<br /> <br /> Jackson County knows a victory over the fourth-ranked team in Class AAA could provide a huge springboard for a program that has already fought through a checkered past to post two straight state playoff appearances -- the first such prizes in the history of the program. Despite separated by just two miles, the two foes have only played six times -- including four straight seasons -- with Jefferson going 6-0. <br /> <br /> "We want to prove to everybody we've taken this program to the next level, and going against a quality team like Jefferson and playing well and winning the game would be huge for our kids and our program," said Panthers coach Benji Harrison, who is in his third year at the helm. "It's big. You try to talk it down and say it's another game, but this year it's big because it is a region game. The schools are so close. Our kids know all their kids and call them by their first name, so it's big."<br /> <br /> After starting the campaign with three tough losses -- the average point differential was just 9 -- Jackson County (1-3) broke through to nab its first victory of the season last week (31-6 at East Hall). And the Panthers hope to ride that momentum into something even bigger this week.<br /> <br /> "We kept preaching every week that we're close -- and the kids never lost confidence. We did a lot of things better last Friday than we'd done the last three games, so the win was huge in legitimizing that we are a good football team if we do everything we have to do each snap," said Harrison, whose team suffered a number of key injuries early in the season to offensive skill players.<br /> <br /> "Guys were dropping like flies, and it's so hard to pick up that same mindset after that," said Lewis, who found himself look at several new starters at receiver. "You're not really on the same page with the new guys yet. It's getting there, but it was tough in the beginning."<br /> <br /> The Panthers know that they will have to maintain perfection against a Dragons team that is coming off a bye after rolling through their first four foes.<br /> <br /> Jefferson enters Friday's contest outscoring opponents 167-32 (an average win margin of 42-8) and featuring an offense that has burned teams via the run (896 yards) and pass (844 yards). Quarterback Evan Shirreffs is completing 64 percent of his passes and has hit for eight touchdowns -- largely spread between Dalton Hill (15 receptions, 407 yards, 3 TDs) and Skelton (13 receptions, 262 yards, 3 TDs). Meanwhile, running backs Sammy Hill (325 yards rushing, 5 TDs) and Colby Wood (364 yards, 7 TDs) have split carries and taken advantage of an offensive line that has gelled quickly considering that none started in 2013.<br /> <br /> "I think the key with them is you've got to get lined up correctly. They do a lot of different formations to try and get you out of position," Harrison said. "But to me it comes down, you have to match how physical you play with how they play. It's really going to come down to we have to play physical every snap. We've talked all week about playing it one snap at a time. We want to stay in the game early. We want to force them to play four quarters. They're a good football team, and there's not a lot of weaknesses there."<br /> <br /> Physicality was also a by-word at Jefferson this week.<br /> <br /> "We have to block them up front. They have some talented defensive linemen," Dragons coach Ben Hall said. "They have (Jorge Monzon, 18 tackles, 4 for loss), who is a talented defensive end, and they have several other guys on the interior that they roll through, so we'll have to be ready to play up front."<br /> <br /> Meanwhile, the Jefferson defense is prepping to face a Panthers spread attack that is averaging almost 25 points per game and has been led by Lewis (743 yards passing, 61 percent completion rate, 5 TDs, 5 INTs; 128 yards rushing, 2 TDs), running back Malik Tuck (221 yards rushing, 4 TDs, 1 receiving TD) and receiver Caleb Smith (32 receptions, 295 yards).<br /> <br /> "They have a good QB; they have some good receivers. They've had some injuries, so have we, so we're just going to have to make some plays," said Jefferson senior defensive back Kendrick Robinson, who has four interceptions this season. "It's going to be real physical, more physical than the other games we've had against the first four teams."<br /> <br /> And while no one was talking about it, it was obvious that intensity will be high come kickoff.<br /> <br /> "Practice this week has not been difficult," Harrison said. "The crowd will be huge; we've even got the governor coming here, so that will even add a little more to it. It's going to be an electric atmosphere."<br /> <br /> <b>JEFFERSON at JACKSON COUNTY</b><br /> -- WHEN: 7:30 p.m. <br /> -- WHERE: Panther Stadium, Jefferson<br /> -- JEFFERSON (4-0, 0-0 Region 8-AA): Off last week. Beat Commerce 28-3 two weeks ago. Ranked No. 4 in Class AAA.<br /> -- JACKSON COUNTY (1-3, 0-0 Region 8-AA): Beat East Hall 31-6 last week.<br /> -- NOTABLE: Jefferson leads the series 6-0. The Dragons won 49-0 last year. ... The region opener for both teams, who have playoff aspiration. ... Jefferson is sure to be rested and ready for its rival from just two miles down the road. The Dragons have been sharp from the opening week averaging 41.7 ppg while allowing just 30 total points on the season. QB Evan Shirreffs had three TD passes against Commerce. ... Panthers' QB Jacob Lewis has improved each week and threw for 154 yards and two scores last week. The Panthers defense gave up its fewest points since giving up six points to East Jackson last year. They had allowed 31.6 ppg over the first three weeks.

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