Coming into the 2016 season, with new region realignments, and teams switching classifications, expectations of what to make of it all had most people that follow high school football reluctant to make any assumptions.
But, there were a few, to be sure. And high up on that list was that the “new” Region 8-AAAAAA would be top heavy and devoid of much drama.
Dacula, which had spent most of the past decade in the state’s top classification, was loaded; Gainesville, a 2012 state title winner and perennial playoff team, was reloading; and Lanier, which had won back-to-back Region 8-AAAAA titles, all were considered easy locks for playoff spots. There also was Winder-Barrow, which was coming off back-to-back state playoff appearances for the first time since 1993 but also graduated most of its starters and was in semi-rebuild mode.
Habersham Central, which had won just four games over the past four seasons, and Apalachee, which was mired in an 11-game losing streak, made up the rest of the region and appeared easy targets.
It seemed like there would be little drama other than who would earn home playoff berths.
But you know what they say when you make assumptions...
As Winder-Barrow and Apalachee prepare to open the Region 8-AAAAAA schedule Friday night in Bethlehem, the only certainty we now know is that no one, not even the coaches, has any idea what to expect over the final five weeks of the season.
Gainesville takes on Marist at City Park Stadium in the final non-region game for the group while Lanier, Dacula, and Habersham Central all are off this week. The region gets under way in full force next week.
“Coming into the season I think it was safe to say Dacula, Lanier, Gainesville were probably looked at as the teams to beat,” Habersham Central coach Benji Harrison said. “But now I think it’s much more wide-open for any of the teams. It should be a great second half of the season.”
Dacula is just 1-4, has played a brutal non-region schedule, and is battling injuries. Lanier is 3-2, has played a tough schedule and musical offensive linemen so far, and has had to deal with a tough off-the-field issue that cost the Longhorns their starting running back for the season.
Gainesville is 2-2 and is still trying to figure itself out with a new quarterback and a rebuilt offensive line. Winder-Barrow is 3-2 but the inexperience of a young Bulldoggs team has been prevalent at times. Apalachee (2-2-1) snapped what became a 14-game winless streak and has won back-to-back games for the first time 2012.
Believe or not, Habersham Central actually leads the region in wins with a 4-1 mark and Harrison wasn’t the only one to note that the race for the Region 8-AAAAAA title could now be one of the most competitive in the state.
“This is a really good region. Overall we have all played some really good teams in non-region,” Lanier’s Korey Mobbs said. “At the beginning of the year I would have thought Dacula was the favorite. But I don’t think I see a favorite now.
“Hopefully we still have a chance and I’m sure Gainesville will be right there. But I do think it’s wide-open. Apalachee has gotten the spark they need; Winder-Barrow is a good football team and is showing that; and look at what Habersham has done with Coach Harrison. There won’t be any easy games.”
“Y’all may think it’s going to be fun, but it’s going to be challenging every week for us coaches,” Gainesville coach Bruce Miller said. “It looks pretty wide-open to me right now. I don’t see a favorite right now.”
To make it even more interesting, five of the six teams run a variation of the spread offense, with Dacula the lone exception running a power ground attack. How does that play for the teams’ weekly preparations?
“All the teams except Dacula run the spread so that will make it a little easier for the defenses to prepare,” Miller said. “Things like turnovers and injuries could play big factors.”
“We all know each other and what the other teams’ run so that can help, and hurt, in preparations,” Winder-Barrow’s Heath Webb said. “I think every game is going to be competitive. I foresee some upsets during the (region) season.”
Execution was a word almost to a man that every coach said may decide the region champion.
“Execution will be a big factor, if not the key factor,” Mobbs said. “If you don’t come ready to play and execute, any of these teams can beat you. Calling the right play at the right time. All those little things will be huge factors.”
“The key for us in every game is definitely going to be execution,” Harrison said. “There just isn’t any room for mistakes against any of the teams you have to play in this region. But, being in a tough region is nothing new to us after playing in regions with the biggest teams in the state. We feel we can be competitive.”
“The challenge in this region is that every team is well-coached and has playmakers,” Webb said. “If you don’t execute it’s going to be a long night every week. Execution will be key factors in every game.”
Of course, each coach also felt they could find matchups to create favorable outcomes for their squad.
Harrison likes the balance his team has found so far. And, the Raiders may boast the best running back in the region in Michael Babers.
“We feel we matchup with most of the teams but I think we’re a little more balanced because we have Michael,” Harrison said. “Again, it will all come down to execution for us and giving us some favorable matchups.”
Gainesville lost the war last week with Jefferson, but a furious second half rally behind quarterback DJ Irons opened the eyes of Miller and his offensive coaches.
“I think we found our identity last week against Jefferson,” Miller said. “The kids grew up a lot in the second half. We’re a very good team when we’re going fast and we’re throwing the ball.
“Does that mean we’re going to throw it every down? I don’t know. But I liked what I saw in the second half (last week) and that’s what we were doing: going fast and throwing it. We’ll do whatever we have to do to give ourselves our best chance of winning.”
“I think we’ve played well on defense most of the year and I think that may be where our strength can give us an advantage,” Mobbs said. “Offensively we’ve really picked it up the last couple of weeks. The big thing for us is that in the first five games we started five different lineups on the offensive line. With the break and getting some guys back (from injury), I think that unit will start to stabilize.”
Miller said fans should get ready to buckle up beginning in October.
“I see this as a five-game gauntlett for every team in the region,” he said. “It’s going to be real interesting to see what happens.”
http://accesswdun.com/article/2016/9/450653/new-region-8-aaaaaa-looks-unexpectantly-wide-open-as-region-play-begins