Game of the Week: Gainesville seeking first-ever win against Jefferson

GAINESVILLE — This game has always had a "marquee matchup" feel. 

But the Gainesville/Jefferson series has only been a marquee matchup in the pregame headlines. 

In the short three-year series, Jefferson has owned the Red Elephants, winning by an average margin of 22 points and is a perfect 3-0.

Regardless of the series record or margin of victory, this game is a big deal. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. at City Park and can be heard live on AM 550 WDUN.

"Let's face it, it's Gainesville," Jefferson coach Gene Cathcart said. "Heath and his staff have done a great job. Gainesville is never going to be down long. They're going to have athletes. They have tradition. It's kind of odd that we're this close and haven't played more over the years."

In 2018, amid a transition and still searching for its first win, Gainesville led 10-7 early in the second quarter. Then Jefferson reeled off 28 unanswered points in five minutes to roll to at 42-10 win. 

"They're a tough physical football team that brings it on every snap," Gainesville coach Heath Webb said. "We've got to do the same. We understand if we can match their intensity and physical level of play, then we've got a chance."

The Red Elephants are in a much better place than they were this time last year. They're 2-1, coming off a 55-7 rout of Lambert in Week 3 and taking Week 4 off. 

"We're still learning and growing," Webb said. "We learned that just because we're successful one week, doesn't guarantee that you're going to be successful the next... just because we failed one week, doesn't mean we're going to fail the next. Nothing is guaranteed or given ... hopefully, we've learned that lesson."

The Class 4A No. 8-ranked Dragons essentially were off last week as well. Storms forced the cancellation of the team's game versus Southside, SC. 

"It was a letdown," senior Jefferson linebacker Paxton Corkery said. "We really wanted to play. I don't think it's going to slow our momentum at all. We had a great week of practice, so I feel like we've doubled our practice time to get ready for Gainesville."

It'll be a game of contrasting offensive styles. Jefferson employs the spread-option attack. Gainesville runs a run-oriented spread offense. 

Jefferson has used 16 different running backs, including senior QB Colby Clark and sophomore phenom running back, Malaki Starks, to rack up an average of 374.5 yards per game. Starks rushed for 172 yards in a 62-0 blowout against West Hall two weeks ago.

It's the style of play that Cathcart says is built to keep a spread team like Gainesville off the field. 

"We want to churn out the first downs and try to win the world 30 feet at a time ... 10 feet at a time," he said. "Hopefully, get some big plays, but with those big bodies, rather than trying to block them with our smaller guys, we're going to try to read them and execute that way."

Gainesville's offense has become balanced with a solid rushing attack behind senior running back Dez Brown and an on-target passing game from junior quarterback Gionni Williams. Upfront, they boast an offensive front pushing 300 pounds, with Georgia Tech-commit Jordan Williams, 6-foot-6, 300 pounds and junior Cedrick Nicely, 6-foot-4, 305 pounds, leading the charge.

"We've run the ball so well that it's invited people to the box, and we've been able to throw it over top," Webb said. "Walt [Dixon], DJ [Miller] and [Lenny] Chatman, can make plays vertically down the field. So we feel like if somebody loads the box up, you're going to get beat. That balance has been really good." 

Jefferson has built depth through injuries in 2018, and with only two games played on the schedule this season, Cathcart says execution and special teams are the two biggest keys to a Dragon victory. 

“One [key] would certainly be to improve our execution and our reads,” Cathcart said. “Those big boys and linebackers they have, we're going to have to execute very, very well. We're going to have to limit their big plays. We've got to tackle. We've got to do a good job of trying to win the battle of the kicking game.”

For Gainesville, it’s about making the most of each possession.

"We've got to take advantage of our possessions because they're going to drain the clock and run the football,” Webb said. "So, we can't waste possession. They keep guys fresh. That's a challenge for us because we're not quite that deep. We're not going to be able to sub as freely as they are. Regardless of who's in the game, we've got to do our job. One mistake and it could cost you six points.”

FILE PHOTO - Jefferson's Colby Clark runs through the Gainesville defense in the Dragons' win last year at Jefferson.

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