It’s coaching: Semifinal teams have a common edge
We can talk north-south this week. (Does metro Atlanta get credit for Newnan?)
We can talk public-private. (Did two injuries last week prevent a private school sweep of Class A?)
But here’s what strikes me about the semifinals:
Coaching.
How does Camden County struggle to gain positive yardage on Aug. 29 and win 35-0 on Nov. 27?
How does Colquitt County, after years of mediocrity, go from 2-8 to 11-2 in two seasons?
How do Lassiter and North Gwinnett go decades without winning a state playoff game and become region champions?
Fizgerald in nine seasons under Robby Pruitt: 99-15-1.
Fitzgerald in the nine seasons before Robby Pruitt: 32-63.
Gainesville in eight seasons under Bruce Miller: 83-16.
Gainesville in eight seasons prior to Bruce Miller: 35-48.
Calhoun has won 111 games this decade under Hal Lamb.
Calhoun won 50 games in the 1990s and 39 games in the 1980s.
Savannah Christian has won 48 games in five seasons under Donald Chumley. Savannah Christian won 25 games in the five years prior to Donald Chumley.
Darlington? Really? Didn’t its best player transfer to Calhoun?
Did I mention Conrad Nix?
Do you really think Wilcox County is just having a run of good athletes?
What do you think of Lovett’s athletes?
How does Rockdale County go 1-9 in 2007, hire Mike Etheridge, and go 10-3 in 2009?
Has Chip Walker at Sandy Creek or Steve Devoursney at Griffin or Chad Campbell at Peach County or Jim Dickerson at Clinch County ever had a losing season?
Has any other coach ever started his career winning 66 of his first 69 games?
Will Mike McDonald at Newnan ever lose a game?
Was high school football so special in Hall County seven years ago that everyone just knew Flowery Branch could open in 2002 and win 52 games from 2005 to 2009?
Even Cinderella needs a fairy godmother.
Eastside’s Rick Hurst took over a team that went 0-10 in 2004, and his Cinderella is 11-2 for the second straight year in a county that has its first-ever semifinal team.
At Clarke Central, the Athens Cinderella, Leroy Ryals took over a 4-6 team and has improved the victory total in each of his four seasons – 6-5, 7-3-1, 9-2, 11-2.
How many of these teams wouldn’t be playing this week if they hadn’t hired the coach they did?
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261 comments Add your comment
inthatrenches
December 1st, 2009
6:52 pm
South Ga really!! I do not mind your Nix vs Neophyte argument but this defense has faced three tough teams….. they definitely adjust well at the half……. I think like the other teams Newnan has faced, if Northside is not up by 2 TD’s Newnan will adjust and the defense will hold serve then the Ogletree’s take over!!! your thoughts…….. I do not think Northside is that explosive but hey anything can happen?
True Blue Cat
December 1st, 2009
7:42 pm
WAQ
I freely admit that we play in a very weak region and it helps us in certain ways. Many of them you have talked about. However with that being said Camden schedules the most difficult non-conference games they can get. Coach Herron has always had the philosophy of to be the best you have to play the best and hopefully you will be able to beat the best. When I played Valdosta was the team we tried to emulate our program after and we took a bunch of beatings by them but it made us better. We have built on that year after year until now we have truly developed a culture of winning here. We have a great program but frankly sometimes we win because we think we are supposed to win. The easier region games are balanced by the best competition we can find outside the region. If our region changes it will probably change the way we schedule non-conference but I bet we will still win many games even in a different game and still be able to carry deep into the playoffs.
I think Camden and Colquitt will be a great match-up and we should see a very good game. All I can say it Go Cats Go….
colquitt fan
December 1st, 2009
7:44 pm
few statements to put up here (not being a homer, if i ask a question, it is a serious question:
-packer is an idiot
-yes, colquitt has been here before (94 state champs- #3 in the nation), 91 runner up
-lavasky was a great RB and person, he did die very young, too young
-camden does deserve respect, but saying region opponents doesnt matter is crazy. would ohio state do well in the SEC? didnt think so
-Rush Propst deserves to be compared to any coach in the state or the country, was it 5 titles at hoover? turning a 2-8, extremely disoriented colquitt program around in 2 years(seriously, colquitt county was a mess). thats impressive no matter who u are
-do camden fans take into consideration that hoover put up like what, 30 on yall with an offense that rush put into that system? and im sure that rush can run his system better than the guy at hoover.
-camden should worry if the game is close at the half bc colquitt is serious in the second half
-and camden fans, we are not all bad from colquitt. dont let one fan mess it up for everybody
-good luck to both teams, as i think the winner of this game takes it all
-finally, i think this game will be decided by turnovers, IDK about camden, but colquitt is usually pretty protective of the ball.
Colquitt-24 Camden-16
White Trash
December 1st, 2009
7:51 pm
colquitt fan – you are talking about a Camden team that was trying to find their identity when they played Hoover. A Camden team that was very young since they lost most of there starters from a year ago and now they matured as usually.
Camden is protective of the ball as well, will be a good game and wont be a blowout on who ever wins. Go Wildcats……..
Football Observer
December 1st, 2009
7:52 pm
Newnan i,
I am okay with you thinking the team is going to be great in three years – just recognizing how much things can change that you cannot account for. We lost 3 running backs to private school this year and still did pretty well.
Having said that, if you really think Grayson was ready to throw in the towel I know you weren’t at the same game as me. For what it is worth, we threw more this year than we did last year so no, we didn’t throw more in the first half than all year. I think I have already pointed out that there was only one blocked field goal. 2-3 feet to the left on the first one and we aren’t having this discussion. If we were so ready to give up then how did we get in position to go for not one but two field goals in the last 3 minutes of the game?
I am in no way saying Newnan did not play an outstanding game but if you and the team really believe you beat us down to the point we were ready to quit, I think you are in for a VERY rude awakening when NS shows up Friday. The ONLY way you beat them, and I hope you do, is to play with the same focus and intensity you did at Grayson.
Good luck Friday!
White Trash
December 1st, 2009
7:53 pm
By the way, that Hoover game came down to a last second feild goal to win the game and I do recall that Hoover is in the State Finals in Alabama, so I must say we are pretty darn good for someone trying to find out who were are at that time.
grams
December 1st, 2009
7:58 pm
Southern GA, i know for a fact you shouldnt underestimate Buford. They may be a young team, but they have the knowledge and power to beat any team in ANY classification.
columbia Blue
December 1st, 2009
7:59 pm
Camden will be ready to play Friday night. I have heard enough and seen enough comments on the blog. Heck lets play football. Columbis Blue is signing off. GO CATS—-
colquitt fan
December 1st, 2009
8:00 pm
that could be true trash, but im just sayin, if an offense gives you trouble before, then theres a chance it will again, when the team ur playin runs it as good or better.dont get me wrong though, i think lowndes is the only team that can comared to camden over the last ten years.
-and for the doubters for region 1-AAAAA, when colquitt lost by 3 to NSWR, and dont know how many people, but we were robbed of a down inside the ten in that game, but when we played them, we had 3 teams in the top 69 teams in the country. maybe a florida region can comare, but i will need a link on that one for some proof
FALCONS
December 1st, 2009
8:02 pm
Whats up with all these Buford haters. I will have the hardest laugh Friday night when the wolves win. You fitzgerald fans are hilarious.
WAQ
December 1st, 2009
8:03 pm
I hate trying to predict playoff games. It makes fools out of most of us. I do believe home teams are always tough to beat give them 3 points for the advantage. That being said, the road warriors of Colquitt should give Camden a good run, I think NorthSide can score 10 maybe against Nenwan but that might not be enough.
That’s why you play the game.
.
Nix is a great coach but he has rep of not listening to his assistant at cruicial time during the game and it has cost him in the past. He does makes his half time adjustments,
I wish all the teams luck and have a great time out there….
FALCONS
December 1st, 2009
8:03 pm
also, I dont just want a AA classification view of this topic. Camden County, Newnan, Gainesville, NSWR give us your opinion on Buford vs. Fitzgerald
columbia Blue
December 1st, 2009
8:08 pm
FALCONS
I thought I was signing off but I do want to comment on FALCONS post.Buford has been there and won state titles. I think that will give them the overwelming advantage over Fitz
Jefferson
December 1st, 2009
8:11 pm
I bet if Buford has the same center as last year, he will look to chop block a d lineman for Fitz.
WAQ
December 1st, 2009
8:22 pm
Falcon
I am bias toward home teams during the semi of playoff. It’s worth aleast 3 points. The only home team I think is really in need of miracle is Darlington.
FALCONS
December 1st, 2009
8:41 pm
thanks for the feedback! have any more?
Callitlikeitis
December 1st, 2009
9:55 pm
GRAMS, I go to Buford games every year. The team this year is the weakest Buford team (probably because several D1 players transfered out over the summer) that I have seen in years. Like I predicted the outcome of the Lassiter game, you are in for an awakening because Fitzgerald is on another level than Buford. I know this and north georgia is about to find out what south georgia already knows. Fitzgerald is a traditional running team but this year they pass the ball very well too. Good Luck Buford because you will need it.
JAGUARS FOR LIFE
December 1st, 2009
10:40 pm
I agree that coaching is key to winning playoff games. Stephenson is a perfect example of how D1 propects (8) and counting don’t mean anything if the coaching is not solid. The coaching staff at Stephenson takes pride in scholarships over championships. What they fail to relize is that championships equal more schlarships. The players from Stephenson that earn D1 offers are players that would have received those at vitually any decent football school. Those players have been all-stars since they were playing recreation ball for Central Dekalb. Case in point: Daunte Carr, Storm Johnson, Atremus Norman to name a few are kids that left the Stephenson system after rec ball. All of those kids to include the eight on Stephenson roster all were super-high-pofile youth football players that have won championship after championship. It was no doubt to anyone that saw those kids play as youth, that they had great football futures and would be playing on Saturdays with big -time programs. So for the coach to say ” I rather have scholarships over championships” is a cop-out. Over the course of the last five years, Stephenson should have played for the state championship at least three times. The team prior to this years team that should have won, was the team that consist of: Perry Riley and Sheppard both with LSU, Jermaine Cunningham with Florida, and Marcus Ball previously with FSU and now with Memphis. Three of those players have won BCS National Championships. All of them will be drafted in the NFL between round 1 and 3. Again, of those guys were super talented youth players in the community.
We need a head coach at Stephenson that knows how to prepare the team for playoffs and win championships. The fans, community and more importantly the player deserve that kind of coach. I truely beleive that Coach Gartrell has maxed out with this program and has taken it as far as he can. We need to be like the south georgia programs and demand more thatregion championships.
These guys do not know how to prepare for playoffs. There are horrible at scouting the opponent and preparing their team. Their game plan is
NEWNAN EC FAN
December 1st, 2009
10:44 pm
PLOWBOY I dont think this game will have 24 points total.Should be a hard hitting game on a cold wet feild.CANT WAIT..
Panther Pride
December 1st, 2009
11:14 pm
I congrads clarke central to make it this far,i rather have swd lose 2 a team dat is in the final four instead of a team that get blown out the nex week,even though swd was expected to make it,but that goes to show you games arent played on paper.I cheer for Clarke central to win state.
ImaTitleTownBaby
December 2nd, 2009
12:28 am
These games are always a chess match betweeen the coaches…to see who can play the right players at every position and call the right plays to win the game…case in point Lowndes vs. Camden…Herron won the chess match over McPhearson…Lowndes vs. Northside…Nix won that one…Stephenson vs. Colquitt…Propst won that one…and Lassiter vs. Colquitt…Propst won that one…it’s always the coaching stategy that matters most…look at Florida State…knowing that their defense isn;t the best…the coaching staff still plays man…and look what happens…their best bet would be to play a lil zone blitz…but that’s on another note…you just have to have a coach who’s gonna be aware of every variable and take the advantage…it’s that simple.
Newnan Fan
December 2nd, 2009
12:38 am
Newnan’s 9th Grade Team held it down all season, offense led by QB Bryce Benton, WR Devin Henry (Ran a 4.4 40 time in Little League Baseball) who also returns kicks and punts (Devin Henry=Devin Hester),WR/FS Tray Matthews (hitting power and ablity to play many positions reminds me of Alec Ogletree) and RB Quinton Dix (running style reminds me of Adrian Peterson), whose older brother Trell, is the starting corner on Varsity. Defense led by DE Tay Kemp, LB/FB Maurice White, already at almost 200 lbs. plays a little like Ray Lewis, and WR/FS Tray Matthews(could be the next Alec Ogletree) Defense avg. 8 poins a game. Offense avg. 35 points a game. Newnan could win a national title within the next 3 years.
BLACKGOLD
December 2nd, 2009
1:34 am
FALCON QUIT LIVING IN 2008 , ITS A NEW YEAR …FACE THE FACT AT HAND, BUFORD WANT WIN FRIDAY NITE …HANDS DOWN, OUR 1AA COOK HORNETS DIDNT SCORE BUT YOU COULD PUT BUT 26 IN EM , WE PUT 42 IN EM .. …. WHEN WE STACK THAT BOX FRIDAY , I JUST HOPE YOU GOT BREAKAWAY BACKS , OR ONE THAT CAN TAKE A SERIES A HARD HITS CAUSE HE GONNA GET ATE UP ALL NITE ,AND YOUR BIG BOYS DAMN SHO GONNA BE TIRED A RUNNING ALL NITE…….HAVE EM BRING THEIR ASHMA PUMPS BOI…………..35-14 CANES
BLACKGOLD
December 2nd, 2009
2:14 am
YEAH BUFORD SHUT OUT 8 TEAMS , BUT IT WANT HAPPEN FRIDAY NIGHT ………NOBODY THEY PLAYED GOT AN XPLOSIVE OFFENSE AS WE DO AVG 47 A GAME , LOVETT DA CLOSEST WIT 38 AND YOU SEE WHAT HAPPENED…………Y..O..U .. .. L..O..S..T SAME THING GONNA HAPPEN 11-4-09 AT JAYCEE STADIUM
Cat Fan
December 2nd, 2009
4:33 am
Newnan Fan. Wow your 9th graders are amazing!!!! I guess no other school has good upcoming classes at all. Hmmmm Camden JV this year undefeated and scored 355 pts in 7 games. Last yr 9th grade team and this year 9th grade team both undefeated and thats playing other schools JV squads. There is TONS of football talent in this state and to base something in the future based on 14 year olds now is crazy.
CamdenGuy
December 2nd, 2009
4:51 am
Remember Newnan gave 6 pts all last year and then in the SemiState last year, Camden went up to their place and scored 27 points in the Semi State Championship Game! I love our chances of playing them again if we take care of buisnes! Oh, North Side Warner Robbins has an Awesome team this year too! So we may have to wait another year to play Newnan. Go Eagles! Go Cats!
SouthGARules
December 2nd, 2009
8:10 am
inthatrenches: I was just doing some tweaking. I have seen Newnan play twice this year & agree they do well adjusting at the half. To be honest, I hope Newnan wins.
Cougar Supporter
December 2nd, 2009
8:15 am
Newnan Fan and Newnan 1, I’m as big a Newnan fan as there is. Please stop embarasing yourself and Newnan regarding the 9th grade team. Yes we are aware the 9th grade team was very strong this year. Are they playing this week? No. Lets focus on the remaining teams left. Newnan better worry about Coach Nix’s excellent team fron Northside. Other than region titles, we haven’t won anything yet so lets stop with the Nat’l title talk.
Fred
December 2nd, 2009
8:43 am
Interesting article in the Macon paper about NS getting shut down on the runnig game for 0 yards against PTR. Looks like PTR made the adjustments on the line but missed the pass protection. PTR might have been slightly better but then got out coached in the latter part of the game.
http://www.macon.com/176/story/936182.html
WAQ
December 2nd, 2009
9:08 am
Fred
I was at the game as a neutral observer. PTR did not get out coached. PTR coach had the better of that match up all night. His blitzing schemes had NSWR linemans confused all night. Two things happen not of PTR coaches doing. His punter who had been getting off great kicks all game. Shanked two punts Each time NSWR moved up on field position. With about 3:30 left at NSWR 45 Coach Nix called a fly route to a WR and went max protection. The DB slip on the courage off the line and could not catch up. NSWR scores a touch down. Conrad called the same play on the opening play of the game and the WR drop the ball and he was 5 yards in front of the DB. This game camed down to a player slipping, nothing more.
COUGFAN88
December 2nd, 2009
9:52 am
I am a huge fane of Newnan, but you Newnan Blow writers need to accept the fact that Northside is a great team..they are very young..but by this time of the year they have the experience needed to beat us. Coach Nix is an excelellent coach and has more experience than our coach in these types of games stop talking trash Newnan supporters or you will be crying next week as we read about Northside’s next game. Go Coug’s but don’t take Norhtside Lightly..
CamdenGuy
December 2nd, 2009
10:29 am
I love what the true Cougarfan is saying. We are just fans here who are blessed to still bee seeing our teams playing!
cane fan
December 2nd, 2009
10:50 am
Fitzgerald is going to exploit bufords running game, yeah they may be big, but you know Fitz has been small all season, it does not matter, with the strength and speed will overcome that hurdle, their qb will be stuffed so much “p r e s s u r e”, and the big thing for fitz is their passing game avg 175 yds game, their “D” is going to be smashed right in the mouth + fitz avg over 300 yds rushing, hurricane season is just know peaking, get ready to be blown back 326 miles north.
FITZGERALD 21
BUFORD 12
cane fan
December 2nd, 2009
10:54 am
or FITZGERALD 47
BUFORD 34
Fred
December 2nd, 2009
11:22 am
WAQ,
Thanks. All I had heard was from our favorite NS fan about how well Nix adjusted and out coached Ballard. It hurts sometimes that this is single elimination because of things like the slip or the field goal 2 feet wide but hey, that is the way it worked out and there has been some great football in these playoffs! Seems to me that the matchups have been better than lst year but then I’m old and forgetful!
See you in the Dome in 2010!
Fred
December 2nd, 2009
11:23 am
That was supposed to be “last year.”
eagleforlife
December 2nd, 2009
12:10 pm
It appears to me, that NHS (Northside High School), no WR… has been hated on all year long. Let’s see here, we aren’t explosive, we can’t score, etc… However, it is obvious that we are doing something right.. As we started out #7 in the state and ended up being region 1_AAAAA champions… It appears to me that and tell me if I’m wrong (WRHS Demons know this); at the end of the 4th quarter… it doesn’t matter if you scored 3 or 53 points… the only thing that matters is that it is at least 1 more than your opponent… We have no HYPE to live up to.. as we have been underestimated and doubted ALL year long.. Newnan has ALOT to live up to… I seriously expect Northside to win.. These boy apparenlty really want this! However, I wouldn’t doubt if we were to win state, the AJC having us ranked 4th under Lassiter, Stephenson, Lowndes and ofcourse Camden.
eagleforlife
December 2nd, 2009
12:11 pm
make that ranked 5th… LOL
NOHS
December 2nd, 2009
12:14 pm
Coaching makes all of the difference…….North Oconee had tremendous talent and ignorant Head Coach….stuck with a quarterback who couldn’t run or throw for entire year and Tuley is still too stupid to realize it!
They beat up on a weak AA Region schedule and didn’t prepare for the only two teams they had to beat (Jefferson & East Jackson).
I can’ wait to see the new Region alignments…..Buford & Lovett could be in Tuley’s future??
COUGFAN88
December 2nd, 2009
12:21 pm
Newnan, if you remember it was our turnovers that cost us the game last year against Camden, we fumbled witout being hit 3 times in the 1st quarter, yes they may have still beat us anyways, but we beat ourselves in the 1st quarter last year..Camden did what great teams are supposed to do they took advantage of our miscues..so don’t talk trash cause we could either lose straight up or we could beat ourselves like we did a year ago in this same position.Our QB is young too..but he has the experience now that he has played all year…so don’t doubt him…and Fred you said that if Ogletree doesn’t make that one handed catch then Newnan doesn’t score against Grayson at that time, well how do you know..it was First down and goal on the Grayson 6 when that happened so don’t say something so arrogant, that you can’t back up..we sure moved the ball easily down to Grayson’s 6 yard line on that drive, so they showed no signs of stopping us on that drive…
Fred
December 2nd, 2009
12:51 pm
COUGFAN88,
It is not arrogant. The point was that if any of a few plays had worked differently on both sides of the ball, the game would have come out different. Grayson managed to stop Newnan several times during the game, the last couple of which helped to set up the attempted field goal that missed and then the one that got blocked. I have watched the boys make similar stops all year in the red zone. There were several 3 pass and out possesions that Grayson did prevail on so it was possible. In any event, it doesn’t matter – Newnan won and Grayson lost. On that night with that set of plays, Newnan put more points on the board and that is all that matters. However, if you take the attitude that it was a sure thing, no question that you were assured a score, and apply that to your next game, you will be in trouble. Despite ENR’s chest thumping all season long, the reality is that NS is very good – beatable but very good. Better have your A+ game or you will join us in the stands.
Newnan Fan
December 2nd, 2009
12:52 pm
Eagleforlife:
Actually NSWR has more to live up to. Afterall, we are playing the MIGHTY REGION 1. Everyone knows they have the best teams in the state. It wouldn’t look too good if poor lil ole Newnan (who might I add everyone says is overrated because they play in one of the weakest regions in the state) beat a mighty region 1 team.
I am claiming a Newnan victory in a low scoring game and am extremely proud of our guys for making it this far after losing 33 seniors which includes losing an ENTIRE offense.
Jefferson
December 2nd, 2009
1:30 pm
North Oconee’s punt team coach could use a refresher course…
NOHS
December 2nd, 2009
1:37 pm
What a joke it turned out to be in Calhoun……without the Blocked Punts…score would have been tied at the half 7-7……would have run into same Offensive issues……Calhoun will not win it all in AA…….
Jefferson
December 2nd, 2009
1:39 pm
Calhoun has a lot better chance than N. Oconee, that for sure.
NOHS
December 2nd, 2009
1:47 pm
No argument……..it would have been nice to have seen the talent with better QB though…..Their #1 reciever (Street/Streeter??) was the best athlete on the team….4.4 forty….asked Tuley for opportunity to play QB in the Fall…coach laughed at him…..they never got him the ball all year!!..Great year for Jefferson! Wished you would have beaten Buford!
Jefferson
December 2nd, 2009
1:50 pm
The blocked punts sure did get the rythem of the game off, 3 in a row — the offense never played much in the 1st half. North Oconee team looked good, I’m sure they will be back to the playoffs next year.
wardawg
December 2nd, 2009
1:52 pm
Once again the only team left in AAAAA playing this week that has a state title in AAAAA is Camden(2). Camden has played all remaining and has had some success in playing them. Past success do count by the way. With that being said. I see some very good games on friday. Newnan/Northside will be a head banger. Camden/Colquitt, who can generate the most offense. Both teams feast on the turnovers. Yes turnovers are of the game. Both have excellent special team play. Colquitt has allowed 169 points, and scored 334 in 13 games. Avg 25.6 a game while surrendering 13. Camden has allowed 109, and scored 524. Avg 40.3 a game while surrendering 8.3. Let’s talk playoffs only:
Camden avg 29.3 a game, surrenders 8.6(same as season avg)
Colquit avg 26 a game, surrenders 12.6. Colquitt has remained avg as the regular season. What does all this mean, coaching has allowed both teams to remain steady, no decline in playing on the field.
Jefferson
December 2nd, 2009
1:52 pm
Buford beats a lot of teams in the head, get past that and you have a game. Still you have to play good.
eagleforlife
December 2nd, 2009
3:27 pm
Newnan fan:
No actually, ya’ll have quite a bit of hype to live up to.. Remember.. NHS-WR has heard ALL year that WE CAN’T do this and WE WON’T do that… But, WE DID!
Your HYPE is.. that you guys have been ranked highter than us all year… and now ranked nationally… and you beat Grayson.. (I thought they were like the best team in the nation or something)..
Have fun with your BLUE OUT.. but remember… WE ARE BLUE too.. It will be nice for our guys to look up and see all that blue and that N on the field…
GO EAGLES!!