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Playoff-type atmosphere
Published October 30, 2009
If speed does indeed kill, Loganville’s chances at landing the No. 3 seed from Region 8-AAAA could take a deadly shot tonight.
The Red Devils will be at Reid Stadium in Conyers to battle a fleet-footed Rockdale County team that will be playing for its playoff life. A loss by the Bulldogs (5-3) would eliminate them from the playoff picture. Loganville (5-3) can still drop one of its two final games and qualify for the postseason. The Devils wrap up the regular at home against Winder-Barrow next Friday.
Rockdale County has one of the most athletic teams in the league and relies on quickness and speed to run past opposing defenses. Coach Michael Etheridge’s Bulldogs started the 2009 season by dropping three of its first four games. Truth be told, however, Rockdale was handicapped by injuries to several key players early in the campaign. Since their return, the team has reeled off four straight wins.
“We don’t make excuses,” said Etheridge. “It is what it is. You play with the people available. We were two dropped passes from beating Apalachee. We had some goals when the year started because we feel like we are one of the better teams in this region.”
The Bulldogs rely on an experienced and talented offensive line to open holes for scatbacks Kyle Tippins (No. 2) and Tavaris Williams (No. 25). Rashawn Binns (No. 4) is the fullback in the spread formation. The senior tips the scales at 220 pounds. The Rockdale offense revolves around quarterback Isaiah Gresham (No. 1).
“We’ve got a lot of talent in the backfield, so it’s hard to key on any one particular player,” Etheridge said. “Isaiah runs like a deer.”
The Rockdale coach is impressed with what he’s seen from the Devils.
“They do a good coaching job over there and Loganville’s got a good team,” he said. “They’ve been able to incorporate the new back (Storm Johnson) with the kid they had last year (Mykel Wyyet), so we know we can’t jump on one because we have to worry about both of them. I think their quarterback (A.J. Schmidt) throws the ball well and has surprising speed.”
Loganville coach Eric Godfree said his players are looking forward to the challenge this evening and have had a good week of practice.
“Rockdale does have better overall team speed than we do,” said Godfree. “But, we feel like we have a really good plan for them on both sides of the ball.”
With a loss tonight, Loganville must rely on help from other teams in the region in order to make the playoffs. Apalachee must beat Madison County and Salem to allow the Red Devils to slide into the fourth and final spot. With a win tonight and again next week against the Bulldoggs from Barrow County, Loganville can do no worse than a No. 3 seed.
“We want to be a third seed going into the playoffs and we don’t want to have to rely on anybody else,” Godfree said. “The kids have done a good job this week of being at practice on time, even though there has been no school.
“We really didn’t know what to expect with them being out of school, but everything has run smoothly and I think we’ll be ready to go.”
The Devils worked out from 9 a.m. until noon this week. Godfree said he believes a change in routine is over-rated.
“You still have to get prepared a play the game on Friday, so I don’t see much difference in altering the schedule,” he said.
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