Falcons not looking past winless Pickens

FLOWERY BRANCH - Preparing for a game after a loss has been nothing new for the Flowery Branch football team.

This week, however, they've been learning how to prepare after a win following last week's stunning 20-19 win over West Hall - the first in school history.

Coach Lee Shaw said they have changed little in their approach as they get ready to travel to winless Pickens County Friday night.

"We're not looking past anybody. We can't afford too," Shaw said. "Last week we were an 0-12 program. Now we're 1-12. I don't think that gives us enough confidence to think we can look past anyone."

He said they also learned a lesson after playing even with North Hall for three quarters in an eventual 44-14 loss.

"If you heard the kids after that game, you'd have thought we won. They lost their focus for the next game and we lost a game (13-7 to Gilmer) we all feel we should have won because we didn't prepare well," Shaw said. "I think we all learned a lesson from that."

Still, a win over Pickens and suddenly the once-winless Falcons (1-2, 1-2 in Region 7-AAA) will be a .500 team and in the middle of the playoff race.

"Well, I don't think we're ready to worry about all that," Shaw said. "We just take things one game at a time. I think we'll win some more games before the year is over but I haven't even thought about the playoffs."

Pickens (0-3, 0-3) has struggled on offense scoring just seven points total for the season. They run a multiple-I formation and like to give the defense a lot of different looks. But Shaw says they are the same kind of team that made his team dangerous last week against West Hall.

"I expect them to try some trickery or come up with something we're not expecting because they have struggled on offense. They're going to be very unpredictable and that's what scares me," he said.

Quarterback Matt Jones, who scored the game-winning touchdown on a 35-yard keeper last week, leads the Falcons' wishbone attack. Fullback Andy Espinosa has been consistent all year as well.

"We're getting better each week on offense and if we do that and can control the clock, I like the direction we're headed," Shaw said.