Falcons ready to get back to winning ways

FLOWERY BRANCH -- Flowery Branch football has been in tight spots before -- just last season in fact.

And that's why the Falcons are not even close to hitting the panic button as they prepare for Friday's showdown with Cedar Shoals.

Yes Flowery Branch is 0-2, but the Falcons know that that mark could end up being a strength if they use the experience wisely. For example look no further than 2012 when the Branch bounced back from the same record to win eight straight games and their first ever solo region championship.

"Everyone outside the program tends to get panicky in situations like this, but we're not panicking," Falcons coach Chris Griffin said. "We learned a lot from those first two games, and we've grown a lot in that time."

And with both losses coming against non-region foes, Flowery Branch also knows that it can play its way right back into the same position in Region 8-AAAAA.

Griffin has been quick to let his team know, however, that, just because the Falcons did it a year ago, does not mean that the script will go exactly the same in 2013.

"You can't just assume that because we did it last year that we'll do it again this year," Griffin said. "I told the guys this week that you know you can do it, but don't just rely on it to happen. You've got to make it happen."

In order to start that process, the Falcons must find a way past Cedar Shoals on Friday at the Branch.

The Jaguars are also off to a 0-2 start after falling to Hart County and Elbert County, but Griffin says they are far from a pushover and could be a handful.

"They're big, athletic and well-coached," Griffin said. "They have just had some issues dealing with adversity. If they figure out how good they can be, they'll be pretty scary for sure."

The Falcons will look to bring the lessons learned in losses against now-Class AAAAA No. 1 Northside-Warner Robins and Class AAAAAA program West Forsyth, to bear this week, especially on defense