OAKWOOD -- West Hall has worked hard to get to the top of Region 7-AAA.<br />
<br />
Fannin County is working hard to get there too -- and the Rebels could care less that they are only halfway through their first season under a new coaching staff. They want to keep an impressive rebound going. <br />
<br />
The Spartans aren't about to let their own goals fall by the wayside, however.<br />
<br />
One of them will have to give tonight in Oakwood in a 7-AAA showdown.<br />
<br />
West Hall (6-1, 3-0 Region 7-AAA) is determined that it will not experience a letdown and fall back into a muddle at the top of 7-AAA -- not after battling to rebuild its program under third-year coach Tony Lotti and already making huge strides in the process.<br />
<br />
<b>(NOTE: To watch a video preview of the game simply click "play" in the box to the right.)</b><br />
<br />
"Coming into this game here, the leadership is pumped up a lot, the kids are pumped up," Spartans running back Kwon Williams said. "I feel like we're in the part of the season where we need to be playing to be ready for the playoffs. We can't have any bad days. Everything has to be 100 percent from here on out.<br />
<br />
"We prepared all summer and all offseason for this. This is what we wanted, so we're chasing our dreams right now."<br />
<br />
Fannin County (4-3, 2-1) harbors its own dreams, however, and the Rebels hope to thrive in potential chaos at the top of 7-AAA, as they look to pull even with West Hall with a victory.<br />
<br />
"I think this game is extremely big. If we win out, we win the region," Rebels receiver Cooper Earls said. "If we can do keep winning this will be the first time we've played in playoffs for five years... If we play our 'A' game we'll win."<br />
<br />
Both teams expect they'll need their best on Friday, and the stats show plenty of intriguing match-ups on both sides of the ball.<br />
<br />
For example, Fannin County brings with it a spread attack that has thrived so far this campaign, as sophomore quarterback Brad Davis has excelled at spreading the ball around to numerous receivers. In fact his 1,870 passing yards is amongst the top in the state across all classifications, while Earls (29 receptions, 463 yards), Daniel Lange (28 receptions, 402 yards), Cody Jacobs (21 receptions, 389 yards) and running back Tyler Beaver (929 yards rushing, 7 TDs; 340 yards receiving) are helping the Rebels to resemble the offense at Jim Pavao's previous coaching assignment -- Gainesville.<br />
<br />
Even though Pavao was the defensive coordinator with the Red Elephants, he liked what he saw with the spread and decided to utilize it in Blue Ridge. He is also installing the blitzing, aggressive defense that helped Gainesville to the 2012 Class AAAAA championship.<br />
<br />
"Football's a lot of work, so you better enjoy what you're doing. We've asked a lot of the kids, so you try to make it where they enjoy it offensively and defensively," Pavao said. "We're running the same stuff (I ran at Gainesville) -- not as much, because we're learning. We're just babies. We're progressing, but that takes time."<br />
<br />
Fannin County, which is yielding 24 points per game, realizes it won't have much room for error on Friday -- not against a Spartans offense that can both grind and hit for big plays.<br />
<br />
In fact West Hall has been explosive -- especially in its ground attack this season, with three running backs averaging over 8.5 yards per carry. Tyquan Statham (48 carries, 452 yards rushing, 3 TDs) and Kwon Williams (48 carries, 415 yards, 7 TDs) have been workhorses but are just as capable of ripping off long scoring runs, averaging 9.4 and 8.6 yards per carry, respectively. Jay Crawford, Cameron Millsap and Tyrese Osborne have also each rushed for 100 yards and multiple touchdowns this season -- a factor that Lotti believes will only open up more opportunities for the West Hall air attack, which is led by quarterback Jacob Satterfield (255 yards passing).<br />
<br />
"We can throw the football; we showed it a little bit against East Hall (in a 51-22 win on Oct. 10)," Lotti said. "I have a lot of confidence in our QB and his ability to throw the football, and we'll be doing some more of that. But our offense is predicated on us running the football and keeping (opposing) offenses off the field. Your chances for winning are a lot higher when your offense is on the field more time than the other guy's."<br />
<br />
That's also what the Rebels are hoping to do during Friday's game. And even though Fannin runs a spread, it believes it still has enough old fashioned grit to grind out a ball control attack.<br />
<br />
"I think we can run the ball a little bit, and throw some short passes, maybe not so much deep. Ground and pound them and spread them out a little bit," said Rebels senior offensive lineman Cody McPeek.<br />
<br />
Not many teams have found much success against the Spartans defense this season. West Hall is allowing just 9.2 ppg and has recorded three shutouts. Yet past performances have not bred a since of entitlement within the unit.<br />
<br />
"Our defense is going to have to show up. It's that simple," Lotti said. "We have to get 11 hats to ball. We have to play our keys, our assignments. Defensively, we're going to see if we can keep them off scoreboard. They're going to make plays, but we need to try and keep the big plays to a minimum."<br />
<br />
With the types of athletes featuring on both sidelines Friday, there are bound to be some big plays sometime. And it may only take a few to determine the direction of Region 7-AAA.<br />
<br />
<b>FANNIN COUNTY at WEST HALL</b><br />
-- WHEN: 7:30 p.m. <br />
-- WHERE: Spartans Stadium, Oakwood<br />
-- RADIO: 102.9 FM <br />
-- FANNIN COUNTY (4-3, 2-1 Region 7-AAA): Beat Dawson County 35-28 last week.<br />
-- WEST HALL (6-1, 3-0 Region 7-AAA): Beat Franklin County 27-12 last week.<br />
-- NOTABLE: Series is tied 3-3. The Spartans won 49-7 last year. ... Everyone in the region is still alive for a playoff berth, which should make for an exciting final three weeks of the season. This is just the next game for first place in the region standings for the Spartans. They faced a similar situation last week and the battle for the region title should continue until the final week of the season. ... West Hall struggled in the first half last week but the defense, which has allowed just 37 points in its region games (12.3 ppg), shut out the Lions ground game in the second half with three turnovers. ... The Rebels offer a much different challenge with their ever-improving spread attack. They are averaging 26 ppg overall but over 28 ppg in region contests. Offense may be the key for the Rebels. In their three losses, they have scored just 35 total points. In their four wins, 38.7 ppg. ... The Spartans defense, however, has been stingy all season allowing just 12 points or less, with three shutouts, in five games and no more than 28 in any game this season.
