Preview: Indians and Spartans pumped for shot at history (VIDEO)

Posted 7:59PM on Friday, November 7, 2014

OAKWOOD -- On Friday night 79 years of toil will come down to 48 minutes for a shot at history. And after a 53-year wait for Lumpkin County and a 26-year wait for West Hall, you can guarantee that both the Indians and Spartans are chomping at the bit to claim their first-ever region championships when they face off in Oakwood. The Region 7-AAA leaders say they are more than ready for the challenge. "We're right where we want to be," West Hall senior running back Cameron Millsap said. "I'm really proud of where we are, and we're ready for it." "We were coming into this season looking for a region championship, and that's what we're getting a shot at," Lumpkin County senior lineman Garrett Gray said. (NOTE: To watch a video preview of the game simply click "play" in the box to the right.) And while each squad may be lacking in championship experience they are led by two focused coaches that recently joined their respective programs with very definite plans for success. Tony Lotti is in his third season with the Spartans and has made strides in each campaign, taking West Hall from doormat to postseason favorite, including a 6-5 record last season that saw the Spartans clinch their first playoff berth in 11 years -- an appearance that so nearly included a first-round upset of top-seeded Cartersville in the first round (West Hall fell 28-26). Lotti hopes that experience pays off on Friday. "My kids last year had to play in a big game at Dawson (County), and it was an all-or-nothing win to see who would get in the playoffs," Lotti said. "And my kids went out there and battled hard and got that one and went on road for the playoffs and I felt like we were prepared for that. So I feel like we can use that a little bit Friday." This season Lotti has already led West Hall (8-1, 5-0 Region 7-AAA) to its highest win total since 2002 -- though Friday night's game is about far more than a number. "For us this one is just about a purpose, and we've talked about that all year. This is the next step in that, and we're going to find out how bad we want this thing," Lotti said. "We're not going to 'coulda, woulda, shoulda,' this thing, and that's what I talk to the kids about all the time. We're going to come out and play as hard as we can, control what we can control and let the chips fall where they may." Lumpkin County coach Tyler Maxwell expects his team to play with same abandon. And while he may be in his first season as a head coach, he understands well what the Indians (5-4, 4-1) need in order to be successful -- as demonstrated by the fact that Lumpkin has won four of its last five games to storm into the postseason. "To be honest I did expect to come in and have this kind of success. The biggest thing about football is learning how to work, and I knew if we learned how to work that our kids, with the talent they have have the opportunity to be successful," said the former Chestatee assistant Maxwell -- who took over a Lumpkin program that had not been to the playoff in 11 years prior to clinching a state berth in 2014. Maxwell's charges are quick to confirm that, yes, preparations have gotten much tougher. But the Indians -- who are on their third head coach in as many seasons -- also say they have taken to what Maxwell has asked of them. "It's been fun; Friday nights are always fun; in between hasn't been fun. It's been difficult. It's never been easy," Gray said. "We started morning workouts back in March, and we busted our butts this year more than I've ever worked." Both teams know that victory on Friday will require plenty more work -- especially in the trenches, as both bring physical run games to the table. "They are very physical and disciplined with how they run it," Lotti said of an Indians offense that is averaging more than 300 yards rushing per game -- led by 1,304 yards and 19 TDs for quarterback Zach Matthews. "What it's going to come down to is we have to take advantage of things we bring to the table, and that's our physical play and our speed. We're going to have to play very disciplined football on Friday to stop them." West Hall's defense has excelled in stopping most foes this season, allowing just 8 points per game -- a number that shrinks to just 5.5 in four home contests (including three shutouts). Yet the Spartans know they must be on top of their game against an attack that also features running backs Bradley Womack (779 yards rushing, 5 TDs) and Gunner Wood (621 yards, 6 TDs). "They're a very good team. They've got very good athletes. The main thing for us is we have to make plays, when plays come to us, we've got to make them," Millsap said. "We have to make sure we wrap up and tackle them and make sure we stop their offense." Again, the Indians echo those sentiments -- especially against a West Hall squad that features explosive backs Kwon Williams, who leads the team in carries but is still averaging over 11 yards per rush, and Tyquan Statham, who is second in attempts and averaging almost 10 yards per carry, as well as five other backs that have rushed for over 100 yards this season. "I definitely think it's going to be a very physical ballgame," Maxwell said. "Everybody knows West Hall's very athletic, and coach Lotti's done a tremendous job. But the biggest focus for us is on us. Our kids have bought into coming out every day and getting better no matter who they're playing." Neither is Maxwell concerned about playing the title-deciding contest away from home. "I feel like our kids have played a little bit better on the road, and I like going on the road because you don't have distractions of home," Maxwell said. "You don't have to worry about homecomings and senior nights. You just get on the bus, go to work and get down to business. It should be intriguing business indeed come kickoff.

Preview: Indians and Spartans pumped for shot at history <b>(VIDEO)</b>