JEFFERSON -- This one already has that "special" feel to it.<br />
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Just ask Jefferson football players and coaches about the challenge ahead Friday night against Dodge County and they speak in the kind of tones that tell you more than the words themselves.<br />
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The Dragons are prepping for a war when they play host to the Indians in the second round of the Class AAA playoffs at Memorial Stadium.<br />
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"I can promise you this group is as physical and tough as anyone we've seen in a couple of years. We're gonna have our hands full with Dodge County," Dragons coach Ben Hall said. "We're going to have to play an intense ball game."<br />
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Intense could indeed be the word of the night, especially along the line of scrimmage -- which is where Hall says everything starts for Dodge County.<br />
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<b>(NOTE: To watch a video preview of Friday's playoff contest simply click "play" in the box to the right.)</b><br />
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"They're aggressive on both sides of the ball and physical on the line of scrimmage," Hall said. "They like to run the ball 95 percent of the time on offense. Their defensive line is also aggressive and tremendous pass rushers, so we're going to have to protect the quarterback."<br />
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That hasn't been much of an issue so far this season for the Dragons (11-0), who come into the contest averaging 413 yards per game on offense -- 214 of that through the air. Senior signal caller Evan Shirreffs has been impressive, passing for 2,246 yards and 21 touchdowns -- largely split between receivers Dalton Hill (40 receptions, 916 yards, 9 TDs) and TJ Skelton (37 receptions, 748 yards, 8 TDs). Yet Jefferson is far from pass-heavy. In fact its balance has been a big part of its success, with the Dragons also rushing for 199 yards per game -- led by Sammy Williams (1,168 yards, 18 TDs) and Colby Wood (680 yards, 15 TDs).<br />
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"It definitely makes it tough on any defense we play because one game we'll pop out 250 rushing yards, another game we'll pop out 250 passing, so they have to prepare for anything we bring out there," Shirreffs said. "And then according to their looks we go from there."<br />
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Jefferson expects the Indians to yield little running room in their base 4-4 defense -- a unit allowing 16 points per game and one that yielded just a field goal in the first round of the playoffs, where Dodge County (9-2) claimed a top 10 victim in Westside, Macon, 14-3.<br />
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"They've shown several different looks, and that will determine what we can take advantage of," Hall said. "I know running between the tackles will be tough. Hopefully we can get outside in the run game and throw the ball -- and that will depend on the protection."<br />
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In other words, fans at Memorial Stadium can expect a much different game than in the first round, where Jefferson cruised to a 38-7 win over Franklin County -- a contest that allowed the Dragons to rest a number of starters in the second half in preparation for games such as these.<br />
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"We definitely got a couple of guys with some bumps and bruises healthy (last week)," Shirreffs said. "We've still got a couple of guys out. But we still needed that confidence to build for this week and this big game coming up."<br />
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The questions for Jefferson are on the defensive line, where standouts Dontae Wilson (47 tackles, 10 for loss) has a knee injury and Michael Paolozzi is battling a foot injury.<br />
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"We are beat up, especially on the defensive front. Dontae Wilson has a torn MCL, and Michael Paolozzi has two fractures in a foot. He's going to try and play through that; he's a tough kid," Hall said. "But other than those two we're healthy."<br />
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The Dragons defense has put up robust numbers all season, allowing just nine points per game -- 16 the highest total allowed in any game. Perhaps most impressive, Jefferson is yielding just 3.79 yards per rush and 3.5 yards per pass. And the Dragons expect the Indians to test those rush totals.<br />
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Rnning back Roscoe Wilcox, quarterback Landon Martin and running back Gerard Dzavis -- all seniors -- anchor the Dodge County rushing attack, along with junior running back Kyle Glover.<br />
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"We've got to stop their run," Jefferson senior safety Cooper Young said. "(Dodge County) is probably like a North Hall or Commerce; they like to run the ball and throw it if they have to."<br />
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The Indians scored one of their touchdowns last week on a 43-yard pass play -- the other came on an interception return -- so Jefferson knows it must be wary of a team that plays much tougher than its No. 3 seeding.<br />
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But what else would you expect in the second round of state?<br />
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"This is one of those games. This is a second round game, and we should have a lot of excitement," Hall said. "This is not a game where you can overlook. We're not one of those teams where we can plan for round four and five of the playoffs like some teams are able to do. We have to battle in every round."<br />
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A win on Friday would land Jefferson's third straight state quarterfinal berth.<br />
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"The school's excited and the kids know what's on the line," Hall said.
