GAINESVILLE -- There are a few positions in high school football that carry prestige: linebacker at Buford, quarterback at North Gwinnett... the list goes on -- and includes wide receiver at Gainesville.<br />
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For the past the decade, the Red Elephants have consistently produced pass-catching playmakers on par with or better than any program in the state.<br />
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This season is no different.<br />
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Between Rodney Lackey, Chris Williamson and Messiah Dorsey, Gainesville possesses three outstanding athletes capable of burning opposing defenses on any given play. <br />
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"It makes our offense," Red Elephants coach Bruce Miller said of how receiver play effects Gainesville's spread attack. "(Quarterback) Mikey (Gonzalez) has been able to get the ball to those guys and they make something happen. I'd like to know how many big plays they've made all year."<br />
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<b>(NOTE: To watch a video feature about Gainesville's receiving corps, simply click "play" in the box to the right.)</b><br />
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The conservative estimate is plenty. The trio -- along with Toddrick Turner and a backfield with plenty of catches on its resume -- has been at the forefront of the Red Elephants' charge back into the state quarterfinals and now hopes to help spark Gainesville to what would be the Red Elephants' fourth straight state semifinal berth.<br />
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Standing in the way is an Allatoona defense that is yielding just 16 points per game and just 21 total points in two playoff wins.<br />
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It is a challenge the group is champing at the bit to accept -- and Gainesville's receivers certainly have plenty of reason for confidence. In last week's second round 49-40 defeat of Harris County all three finished with more than 100 yards receiving -- Williamson's absurd 8 catches for 196 yards and 4 TDs leading the way, while Lackey managed 8 for 114 yards and a TD and Dorsey caught 7 balls for 101 yards and a score. <br />
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"We feel like we're peaking, and that's good going into the quarterfinals playing like we are," Williamson said. "Mikey (Gonzalez) had over 300 yards passing, and (running back) Mike Byrd also ran for over 100 yards."<br />
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For the season, Dorsey leads the team in receptions with 67 catches for 866 yards and 10 TDs, while Lackey has 56 receptions, 751 yards and 12 TDs, and Williamson has 43 receptions, 865 yards and 12 TDs.<br />
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It is the kind unit-wide of performance that many programs can only dream of, but one that has come to mark the Red Elephants since the mid-2000s, as standouts like Kendrick Lewis, Gerald Ford, Tyler Adetona, TJ Jones, Jay Gaudlock and numerous others took turns terrorizing opposing defenses. And the current group is well aware of the mantle they have inherited.<br />
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"It means a lot to be a receiver here at Gainesville," Lackey said. "The offense we run is made to get the ball to receivers and let them make plays, and we do that -- but it's also not just about us. That's what I like about this offense. We don't run too much; we don't pass too much, we just share the ball and make plays."<br />
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Prior to the season, those outside the program may have wondered where those plays would come from -- after all Lackey was the only returning starter at the position (though Williamson shined when given the opportunity, catching 24 passes and 6 scores). But it was never a doubt for coach or players -- even for Dorsey, who converted to receiver after playing as a running back and quarterback previously.<br />
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"All three of them are great athletes, and they all catch the ball well," Miller said. "And all three do something with the ball after they catch it. If they can face up with whoever's trying to tackle them, they'll fake them out, get around them, do something very positive."<br />
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Their speed, quickness and sticky fingers have helped all three shine -- though not all of their production is thanks to innate ability. And all three say they spent plenty of time working to hone their skills coming into the 2014 campaign.<br />
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"People may look at us and think we're not fast, not strong, but all summer the three of us hit the weight room pretty hard," Lackey said. "We worked on running good routes and getting better as a unit. We may not have a 6-foot-2, 6-3 guy, but we're going to get the job done."<br />
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Miller says their willingness to hone their craft cannot be overlooked.<br />
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"A lot of people don't think about it; they think in high school you tell them to run an out route or a post route. Our guys have to learn how to stem, how to make their cuts and their breaks. That's why we do the passing leagues in the summer, try to get them in one-on-one in situations," Miller said. "And you can see it with them watching film. We read a lot of leverage on defenders. It takes a special kid to learn this stuff. Sometimes great athletes don't want to learn this stuff, but they do."<br />
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That said, the group also knows how to cut loose -- especially on the practice field.<br />
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"All three are a mess to deal with at practice. They test my patience, but they do what they have to do to be ready to play the game." Miller said. "They are special on Friday nights."<br />
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Indeed, and now Gainesville hopes they can be special for at least one more Friday.<br />
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<b>GAINESVILLE at ALLATOONA</b><br />
WHAT: Class AAAAA football quarterfinal<br />
WHERE: Acworth<br />
WHEN: 7:30 p.m. Friday<br />
RADIO: 1240 AM<br />
GAINESVILLE (10-2, No. 2 seed Region 8-AAAAA): Defeated Harris County 49-40 in second round<br />
ALLATOONA (12-0, No. 1 seed Region ): Defeated Coffee 45-14 in second round<br />
WINNER PLAYS: Northside, Warner Robins vs. Glynn Academy winner
