Cherokee Bluff and Jefferson will play for the second time this season on Friday at Memorial Stadium.
The first time was a 35-7 Jefferson (9-2, No. 1 seed) win.
It’s not the ideal setting for either team. After all, the two Region 8-3A brothers have been ranked No. 1 and No. 2 in the GHSA playoff rankings most of the season. But because the Bears (11-1, No. 8 seed) finished second in the region standings, they could only be ranked as high as No. 8.
When the brackets came out two weeks ago, Bluff and Jefferson knew they were on a collision course if they both won in the quarterfinals of the Class 3A bracket.
It’s a question that could have been asked, but it’s also one that no one cares about anymore. As they say, it is what it is.
It’s a matchup between two really good teams, but in the first meeting, Jefferson was dominant, holding the Bears to 156 yards and one score.
Bluff head coach Tommy Jones says the Dragons have improved game by game.
“I think they’re built how solid football teams are built,” he said. “They gradually improve as the year goes on. Coach (Travis) Noland understands what it takes to have his team peaking at the right time. That’s why you see Jefferson make so many deep playoff runs.”
Of course, playing the same team twice seems to sound better to the team that lost the first time, right? Example: last week’s matchup between Oconee County and Jefferson. The Warriors beat the Dragons on Nov. 1, but Jefferson handled business last week with a 42-6 win.
But does playing a team twice give any different perspective or advantage?
Jones really didn’t say it did or it didn’t.
“When you put together a plan against Jefferson, you have to go play football the way it’s supposed to be played and focus hard on blocking and tackling. The speed of the play that they play at is unlike any other team on our schedule. So, when you play them, once you have a chance to recognize that speed of play, the challenge is to find a way to match that.”
Noland said the first game is in the past and is only worried about Friday.
“I don't think it matters what happened, you know,” he said about the first game. “I mean, if an 11-1 team we hadn't played was coming in here, would we approach it differently? I don't think so. And so we've tried to approach it as they're a great football team, or their record speaks for itself, and we know what kind of players they have, and we've got to do a really good job of preparing and want to play well to give ourselves a chance.”
Since losing to Oconee County, the Dragons have been unstoppable, scoring 43.5 points per game behind the play of quarterback Gavin Markey, rushing for 166 yards and three touchdowns last week.
In the first meeting, Markey rushed for 206 yards, passed for 75, and had four total TDs in the
“I think he's an excellent football player,” Jones said. “He’s the heartbeat of their football team, and what he’s able to do throwing and running the football is pretty much second to none."
However, Noland also knows Bluff can be explosive behind quarterback Brooks Brien and receiver KT Thompson.
“They're a really good football team,” he said. “We had this discussion today as a team. You know, they're 11-1 for a reason. It's because they're very talented, have playmakers all over the field, and are playing really well, too, right now. So it's going to be a challenge for us.”
Jefferson's defense has also been stellar in the playoffs, giving up six points per game, led by a physical defensive line that can get to the ball and is followed by one of the best linebacking corps in Class 3A.
"They have a very stout defense. They play extremely fast on that side of the football," Jones said. "I don't know if there are any secrets to us finding a magic potion offensively. We have to play better. We have to play faster from the snap through the whistle. We have to execute and block better. We have to throw and catch better. We have to run the football better. In every area of our offense and game plan, we've got to step it up and be able to execute at a higher level."
CHEROKEE BLUFF at JEFFERSON
Records: Bears (11-1, No. 8); Jefferson (9-3, No. 1)
Last week: Cherokee Bluff beat Luella, 21-14; Jefferson beat Oconee County, 42-6
Where: Memorial Stadium, Jefferson
Radio: FM 102.9 WDUN
Time: 7:30 p.m.
The Statisticals: Second meeting this year. Bluff held off Luella at home last week to advance to the program’s first quarterfinal. Jefferson handled Region 8-3A foe with ease at Memorial Stadium. The two Region 8-3A foes met back on Oct. 25 at Memorial Stadium … The Dragons handed the Bears their only season loss, 35-7 … The Dragons are giving up six points per game in the playoffs while averaging 43.5 … The Bears are giving up 10.5 ppg while averaging 24.5. QB Gavin Markey rushed for 166 yards and three touchdowns in the Dragons' win last week.
What to watch for: Cherokee Bluff’s offense vs. Jefferson’s defense … In the first meeting, the Dragons held the Bears to 19 total yards in the first half – 156 for the game. They also forced two interceptions. If the Bears are going to have any success, they’ll need to crack possibly the best box in Class 3A on Friday … Linebackers Max Brown and Rett Hemphill have combined for 225 tackles, 20 for a loss and five sacks. DL Kelan Butler is also a pain, recording 74 tackles, 10 TFLs and five sacks … The Bears’ rushing attack, which only mustered 45 yards in the first meeting, will need to be more productive to keep the Dragons’ defense off-balanced possibly.
