Indians and Warriors ready to mash each other at the point of attack

Ask White County football coach Bill Ballard about his team's upcoming game with Stephens County and the Warriors head man can't help but chuckle a little bit.<br /> <br /> "I was talking with one of my assistants and he told me after first watching film he couldn't even pick out (Football Bowl Subdivision recruit) Ben Cleveland," said Ballard, incredulous that a 6-foot-6, 320-pound tackle could blend in with any high school team.<br /> <br /> "They're quite large," Ballard confirmed of the Indians' offensive line.<br /> <br /> Talk to Stephens County coach Frank Barden, however, and the subject of White County's offensive line features just as prominent.<br /> <br /> "The key match-up for us will be up front," said Barden, who is in his first year with the Indians after coming from Cartersville. "They've got some big kids that know what they're doing, and they've put up yards on everyone they've faced. It's going to be a huge challenge."<br /> <br /> Huge will be the key word indeed on Friday in a showdown that much of northeast Georgia and Region 8-AAAA will keep an eye on -- a contest that will feature two outstanding rushing attacks attempting to grind out yards en route to a stronger position in the 2014 playoff race. And both those attacks are led by punishing offensive lines.<br /> <br /> "The offensive line is our strength," Barden said -- and that's with one returning senior starter.<br /> <br /> Desi Garrison (6-foot-2, 230 pounds) helps anchor a unit that also includes the aforementioned Cleveland -- a junior road-grader committed to the University of Georgia -- Ben Sizemore (6-3, 300), Graham Ferreira (6-4, 290), Tristen Alexander (6-1, 245) and Vonquise Nicely (6-1, 260) amongst a rotation of players that have opened holes for a rushing attack averaging 315 yards per contest.<br /> <br /> "We've got a nice rotation of seven-eight guys that have all been playing well," Barden said. "We have some good running backs, our quarterback, Mason Long, has played well, and our wide receivers have some size, but that line has really helped make the difference."<br /> <br /> Ballard has noticed much the same and says his defense is in for a challenge when they travel to The Reservation.<br /> <br /> "Our biggest guy on defense weighs 220 pounds," Ballard said of a unit that came up with key trurnovers in last week's 34-27 win over Madison County, including the game-deciding turnover inside the final minute -- a fumble recovery that allowed the Warriors to score the winning touchdown on the very next play.<br /> <br /> "We're going to go in there and fight hard the entire game though -- that's what our kids do. But we need to hold serve with them in the trenches and give ourselves a chance late in the game."<br /> <br /> Funny enough the Indians have been saying similar things after looking at film of a Warriors triple option offense that is averaging almost 300 yards rushing per game.<br /> <br /> "They make you play disciplined, assignment football, and you've got to play great defense to slow them down," Barden said. "We can't give up turnovers, anything in the kicking game, and we can't beat ourselves."<br /> <br /> White County (3-2, 1-1 Region 8-AAAA) has taken more than what a number of opponents were willing to give so far this season, even rushing for 170 yards on Buford's vaunted defense. And, like Stephens County (4-1, 2-0), much of that success is down to its offensive line.<br /> <br /> "We're getting better on the offensive line," Ballard said. "It's a good bunch of guys that are starting to get some continuity and play really well together." <br /> <br /> That group includes senior captain Sean Freeman, senior Ty Gooch, junior Parker Dorsey, senior Ethan Ramey, junior James Young and tight end Crawford Abernathy -- who does plenty of blocking in the Warriors' offensive scheme.<br /> <br /> "They play hard every play, and they keep improving," said Ballard, who also says his team must be at its best this week as they look to get back to full health.<br /> <br /> "(Defensive standout) Tucker Cook and (running back/cornerback) Maurice Sutton both missed last week's game, and they are big players for us," Ballard said. "We're hoping to get Cook back this week; we're not sure about Sutton."<br /> <br /> That could be key against a team that Ballard says could take advantage of a larger roster.<br /> <br /> "They've got fewer two-way players than us," Ballard said. "But that won't bother our kids. They're going to do what they always do: go in there and give every ounce of effort."<br /> <br /> Stephens County too is coming off a contest in which the Indians expended plenty of energy, fending off Monroe Area in a 42-38 victory in Monroe.<br /> <br /> "The kids are eager to be successful and get back to some of the traditions of Stephens County football," Barden said. <br /> <br /> That tradition includes 16 state playoff appearances in 17 seasons and playing in big regular season games like Friday's -- something that the Warriors are also growing accustomed to under Ballard, who has led White County to back-to-back state berths for the first time.<br /> <br /> "This is definitely one of those games that is going to put people in playoff position," Barden said.

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