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The Braselton News Wednesday, October 10, 2007 Page 4B JCCHS Football Panthers hope to shock sub-region leader Clarke Central SACKING THE SIGNAL-CALLER Jackson County’s Ryan Howe pressures the quarterback during his team’s last game on Sept. 28 against Dacula. The Panthers travel to Clarke Central this Friday night following last week’s bye. Photo by Allen Luton BY ALLEN LUTON If Billy Kirk sounds like a bro ken record, forgive the first-year Jackson County head coach, he’s only trying to be honest. As has been the case through out much of the 2007 season, Kirk’s Panthers will be facing a team with a talent and depth advantage on Friday night. But he still thinks his squad is capable of knocking that opponent off. Jackson County (0-5, 0-2 in Region 8-A- AAAA) will travel to Athens to face the first place team in its subre gion, Clarke Central, on Friday night. The Gladiators (4-1-1, 3-0) head into the meeting on the heels of an impressive 28-21 vic tory over a Dacula team that Kirk considers the best his squad will see this entire season. Facing an athletic squad full of weapons, Jackson County will have to play a near perfect game if it hopes to upset Clarke Central. The Gladiators clearly have more depth, athletic ability and talent across the board, but JCCHS may be able work some magic if it plays well together as a unit. But according to Kirk, his team is familiar with being an underdog and the coach would like nothing more than for the Gladiators to look past his squad. “There’s not a game that we’ve played that going into it I didn’t think we could win,” Kirk said. “And Clarke Central, they’re a great football team, we don’t match up with them athlete for athlete, but I really believe we’ve seen some things on fdm. We have an opportunity to have them overlook us. It’s homecoming season and everybody plays Jackson County on their home coming, which is fine, because I think we’re going to surprise some people.” The Panthers, who had a bye last week, last played on Sept. 28 at home against Dacula. Turnovers plagued JCCHS on the night as the Falcons rolled to a 33-0 win. Kirk said that despite falling to Clarke Central last week, he still thinks Dacula is the best team in the region. According to the Jackson County coach, his team was worn down physically following that loss and the bye week came at a good time. “It did from a health standpoint. But I’ve warned our kids about the old demon. We don’t want to come out and read in the paper (next week) that our kids came off of a bye week and were flat. And I think we’ve been pretty crisp (in practice this week).” Clarke Central is led on offense by tailback Darrieon Robinson, a speedy player who rushed for over 1,400 yard last season. In last week’s big win over Dacula, the senior had 194 yards on 18 carries with two touchdowns. Kirk said that if his squad hopes to have a shot at slowing down the Gladiators, clearly it all starts with containing the elusive Robinson. “They’ve got a great tailback and obviously we want to try and stop him, and we’re going to play all out on defense and try to limit him.” The Gladiators, who are off to their best start in four years, run a multiple I-formation on offense and a base 3-4 on defense. With Clarke Central coming into Friday night’s game on the heels of arguably its biggest win of the season, and Jackson County having had two weeks to prepare for the contest, Kirk said he’s hoping his squad will be well prepared and hopefully catch the Glads a bit off guard. “We’ve had a good two weeks. I think our kids are itching for some more contact with another team,” the coach said. “We don’t match up anywhere on the field with them. Not offen sively, not defensively, not on special teams. We don’t match up anywhere. They are better athletes, they’ve got more speed, they’re more physical. So, we’re going to have to be on our toes and play perfect football to even step on the field with them.” Through the first three region games this season Jackson County has struggled offensively, averaging just 89 yards of total offense per contest, 2.6 turnovers and 2.4 yards per rush. In addi tion, the Panthers have managed just one offensive touchdown this season. But, despite those struggles, Kirk said he’s optimistic about his squad’s chances of moving the ball on Friday night. He said he thinks his squad will have an opportunity to run the football some against the Gladiators, as well as make some plays in the short passing game. The Panthers may also come out in a few sur prise formations. “Offensively, I think we’ve got a great game plan going in,” the coach said. “We saw some things on film that we think we can manipulate and do some stuff with, it’s just a matter of us doing it.” Turnovers have been a big problem for the JCCHS offense all season long and that’s an area that the Panthers desper ately need to improve in. They’ve turned it over eight times in three region games this season. “We’re our own worst enemy,” Kirk said. “If we can eliminate that stuff, and that’s what we’ve tried to do the last two weeks, that’ll be big.” With a defense that has at times been stout this year, not giving the Gladiators a short field could be a big key this week. “I keep telling my kids that if you keep digging, eventually you’re going to hit gold. And when we do, it’s going to be ugly for somebody and I’m hoping it’s going to be Clarke Central.” NEED PRINTING? 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