Class 5A semifinal, Jones County vs. Warner Robins: a look at some keys

By Michael A. Lough

The Sports Report

centralgasports@gmail.com

 Brains, brains, brains

          Players will be - at least mentally - bouncing off the walls awaiting kickoff.

Friday will be ferociously long. From the end of school to kickoff will be ferociously long. And there’s the natural chatter between those who know each other and those who don’t.

All that said, who can balance the emotion and intensity with discipline wins.

          Both teams have survived games where they haven’t been all that sharp in that regard, mainly the annoying pre-snap and fundamental five-yard penalties and with the led-by emotion penalty.

          In this game, any 15-yard penalty – selfish penalties, as Warner Robins head coach Marquis Westbrook calls them - can be the difference over time, from keeping a drive alive to killing a drive. A subtle momentum-changer, or a huge one. So can a few of the five-yarders, which turn a down-and-distance into too long or too short.

          Both defenses are physical and have speed, and it’ll be an action-packed game with so many playmakers.

          Simple gloating or taunting or missing the snap count too often can easily lose the game as much as a great play.

The “foot” in football

          The good thing for Warner Robins is that the offense can score and the defense shuts doors.

          So issues on points-after-touchdown and field goals haven’t been the issue – even in big games – that they could’ve been.

          That’ll be huge against Jones County, which has very steady kicker in Evan West. He’s banged up from last week with a shoulder injury, but is expected to be ready.

          The junior is 111 of 116 on PATs in two seasons, and 9 of 12 on field goals, a number in clutch situations.

          The Demons missed three field goals against Blessed Trinity, and are only 3 for 9 this season. They list four missed PATs, albeit none in terribly close games.

          Jones County will have more confidence in both areas, especially with field goals. A field goal here and a missed PAT there can make for a few gambles in the fourth quarter.

Survive the fourth quarter

          Jones County has won 10 straight, the last four by 21 points or less, and four others by at least 40.

          Warner Robins has won seven straight, with all but two by at least 28 points.

          The Demon haven’t cracked 50, the Greyhounds have done so three times.

          So, wins by 14 points or less?

Jones County has three (38-35 over 9-2 Ola, 21-13 over 6-5 Dutchtown, and 27-25 over 3-8 Wayne County).

          Warner Robins has two (22-19 over 10-2 Ware County and 35-28 over Blessed Trinity).

          The Demons’ win at Blessed Trinity may pay scores of dividends, one being fourth-quarter clutch play after the home team overcame a two-touchdown deficit.

          Who can just do their job better in the fourth quarter, when the clock is winding down in a close game? Who avoids the dropped pass, the no-reason-for-it block in the back, the missed read (in any form or fashion)?

Focus

          That only about 2,500 people overall will be within the walls is so depressing. But expect them to sound like a good bit more.

          Especially Jones County. The Greyhounds will have more fans there than the Demons. That would be the case – and moreso – under normal circumstances, and the disparity would be much more noticable.

          So does that sap a little juice from the Demons, or are they sharper in wanting to send the bigger and louder fan base home quietly?

          Does the noise from one of Central Georgia’s top fan bases help the Greyhounds in subtle ways, like if there’s an early deficit? Or does that inspire Warner Robins more?

          Very much a one-play-at-a-time game, playing with emotion and not getting emotional.