IT REMAINS one of the oddest victory celebrations for Jackson County.
After jumping out to a 14-8 lead against Johnson a season ago, the Panthers were stoked to take the field for the second half. But the skies had other plans. As a result of the GHSA’s lightning policy, the second half of the game was called, and Jackson County was awarded a very abbreviated and unorthodox season-opening victory.
“It was actually really disappointing,” Panther linebacker Andy Williams said. “Because we took it into the half, and we were really excited. And then all of a sudden, no more second half. So we were glad to have a win but we were ready for round two.”
A year later, round two happens Friday night when Jackson County opens the season at Class AAA Johnson (2-8 last year) at 7:30 p.m. The Panthers are looking forward to a full-length season-opener this time — baring weather hazards of course.
“Oh, yeah, we’ve been waiting for our chance to go all the way with them,” Williams said. “We know it’s going to be even better than last year.”
Jackson County coach Billy Kirk is all-too-familiar with how Johnson felt last year. Kirk’s own Panther coaching debut in 2007 against Banks County was cut short due to lightning. Jackson County lost that game 14-0.
He expects Johnson to be looking for vindication after getting only a half of football last year.
“It’s redemption,” Kirk said. “They’re going to want to get after us, which I expect. It’s going to be a heavily-battled contest.“They’re a good football team. They’re well-coached. (Coach) Paul (Friel) does a great job over there. We’ve got to do a great job of film work this week.”
Despite winning only two games last year, Johnson presents problems. The Knights boast good offensive and defensive lines and a 1,000-yard rusher in Cedric Harris which the Panthers must contain.
“For us, we’ve got to minimize what they do offensively and that’s the Wing-T option,” Kirk said.
Jackson County is coming off a come-from-behind 28-13 scrimmage win at Athens Christian Friday. The Panthers trailed 13-0 after a heavily-scripted first half designed to get different players the football in different situations. But with his team in danger of losing a scrimmage to Athens Christian for the second-straight year, Kirk ditched the script and opened up the playbook. Jackson County scored 14 points in the third quarter to close out the varsity portion of the scrimmage.
Jackson County quarterback Kyle Daniel, who got the starting nod in the scrimmage over Jalen Banks, threw for 99 yards and led two touchdown drives in the final 9:47 of the third quarter. Kirk said Daniel managed those drives well and will start Friday night.
“He deserves the nod, no question about it,” Kirk said.
The coach said that the evaluation of the starting quarterback position certainly isn’t over, but added that, “We’re going to try to do our best to get it done with him (Daniel).”
Jackson County also rushed for 194 yards on 33 carries against an Athens Christian team that was loading the box. Kirk said the scrimmage victory and the positives that came from it will serve as momentum heading into Friday’s game with Johnson.
Meanwhile, Williams expects a stern opening-week test.
“They’re a great football team,” Williams said of Johnson. “They’re a lot like Athens Christian, so we’ve really been focusing on them and we’re ready to play a great game — hope we can beat them.”
In a four-quarter game, of course.
