No need for any psychological stunts in Commerce’s locker room, coaches said. Not this week.
Friday night is the Tigers’ homecoming game. Athens Christian is Commerce’s first Region 8-A opponent. And the Eagles (3-2) are expected to run right at the Tigers’ heart, coaches said.
That means it is up to Commerce to show its drive to win is intact after a destructive season opening against mostly superior teams.
“A lot of the psyching up stuff is overrated. You have to get your team prepared. You have to do it in a way that doesn’t wear them out on the practice field. You have to prepare them for Friday night,” coach Marvin Justice said. “Emotion and hype is out the window. Our kids know that if we want to get in the playoffs, it starts right now.”
Athens Christian’s attack is not fancy. Unlike the aerial assault Washington-Wilkes used to shred the Tigers, Athens Christian relies heavily on its running game.
Commerce coaches who scouted the Eagles as they crushed winless Social Circle 35-0 last week witnessed a standard, I-formation offense that works mainly in the tackle box, Justice said.
Travis Wildgoose led the Eagles in that game, rushing 14 times for 289 yards and three touchdowns. The bulk of his yardage came on break-through scoring runs of 89, 65 and 82 yards.
“We will be up against an old-fashioned team that likes to pound on you,” Justice said. “They’re real physical.”
Perhaps the biggest challenge to Commerce relates to momentum, however.
The Eagles have won their last three games. Those wins have come against Hebron Christian Academy (34-8) and Banks County (27-21) and Social Circle. Banks County (2-2) is the only one of the three teams to have won a game this season.
Justice admitted winning alone can lift a team, despite the caliber of competition.
“I think (momentum) has to be a factor. When you’re winning, you’re usually feeling better about yourself,” Justice said. “You have more confidence in yourself. I would have to think they have momentum coming into the game.”
Conversely, the Tigers’ three losses are to dominating teams including Jefferson (4-0), North Oconee (4-0) and Washington-Wilkes (2-2).
Last week, the Tigers’ concentrated on healing with a light but deliberate series of practices. Coaches tightened up some fundamentals on both sides of the ball and simplified some of the team’s strategic approaches.
“I think last week was about perfect,” Justice said. “It worked out good. We got a lot of goals accomplished, rest being one of them.”
One continued issue relates to injury, however. Senior and key starter on offense and defense, Jake Vaughn, has not practiced since the Washington-Wilkes game.
Coaches did not know Monday whether he will suit up this week, Justice said, adding that his being sidelined because of a knee injury is more fallout from the Tigers’ ambitious schedule.
“My biggest goal was to get through the first four games healthy,” the coach said. “And it didn’t happen. But there’s nothing we can do about it now.”
Another aim this week is keeping the Tigers in check during one of the most festive weeks in high school.
Homecoming events have included a series of dress-up days and lots of chatter about the coronation of the homecoming court during halftime on Friday.
There’s lots of excitement pinned to the week.
But at the heart of it all is a football game, Justice continues to remind his squad.
“I tell them homecoming week, have a good time, but the focus is the game,” he added.
