LIKE ANY gracious running back, Jackson County’s Dustin Scott sees his accomplishments and those of his offensive line as one and the same.
Scott enjoyed one of the best games of his career this past Friday, scoring three times and running for 126 yards in the Panthers’ 30-13, bounce-back win over Oglethorpe County. But he was quick to point out the road-grading up front.
“Basically, the offensive line came out and showed them what we’re about,” Scott said. “We came and popped them in the mouth the first time and we just kept on and kept on. We didn’t stop.”
Scott and the Panthers take on North Oconee Friday on the road at 7:30 p.m.
Scott has run for 455 yards so far this year in what’s turning into a breakout season for the speedy junior back. He enjoyed a career-high 189 yards rushing during week four in Jackson County’s 21-12 loss to East Jackson.
The Panther running game was touted as one of the team’s strengths heading into the season, and mid-way through the year, that’s coming into fruition.
That’s due in no small part to the emergence of Scott, who in turn thanks the large and experienced offensive front blocking for him. “Because without them, I wouldn’t have been able to have done any of it,” Scott said.
Of course, Scott has worked hard himself. He has successfully battled his way back from a broken leg in 2010 to put up big numbers this year.
“(It was) kind of hard coming back, but I feel that I’ve improved a lot since then,” Scott said. “I’ve gotten a lot stronger in the leg and had no problems out of it since then.”
Jackson County coach Billy Kirk said that Scott “has made a commitment to working hard.” So much in fact, it’s not just confined to practice. Kirk notes that Scott travels to Gwinnett County three times a week after practice to work with a personal trainer.
And all of the hard work is showing up on the football field and the stat sheet for Scott.
“Dustin is by far the best football player on our team right now,” Kirk said.
But, like Scott, Kirk is equally impressed by the play of the offensive line gashing open holes.
“Dustin wouldn’t be doing what he’s doing if it weren’t for those guys up front,” Kirk said.
Scott’s running — as well as that of fellow tailback Daivon Ledford — and the play off the offensive line make for a running game that wears opponents down and also sets up the pass effectively. In fact, Jackson County’s other offensive score Friday came on a 31-yard screen pass from Kyle Daniel to Xavier Harper. Harper also had a 49-yard reception. Daniel finished the night 5-of-6 with 133 yards passing.
Offense aside, it was an all-around great night in general for Jackson County, which held Oglethorpe County’s potent triple option attack to just 92 yards.
“As a team, we’re clicking,” Scott said. “The defense is getting after them. They have improved so much. They take everything seriously. Offensively, we’ve taken care of some problems and we’re still working on a few things.”
Which brings Scott and his Panther teammates to their colossal challenge this Friday when they must face 5-0 North Oconee. Scott, however, is confident heading into this matchup with the subregion co-leaders as long as Jackson County keeps playing its brand of smash mouth football.
“They present a pretty big challenge,” Scott said. “But I think we can shock them if we come in and do like we did with Oglethorpe and just pop them in the mouth and keep going. I think that we can maybe, possibly, I believe, make an upset.”
•NORTH OCONEE GAME NOTES: Jackson County coach Billy Kirk said that there’s a good reason that this Friday’s opponent, North Oconee, is 5-0. Kirk said the Titans are an all-around great football team.
“They’re in the same mold as Elbert County as far as having great players on both sides of the ball,” Kirk said.
North Oconee’s per-game averages are staggering, scoring 40 points a contest and surrendering just 12.2 points a contest.
“They do a good job offensively with that scheme they run,” Kirk said. “Defensively, they’re unorthodox, but effective. And they score points on special teams.”
At the same time, Jackson County is coming off a 30-13 whipping of Oglethorpe County in which it held the Patriots to just 92 yards of offense.
“(Oglethorpe County) coach (Larry) Milligan told me Friday night, ‘you’re not a 2-4 team,’ and I proudly agreed with him,” Kirk said.
Kirk was particularly proud of the Panther defense and pointed to his team’s disruption of Oglethorpe County’s triple option game which is difficult to prepare for on short notice.
“(Defensive coordinator) Coach (Jay) Reid and the defense has done a great job,” Kirk said.
Jackson County will have to play this game without standout tight end River Bryant who is out indefinitely with a knee injury.
