A new season will begin Friday for the Apalachee High School football team against a relatively new program.
The Lanier High School Longhorns will welcome the Wildcats this Friday as both teams begin their respective 2012 campaigns. Lanier is a new program and new school. The team played four varsity games a season ago going 3-1.
“We certainly don’t have any common opponents that we can compare,” AHS coach Shane Davis said. “I am pleased with where we are. It’s time for us to play. Of course, the more you practice the better you can get, but at some point you have to put it on the line and play against someone else. The speed and intensity is so much different on Friday night.”
Davis said he expects Lanier to play a four-man front defensively and use multiple offensive sets including some I-formation and shotgun looks.
“It’s that time of the year again,” Davis said. “Everyone is excited. Our coaching staff and kids are eager to get started. We have a good group of kids who believe in what we are doing. There is a lot of optimism right now with our program and with what we can accomplish.”
We are excited to be in game week,” AHS offensive coordinator Joel Miller said Monday. “We have been waiting for this opportunity since last year to have a chance to get back in the playoffs.”
Miller said Lanier will run a base 4-3 with a 50 look at times.
“They will run both man and zone coverages in the secondary so we will prepare for both,” he said. “We understand that Lanier is a young program and this will be their first year playing region, but they are very talented and they are not your typical young program. Gwinnett County schools have a history of being very successful early in the programs history and Lanier will be no different. They have speed, size and are very well coached. We will have to play very well to come out of there with a win. We are excited about the challenge and expect a terrific high school atmosphere.”
Wildcat defensive coordinator Matt Sorrells also knows it is somewhat of a unique challenge playing a relatively new program.
“They run more of a pro style offense where they will be in the I formation running a power style offense with play-action passes off of that,” he said. “They will then will spread you out with a shotgun one-back look. So we will have to be prepared for a variety of looks. The offensive line looks very big and they have a number of good skill guys that rotate.”
While a few AHS players were still battling nagging injuries going into this week, Davis hopes to have everyone available by kickoff Friday.
For the first time in some years, the Wildcats will play two non-region games to begin the season. Davis is not sure how much of an advantage it will be.
“I hope having some non-region games will help,” Davis said. “It will give our kids a chance to get their feet wet since the outcome won’t affect our chances for the playoffs.”
Kickoff Friday is at 7:30 p.m.
