TWO rivals. Two very different modes of moving the football.
Jefferson pits its pro-style, pass-oriented offense against host Commerce’s ground-hugging triple option scheme this Friday. Kickoff for the 67th annual River War is set for 8 p.m. at Ray Lamb Stadium.
“That’s their staple,” Jefferson coach T. McFerrin said of Commerce’s option attack. “They ran the mid-line really well and they run the veer. They execute well. That seems to be their mainstay on offense, which is really tough.”
Then there’s Jefferson. The Dragons — who own a five-game winning streak in this storied rivalry — will rely greatly on the right arm of starting quarterback Bryant Shirreffs this season.
Shirreffs, a third-year starter, threw for 1,873 yards a year ago with 19 touchdowns.
“Obviously, you like the experience he’s got,” McFerrin said. “He’s a three-year starter now for us, and he knows the offense. We hope he’ll have a great game against them.”
The Dragons, 8-3 a year ago, provided a glimpse of their firepower in the passing game on Aug. 16 in their 37-14 scrimmage win over Morgan County.
Shirreffs threw for 227 yards in one half of football with three touchdown passes. Two of those scoring strikes went to senior receiver McKay Dickens for 73 and 40 yards.
“I feel really good about it (the offense), especially after our scrimmage,” Shirreffs said. “We’ve got a lot of young guys. I feel confident throwing to them. It’s a lot of fun seeing their progression this summer and spring.”
Shirreffs, however, made sure to mention his main passing target — Dickens, a fellow senior.
“McKay Dickens has really stepped up,” he said. “It should be fun.”
The quarterback added that this year’s offense has “about six or seven guys that can make plays” on any given play.
Commerce coach Marvin Justice, however, is primarily concerned with slowing down Shirreffs first.
“Their quarterback is a good football player,” Justice told The Commerce News. “He makes good decisions, throws well and runs well. With that being said, the key to beating them (Jefferson) is containing Shirreffs and slowing him down. A player that good – people say you have to shut down. I’m not so sure you can shut down a player that good, but we have to slow him down, contain him and make him really work. And we have to keep our offense on the field.”
Commerce – 4-7 last year — enters its second season under coach Justice having to replace a four-year starter at quarterback, Cody Streetman — the triggerman in Commerce’s option scheme. Streetman ran for 1,113 yards last year with 16 touchdowns. He also passed for 699 yards. Streetman finished his career ranked fifth all-time in total yardage at the school.
So while Commerce loses one major offensive component, it gains another.
Back from injury is bruising fullback Jamal Browner (336 yards in 2010), who missed all of 2011 with a knee injury. Browner is joined by speedy slot backs Quay Little (358 yards in 2011) and Terrick Ramsey. Drew Whitfield takes over at quarterback for Streetman.
That backfield quartet gives Commerce a formidable option attack. Commerce averaged 200 yards per game on the ground last year.
Slowing the Tigers will hinge on Jefferson playing assignment defense and knowing gap responsibility.
“You’ve got to be really disciplined. I hope we can be,” McFerrin said. “We’d better be.”
Aside from X’s and O’s, Friday’s contest marks yet another chapter in one of the oldest rivalries in the area. The first game was played in 1947, just a few years after World War II.
McFerrin called this a clean rivalry.
“I know from our standpoint, it’s a rivalry of respect,” he said. “We certainly respect them and what they’ve done over the years and how good a team they have this year. We certainly respect them and I hope they feel the same way about us.”
Commerce owns an overwhelming advantage in the series (41-20-5), but Jefferson has enjoyed recent dominance with its five consecutive wins. A sixth consecutive win would give the Dragons their longest streak in this series.
“I’m sure that’s in a lot of people’s minds but I think we’re just focusing on the actual game and not really thinking about more than that,” Shirrieffs said. “I know they would love to end the streak. So we’re just trying to win and that’s what we’ve been doing.”
Still, Jefferson’s seniors feel the weight of leaving this rivalry unscathed in their careers.
“Oh, of course,” Shirreffs said. “There’s a lot of pressure on us for that. It will be fun. It’s a fun rivalry. Friday night will be really exciting.”
