Football: Jefferson opens 8-AA play against winless Greene Co.

The Dragons (2-1) face Greene County (0-3) on the road Friday at 7:30 p.m. in the Region 8-AA opener for both teams.

“They’re very athletic,” Jefferson coach T. McFerrin said. “They’ve got some very good skill people. They’ve got guys that are dangerous that can run.”

Dragon coaches used this past Friday’s off date to scout Greene County and several players stood out to McFerrin in the Tigers’ 26-10 loss to Hapeville Charter.

The coach said that 6’3” receiver Rikeem Stallings “has made some great catches” and also pointed to multi-purpose player Jared Miller — a receiver, defensive back and occasional quarterback. McFerrin was also impressed with wide receiver and defensive back Keyondre Wright, who he called “a good skill guy.”

“So they’ve got some good athletes and that’s what’s scary,” McFerrin said. “The quarterback has thrown the ball deep and they just jump up and catch it over the smaller defensive backs.”

Greene County also has “some huge guys” along the lines of scrimmage, according to the coach.

The Tigers operate primarily out of the spread offensively but have gone to the wishbone at times this year.

Defensively, Greene County bases out of a 3-4 and blitzes often. The Tigers also show a lot of different looks out of the 3-4.
“Again, they’re athletic,” McFerrin said. “They can run.”

Greene County is under a first-year coach whose name may be familiar. Robert Edwards was a standout at Georgia from 1994-1997, playing running back his last three seasons. He later went on to play for New England and Miami in the NFL.

The Tigers, however, have struggled thus far in Edwards’ tenure with losses to Putnam County (28-14), Morgan County (26-7) and Hapeville Charter.

Jefferson, on the other hand, is looking to build off its biggest win of the season. The Dragons beat North Hall 27-21 Sept. 14 in a nail-biter before having last Friday off.

Jefferson didn’t practice in pads all last week by design, spending much time reviewing film and running. Players were given Thursday and Friday off.

“It gave them some time away from football a little bit and hopefully they’ll come back and have a good week this week,” McFerrin.

McFerrin hopes the team’s three-game non-region slate has given some of the team’s younger players a little bit of experience heading into seven consecutive weeks of 8-AA play.

“You hope that they’ve grown up, that the young guys and the sophomores have grown up and I think they have,” McFerrin said. “I think we’ve gotten better. I think we’ve gotten better each week.”