EAST JACKSON’S football season continues to be doubly taxing on the Eagle players and coaches with losses on the football field complicated by personnel losses due to injuries.
East Jackson (0-7, 0-4) fell to Morgan County 36-10 this past Friday and is without at least two more starters for this week’s Tilt with region-leading North Oconee (6-1, 4-0).
Leading receiver Drashun Upadhyay broke an ankle against the Bulldogs and will miss the rest of the season. Linebacker Taylor Saulters injured his knee in the game and is out for this week.
“It seems like all we do is talk about injuries but I’ve never seen a team that’s had this kind of situation,” Eagle coach Brian Smith said.
If that weren’t enough, starting left tackle Robert Watterson sustained a non-football injury — he fell off a camper — that has him questionable for the North Oconee game.
Receiver Josh Saucier, who has a knee injury, didn’t play in the Morgan County game and is done for the season.
He joins linebacker Andre Sangalang, receiver-defensive back Deangelo Moore, offensive lineman Justin Aikin and Upadhyay on the list of players who have been lost for the season.
Still, East Jackson must prepare for a football game Friday against the ninth-ranked team in the state.
“The good thing is that North Oconee is not very talented,” Smith quipped.
Smith is, of course, joking.
North Oconee took control of the region race last week with a 27-26 win over Elbert County after winning Region 8-AA last year prior to reclassification.
“We’ve known this,” Smith said. “North Oconee is really talented. They’re very skilled.”
The Titans show multiple looks on offense — running more formations than any of East Jackson’s opponents so far — and utilize several weapons.
Quarterback Nick Colvin ran for 131 yards last week, while tailback Kawon Bryant added 122 yards in the win over Elbert County.
“There’s almost not enough balls to go around for those guys,” Smith said. “They’re in a good situation, a good place right now because if you stop the quarterback, that’s great, but at the same time you’ve got to contend with some other guys.”
Defensively, the Titans cause problems by slanting and twisting up front and are holding opponents to just 14.5 point a game, which ranks first in Region 8-AAA.
For East Jackson, the goal is to improve and finish strong over its last three games.
“It’s hard on us,” Smith said. “It’s hard on our kids. They want to win just as bad as we do. I know it’s been a long season for everybody and it’s been a tough season just because all of the injuries. Just seeing kids get hurt is not a fun thing to go through.”
