JEFFERSON returned to the practice field Monday, working well into twilight with the program’s biggest game in 35 years looming.
The Dragons (11-1) are just one of eight teams in Class AA still in pads as they prepare for Friday’s home quarterfinals game against Fitzgerald (10-2). The winner advances to face the winner of Early County and Greater Atlanta Christian.
“It feels good,” senior Jefferson offensive lineman Collin Anthony said. “It’s been a long season and definitely from week one, you can tell how much improvement we’ve made. It feels great to be one of the eight teams still out here practicing.”
The Dragons are making their first quarterfinals appearance since 1977 after beating Westminster 35-7 at home this past Friday in the second round of the Class AA playoffs. Jefferson ran its winning streak to 11 games with the victory, tying a school record.
The Dragons, obviously, want to add to that mark.
“I’m glad we’re still playing,” Jefferson coach T. McFerrin said. “It gets to be a tougher challenge every week. You don’t have time to enjoy the victory.”
A win over Fitzgerald would send Jefferson to the semifinals and give these surging Dragons another distinction: the first Jefferson team to win 12 games.
“We can make history,” Anthony said. “In the history of Jefferson, there’s never been 12 games won (in a season). Not only our offense, but our defense has been playing great. The most points we’ve given I think in the last four or five weeks is, what, seven? It’s a big game and we all feel good about it. We’re looking forward to it and we want to do great things.”
Jefferson coaches made it known that the school record for wins is attainable.
“I checked with (assistant coach) Bob Gurley (Sunday) night and he said Jefferson had never won 12 games, so that’s going to be the challenge we present to them this week,” McFerrin said.
Few likely imagined that Jefferson would find itself in this position given its ominous start to the season. The Dragons lost 22-7 to Commerce Aug. 31 but have rallied for 11 wins in resounding fashion. All victories except one have been by 22 points or more, and Jefferson has averaged 43.5 points a game over its last nine contests.
As a result, the Dragons have risen to no. 7 in the Class AA standings.
“I’m proud of the players,” McFerrin said. “I’m proud of where they’ve come from. They were unranked, and after that loss to Commerce, nobody thought we’d do anything. They’ve really played over their heads just about every week. I’ve always been partial to overachievers.”
A win over Fitzgerald would keep the dream season going for this overachieving group. Jefferson is fortunate that, by virtue of its no. 1 seed, the Purple Hurricanes will make the long drive from south Georgia.
Getting to play at home again means a lot to the Dragons, especially the seniors.
“I love playing at the stadium,” senior linebacker Kody McDonald said after Friday’s win over Westminster. “The atmosphere is just amazing and our crowd is amazing. I live for stuff like this.”
Speaking of atmosphere, McFerrin is encouraging the Jefferson community to come out in droves Friday, pointing out that this Fitzgerald program travels really well.
“They took 1,500 people to Vidalia,” McFerrin said. “We’ve got to get our people out. We’ve got to have a crowd there. We can’t let them outnumber us. We’re asking our people to show up and to be excited. We need the help of the ‘12th man.’”
After all, there hasn’t been a Jefferson game this meaningful in over three decades.
“It’s what you dream of,” Anthony said. “It feels amazing to still be playing. We plan to keep on playing.”
