AFTER SURVIVING an epic, three-overtime win over Fitzgerald, the Jefferson Dragons would prefer to settle things in regulation this Friday against Greater Atlanta Christian.
"Hopefully the next game won't go into three overtimes," said Jefferson defensive back Hanon Price, who finished with 16 tackles against Fitzgerald.
Top-seeded Jefferson (12-1) hosts no. 3 seed GAC Friday at 7:30 p.m. in the Class AA semifinals. A win — which would be the Dragons' 400th all-time — would send them to the finals Dec. 15 against either Calhoun or Lamar County.
The Spartans (10-3) bring a high-powered offense into Memorial Stadium, averaging 34 points a game. Greater Atlanta Christian scored 52 points on an 11-0 Heard County team in the second round of the playoffs then beat Early County 27-24 this past Friday in the quarterfinals.
"GAC, they're a high-qualify team," Jefferson defensive end Tyler Bowen said. "They run the spread offense and they're very good at it. They have a bunch of threats that we have to defend this week. It's going to be a challenging football game."
In many ways, the Dragons face a team that mirrors their own. The Spartans base out of an I-formation but also like to spread things out. The Spartans boast a sure-armed quarterback with Rafe Chapple, who passed for 366 yards against Heard County and directed a game-winning drive last week against Early County.
"The quarterback is by far the best passer we've seen all year," Jefferson coach T. McFerrin said.
The Spartans also run the ball well behind 1,000-yard back Kyle Scales. Scales ran for 119 yards against Early County and scored on a 58-yard touchdown.
"No. 17 (Scales) is an excellent back," McFerrin said.
This past Friday's three-overtime, 53-51 win over Fitzgerald left Jefferson a bit battered and bruised. McFerrin said that several Dragons came in over the weekend to receive ice treatment.
As a result, Jefferson will have minimal contact, if any, during this week of practice. McFerrin said it's important how the Dragons approach this week's practice schedule.
"It was just a physical, physical game," he said. "This time of year you've got to be smart with what you do."
Making matters worse, Jefferson suffered two major injuries Friday.
All-purpose kicker Chandler Schlutow — who was taken to the hospital during the Fitzgerald game — is out after being diagnosed with a badly bruised neck. Receiver McKay Dickens is unavailable after suffering a concussion.
That puts Jefferson in a bind. Schlutow handles the Dragons' kickoff, field goal, PAT and punting chores. Dickens is Jefferson's leading receiver and snapper on punts.
"We're scrambling right now," McFerrin said. "It's like spring practice. We're having tryouts this week."
As for the remaining Jefferson players, they may be tired and sore now but Bowen said they'll have to have their heads in the game come Friday.
"We're beat up physically, but you're challenged mentally and physically," Bowen said. "But the most important thing is to be mentally ready so that you can succeed."
Greater Atlanta Christian at Jefferson
•When: Friday, 7:30 p.m.
•Where: Memorial Stadium, Jefferson
•Records: GAC 10-3, Jefferson 12-1
•GAC's coach: Tim Hardy (10-3 at GAC, first season; 19-18 overall, fifth season)
•Jeffersons' coach: T. McFerrin (37-9 at Jefferson, fourth season; 338-102-4, 38th season)
•Last week: GAC 27, Early County 24; Jefferson 53, Fitzgerald 51 3 OT
•What else: Jefferson hasn't made it this far in the playoffs since 1977 when the team played for the state title. This is only the third time Jefferson has reached the state semifinals … Jefferson is the seventh school that coach T. McFerrin has taken to the semifinals, which is a state record … The Dragons have set records for most wins in a season with 12 and consecutive wins with 12. Jefferson would earn the program's 400th all-time victory with a win Friday … This is the fifth meeting all-time between Greater Atlanta Christian (GAC) and Jefferson. Greater Atlanta Christian won all four previous match ups, which came from 1996-19999 … The schools share a successful coach in their football histories. Jim Lofton went 70-28 from 1965-1974 at Jefferson and 40-19 at GAC from 1994-1998. He amassed a 234-122-8 record in 34 seasons in Georgia … At 10-3, GAC is enjoying its first 10-win season since 2006 when the Spartans went 11-2 … This only the third time GAC has ever reached the state semifinals. They did it in 1998 in Lofton's final season at GAC and again in 2002 … This Spartan senior class started their careers on a 1-9 team in 2009. GAC has gone 27-8 since … GAC has fielded a football team since 1991.
