The message for the second week in a row from head coach Jason Strickland, his staff and team leaders will be to focus on getting better as the 2022 season hits the home stretch.
The unanimous top-ranked Gators (6-0 overall, 2-0 Region 1-AAAAA) return to Memorial Stadium Friday night to face winless Greenbrier (0-7, 0-2) fresh off a 48-0 whipping on the road of winless Bradwell Institute (0-7, 0-2).
The Wolfpack bring a nine-game losing streak into the matchup that follows the Tigers 27-game skid heading into last week.
Friday’s encounter is just the third between the two programs and first since 2007 when the Gators escaped with a 17-10 when both schools were members of Region 3-AAAA. Ware County notched a 34-7 road victory in 2006.
“The big thing, and this goes back to when we were getting ready to play Benedictine (September 9),” said head coach Jason Strickland, “Trey Hargrove and Demetrius Baldwin kept harping on focusing on ourselves, play at a high level and execute at a high level. It’s not been lip service.
“We’ve got to prepare ourselves to play at a very high standard and go execute at a very high standard. This is another chance for our seniors to play in “The Swamp” and continue the mentality they have and not worry who is on the other sideline.
“It all comes down to paying attention to details in all three phases (offense, defense, special teams). We’ve got to be hitting on all cylinders. We can’t look at our opponent’s record. We’ve just got to go out and execute.”
Over the past 13 years, Ware County has gone 75-13 at “The Swamp” with a 4-0 mark this year. Since 1994, the Gators are 130-59 playing inside Memorial Stadium.
Greenbrier, two years removed from a 7-win season and playoff berth, have scored seven points or less five times. The Wolfpack fell 35-0 to Statesboro in their region opener and 32-25 at Jenkins last week providing the lone measuring stick with Ware County. The Gators rolled 42-14 in their matchup with the Warriors.
“They (Wolfpack) are a very well-coached team,” said Strickland. “They (coaches) have a defined plan offensively and defensively. They are fundamentally sound and play hard. Unfortunately, they have faced some high-powered offenses that has caused them problems.”
Greenbrier operates from the spread with two quarterbacks alternating between calling the plays nad lining up as a receiver. The Wolfpack are averaging 123 yards through the air and 86 yards on the ground.
Senior Brooks Kramer (5-foot-8, 170 lbs.) has been the primary signal-caller completing 79-of-140 passes (56 percent) for 760 yards with six touchdowns and six interceptions. He’s second on the team in rushing (51 carries, 171 yards, touchdown) and has four receptions for 19 yards.
Sophomore Ty Jones (5-7) is 15-of-38 for 101 yards. He is the leading rusher with 222 yards (57 attempts) with a touchdown and leading receiver with 25 catches for 254 yards and two scores.
Senior Malik Leverett (6-2, 190) has 22 receptions for 228 yards and a score.
“We’ve got to make them (Wolfpack) put together 14-15 play drives,” said Strickland of not allowing big plays. “It’s hard to do, especially if there is a penalty or two. Our defensive line is going to have to get after it on the snap and create problems and we’re just going to have to play at a high level.”
Greenbrier utilizes a 3-3 stack defensive scheme that doesn’t include a lot of blitzes.
“It’s overly complicated,” said Strickland of the alignment. “It looks like they (defensive coaches) want to keep everything in front by playing a little deeper in the secondary and funneling plays inside by playing a little wider on the outside.
“For us, we want to use the quick passing game with some screens to get the ball in the hands of our athletes and let them do their thing. There will also be some RPO scheme in the game plan once we (coaches) see how the defenders defend our spread.”
Senior linebacker Brooks Trollinger (5-11, 200) leads the team with 57 tackles with five tackles for loss. Junior linebacker Christopher Chapel (5-11, 200) is second with 54 stops and four TFLs.
Junior defensive back Nolan Panzella (6-1, 175) anchors the secondary with 44 tackles and five TFLs. He has a sack, interception and fumble recovery.
