Win or lose, Ware County can finish no lower than second place in the Region 1-AAAA standings.
The seventh-ranked Gators (5-4 overall, 3-1 region), one game above .500 for the third time this season, close out their regular season against New Hampstead Friday night at home.
The matchup was originally scheduled October 4 in Pooler only to have Hurricane Helene blow a gasket turning the 2024 season into a nightmare of makeups.
Friday’s meeting is the fifth between the two programs with Ware County prevailing in each. This is the first matchup since 2019.
“I want us to focus on us and play to our standard,” said head coach Jason Strickland. “We’ve played well the last two weeks and we need to continue building on those performances.”
The Gators enter riding a season- best two-game winning streak following last week’s 42-7 victory over winless Wayne County. The win, the third in four games for Ware County, came on the heels of holding off Warner Robins 24-21 a week earlier.
The Phoenix (3-6, 1-3) have lost five of their last six outings including a 44-22 setback to 10th-ranked Benedictine last week. The Gators rallied for a 38-14 decision over the Cadets in Savannah.
The lone victory during the stretch was a 40-7 decision against the Yellow Jackets.
In other region matchups, New Hampstead fell 80-47 to Perry while the Gators fell 31-21. The Phoenix also dropped a 3422 decision to Warner Robins while Ware County prevailed.
Senior quarterback Ra’Shawn Truell (6-foot, 200 lbs.) makes the spread attack go. New Hampstead is averaging 30.7 points a game having scored 22 points or better seven times with three 40-plus point nights and one of 56 points.
“Their (Phoenix) offense causes a lot of stress for defensive coaches,” Strickland said. “Coach (Kyle) Hockman has a great offensive mind. He has a good mix of concepts in the passing game. It forces you into different personel packages.”
Truell has completed 154-of-271 passes for 2,534 yards with 26 touchdowns against eight interceptions. He’s thrown for over 6,300 yards in his career and 69 scores. “The thing with Truell is he understands their offense and he makes quick decisions making them (Phoenix) an explosive team,” said Strickland. “They have wide receivers who run good routes. It’s more of a West Coast spread.” Truell set a state record for passing yards in a game this year with 635 (six touchdowns) in the loss to Perry. He threw for 470 yards and five scores in a 47-44 victory over Effingham County.
He had another impressive night vs. BC completing 17-of-32 passes for 292 yards with three touchdowns and two interceptions.
Truell’s favorite target is senior Kamari Maxwell (61, 190), who has 69 receptions for 1,075 yards with 12 touchdowns. Maxwell caught 10 passes for 163 yards and a pair of touchdowns against the Cadets.
Junior wide out Ben Hockman (6-foot, 165) has 27 catches for 610 yards with four scores. Senior Mason Brown (6-4, 185) has pulled in 30 catches for 425 yards and five scores.
Defensively, the Phoenix are allowing 41.6 points a game with all but Wayne County scoring at least 34 points. They have surrendered 40-plus points five times.
Senior linebacker Kamren Blake Mazes (5-11, 210) leads the team with 53 tackles. Senior safety Tyler Johnson (5-9, 150) is next with 48 tackles with five tackles for loss.
Senior defensive lineman Shaun Hamilton (62, 250) anchors the front with 46 stops and three TFLs.
“Over the last couple of games they’ve (Phoenix) lined up in a variety of defenses to try and slow teams down,” Strickland said. “They have some good linebackers, though.
“I don’t know what we will see. It may be a fourman front with a Cover 3 at the back end. The key for us is going to be our communication along the line of scrimmage.
“We’ve got to be fundamentally sound with our footwork and talk. Our line is still learning how to play together so communication is going to be a key.”
NH vs. WCHS Gators lead 4-0 NH WCHS
2016 ..........14.............49 2017 ..........14.............33 2018...........7..............21 2019...........6 .............34
