Ware County’s path in the Class 4A state tournament is perhaps the toughest of any team remaining in the classification.
The Region 1 runner-up Gators (6-5), coming off a 38 0 victory over Region 5 third-seed Tucker for an 18th straight first round win, travel Friday to third-ranked Region 8 champion North Oconee (11-0). The second round matchup in Bogart is the firstever meeting between the schools.
“All the praise North Oconee has received is worthy,” said Gators’ head coach Jason Strickland. “That is a very tale nted team with lots of great players and a great coaching staff. When those two come together you have special seasons.” see WARE, Page 3B If Ware County survives, then its a possible date on the road with second-ranked Region 7 champion Cartersville (11-0) in the quarterfinals. The Hurricane are hosting Region 3 third-seed Starr’s Mill.
First things first. The Titans have won 45 of their last 48 games since a 1-3 start to the 2021 season. They have posted three consecutive 10-0 regular seasons winning 36 straight since a 48-17 setback to Benedictine on the road in 2020 A seven-point loss in the 2021 home season opener to Oconee County has been followed by 27 consecutive home victories. North Oconee also carries an 11-game home playoff winning streak into the game.
The Titans, who are making a sixth consecutive post-season appearance, were ousted by Benedictine in the Class 4A quarterfinals last year after making backto- back semifinal appearances in 2021 and 2022.
North Oconee, under eighth-year head coach Tyler Aurandt, has dominated the opposition this year winning by a average of 35.3 points per game.
The Titans have scored 35-plus points in nine of 11 games including six straight of 40-plus. Defensively, eight opponents have been held to 10 points or less.
Since escaping then seventh-ranked Eastside 40-35 October 11 in the closest margin of victory on the season, North Oconee has pounded its last three opponents by a combined score of 180-10 which included a 49-0 shellacking of Region 2 fourth-seed Eagles Landing last week.
The Titans’ offense operates from the spread and averages 43.9 points per outing. Junior Harrison Faulkner (6-foot-1, 180 lbs.) is the signal-caller. He is the son of former Valdosta State quarterback and current Georgia Tech offensive co-ordinator Buster Faulkner.
“Faulkner is the ‘straw that stirs the drink,’” said Strickland. “Its a pretty-well balanced offense giving defenses a lot of looks with motions and shifts.”
The younger Faulkner has passed for nearly 2,500 yards. He connected twice with senior wide receiver Landon Roldan (6-1, 180) for touchdowns and once to junior wide receiver Dallas Dickerson (61, 180) in the first half.
Roldan, who committed to the University of Georgia, entered the game with over 1,100 yards receiving. Dickerson is a Georgia State commit.
“Those are the go-to guys for Faulkner,” Strickland said. “You’ve got a DI quarterback and two DI receivers. Dickerson is a game-changer. He runs great routes ... he’s impressive.”
Junior running back J.T. Doster (6foot, 190) ran for two scores with classmate A.J. Fick (5-10, 195) and sophomore Joby McCannon (5-10, 160) added one each.
“We’ve had some troubles with teams running the spread this year like Perry and New Hampstead,” said Strickland. “It comes down to having confidence against the passing game. You’ve got to have eye discipline, play fast and communicate. We’re (coaches) working on simplifying some things on the back end which hopefully will help us with communication and not have confusion.”
North Oconee utilizes an odd-man front based out of a 3-3 alignment. Former University of Georgia great David Pollack serves as one of two defensive line coaches.
“They (Titans) are going to be multiple with their odd fronts on every play,” Strickland said. “They are going to steam and mix their coverages in the secondary. What they do is create confusion up front.
“They really remind me of Lincoln (Fla.) scheme-wise. They will give you pressure coverage on one side and drop back on the other. They do a very good job of disguising everything.
“We have to be really disciplined up front and trust our footwork. Our eyes have to be where they need to be and we have to listen to Luke (Hooks, quarterback). They (Titans) are going to be barking and moving to draw penalties, which they do a good job of.
“We’ve got to establish the run so we can control the clock. Their offensive weapons can’t hurt us standing on the sideline unless they put them in on the defensive side.”
Three North Oconee defensive players have caught the eye of Strickland and his offensive staff.
Junior outside linebacker Khamari Brooks (6-5, 220), inside linebacker Maddox Brice and Fick, who will line up at nose guard.
“Those three are really, really good,” said Strickland.
