Mike AdamsSUMMERVILLE, Ga. - Reputations are hard to change, especially one built on decades of results.
The Chattooga High School football program doesn't have a reputation for losing. Neither, however, does it have one for winning.
The Indians have played the sport since the early 1960s and usually manage to win their share of games. Over the last quarter century the program has had 15 seasons of five wins or more.
None of the wins, though, had come after week 10. The label of "scrappy team that comes close" has been thrown around Summerville for so long that what happened last Friday surely felt like a dream for longtime fans.
Chattooga defeated Lamar County 44-14 in the first round of the GHSA Class AA playoffs. The win didn't change the program's perception on a large scale, but back home it meant everything, especially to a group of seniors tired of falling short.
"We wanted to change history around here, and we prepared so hard for this game," said senior two-way lineman Michael Adams. "We've been losing around here for so long that we just had to make our minds up to change all that.
"We didn't want to go out on the wrong note. Now we're like, why stop here?"
The Indians (7-4) travel again tonight, this time to a Washington County program on the opposite end of the reputation scale. Since 1992 the Golden Hawks (8-3) have 15 seasons of 10 or more wins, including three 15-0 state-championship seasons.
A tall order, sure, but as "Big Mike" said, why not? Chattooga, led by the 6-foot-3, 310-pound Adams and the hard running of twins Isaiah and Isaac Foster, plays a very physical style of football. That, however, isn't the key to making it two playoff wins in a row, according to coach Charles Hammon.
"They've got to have fun," Hammon says. "It's still a game and it should be fun. We took a step forward last week, and there is a lot of excitement here right now. These kids have earned this and they are enjoying it. It's a very special group."
None may be more special than Adams, who line coach David Gann says is one of the state's most underrated senior college prospects.
"I've had a lot of good linemen and Mike's got all the things you want," said Gann, who was the head coach at North Murray after assistant jobs at Northwest Whitfield and Ringgold. "He easily passes the eye test, he's got great strength, a good first step and lateral movement.
"But what sets him apart, honestly, is that his football IQ is off the charts. That's what is going to make him so valuable in college. He's so coachable he can play a variety of positions."
Adams, who plays every snap at offensive tackle and rotates in on defense, is averaging nine knockdown blocks per game and has paved the way for each of the Fosters to break the 1,000-yard rush mark.
"Mike's legit," said quarterback Isaac Foster. "It feels great knowing I can run behind him, because I know he's going to make a big hole for me. On defense nobody can get around him."
Adams has, by Gann's count, more than 30 collegiate offers and has committed to UNC-Charlotte. The 49ers, though, will have to withstand a late flurry of interested suitors, including several of the SEC variety. Adams, who will attend the Georgia Tech at Georgia game, also has talked extensively to coaches at Alabama, Tennessee and Florida.
The rise in interest has come in large part due to game video showing a more complete style of play from the big lineman.
"Mike, as good as he was, needed to learn how to finish blocks," Gann said. "This year he's just running over the top of people and pushing them 8 to 10 yards downfield. He's putting people on the ground a lot. Being as big, athletic and strong as he is, if he locks onto you he's not letting go until you are finished. That's what they want to see in an SEC lineman."
While excited about his long-term future, Adams is more concerned with creating even more history with his current teammates. To that end, he had one bit of advice to impart at practice this week.
"Don't be satisfied, and let's keep things rolling and see how far we can take it," he said. "Enjoy what we've done but don't get complacent."
Contact Lindsey Young at lyoung@timesfreepress.com or at 423-757-6296; follow on Twitter @youngsports22.