Tonight's game at Ridgeland will put on display the most timeless of football matchups: size versus speed.
For the host Panthers (11-0), it's business as usual facing an opponent - this time it's Jefferson (10-1) in the second round of the GHSA Class AAAA playoffs - that holds a significant size advantage. So far, as Ridgeland senior defensive end Derayl Helton likes to say, speed kills.
Ridgeland leads AAAA this season with per-game averages of 48.5 points scored and 7.6 points allowed despite facing eight teams that made the playoffs. Helton and his undersized linemates, though, believe there is a lack of recognition for the Panthers outside of northwest Georgia.
"We just don't get the respect we deserve," said Helton, the biggest of Ridgeland's three starting defensive linemen at 6-foot, 240 pounds. "We've played some real good opponents, and we've beaten every one of them badly, but we still are getting overlooked.
Ridgeland's Elijah Foshay, left, hits Ringgold's Andre Tarver as he tries to make a catch during a scrimmage in August. Ridgeland hosts Jefferson tonight in a Class AAAA second-round playoff game."It's OK because it means we're still the underdog, and that gives us the edge during the week. We'll get our chance to go out there and show our talents Friday, and then the state will take notice."
While the Panthers' offense was expected to be explosive this season, the defense was thought to be vulnerable only because of its lack of ideal size up front. That not only hasn't been the case, Helton, Eli Foshay (5-11, 215) and Jordan Tucker (5-11, 190) are the key to the defense's dominance, Ridgeland coach Wesley Tankersley said.
"They're not big, but they are all smart, coachable, quick and strong," Tankersley said. "We try to use their speed to get them into gaps and past offensive linemen, and they've done a good job of getting a lot sacks and tackles for loss.
"When you look at them, you would think you could maul them, but they are so strong. Nobody's been able to do it so far this season."
Tonight will be the unit's stiffest test. Jefferson's offensive line averages more than 270 pounds per man, and its ground game features 1,300-yard rusher Colby Wood. The key, Helton said, will be to let the Dragons know early that size, in this case, won't matter.
"We've just got to come out very physically," he said. "We have to set the tone quickly, because if we don't, they will try to come out and get the upper hand. We've watched a ton of film and they've got some enormous guys out there, but we're used to that. We've played teams similar to them but not as aggressive, so we really have to go out and set the tone."
Added Tucker: "We've got to play fast and come out more aggressive than they are. We are pretty fast, and we beat a lot of people with that speed."
Ridgeland lost in the second round a year ago. It's part of the reason, the players believe, the rest of the state doesn't put much stock in the Panthers' chances this postseason. That loss is also part of the motivation that carried Foshay, Helton and Tucker through a summer of grueling workouts.
"We just wanted to push ourselves to be better than last year," Tucker said. "We came up short last year in this round, so as seniors we wanted to do everything possible to make sure that doesn't happen again."
But there's more to it than that. The three seniors have a bond that can be forged only through experience - the successes and failures of the past - and a goal to become great.
"I've known these guys my whole life, it seems," Foshay said. "They're just my brothers, and there's nothing we wouldn't do for each other."
Contact Lindsey Young at lyoung@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6296. Follow him on Twitter @youngsports22.