Lining up in a spread formation and throwing the ball around has been all the rage in football lately, but don’t be fooled into believing there aren’t high school programs that are perfectly content with staying behind the trends. In some cases, way behind them.
The ground-and-pound philosophy is alive and well for at least three Chattanooga-area teams that will be taking a combined 26-5 record into state-playoff games tonight. And each averages about 32 points a game.
Dade County (9-1) plays at Heard County and Ridgeland (9-1) hosts Woodward Academy in 7:30 games in the first round of the Georgia playoffs. Sequatchie County (8-3) plays at Goodpasture in a TSSAA second-round game at 8 EST.
“Typically we look at trying to score seven points every quarter, which would be 28 per game,” Dade County coach Bradley Warren said. “We’re a little above that right now.”
Ridgeland has University of Georgia-bound wide receiver Devin Bowman, but led by 1,000-yard rusher Paul Walton, the Panthers have played four backs with more than 300 rushing yards apiece and nearly 30 rushing touchdowns combined.
“We feel like we have three to four running backs that could be the go-to back for a lot of teams,” Ridgeland coach Mark Mariakis said. “With those athletes, we feel like we’re better off with the ball in their hands. The running game keeps us in ballgames and doesn’t allow us to turn the ball over with interceptions. It keeps the clock running, and we’re successful at it.”
Sequatchie County has thrown the least among the three teams, but led by Hunter Lewis and his 1,471 yards, the Indians feature three players with more than 1,100 rushing yards and at least 11 touchdowns each.
“The offensive line is proud of it,” Sequatchie coach Chad Barger said. “They kind of enjoy running it down people’s throats.”
Apparently not even trailing late can alarm the Indians into passing mode. After falling behind 20-7 in the fourth quarter at Bledsoe County last week, their next two plays were a 53-yard touchdown run by Jerry Fain (1,202 yards) and a 50-yard scoring run by Justis Stewart (1,113).
“When we call a running play,” Barger said, “I don’t care who’s in.”
Dade County primarily operates a ball-control offense from a wing-T formation, with the first option being bruising fullback John Hampton (885 yards, 18 TDs). He’s flanked by wings Chris Little and David Page, who have contributed more than 600 rushing yards each.
However, on occasion the Wolverines will jump into what Warren calls their “NASCAR package” and quicken the pace. It’s their version of a spread and often brings an element of surprise.
These teams have used the pass effectively because they typically throw when they want to rather than when they have to.
Allatoona forced Ridgeland into 22 throws the first time the teams played. Then the Panthers avenged their loss in a rematch a week ago in the Region 7-AAA championship game with quarterback Trey Stewart going 2-for-2 for 31 yards.
Stewart, a 6-foot-2, 190-pound senior, had his best performance when Ridgeland beat Gilmer 35-10 in September. He was 9-for-9 for 162 yards and a school-record four touchdown passes.
Stewart said the offense gets a fair opportunity to work on passing in practice. Even so, most Fridays his role is limited.
When the Panthers scored a school-record 66 points against Southeast Whitfield, he threw for 71 yards. Although offensive coordinator Eric Edwards called a few pass plays three weeks ago when Ridgeland defeated Ringgold 21-0, circumstances led to him not throwing a ball all night.
“We’re basically a running offense until they make us throw the ball,” Stewart said. “If we have to throw, I think we’ll be ready. First they have to stop the run.”
Stewart doesn’t need statistics to measure his worth to Ridgeland fans. They will remember him as the first quarterback to lead the Panthers past Dalton in 19 tries.
“Probably the biggest thing going for us is that everybody has bought in to what we’re doing offensively,” Mariakis said, “but everybody loves winning.”