LaFayette High School defensive coordinator Keith Mariakis directs safety Sam Lemons during football practice at the school Tuesday.LaFAYETTE, Ga. — There is a rift within the LaFayette High School football team that’s getting bigger by the week.
And the coaches love it.
When head coach Tab Gable made it clear in the offseason that improving the Ramblers’ defense would be his main priority, his first act was to hire former Ridgeland assistant Keith Mariakis as his defensive coordinator. Together they decided to create an us-versus-them attitude for a defense that had no real identity a year ago.
“We looked at personnel and we put a lot of good athletes on that side,” Gable said. “I just don’t like the idea of trying to outscore folks. To me, good teams always play good defense. I hired Coach Mariakis and we’re real close as to what we think about defense. The kids have bought into it.”
And then some. In helping the Ramblers fashion a 2-1 start, including last Friday’s first-ever win over Cartersville, defensive players have taken a hard stance against offenses — including their own.