Among the many things Jim Kremer learned as Hal Lamb’s longtime defensive coordinator at Calhoun was the value of aggression and that it’s always best to make the first statement in a football game.
Kremer’s Adairsville Tigers made their coach proud on both counts Friday in a hard-hitting 24-14 Region 7-AA playoff play-in game at LFO’s Tommy Cash Stadium. The 9-1 Tigers, who will play at Oconee County in next week’s GHSA playoffs, twice converted fourth-down situations in getting off to a 10-0 lead, the second proving to be the game’s biggest play.
The team’s first drive netted a Dakota Hines 30-yard field goal, and after holding LFO to one first down, the Tigers took over at midfield. They were facing a fourth-and-7 from the 17 when Kremer disdained the field goal and went for a little trickery that worked to perfection. Trey Gulledge’s halfback pass to Christian Howell fooled the LFO defense, with Howell standing alone in the end zone for the easy score.
“We have a lot of confidence in our defense, so we weren’t afraid to roll the dice there,” the third-year head coach said. “It was very physical. LFO started out slow the first part of the year, but they were a very formidable and physical opponent tonight. We like it physical too, but even though we had several chances to put it away, they never went away. They showed a lot of heart and we did too.”
Indeed, the Warriors (4-6) controlled play in the second quarter but missed an opportunity with 2:14 to play on a missed 27-yard field-goal try. Still, after a three-and-out and a short punt, LFO went 39 yards just before halftime to get on the board.