GC readies for struggling Indians
Warriors look for first win to start stretch run positively
The Gordon Central Warriors enter Friday’s home game at Ratner Stadium against Armuchee in a very similar situation as the visiting Indians. Both teams are searching for their first Region 7-AA win and looking for a spark to get this stretch of their final four games of the season off to a positive start.
Both teams are longshots to factor into the playoff picture in the region after starting the 7-AA schedule 0-3, but each could play spoiler for some of the teams above them in the standings.
Gordon Central (0-6, 0-3 7-AA) is coming off a bye week last Friday which followed a 41-12 loss at Dade County. The Warriors had several players nursing injuries heading into the bye and used the week to heal up and get some rest.
The Warriors have been unable to get anything going consistently on the offense side of the ball as quarterback Martavius Harris hasn’t had a lot of time or space to make plays and the running game led by Gauge Giddens and Branson Towe. Neither Towe nor Giddens played against Dade County.
Gordon Central’s defense hasn’t had much success getting stops either of late as they have allowed 40 or more points in all there region contests to this point. Their best output so far this season came against LaFayette on Sept. 8 when they surrendered 28 points in a tough 28-27 loss that came down to the wire.
Armuchee (1-5, 0-3 7-AA) has had similar struggles through the first two months of the season with their only win coming back on Aug. 25 in a 27-23 comeback victory over LFO in non-region action. The Indians have lost to Rockmart, Model and Coosa in region play so far with the contest against the Devils being their closest defeat by 14 points.
In their last game against Coosa on Sept. 29, the Indians were controlled for much of the contest as they allowed two Eagles rushers to surpass 100 yards. Armuchee quarterback Brayden Perry connected for Tae Allen on a 47-yard touchdown pass for the team’s only score and one of the few bright spots of the game.
Gordon Central trails in the all-time series to Armuchee 1-3-1 with their only win coming back in 2011 by a 54-42 score. The Indians won their meeting last season 43-3.
The Warriors have shown some growth this season under first-year head coach Cory Nix, but a win would really show how far the program has come against an Indians team that is playing for pride just like Gordon Central.
The Warriors will need to rely on their running game to sustain drives and control the clock to keep their defense fresh. A few turnovers would come in handy as well as Gordon Central has been on the wrong side of the turnover battle in several games so far this season.
Gordon Central will also count on their home crowd to make it a loud environment and an exciting atmosphere as they aim for their first win of the season.
Prediction:
The Warriors have had a few good chances to get their first win of the new Nix era earlier in the season, but this one is a golden opportunity. Armuchee has found little success so far in 2017 and are searching for answers just like Gordon Central.
Gordon Central has four games left on their schedule barring anything crazy happening in the region standings, and they need a win (or two) to head into Nix’s first offseason with some momentum.
This game could determine how motivated the Warriors are to close out the season as well as they have tough assignments the rest of the way at Model, back home for Rockmart and at Coosa.
A must-win game is an overused cliché in sports, but this one is a must-win game for the Warriors. And they will rise to the occasion.
Gordon Central wins, 23-21.
Score: