Ware County heads into Friday night’s homecoming encounter against Region 1-AAAAA foe Richmond Academy starting to feel better about itself.
The Gators (3-2 overall, 2-0 region) followed a 68-6 trouncing at home against overmatched Groves with its most complete game performance through the midway point of the season beating favored Statesboro 45-14 on the road. “We’ve got guys returning and that’s been huge,” said head coach Jason Strickland. “The guys we had penciled in as starters this season have only had eight or nine quality practices together and that’s not a lot.
“The offensive line is starting to come together and their communication is getting better. Isaiah (White, quarterback) is starting to play with confidence knowing he’s got receivers who are getting man coverage in matchups to our advantage. And the running game is coming around with the improved play of the offensive line.
“We’re getting better defensively with guys returning on that side of the ball. We’re not where we want to be, but we’re headed in the right direction and I feel good about that.”
The defense will be severly tested Friday night against an explosive Musketeers (4-1, 1-1) offense in the third-ever meeting between the two schools. The Gators and Richmond Academy have not played since going head-to-head in 2006 and 2007. Ware County prevailed 42-0 in Augusta in the first meeting and 42-7 at home the following season.
The Musketeers are averaging 36 points per game, which includes a 1412 victory over Laney-Augusta in the season opener. Since, Richmond Academy outlasted Thomson 41-40, thumped Westside- August 35-7, belted regionmate Wayne County 41-14 and lost a 52-49 shootout to fourth-ranked Benedictine last week.
“They (Musketeers) have an elite offense that is scary good,” said Strickland. “It’s the best offense we have seen thus far.”
Richmond Academy’s spread scheme is led by junior quarterback Carson Hand (6-foot-1, 200 lbs.), who has completed 55-of-77 passes (71%) for 798 yards with seven touchdowns against an interception. He’s rushed for 98 yards and three touchdowns.
Senior Jay’Andre Brown (5-6, 167) and junior Vincent Carter (5-8, 160) split carries. Brown has 562 yards (8.4 average) and six touchdowns to go along with three 100-yard rushing nights. He went for 234 in the win over Wayne County. Brown has nine catches for 50 yards.
Carter has totaled 351 yards (9.8 per carry) with a team-high eight touchdowns. He rushed for 181 against Westside with three touchdowns.
Out wide, senior Lo’than McBride (5-11, 175) leads the tea in receptions with 26 for 328 yards (12.6 per reception) and three touchdowns. Junior Carl Butler (6-1, 155) has 11 catches for 240 yards (21.8 per catch) and two scores. Junior Chase Caldwell (6-foot, 160) has seven catches for 177 yards (25.3 per reception) with three touchdowns.
“The quarterback has a lot of crazy weapons,” Strickland said. “The running back (Brown) is electric. McBride can run ... all of their skills can run.
“The offensive line is not huge, but that offense is tough to slow down. They (coaches) are going to give you a lot of formations with motions and shifts to try and create one-on-one matchups for the receivers.”
Strickland said his defenders are going to have to have eye discipline.
“We can’t have our eyes looking in to the backfield because those receivers will run past you,” the veteran coach said. “They’ve had a lot of big plays all year (91, 66, 41 yards longest by each of the three).
“We have to have all 11 defenders on the same page. We’ve got to be disciplined with our calls and communicate. We’ve also got to be great tacklers, especially in the open field.”
Defensively, the Musketeers scheme out of 4-2. Richmond Academy is allowing 25 points per game.
“They (Musketeers) don’t do a lot up in the box,” said Strickland. “They play with gap integrity. The linebackers do a good job of running to the ball.
“They don’t blitz a lot. The secondary will give you multiple looks. The safety (Carter) will come up and knock your head off.”
Senior defensive back Shy-Heem Brown (5-10, 175) leads the team with 27 tackles. He has one tackle for loss and one interception.
Carter is second on the team with 24 stops and two TFLs including a sack. He is a dangerous kick returner averaging 39.3 yards per return.
Butler, a defensive back, is third on the team in tackles with 20. He has two interceptions. Senior linebacker San’Quan Rolle (5-10, 165) has a teamhigh three TFLs. Junior defensive lineman Trez Lambert (6-foot, 230) has 2.5 tackles for loss.
“The key for us is to continue to get better each week,” said Strickland. “We can build off last week. This week we’ve got to control the clock to keep their (Musketeers) offense off the field. We’ve got to be able to run the ball effectively, throw when we want to and control the time of possession.”
Strickland said the injury report continues to improve and everyone should be a full go.
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