Ware County doesn’t have long to mend its wounds from a physical encounter with Benedictine as Week 2 of the Region 1-AAAA schedule starts Thursday.
The Gators (5-1 overall, 0-1 region), who remained fifth in the Class 4A poll after a 30-27 home loss to the fourthranked Cadets, head up I-95 to Pooler for an encounter with New Hampstead (1-5, 0-1), losers of five straight, at the Pooler Recrea tion Department Complex.
The meeting is the sixth between the schools. Ware County won the first four matches before the Phoenix prevailed 48-41 a year ago in Memorial Stadium behind the 488-yard, five-touchdown passing performance of Rashawn Truell.
Thursday’s game will test the mental and physical aspect of the Gators. The mental is putting last week’s loss in the review mirror. The physical is how many of the five players injured against Benedictine will be able to suit up.
“The big fear that we’ve (coaches) got right now is finding out who’s available,” said head coach Jason Strickland. “We don’t know what their availability is going to be. We’ve talked about moving some freshmen up to help with depth.
“We may have to simplify some things this week because if we’ve got some of those younger guys that have to play it’s going to have to be pretty simple.”
Ware County could be without the 1-2 punch of senior running backs Jamir Boyd and Tayshaun Franklin. Junior wide receiver Ja’Londi O’Hara and sophomore wide receiver LeTarrian Hayes may also miss.
“We (coaches) just don’t know what their (Boyd, Franklin) status is going to be,” said Strickland. “I feel very doubtful for ‘Little’ (Boyd). I don’t feel good about Hayes more so than Ja’Londi.
“Defensively, Avante Ballentine (senior linebacker) had a big hematoma on his shin that’s bout the size of my fist. We’ll have to see if that has gone down any, if it has not reduced any. I don’t foresee him being able to go. Zhai Solomon (senior defensive back) I believe has an AC joint issue. I don’t see him playing Thursday.”
New Hampstead’s offense is not near as big or imposing as Benedictine’s nor do the Phoenix have the weaponry of the Cadets.
What they do have is a workhorse in junior running back Christian Kinlaw (6-foot-2, 220 lbs.), who has 800 yards rushing and is the lone back with more than 100 yards.
“He’s a really good running back and one of the top rushing leaders in the state,” said Strickland.
Senior quarterback Eric Hockman has replaced Truell. Hockman has completed just 46 percent of his pass attempts for 624 yards. He’s thrown for four touchdowns and been intercepted twice.
“They (Phoenix) are doing the same things they’ve done for years,” said Strickland. “They will be in no tight end sets and one tight end sets, run the RPO (run/pass option) stuff and quick game drop back trying to get the ball out of the quarterback’s hands quick. They’ve (offensive coaches) have blended in the run a lot more heavier this year than years past.”
Senior wide receiver Jamuari Williams and Kinlaw are the only receivers in double-digit catches.
“We’ve got a tackle,” Strickland said. “We didn’t do a good job against Benedictine and we were having to tackle some really good people. New Hampstead’s running back is is good. He fights for extra yardage and I think the way he runs the ball motivates his other teammates.
“They’re (coaches) going to put their athletic wide receivers in space and make you tackle them one on one. We’re not going to be able to trick the quarterback, but we’ve got to be able to show him some things that once the ball is snapped we’ve changed what we’re doing.
“We’ve also got to get the quarterback uncomfortable and off his mark. We’ve got to get pressure on him and force him to move and not set his feet.”
Uncertainty is the question mark facing the Ware County offense with the possibility of two veteran running backs missing and two receivers out wide.
Sophomore Masiyer McKoy, who plays behind Boyd and Franklin, could see his defensive workload diminish.
“He may move up the depth chart this week at running back,” Strickland said of McKoy. “He only played on the defensive side of the ball against Benedictine, but he would have been the running back if it got to overtime and been the guy.
“‘Moo Moo’ has kind of been stuck behind ‘Little’ and ‘Tay’ because they have been playing really, really well for us. We (coaches) fill like he’s one of the better athletes on the team.”
New Hampstead’s defensive unit has been generous allowing 28.7 points a game with each of the last three foes scoring 38, 39 and 38. The Phoenix have held one opponent below 23 points, that coming in the season opening 14-6 win against South Effingham.
“The key for us is protecting the football,” said Strickland. “Our offensive line play has also got to continue to be really, really good. And, we’ve got to have healthy bodies.
“We’re missing one day of recovery by playing Thursday. Somebody might be able to play Friday, but we’re not going to chance it for Thursday.
“Usually on these Thursday games, there’s not a very big crowd. When your coming off a big, emotional game like Benedictine and then go on the road for a 7 o’clock game on a Thursday in front of a small crowd you’ve got to bring your own energy. Don’t let that be an excuse why you don’t play well.”
WCHS vs. NH Gators lead 4-1
WCHS NH 2016...........49 .............14 2017...........33..............14 2018...........21...............7 2019...........34 ..............6 2024...........41 .............48
