Ware County will honor its Class of 2026 seniors Friday night in what may be their final home appearance on the hallowed grounds of Memorial Stadium.
The Gators (7-2 overall, 2-2 Region 1-AAAA) will need help to host a first round playoff game. The situation came about with a wild, tough 48-44 loss at Warner Robins (5-4, 2-2) last Friday dropping Ware County from the Top 10 poll. It created a threeway tie for second-place behind fourth-ranked Benedictine (6-2, 4-0). Perry (2-2, 4-5) is the other program tied with the Gators and Demons. Each of the four are guaranteed playoff berths. The seeding for second thru fourth will be determined Friday night with the Panthers hosting Warner Robins.
A win by Perry, and a victory for the Gators over Wayne County (1-8, 1-3), gives Ware County the No. 2 seed and at least one home playoff game.
“We’ve got to take care of business first,” said head coach Jason Strickland. “We don’t want to go into the playoffs on a two-game losing streak and no chance of playing at home. If we win and Perry wins then we go in as the second seed. We have to give ourselves a chance to be the two seed and that comes with a win Friday.”
The season finale, which will recognize 28 football playing Gators, is the 38th between the two schools separated by Pierce County. Ware County has won four straight and 13 of the last 15 encounters to take a 20-17 series lead.
“Senior Night is extremely important,” said Strickland. “We have an incredible, incredible group of seniors who have been fantastic leaders for us. Just about every one of them has been a four-year member of the program. It’s another opportunity for us to play in Memorial Stadium and get the bad taste of our mouth from the loss at Warner Robins.
“We did not play or coach very well. Credit Warner Robins. They (Demons) did a lot of different stuff offensively and defensively that we (coaches) had not seen on film. Their coaches put together a really good game plan.
“There were some things out of our control that also dictated the game. It’s hard to have to look in the eyes of the young men that devote so much time and effort to this program and explain why the outcome was what it was.”
Strickland said the key to this week is flushing the Warner Robins game with the focus being the Yellow Jackets.
“There’s nothing we can do about it,” said Strickland. “We’ll (coaches) have the players Monday morning and we will go over the good, bad and ugly from Friday night, flush it, move on. We can’t let is fester into our preparations for this game.”
Wayne County, which made a mid-season switch at head coach from John Mooring to Justin McDonald after an 0-5 start. McDonald’s tenure opened with a surprising bang knocking off visiting Warner Robins 32-10.
Since have been losses to Perry (38-0), Benedictine (75-7) and New Hampstead (34-14). A fifth team the two have in common is Appling County who beat the Yellow Jackets 38-26.
Ware County has victories over Perry (21-14), New Hampstead (57-19) and Appling County (557). The Gators fell 30-27 to Benedictine.
“They’ve (Yellow Jackets) showed some competitiveness and a lot of energy,” said Strickland refeencing the coaching change. “They are going to be in a lot of 11-personnel (one tight end). They like running the inside zone, counter, power and RPO (run/pass) option.
“What has hurt them is turnovers. Protecting the ball will be their focus. We (coaches) also expect them to come in here and run every trick play they can think of. That’s what my expectations are to see.”
Wayne County has not updated its stats since the coaching change. Through five games, freshman Max Copley (6-foot, 165 lbs.) directed the offense. Junior Tyreese Wright (5-9, 195) operated as the main running back and a top receiver out of the backfield.
Strickland said the Yellow Jackets’ defense is very multiple changing from one series to the next.
“They may come with pressure one possession and drop eight the next,” said Strickland. “I think the defensive guys are trying to play with technique. They’re running to the football and trying to do all those type things.
“I don’t think it’s unsound what they are doing. The biggest thing is depth. They’ve had a lot of injuries this year crippling their depth. They (players) are getting coached and they play really hard.”
Strickland wants his offense to get back to doing its job after Friday’s flagfest in Warner Robins.
“I think we started trying to do too much to overcome the adversity,” he said. “Officiating creates that situation because you feel like you’ve got to overcome a bad call or whatever. We have to work in the confines of the offense and we’ll be okay. We just have to trust each other and do their responsibility.”
Injuries are a concern for Strickland and his staff entering the final week. Several defensive players missed which caused a shuffling of players in the secondary.
Walker Hudson will miss Friday and Strickland is not sure about Jah Evans’ return.
“I think with the uncertainty of who we’ve got and who’s going to be available, I think being very, very simplistic may be the game plan,” Strickland said. “Letting our guys be able to just get lined up and go play fast is going to be key to what we’re having to do this Friday.”
Ware vs. Wayne Gators lead 20-17 Ware Wayne
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# - Region playoff
