Chief Woodman
11-13-2004, 02:44 PM
State Champ Gainesville VS Decatur
By Chief Woodman, Decatur reporter
Gainesville is the only remaining defending State Champions in 3A football this year. They will remain State Champs until someone beats them in the playoffs, if that is even possible. The Leopards have a good offense and Coach Cordell has a knack for devising defensive schemes that can hold in check any aerial assault, including last year’s dynamic duo of McGee and Shipley from Burnet. Add to that the revenge factor from this seasons 58-23 embarrassment at the hands of Decatur and you have a Leopard team that will be playing their best game. Defeating any good team twice in one year is a difficult challenge for anyone to accomplish.
In the first meeting this year Gainesville was last years undefeated 3A State Champions. Winners of 15 straight games, the red machine was rolling. In many of the 15 games opponents had thought they had a scheme or the talent to stop running back star Terrius Purvey and the lightning fast speed of Gainesville. All were wrong and failed to do so. Gainesville had never lost a game since Purvey became a starter. That abruptly ended. Decatur was up 14-0 with just two offensive plays and Gainesville had not even touched the ball on offense. Yet Gainesville’s offense proved to be tough to stop as they quickly scored on their first two drives making the score 14-14. It was beginning to look like the scoring might never end. That is when the Decatur defensive coaches made some adjustments, including putting Brian Christian in at safety. Gainesville never scored another TD until late in the 4th quarter. Key stats from that game were Decatur QB Chandler Dane going 17-25 414 yards 6 TD 1 INT, his only INT of the season. Dane was 13-20 for 284 yards and 5 TD’s with one interception in the first half alone. WR Brian Christian had 10 catches for 204 yards 3 TD’s. Decatur RB Godboldt had 9 rushes 97 yards and 1 reception scoring 2 TD’s. WR J Jones had 4 catches for 125 yards and 1 TD. For Gainesville, Purvey went 16-89 yards and zero TD’s. J Hewitt went 14- 102 and 1 Td with QB T Sutton going 4-17 109 2 TD 1 int.
That was then, this is now. Gainesville has improved a lot. In the first meeting only one or two starters from last year’s championship team were on the field. They were young, and injured (All-state LB) and sick (Purvey had the flu AND a injured ankle). They are now more experienced and are once again district champs. The all-state LB is playing, and Purvey is healthy. They are also hungry for revenge and a chance to prove that the first game was a fluke. Look for them to play much, much better.
But Decatur did not get worse since that game. They had a brand new “O” line and an untested RB in Godboldt who played that game injured as well. His stats for the season (10 yards per carry and over 150 yards per game on offense not including several long kick returns) should be comparable to Purveys, even on a per game basis (Purvey missed a few games). Dane is now 4th all-time yardage QB in the State, and Christian is now 3rd best all-time yardage WR in the State. The Defense has improved tremendously. They were young but are now very salty, giving up just 14 points a game. Their speed matches anything Gainesville has as was demonstrated in September. Decatur has played 7 playoff teams and are undefeated wining by an average score of 55-19 against them.
Should we expect the same score? I do not think so. Gainesville is healthy and much improved. Decatur’s speed will not surprise them this time around. Decatur cannot expect for things to be as easy as last time, and should be prepared to play from behind some in this game. Should we expect the same result, meaning the same winner? I think so, but that is just my opinion. Decatur has the speed, talent and confidence to win in a slugfest, either in a high scoring game or a low scoring game. Gainesville and Decatur should both know it would take their best effort to win this game. They have little room for error. Despite the outcome, here are hopes for an injury free game on both sides.
Keys to victory
Gainesville
1. Have several long sustained scoring drives. You must keep the high octane “O” of the Eagles off the field as much as possible.
2. Do not become overconfident if you get ahead. Lighting comes fast if you lose concentration.
3. Do not let it get in your head if you fall 20 or more behind. You can score from anywhere on the field as well.
4. Make something happen on special teams.
5. Play for field position. Make Decatur go a long way for each score.
6. Score at least 30 points, which no one has done yet against Decatur.
7. Hold Decatur to under 30 points, which has only happened once this season.
Decatur
1. Do not let the last meeting influence you. That was then, this is now.
2. Don’t be surprised if you have to play from behind. Be steady and don’t panic.
3. Do not be disappointed if you do not score on over 50% of your possessions like you usually do.
4. Defense must string Purvey to the sidelines. Great speed and the angle will help you.
5. Hold Gainesville to under 30 points, which has happened six times this year.
6. Score at least 30 points, which you have done every game but once this year.
By Chief Woodman, Decatur reporter
Gainesville is the only remaining defending State Champions in 3A football this year. They will remain State Champs until someone beats them in the playoffs, if that is even possible. The Leopards have a good offense and Coach Cordell has a knack for devising defensive schemes that can hold in check any aerial assault, including last year’s dynamic duo of McGee and Shipley from Burnet. Add to that the revenge factor from this seasons 58-23 embarrassment at the hands of Decatur and you have a Leopard team that will be playing their best game. Defeating any good team twice in one year is a difficult challenge for anyone to accomplish.
In the first meeting this year Gainesville was last years undefeated 3A State Champions. Winners of 15 straight games, the red machine was rolling. In many of the 15 games opponents had thought they had a scheme or the talent to stop running back star Terrius Purvey and the lightning fast speed of Gainesville. All were wrong and failed to do so. Gainesville had never lost a game since Purvey became a starter. That abruptly ended. Decatur was up 14-0 with just two offensive plays and Gainesville had not even touched the ball on offense. Yet Gainesville’s offense proved to be tough to stop as they quickly scored on their first two drives making the score 14-14. It was beginning to look like the scoring might never end. That is when the Decatur defensive coaches made some adjustments, including putting Brian Christian in at safety. Gainesville never scored another TD until late in the 4th quarter. Key stats from that game were Decatur QB Chandler Dane going 17-25 414 yards 6 TD 1 INT, his only INT of the season. Dane was 13-20 for 284 yards and 5 TD’s with one interception in the first half alone. WR Brian Christian had 10 catches for 204 yards 3 TD’s. Decatur RB Godboldt had 9 rushes 97 yards and 1 reception scoring 2 TD’s. WR J Jones had 4 catches for 125 yards and 1 TD. For Gainesville, Purvey went 16-89 yards and zero TD’s. J Hewitt went 14- 102 and 1 Td with QB T Sutton going 4-17 109 2 TD 1 int.
That was then, this is now. Gainesville has improved a lot. In the first meeting only one or two starters from last year’s championship team were on the field. They were young, and injured (All-state LB) and sick (Purvey had the flu AND a injured ankle). They are now more experienced and are once again district champs. The all-state LB is playing, and Purvey is healthy. They are also hungry for revenge and a chance to prove that the first game was a fluke. Look for them to play much, much better.
But Decatur did not get worse since that game. They had a brand new “O” line and an untested RB in Godboldt who played that game injured as well. His stats for the season (10 yards per carry and over 150 yards per game on offense not including several long kick returns) should be comparable to Purveys, even on a per game basis (Purvey missed a few games). Dane is now 4th all-time yardage QB in the State, and Christian is now 3rd best all-time yardage WR in the State. The Defense has improved tremendously. They were young but are now very salty, giving up just 14 points a game. Their speed matches anything Gainesville has as was demonstrated in September. Decatur has played 7 playoff teams and are undefeated wining by an average score of 55-19 against them.
Should we expect the same score? I do not think so. Gainesville is healthy and much improved. Decatur’s speed will not surprise them this time around. Decatur cannot expect for things to be as easy as last time, and should be prepared to play from behind some in this game. Should we expect the same result, meaning the same winner? I think so, but that is just my opinion. Decatur has the speed, talent and confidence to win in a slugfest, either in a high scoring game or a low scoring game. Gainesville and Decatur should both know it would take their best effort to win this game. They have little room for error. Despite the outcome, here are hopes for an injury free game on both sides.
Keys to victory
Gainesville
1. Have several long sustained scoring drives. You must keep the high octane “O” of the Eagles off the field as much as possible.
2. Do not become overconfident if you get ahead. Lighting comes fast if you lose concentration.
3. Do not let it get in your head if you fall 20 or more behind. You can score from anywhere on the field as well.
4. Make something happen on special teams.
5. Play for field position. Make Decatur go a long way for each score.
6. Score at least 30 points, which no one has done yet against Decatur.
7. Hold Decatur to under 30 points, which has only happened once this season.
Decatur
1. Do not let the last meeting influence you. That was then, this is now.
2. Don’t be surprised if you have to play from behind. Be steady and don’t panic.
3. Do not be disappointed if you do not score on over 50% of your possessions like you usually do.
4. Defense must string Purvey to the sidelines. Great speed and the angle will help you.
5. Hold Gainesville to under 30 points, which has happened six times this year.
6. Score at least 30 points, which you have done every game but once this year.