Welp.

We’re here everyone.

The semifinals have arrived.

First, let’s go over some housekeeping things as we embark on next week, shall we?

A. Fire up the TV! Next week, GPB is broadcasting the State Championship games LIVE from the Georgia Dome Friday (starting at 1:00 PM) and all day (ALL DAY) Saturday. Merry Early Christmas (you’re welcome).

B. Be social! You’ll want to make sure you are friends with us on social media: @GPBsports because we have some LEGIT prizes for giveaways. I mean… really cool stuff. Tweet us about it and stay tuned to see how you can win. Be sure to use the hashtag #DomeWars (get it?). We’re almost at the Dome!

But FIRST!

Tonight we’re at Mill Creek High School as the dominant and demanding Hawks welcome South Georgia heavyweight and defending AAAAAA Champion, the Colquitt County Packers. 

With a matchup like this, it’s easy to assume that it will be a classic battle of the Packers’ prolific offense going against a relentless defense. That’s what you have on paper. The Hawks earned their sixth shutout on the season in their win over Archer. Their defense doesn’t only hold ‘em… they score on ‘em too! They now have NINE defensive touchdowns and THREE special teams touchdowns on the season.

Woof.

Of course, the Packers have Chase Parrish, one of the best quarterbacks in the state. But this matchup isn’t totally about the players. I mean, if we’re nitpicking. 

And I am.

You know what strikes me the most going into this game? The coaches.

No, of course, Rush Propst and Shannon Jarvis aren’t going to take a single snap against each other. That’s not what I’m talking about. What I’m saying is that once you get to this point of the postseason… it all comes down to leadership, discipline and experience. Who’s commanding at the helm? 

A. Shannon Jarvis- Mill Creek

He is in his 12th season as head coach and is the only head coach the program has ever known since its inception in 2004. That first season, they went 3-7. He has built this program from the ground up and has brought them to the semifinals for the first time. 

B. Rush Propst- Colquitt County

You tell me what’s more difficult: building a program from the bottom up, or inheriting a 2-8 team and bringing them to the top? It’s not fair to say. Neither is an easy accomplishment. But that’s what Propst has done. He has a storied career coaching high school football in Alabama and when he got a hold of the Packers, they’ve been a different team ever since. He’s in his 8th season and on the hunt for his second state title in Georgia, to add to his 5 state titles while in Alabama. 

This is their third meeting coaching against each other, but never this late in the postseason. The Packers own a 2-0 series lead over the Hawks.

So the unique thing here is that these teams are more alike than you might think and both coaches agreed on that. They’re both opportunistic. Both are talented in terms of working together as a unit. They demand excellence from all 11 men on the field. There’s not one star player- there are a lot of really excellent players playing fundamental football. That’s what separates you from the others. 

This game isn’t about exploiting weakness. There are none when you make it this far.

This game is going to come down to being opportunistic, capitalizing on turnovers and gaining momentum. 

Coach Jarvis noted that the Packers are very good at gaining momentum off of a big play. But Coach Propst credited the Hawks ability to capitalize on opportunities. 

Yes, football is a player’s game, but it’s not uncommon for a team to take on the identity of their head coach. 

I happen to know another team that does that very well… after three years in New England with the Patriots, you pick up on it. “Do your job,” “one day at a time.” And that’s how these teams have gotten to this point.

So with this matchup, expect the unexpected.

And fasten your seatbelts! We’re traveling at warp speed in this galaxy of football starts as we take “touch down” one last time before we reach our ultimate destination… The Dome! #DomeWars are next!

See y’all tonight at 7:00PM on GPB!