Over their bye week, the Georgia Military Prep Bulldogs recovered from a rigorous week that included two games in five days, but also two come-from-behind wins to reach a 3-1 record.
The Bulldogs earned a hardfought win over Atkinson County last Tuesday, when the two teams met in a rescheduled meeting was originally scheduled for week one.
Things looked bleak through the first two quarters for the Bulldogs, who trailed 21-6 at halftime. However, GMC rallied together and scored 30 unanswered points for an impressive 36-21 win.
“I knew there was a chance we might come out a little flat just because of the circumstances,” GMCP head coach Gavin Tierce said. “We were coming off an emotional overtime win on Friday, had a quick turnaround and a long road trip, while Atkinson was coming off a bye week and had two weeks to prepare for us. There were a lot of things working against us, and I think you saw some of that early in the game.
“What impressed me was how our guys responded. We didn’t panic when things weren’t going our way. We fell back on the things that have become our identity of physicality and discipline and were able to take control in the second half and find a way to win.”
The Bulldogs will begin region play 1-0 this Friday in Millen, where they will take on the Jenkins County War Eagles.
“They’re a physical football team, and what stands out on film is how sound they are in all three phases of the game,” Tierce said. “They play hard, they’re disciplined, and they don’t give you many opportunities to take advantage of mistakes.”
Jenkins County has struggled to start their season, however, ... and are 0-4. But, two of the War Eagles' losses have come to perennial playoff contenders Portal and Emmanuel County. Tierce said he is not fooled by their poor record and knows Jenkins will prove to be a tough opponent.
“For us, it’s going to come down to matching their physicality and playing clean football.” Tierce said. “We have to take care of the ball, limit explosive plays, and execute in all three phases.”
Tierce also noted the importance of starting 1-0 in region play, but added that every week is equally important.
“Obviously you want to start region play 1-0, but with the rankings system, the reality is that every game on our schedule matters.” he said. “We’re not putting any more or less emphasis on a game just because it has ‘region’beside it.”
The rankings system Tierce referred to is the current GHSA Post-Season Ranking Formula (PSRF). The PSRF no longer takes into account where a team finishes in its region, but rather the strength of the teams overall record throughout the regular season.
The Bulldogs and War Eagles will kickoff this Friday in Jenkins County at 7:30 p.m.