Wildcats aim for first region win

The Apalachee High School football team will face off against a program in which the Wildcats have had some memorable battles with in recent years.

AHS ventures to Loganville to battle the Red Devils as both programs look to notch their first Region 8-AAAAA win of the 2012 season. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m.

“Loganville will be like they have been in the past,” said Wildcat coach Shane Davis. “They are a hard-nosed team. They have had some bad things happen to their team this season. They got behind to Cedar Shoals and almost pulled the win out. It shows how they keep fighting and never believe they are out of the game. They are going to have a good team, just like everyone in this region.”

The Wildcats are coming off a 30-20 loss to Flowery Branch in which they led 14-3 at halftime. Davis said his players will have to be ready for all sorts of offensive looks this week.

“They will use as many formations as you will see about anyone use,” the coach said. “You have to make sure you line up correctly. We will spend a lot of time this week in practice trying to get ready for everything. Loganville will do a lot to try and put you in a bind.”

AHS defensive coordinator Matt Sorrells is making sure his players will be ready for all the sets and formations they will see Friday at Loganville.

“They are a run first team,” Sorrells said. “They run a variety of different plays out of many different sets. They like to use their hurry up offense to tire teams out and they just keep pounding you. We will have to get lined up quickly and be disciplined with our assignments even when we’re tired.”

AHS enters the game 1-4 overall and 0-3 in region play. LHS is 1-4 and 0-3. The Red Devils are coming off a bye week.

Last year’s game went down to the final seconds as the Red Devils rallied for a win at R. Harold Harrison Stadium. In 2009, AHS held off LHS in overtime during the Wildcats’ undefeated regular season.

“It always seems to be a battle when we play,” Davis said. “Hopefully, a close one will go our way this time.”

The AHS coaches know LHS will be its usual, physical self.

Said Wildcat offensive coordinator Joel Miller: "This Loganville team is no different from their teams in the past. They will base out of the 4-3 and they are big, strong, and physical. They play a lot of zone coverage in the secondary and they like to stunt and blitz up front. We expect a very hard fought, physical game and we hope we can execute like we did in the first half against Flowery Branch."