Gaston (7-3) at Lanett (9-0)
Last week’s results: Gaston 50, Pleasant Valley 39; Lanett did not play
Series record: First meeting
By Gene Stanley/Sports Correspondent
Gaston will face a juggernaut this week, with Lanett winning its first region title and going undefeated in years.
Cameron Trammell, Marlon Bridges and Jamarious Barrow lead a powerful offense that has had an extra week to prepare for Gaston. The second-ranked Panthers didn’t play a Week 10 game.
“They have a lot of confidence right now,” Bulldogs coach Swane Morris said. “They run the ball a lot with very few passes. They line up in a Wing-T, but I’ve seen them line up in 13 or 14 different formations, then run their main four or five plays. They’re trying to get your defense out of position with the formations.”
But the Panthers like to win with defense, limiting teams to 13 points a game and only three teams have scored on the Lanett defense after halftime.
The defense has no real stars, relying on a blue-collar effort that has helped create an elite Class 2A squad.
“It’s basically the same kids who play offense,” Morris said. “A majority of their players go both ways. They’re very fast and you don’t break many big plays on them.”
Morris noted that running teams have had more scoring success against the Panthers than have passing teams.
Gaston has been something of a juggernaut itself, improving from an 0-10 season last year to a seven-win season in Morris’ return to the sideline on the Ridge.
So the Bulldogs should have some confidence of their own.
“We’re playing good football right now,” Morris said. “I like to think we’re playing the best we’ve played all year and will improve with each game – if we survive.”