Can The Upstart Eagles Defeat Jefferson To Go 10-0?

In what is arguably the biggest local football game in years, the surprising East Jackson Eagles and the perennially powerful Jefferson Dragons will meet Friday night in the battle of 8-AA unbeaten teams.

The top seed entering the state playoffs, the 8-AA championship and, more importantly, Jackson County bragging rights, are all at stake. Kickoff is at 7:30 at Memorial Stadium in Jefferson.

The Eagles, in only their third year of play and second in a region schedule, will roll into Jefferson fresh off a 41-0 shellacking of Dawson County. The Dragons enter the game following a 20-6 road win over North Oconee County.

It will be just the second time the two teams have met and the first time the Eagles have been to Jefferson. Last year, the Dragons handed East Jackson a 48-0 thumping.

The Eagles average 37.1 points per game average, while Jefferson scores 40.3 per game. East Jackson’s defense has allowed 14.4 points per game, while the Dragons have allowed a 12.1 per game average.

Advance tickets will be available at East Jackson Comprehensive High School, Jefferson High School and Jefferson Middle School. Tickets at East Jackson will be on sale today (Wednesday) and Thursday from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. Tickets will be available on Thursday and Friday from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. for $7, at Jefferson.

“I think our school and our community is very excited and enthusiastic about the game,” coach Frank Caputo said. “I know the kids on both teams have probably been waiting for a long time to have this chance. I think as the week goes on, it will really ascend into a great football game for the fans and for the kids. This is written just perfectly.”

Caputo said he had to credit his coaches for keeping the kids’ excitement level in check, not just with the Jefferson game approaching, but all season.

“We haven’t played any Friday nights on the practice field,” he said. “By that, I mean leaving everything out there, then going to the game and having nothing. Our preparation, and I’m sure their preparation, will probably be one and the same. Now, is it going to be probably more focused and intense? I would definitely say so, because the Monday we faced North Oconee, we didn’t have to say anything. Those kids were focused all day. I’m sure they’re going to be that way this week at practice.”

But, Caputo said, when his players are away from practice, he hopes they’ll relax.

“People put a lot of pressure on kids,” he said. “We’re not going to think about it, because when you get down to it, there’s not a lot of pressure on us. We’re not the defending region champs. Our preparations will be the same. I haven’t had to say too much to them all season about focus.”

Caputo said he’s also pleased about the community support his team has gotten.

“I told the kids three years ago that the only way we could get this community to rally together as one was through them, by playing football and winning games. I think it’s big for our community. Our community has supported our kids, and I think they deserve the opportunity to have a winner. At this point in time, we have a winner.”

For more on the Dawson County game, see this week's The Commerce News and The Jackson Herald.