Focus similar for Demons, Eagles

By Chris Deighan - sports@macon.com

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WARNER ROBINS — Northside and Warner Robins face a similar challenge while preparing for Friday’s regular season finale.

Each must maximize the energy — both positive and negative — generated from the Demons’ 21-20 win Friday in the city championship.

At the same time, both coaching staffs have to keep their players from dwelling too much on that result. There are hard-nosed opponents on the horizon.

“That was a big win,” Warner Robins head coach Bryan Way said. “Obviously, the kids are excited. The challenge for our staff will be to bring them down off that high.”

Meanwhile, on Green Street, the Eagles are also looking to put Friday’s result on the shelf.

“We’ll watch the video and put a stamp on that game. Then we’ll watch tape on Colquitt and get ready for that one,” Northside head coach Conrad Nix said. “We’ll close one out and get another one started.”

In that sense, Northside’s Monday practice offered a sense of normalcy — with one big exception.

“Because this is (after) a loss,” Nix said.

Despite the lingering pain of its final-minute loss to the Demons, Northside (8-1, 5-1) retains the inside track to the Region 1-AAAAA championship and all the playoff goodies that come with the title. The Eagles only need to beat Colquitt County at McConnell-Talbert Stadium.

Sounds simple, right?

“They’re 8-1, so obviously they present a bunch of challenges,” Nix said of the Packers.

Under second-year head coach Rush Propst, Colquitt County is arguably the surprise team in all of Class AAAAA. Rebounding from a 4-6 season in 2008, the Packers beat Warner Robins and Houston County in the previous two weeks. They’d like nothing better than to score a trifecta over schools from the International City.

Colquitt presents a balanced offensive attack and a defensive unit that Nix said is faster than what the team fielded last year. If the Packers win, they will be in a position to win their first region crown since 1999. That is, if Warner Robins wins at Lowndes County.

The Demons (6-3, 4-2) travel to Lowndes for what Way believes will be a playoff atmosphere for the Demons. Although Warner Robins could still back into the playoffs with a loss if Houston County upsets Valdosta Saturday night, the Demons would prefer not to leave their fate in the hands of their neighbor and beat Lowndes to secure the playoff spot themselves.

“We’re going down there expecting to win the ballgame,” Way said.

Lowndes has plenty to play for, as well. The Vikings (8-1, 5-1) can win the region for a third consecutive season if they beat Warner Robins and Northside loses to Colquitt County.

Lowndes averages 45 points per game — best in Class AAAAA.

“I haven’t seen any weaknesses on film,” Way said.

1-AAAAA Standings

Team Region Overall

Northside 5-1 8-1

Lowndes 5-1 8-1

Colquitt County 5-1 8-1

Warner Robins 4-2 6-3

Valdosta 3-3 6-3

Coffee 1-5 3-6

Tift County 1-5 2-7

Houston County 0-6 3-6