Putnam County, Lamar County square off in key matchup

The matchups between Putnam County and Lamar County haven't really been competitive in recent years with the Trojans holding a 6-1 series record with blowouts in the past three meetings.

But this season possibly could change that script when the two teams meet Friday night in Barnesville in an important GHSA Region 4-AA game.

Playoff implications are on the line for both teams as both teams are 2-0 in the region. Lamar County (5-2) has either won the region or placed runner-up for five straight seasons. The War Eagles, on the other hand, have finished 3-7, 3-7 and 2-8 in the past three years and has lost 51-0, 55-13 and 53-14 in its past three meetings with the Trojans.

But this year, Putnam County (6-1) already has won more games than it did in 2013 and 2014 combined. For the first time in third-year head coach Kyle Gourley's time at Putnam County, the War Eagles are making a playoff push.

"It's a new and exciting experience for us," Gourley said. "It's a measuring stick for us to see where we're really at."

Lamar County head coach Jamie Abrams has taken notice of the War Eagles' improved play.

"I'm just very impressed with Putnam County," he said. "They're not the Putnam County of last year, for sure."

It's not the same team the Trojans scheduled for homecoming before the season started. Abrams said he's not sure whether the festivities will help or hurt his team in the region contest.

"I'm not sure who it motivates more -- us or them," he said with a chuckle. "(You) kind of take offense to being scheduled to homecoming."

Even though the game holds playoff implications, both Abrams and Gourley will approach it just like any other week. Abrams said the matchup with Putnam County is no more important than any other region game.

"They're all important to us at this point, especially when you're talking about playoff seeding and playing at home or playing away," he said.

And while Gourley said he will preach the same message to his players as he has all year -- to "get better every day" -- he recognized the ramifications of a victory or loss. The War Eagles are looking for their first playoff berth since 2011.

"It's a huge one for us," he said. "We haven't been in the playoffs for a while."

Neither coach said his team holds a certain advantage over the other, as Abrams said they are "kind of similar football teams."

But Gourley said the Trojans' defense and speed on offense will be areas of concern from Putnam County's perspective. After losing two of its first three games, Lamar County has won four straight games and has allowed only 12 points per game.

Even though Abrams said Lamar County's defense has "played pretty well all year," he said the difference has been trying to limit big plays. In the team's two losses, the Trojans allowed Howard to score 28 points and Mary Persons to score 20.

"We've just been big-played with the points we've given up," Abrams said.

Offensively for Lamar County, Gourley spoke of senior fullback Juan Tucker, who he described as a "big-old man of a fullback."

Putnam County enters the game coming off a bye week, and while Gourley hopes the rest the team received will help the team, he said the game will come down to the players on the field -- just as it has in Putnam County's quick transformation into a playoff contender this year.

"Come Friday night, it will just be about kids making plays," he said.

This story was originally published October 20, 2015 at 8:36 PM with the headline "Putnam County, Lamar County square off in key matchup ."