Warner Robins looks to lock up playoff berth

WARNER ROBINS -- The Warner Robins Demons enter a critical GHSA Region 2-AAAAA showdown with the Grovetown Warriors on Friday night in control of their own destiny.

A win will secure a place in the Class AAAAA playoffs for the Demons (6-2, 5-2 Region 2-AAAAA), but the Warriors will visit McConnell-Talbert Stadium with plenty on the line, as well.

Grovetown (4-4, 3-4) is still very much alive in the postseason race, needing victories over the Demons and Richmond Academy in its final two games to have a shot at a playoff berth.

"We're going to catch (Grovetown's) A-game, so hopefully they're going to catch ours," Warner Robins head coach Bryan Way said. "One of everybody's goals to start the year is to get into the playoffs and then see how far you can go. This is a big game for us, no doubt, but it's a big game for them, too."

Warner Robins rebounded from a rivalry-record loss at the hands of the Northside Eagles to pick up a big 35-16 road win over Lakeside-Evans last week when it needed it most.

The Demons blew open a tight four-point game in the second half with three straight touchdowns, but the story of the night was a revamped Warner Robins defense.

Way and his coaching staff simplified their scheme on that side of the football in response to the Northside loss, and the change paid immediate dividends. The Demons held Lakeside to just 9 yards rushing in the contest.

"I thought defensively we played really well all game," Way said. "We simplified a lot of what we had been doing and kind of just let them play. I think we were probably trying to do too much and clutter the lines, so we just let them play. They played really well and really hard."

Way believes Grovetown will present a challenge with its size along both lines of scrimmage.

The Warner Robins offense, which sputtered in the opening half against Lakeside before finding success late, will need to find its rhythm earlier against the Warriors.

Warner Robins doesn't utilize many gadget plays or formations to fool a defense, relying on its offensive line to win matchups.

"The main thing is that (Grovetown) has good looking football players," Way said. "They're big up front on both sides of the ball. On defense they've got good size up front, but they all move well. We're a little concerned about not being able to knock them off of the ball and stay with the blocks."

Way has had little need for motivational tactics before a game with this much on the line. He believes his team has responded to the challenge with an excellent week of preparation.

"I think (the players) are ready to play," Way said. "We've had a really good week of practice. It's been a little wet at times, but we've been able to stay out on the field and work through it. I think we've made a good bit of progress this week, I really do, but it all comes down to Friday night."

In the other Middle Georgia games in region play this week, Northside (8-0, 7-0) hosts Cross Creek (1-7, 0-7) on Saturday, while Houston County (7-1, 6-1) travels to Evans (3-5, 2-5) and Jones County (7-1, 6-1) travels to Richmond Academy (2-6, 2-5).

This story was originally published October 29, 2015 at 9:16 PM with the headline "Warner Robins looks to lock up playoff berth ."