1ST ROUND PREVIEW: Trinity understands the Saks challenge
Granger Shook leads the Wildcats into a difficult challenge against Saks Friday at Ragsdale-Boykin Field. (File Photo)
By TIM GAYLE
Trinity’s players are familiar with the state playoffs, but head coach Granger Shook wants them to understand the challenge they will face on Friday at Ragsdale-Boykin Field in the first round of the 3A state playoffs.
Saks (7-3) lost early in the year at Sylvania, but the Wildcats’ only other losses were to region rivals Dadeville and Randolph County. Over the past five years, Saks has reached the quarterfinals twice and the semifinals twice, losing last year to eventual state champion Piedmont 52-44 in overtime.
“Their all-county, all-everything corner from last year (Gavin Doss) is now their quarterback,” Shook said. “He is as fast a kid as we’ve seen all year.
“I do think the region they’re coming from is more run-heavy. They have the potential to throw the ball really well but I think they want to hang their hat on the quarterback and running back running.”
They will test the corners with Doss and tailback Dorrien Walker, a combination that have kept the Wildcats from having to throw the ball much this season.
“They propose a lot of potential issues for us defensively because of the quarterback and the running back,” Shook said.
Defensively, that run-first mentality will be on display as well, featuring a defensive alignment that includes middle linebacker Keondre Johnson and three defensive backs.
“They’re going to load the box on defense,” Shook said, “so it’s going to be a great opportunity for our wideouts and our quarterback to try to spread them out, if we can, early.”
While freshman Mike Jones has accounted for 721 yards and 10 touchdowns on 102 carries, Trinity’s offense will have to produce through the air on Friday. Quarterback Walker McClinton is 84 of 119 for 1,229 yards and 16 touchdowns this year, with DM Lieux leading the receiving corps with 522 yards and seven touchdowns on 29 carries.
Winston Phillips (21 receptions for 205 yards), Norris Pemberton (17 for 195) and Webber McClinton (14 for 274) are productive as well.
Saks coach Jonathan Miller won his 100th game at Saks in the regular season finale against Talladega, an accomplishment for a program that once had just six winning seasons in a 35-year span. Trinity, meanwhile, will be making its 30th playoff appearance in the past 34 years.
“I thought we had a really good Monday practice, one of the better Mondays we’ve had,” Shook said. “This is a great opportunity and I told our young players this. These playoff weeks are so vital for them to get extra reps. And it’s an opportunity to get some of them on special teams. And we are expecting some of them to contribute that maybe some of them haven’t gotten that opportunity early in the year.”
Trinity (8-2) closed out the regular season two weeks ago with a 58-0 win over Greensboro, which witnessed the return of tailback Ross Sanders, who missed nearly two months of the season with an injured ankle.
“He’ll definitely bring some depth at both running back and linebacker,” Shook said. “I’m so excited to have Ross Sanders back. He is a very, very good player, a hard-nosed young man that will help us on both sides of the ball and in the kicking game on Friday.”