Individual commitment to a group effort — that is what makes a team work, a company work, a society work, a civilization work, according to legendary football coach Vince Lombardi.
Putting Lombardi’s philosophy into practice this season, the Bradwell Tigers rotated player positions, played iron-man and used the entire bench while injured athletes nursed injuries. They worked as a group and clawed their way into the playoffs, finishing fourth in Region 3-AAAAA. The Tigers travel to James R. Haliford Stadium in DeKalb County tonight to kickoff against the undefeated Region 2-AAAAA Stephenson Jaguars.
“We’ve finally gotten healthy to where we can go back to where we were at the beginning of the season,” Tiger football coach Jim Walsh Jr. said. “When we were running simple plays but we were executing. They have not lost a game this year. But we’ve done some good things too. So if we can go up there and execute … We are oversimplifying everything we do. We are going to bare bone it and what we do well is what we are going to do. If we go up there and just play our game, I feel pretty good.”
Walsh said the Jaguars have size and speed on their side. He’s heard the Stephenson squad has nine Division I prospects, but, he said, “Watching them on tape, it’s not necessarily the typical Stephenson team where every guy can fly down the field. But the bottom line is they are a good football team and there is a reason they are ranked fifth in the state.”
The Jaguars have scored 385 points and allowed 59. The Tigers are 4-3 in the region and 6-4 overall. They’ve scored 263 points and allowed 182.
Walsh said the Jaguars, who he expects will run the wing-T, have speedy running backs and a tight end they favor. He said his team will watch the short yardage situations where the Jaguars are likely to line up in the power I-formation.
“Defensively, we are going to see a 4-3 set,” the coach said. “It’s going to be a little different for us seeing seven in the box. They are normally going to play a cover two behind it.”
Walsh said although he will keep things simple, the Tigers will use the option to catch the Jaguars’ defense off guard.
“It will be the first time they see the option this year,” he said. “That throws a big curve ball at them because you just can’t run and react.”
Kickoff is at 7:30 p.m. Admission is $8. The stadium on Georgia Perimeter College’s campus is at 3789 Memorial College Ave. in Clarkston, two miles off I-285. Take Memorial Drive to Memorial College Avenue, turn left and the stadium is a half mile on left.
Putting Lombardi’s philosophy into practice this season, the Bradwell Tigers rotated player positions, played iron-man and used the entire bench while injured athletes nursed injuries. They worked as a group and clawed their way into the playoffs, finishing fourth in Region 3-AAAAA. The Tigers travel to James R. Haliford Stadium in DeKalb County tonight to kickoff against the undefeated Region 2-AAAAA Stephenson Jaguars.
“We’ve finally gotten healthy to where we can go back to where we were at the beginning of the season,” Tiger football coach Jim Walsh Jr. said. “When we were running simple plays but we were executing. They have not lost a game this year. But we’ve done some good things too. So if we can go up there and execute … We are oversimplifying everything we do. We are going to bare bone it and what we do well is what we are going to do. If we go up there and just play our game, I feel pretty good.”
Walsh said the Jaguars have size and speed on their side. He’s heard the Stephenson squad has nine Division I prospects, but, he said, “Watching them on tape, it’s not necessarily the typical Stephenson team where every guy can fly down the field. But the bottom line is they are a good football team and there is a reason they are ranked fifth in the state.”
The Jaguars have scored 385 points and allowed 59. The Tigers are 4-3 in the region and 6-4 overall. They’ve scored 263 points and allowed 182.
Walsh said the Jaguars, who he expects will run the wing-T, have speedy running backs and a tight end they favor. He said his team will watch the short yardage situations where the Jaguars are likely to line up in the power I-formation.
“Defensively, we are going to see a 4-3 set,” the coach said. “It’s going to be a little different for us seeing seven in the box. They are normally going to play a cover two behind it.”
Walsh said although he will keep things simple, the Tigers will use the option to catch the Jaguars’ defense off guard.
“It will be the first time they see the option this year,” he said. “That throws a big curve ball at them because you just can’t run and react.”
Kickoff is at 7:30 p.m. Admission is $8. The stadium on Georgia Perimeter College’s campus is at 3789 Memorial College Ave. in Clarkston, two miles off I-285. Take Memorial Drive to Memorial College Avenue, turn left and the stadium is a half mile on left.