“Three yards and a cloud of dust” is a saying that’s been around football for a long while.

For coach David Bishop and North Hall (3-4, 2-2 8-AAAA), the words come to life every Friday night they strap up and play.

Statistically speaking, the Trojans are averaging 4.8 yards per carry, but the message is still the same.

“As long as we’re moving the ball on the inside, it makes everything a lot easier when we’re running the ball on the outside with Sam (Jackson), Maddox (Turner), Cutter (Sanford) and those guys,” Bishop said.

Leading the charge on those inside carries is junior Kyle Bacus. Bacus has accumulated 534 yards and eight touchdowns on 89 carries through seven games this season.

He’s averaging 6 yards per carry this season and just over 76 yards per game.

Senior Colby Miller is averaging 6.8 yards per carry with 265 yards and three touchdowns this season.

In this week’s matchup against Monroe Area (2-5, 1-3), Bishop plans to keep the ball in the hands of his running backs.

“Our main goal has been to just eat the clock and keep the ball away from the other team’s players,” Bishop said. “We’ve done a pretty good job of that this year, in most cases. That’s what we want to do going forward.”

As the Trojans line up against the Purple Hurricanes in the Purple Pit tonight, they’ll want to keep the ball away from Monroe Area’s playmakers.

Senior quarterback Hunter Byron has completed 45-of-96 passes for 643 yards and two scores.

Alfred King has big yards in the passing game and the running game for Monroe Area. King has caught 17 passes for 293 yards and a score. He’s ran the ball eight times for 124 yards and a pair of touchdowns.

Fellow receiver Raymond Gibbs has 14 receptions for 229 yards and a touchdown.

“Containing them is tough,” Bishop said. “They’re very talented. We’ve got some different coverages we’ve put in to try to put our kids in better positions.”

The Purple Hurricanes also have a strong running back.

Senior C.J. Winding has carried the ball 70 times for 514 yards and nine touchdowns.

“He’s a very tough runner, that’s one thing we’ve noticed. He likes to run hard and he does have the ability to break off big runs,” Bishop said. “For us, it’s just a matter of putting pads on the player, making tackles and not letting him get second chances after contact.”

Turnovers could end up being a focal point of the game.

Byron has thrown six interceptions, but the Purple Hurricane defense has intercepted three passes and recovered three fumbles.

Bishop said most of the momentum gained off of turnovers for the Trojans has come on special teams.

“We’ve probably got five or six turnovers on special teams with blocked kicks right now,” he said.

“If we play like we’ve been playing — our backs and receivers have been taking real good care of the ball and we’ve been practicing turnover drills — we’ll be alright,” senior Sam Jackson said.

Jackson is another dependable back for Bishop’s team with 255 yards and a score.

With both teams battling for a playoff spot, this game is going to be big in determining who is still in the race after the final horn sounds.

“(Friday) is very big,” North Hall junior Mac Bennett said. “We’ve got three games left. We’re hoping we can win them all so we can get in the playoffs this year.”

“Right now, it’s the biggest game of the year,” Jackson said. “We just have to focus on it. We know we need to win this one.”

As Bishop plans to keep the ball out of opponents’ hands, he wants to make sure his team stays on track for the postseason.

“If we win out, we control our own destiny,” he said. “We can get some help that will put us hosting a home playoff game, if it all turns out right.”

That search for control begins with the first whistle tonight in Monroe.

Read previews for all of this week's area matchups here

Friday's Games

East Hall at Franklin County

Lakeview Academy vs. Athens Christian

North Hall at Monroe Area

Riverside Military at Greene County

West Hall at Fannin County

Buford vs. North Oconee

Chestatee vs. White County

Gainesville vs. Cedar Shoals

Habersham Central vs. Johns Creek

Banks County at Dawson County

Jackson County vs. East Jackson