The Blitz: Your source for high school football
Chestatee at Creekview
When: 7:30 tonight
Where: Canton
Coaches: Creekview, Al Morrell; Chestatee, Stan Luttrell
Records: Creekview (8-1, 4-1 Region 7A-AAA); Chestatee (4-5, 3-2)
Key players: Creekview, QB Cody Allen (Jr.), RB Hunter Livingston (Sr.), RB/DB Michael Ay (Sr.). Chestatee, RB Ben Souther (6-1, 200 Sr.), QB/DB Lamar Brooks (5-11, 190 Sr.), RB/LB Keaton Summerlin (5-11, 190 Sr.).
Prediction: CREEKVIEW. The Grizzlies run their way to a second straight playoff berth.
Tonight means more to Chestatee coach Stan Luttrell than anyone can possibly know.
For one, a win over Creekview (8-1, 4-1 Region 7A-AAA) will give the War Eagles (4-5, 3-2) a chance of reaching the playoffs for the first time since 2006.
A win will also prevent a second-straight losing season in which the War Eagles lost their final four games of the year.
But most importantly, a win will be a form of vindication for all the hard work that Chestatee has done this season.
“We have a chance to end the season on a positive note,” Luttrell said Wednesday. “We’ve been focusing on getting better every week and I want them to prove that by playing our best game (tonight).”
If his team does that,
Luttrell believes they have a chance to pull off the upset of Class AAA’s ninth-ranked Grizzlies.
“The level of competition is 7-AAA is at an unbelievable level, and Creekview is another good football team in this region,” Luttrell said. “I believe if our team will play up to its ability then we’ll have a chance to win.”
To do that, the War Eagles will have to find a way to shut down a Creekview team that has won four straight games and has scored 40 points or more in all four games.
Luttrell shouldn’t have to implement much on defense though, because Creekview is the third straight Wing-T team that Chestatee has played.
“Each one is a little different, but they all do it really well,” Luttrell said, referring to North Hall, West Forsyth and Creekview. “I think we have a solid game plan and I think we’re going to put our best foot forward (tonight).”
And that’s really all that Luttrell wants to see. Sure, he’s hoping to win the game and end any talk of how this year’s team is just as disappointing as last year’s.
“Each team is different and even though it looks similar, in most ways it is different,” he said.
But the main thing the coach wants to see is a focus that has showed up sparingly this year.
“When we’re focused on doing what we’re supposed to do, we’re pretty good,” Luttrell said.
That focus, Luttrell said, could lead to a big win for the program.
“A win over Creekview will be big for us,” he said. “It’ll be big for us, it’ll be big for these guys and the commitment they’ve made, and it’ll be big for our community.”
And if they don’t win?
“I just want our guys to play the best game they’ve played all year,” he said. “If they do that, then I think we’ll have a good chance of winning.”