Last week was the Greyhounds’ first week of the season in which they were not getting ready for a game on Friday night. Despite that, it wasn’t an off week, not in the minds of players and coaches.
Jones County used the week, which consisted of three practices as well as conditioning and team building competitions, to not just rest up but also look inwardly for ways to improve.
“It’s not an off week, it’s a bye week,” Montgomery said. “Our guys are working, and we’re also trying to get some reps with our developmental guys. We’re trying to heal up with our guys that are dinged up, and we want to go good-on-good and compete.”
Last week was the first of two open dates of the season for the Greyhounds, and it came right in the middle of the ten-game schedule, providing a well-timed opportunity to sit back and evaluate what is being done well and where to aim for improvement.
“It’s been a good reset. We have had a good reevaluation of ourselves,” Montgomery said. “You look at our offense and defense and see where we need to grow. You look at your personnel and want to make sure you are developing the right guys in the right spots.”
With that reset behind them, the Greyhounds don’t get to wade back into the region schedule. They’ll jump in with both feet as Stockbridge pays a visit to Greyhound Field on Friday night amid a tight-quarters fight for position throughout the region. The Tigers are in a three-way tie for first in the region with a 3-1 record with the Greyhounds being one of five teams with 2-2 region marks. With so little margin for error, one win could mean a big step towards a region title with a loss possibly costing a postseason spot.
Suffice it to say, there will be a strong sense of urgency over the next five games, and that’ll begin Friday.
“We want our players to view it as wanting to go 1-0 every week. With the way our region is shaking out, you have to be that way. You don’t know when the region championship is going to be. You’ve got to attack every day like you are competing for a championship,” Montgomery said. “That’s what we want every day regardless, but with how our region is shaking out, you want to go 1-0 each week.”
Stockbridge will be standing in the way of the Greyhounds’ goal of going 1-0 this week. The Tigers beat Jones County last year and were on track to win the region before being forced to forfeit multiple games by the GHSA. Stockbridge’s only loss this year has been 28-27 to a Hampton team that Jones County beat 27-0. The Tigers have been unchallenged in their last two games, beating Eagles Landing and McDonough 62-7 and 47-7. Dominic Tucker leads the Stockbridge ground attack with an average of 73 yards a game and six touchdowns. Quarterback Joshua Scott has passed for 981 yards and six touchdowns so far this season.
“They’re a big-play operation. They have a guy who can go get it. Their quarterback throws a nice, deep ball and they have a really good running back. They have guys in positions that can hurt you,” Montgomery said. “Defensively, they have guys who can fly around and have dudes up front that can get after your quarterback, so anytime that you have guys like that, you have to be on your A-game.”
