And then there were FOUR...

Mornin to all you Hairy Sports Fans, Ole Rufus here and I gotta tell ya...it don't get much better than this.  The fog has cleared in Playoff Land...and we're down to the Fantastic Four.  Who would have thunk it?  We got Newnan, Northside, Camden and them poor, tiny, little, undersized Hawgs a still standin.  And let me tell ya what...there were some slobberknocker games last Friday night.  Northside had to kick a field goal in triple OT just to get a win.  Newnan had to block a field goal with time runnin out just to get a win.  Colquitt had to play FOUR quaters of gut-wrenchin defensive football just to get a win and Camden...well, they had to show up to get their win.  I reckon it could have been excitin for a while.  And I suppose 3 outa 4 ain't bad.

I got to thinkin back to the beginnin of the season and I just don't believe that anybody woulda forsaw the matchups that we got comin this Friday.  Shore, I believe that some would have predicted Newnan.  Them fellers have the Ogletree boys and a slew of athletes to go with them.  It would be easy to foresee the Cougars in the fray.  And I don't reckon it was completely outa realty to predict Camden...sincin they are the defendin Champions and they play practically all their games in the "Chris".  Yep, I could see that.  Northside was a tad of a stretch...I mean due to their youth...but I'm shore a lot of people didn't totally discount them simply cause they have such a strong program.  Coach Nix and his assistants put a quality product on the field year after year.   But...and listen to me closely here...I don't think you could have found 3 people who would have even suggested that Colquitt would be here.  Shoot, ya probably couldn't have found but a handful that gave the Hawgs a shot at the playoffs.  As big of Packer fan as I am...I said 5th...MAYBE 4th in Region 1...ifin things went well.  I was sincerely worried about our defense.  I even said on the Mike Davis Show  that defense would tell our story this year.  And Lord has it !!!  I don't think there's any more change than 180 degrees...but ifin there is...man did our defense turn it.  Coach Hines and his Staff have done one heckuva job this season.  I know ya hear "night and day" as adjectives for change...and sometimes them terms are overused and they simply exagerate for effect.  But not this time.  Whatever happens from this point forward, let it be known that our defensive transition has been remarkable.  And it all goes back to APE.  Attitude, Preparation and Execution.  I ain't takin anythin away from the offense but the D-Side has stepped it up and the results speak for themselves.

So what can we look forward to this Friday?  What does The Cray say about the semi-final games?  Who moves on to the Dome and who takes up equipment next Monday?  Inquirin minds wanna know.  Well sir, we're about to find out.  Here's this week's gospel.  Ifin ya can dig it....

Northside @ Newnan

Northside has to travel.  Oh Snap !!!  I think they went to Valdosta this year and also Tift County, but other than that...they played in the Mac.  They're probably washin their white jersies as I type.  Now most people will tell ya that the color of jersey has little bearin on the outcome of a game.  And I know what they mean...for the most part.  But ifin ya don't happen to be good road team and ya seem to play better in front of your LARGE home crowd...then the color DOES make a difference.  Everybody will tell ya how hard it is to beat the Eagles when they're wearin their ALL BLUE...and their record kinda proves the theorem.  But Northside won tough games at Valdosta and Tifton this year.  I just don't believe the travel will be a major factor in the outcome.  Now their matchup against the Cougars is a different story.  Newnan is somethin tough defensively and they ain't all that bad in the offensive category, abeit they didn't show it in their game against Grayson.  But make no mistake...the Cougars have some athletes on both sides of the ball.  Newnan has put up 405 points on offense and have given up only 83 in 13 games.  By contrast, Northside has scored 355 points and given up 151.  They haven't played the same opponents but both have shown that they can move the football.  It will be interestin to see ifin the Eagles can produce a lot of offense against Newnan.  Personally, I don't think they will.  I think the Cougar defense will keep them in check most of the evenin...much like the Ridge did.  The questions is...can the Northside group make enough plays to keep them close enough to take advantage of a Newnan mistake?  I think the Eagles will be lucky to break out of the "teens" but if they do, they have a great chance to win the game.  The Cougars will run into a stiff Northside defense as well.  One that gives up yards and points begrudgingly.  But Newnan's experience and athleticism could be the edge in the game.  If The Eagles hold the Cougars in the "teens", it should be a very interestin game.  It could come down to special teams...and the arrow points to Northside in that category.  They have a kicker that is dynamite and he could very well spell the difference in winnin and losin.  But the question still remains...can the two defenses do the job that's expected?  From a biased standpoint, I want Northside to win.  One because they are from Region 1 and two because ifin my Hawgs can find a way to get the "W"...we would get a second shot at those guys for ALL the marbles in AAAAA.  Hopefully, we'd get all our downs in that game.  But there's way too much football to be played afore I can start worryin about that.  First, the Eagles hafta beat the Cougars.  And honestly, me and The Cray don't think that will happen.  I think the Ridge game uncovered a few kinks in the Eagle armor.  And I think Newnan will benefit from those kinks.  I don't see Northside puttin up enough points to win this game.  And I just don't think they'll hold the Cougars in the "teens".  It's gonna be a "last man standin" type game for shore...but I see a Cougar as the one that's left to flash the victory sign.  It's all about the thrill of victory versus the agony of defeat.  Northside will feel the agaony of defeat for the second time this year.  Newnan by 7.

Colquitt @ Camden

I never thought I'd be typin about the Packers against anybody in a semi-final game.  Don't get me wrong, I've seen us improve over the season.  I've seen us grow as a team and as a fan base.  I've seen us take the field with hope at the beginnin of the year and confidence at the end.  But when you've suffered thru the stuff this decade that the Packers have...you kinda wait for the bad news to crash down on ya.  In 2007, we were 2-8 and pretty near the bottom of our hole.  When Rush came in February 2008, we all hoped he could turn things around and get us headed in the right direction.  A lot of us "old timers" knew how far we had to go and how much things had to change.  We just weren't optimistic that solid success could be reached afore 4-5 years.  But sports are a micocosm of life.  The more you put into it...the more ya get out.  I've always felt Colquitt had talent.  I mean it don't just dry up and disappear...unlessin you don't develop it.  And we had the ENTIRE county to develop.  I think that's what makes the Packers so appealin.  They're more than a team.  They are a community...of fans, family, churches and businesses.  We don't have cross-town rivals or even cross-county rivals.  We are Colquitt County.  One of Colquitt's GAVSV venters (Uncle B.S.) has it nailed in his signature when he says...One County, One School, One Mission.  Honestly, ya can't really say it better than that.  We have played some solid teams this year.  We've had a couple of setbacks...but the biggest thing I've noticed is that this team does NOT panic.  Sometimes things go bad...and in the past when the wheels wobbled...our guys had problems with adversity...and eventually...the wheels came off and down we went in a hurry.  That simply has not been the case this season.  We have resolve and we understand what we hafta do to overcome.  And that my friends...is coachin.  Plain and Simple.  When we go to Kingsland Friday night...we will be in for the game of our life.  Cause Camden is a lot like us.  Not from a operational point of view...but from an attitude point of view.  They won't panic.  They will be prepared.  And I would imagine that they will execute a large part of the time.  Just like us, they have exceptional coachin.  They'll have their game plan and they'll have their fanbase of screamin Bluecats and they'll do their absolute best to take the win.  Yes, my Hawgs will be tested to the last degree.  I see this game to be one of opportunity.  I really don't think there will be a ton of chances to score points.  Both teams have very good defenses and I just don't see somebody movin the ball 80 yards in 13 plays to score...at least not consistently.  I'm afraid that penalties will play a major role in this game.  We cannot shoot ourselves in the foot ifin we expect to win.  We hafta play smart and take the things that Camden gives us.  We'll need some guys to step up Friday night.  And I'm not necessarily talkin the standard guys.  Ya gotta know that No.4 will give it all he's got.  Same for No.22.  But hopefully, we'll see others as well.  No dropped passes.  No missed tackles.  No stupid mistakes.  We need to have a clean game.  Both Colquitt and Camden have good special teams.  And truthfully, it could come down to a field goal.  It probably won't just cause I said it...but it could.  I think we'll play well.  I think we know what it's gonna take to get our trip to the Dome.  It ain't gonna be easy.  We know that.  But Destiny Is On the Side of the Believers.  And we BELIEVE.  When the final horn sounds...and emotions are totally drained...it will be the GOOD GUYS in the Real Black & Gold who hoist their helmets high.  So it is written, so shall it be done.  Packers by 3.

Folks, it's comin down to who wants it most...and who knows what they hafta do to win.  Who has the focus and who executes their plan.  And finally...who recognizes and adjusts to the unknown the quickest.  Good health and safe travels to everybody.  And to my Hairy Hawgs...let me just say...it's been a long hard fight...but it's not over yet.  Answer the bell young men.  Remember the things that gotcha here.  And Play HARD...for those who came before...those who play now...and those who will come after you.

Packers Forever.....

GO YOU HAIRY HAWGS !!!!!

Rufus>>