We’ve all heard the phrase, “Act like you’ve been there before.”
Reeltown has.
The Rebels secured their third straight region title going a perfect 6-0 in region games this year. Since their Week 0 loss to T.R. Miller in the Cramton Bowl, the Rebels have left a trail of carnage in their path winning the past nine straight.
Reeltown will host Houston County in the first round of the playoffs. Playing on its home turf has many advantages, but none more valuable than not having to adjust the team's routine, according to Reeltown coach Matt Johnson.
“Anytime you can play at home in front of your crowd and have that advantage, that's huge,” Johnson said. “But also just from a logistic point, being at home, the kids know the routine. They know exactly how the times match up to what we're doing on a typical home game day. So you're not having to plan logistics by driving two-three hours somewhere, and long bus rides and making stops. I'm huge on routine and the mental aspect of that. Anytime you can follow a routine that you've already done throughout the year is huge.”
Although Reeltown heads into this Friday’s matchup as heavy favorites, Johnson has circled running back Jordan Thomas as a player to keep its eye out for with how Houston County schemes its offensive to get the ball in his hands.
“(Houston County)’s best football player plays running back and they kind of just move him around,” Johnson said. “He plays everywhere on defense. He's a big body, he’s fast, he's extremely physical, and he's just an instant difference-maker for them. He is a really, really, really good football player and they just find different ways to get the ball in his hands. He may be in a Wildcat-type formation, he lines up at running back and just moves around and they do the same thing with him defensively.”
However, the Rebels’ defense is up to the task. Front-lined by Finn Henderson, Baylor Clayton, Harrison Renfroe and Tae Martin, the defense averages just a little over seven points. Racking up 79 tackles for a loss and 45 sacks this season alone to pair with 23 total turnovers. It’ll take that same level of dominance paired along with executing the fundamentals to hold Thomas in check.
“We've got to play assignment football,” Johnson said. “We can't get out of lanes and over-pursue because of his speed. Each person defensively, has to do their job and trust that everybody else is doing their job. That starts with playing technique up front in the run game and getting a pass rush when they drop back to pass in the passing game.”
Offensively the Rebels will continue to hammer it on the ground with the backfield led by Traylen Roberts, a 1,000-yard back for the team. His play on the ground not only stems from the dominant play by the offensive line but also frees quarterback JaMarkius Smith in the passing game.
“We're going to continue to lean on our offensive line and our tight ends,” Johnson said. “They've done a really good job blocking and keeping them off balance in the passing game. It's staying balanced enough to keep people guessing and make them have to defend both facets of the game, the rushing attack and our passing game. Just staying balanced and just kind of taking what the defense is going to give us.”
Reeltown knows what is at stake for this Friday in a win-or-go-home situation. Johnson understands the expectations surrounding the program as it looks to repeat appearances in the state championship, but is more focused on the standard Reeltown has for itself heading into the first round.
“I guarantee you, the expectations are higher in our preparation and throughout the week than anything outside of those walls of the locker room,” Johnson said. “Our staff does a really good job of that. Our players have embraced it, that is a Reeltown standard.”