GAME OF THE WEEK: Perry football set to protect perfect region record with visit from Ware County

The race for a Region 1-4A championship is wide open, and the Panthers (5-2, 2-0 Region) have put themselves in a great position two games into region play.

They’ve picked up wins over the teams sitting at the bottom of the region (Wayne County and New Hampstead) but have recent championship hopefuls Ware County, Benedictine and Warner Robins left on the slate.

This week Ware County (3-3, 1-0 Region) comes to the Panther Pit after beating Benedictine 38-14 last week.

Here are three things to watch:

1. The Gators on the ground

Ware County is a balanced team offensively; In five games 619 yards and 11 touchdowns have come through the air while 617 yards and seven touchdowns have come on the ground.

However, 10 of those passing touchdowns came in the first three games. Since then the rushing attack has accounted for four of their five offensive touchdowns.

Jamir Boyd and Tayshaun Franklin are two of the leading backs, and they account for all seven rushing touchdowns with six and one respectively.

Boyd has 292 yards on 71 carries and can punish many defenders with speed in the open field. He’s not so fast that he’s gone as soon as he gets through the hole, but the Panthers will have to fill those gaps to ensure he doesn’t give the Gators big gains.

Franklin is another solid back with size. At 6-foot-1 and 205 pounds he’s often used as a lead blocker for another back, but he can also get it done running or catching passes out of the backfield. He has 123 yards on 31 carries this season.

2. In the gaps

Senior defensive end Jamar Birden is sure to, burden, the Perry offense on Friday. Bad puns aside, Birden has been one of the Gators’ most productive defensive player this season.

Through four games he’s tallied 25 tackles (23 solo), 12 tackles for a loss (leads team) and 4.5 sacks, which leads the team and is second in Region 1-4A.

At 6-foot-3 and 225 pounds Birden is a force on the line and can push his blocker to clog up run lanes or collapse the pocket. He’s also got decent speed for a big man, but speedier players shouldn’t have too much trouble outrunning him.

He’s far from the only weapon, with safety EJ Mathusla and linebacker Nick Simmons each leading the team with 37 (29 solo) and 36 (20 solo) tackles respectively.

3. The key to success

One of the biggest keys to success for Perry is, obviously, running the ball well. Most teams would like to run the ball well.

What makes that significant this week is that in all three of the Gators’ losses they’ve allowed at least 100 yards rushing: 244 against Coffee, 285 against Bartram Trail and 122 against Lincoln.

The Panthers have been known to rush for 200-plus yards a time or two, and doing so against Ware County could be a big key to success.

Perry has finished with over 200 yards this season more times than they’ve finished under. They posted 224 against Baldwin, 319 against Peach County, 289 against New Hampstead and 236 against Wayne County.

With Ahmad Gordon and Decorrion Daniels in the backfield the Panthers are in a prime position to get it done against the Gators.

Kickoff is scheduled for Friday, Oct. 18 at 7:30 p.m. in the Panther Pit.