MEADVILLE — Franklin County’s second-round playoff game against the Morton Panthers should be hard-fought, something Bulldog head coach Grady McCluskey knows all about when it comes to preparing for big games in November.
“Once you get this far into the season, every team you play is balanced and dangerous,” McCluskey said. “We’ve got to be ready. In games like this, the team that makes the fewest mistakes and least amount of turnovers will win.”
Game time is 7 at Louie Mullins Memorial Stadium.
The Bulldogs (9-2) will have their hands full, to say the least, Friday night, with a Morton (6-5) team that is finally clicking on cylinders after a mid-season bout of injuries and suspensions that robbed them of a top 2 finish in Region 5-3A.
“We’ve been working hard all season and improving as we go,” Morton coach David Parker said. “We like to spread the ball around a lot and try make things happen.”
Dedric McDonald, the Panthers 6-foot-4-inch, 210-pound senior sparkplug leads the Panthers on offense as a dual threat passer and runner at quarterback. Through the air, McDonald has thrown 16 touchdown passes, with Antonio Hughes being his go-to guy. Sophomore speedster Deonte Harper also is a playmaker at wideout.
“They have a lot of weapons,” McCluskey said.
On the ground, the Panthers use a tailback rotation consisting of sophomore Percy Lewis and senior Shareef Dixon.
“This is a good ball club, and quite possibly the best team we may see this season,” McCluskey said. “They are very similar to Jefferson County, especially on offense.”
As for the Bulldogs, who scored a 21-3 victory at Sumrall last week. The 3A defending champions have really opened the eyes of Parker on film as well, with their immense size and speed.
“They are big and strong and will be the best team we’ve seen all season,” said Parker. “They are the defending champions, and in order to be the champions you’ve got to beat the champions.”
