By Steve Carter
TIFTON — A high school coach that is taking his team to the Georgia Dome for the state football semifinals has a full week before the big game.
One of the things on the agenda for Roswell High Hornet head coach Tim McFarlin was a Thursday speaking engagement at the Roswell Rotary Club.
McFarlin told the Rotarians about his team’s semifinal preparations and also talked to them about the Hornets’ opponent at the Georgia Dome, the Tift County Blue Devils.
Roswell and Tift will meet in one Class AAAAA semifinal at 6 p.m. That will be followed at 9 p.m. by the other AAAAA semi, which will have Peachtree Ridge and Warner Robins squaring off.
“We have had a busy week,” McFarlin said. “We have been have watching film and practicing all week. We have also been out in the community talking about the game.”
McFarlin said he is looking forward to the contest.
“I think it will be a great game,” the Roswell head coach said. “We are thrilled to be there, as I am sure Tift is, as well.”
Roswell (12-1) was ranked No. 1 in the state for one week by The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. However, McFarlin was not expecting his team’s success at the start of the year.
“I felt like we would have a good football team,” McFarlin said. “But I was a little surprised about our success, because we had to completely rebuild our offensive line, among other things. If someone asked me at the start of the season we would be at the Dome in semifinals I probably would not have believed it.”
While he feels like his team’s presence at the Dome is a surprise, McFarlin feels like Tift County was destined to be one of the final four teams left in the state.
“They are a very impressive football team,” McFarlin said. “We heard about them at the start of the season as everyone was saying they were the team to beat in South Georgia. I believe that, because they are definitely the best team we have faced this season.”
The Roswell head coach was quick to mention the Tift defense.
“They have a very, very good defense, especially the whole front,” said McFarlin.
As far as individual players, the Roswell coach said, “I really think No. 8 (safety Jay Gaskins) is a great player. I was also really impressed with how No. 44 (linebacker Josh Abbott) plays. It is hard to believe he is just a sophomore, he looks more like a senior-Division I college prospect.”
On the other side of the ball, McFarlin said, “Tift has a lot of great weapons on offense. That receiver (Israel Troupe) is a great player. He is going to be a terrific college football player. He is much more athletic than anyone we have faced this season.”
The Roswell coach then went on to add about Tift’s special teams, “I don’t know how many people have said this, I am very impressed with their kicker (Charlie Edwards). He is a great punter and place-kicker.
“Tift is solid everywhere.”
While he lauded the Blue Devils, McFarlin went on to downplay the one advantage Roswell may have in the game.
Tift has not played in the Georgia Dome since the state semifinals in 1997, but the Hornets played its 2006 season opener at the Dome against McEachern as a part of the Corky Kell Classic.
“I don’t think that will be an advantage,” said McFarlin. “I think good teams can play anywhere and everyone still playing is a good team. During the regular season, it may make a difference because some teams lose focus easily, but good teams are always focused.”
Even though Tift will be the “home” team Saturday, the game will be in Roswell’s neighborhood. But even if the situation was reversed, McFarlin would expect a big crowd for the contest.
“There is a lot of excitement here,” McFarlin said. “It is all everyone in Roswell is talking about this week.
“I wouldn’t be surprised to see over 20,000 people in the stadium for our game.”
