PREVIEW: Mountain View at North Gwinnett

Staff Report (8770)

As of Thursday, November 1, 2012
© Copyright 2013 Gwinnett Daily Post

Mountain View's Ty McRae

Mountain View Bears (7-AAAAAA)

Coach: Doug Giacone

Record: 3-5, 2-4 region

Last week: Beat Meadowcreek 48-7

North Gwinnett Bulldogs (7-AAAAAA)

Coach: Bob Sphire

Record: 7-1, 5-1 region

Last week: Beat Collins Hill 38-24

North Gwinnett’s three-year run as region champions ended last week when Norcross locked up the crown. The Bulldogs can still wrap up the No. 2 seed and home field in the playoffs with a win over Mountain View tonight.

“I told our kids don’t underestimate the need to win Friday night,” North head coach Bob Sphire said.

North gave up 24 points in the first half of last week’s game to Collins Hill, before shutting out the Eagles the rest of the game.

“Our defense has to be more consistent,” Sphire said. “We struggled with basic assignment issues.”

North’s defense will be tested by Mountain View’s triple option run-based offense. It’s a system rarely seen nowadays by pass-heavy teams, but one Sphire used to run in the late 80s.

“The good thing is we saw a similar offense against Habersham,” Sphire. “There’s a few differences. It’s that Georgia Tech, Georgia Southern offense. It’s assignment football.”

Mountain View is coming off a 48-7 victory over Meadowcreek. The win featured three TD runs by Marvin Elam and a touchdown catch my Ty McRae.

“I always feel like that offense starts with the quarterback,” Sphire said. “That running back can help them by picking up big gains.”

Last meeting: North Gwinnett won 35-7 last year

Directions to North Gwinnett High School: From I-85, go west on Lawrenceville-Suwanee Road until it becomes Suwanee Dam Road. School is on the right

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