Gamecocks to treat regular season finale like playoff game

The New Brockton Gamecocks will close out the 2017 regular season this week with a non-region matchup with the Class 1A No. 2-ranked Sweet Water Bulldogs.

This game is a rematch from last year’s overtime thriller and the Gamecocks are not looking past the Tigers in any way, shape or form.

“We’re going to treat this game like it’s the first round of the playoffs,” New Brockton coach Justin Jones said. “When you get to the playoffs you’re playing the best of the best. So, you can expect to play teams like Sweet Water in the playoffs every week.”

Sweet Water lost its first game of the season to Class 4A’s Thompson, but has won seven straight since that game by an average margin of 49-7.

The Bulldogs have scored 40 points or better in six of their eight games this season and held teams scoreless on three different occasions.

“Sweet Water is Sweet Water,” Jones said. “They’re the team they’ve always been with that Wing-T offense. Coach (Pat) Thompson does a really good job with them and they’ll be ready to play.”

Last season the Gamecocks fell to Sweet Water 48-42 in overtime and Jones expects a similar back-and-forth showdown this time.

“Last year was a very competitive, great football game,” he said. “That’s what we expect this year. Last year we went into overtime with them and we may see the same thing this year. It’s going to be a really fun and great atmosphere.”

One thing the Gamecocks look forward to is getting some players back healthy, but may not see those returns until playoff time. Players like receiver/running back Cam Davis have missed a number of games in recent weeks.

“I hope to get some guys back for the playoffs,” Jones said. “Everybody right now is banged up and that’s kind of the way it works at this point of the season. We’re hoping to get everybody back healthy for the playoff push.”