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Douglas County Outworks Its Way to Region Title
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I drove over to Douglasville this week to get a look at the Douglas County Tigers. After last week’s win over Newnan they are 9-0 and region champs for the first time since 2002. But Coach Johnny White is not ready to celebrate.
“Let’s Outwork Yesterday,” says White, quoting the theme for his team. “If they had a a good day today, they come in tomorrow and outwork Monday. Come back in on Wednesday and outwork Tuesday.”
The Tigers are a perfect reflection of their coach. White praises their togetherness and says they are one of the most unselfish teams he has ever coached. The attitude that has the Tigers ranked No. 4 in Class 6A the latest GPB Sports poll and has been evident since the off season.
“I think it started during the spring,” recalls White. “I think a lot of those young guys didn’t know how good they could be. I think the Westlake scrimmage let them know that they could play against the big boys. It was a 14-14 tie, but a lot of folks came in thinking that Westlake was going to beat us up and down, but we fought with them. I think that gave them a lot of confidence in themselves.”
That confidence would be put to the test as an early season gauntlet awaited the Tigers. They had to face Stockbridge, Mays and McEachern, all programs that are postseason fixtures before diving into region play. My question was simple: Who made this schedule?
“I made it,” says White. “I wanted my team to be battle-tested to get ready for the region. Did I want to win them all? Yes, but I wanted to make sure we were ready, especially with us having Langston so early in the region schedule.”
Not only are the 2023 Douglas County Tigers battle tested, they are road tested, too. It’s no big deal for the older members of the team. It brings back memories from their not-too-distant past.
“Those first two games were on neutral fields,” recalls White. “In fact, the first six games were on the road. We are playing a ten-game schedule, and we only have three home games this season. We didn’t play our first home game until game six. We were on the bus every week, which our seniors are used to, because during their freshman year they were building our stadium, and we had no home games. We played all of our games on the road that season. So, our seniors have been through it before.”
The three-game early-season test was a prelude to the start of play in Region 5-6A. After a win over Alexander, the second region contest would be against defending Class 6A state champion Langston Hughes, which opened the season by winning a nationally televised contest at Carrollton. The Road Warriors from Douglasville traveled to South Fulton and brought back a 30-27 victory. It sent shock waves throughout the state.
"It got us over the hump,” says White. “It really made them believe they were that good. Beating McEachern, beating Stockbridge and beating Mays, are great teams, but that’s not a state champ. I know how well-coached those guys are. They are my friends and my family over there. So, to be able to beat them is not a lucky thing, especially playing over there. I was super excited and very happy to get that win. “
The win over Hughes brings a smile to White’s face, as does the fact that many of his team’s biggest contributors are underclassmen. The offensive line is the heart of this year’s Douglas County team. He proudly points out that there is only one senior among the offensive line starters.
There is one senior on offense that makes everything happen. Quarterback Sire Hardaway led the Tigers’ fourth-quarter rally in the win over Hughes. White has come to expect great things from his talented signal-caller who has thrown for 2,253 yards and 19 touchdowns this season.
“He has been a starter for three years,” says White. “He has been the best real quarterback that I have ever coached. Now I have had athletes there before like Eric Berry (at Creekside, who played nine seasons in the NFL at safety). Well, Eric Berry is just Eric Berry. He wasn’t just a quarterback … But as a true quarterback, Sire is the best I’ve had. He is great to coach; a student of the game and he always feels that he has to outwork everybody. Sire is going to ask all the right questions. He is going to do everything the right way Sire is a 3.8 GPA guy.”
Last Friday’s win over Newnan clinched the region title for Douglas County and allowed the Tigers to check the box of one of their preseason goals. It was something much more for the coach who has seen past opportunities for region titles, while at Creekside and Douglas County, elude him.
“I have been chasing it forever,” exclaims White.” It was too close for comfort, but I’m glad we got one. I’m glad for the community. Now so many of the older Douglas County alumni are coming back to games, which means a lot. I’d like to think that we are giving them something to be proud of.”
The school and community are excited about what may lie ahead for the Tigers. White would rather keep the main thing, the main thing. There is one more regular-season game to play against the South Paulding Spartans, who need a win to get into the playoffs
“The last two years they beat us,” says White. “They beat us here last year and beat us over there the year before last. We have to finish the drill. Yes, you have home field and yes, you have the region, but we have a lot to work on this week. There are things we have to get better. It’s another step you have to take. We are far from done.”
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