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Ole Ola! Stingy Mustangs unbeaten under new staff
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The southside of Metro Atlanta has been put on alert to watch out for a stampede. The Mustangs of Ola are off to a 4-0 start after last week’s 7-3 win over Jones County. That’s especially impressive when you consider there is a new head coach.
Dustin Adkins is new to Henry County, but not to winning. He was defensive coordinator at Hawthorne (Fla.), a team that won back-to-back state titles. In fact, the Hawks were riding a 25 game winning streak when Adkins decided it was time for a change.
“It's my alma mater,” says Adkins. “It was nice to get back to the hometown for a little bit. We had a successful run, but I just felt like the writing was on the wall as far as the next chapter of my book. I wanted to go somewhere that's a little more diverse, a bigger area. God's timing honestly, this job came open last year and everything kind of worked out.”
Adkins landing at Ola sounds like a victory. But at second glance you see that the victory is deeply rooted in a bitter defeat.
“I always follow Georgia High School football feed on my Twitter,” says Adkins. “So, I saw this job came open and I knew Mike Coe, the head coach at Coffee, who came from Madison County, Fla. We matched up a few times in Florida. A funny story, the last loss I took from coach was 3 1/2 years ago in the state championship game. It was Mike Coe’s last game at Madison County, and we lost 13-12. I knew that Coffee played Ola in the past, and I asked him a little bit about it. He said it was a great school, had great facilities and persuaded me to put my name in the hat.”
What Adkins found was a team that was hit hard by graduation. What was left was short on game experience, but more than made up for it with determination and a work ethic.
“The kids bought in day one,” recalls Adkins. “I've been here since probably the middle of February. It was a great off-season. They spent all spring putting in the work, grinding, pushing themselves to their physical and mental limits. They were meeting and accepting every challenge that I threw at them. I know it was harder, it was probably one of the hardest summers they have ever done. But it also was very rewarding. It gave us a lot of opportunities to bond as a team, and form that relationship that you need carrying into the season.”
This season the Mustangs are living in Region 2-4A. It’s a nine-team region that includes Eagle’s Landing Christian, Jones County and Stockbridge, last year’s state runner-up. That left room for only one non-region contest, a tough season-opening assignment with Trinity Christian.
“They are usually playoff contenders,” says Adkins. “So it just gave us the opportunity to compete right away. You know, you're going to play a hard-nosed smash-mouth football team. They're going to be physical. Same thing with our scrimmage against St. Pius the week before. We played a double wing team and that's a smash-mouth brand of football “
A 35-3 win over Trinity Christian was followed by a 51-0 win over Locust Grove in the first week of the region schedule.
“We played Locust Grove, who probably is one of the most talented Locust Grove teams they've had in years,” remarks Adkins. “Then, we played ELCA, who's just a tough, hard-nosed football team that's not going to get out-coached. They're not going to make mistakes. They're going to force you to beat them. And we were fortunate to get out of there with a win, to be honest with you.”
Then game last week’s match up with a 3-0 Jones County team. Mike Chastain’s Greyhounds have been a consistent thorn in the sides of the Henry County football programs and Ola was tested early.
“They had a six-minute drive to start the game,” recalls Adkins. “They drove it all the way down. Had a first-and-goal from the 4 yard line. Our kids made a goal line stand on four straight plays to stop them on the 2. Still they managed to go up 3-0, then it happened. One of my outside linebacker slash safeties, made a heck of a play and got an interception. That play set up our touchdown. So we were able to take the lead, 7-3. I feel like we played a great game. We executed our assignments. This is the third game this year that we've only allowed an opponent to score three points on us. So I think our team believes in our defense.”
A defense that surrenders a total of nine points in four games is something to believe in, for sure. Adkins has been pleased to see leaders step forward.
“Macklin Sanders is an East Carolina commit,” says Adkins. “He's second on the team in tackles. He has over 55 right now, just a physical kid. Our leading tackle is Skylar Spence, he's a senior. When you turn on film and there's a tackle to be made, nine times out of ten, you're going to see No. 21 getting up off the pile. Those two have been tremendous as far as setting the tone with our linebackers and being physical.”
Adkins pointed out the efforts up front from sophomore Elijah Campbell and junior Klevon Gartmond.
“They just did a heck of a job taking on double teams, not getting pushed around and holding the line of scrimmage,” Adkins says. “They allow our linebackers to run free.”
There is versatility among the young players. Some excelled at numerous positions giving the coach flexibility in his play calling.
“Caden Hudson is a sophomore for us,” says Adkins. “He plays a little bit of running back, a little bit of backer and a little bit of walk out cover safety. That's one thing I like about our defense. We can go from a 30 front to a 40 front to a 50 front. We can go from a 4-2 to a 4-3. So, we make it tough on the offenses.”
While the Mustangs have been able to make seven points stand up the past two weeks, Adkins sees the offense becoming more productive when a special sophomore running back returns from an injury,
“I think we have a player who is going to be one of the top running backs in the state of Georgia,” says Adkins. “He hasn't played since the beginning of the second half against Locust Grove. Nigel Newkirk leads us in rushing. He's played a game and a half and has 365 yards and he's been out the last few weeks with an injury. Hopefully, he will be you back this week, “
Family is a big theme with the coach, and he brought it with him from Florida. He’s has been around teams that have it. It’s something that he can see. It is something that he can feel.
“They don't care who scores the touchdowns,” says Adkins. “They don't care who makes the tackle, who makes the interceptions as long as we're getting it done and Ola is being successful. They're all about it. Like it doesn't matter. And that's one thing I love about this team. They don't care who gets the glory, who gets the shine. They just want to be successful.”
Dustin Adkins has been a part of successful football teams in the past. Ola has had success in the past, but the Mustangs have never been region champions. The coach won’t talk about it. He just quotes a team motto of “Win the Week.” This week the opponent is Eagles Landing.
“I told them to prepare for Eagle’s Landing just like we prepared for Jones County,” Adkins says. “If you let Jones County be the highlight of our season this week is going to creep up on you and we're going to take our first loss of the year. I gave them 24 hours to celebrate Jones County, but after that it’s back to business. So, I think our kids will be focused. I don't think they're going to rest too much on our Jones County victory. This is our last game before we have a week off. We want to go to the break on a great note, but the only way to get there is by preparing. And as you can hear, my voice is going in and out. I lost my voice yelling a lot Friday night.”
Might I suggest some hot tea and lemon. It will have you ready before kickoff, coach.
This week Football Friday’s in Georgia Will feature Valdosta at South Gwinnett kickoff at 7:30 p.m. on the great GPB!
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