GARY WILBURN SNAGS A 32-YARD PASS AT THE GOAL LINE And besides his offensive efforts, he was also named one of the defensive players of the game Friday. The W-W Tigers will travel to Warren County this Friday night for what has become the do-or-die game of the season.

With second place in the region hinging on the outcome, the game promises to be as intense and highly charged as the Lincolnton encounter of two weeks ago. And though no one wants to be guilty of looking ahead to the playoffs before this one is over, the game is significant because of where the winner and loser will be placed in the state playoff brackets.

In short, the winner of this game is going to have a lot easier time going deep in the playoffs than the loser.

Some fans may be encouraged because Lincoln County apparently beat Warren County fairly easily at 30-0. But that’s not necessarily the case. Other than the score, the statistics from that game were amazingly close.

“People shouldn’t put any faith in that score,” Tiger Head Coach Russell Morgan said. “Lincolnton is better that Warrenton but Warrenton did turn the ball over five times. Without those turnovers, that game would have been a lot closer,” he explained.

Looking ahead to this week’s game, Morgan reported that “Warren has incredible speed. Their quarterback, Tommy Seales, is probably the fastest kid in this region. He won the region championship in the 100 meters last year and he can fly.”

But he’s not the only speed merchant the Screaming Devils have on their squad. Their top receiver, No. 83, Keith Green, “is probably one of the best receivers in this area,” Morgan reports. “And they have two running backs that can motor,” he added.

“We’re going to have to do a great job of containing the speed guys and stopping the deep ball,” Morgan said in outlining his defensive game plan. “Our defensive backs have done a good job with the deep balls all year and hopefully they can continue that this week.”

On offense, Warren is primarily as running team that likes to sweep. But at least three times a game, Morgan reports, “Warren is going to sling it up on a go route and hope it comes down right – and they’ve got guys that can go get it.”

Speed has been the hardest opponent asset the Tigers have had to overcome. It has given them problems before and will be a problem in Warrenton.

“Size-wise and strength-wise I think we have an edge on them but they are definitely a faster football team than we are and speed has always been our weakness,” Morgan said.

Game time is 7:30 in Warren County.