John Reid, Rome head coach
Today’s interviewee is Rome coach John Reid, whose team will play Gainesville on Thursday night in a Class 5A semifinal at Rome’s Barron Stadium. Roswell plays at Thomas County Central in the other semifinal Thursday. Rome beat Jackson County 31-17 in the quarterfinals Nov. 28 but was idle last week after the GHSA postponed the semifinals while it sorted out the case of Gainesville’s 38 suspended players from a Nov. 21 second-round game. The GHSA reinstated the players, and Gainesville beat Hughes 40-32 in the lone Class 5A quarterfinal played last week.
1. What's it been like being caught up in the Gainesville-GHSA saga? How have you handled the schedule changes, do you have any feelings about it, or does a coach just easily roll with the punches here? “In regard to the Gainesville-GHSA situation, we did not allow ourselves to get caught up in it. Obviously, it was impossible not to have to deal with it. I approached it this way. We put ourselves in a position to play one of those teams in the final four. So, whether we play them last Friday or this Thursday, we are playing to go to the state championship. When you think about it in those terms, it is hard to turn that into a negative.
“Teams that have state championship goals and aspirations keep a weekly eye on the best teams, so we knew as the regions shook out that we were lined up with the two [Gainesville and Hughes].
“It is very important to have a very detailed plan for bye weeks. In my opinion, there are too many bye weeks in the season. With that being said, we do a great job with this.”
2. How did you scout the Gainesville-Hughes game? Did you attend? Watch with your staff? What's the scouting report on Gainesville? “We did not scout in person. With the short week, our Sunday now became Saturday, and we had a coaches meeting scheduled for 6 Saturday morning. We assigned individual duties to position coaches to take game notes on while watching the game. We had the opportunity to take a look at these teams while we waited for the winner. I assigned breakdowns outside the Hudl numbers, such as down and distance compared to field position, and score, along with time in game.
“Gainesville is talented and well-coached at every position. Offensively they have it all – offensive line, quarterback, running back and receivers. They also use tight ends as well as any team we have played. Defensively, they have two players that have signed with Alabama [Jamarion Matthews and Xavier Griffin], along with a really good group of players that get off blocks and run to the ball. I think they did a good job of neutralizing the passing game of Hughes. They are well-prepared on special teams and will take advantage of opportunities in the special teams game.”
3. What's the scouting report on Rome? What should the color commentators be talking about pregame to set the picture? “I think it starts with our quarterback. Aidan McPherson can run and also has a really strong arm. He will be a highly recruited player this winter. Fortunately, he has a group of receivers to throw the ball to. Darnell Collins and J.J. Winston are tall and fast. They can both take the top off the defense and are very willing blockers. Our offensive line has to play a great game against Gainesville. Defensively, we have a scrappy group of players that do a good job getting to the ball. There are a couple of defensive tackles, Brooklen Spivey and A.J. Adams, that have really improved over the course of the year. Dash Kinnebrew is a relentless player at defensive end. The secondary has done a good job of limiting long pass plays.”
4. You used your pre-region schedule to play three teams that happen to be playing for state titles next week – Creekside, Carrollton and Toombs County. Can you comment briefly on each? What is the single thing that stood out to you most about each of those teams? “Creekside, very well coached. They play together really well. I think Maurice [Dixon, head coach] puts the team name on the back of their jersey, and they truly buy into the team concept. They also are really good at what they do, both offensively and defensively. We had them down 21-0 and had the ball driving across the 50. When I looked across the sideline there was no panic. They never flinched, found a way to move the ball and wound up beating us.
“Carrollton, good teams have a way they play, a mannerism so to speak. If you put different uniforms on Carrolton and showed me the film, I could still tell it was them. That is a tribute to Joey [King, head coach] and all their coaches. They present themselves in a professional manner in everything they do, from warmups, stances, alignments defensively, special teams and play calling. They have talented players and find a way to utilize them.
“Toombs County. Broken record. Strong, fast, tough, team players, well-coached. Pregame when they warm up you realize nothing is going to be easy. They do a great job in the weight room, and it shows. “Once again, when you play them, team comes first.
“What stands out about all three? Team first, well-coached, they have a purpose, and they intend to win.”
