More riding on Gretna’s district rematch with Dan River

The last time Gretna’s and Dan River’s football teams met, Sept. 11 in Ringgold, there were no Dogwood District implications.

Tonight’s rematch, starting at 7 at Gretna, counts in the district standings, with the two-time defending Group A, Division 2, state champion Hawks (5-1, 2-0 Dogwood) in the driver’s seat, leading the Wildcats (5-2, 2-1), Altavista and Appomattox by half a game.

And they have home-field advantage and a healthy quarterback to boot.

Nick Miller, who sat out last season with a dislocated ankle and fractured tibia, sprained his other ankle early in the fourth quarter at Dan River when a back-pedaling official stepped on it.

“We were right around the 10-yard line … when Nick got hurt,” Gretna coach Kevin Saunders said. “We were getting ready to score to go up 28-14.”

Saunders brought in backup quarterback Tony Miller (no relation) for one play and he fumbled on a blind-side sack by Matt Grubbs. The Wildcats’ Markorey Adams picked up the loose ball and returned it 76 yards for a touchdown, tying the game at 21.

Nick Miller, who accounted for four touchdowns in the game, returned to lead the Hawks to a 27-21 victory, sneaking in from one yard out on the ensuing drive.

“Nick goes back and played on one leg,” Saunders said. “He could throw, he even ran a couple plays, (but) it was bothering him.”

Gretna’s defense, which held the Wildcats’ power rushing attack to one yard of offense on four plays in the first quarter, stopped Ezander Shelton at the 4 on fourth-and-goal with less than four minutes to go in the fourth.

After being replaced at quarterback by top receiving target Ted Jennings against Tunstall, Miller has played through his ankle injury in recent weeks, though he hasn’t been his usual threat to run out of the Hawks’ spread attack.

“He did a really good job, when he was hurt, of managing the ball (and) running the offense,” Saunders said, noting senior Andre Dickerson picked up the slack out of the backfield. “Andre ran the ball really well and Nick was real efficient throwing the ball.”

Now, Miller’s back to full strength and showing flashes of his freshman form, when he was named The Associated Press Group A player of the year.

“He should be pretty close to 100 percent now,” Saunders said. “He looks good. (When he’s) a threat to run the ball … it makes him a much better football player. He can make things happen with his feet and throwing the ball. He’s exceptional both ways.”

Dan River, which bounced back from a 37-12 loss to Altavista with a 46-6 rout of Nelson County last week, has proven itself a worthy Division 2 opponent, eager to avenge their first loss and keep their Region B playoff hopes alive. With three regular-season games to play, the Wildcats have reached the five-win mark for the first time since 2001.

“Our goal is the playoffs,” said second-year coach Ferrell Edmunds, the former Seattle Seahawk and Miami Dolphin tight end whose son, Trey, rotates between quarterback and tailback on offense. “Every game we play from now on is going to feel like a playoff game. Our kids know that and hopefully they’re focused enough to handle the task every week. If we do what we’re supposed to do, everything else will take care of itself.”

Saunders said the Wildcats have the edge in a couple significant areas.

“They probably match up better with us and are a lot better skill-wise,” he said, noting they also are stronger on the offensive and defensive lines.

“They’re a power football team,” Saunders said. “They line up and run the football and do a good job with it. They’re really talented in the backfield. They’ve got a bunch of good backs, they roll three or four in there, and they can take it to the house.”

Gretna linebacker Stephen Payne, who injured his knee in practice before the first Dan River game, returned two weeks ago before another linebacker, Antwan Mease, was lost for the season with a knee injury.

“We’re pretty deep back there (so) we’ll be OK as long as we don’t lose anybody else,” Saunders said. “We’ve been really good on defense pretty much all year.”

Dan River counters with R.J. Meyers, an excellent linebacker, and Edmunds, also a starting safety.