Heritage bracing for Pickens and state's top rusher

Arkansas-SEMO Live Blog

Many have tried to contain Shannon Brooks, but no one has succeeded in slowing the state of Georgia's leading rusher in high school football this season.

Heritage gets its shot tonight against the Pickens County senior star in a key Region 7-AAAA game in Ringgold, and Generals coach E.K. Slaughter said there is only one possible way.

"I hope we can slow him down with sound fundamental defense and good pursuit, but I'm sure every team has the same plan," Slaughter said. "They're pretty balanced, too, with a quarterback that's averaging 100 yards a game rushing and nearly 20 yards per completion when teams load up to stop Brooks."

Brooks, a University of Minnesota recruit, has over 1,700 yards and is averaging better than 10 yards a carry for a 6-1 Dragons team that has scored 62 and 69 points the last two weeks. Heritage (4-3, 2-2) also has won impressively the last two weeks to put itself back in playoff talk. Ironically, Slaughter said the turnaround began during the Generals' worst loss.

"As funny as it sounds, the Cartersville game was where we started playing more as a team," he said of the 51-6 defeat. "The key has been playing with better fundamentals, playing hard and getting some consistency at quarterback. We're also treating each other with more respect. The players are starting to get excited and believing they can win games."

Contact Lindsey Young at lyoung@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6296.

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