East Paulding was one of those No. 4 seeds that may have gotten overlooked when the playoffs started. But no one is sleeping on the Raiders now after they knocked off once-beat Region 6 champion Banneker in the first round.
Coach Billy Shackelford’s team competes in Region 7, which includes three ranked teams: No. 1 Rome, No. 9 Kell and No. 10 Carrollton. East Paulding beat Kell and had Carrollton on the ropes before letting the Trojans escape. The Raiders are 11 points away from being a 10-1 football team.
“I think our region does prepare you for the playoff grind,” Shackelford said. “If you can somehow survive and get in the top four, you’ve got a chance.”
East Paulding (7-4) has won five straight games. It hits the road again on Friday to play Clarke Central at Death Valley. The Patriots are trying to get to the state quarterfinals for the first time since 2011, which was the last season coach John Reid (now at Rome) was at the school.
This is Shackelford’s second season as head coach since moving over from Sprayberry, where he spent 10 seasons. He expected the defense to carry the team and for the offense to grow into its role. That’s exactly what has transpired.
The defense rebuilt the line and played through some thinness at linebacker. (“We’re like a MASH unit there,” he said.) The secondary has been the anchor.
“The defense has been our bellcow,” Shackelford said. “They’ve created a lot of turnovers. The line has come along nicely and we’re undersized in the middle, but guys have played hard with good technique.”
The team’s “spine” on defense is middle linebacker Maverick Hering, with the secondary led by cornerbacks Chance Foster and Mike Williams and safeties Austin Harvey and Elohim Hull.
The offense revolves around running back Tyrell Robinson, a 165-pound senior who runs with power and is an explosive play waiting to happen. Robinson has offers from the various military academies and Shackelford called him “a special kid.”
East Paulding has also gotten excellent production from its special teams. “They’re our unsung heroes,” Shackelford said. The Raiders have produced touchdowns on kickoff returns and big plays on punt returns, with Elijah Coleman doing much of the damage.
Shackelford said the team is pleased to be where they are and are looking forward to making its first trip to Clarke Central.
“Once the playoffs start, your record is 0-0,” he said. “You just have to play.”
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