GHSF Daily's Four Questions feature historically poses the same questions to a different Georgia head coach each issue. This season, head coaches are being asked Four Questions tailored to current events. Today's interviewee is Jones County head coach Justin Rogers, whose team defeated Northside of Warner Robins 35-27 last week.
Justin Rogers, Jones County head coach
1. Northside was the sixth ranked team that you've beaten since you came to Jones County in 2014. Jones County had lost 24 consecutive games to ranked teams when you got the job. What do you think when you hear statistics like that, and what was the key to the latest big win Friday? "Wow! That's my first thought. I did not realize that. We are just so thankful to have a group of guys that allow us to coach them hard. As for the game, first, we played extremely hard. That's easy to say but often hard to do. We responded well to adversity, and both sides of the ball picked each other up. When the offense would make a mistake, the defense would make a big play, and when the defense needed a break, the offense would make a great play. Just a total team effort."
2. What changes have you made that you feel have turned Jones County into a program that can compete with top-10 programs? "The biggest thing is we work. There's no substitute for work, no matter what profession you're in. Also, it helps a lot that we have great kids, unbelievable community support, support from our administration and a great coaching staff. There is no one thing, just a combination of things done well daily."
3. There were schematic changes, too, especially on offense. How important were those? ''We did change the offense from a wing-T to the spread. It had paid off by giving us a more big-play offense and helped us adapt year in and year out to the personnel we have at Jones County and adapt to the players' skill sets. I believe that was very important. I am an offensive coordinator at heart. The spread is what we ran at Griffin and what I believe in. So doing what you know and believe in is important. I am still my own play caller. Scheme matters. You have to coach what you know and can teach and adjust, so it definitely matters, but obviously we have to get the players to buy in to whatever system you run.'' [Rogers was Griffin's offensive coordinator in 2013 when the Bears averaged 42.7 points while winning a state title. When Rogers was hired in 2014, Jones County had never averaged more than 27.4 points in any season. Jones County averaged 37.0 points in Rogers' first season and has not averaged less than 32.8 points since.]
4. How is this Jones County team different, or the same, to others that you've coached in terms of style, personnel and potential? "They all are different. Every team has its own personality and character. But this team like our others understands that it takes what it takes. The process for success is simple. It's just hard to do day in, day out, and this team understands that the work must be put in, and little things do matter."
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