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But the Buckin' Elks (8-2, 6-1 Northwest) still have plenty to play for as they close out the regular season tonight against East Surry (9-1, 6-1). The runner-up spot behind the Granite Bears will go to tonight's winner, plus chances for a strong seed for the upcoming state playoffs, which start next Friday.
In retrospect, this game looms a lot bigger than last week's.
"We both got beat the same way (against Mount Airy), so it ought to be a good ball game," Elkin coach Richard Grissom quipped after practice Thursday.
The long-time Buckin' Elks chief sees tonight's battle coming down to a few simple points.
"It's the team that wants it the most," he said. "In the matter of X's and O's, coach (Dave) Diamont will do a good job and we'll do a good job. But the people who execute the best and the kids who want it the most will win the ball game."
Elkin's defense will once again see a spread-type attack coming against them. But East Surry likes to run quite a bit from the formation. Terril Hargrave does a lot of the ground work, gaining 187 yards for example in a win over West Wilkes last Friday.
Hunter Diamont, the son of the Cardinals coach, directs the attack at quarterback. He's getting more confident throwing the ball of late. He completed eight of nine passes for 141 yards and a touchdown against North Stokes a few weeks ago. In that game, Diamont also scampered 63 yards for a TD.
East Surry had a little trouble putting West Wilkes away last week, not fully taking charge until the second half. West led 7-3 in the third quarter before the Cardinals rallied to a 24-13 triumph.
Elkin has been a thorn in East Surry's side for the past three seasons, beating the Cardinals each year on the final night of the regular season.
In 2005, the Elks won 31-14, handing the Cards their first conference loss and forging a three-way tie atop the standings between the two teams and Mount Airy.
In a 2006 battle of unbeaten teams in the conference standings, Elkin overcame a slow start and hammered the Cardinals 38-7. Last November, East Surry was the favorite to end its drought but were surprised by the Elks in Pilot Mountain, 28-14.
Can Elkin make it four in a row before moving into a different conference from its Surry County neighbor? Again, Grissom repeated a familiar refrain.
"If we play like we're capable of playing, we should be OK," he said. "It all boils down in a ball game like this to execution and the kids who want it the most, especially on defense."
Grissom said his Elks were pretty healthy considering the time of year. Players who had been injured in recent games, like Kyle Whitman and Michael Jordan, look to be in good shape going into tonight.
The Elkin coach praised team physician, Dr. Skip Whitman, for working hard to keep his players healthy. He also commended Dr. Whitman's recent selection to the Surry County Sports Hall of Fame. Whitman was honored last month in a special ceremony as a new inductee into the Ring of Honor portion of the Hall of Fame.
"He deserved it. He's done a heck of a lot for our program," Grissom said. "If it wasn't for Dr. Whitman, we probably wouldn't have kids back that we do have back right now.
"Over the years and in the playoffs he has kept us going. We're a small school and we don't have that many kids but there were plenty of times when he'd come in at halftime and get them ready to go back in the second half. And after ball games, we thought we wouldn't have them the next week and he'd get them ready."
Dr. Whitman also has been known to support the football program by chartering busses to away games for fans. He also has been involved in other sports in the greater Elkin community, including all-star baseball teams for younger age groups.
Whitman's nomination form to the Surry Hall mentioned his quick action taken after a player from another school suffered a serious leg injury during a scrimmage against Elkin back in August.
Whitman did all he could do for the player on the field, then made sure a team of physicians was ready to meet the young man when he arrived at the hospital.
"He's done a great job, just a wonderful job for us at Elkin High School," Grissom said. "He's a great supporter of our football program and of the high school in general and the whole city school system. He's a great person -- he deserves everything he gets as far as honors go in my opinion."
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