CHULA — Tiftarea Academy head coach Erik Soliday frequently uses the word “fortunate” to describe his team’s season.

He applies fortunate in describing the Panthers’ start on the scoreboard. He uses it talking about game situations. Soliday uses it to talk about the amount of personnel used in games. It’s an apt description.

Tiftarea is 3-0 for the 2018 football season, is averaging 54 points per game (while giving up a grand total of 35 points) and will be at full force for tonight’s battle at Loganville Christian Academy. The Panthers had been worried about the latter after Spence Massey went down with an injury against Lanier County Sept. 8, but Soliday said — naturally using “fortunate” — that the off week had allowed him to heal.

Kickoff will be at 7:30 p.m. This will be the first meeting between the schools, Loganville Christian only having established its football program in 2008. The school itself opened in 1998.

So how good has Tiftarea been this year?

The Panthers still have yet to punt. That has not stopped them from faithfully practicing punting technique, but that is as far as it has had to go.

When Massey was injured, he had 75 rushing yards. The team did not miss a beat. In his stead, Adam McKinney added a career high 207 yards on 17 carries. McKinney entered the game with 59 yards on the ground.

“He ran hard,” said Soliday.

They are averaging 10.6 yards per carry. As a team. Massey is gaining 14.6 yards on each handoff, McKinney 9.9. Through the air, Casen Royal has caught six passes, five for touchdowns.

Tiftarea gave up 100 total yards to Lanier County, a week after the Bulldogs achieved just shy of 400 yards against Frederica Academy.

Because of blowout first half scores, Soliday said, “We haven’t had to have played a full game yet.”

This could very well be the week. Loganville Christian is 2-3 for 2018 and the most productive team on offense the Panthers have faced yet. Though they lost, 50-23, the Lions had a 15-10 lead in the first half on Brookwood School.

Soliday said Loganville Christian liked to run sweeps and throw short passes. Seven players ran against Brookwood, Jordan Jackson leading with 48 yards and a touchdown. Keon McGhee and Cameron Lifsey are tied for the team lead with 183 yards. Three more runners have at least 100 yards.

Starting quarterback Cameron Anderson has completed nearly half of his 75 pass attempts for 302 yards. Dana Lucas is tops in both receptions and yards at 14 and 177, respectively.

“The quarterback and running back are really good,” said Soliday. Linebackers, too, are impressive. He said the Lions have a wealth of very athletic players.

Loganville Christian has won over Creekside Christian (20-7) and Flint River Academy (27-17).

“I hope we play four quarters,” he said.

Luckily, Tiftarea’s defensive efforts have strong so far. Besides the low total yardage allowed Lanier County, they have six interceptions on the year and 10 sacks. Brandon Mullis, who leads with four sacks, also has a blocked punt and four tackles for losses.

Soliday said coaches had been “very pleased” with these efforts. “The kids are running to the ball well,” he said.

Tiftarea will move into its GISA Region 3-AAA schedule next week, hosting Valwood. It will then be another three weeks before they face another conference opponent, with the last of its two region crossover games in between at Oct. 19 meeting at Brookwood. Valwood, 4-1, is off this week.