At 1-3 and staring at the start of the Region 1-AAA schedule, first-year Thomasville football coach Jonathan DeLay began to ponder some changes.

Those changes have been subtle – and effective.

The Bulldogs, winners of eight straight, will host Carver-Atlanta on Friday at Veterans Memorial Stadium in the state quarterfinals.

“We changed a little bit the way we practiced and the way we did things,” DeLay said.

DeLay echoed the words of former University of Georgia defensive coordinator and legendary Georgia Southern head coach Erk Russell’s short and simple mantra to his players: do right.

“Our biggest thing is we started talking about a standard,” DeLay said, “do right and dictate – do right in everything you do, whether it’s school, on the field, attendance, in the community and then dictate. On the field, you’re going to dictate to your opponent what they can and can’t do. And they’ve really embodied that.”

Thomasville’s three losses over the tough opening stretch were to rigid competition – a loss to defending Class A state champ Brooks County, a loss to currently unbeaten and No. 2-ranked in Class 6A Thomas County Central and a loss to Class 4A Bainbridge.

After knocking off Class 7A Tift County, the Bulldogs ran through the region, winning all five games by an average margin of 24 points an outing – though some were much closer than that spread.

“There’s just been a change in the way to come work and prepare, and it’s just been awesome to see,” DeLay said.

Last week’s hard-fought 13-6 win over Liberty County set up this Friday’s matchup with Carver-Atlanta, a runner-up last year in Class AAA to eventual champ Cedar Grove.

The Panthers’ Bryce Bowens has thrown for more than 2,000 yards this year and is coming off a 20-of-27 effort passing for 215 yards and three touchdowns in the win over Monroe Area. Bowens has thrown 20 TD passes and has not thrown an interception. He also has seven rushing touchdowns.

Shoun Bilal, Carver’s leading rusher on the season, ran for 105 yards last week against Monroe Area.

Carver fell 44-16 to Class 7A powerhouse Buford but rebounded to upend Peach County.

Two other region foes – defending champ Cedar Grove and Sandy Creek – also are still alive in the Class AAA playoffs.

Thomasville took a gamble last week to ensure its spot in the quarterfinals. Ahead 10-6 with nearly 11 minutes remaining, DeLay called for a fake punt on fourth-and-2 from the Bulldogs’ 44-yard line. Jay Randall picked up seven yards on the play, and Thomasville eventually got a Daniel Belvin field goal to go up 13-7 with 6:36 remaining.

The Bulldogs’ defense, which bottled up Liberty’s speedy offense for most of the night, made that decision and lead stand up.

“We had to use to right there and it worked,” DeLay said of the fake punt. “It allowed us the opportunity to play again next week and that’s what we wanted to do.”