Ware County and Coffee High renew acquaintances Friday night in a Top 10 intra-classification showdown at Memorial Stadium.
The Class 5A eighth-ranked Trojans opened the year with a 28-14 victory over Bainbridge inside Jardin Stadium while the Class 4A eighthranked Gators hammered visiting Class 2A third-ranked Appling County 55-7 setting the largest point margin in the series (each team had 30-point wins).
The 55 points were the thirdmost in school history behind the 62-0 home victory over Pine Ridge (Fla.) in 2018 and the 56-12 win at Pierce County in 2000.
The point total was the secondhighest for a Jason Stricklandcoached team on opening night trailing a 56-19 victory over Irwin County while directing Fitzgerald in 2016.
Friday’s meeting with Coffee is the 53rd between the two programs with the Trojans holding a 30-22 advantage dating back to 1970 following two straight victories.
The Trojans are 37-6 in head coach Mike Coe’s fourth season on the sideline which includes the 2023 state title. Coe is in his 16th season overall sporting a 170-36-1 record which includes 12 seasons at Madison County (133 30-1) and four state titles. “They are good,” said Strickland of the Trojans. “It seems like every year they’re really big and athletic in the box on both sides of the ball. They just do a good job of playing the style of football they want to play, which is a bang it out, hit you in the mouth type of ball game.
“They’re going to run the ball and play a physical style behind a really, really good offensive line. The quarterback, I think, is more in line what Coach Coe wants being a mobile and athletic guy they can run the option stuff off of.
“Defensively, they graduated all three linebackers (Chris Reed, Mykevius Smith, Cupris Morgan) last year who were phenomenal players. The group they have this year, they may not have the experience, but they look like the bodies, and they’re running around making a lot of plays.”
Coffee’s offense is directed by senior quarterback Trey Ross, who missed the 2024 season due to personal reasons. Senior Kentavius DeBruce (5-foot-10, 185 lbs.) is the featured back.
DeBruce scored four touchdowns against Bainbridge finishing with 20 carries for 162 yards. Ross added 29 yards on eight carries. He only threw the ball twice without a completion.
“They’ve (Trojans) got another phenomenal running back and a quarterback who is electric with his legs,” Strickland said. “Offensively, Coffee’s scheme is getting foot-to-foot and playing inside a phone booth. It’s their (Trojans) identity they play really, really well. They know who they are.
“They don’t try to get outside of that. And, they’re going to try to impose their will whoever they’re playing. You tip your hat to them. “For us defensively, we’ve got to win first downs. You want to be able to press them to get in second- and third-and-long situations and make the offense uncomfortable. Somehow you’re going to have to match hats in the box. You’re going to put a bunch of them in there, but you got to match hats in the box.
“We’ve got to be eye disciplined in the option game. We didn’t do that in the first half against Appling County. We did a better job in the second half when players started reading their keys.” The offensive line is anchored by freshman Markez Curry (6-3, 275), who is just the second ninth-grader ever to start for Coe at Coffee. Curry was an Under Armour Middle School All-American.
Ware County will half to solve the 3-3 stack defensive alignment of the Trojans. Over the past two seasons, the Gators are averaging just 124 yards of total offense (50.5 rush,
73.5 pass). Ware County has generated 2.4 yards per carry (42 attempts,
101 yards) and completed 40 percent of its passes
(18-of-45, one interception).
“The last two years we have really, really struggled running the football against them (Trojans),” said Strickland. “They had one of the better defenses we’ve (coaches) seen during that time. We want to run the football, obviously.
“We’re going to have to hit some plays in the air against these guys and that’s going to come with protection up front. They are so suffocating in the box and they don’t mind putting their putting their secondary guys on the island letting them play man coverage.”
Junior quarterback Isaiah White has looked comfortable with the protection he’s getting. Senior running backs Jamir Boyd and Tayshaun Franklin each went over
100 yards against Appling County with huge running lanes.
“Isaiah has done a really good job of calling the protection and really selling the play-action game,” said Strickland. “He’s playing at a very, very high level and playing quarterback, not just football. The offensive line is allowing him to play very, very confidently.”
Junior safety Kadrien Wooten (5-11, 180) and senior cornerback Kenyon Livingston (6-1, 165) led Coffee’s defense in the opener with 11 and 10 tackles respectively.
As a unit, the Trojas recorded 13 tackles for loss with sophomore linebacker Tobias Butler recording a team-high three to go along with a quarterback sack.
Junior inside linebacker Jordan Solomon, senior outside linebacker Dickson Petitfrere (6-1, 185), senior nose guard/defensive end Cortez Walker (5--
10, 235) and junior defensive tackle Kawaski Brand (5-11, 245) were credited with two apiece.
Coffee’s special teams blocked a punt by sophomore C.J. Stinson and junior Tresean Smith (6-1,
180) averaged 39 yards on two kick returns.
WCHS vs. CHS Trojans lead 30-22 WCHS CHS 1970 ..........20 .............7
1971...........20 .............6
1972 ...........0 .............42
1973 ...........8..............14
1974 ...........0..............17
1975 ...........6 .............28
1976 ...........6 .............40
1976.........# 21...........20
1977 ..........20 .............0
1978 ..........33..............7
1979...........19.............21
1980..........14..............3
1981............7..............21
1982 ..........14.............48
1983...........0 .............27
1984 ...........7 ..............0
1985 ...........7..............35
1986 ..........16.............34
1987 ...........7 .............28
1988...........6 .............23
1989...........6..............37
1992 ..........12.............19
1993 ..........12.............27
1994 ...........9 .............27
1995 ..........13.............20
1996 ...........7..............21
1997 ...........0 .............28
1998 ..........10.............35
1999 ..........47.............21
2000 .........35 ............28
2001...........6...............7
2002 .........21.............15
2003 .........14..............7
2004 .........31 .............17
2005 .........10..............7
2008..........0 .............24
2009..........17 .............13
2010..........31.............14
2011 ..........28.............21
2012 ..........14.............21
2013 ..........13.............38
2014..........24.............21
2015 ..........23.............14
2016..........30 ............27
2017 ..........14.............21
2018..........14.............21
2019 ...........7..............21
2020 .........24.............14
2021..........35 .............3
2022..........31..............6
2023...........5 .............28
2024..........16 ............20 # - Region 1-AA championship
