AJC > Sports > Highschools > Blog > Archives > 2006 > October > 19 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USHealth may decide Region 1-AAAAA
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
In a tight Region 1-AAAAA race, it might come down to who can stay healthy. Warner Robins and Houston County are getting healthy at key positions, and at just the right time.
Houston County’s Martez King got hurt in the season opener against Northside-Warner Robins and sophomore Jeff Thompson played the next three games at quarterback.
Comfortable with Thompson’s performance under center, Houston County coaches switched King to wingback to give the Bears another running threat. Since the move, Houston County has won two big games over region rivals Lowndes and Colquitt County.
“That helped [running back] Eric O’Neal, he got 100 yards rushing in both of those games,” said Houston County coach Doug Johnson. “It balanced us out, we were one-dimensional. Now we’re able to have the counters to the wingback.”
Warner Robins, meanwhile, has risen to the top of the Region 1-AAAAA standings, and entering this week’s games, the Demons are the only team undefeated in the region.
After losing two of its first three games, the Demons fell off the radar a bit. But senior quarterback Mark Wright was banged up, and coach Bryan Way said he made a mistake in rushing him back a week too early.
Now Wright is healthy, and Way said he expects Antwan Hamilton at full strength this week. Hamilton has been battling ankle injuries all season, but is ready for Saturday’s big game against Coffee. Last year Hamilton rushed for 829 yards and nine touchdowns, making his return a timely one in a game that could give the Demons an edge in the region race.
“It’d be very big, we’d still have three tough games after that,” Way said. “But if we were to go 3-0 in the region to start off with, that would definitely put us a leg up on everybody else, and more importantly give our kids some confidence.”
The State Football Report features high school football news from outside Metro Atlanta. If you have news for the State Football Report or a team you’d like to see featured, e-mail ccustance@ajc.com.
Permalink | Comments (34) | Post your comment | Categories: State Football Report
Comments
By Joey
October 19, 2006 03:35 PM | Link to this
Houston County is a team to watch out for….we have the craziest fans in the state (the hoco locos)…dont be fooled if we crush Tift county tonight by more than 2 touchdowns….we have 3 big threats at running back and nobody in the state is ready for sophomore Jeff Thompsons arm.
By john
October 19, 2006 04:37 PM | Link to this
!!GO BIG BLUE!! Houston hasn’t seen a D-Fence like Tift County yet and your going to see them close and personal tonight. Go ahead run the Wing T. Personally I thank it is going to be a close game. If your going to win you better learn how to throw the ball. From what I seen on www.hocofootball.com ya’ll haven’t been able to do that all year. Good Luck.
By HOCO Loco
October 19, 2006 06:06 PM | Link to this
Tift hasn’t stopped the run all year and they won’t tonight either. Why pass the ball when we can use the largest offensive line in the state to demoralize your defense. Houston County is one of the best teams in the state because they have the best OL/DL in Georgia - that’s what wins games in 1AAAAA.
By coffee fan
October 19, 2006 08:02 PM | Link to this
Tift is way overated so i pick houston by 10. the team all of yall need to watch is coffee, losing to lowndes was a fluke we played our worst game then and only a subpar game in our 23-20 win over tift. we will beat houston 27-20, watch and see.
By NorthsideWRGrad
October 19, 2006 09:24 PM | Link to this
ALL KUDOS TO THE GWINNETT JOURNAL CONSTITUTION!!!! I say that jokingly but it’s about damn time that the sports dept got off their a** and started reporting on other areas of the states’ football programs. Even though I now live in Atlanta, it is nice to get info about other areas of the state. Especially my home county Houston County. The GJC finally has come around and figured out that even people originaly from the metro area would like to hear about the rest of the state. I would say keep up the (good) work but for right now it is just work. Go a couple more weeks of expanded coverage then I’ll say GOOD work.
By Yo
October 19, 2006 09:44 PM | Link to this
Coffee, you have a very good ball club but your losing to Lowndes was by no means a fluke. Your own coach said it was a war and you guys were simply beat by what was a better team that particular night. Fortunately for you the Bus didn’t play and hasn’t played since. Bet he will be back this week for Dosta though. The one thing Lowndes had that Coffe couldn’t match up with was speed, something I understand Houston also has plenty of.
By WRFAN
October 19, 2006 09:45 PM | Link to this
Coffee better worry about Warner Robins. Coffee is not good just lucky,we will kick their butt back to the swamp.
By coffee trojan alum
October 19, 2006 10:01 PM | Link to this
Coffee has always been a team that no one wanted to play.Despite records this has always been a hard hitting talented ball club.The best Q.B. doesn’t play Q.B.but they still get it done..GO TROJANS GO……
By BlueDevil10
October 19, 2006 10:29 PM | Link to this
BTW Tift Co just beat HoCo 20-27 on OT.
By Warner Robins Football Fan
October 19, 2006 10:38 PM | Link to this
Tift County just beat Houston County 20-17 in overtime not 27-20.Both teams were plagued by fumbles and penalties.
By Coffee High Fan
October 20, 2006 01:13 AM | Link to this
Make no mistake; Coffee High Trojans are definitely the team to beat in the region. They have clearly outplayed each of their opponents, including Lowndes. The only team I see defeating Coffee is Coffee themselves. We gladly await the “so called” highly ranked teams that have been getting all the publicity and dropping out of the top spot like flies (Tift, Houston, Colquitt, Lowndes, and soon to be Warner Robins). The Trojans thrive off being the underdog.
By john
October 20, 2006 08:26 AM | Link to this
So don’t believe me the Wing-T if you didn’t have Eric O’Neal that had 193 yards on the ground you wouldn’t have done that good the rest of your great running backs accounted for 61 yards if that much, so say what you want to we still won. By the way ya’ll did the same thing Valdosta in overtime, you went backwards. As to the Coffee fan that our worst outing yet by offence & D-fence but hay ya’ll did a good job of keeping our D-fence off balance, unlike Houston who’s QB was 2-9 for 22 yards.
By powbeech
October 20, 2006 08:55 AM | Link to this
An underdog is someone/something who never achieves anything… like Coffee! Coffee did not outplay Lowndes. Even with the “Bus” out it could have been much worse.
By Former Tift All-State Performer
October 20, 2006 01:17 PM | Link to this
The only thing that will keep Tift from winning is lousy play calling, an inexperieced QB that holds the ball too long and not getting the ball to Isreal Troupe, the best reciever in the South the ball. Coffee got away with one a week ago, but this thing isn’t over. We have one of if not the best D in the state. Two things are for sure, Valdosta can still make the playoffs, and Moultrie is very overrated.We get the offense straight,we’ll make another deep run. Go Big Blue!!!!!!!!!!
By Yo
October 20, 2006 01:58 PM | Link to this
Coffee High Fan you can outplay Lowndes all you want as long as we win 7-0. Of course if you think Coffee outplayed Lowndes then that explains how Lowndes gets outplayed by you guys every year when they beat you.
By sho1
October 20, 2006 02:58 PM | Link to this
Ok let’s talk Real Talk. The Region 1-AAAAA championship is up for grabs. However, on this blog, I see that no one really wants to give COFFEE COUNTY its’ do respect. I congratulate Tifton on their win,however when we (Coffee Trojans) defeated Tift, we didnt just beat them, we dominated them. For example, 381 total offensive yards to 170 something yards, 17 first downs to 5 first downs. Trust me the final score was not indicative of what really transpired in the game. The only way Coffee looses again in this region is if they beat themselves with senseless turnovers and penalties. Oh yeah Lowndes fan, we made mental mistakes against ya’ll. We had 2 fumbles and 2 interceptions. I wouldn’t “toot my horn” so much about that win.
By Yo
October 20, 2006 05:48 PM | Link to this
Seems a little winning and Coffee fans become incoherent. Get over it you lost to Lowndes. 7-0 Last time I checked Tift and Lowndes are different teams. You didn’t have even 200 offensive yards against Lowndes and you did not even threaten a score. Ha Ha even without the Bus you couldn’t score any points on us. If you want to beat Lowndes my suggestion is learn not to fumble and throw interceptions. That is a part of the game. I can understand your frustations because you know the results next year will be the same, one more Coffee loss to Lowndes.
By Yo
October 20, 2006 05:51 PM | Link to this
sho 1 writes: “Oh yeah Lowndes fan, we made mental mistakes against ya’ll. We had 2 fumbles and 2 interceptions. I wouldn’t “toot my horn” so much about that win”
So you are readily admitting that beating Coffee isn’t that big of a deal. You are right, I shouldn’t get too excited. I guess I was trying to give Coffee their due but thanks for straightening me out.
By Big Blue
October 20, 2006 06:46 PM | Link to this
Don’t get carried away Coffee fans. Fine, you beat us this once in a blue moon with the worst QB we’ve had in a long time. When was the last time you played for a state championship????? Make it past the second round and then start bumping your gums!!
By sho1
October 21, 2006 12:48 AM | Link to this
Ok real talk guys and girls. Why is it when you dont have a good rebuttal, you tend to result to the past for ammunition (Big Blue; hit dog will holla). It has nothing to do with getting carried away, again it’s just “Real Talk”. I get so tired of coming on here and reading about, “what my team has done in the past.” Remember in the sports world it’s “what have you done for me lately!”
By Yo
October 21, 2006 01:00 AM | Link to this
sho 1 (no past here) in the future Lowndes will “still” “own” Coffee Cty. Pulling for you against Warner though.
By sho1
October 21, 2006 01:13 AM | Link to this
Thanks Yo! I really cant say much when a team(Lowndes) has owned us since 2000. Congrats on your recent win against Valdosta.
By Big Blue
October 21, 2006 07:12 AM | Link to this
Like I said, no one is talking about your history sho 1. You don’t have one! Do the rest of the true 1-AAAAA teams a favor and make some noise tonight and beat WR. Show the state that you do exist and you can be relevant.
By toocoldscorpio
October 21, 2006 11:51 AM | Link to this
Don’t forget that* NORTHSIDE , WARNER ROBINS IS 2-0 IN REGION 1-AAAAA*.
By Big Blue
October 21, 2006 12:29 PM | Link to this
1 Northside is not in 1-AAAAA. 2 WR beating Houston does not count. 3 Who hasn’t beaten Valdosta this year. 4 Coffee will beat WR tonight.By Warner Robins Football Fan
October 21, 2006 10:25 PM | Link to this
Big Blue:1)Correct,Northside is not in 1AAAAA.2)WR Beating Houston does matter.3)Everyone in the region thus far has beaten Valdosta…but that will change.4)WR beat Coffee 24-7.
By Michael
October 22, 2006 10:26 AM | Link to this
Did anybody hear about the big fight between players and fans after the Valdosta-Lowdnes game this weekend?? Does anybody know how it got started (details)??
By Big Blue
October 22, 2006 04:05 PM | Link to this
Congrats WR fan. Same old Coffee. But, WR struggled until the last few minutes of the game even getting shut out on the 1 inch line. Should be a quality matchup down at old Brodie Field this Friday. It has meant much recently, but the writing in the visitors locker room says “Welcome to the Devils Den! Buckle up.”
By Warner Robins Football Fan
October 22, 2006 10:09 PM | Link to this
Thanks Big Blue,Look forward to this friday night w/TC.
By J-Star.Dogg
October 23, 2006 12:27 AM | Link to this
the fight at val-lown games started with players fm ea team who were dating the same girl. but the fight in the locker room was between team mates in rival gangs
By sho1
October 23, 2006 08:55 AM | Link to this
The only way Coffee looses again in this region is if they beat themselves with senseless turnovers and penalties. Well they did it again, beat themselves that is. WR executed and we didnt. I’ll openly attribute this lost to our coaching staff who are over payed and underskilled. Hats off to that awesome defense we have!!! Its not over for us yet!!!! Go Trojans!!!!!!!
By Tipp Smooth
October 23, 2006 12:25 PM | Link to this
All that I have to say is see who ever in the playoffs. Camden County will be there to greet and beat.
By Yo
October 23, 2006 05:38 PM | Link to this
Except for one year, Camden is pretty much always there for some team to greet and beat. Camden usually gets someone from 1AAAAA in the second round. Good luck! You are going to need it. It won’t matter which one you get. They are all good.
By SeminoleWarrior
October 26, 2006 07:04 PM | Link to this
Houston County and Coffee County are still the teams to watch in Region 1AAAAA. Warner Robins has been opportunistic all season and lady luck is about to run out on Tift County. Take away that aweful fair catch play last week at HCHS and the tide of the game changes big time! Ray Charles and Stevie Wonder would have known that was a fair catch. But a win is a win so I will move on. Coaching has cost HCHS two key victories that would otherwise have them solidly in the top two positions in the region. The next three weeks will be about two points, desire versus tradition. Who will win in the end. My money is on WR, HOCO, LHS, and Coffee Co.