State playoff preview: Toombs Co.-Southwest Macon

For those on the outside looking in, Carror Wright had literally gone stark raving mad two years ago. After all, what sane man would leave Dougherty, a program he led to the 2005 state finals, for Southwest Macon?

Yes, the same Southwest that had gone 2-28 the last three seasons, had not had a winning season since 1989 and had never won a state playoff game.

With six boys’ state titles, Southwest athletics is all about basketball. As for football — forget about it.

But those with the white lab coats never tracked down Wright to put him in a padded room. And Southwest is happy about that.

After weathering an oh-so-familiar 1-9 Southwest season in 2007, Wright has the Patriots 8-2 and hosting their first state playoff game Friday against Toombs County.

“People talked behind my back and talked to my face that I had lost my mind,” Wright said. “They said I was crazy. I asked myself the same thing a few times. But I think the good Lord feels everyone should have some success, and I think anything is possible.”

Wright proved that 10 years ago by winning 23 games during his final three seasons at Northeast Macon, another program with a forgettable history. But that took four losing seasons before success, and his current turnaround project at Southwest took one.

It started with good players. Senior Adrian Alexander, a 5-foot-8, 165-pound running back, has accounted for 2,018 yards and 27 touchdowns.

Fellow seniors, including quarterback Michael Johnson and linebacker Khiry King, also have been instrumental in the turnaround.

Toombs will not be a walkover. Senior linebacker Demery Hawkins (6-1, 215) is a solid player, and two-way lineman Neal Rodgers (6-3, 250) is a Division I prospect.

TOOMBS COUNTY AT SOUTHWEST MACON

• When, where: 7:30 p.m. Friday, Brad Henderson Memorial Stadium, Macon.

• Records, rankings: Toombs County is 7-3, Southwest Macon 8-2. Neither team is ranked in Class AA.

OTHER TOP GAMES

• Fitzgerald at Charlton County, 7:30 p.m. Friday: The state’s only first-round matchup between ranked teams, with Class AA Fitzgerald at No. 4, Charlton No. 3.

• Troup at Cairo, 7:30 p.m. Friday: No breather for Class AAA No. 1 Cairo with four of Troup’s losses to ranked teams by total of 15 points.

• Bainbridge at Brunswick, 8 p.m. Friday: Bearcats coach Ed Pilcher is known for postseason magic, and Class AAAA No. 8 Brunswick is a darkhorse.