The Hiram Hornets have already clinched a spot in the playoffs. That hasn’t happened since 2010. The next three week will give coach Pete Fominaya’s team a better idea of how much progress they’ve made in the last two years.
Hiram finishes the season with games against the three big dogs in Class AAAAA – No. 6 Rome, No. 7 Kell and No. 2 Carrollton. It starts this week when the Hornets (5-2, 4-0 Region 7) travel to Barron Stadium to play Rome.
“Our No. 1 goal this year was to make the playoffs,” Fominaya said. “We’ve done that and now we can move on to our other goals.”
Fominaya, who joined the program last year after a successful career in Florida, likes his team’s situation. “It’s good because we control our own destiny,” he said.
Hiram lost its first two games, falling to Class AAAAAA No. 3 Harrison and No. 9 South Paulding, who have lost only one game between them. Since then the Hornets have won five straight.
The defense has been a strength for the Hornets and has allowed only 24 points over the last four weeks. Fominaya praised the work of defensive coordinator Andy Scott, the former head coach at Kennesaw Mountain, for preparing the team. Defensive standouts include middle linebacker Caleb Brewster, a two-year team captain who has 45 tackles, and nose tackle Brandon Maina, who was moved from tight end and leads the team with 54 tackles.
The offense is led by tailback Jalen Townser, who played linebacker last season. The staff saw Townser run track and switched him over. It has paid off handsomely, as Townser has posted four 100-yard games and run for 787 yards and six touchdowns.
Rome (6-2, 5-1) can lock up the No. 2 spot in the region with a win this week. The Wolves have been overpowering in winning their last four games by a combined 186-24. Ahijah Blackwell (866 yards, 10 TDs) and E.J. Burks (479 yards, 12 TDs) are a formidable duo and quarterback Caleb Ellard (599 yards passing) is growing into the big shoes left by the graduation of four-year starter Knox Kadum.
Rome is 9-0 against Hiram. The Wolves won 56-0 a year ago. Hiram has never come closer than 21 points against Rome.
In other big games this weekend:
Stockbridge at Dutchtown, 7:30 p.m. This game determined the Region 4 championship a year ago and Dutchtown wrestled the title away from the Tigers, who had won it four straight years. The stakes are different this time around. Both teams are 6-1 overall and 3-1 in the region; Dutchtown lost to Jones County, Stockbridge lost to Union Grove. The loser will almost certainly be on the road to open the playoffs; Stockbridge could still win the region if it wins out.
Warner Robins at Bainbridge, 7:30 p.m. Warner Robins (7-1, 2-0) needs a win over defending state champion Bainbridge (5-2, 0-1) to set up a showdown with rival Veterans on the final week to determine the Region 1 title. Jalen Addie has done well at quarterback, throwing for 1,383 yards and 16 touchdowns and has rushed for 237. The Demons have double trouble in the backfield with Jahlen Rutherford (660 yards) and James Smith (510 yards) and all-state receiver Marcayll Jones (25 catches, 475 yards). Bainbridge has played a challenging schedule again this season and has dropped two in a row. Bearcats quarterback Quayde Hawkins has thrown for 1,125 yards and nine touchdowns and Rashad Broadnax has run for 718 yards and eight touchdowns. Warner Robins leads the series 4-2, but Bainbridge won 47-41 in 2018 during its march to the state title.
Southwest DeKalb vs. Lithonia (Avondale Stadium), 7:30 p.m. Southwest DeKalb will face one of its biggest Region 5 challenges this week. The Panthers (6-1, 2-0) have won five straight since an early season loss to Stephenson and have prevailed by a combined 88-14 in their first two region games. Quarterback Rion White had thrown for 993 yards and 10 touchdowns through five games and Mekhi Gilstrap has emerged as the team's best running threat. Aquil Muhammad and Tommy Wright are both capable making big plays at wide receiver. Lithonia (2-5, 1-1) will have to play better than it did two weeks ago when it was thumped by Columbia. Lithonia quarterback Savion Lawson had thrown for 870 yards and 11 touchdowns through six games and found a real connection with Khalil Roach, who had eight of those TDs. Dvont'e Slaton has been the team's most productive runner. Southwest DeKalb leads the series 15-2 and outslugged the Bulldogs 9-0 last season. Lithonia's last win over SWD came in 2002.
Union Grove at Ola, 7:30 p.m. This game could be the decider for who gets in the playoffs from Region 4. Union Grove lost in a similar situation a year ago and is looking to make the postseason for the first time since 2012. Ola has made great progress since last year's 1-9 season and is seeking its first playoff appearance since 2016. Ola (5-2, 2-2) lost close games to state-ranked Dutchtown and Stockbridge and still has No. 3 Jones County and playoff contender Eagle's Landing on the schedule. Union Grove (5-2, 2-2) has already played the region's three powers and picked off Stockbridge. Ola is led by Hunter Kautz (1,115 yards passing, 11 TDs; 662 yards rushing 11 TDs) and tailback Karl Kennedy (574 yards). Union Grove quarterback Michael Reese has thrown for 536 yards and Dechavion Williams (426 yards, six TDs), Jaylen Blackwell (296 yards) and K.J. Green (283 yards) are the top runners.
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