The first round of games between the three powerful teams in Region 1 takes place this week when No. 6 Ware County visits No. 4 Coffee in Douglas. This game, worthy of a late state tournament setting, isn’t likely to determine the region champion. It’s just the first step in avoiding an extended road trip for the playoffs.
Coffee (6-0) and Ware County (4-1) are in the toughest league in the classification, which they share with No. 1 Warner Robins. Neither side wants to take a loss in the region opener and be faced with the proposition of needing to beat Warner Robins to gain home field advantage.
Coffee coach Robby Pruitt has grown accustomed to tough situations. In the 10 years he’s been in Douglas, the state championship has come from his league in five of those six years.
“We’ve got a good team, but we’ve got two other teams in our region that are good, too,” Pruitt said. “Its no secret that Warner Robins has the best team and Ware County, the team we’re playing this week, is awful danged good.”
Coffee’s rebuilt defense has stood up in the first half of the season. The Trojans have allowed only seven points over the last three games and only 38 points for the year. Not bad for a team that began the season with a new secondary and mostly new defensive line.
Twins Cameron and Brandon High lead the defense. Cameron High is the defensive lineman and Brandon leads a veteran crew that includes Trejan Landers and Anthony Gaskin, who has offers from South Florida and UAB. The secondary, which lost everyone, has been helped by the successful transition of Brady Skipper from running back to safety.
But that has left the running back corps shorthanded, since three of the top backs have been injured, forcing Pruitt to move pieces around and jiggle their responsibilities. The Trojans have been fortunate to have the versatile Maurice Turner, who has run for 213 yards and four touchdowns and caught 21 passes for 309 yards and four touchdowns.
Quarterback Justin Swords has made a relatively smooth transition at quarterback, where he’s thrown for 773 and six touchdowns. Swords may have started last year until he tore a ligament in his throwing hand and spent a frustrating year at receiver, who was trying to catch the ball with a cast on his hand.
Coffee will see one of the state’s most dangerous quarterbacks this week. Ware County’s Thomas Castellanos, who has committed to Central Florida, and may be the top two-way threat in the state. Castellanos has thrown for 1,300 yards and 12 touchdowns and run for 405 yards and seven touchdowns. A year ago he ran for 939 and threw for 2,881 yards.
“I don’t think you can go after the quarterback because if you miss him, he can take it to the house,” Pruitt said.
And Ware County has an all-state caliber running back in Cartevious Norton, who missed last season with an injury and has rushed for 708 yards and six touchdowns in 2021.
Ware County coach Jason Strickland called Norton “the best kept secret in Georgia.” Norton has several Division I offers, including Georgia State.
Ware County won 24-14 a year ago.
In the other key Region 1 game, Wayne County (0-5) will host Veterans (1-5) in a game that last year determined the odd-man-out in the five-team region. Wayne won last year 10-7 and Veterans sat at home
In other big games this week:
Calhoun at Blessed Trinity: A similar situation exists in Region 7, the state’s other power conference. No. 7 Calhoun (5-1) has lost only to a power team from Tennessee. No. 9 Blessed Trinity (4-2) has lost to Class 4A No. 3 Marist and No. 8 St. Pius – both traditional rivals. Both teams must still play No. 2 Cartersville.
The game features three of the most exciting players in the state: Calhoun receiver Cole Speer and quarterback Christian Lewis and Blessed Trinity running back Justice Haynes.
Blessed Trinity won last year’s game 35-21 and went on to win the region title.
Dutchtown at Stockbridge: This game has evolved into one of the most interesting rivalries in Henry County. Dutchtown (4-2, 3-0) appears to have found its footing after back-to-back losses earlier this season. Stockbridge (3-3, 1-2) could use a bounce-back win after stumbling against Woodland a week ago. Dutchtown has won the last three meetings, including 33-6 in 2020.
King vs. Southwest DeKalb (Hallford Stadium), Saturday: This game could determine third place in Region 5. King (1-4, 1-0) beat Stone Mountain 26-9 last week in the region opener to pick up its first victory of the year. Southwest DeKalb (2-4, 1-1) lost 23-13 to No. 8 St. Pius last week. SWD’s Billy Johnson is the No. 6 running backs in DeKalb County with 500 yards and three touchdowns and Sadir Ryan is ranked No. 2 in DeKalb in passing with 898 yards and nine touchdowns. Xavier Leach (226 yards) and sophomore quarterback Antonio Anderson (159 yards) are King’s top rushers. On defense, King defensive back Theodore Walker is second in DeKalb with 11.6 total tackles per game, while linemen D’Marcus Key and Derrick Stevenson both have three forced fumbles. SWD’s Jamal Nelson and Jacob Moore each have 39 total tackles.
Loganville at Eastside: The winner of this game will be in position to get one of the top two seeds for the playoffs. Loganville (3-3, 2-1) has already beaten Greenbrier and must still play favorite Clarke Central. Eastside (3-3, 1-2) lost a tough battle with Clarke last week and has dropped two straight. Eastside has won the last two games against Loganville and prevailed 7-3 last season.
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