Ware County’s impressive 40-10 season-opening victory over then Class 2A second-ranked Appling County has the Gators trending upward in the latest Atlanta Journal-Constitution Top 10 poll.
The Gators (1-0) will take their newly appointed spot at No. 4 in the Class 4 A poll t o Douglas Friday night to tangle with defending 5A champion Coffee High (1-0), who moved up two spots t o No. 6 in the latest Class 5A rankings.
The meeting is the 52nd between the schools dating back to 1970. The Trojans hold a 29-22 series lead. Coffee beat the Gators 28-5 in the 2023 regular season finale capping its first 10-0 season since 1982.
“They (Trojans) are good,” said Ware County head coach Jason Strickland, who is 3-2 in the series. “It’s going to be an electric atmosphere over there.”
The Trojans are coming in fresh off a 59-6 mauling of a Bainbridge team that was ranked fifth in the Class 3A preseason Top 10. The victory was a school-record 16th straight for Coffee eclipsing the previous mark of 15 straight set during the 1975 and 1976 seasons.
That winning streak ended in the Region 1-AA championship game when an unranked Ware County team, under head coach Bruce Bennett, upset the fifth-ranked and unbeaten Trojans of Bonwell Royal 21-20 in Douglas after falling 40-6 in the Week 3 regular season matchup.
Coffee third-year head coach Mike Coe is replacing a lot of talent from the championship team.
Running back Fred Brown was the team’s offensive heartbeat finishing his senior year with 2,488 yards rushing and 24 touchdowns. Quarterback Maurice Hansley passed for 16 scores, rushed for seven touchdowns, and completed 71 percent of his passes with just two interceptions.
Depth at the running back position will be one of Coffee’s strengths, as will team speed.
Senior Tyrese Hansley will step in to fill the void left by Brown’s departure and will get help from speedsters Kentavius De-Bruce (Jr., 5-foot-10, 170 lbs.), senior Travis Adams and senior Tyrese Woodgett (5-10, 185).
Woodgett led the 303yard rushing attack at Bainbridge with 10 carries for 89 yards and two scores. Hansley finished with 58 yards on 12 carries and a score while DeBruce added 47 yards on seven totes with a touchdown.
“They (Trojans) are replacing the quarterback and running back,” said Strickland. “They have more speed back there with some good size. I believe the quarterback is a little more mobile and can really spin it.”
Senior Jordan Phillips takes over at the quarterback spot. He was 7-of-9 for 181 yards and two scores in the opener. Senior Zean Preston had two catches for 76 yards and a touchdown. Senior Bray Cole caught two passes for 25 yards and Woodgett had two catches for 22 yards.
Seniors Jaydon Vester (6-foot, 270), Tico Smith, Kyler Smith (6-3, 305) and Jaylon Simpkins return giving the Trojans a veteran offensive line.
“They (Trojans) like playing in what we (coaches) call a phone booth,” Strickland said. “They want to beat you black and blue with their physicality. They are going to run the ball and try to get downhill.
“We’ve got to be sound in stopping the run. We’re going to see some triple option.”
On the defensive side, Coffee returns senior defensive lineman Iverson Gifford, senior middle linebacker Chris Reed (5-9, 215), and senior outside linebackers Jyarius Carter (6-1, 215) and Mykevius Smith (5-10, 200).
“I though their linebackers were the best we faced last season,” said Strickland. “After seeing their scrimmage and the Bainbridge game my mind has not changed. Those are three really special players.”
The defensive backfield will have seniors Isaiah Johnson (5-10, 175), Jayden Hancock (6-foot, 175) and Adams.
“They (Trojans) play tight man-to-man in the secondary,” Strickland said. “Offensively, they don’t mind punting the ball away because of their defense being so good and forcing mistakes. For us, we have to be patient, protect the ball and be able to finish drives.”
Ware County’s Ja’Londi O’Hara (26) finds an opening on the left side between a seal block and a double team of Appling County defenders to gain part of his 30 yards rushing on three carries. Photo By ANDREA HEFLIN
