After hanging 31 on Tift, Coffee prepares for Warner Robins
Perfectionists are seldom 100 percent satisfied with the results of a particular activity. That pretty much describes Coffee High head football coach Jerry Odom’s reaction following the Trojans’ 31-14 win over Tift Friday night.
“We didn’t play as well as we could have. But it is a positive to win by 17 when you don’t play well and still win,” he said.
In particular, Odom wasn’t too keen on the way his offensive line played. Several of his linemen had their worst games of the season, and, he said, played a fundamentally poor game. “You’re just not going to win many games playing like that,” said Odom.
Still, the Coffee offense amassed over 400 yards of total offense, an accomplishment due in part to great blocking by the running backs and stellar play by quarterback Burke Batten.
“The backs blocked well for each other. That helped overcome some of the inadequacies on the offensive line,” said Odom.
He couldn’t be more positive about his quarterback. In three region games, Batten has averaged around 65 yards rushing and 125 yards passing. He has four touchdowns to just one interception, and is reading the option well.
In addition, Odom says he is making solid decisions under center. For example, on third down from the Tift 12 yard line Friday, Batten received a bad snap. Instead of trying to force something and potentially make a bad situation worse, Batten threw the ball away and let his field goal team put three points on the board.
“He’s really stepped it up in region play,” said Odom.
Speaking of the field goal unit, that’s a story all its own. Earlier in the week, Odom found himself without a kicker, and had to force freshman Jacob Moore into action. The diminutive Moore has been kicking on the ninth grade team all season, and suddenly found himself on the biggest stage of his young career.
He handled the pressure flawlessly, converting each of his PAT attempts and driving home a 30-yard field goal in the second quarter.
“He’s something else,” said Odom.
Defensively, Odom said his team played well, and his linebacker corps probably had their best game yet.
All in all, it was a good game and a good test heading into Friday’s showdown with the Warner Robins Demons at Jardine Stadium. The Demons are having a tough year, and stand at 2-4 on the season, and 1-1 in the region.
Last Friday, Warner Robins lost 20-0 to Valdosta. However, Odom said his team will be ready to play, and isn’t taking the Demons lightly. “Last year, the Warner Robins game cost us the region championship. We’ve played well at home this year, and we just have to take care of our business,” he said.
Kick-off is set for 8 p.m. between the hedges at Jardine Stadium.
