Valdosta whips Coffee 35-7
Photo: Coffee High vs Valdosta
DOUGLAS — What a difference a week makes.
Last Friday, the Coffee High Trojans found themselves with their backs to the wall and fought back to take a win in overtime. This week, Coffee ended up in the same position, and did the exact opposite.
The Trojans fell to the Valdosta Wildcats Friday 35-7 in what many believe was a battle for second place — and home field advantage in the playoffs — in Region 1-AAAAA.
Coffee came out and made a bold statement early. Johnny Williams took the opening kick-off 85 yards for a touchdown, giving the Trojans a seven-point lead a mere 16 seconds into the game.
Williams’ touchdown wouldn’t be a mere highlight of the game for the Trojans. It would be their whole game.
After that, it pretty much went downhill.
Lackluster blocking and poor tackling enabled the Wildcats to march down the field and chew up big chunks of both time and yards. Valdosta coach Rick Tomberlin used a punishing ground attack to take advantage of the Coffee defense.
On Valdosta’s first possession, the ‘Cats drove 78 yards, eventually scoring on a short run by quarterback Michael Turner.
On the Trojans’ next drive, the Coffee offense was moving the ball well, but Valdosta recovered a fumble on their own 43 to stop the drive. They didn’t waste the opportunity and scored on a run by David Arnold. With 3:26 to go in the first quarter, Valdosta was up 14-7.
A big kick return by Josh Ellerton gave the Trojans good field position, but they couldn’t do anything against the Wildcats’ defense. The big Coffee offensive line didn’t know what to do with Valdosta’s defense, and there were yellow and black jerseys in the backfield all night long.
Coffee had to punt again, but managed to hold Valdosta, forcing their punt team into action.
The punt was a good one, and neither one of Coffee’s two return men went after the ball, and Valdosta downed it on the Coffee 11. Once again, Valdosta stopped the Trojan offense, and Jared Carver had to punt again, this time from his own end zone.
A Wildcats’ defender eased to the outside before the snap, and he charged in untouched to block Carver’s kick and recover it in the end zone for a touchdown.
With 9:32 left in the first half, Valdosta was up 21-7.
The Coffee coaching staff made a few adjustments, and appeared to favor a three-man front later in the half. The adjustment worked, and Coffee kept Valdosta out of the end zone for the remainder of the half.
The second half began with the Wildcats receiving the kick. The Trojan defense held, and Valdosta had to punt. The kick was another good one, pinning Coffee deep in its own territory.
Things didn’t go any better for the Burke Batten and the Coffee offense in the second half. Carver had to punt again, and the Wildcats took over with great field position on the Coffee 27 yard line.
Once again, Turner and his offense took advantage of the opportunity and scored to go up 28-7.
The Trojans had chances to add points, but just couldn’t get it done. On their third drive of the second half, Batten and company moved down field, thanks in large part to a long pass from Batten to Akeem Wesley. The completion put Coffee inside the Valdosta five yard line.
Batten then attempted a pass to tight end Corey Davis. But Patrick Moore was in Davis’ back pocket, and he reached out and intercepted the pass to douse any hopes Coffee had of a comeback.
On the Trojans’ next drive, the offense missed another scoring opportunity with a dropped pass in the end zone.
Valdosta scored again on another Coffee turnover, this one the Trojans’ second fumble of the game. Jeffrey Knight picked up the loose ball and ran it in for a touchdown.
All in all, it was just a bad game for Coffee. The Trojans had eight yards rushing in the second half, and Batten found himself on the run for the entire game. The offense line couldn’t keep the Wildcats out of the backfield, and the defense had trouble wrapping up and making tackles.
Coffee had 204 yards of total offense (52 rushing, 152 passing). Dermaine Gaskins was the leading rusher with 22 yards. Wesley had 59 yards receiving. Batten was 15-31 for 152 yards. He threw one interception and lost one fumble.
All told, Coffee turned the ball over three times, in addition to the blocked punt for a touchdown (the third one in three weeks).
“We didn’t play well tonight. It all falls back on me. Give them all the credit. They played outstanding, we played terrible. We’ve got show some character,” said head coach Jerry Odom.
The Trojans are off next week, and welcome the Houston County Bears to Jardine Stadium on Nov. 9.
Despite the loss, the Trojans are still in the playoffs. A win against Houston would likely give Coffee the third seed in the playoffs.
