Coffee shuts out Jenkins 37-0
Photo: Coffee vs Jenkins
Robert Preston, Jr.
The Douglas News
DOUGLAS — The Coffee High Trojans can hold a lead. And they couldn’t have done so at a better time.
The Trojans took made a big statement Friday night, defeating the Jenkins Warriors 37-0 in Savannah in the first round of the state playoffs.
For the first time since 1981-1982, the Trojans have won playoff games in consecutive years. And they did so with an exclamation point.
The Warriors found themselves in trouble from their first possession and they never recovered. Jenkins received the opening kick-off, but Coffee pinned the Warriors deep in their own territory. Jenkins punted, but the snap sailed over the punter’s head and into the end zone. The Trojans ended up with a safety and got the ball back with great field position. A good run by fullback Dermaine Gaskins and a 13-yard completion from quarterback Burke Batten to Josh Ellerton put the Trojans well inside the red zone. Batten capped the drive with a nine-yard touchdown pass to tight end Corey Davis.
Jacob Moore’s point after was true and Coffee went up 9-0.
The Warriors didn’t fare much better on their next possession. They were forced to punt again, and Randy Brown made it into the backfield and blocked the kick. The muffed punt gave the Trojans the ball at the Jenkins 13. A pass to Demario Bennett moved Coffee to the two-yard line. A procedure penalty backed the Trojans up, but the Batten’s offense was undaunted. A play or two later, Demario Ingram punched the ball in from the two. Moore hit the PAT again, and Coffee had a 16-0 lead.
Jenkins’ next possession ended in a punt. Coffee took over, and the Warriors made a stand, forcing the Trojans to punt for the first time of the game. The punt was a good one, and Jared Wooten downed at the Jenkins High two-yard line.
Once again, the Coffee defense stymied Jenkins and the Warriors had to kick the ball away. The punt gave the Trojans the ball in Jenkins territory. A great catch by Mark Wilson and excellent blocking by the offensive line helped set up Coffee’s next score, a nine-yard run by Johnny Williams. The PAT was good; with time running out in the first half, Coffee had a comfortable 23-0 lead.
Lately, the Trojans have had trouble holding a good lead in the second half. Things looked a little shaky as the third quarter began. Coffee took the opening kick but the drive wouldn’t go very far. Batten threw a pick that Jenkins returned inside Trojan territory. However, they couldn’t capitalize on the opportunity and had to punt.
Coffee moved the ball but missed a 39-yard field goal.
As had been the case all night, Jenkins couldn’t launch a drive and had to punt. The kick went to Williams at the Coffee 40 yard line and he blasted through the Warriors’ punt coverage for a 60-yard touchdown.
With Moore’s extra point, the Trojans enjoyed a 30-0 lead.
The Trojans would add another touchdown on a 20-yard run by Josh Ellerton near the end of the third quarter. The PAT put the Trojans up 37-0.
The fourth quarter opened with a running clock and neither team added any points over the final 12 minutes.
The win gives the Trojans some much needed momentum heading into round two. The offensive line played well and gave Batten (6 for 8 for 88 yards, one touchdown and one interception) time to make his throws. The big linemen also cleared lanes for Coffee’s corps of running backs. The Trojans only amassed 220 yards of total offense thanks to having great field position all night. They simply didn’t have to move the ball much to get to the end zone.
Dermaine Gaskins was Coffee’s leading rusher, running for 48 yards. Akeem Wesley caught three passes for 49 yards.
“We prepared well and when you do that, you give yourself a chance to win. They’re a good football team and have some great athletes. Our guys did a great job tonight. That’s one down; we’ve got four more to go,” said head coach Jerry Odom after the game.
Coffee has to travel to face Newnan in round two.
