Robert Preston, Jr.
The Douglas News
DOUGLAS — It’s not going to be easy sitting at home this Friday night without a Coffee High Trojans game to follow.
It’s going to be even harder with the way the season ended. The Trojans should have defeated the Newnan Cougars Friday night. Coffee had the scheme, the players and the talent to advance to the third round of the playoffs.
Unfortunately, the team dug itself into a hole with a few costly miscues early in the game. When the Trojans finally did settle down, they just couldn’t catch up.
When the game ended, the Cougars had to breathe a big sigh of relief, knowing they had just won a game they probably should have lost.
Coffee amassed 384 yards of total offense (172 rushing, 212 passing), forced three turnovers and scored on both offense and defense. Those kinds of stats normally indicate a win, not a loss.
The collective memory of sports fans typically tends to be rather short. It’s very much a “what have you done for me lately?” kind of relationship. So while the detractors and the naysayers engage in their favorite activity in the wake of Friday night’s loss, people should probably take an honest look at the recent history of the Coffee High program and compare it to what the program has experienced the last two years.
In the last 10 years of Trojan football history (including Jerry Odom’s first year, 2005), Coffee has had four coaches. Over that time, the Trojans have a 48-54-2 record (a winning percentage of .462; this includes two games in 1999 that the Trojans won by forfeit; they lost both games on the field).
Included in there are but three winning seasons, all under former coach Bonwell Royal: 2001 (6-4-1), 2002 (7-3-1) and 2003 (6-5). The 2002 team earned the first seed in the playoffs by shocking the Valdosta Wildcats on Nov. 15, defeating the Wildcats 33-20 at Jardine Stadium.
But the last two years have been a different story. Coffee is 18-6 (a .750 winning percentage) with a pair of first-round playoff wins. A number of players off the 2006 team signed college scholarships and many more will sign this year. The Trojans, whose collective record against current 1-AAAAA opponents is nothing short of embarrassing, has an 8-4 region record in two years.
The point is, things are different. The success that has in many ways eluded the program for the last decade has been realized. But people aren’t satisfied — and that’s not necessarily a bad thing. It’s what happens with the lack of satisfaction.
If the players channel those feelings into a determination to get bigger, stronger, faster and more fundamentally sound, nine wins will be the tip of the iceberg. If parents and boosters use that lack of satisfaction to pour even more support into the program, the Trojans will be even more successful for many years to come.
But if it turns into back-biting, laying blame and pointing fingers, the program — and ultimately the kids — will suffer.
The 2007 football season has been a success. It didn’t start out that way, though. This team has had to deal with more adversity than befalls some professional teams. Just weeks before the season began, the team lost one of its best players due to a very unfortunate set of circumstances. Then, in one of the biggest games in the state, another of its best went down with a shredded ACL.
Through it all, the team stayed focused and took care of its business. The 2007 team wasn’t a flashy group that put on a high-octane show for the fans. Rather, they were efficient and controlled. Burke Batten quietly had one of the best seasons a Coffee quarterback has ever had. There was no go-to running back who dominated after Melvin Loving went down. Instead, a group of four or five running backs shared the ball and took care of business. A committee of linebackers held opposing offenses in check while a big defensive front controlled the line of scrimmage.
Were there problems? Of course. There always are. But for a team with the recent history of Coffee High, 2007 was a great season.
And the thing is, 2008 and beyond can be even greater.

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Robert Preston, Jr.
The Douglas News
NEWNAN — Missed opportunities.
That’s the story of Coffee High’s 28-25 loss to the Newnan Cougars Friday night in Newnan.
Two first quarter miscues put Coffee behind the eight ball and the team never seemed to be able to consistently mount a charge. What’s worse, the Trojans had opportunities at several different key points in the game and just couldn’t capitalize. Following the game, head coach Jerry Odom was at a loss for words. “I’ve got no words on that,” said an obviously disappointed Coach Odom. “Newnan played hard and deserved to win. Our guys are upset.”
Newnan took the opening kick-off and wasted no time in driving downfield and scoring an early touchdown. The Cougars added another seven points just a few minutes later after they recovered a fumbled handoff from quarterback Burke Batten to running back Demario Ingram.
The turnover gave Newnan the ball deep in Coffee territory and quarterback Russell Powell promptly guided his team into the end zone. The score put the Cougars up 14-0 very early in the game.
On their third possession of the first half, the Trojans showed they could move the ball against Newnan. The drove across midfield and built a little momentum. Faced with fourth and four, Batten found wideout Demario Bennett for a first down. The drive stalled and Batten’s offense found themselves with another fourth down situation. Deciding to go for it, Batten dropped back to pass. The Cougars’ defense did a superb job of covering Coffee’s receivers, giving Leyland Russell time to penetrate the offensive line and sack Batten.
The Trojan defense stood up to the Cougars on their ensuing possession and forced a punt. The kick was a bad one and Coffee took over with excellent field position.
But the turnover bug bit again.
Right at the beginning of the second quarter with the Trojans driving, a Cougar stripped the ball from Johnny Williams and returned it for a long touchdown. The score silenced the Coffee faithful and gave Newnan a 21-0 lead.
To the Trojans’ credit, they didn’t give up and took one away from the Cougars. After the touchdown, the offense stalled again and punted. The Newnan offense fumbled early in the drive and Corvoski Hutto picked up the ball and returned it 39 yards for a touchdown. Coffee trailed 21-7 and was starting show some signs of life.
On the Cougars’ next possession, linebacker D’Juan Smith intercepted a Powell pass and returned the ball to the Newnan 45. The back-to-back turnovers shifted momentum in Coffee’s favor and Odom’s team looked ready to mount an offensive.
And they did — briefly. Batten methodically marched the offense toward the goal line. A score looked almost inevitable. Then the unthinkable happened — a Coffee fumble at the two-yard line gave Newnan the ball.
The Trojans managed to claw back late in the half and kick a 34 yard field goal. At half time, Coffee trailed 21-10.
Despite the turnovers, the Trojans moved the ball well and had chances to score. They amassed 141 yards of total offense in a fairly balanced attack (83 rushing, 58 passing).
Unfortunately, the Trojans couldn’t sustain the momentum. Newnan scored its only second half touchdown on its first possession of the third quarter. Coffee answered with a 23-yard touchdown from Mark Wilson and a successful two-point conversion by Akeem Wesley.
The third quarter ended with the Cougars leading 28-18. The Trojans scored again with about nine minutes left in the game on a 48 yard touchdown pass from Batten to Williams. The score brought Coffee to within three points, trailing 28-25.
Late in the game, the Trojans had more chances to score. They got the ball back for their final possession with about two minutes left. But the two-minute offense, which Coffee has run pretty efficiently this season, just wasn’t there. With 25 seconds left, a fourth down pass from Batten to Williams fell incomplete, effectively ending the Trojans’ season.
A look at the numbers tells a convoluted story: Coffee gained 384 total yards (172 rushing, 212 passing), forced three turnovers and scored on both offense and defense. Teams rarely put up numbers like that and lose. Unfortunately, it happened Friday night and the Newnan Cougars move on to round three to face North Gwinnett, which upset Brookwood 17-3.
The Trojans finished with a 9-3 record for the second season in a row.

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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.

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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.

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