The Skinny
The Brooks County Trojans have advanced to the state finals for the third straight season and for the fifth time overall. The Trojans enter this week winners of their last ten games. The road to the finals included victories over one No. 3 seed, then going on the road to defeat one No. 2 seed and two No. 1 seeds. During their playoff run, Brooks County is averaging 52.5 points per game while allowing 19.5. For the full season, the Trojans are averaging 47.8 points per game while the defense is allowing 18.3. The Trojans average 173.5 yards per game through the air and 240.9 yards per game on the ground. Quarterback Jamal Sanders has thrown for 2,224 yards and 27-TDs while Omari Arnold leads the team in rushing with 2,224 yards and 37-TDs. Meanwhile, Tremaine Demps (28 receptions, 616 yards, 12-TDs) and Willie Brown (48 receptions, 1,122yards, 11-TDs) lead the Trojans receiving corps. Linebacker Christian Edgerton and safety Amar Thomas lead the team in total tackles, while defensive lineman Trayveon Jackson leads the defense in tackles for loss and sacks. Junior defensive back Saveon Cason has intercepted seven passes this season. A win on Thursday would give the Trojans their second state title in school history.
The Irwin County Indians are the two time defending state champions in Class A-Public. They are in the finals for the fifth straight year and for the eleventh time in school history. The Indians enter the championship game winners of their last 10 games. In their four playoff victories, they are scoring 39.7 points per game while allowing 19 points per game. Overall this season, they are averaging 39.4 points per game while allowing 15.3. On their road to the title game, Irwin County has defeated one No. 4 seed, one No. 2 seed and two No. 1 seeds. All of their playoff games have been at home this season. Irwin County is averaging 120.6 yards per game through the air and 260.5 yards per game on the ground. Damarcus Lundy (1,562 yards, 19-TDs) and Shane Marshall (705 yards, 6-TDs) lead the Indians ground game while junior quarterback Cody Soliday has thrown for 1,676 yards and 26-TDs. Ten different receivers have caught passes this season for Irwin County, but Malachi Hadden, Eli Roberts, Bo Payne and Mason Snyder have been the primary targets. A win this Thursday would give the Indians their fourth state title in school history.
This is the team’s second meeting this season and the second consecutive year these region foes have met in the state title game. Irwin County has won the last three games in the series. In their first meeting this season, the Indians held the Trojans to just 96 rushing yards. The only other time Brooks County was held to under 100 yards, they lost that game as well, (to Thomasville). So whether or not Brooks County has solved the Irwin defense will go a long way to determine if they can win the title. Meanwhile, Irwin County rushed for 285 yards in their September 24th game against Brooks County. Have the Trojans made the necessary adjustments? Last year, we picked Brooks County to win the rematch. You’d think we’d have learned our lesson picking against Irwin County, but we believe Brooks will “bring the hammer” and have more success running the ball this week and like the Trojans by 3.
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Special thanks to the Georgia Helmet Project for providing each team’s helmet. You can find all of their work here: http://gahelmetproject.com
Special thanks to the Georgia Helmet Project for providing each team’s helmet. You can find all of their work here: http://gahelmetproject.com
Historical records are provided by the Georgia High School Football Historians Association. (ghsfa.org)