The Coffee Trojans will live to fight another day despite losing 31-20 tonight to the Lee County Trojans – Coffee’s third consecutive loss. The defeat leaves Coffee with a 5-5 overall record (1-3 in region play) for the 2016 season.
Coming into the final game of the regular season, Coffee could have finished anywhere from second in the region to dead last, depending on what happened against Lee County in Douglas and up in Warner Robins between Valdosta High and Houston County. To get the second seed, Coffee needed to beat Lee and hold that particular set of Trojans to under 13 points. If Coffee lost, Valdosta had to beat Houston in order for the Trojans to get into the playoffs – something many fans considered a mere formality given the way Valdosta has played this season.
Before the first quarter ended, Coffee had lost the #2 seed; with 36 seconds left in the period, Lee scored its second touchdown of the game and converted the point after to take a 14-7 lead.
Coffee had tied the game at seven in the first quarter after Demetrius Davis broke a 69-yard touchdown run. After Lee took the aforementioned 14-7 lead late in the first quarter, however, they wouldn’t look back. Receiver Dalrone Donaldson scored both of Coffee’s remaining touchdowns on passes from quarterback Max Hughes (85 yards and 16 yards). It was simply a case of being too little, too late against a determined and talented Lee County team.
Meanwhile, an hour and 45 minutes north, Houston had what appeared to be a comfortable lead over Valdosta until the Wildcats rallied late in the game to slip away with a 28-24 win. With their win, the Wildcats extended Coffee’s season at least one more week. They also dashed Houston County’s postseason hopes; the Bears are the only team from the region not in the playoffs.
The Trojans will travel to Conyers next Friday night to face the Heritage High Patriots. This is the third consecutive year Coffee has made the playoffs under head coach Robby Pruitt.
Coach Pruitt’s post-game comments can be seen below.