Freshman running back Maurice Turner, pressed into action to replace the injured Antonio Dawson, picked up where he left off last week. Turner rushed for 205 yards on 15 carries and a touchdown in the Trojans’ 20-7 win over the Richmond Hill Wildcats in the second round of the state playoffs Friday night. The two teams played in Richmond Hill.
Coffee has lived and died with its running game this year. Tonight was no different. In addition to Turner’s big night on the ground, quarterback A.J. Wilkerson added 85 yards on 16 carries and a pair of touchdowns of his own. Josiah Killebrew also had a solid night carrying the ball as well. The passing game, however, was again anemic; Wilkerson was two of 10 for just 14 yards throwing.
Despite the one-sided attack, the Trojans were able to fend off the Wildcats, thanks in large part to a punishing defensive performance led by Tim Landers. The Coffee defense kept the Wildcats off the scoreboard all night long; Richmond Hill’s lone score came on a botched Statue of Liberty play early in the fourth quarter. Wilkerson got hit hard on the play and the ball came loose. Richmond Hill defensive end Dedrick Butler scooped up the ball and found the end zone.
In the first half, Turner scored from six yards out and Wilkerson scored on a two-yard run. The Trojans carried a 14-0 lead into halftime. The Wildcats narrowed the score to 14-7 on the aforementioned touchdown by Butler. Coffee added its last score of the night on a 48-yard fourth-quarter run by Wilkerson. The extra point just missed its mark but the damage was done. The Trojans would hold off the Wildcats in the final minutes to win 20-7.
Next week, the Trojans head back up to Atlanta to face Lanier High School in the third round of the playoffs. Coffee is now 9-3 on the season.