“This means everything. It’s the first state championship for the Coffee Trojans. It means everything for me, everything for my team,” said Coffee Trojans quarterback Maurice Hansley after the Trojans defeated the Creekside Seminoles 31-14 in the Class 5A state championship game at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta.
Coffee not only finishes the season with the first state title in program history but also with a perfect 15-0 record. Hansley book-ended the Trojans’ scoring with a pair of touchdowns — he scored the first and last touchdowns of the night, the final one an eight-yard run put an exclamation point on what had been another dominating Coffee performance.
The Trojans used their tried-and-true formula one last time against the Seminoles. Their defense, though strained like they hadn’t been all season, kept Creekside at bay while the offense kept the ball on the ground and controlled the clock.
The Trojans took a 21-0 lead into halftime. Coffee got touchdowns from Hansley (21 yards), receiver Bray Coe (27 yard pass from Hansley), and Brown (five yard run).
The Seminoles took the opening kick of the third quarter and showed they had some life left despite the hole they were in. They returned the kick to the Coffee 39 then, one play later, quarterback Vinson Berry found Shane Kelley off a tipped ball for a 39-yard touchdown. It only took 19 seconds for the Seminoles to narrow Coffee’s advantage to 21-7.
The Trojans took over on and began their march downfield. However, the drive stalled at the Creekside 23 and head coach Mike Coe opted for a field goal. At 40 yards, it was no gimme. But Jonah Saylor drive it through the uprights to get three points back. With 6:53 left in the third quarter, the Trojans were leading 24-7.
Against most other opponents, that would have been more than enough. But Creekside wasn’t like most other opponents. They could score fast and they could score often.
On the kick after the field goal, Coffee’s coverage team did a good job and stopped the Seminoles at their own 15. Berry led his team on a long drive downfield that looked destined to end with seven points. However, as the Trojan defense has done all year long, they stiffened and, almost beyond belief, stopped the Seminoles at the Coffee six yard line. They found themselves facing a 4th and goal and decided to go for it. The Seminoles’ attempt was unsuccessful and the Trojans took over on downs.
Coffee’s next drive led to something that hadn’t happened all night long — a punt. The Trojans had a little success moving the ball but eventually, Creekside brought the drive to a screeching halt. After the punt, the Seminoles got the ball on their own 31. They went 69 yards and scored their second touchdown of the night — another pass from Berry to Kelley. Though time was running out, the Seminoles had cut the Trojans’ lead to 10. With 7:42 left in the game, the score was 24-14.
Things didn’t go well for Coffee on the next possession. The Seminoles brought the house at Maurice Hansley and Fred Brown and the Trojans went nowhere. Punter McCale Smith trotted on the field for the second time of the night and kicked back to Creekside.
And this is where the wheels finally came off.
The Seminoles had time to do some real damage. They had the ball at their own 37 — decent field position. They started moving again. Berry and company faced a 4th and 1 with 4:32 left. They converted and they were in Coffee territory. Then Lorenzo Harvey came up with a big sack for the Trojans on second down. The loss backed Creekside to their own side of the field and stuck them with a 3rd and 17. Then a holding call pushed them even farther back. Nose guard Iverson Gifford sacked Berry again, leaving Creekside with a 4th and 34 from their own 34. Then Berry made one of his few mistakes of the night and the Trojans were there to capitalize. He launched a pass downfield and Jayden Hancock picked it off. He returned it to the Creekside 38 before he downed the play with a slide.
With 2:00 remaining, the Trojans took over at the 38 with the game effectively in hand. Brown broke off a 30 yard run then Maurice Hansley scored his second
touchdown of the night on an eight-yard run. The extra point sailed through the uprights with three seconds left in the game.
Coffee had won 31-14.
“These kids have worked so hard. It’s been over a year since we lost to Cartersville and they went to work. They didn’t whine or complain. They’ve done everything we’ve asked them to do. You win championships with good people. We’ve got a lot of good people here — good kids who do things the right way. I couldn’t be happier for them and for our coaches who have never won one before,” said Coach Coe after the game.
He continued: “Our whole team is underrated. It’s because we don’t have these Power 5 guys. But I’ve got a bunch of dang good high school football players that will hit you slam in the mouth and won’t quit and they’re in great shape.”
“I’m just so proud of our players and their commitment and hard work they’ve put into the program. They’ve put their hearts into playing a sport that’s not easy. It’s tough. It’s tough to play football and these young men have shown character and made good decisions. I appreciate Coach Coe so much. He expects a lot out of our young men and expects them to have high character and behave and make good decisions. We’re fortunate to have a man of his character and the quality of coaches that he’s brought with him to work with our young people and build a program we can all be proud of. It’s a great day for Coffee County. I’t’s been a long time coming,” said Dr. Morris Leis, school superintendent.
The 2023 championship is Coach Coe’s sixth overall and first in Georgia.