The Coffee Trojans shattered several school records and at least one state record in their 72-48 win over the Sequoyah Chiefs in Canton Friday night in the quarterfinals of the state playoffs. The win improved the Trojans to 11-2 on the season and set up a semifinal matchup next week against the Hughes Panthers in Fairburn. Hughes knocked off the Thomas County Central Yellow Jackets 28-12.
One week after Coffee set the school single-game rushing record with 471 yards and senior running back Tyrese Woodgett broke the single-game scoring record with 36 points – courtesy of six touchdowns against the Brunswick Pirates – both records fell again. Woodgett actually broke the Coffee single-game team rushing record all by himself. He ran for 605 yards and seven touchdowns on 20 carries – unofficially eclipsing the state single-game rushing record of 485 yards set by Devyn Collins of Pepperell in 2014.
According to MaxPreps, Woodgett’s total is now #8 on its list of most rushing yards by a high school running back in the country. Woodgett slides between John Bunch (608 yards, 1974, Elkins (Arkansas)) and Rudy Rudison (599, 1978, Marion Christian (Houston, Texas))/Matt Gadek (599, 2017, McKinney (Texas)). “It’s really awesome. I’m thankful for the offensive line. I never thought this was possible. I thank God for it,” said Woodgett after the game.
The scoring started from the opening possession and both teams racked up points early and often. The Chiefs scored on their first possession when Brooks Darling found the end zone from the five, giving Sequoyah a 7-0 lead. On the first play from scrimmage following the kick, Woodgett broke a 63-yard touchdown to tie the game at seven. The Chiefs took a 10-7 lead on their next possession after a Caleb McClure field goal (31 yards). And again, on the first play from scrimmage after the kick, Woodgett torched the Sequoyah defense for an 80-yard touchdown. At this point, Coffee had a 14-10 lead with 4:55 left in the first quarter.
The Chiefs took over for their third possession at their own 31. They took a 17-14 lead on a 69-yard touchdown pass from Kolby Martin to Jack Ripley. When the Trojans got the ball for the third time of the half, it was KJ Debruce’s turn to score. On the second play of the drive, he blasted through the line for a long touchdown of his own to give the Trojans a 21-17 lead with 3:41 in the first.
And once again, the Chiefs answered. McClure capped a 63-yard drive with a short touchdown pass to Matthew Matz to retake the lead 24-21 on the first play of the second quarter.
They didn’t have long to enjoy the advantage. Coffee returned the ensuing kick to their own 30. On the first play of the drive, Woodgett broke another long touchdown run, this one for 70 yards.
At this point of the game, the Trojans had run five offensive plays and scored four touchdowns – three of them by Woodgett.
When halftime finally rolled around, the Trojans were up 45-38. Woodgett had eight rushes for 316 yards and five touchdowns.
In the second half, Woodgett had scores of 50 and 53 yards. Debruce scored another touchdown, this one an 80-yarder on a short pass from quarterback Bray Coe with 6:38 left in the game.
Jamir Morton and Jayden Hancock had one interception each.
Coffee kicker Jonah Saylor was perfect on extra points and was also 3-3 on field goals (38, 26, and 26 yards).
“Woodgett is unbelievable. But that’s the receivers blocking, the offensive line blocking. That’s a team effort right there. He will tell you that. I told him, ‘You better give them something.’ He said, ‘Coach, I’m broke.’ I told him, ‘I got you’,” laughed head coach Mike Coe after the game. “I’m proud of these kids. Early on in the season, the offense didn’t really seem like they got any yards. Then we go through a hurricane. These kids are resilient. They are what Douglas is. They are what Coffee County is. They go to work every day. They stick together. They keep playing and they keep getting after it. I get another week with them and I couldn’t be happier.”
The total number of records the Trojans broke Friday night is still a bit of a mystery. However, a few that come to mind are the single-game state rushing record, individual single-game school rushing record, single-game team rushing record, single-game individual school scoring record, most points scored in a game by the Trojans, first time a Coffee team has topped 70 points in a game, and quite possibly the most total points scored in a game (120 points). The Class of 2025 has also won more football games in its four years than any other class (that record belonged to the Class of 2024 until Friday).
Four of the eight teams in this week’s quarterfinal matchup were from Region 2-5A. For next week’s semifinal games, that number is down to two. Coffee and Lee County won; however, Thomas County Central and Houston County lost. Coffee will make another trip up I-75 next week, this time to Fairburn to face the Hughes Panthers. Lee County will also travel north – they get the opportunity to face the Milton Eagles in a battle between the state’s top two 5A teams.