According to the Georgia High School Football Daily, the Thomas County Central Yellow Jackets’ average score this season is 54-11. The Jackets also came into Friday’s game against the Coffee Trojans in Thomas County as 28-point favorites.
For most of the game, the two teams didn’t even score 28 total points. And the Yellow Jackets didn’t come close to scoring 54 points. TCC led 16-7 at halftime then added 10 unanswered points during the second half to win 26-7.
The Trojans struggled in the first quarter and gave up a safety on a bad snap as well as a touchdown on a Bryson Cone 17-yard run. Late in the first quarter, Tyson Johnson intercepted a Coffee pass and took it 12 yards for a score and a 16-0 lead.
The Trojans, however, righted the ship a bit in the second quarter and contained the Yellow Jacket offense. Late in the period, running back Bobby Reynolds scored on an 11-yard run to cut TCC’s lead to 16-7 and give Coffee a new lease on its gridiron life.
The Trojans held the Yellow Jackets for the remainder of the half. Coffee received the kick to start the second half and launched a long drive that could have changed the complexion of the game. The TCC defense, however, held on despite the Trojans’ march and forced a turnover on downs.
Still, neither team scored in the third quarter and the game felt like a toss-up as the fourth and final period opened. Then Thomas County Central showed why they are one of the best teams in the state. Early in the final period, all-everything quarterback Aidan McPherson rushed for a three-yard touchdown. A few minutes later, kicker Graham Jackson split the uprights for a field goal and a 26-7 advantage.
A game that had felt like it could go either way less than a quarter ago suddenly seemed out of reach. The Trojans tried to regain some momentum and even took to the air late in the game. But it was to no avail. The Jackets held on for the 26-7 win.
Coffee is 7-2 overall and 3-2 in region play. The Trojans have one more regular season game left, a road game against the Veterans Warhawks in Kathleen next weekend. After that, the playoffs will begin. At the moment, Coffee appears positioned to host its first-round game.
