Not only did the Coffee Trojans defeat the Chamblee Bulldogs by the second largest margin of victory in a playoff game in program history (56 points), they did so in front of one of the greatest football players in the history of the game.
Ed Reed, considered by many to the be the greatest defensive back to ever play football, was on the sidelines for the Bulldogs. His son, Ed Reed III, is a sophomore defensive back for Chamblee. The elder Reed is on the Chamblee coaching staff and made the trip to Jardine Stadium with the Bulldogs. For most of the game, he stayed near the end of the coaching boxes and maintained a quiet presence. He did, however, step on the field with the team and other coaches during timeouts.
Following the game, Reed was a gracious visitor, posing for pictures with Trojan players and coaches. For several minutes after the game ended, while the Bulldogs were headed to their locker room, Reed stayed on the field and took pictures with everyone who wanted one. When the Chamblee coaches were done with their post-game meeting, Reed came back outside and spoke with head coach Mike Coe and more Coffee players who were hanging around. “Good game, Coach,” said Reed to Coach Coe. “Y’all go on and win the whole thing.”
Reed III is making a name for himself in Chamblee. Earlier this season, he was named Special Teams Player of the Week for the Bulldogs after he forced a fumble, recovered a fumble, blocked a field goal, and blocked a punt.
Ed Reed was an All American at the University of Miami and a first-round draft pick by the Baltimore Ravens in 2002. His 2001 Miami Hurricanes won the BCS National Championship. Reed’s accomplishments are too numerous to list. Here are but a few: Most career interception return yards (1,590), longest interception return for a touchdown (108 yards), led the league in interceptions three times, nine time Pro Bowler, All Pro First Team five times, All Pro Second Team three times, 2004 Defensive Player of the Year, and Super Bowl XLVII champion. He finished his career with 64 interceptions, 646 tackles, and 13 total touchdowns. He was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2019. He is also a member of the University of Miami Hall of Fame.
Chamblee finished the season with a 4-7 record. The undefeated Coffee Trojans face Jones County next week in the second round.