Carol City built a national powerhouse. Now it’s coming to Leesburg

LEESBURG — Dean Fabrizio has been around enough talented high school football teams to know one when he sees one.

His assessment of Miami Carol City doesn’t require much elaboration.

“They’re loaded,” the Lee County coach said.

Friday night, the Trojans get to find out just how loaded.

Carol City will make the trip from South Florida to Trojan Stadium for a 7:30 p.m. matchup between unbeaten teams that has drawn national attention. The Chiefs are 1-0 and ranked No. 11 nationally by MaxPreps after opening the season with a 38-3 rout of Mainland.

Lee County is also 1-0 after dismantling Hapeville Charter 51-0 in its opener.

But Friday represents an entirely different challenge.

Fabrizio said approximately 20 of Carol City’s starters transferred into the program and that every starter on the Chiefs’ defense is rated as at least a three-star prospect, with several four- and five-star recruits sprinkled throughout the roster.

The names help explain the hype.

Five-star Miami commitment Nick Lennear transferred from Miami Northwestern. The Chiefs’ collection of college prospects also includes Georgia linebacker commitment Temorris Campbell Jr., Florida State defensive back commitment Za’Kari Johnson and Nebraska defensive back commitment Jailen Hill.

And the list keeps going.

West Virginia, UCF, Tulane, Appalachian State, Florida Atlantic and Florida International are among the programs with commitments from Carol City players.

The remarkable collection of talent helped turn a program that finished 6-5 last season into a nationally ranked team under first-year coach Toro Wallace.

The Chiefs looked the part in their opener.

After falling behind Mainland 3-0, Carol City scored 38 unanswered points. The defense intercepted three passes, and Santana Blount added a 90-yard punt return for a touchdown.

But here’s the interesting part about Friday night:

Carol City won’t have all the college prospects to itself.

Lee County has assembled plenty of talent of its own, particularly on a defense that didn’t allow a point in its opener.

Linebacker Gregory Batson is a three-star prospect with a lengthy list of major-college offers, while fellow linebacker Jace Murray is an Army commitment. Montravious Clay and Trey Bush provide experience in the secondary, and Champ Brown gives the Trojans another talented defensive back.

The defensive front has gotten even bigger.

Former Houston County defensive lineman Jakobe Bryant has transferred to Lee County. Fabrizio confirmed the 6-foot-2, 330-pound Bryant will play Friday night, adding another significant piece to a defense preparing for its biggest test of the young season.

Lee County also showed plenty of firepower offensively in its opener.

Quarterback Cohen Lawson completed 14 of 16 passes for 150 yards and two touchdowns against Hapeville Charter. Texas A&M commitment Jaden Upshaw caught nine passes for 118 yards and two touchdowns, while Jordyn Bush rushed for 113 yards and two scores.

That makes Friday’s matchup considerably more intriguing than a nationally ranked powerhouse simply coming to town.

Carol City has assembled one of the country’s most impressive collections of individual talent.

Lee County has spent years establishing itself as one of Georgia’s most consistent programs under Fabrizio.

And the Trojans will get the Chiefs at home.

The matchup has attracted national attention, with the game appearing on at least one list of featured games from around the country this week.

Recruiting rankings won’t determine what happens once the lights come on at Trojan Stadium.

But they certainly help explain why a high school football game in Leesburg, Georgia, will have people watching far beyond Southwest Georgia.

And why Fabrizio needed only two words to describe the opponent headed his way.

They’re loaded.

Tickets remain available for Friday’s 7:30 p.m. kickoff at Trojan Stadium and can be purchased through GoFan.