His brother wants a region title. Corey Joyner’s Westover team stands in the way

ALBANY — Corey Joyner knows much of his family will be pulling against him Friday night.

He also knows they expect to eat at his house Saturday.

Westover’s football coach would like everyone to consider those competing interests.

“They need to remember that beanie weenie will be served on Saturday at my house,” Joyner said.

Cousins are coming from Jacksonville. Brothers are flying in from Maryland and Delaware. Most of his immediate family and much of the extended family grew up on Albany’s Eastside, and Corey knows which way their loyalties lean.

Across Hugh Mills Stadium. Toward Dougherty. Toward his younger brother, Uyl.

Friday’s 7:30 p.m. meeting would command attention on the family calendar regardless of the records. This time, both teams arrive 7-1, and a region championship hangs between them.

Dougherty can claim the title outright with a victory. Westover can force a three-way tie with the Trojans and Cairo, leaving tiebreakers to determine the champion and playoff positioning.

The fifth Hampton Smith Classic has its own tie to settle. Dougherty won the first two editions of the game honoring the legendary Albany State football coach. Westover won the next two — both since the Joyner brothers began coaching against each other.

For Uyl, Friday offers the chance to beat his older brother for the first time and take home a championship.

For Corey, it means preparing to stop a team whose progress he understands on a more personal level than most opponents could.

“I know the struggle of his program from a behind-the-scenes perspective,” he said.

That knowledge complicated the satisfaction of winning their first two meetings. Corey described moments when beating his brother felt like “kicking a man when he is down.”

Afterward, neither had much appetite for dissecting what happened.

“We really don’t talk about the game,” Corey said.

Mostly, they are relieved it is over and ready to continue their seasons.

This year’s Dougherty team, however, has become the opponent the family anticipated.

“We knew this team growing up would be special,” Corey said.

His nephew is a substantial reason why.

Micah Joyner quarterbacks the Trojans for his father, Uyl. Corey’s son, Jordan, plays receiver for Westover. What begins as a matchup between brothers on the sidelines extends to cousins on the field.

Micah brings more than a familiar last name. He completed 14 of 21 passes for 196 yards and two touchdowns in last week’s 27-20 victory over Bainbridge. A week earlier, he threw for 284 yards and two touchdowns and rushed for 145 yards as Dougherty edged Cairo 26-23.

His receiving options include David Burgess, Jherel Gibson, Detavious Poole and Alonzo Hammond, giving Westover several threats to account for when Micah drops back.

Corey has watched enough of his nephew to know that familiarity offers no easy solution.

“Micah has always been ahead of the curve,” he said. “He never played like his age group in any sport.”

The quarterback’s best football, Corey believes, is still ahead of him.

“The state of Georgia needs to be on alert because he has two more years,” he said.

For now, the uncle would appreciate a quiet Friday.

Asked what would decide the game, Corey listed limiting explosive plays and sustaining drives. Then he named the challenge that ties those assignments together.

“Stopping Micah.”

Keeping Dougherty’s quarterback off the field would help. Westover has several players capable of making that happen.

Quarterback Gabriel Hopper and running backs Michael Daniels and Malik Young give the Patriots multiple ways to move the ball behind an offensive line led by Louisville commitment Kyson Mallard. Young rushed for 97 yards on 13 carries in last week’s 14-6 victory over Monroe, while Hopper supplied the first touchdown on a fourth-down keeper.

After halftime, Hopper, Young and Daniels helped move Westover into scoring position before freshman Jalen Mack handled the finish. Mack powered into the end zone and added the two-point conversion, providing the cushion the Patriots needed when Monroe answered.

Every drive Westover extends Friday is another stretch Micah must spend watching. But the Patriots also know they must finish possessions and make stops.

Against Monroe, they needed an early goal-line stand, forcing quarterback Jordan Shorter out at the 1 on fourth down, and enough defense late to preserve the victory.

It was a demanding night before another demanding night. Corey found reassurance in how his team responded.

“We can handle adversity,” he said. “We can focus and be resilient.”

That focus will be tested by everything surrounding Friday’s kickoff. The rivalry supplies its own emotion. The standings add urgency. The family connections ensure somebody will have something to say afterward.

Corey wants his players thinking about their assignments.

“Just play the game,” he said.

There will be time later to sort through the championship implications and settle the family arguments.

By Saturday, everyone will know who won.

Corey has already told them what’s for dinner.