Lee County faces stiff test with top-ranked Houston County coming to town

LEESBURG — Lee County High School head football Dean Fabrizio tried to shake off the question the reporter asked.

Fabrizio didn’t want to make too much of Lee County’s defense allowing a combined seven yards rushing through the Trojans’ first five games this season.

“That’s pretty amazing,” Fabrizio said. “We’ve played pretty good competition. The big thing is we’ve got some tough competition coming up. We’ve played pretty well on defense, and we’ve got a lot of returning starters on that side of the ball, a lot of guys who have started a lot of games. We expected them to play well and they have.”

Lee County’s defense has allowed just a combined 42 points in five games after playing a much-tougher nonregion that has consisted of Jones County, Bainbridge, Americus-Sumter, Luella and Thomas County Central.

But the Trojans will face their stiffest test of the season Friday night when top-ranked Houston County and quarterback Jake Fromm visit Trojan Field in a Top 10 matchup. Lee County players have the utmost respect for the Bears, Fromm and his veteran receiving corps.

“I saw him a long time ago and I knew that he was going to be an elite quarterback,” Lee linebacker Shaun Rountree said. “He’s definitely holding up to what everyone says and he is the best quarterback in the state. We’re preparing for the best. That’s what we’re getting ready for.”

Fromm, who originally committed to Alabama before changing his mind and committing to Georgia, is the state’s passing leader with 2,545 yards and 28 touchdowns. He has thrown just three interceptions.

Five different Houston receivers rank in the top eight in receiving yardage in the Region 1-AAAAAA statistical leaders. Eli Watson and Amari Colbert lead the region and also rank among the state leaders. Watson has caught 30 passes for 767 yards and nine touchdowns, while Colbert has 37 catches for 658 yards and 12 touchdowns.

Tyler Fromm is fifth in the region with 21 catches for 386 yards and three touchdowns, while Jaeven West is sixth (22-344, 2 TDs) and Kimar Robinson (21-239, 1 TD) eighth.

But Lee will also present Houston with its stiffest challenge, especially a defensive front that consists of Division I recruits Aubrey Solomon and Tory Carter as well as Michigan commit Otis Reese in the secondary.

Fabrizio said Lee County’s defensive success has been because of its depth. While Solomon and Carter have drawn most of the headlines on the line, Sylvestor Jackson, Eric Pierce, Christian Walker and Quan Kendrick have played well.

Akileis Leroy, Rountree and Marcus Haire may have drawn most of the starts at linebacker, but they wouldn’t be the unit they are without Justin Favors, Jeremiah Perkins and Austin Norwood.

Meanwhile, Reese anchors a secondary that is full of prospects including TJ Harris, AJ Jones, Tay Mayo, Cam Scott, Ty Dewberry, Kermit Solomon and Jawaski Tumblin.

“None of this would be possible without the sacrifices we put in,” Favors said. “We all want to go to the state, every day we always talk about that. We want to do something that’s never been done.”

Shutting down Houston County and its star quarterback could put Lee County on the right path.