No. 1 Thomas County Central visits No. 2 Lee County

LEESBURG — They are out of seats at Trojan Field.

There may be room in a skybox if those tickets have not disappeared by Friday. Everything else is gone.

Lee County is asking its fans to wear black. The lights come on at 7:30 p.m. Then No. 1 and No. 2 settle it.

Top-ranked Thomas County Central will bring the state’s longest winning streak, a defending state championship and a roster crowded with college prospects into Leesburg to face second-ranked Lee County in a game that could determine the Region 2-6A championship and home-field advantage in the state playoffs.

Both teams are undefeated. Both are nationally ranked. MaxPreps has Thomas County Central at No. 18 and Lee County at No. 21.

The Yellow Jackets have won 19 consecutive games. The Trojans have spent the first month of the season demonstrating that knocking them out may require every one of Friday night’s 48 minutes.

Lee County has beaten Hapeville Charter, nationally ranked Miami Carol City, No. 8 Sequoyah in Canton and Colquitt County in Moultrie. Three of those victories were shaped by what happened after halftime.

The Trojans rallied against Carol City, erased an 11-point deficit in the final three minutes at Sequoyah and broke open a 21-21 game against Colquitt County.

Lee County coach Dean Fabrizio has credited the late-game success to conditioning and coaching.

“I think our kids are really well-conditioned,” Fabrizio said after the Colquitt County victory. “And our coaches are doing a great job of halftime adjustments.”

Friday brings a different level of examination.

Thomas County Central opened its season by hammering Colquitt County 57-21. Two weeks ago, Lee County beat the Packers 48-30 on their home field.

Comparative scores are imperfect. Those two are revealing enough. Neither team has arrived at this matchup by accident.

The Yellow Jackets will attack with Duke quarterback commit Aidan McPherson, an all-state transfer from Rome, throwing to a deep group of receivers that includes Arkansas commit Jabari Watkins.

Fabrizio said Watkins and McPherson demand attention, but focusing too heavily on either could create problems elsewhere.

“They are both great players, but there are a lot of really good players on offense for TCC in addition to those two,” Fabrizio said. “Plus, TCC is very well coached. We are going to have to be disciplined on defense and have everyone locked in and doing their job.”

That creates perhaps the night’s most intriguing matchup.

Thomas County Central’s passing game will challenge a Lee County secondary made up entirely of juniors. Montravious Clay, Trey Bush, Champ Brown and KJ Streeter are all attracting college attention, and they may represent the most talented secondary the Yellow Jackets have faced.

Brown is expected to return after missing the Colquitt County game with an injury. Mercer commit Jordan Bush, another of Lee County’s most versatile players, also is expected back.

McPherson will test that secondary with his arm. His ability to extend plays could test its discipline.

The other collision will be less subtle.

Thomas County Central’s defensive front, led by highly recruited Prince Che and twins Isaac and Isaiah Andrews, will line up across from a Lee County offensive line featuring North Carolina commit Shavezz Dixon and Clemson commit Carter Blackwell.

“It seems like the Andrews twins have been playing forever,” Fabrizio said with a laugh. “They are very strong up front, and it will be a great matchup of their defensive line against our offensive line.”

Whichever group controls first down may control the night.

If Lee County protects quarterback Cohen Lawson and stays ahead of the chains, the Trojans can spread the field and get the ball to Texas A&M receiver commit Jaden Upshaw or other talented receivers such as Destin Bell or Amari Weston. Fabrizio said Lawson continues to improve each week, and his development has given the offense greater balance.

The Trojans will again be without running back Dominique Ball, who is recovering from a broken bone in his foot. Sophomore Quay Sheard showed against Colquitt County that Lee County has more than one answer in the backfield.

With Ball and Bush unavailable, Sheard rushed for more than 200 yards and four touchdowns, beginning the second half with an 80-yard touchdown that broke a 21-21 tie.

Lee County’s defense has its own collection of prospects beyond the secondary. Army commit Jace Murray and uncommitted three-star Gregory Batson anchor the linebacker group.

The recruiting résumés explain why both teams appear in the national rankings. The recent history explains why neither should require much motivation.

Lee County won when the teams met in Leesburg two years ago. Thomas County Central answered with a 35-21 victory last season in Thomasville and went on to win the state championship.

“Those were two hard-fought football games,” Fabrizio said. “We expect this year to be no different.”

For all the attention surrounding No. 1 against No. 2, Fabrizio does not believe his players will be overwhelmed by the moment. Lee County has played four difficult opponents already this season and has spent several years competing in games with championship consequences.

“We have played in a lot of big games already this season and over the past several years,” Fabrizio said. “It will be a great atmosphere for sure.”

That qualifies as an understatement.

Trojan Field is sold out. A region championship may be at stake. Two nationally ranked teams will share the field, and college coaches will recognize prospects on both sidelines.

Leesburg is planning a blackout.

Friday night, all of Georgia high school football will be watching.