No. 4 Lee County faces No. 3 Coffee in Class 6A showdown

LEESBURG — Lee County spent much of the first half of its season proving it could take a punch.

Now the Trojans get a chance to show how they respond to a loss.

There is little time for reflection after Friday night’s 49-26 loss to No. 1 Thomas County Central. Lee County goes from facing the state’s top-ranked Class 6A team to traveling to Douglas on Friday for another showdown with an unbeaten opponent.

Coffee is 5-0 and ranked No. 3 in Class 6A. Lee County is 4-1 and No. 4.

The Trojan Radio Network has dubbed the matchup between the two teams separated by Georgia Highway 32 the “Battle of Highway 32.”

This week, it might as well be called the Trojan War.

“We have certainly been in several big-time atmospheres and tough games this season against top-quality competition,” Lee County coach Dean Fabrizio said. “This team is definitely battle-tested.”

Few teams could argue otherwise.

Before running into defending state champion Thomas County Central, Lee County had survived a demanding opening stretch that included comeback victories against ranked opponents Carol City, Sequoyah and Colquitt County.

Against Thomas County Central, however, mistakes that Lee County had survived in earlier games proved costly.

“The thing when you play a team as good as TCC is any little mistake gets exposed,” Fabrizio said. “Some things we have been able to get away with finally hurt us Friday. We have to correct those things.

“Also, we didn’t do a good job of staying the course once we got down. For the first time all year, some panic set in and some guys reverted back to bad habits. We will learn from that and get better because of it.”

The recovery started Monday.

Lee County came out of Friday’s physical game with its share of bumps and bruises but no major injuries. More importantly to Fabrizio, the loss appeared to have the Trojans’ attention when they returned to work.

“Our kids came back refocused and we had a good practice,” he said.

They will need that focus against a Coffee team that presents a much different challenge than Thomas County Central.

While Lee County’s early schedule has been loaded with ranked opponents, Coffee has taken care of business during its 5-0 start, including victories over traditionally strong programs Parkview and Ware County.

And there is little mystery about what Coffee wants to do offensively.

Run the football.

Coffee has attempted only 37 passes through five games, according to MaxPreps statistics, while spreading carries among 14 different players.

Junior Bobby Reynolds leads the way. The 5-foot-10, 180-pound running back has carried 99 times for 539 yards and four touchdowns. Senior Tyler Dowling has also scored four rushing touchdowns.

That ground-heavy approach puts an emphasis on something Fabrizio considers critical Friday: winning early downs and forcing Coffee out of favorable situations.

“As always, Coffee has a lot of talent and is well coached,” Fabrizio said. “I think the turnover battle will be key in this game and controlling first down on both sides of the ball.”

Lee County knows it can win this matchup. The Trojans beat Coffee 35-14 last season in Leesburg.

Doing it again will require winning in Douglas against an undefeated team with momentum — and doing it only seven days after Lee County endured its first setback of the season.

But after everything the Trojans have already seen, Fabrizio believes his team should be prepared for the moment.

Lee County has trailed. It has rallied. It has won close games. It has played in hostile environments. And now, for the first time this season, it has had to deal with a loss.

Friday night will show what the Trojans learned from it.

And waiting for them in Douglas will be another group of Trojans ready for a battle.