Terrell Academy looks to take down Gatewood

DAWSON — There are some football games as a coach you’d like to have back. For Terrell Academy head coach Bill Murdock, that game was a 37-12 loss to Gatewood on Sept. 28 in a lopsided nonregion game at Don Beard Field.

Murdock and his players won’t be able to have that game back, but they will get somewhat of a do-over Friday evening.

Only this time, the stakes are much higher.

Terrell Academy will tackle the Gators for the Georgia Independent Schools Association Class 2A state championship at Mercer University’s Five-Star Stadium in Macon. The kickoff is slated for 5 p.m., the second contest of the GISA’s three state championship games.

“We didn’t play very well against them and we got behind the eight-ball,” Murdock said of his previous meeting with Gatewood.

Since starting the season 0-3, Gatewood is the only team to beat the Eagles. Terrell Academy (8-4) has won eight of its last nine, including five straight victories.

But Gatewood (9-2) has a winning streak of its own, capturing four straight after losing to Memorial Day 33-26 on Oct. 19. The Gators, however, avenged that loss last week in the state semifinals, pounding the Matadors 42-14. Memorial is the defending Class 2A state champion.

“Anybody who beats Memorial 42-14 scares the bejesus out of me,” Murdock said. “They’re a very good option team and they have a good quarterback, running back and tailback. They’re also very good on defense and it shows.”

Terrell is looking for its first state championship since 2009. Gatewood, who dropped to Class 2A after competing in the GISA’s largest classification last year, made it to the state semifinals before losing to eventual state runner-up Trinity Christian-Sharpsburg.

The Gators have outscored Southwest Georgia Academy and Memorial Day by a combined 69-20 in the postseason.

Murdock, however, is thrilled to be playing for the state title especially after starting the season in a bad way. His Eagles have topped St. Andrews and Edmund Burke to make their way to the title game.

“This is what high school football is all about and why I love it so much,” he said. “We were way down at 0-3 and not many believed in us. This season was a lot like life. It had its ups and downs, and these kids could have laid down and quit, but they didn’t settle. They kept working and getting better. We’re very happy to be where we’re at.”

Junior running back/linebacker Quintard Wright said the Eagles’ winning streak has been impressive and hopes it continues.

“We’ve picked up a lot since starting 0-3,” he said. “We’ve been playing well lately, and we don’t want to slow down now. We’ve just got to focus and stay together.”