Quarterback competition continues at Peach County, while Warner Robins is set at position

The non-region showdown between Warner Robins and Peach County has been a highlight of the early season schedule in Middle Georgia since the two programs renewed acquaintances in 2009.

The two perennial playoff contenders will write the next chapter in their border rivalry Friday night when the Demons visit Fort Valley.

“It ought to be an interesting game,” Peach County head coach Chad Campbell said. “Hopefully, we’ll fill the stands up, have a good crowd, and it ought to be a great first-game opener.”

In a role reversal of last year’s game, the Demons enter the contest with an entrenched starter at quarterback, while the Trojans figure to play two different signal-callers.

A year ago, Warner Robins had a three-way battle at quarterback during the preseason before Houston County transfer Ivan Corbin Jr. eventually won the job and led the Demons to the playoffs. Now as a senior, there’s no doubt who the leader of the offense is.

“We’re a lot more settled at that position than we were at this time last year,” Warner Robins head coach Bryan Way said. “It’s a whole lot better feeling knowing what you’ve got there under center than not really knowing and hoping that he handles the pressure all right, and those types of things. From that standpoint, it’s a lot more comforting for me as a coach for sure.”

“They’ve got a good quarterback,” Campbell said. “He can hurt you with his feet and his arm. They look better with him back there than they did last year, and he’s gotten a lot better since last year.”

Peach County likely would have had its own three-way battle at quarterback this preseason, but the transfer of previous starter Robert Allen cut the competition down to sophomore Antonio Gilbert and Georgia defensive back commitment Tyrique McGhee.

Ideally, the Trojans would like for Gilbert to step forward and take the reigns at the position, allowing the versatile McGhee to be utilized in various ways. But the maturation process of a quarterback can sometimes be a tedious process.

Gilbert struggled in a baptism by fire a week ago during a scrimmage against defending GHSA Class AAAAA champion Northside. Both McGhee and Gilbert figure to see time at quarterback against Warner Robins.

“Both of them have been getting reps with the ones and both of them have gotten better through the last week and a half,” Campbell said. “We’re just going to have to see who is playing best at the time. Both of them have continued to work.”

“One of the challenges that we’ve had as a staff is which guy do you prepare for,” Way said. “If it’s a different guy, then they’re going to do different things, but I really believe that no matter who the quarterback is they’re going to line up and try to run the football against us.”

While both teams are looking to create some continuity heading into their region schedules, the game figures to be a tightly and hotly contested affair.

Peach County won 19-0 last season, with the Demons winning in 2013.

“In these types of games where you’re both evenly matched, it’s just simple old football,” Campbell said. “You’ve got to play mistake-free, you can’t give up big plays, you can’t give up silly things on special teams, and in reverse, you hope that you can get some things on special teams whether it be a return or a block. A lot of times in these games, it comes down to field position and turnover battle.”

This story was originally published August 27, 2015 at 6:49 PM with the headline "Quarterback competition continues at Peach County, while Warner Robins is set at position ."