Plenty of electricity for Warner Robins, Houston County showdown
WARNER ROBINS -- When football schedules are announced during the preseason, there are always a few games that are circled for added importance. Friday happens to be one of those for fans of Warner Robins and Houston County as the Demons and the Bears renew their rivalry in a key early season GHSA Region 2-AAAAA showdown at McConnell-Talbert Stadium.
“It’s been pretty electric around the school, and there has been a lot of intensity at practice and a lot of energy,” Warner Robins head coach Bryan Way said. “It’s just like you would expect it in a rivalry game, so it’s been a good week so far.”
“It’s been really exciting and kind of electric around here,” Houston County head coach Von Lassiter said. “The student body gets really into these things now. We’ve had a good week of practice, and I think if we could play (Thursday), it would be good because everybody is kind of ready to go.”
The growth of the Houston County program (3-0, 2-0 Region 2-AAAAA) under Lassiter has added new intensity to a rivalry that was controlled by the Demons for the better part of a quarter century. Houston County enters this year’s contest riding its only two-game winning streak over the Demons in program history. The Bears blew open a five-point game at the half in 2014 and went on to blow out Warner Robins 62-30.
“We had some turnovers that killed us and stopped some drives that we had, and then we never got them off of the field,” Way said. “They’re not one of those teams that you want to get in a scoring match with because they do it pretty quickly, and we tend not to do it so quickly.”
“I think we scored on every possession (in the second half), and they couldn’t match the scores,” Lassiter said. “They had a good plan, and they were playing hard. I just think it was kind of like a landslide deal.”
Fans on both sides should expect a much tighter contest this year. Warner Robins has proven to be improved through its first three games, and Houston County has injury concerns to some of its most dynamic playmakers.
Bears wide receivers Jaylen Searcy and Darion Anderson, who together combined for 17 catches, 242-yards and two touchdowns in last season’s win over the Demons, sat out last week’s win over Richmond Academy. Both players are slated to suit up Friday, but just how healthy they prove to be is uncertain.
Anderson, a Georgia commitment, appeared to be severely limited against Veterans in his only significant action of the season thus far, but Lassiter has rested him since in anticipation of Friday’s rivalry game.
“(Anderson) is good to go,” Lassiter said. “We’ve just been trying to get him to this game. There’s some games that we have to win and have to be very competitive in. Not saying anything against the other opponents, but it was important for him to play against Veterans, and it’s important for him to play (Friday).”
Warner Robins will be without the services of starting running back Terry Harris III, but replacement Javian Bradford-Jackson has made plays in his absence. Starting quarterback Ivan Corbin Jr., who transferred last year from Houston County, is also healthy after being sidelined before the half in last year’s game against the Bears, and playmaker Marquez Callaway is off to a fast start in his senior season.
“(Callaway and Corbin) with the ball in their hands are special,” Lassiter said. “They can move around and make plays on all parts of the field. Ivan can throw and he can make plays by running the ball, too. It’s going to be a challenge for our defense.”
The outcome could hinge on whichever team is able to impose its style of game. Houston County plays as fast as any team in the state, while Warner Robins prefers a slower tempo.
“We need to kind of grind it out and hopefully keep them on the sideline as much as possible,” Way said. “We want to run the football and throw when the down is in our favor. Once they get a first down or two offensively, they really get into a rhythm, so I think we have to play really good defensively on first down and third down.”
“I think we’ve got to play extremely fast, and we’ve got to get some things going early on,” Lassiter said. “We’ve got to be able to make plays when the ball is in Callaway and Corbin’s hands. We’ve got to be able to stop those two and control the line of scrimmage, and I think we’ll have a chance.”
This story was originally published September 17, 2015 at 2:49 PM.