Warner Robins looks for new start in postseason
The playoffs offer a new season, and Warner Robins is hoping to take advantage after finishing fourth in GHSA Region 2-AAAAA.
The Demons (7-3) travel to Coffee on Friday in the first round of the Class AAAAA playoffs.
"One of everyone's goals at the start of the year is to get in the playoffs because once you get in there, everybody has a chance. We would have liked to finished a little bit higher in the seedings, but we got beat by three really good football teams," Warner Robins head coach Bryan Way said. "It is always an exciting time of year. It is what you work all year long for is to have these opportunities."
The Demon's three losses came to the top three teams in the region: Houston County, Northside and Jones County.
"It is why you are in the business that we are in; it is the chance to play quality opponents. I really think (it has prepared the team for the playoffs) with those three Jones County, Northside, and Houston County. We played Peach County, who is a quality opponent, in the first game of the year," Way said. "We are not going to be surprised by anybody's talent level in the playoffs. We have played against good people all year."
That journey begins Friday night when they take on the Trojans, who enter the game riding a seven-game winning streak and won the Region 3-AAAAA title. Coffee head coach Robby Pruitt is a former longtime Fitzgerald head coach, and he was the Demons' head coach for one season, in 2003.
Way took over the program the next year.
"They are very well-coached on both side of the ball. The knowledge that (Pruitt) has and the way that they execute on offense presents some challenges for our defense," Way said. "They don't give up a lot of big plays, and they don't give up a lot of points. We are going to really have to do a great job of executing when we are on offense."
Way acknowledged that the Trojans' wing-T is something the Demons have not faced this season. They are preparing for a different style and are looking to hold the Trojans by limiting mistakes on defense, Way said.
"Coach Pruitt knows that offense backwards and forwards. He knows the fixes when you are doing something to stop this; he knows how to attack what you are doing," Way said. "We haven't seen a wing-t team all year and probably haven't seen a team (where) that quarterback is up under the center very often. So that is a whole different animal in facing that offense that's going to be a challenge for our defense."
On defense, the Trojans have recorded four shutouts, including one in their final regular-season game against Bradwell Institute.
Warner Robins has scored at least 35 points in six of its seven wins but failed to reach that number in its losses.
Running back Javian Bradford-Jackson has 1,334 yards for the Demons, while Marquez Callaway is also among Middle Georgia's receiving leaders with 32 catches for 481 yards.
"We just have to execute. It doesn't matter what offense is run if you don't execute, you're not going to move the ball," Way said. "We are not going to change what we do. We have got to do what we do best.
"I think if we go down there and we play like we are capable of playing and we can move the ball on them, we can get some points on the board."