Trojans, Woodgett make history with 72-48 win over Sequoyah Chiefs in state quarterfinals – Douglas Now

The Coffee Trojans broke several school records and at least one state record with their 72-48 victory over the Sequoyah Chiefs in Canton on Friday night in the quarterfinals of the state playoffs. The win improved the Trojans to 11-2 on the season and set up a semifinal game next week against the Hughes Panthers in Fairburn. Hughes defeated the Thomas County Central Yellow Jackets 28-12.

A week after Coffee set the school’s single-game rushing record with 471 yards and senior running back Tyrese Woodgett broke the single-game scoring record with 36 points – thanks to six touchdowns against the Brunswick Pirates – both records fell again . Woodgett actually single-handedly broke the Coffee single-game team rushing record. He ran for 519 yards and seven touchdowns, unofficially surpassing the single-game state rushing record of 485 yards set by Devyn Collins of Pepperell in 2014. “It’s really great. I’m grateful for the offensive line. I never thought that would be possible. I thank God for that,” Woodgett said after the game.

Scoring began on the first possession and both teams scored points early and often. The Chiefs scored on their first possession when Brooks Darling found the end zone from the five, giving Sequoyah a 7-0 lead. On the first play from scrimmage after the kick, Woodgett ran through for a 62-yard touchdown, tying the game to 7-0. The Chiefs took a 10-7 lead on their next possession after a 31-yard Caleb McClure field goal. And again, on the first play from scrimmage after the kick, Woodgett torched the Sequoyah defense for an 80-yard touchdown. At that point, Coffee had a 14-10 lead with 4:55 left in the first quarter.

The Chiefs took over their third possession at their own 31-yard line. They took a 17-14 lead with a 69-yard touchdown pass from Kolby Martin to Jack Ripley. When the Trojans got the ball for the third time in the half, it was KJ Debruce’s turn to score. On the second play of the drive, he ran through the line for a long touchdown, giving the Trojans a 21-17 lead with 3:41 left in the first.

And once again, the Chiefs responded. McClure capped a 63-yard drive with a short touchdown pass to Matthew Matz to take the lead 24-21 on the first play of the second quarter.

They didn’t have long to enjoy the advantage. Coffee returned the ensuing kick to his own 30 yards. On the first play of the drive, Woodgett broke off another long touchdown run, this time covering 70 yards.

At this point in the game, the Trojans had run five offensive plays and scored four touchdowns – three of them by Woodgett.

When halftime was finally over, the Trojans were ahead 45-38. Woodgett had eight carries for 316 yards and five touchdowns.

In the second half, Woodgett had scores of 50 and 53 yards. Debruce scored another touchdown, this time an 80-yarder on a short pass from quarterback Bray Coe, with 6:38 to play.

Jamir Morton and Jayden Hancock each had an interception.

Coffee kicker Jonah Saylor was perfect on extra points and was also 3-3 on field goals (26, 26 and 29 yards).

“Woodgett is incredible. But that’s blocking the receivers, blocking the offensive line. This is a team effort. He will tell you that. I told him, ‘You better give them something.’ He said, ‘Coach, I’m broke.’ I told him, ‘I got you,'” laughed head coach Mike Coe after the game. “I am proud of these children. At the beginning of the season, the offense didn’t really seem to have any yards. Then we experience a hurricane. These children are resilient. You are what Douglas is. They are what Coffee County is all about. You go to work every day. They stick together. They keep playing and keep striving. I have another week with them and I couldn’t be happier.”

The total number of records the Trojans broke Friday night is still a mystery. A few that come to mind, however, are single-game state rushing record, single-game school rushing record, single-game team rushing record, single-game scoring record School in a single game, the most points scored by the Trojans in a game, the first time a Coffee team has surpassed the 70-point mark in a game, and possibly the highest point total in a game (120 points). The Class of 2025 has also won more football games in its four years than any other class (that record belonged to the Class of 2024 until Friday).

Four of the eight teams in this week’s quarterfinals came from Region 2-5A. For next week’s semifinals, that number has dropped to two. Coffee and Lee County won; however, Thomas County Central and Houston County lost. Coffee will travel down I-75 again next week, this time to Fairburn to take on the Hughes Panthers. Lee County will also travel north – they’ll get the opportunity to face the Milton Eagles in a battle between the state’s top two 5A teams.