By Michael A. Lough

centralgasports@gmail.com

Warner Robins

            Mike Chastain knows.

            His players are likely pretty aware.

            Warner Robins is an underdog entering Friday’s GHSA Class 5A state title game - available on Facebook - against Rome.

            The Wolves are the defending state champs. They’ve won 26 straight, not having lost since falling 33-30 to Kell on Sept. 9, 2016.

            Since then, they been in only one two games decided by single digits, coming in last year’s playoffs: 28-21 over Stockbridge in the semifinals and 16-7 over Buford in the final.

            Warner Robins?

            The Demons were 3-8 last year, making the playoffs only because of a five-region format and because of a weak region in which only champ Thomas County Central had a winning overall record, and only 8-4 at that.

            Warner Robins started the year with an influx of new players, yet it opened the season with an eye-opening 28-17 win over rival and Class 6A semifinalist Northside.

            While Rome has dominated, Warner Robins has survived. The Demons have won three games in the final seconds on the leg of kicker Eli Mashburn, including against three-win Thomas County Central after trailing by three touchdowns.

            Warner Robins took awhile to put away one-win South Effingham in the first round of the playoffs, and truly survived a visit by Eagle’s Landing, winning by three in overtime by converting on a fourth-and-goal situation.

            Chastain knows all this. But he’s used one phrase regularly the past several weeks to describe his undefeated team: battle tested. He noted the wins over perennial state contenders Northside and Peach County early on and then eventual 6A finalist Coffee, but noted those seeds of potential were planted in the offseason.

            “We went against Colquitt (County) in the summer, and we felt like we battled them,” he said of a 7A finalist. “We went against Jones (County) and battled them. We went against Lee (County) in the spring game, battled those guys, and we went against them in the summer and battled with them.

            “We played Grayson up in a 7-on-7 deal. We won the 7 on 7 Southside Shootout up in Locust Grove area. We’re really battle-tested.”

            As, of course is Rome, which was expected to be here. The Demons haven’t been dominant, they’ve just won, and used all three phases.

            They’ll need those three phases to be as on point as possible.

            “You hear about all the defensive linemen they have, and those guys are all phenomenal,” Chastain said. “They deserve every bit of attention they get. They’re good at a lot of other places.”

            Running back Jamious Griffin, a 5-9, 180-pounder, has plenty of offers and is reportedly leaning toward South Carolina. HE has 1,204 yards on 162 carries with 27 touchdowns. And backup Jaylynn Sikes adds 971 yards on 91 carries with 14 scores.

            Quarterback Knox Kadum has rushed for 664 yards and passed for 1,956.

            “They better than Carrollton, they’re definitely better than Carrollton,” Chastain said. “They’re well-coached from top to bottom. Every part of their game is very organized, very smooth, and it’s a very good scheme.

            “Nothing fancy. Like (late NFL coach Dennis Green) said, they are who you think they are.”