Rome vs. Warner Robins: Strength of schedule, coaches, and the trophy goes to ...
By Michael A. Lough
centralgasports@gmail.com
The trophy goes to Rome if:
The Wolves don’t underestimate the Demons too much
Rome had pretty much pulverized most opponents, and hasn’t had a game decided by less than three possessions since the season-opening 33-21 win over Harrison. Warner Robins has won three games on field goals in the final seconds – twice on the road – and one in overtime. The Demons don’t have an abundance of Division I prospects. Alas, their stability and consistency and short memory are all reasons they’re still alive, beating some teams that no doubt underestimated them a little bit.
Rome takes advantage of any Warner Robins miscues or subpar execution
That short memory? Bainbridge scored on a long run on its first play, didn’t faze the Demons, who won 35-6. Carrollton scored on a long run a few plays into its first possession, didn’t faze the Demons, who rolled in the second half to a 63-24 win (aided, admittedly, by an first-quarter to QB Mark Wright, who wasn’t part of the defense that gave up 63 points). A rough night against Eagle’s Landing by QB Dylan Fromm was countered by power offense when needed and clutch defense down the stretch. Rome can't allow Warner Robins to stay in the game if it has the chance for a knockout punch.
It just plays its game
If the two teams play their ‘A’ game, there’s little doubt who has more firepower. Rome is a solid favorite, and the resume says that’s deserving. The Wolves have dominated their opponents, but haven’t played as strong a schedule as the Demons, who have had to win close games to get here. If Rome doesn’t play its game and leaves the door open …
The trophy goes to Warner Robins if:
Rome takes the Demons a lightly …
Warner Robins has been very consistent in all phases, albeit not perfect. But the Demons seem to shrug off their own mistakes and take advantage of opponents’. One advantage is that they know how to settle down and come back, which they did against three-win Thomas County Central on the road and against 6A finalist Coffee at home.
The Demons O-line has a near-perfect game
Warner Robins can run, throw, and catch. QB Dylan Fromm makes wise decisions, but he's been under pressure a fair amount and sacked a bunch. The Demons will have to adjust in a variety of ways to the dominant defensive line they'll face, with some tweaks to take a little pressure off the line. Warner Robins cannot get behind the chains with any regularity and expect to survive. But if the blocking holds up, note that the Demons are more used to playing a full four quarters than the Wolves are.
If the game comes down to the foot of Eli Mashburn
The confidence level will be off the charts if the Demons stay in range to use Mashburn for any second-half points. The Demons can’t leave any points on the field, and don’t need to. But the longer they stay close, they’ll know that Mashburn can keep them in the game, and downright win it. The stage is certainly different, but don’t underestimate that Peach County kick: off-target snap led to a bobbled hold as the Demons ran onto the field in the final seconds with no timeouts. Plus, Mashburn’s not afraid to make a tackle should one of his kickoffs be returnable.
Strength of Schedule
Rome
Vs. playoff teams, non-region: 2-0. Beat 6A Harrison 33-21; beat 7A Drew 56-0.
Vs. higher classifications: 2-0. Beat 6A Harrison 33-21; beat 7A Drew 56-0.
Vs. above-.500 opponents, regular season only: 2-0. Beat 6A Harrison (9-4) 33-21; beat region opponent Carrollton 45-24.
Away from home: Rome beat Paulding County, Hiram, Villa Rica and East Paulding in the regular season, and Starr’s Mill on the road.
FYI: Kell and Paulding County were 5-5 and lost first-round games, Villa Rica was also 5-5. The four playoff opponents were 6-5, 8-4, 11-2 and 11-2.
Warner Robins
Vs. playoff teams, non-region: 4-0 Beat 6A Northside 28-17; beat 3A finalist Peach County 38-35; beat 4A West Laurens 31-9; beat 6A finalist Coffee 52-49.
Vs. higher classifications: 3-0. Beat Northside (6A) 28-17; beat 6A Houston County 38-21; beat 6A Coffee 52-49.
Vs. above-.500 opponents, regular season only: 4-0. Beat 6A Northside (8-4) 28-17; beat Peach County (13-1) 38-35; beat 6A Coffee (10-3) 52-49; beat region opponent Bainbridge (8-4) 35-6.
Away from home: The Demons won at Peach County, Houston County, West Laurens, Thomas County Central, and Veterans in the regular season.
FYI: The Demons have beaten two other teams still alive, Coffee in 6A and Peach County in 3A, and they competed against 6A finalist Lee County in the spring game. The playoff opponents records were 1-9, 7-5, 10-3, and 12-2.
The Coaches
John Reid won two state championships in Tennessee a little more than a decade ago before taking over at East Paulding and reaching the semifinals. Rome, started in 1992, didn’t make the playoffs the two seasons before Reid took over for Franco Perkins, but won the state title in his second year and are in the finals here in his third. He left East Paulding after six seasons and went 14-17 in three years at Tift County before moving to Rome. He is from Indiana and attended Ball State.
Record: 152-50, 16th season overall; 109-38, 12th season in Georgia; 35-6, third season at Rome.
State championships: none.
FYI: Reid became East Paulding’s winningest coach after two 12-win seasons, and has 37 more wins than the program’s No.2, his successor, Chuck Goddard.
Mike Chastain is enjoying his first championship week after enjoying his first semifinal week. The Northside grad is one of two West Georgia products left in the final, and two more were eliminated in the semis. He has worked with two other head coaches still playing, Lee County’s Dean Fabrizio and Peach County’s Chad Campbell.
Record: 17-8, second season, both at Warner Robins.
State championships: none.
FYI: Robert Davis went 10-0 in his first year at Warner Robins in 1973, and needed four seasons to go undefeated at win a state championship. The 41-year-old Chastain is at that point in his second season.