By Michael A. Lough

The Sports Report

centralgasports@gmail.com        

          At Peach County, this is the expectation.

          At Cedar Grove, it’s becoming that way.

          A homegrown program takes on one that’s becoming something of a destination program in the GHSA Class AAA state championship at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.

          The Saints have been a middlin’ program up until the past few years, reaching seven quarterfinals in its history, while the Trojans have done that under Chad Campbell alone.

          “When you’ve got good players, good things happen,” Campbell said. “They’ve got D-Is all over the place. But they’re coached up, too.”

          Cedar Grove has a size advantage up front, a unit on offense that Campbell said averages 286 pounds.

          “They got that big ol’ offensive line, and a back that finds little creases,” he said. “They’re big-play people. They got the wideout to throw it up to. They’ve got speed.”

          In the 30-6 semifinal win over Pierce County, Cedar Grove got a 70-yard run from Robert Jones, then a 70-yard return on a free kick by Rashod Dubinion, adding a 29-yard TD pass and another 87-yard scoring run by Jones.

          “It’s just make sure you don’t give up the big play,” Campbell said. “They’re big up front, wanting to lean on us, get in our way. All of a sudden, (Jones) pops.”

          Brandon Hall and Keon Watson crack the 300-pound mark on the Saints’ offensive line.

          But the Trojans are fairly used to something of a size disadvantage, considering they played the two Class 6A finalists and a 4A quarterfinalist. Peach County’s front four was the key against Calhoun.

          And Cedar Grove’s defense – led by Rashad Cheney Jr. and Dante Walker -will have a task against quarterback Jaydon Gibson, and is playing an offensive line – keyed by center Dylan Perry, sophomore Terrence Ferguson, and senior Octavious King.

          That line, as is pretty much always the case at Peach County, can run and pass block. Gibson has 2,197 yards passing and a 71.6-percent completion rate, and the trio of Tijah Woolfolk, Kapien Everett, and Noah Whittington – all juniors - have teamed for 28 rushing touchdowns and 1,660 yards on the ground, Gibson adding 371 yards and nine scores.

          The Trojan defense – led by linebacker Sergio Allen and lineman Cedric Hillsman - will face an uncomplicated offense that wears teams down and then allows its defense to tee off.

          “Their front four, their defense pretty much dominates people,” Campbell said. “And they’re athletic on the back end.”

          Peach County’s diverse offense on a clean, dry surface could be a difference, especially with field position against a big team.

          “What’s going to be important is field position to us. We can’t lose the field position battle.  We’ve got to make them drive the field. We can’t give ‘em the 40-yard line, we can’t give them a short field.”