Home and semifinals have been good to Warner Robins lately

By Michael A. Lough

The Sports Report

centralgasports@gmail.com

          For the third straight year, here sits Warner Robins in a GHSA Class 5A semifinal.

          Two years ago, No. 4 Warner Robins thumped No. 6 Carver-Atlanta 31-7.

Maxwell Ratings Prediction
Warner Robins by 21

          And last year, the No. 3 Demons knocked off top-ranked Rome – the vanquisher in the previous year’s championship – 45-28.

          McConnell-Talbert will get another chance to be very good for the home team when the Demons host Starr’s Mill on Friday in another Class 5A semifinal.

          This time, Warner Robins faces an unranked team. But the 10-3 Panthers have knocked off ranked teams Kell and Dutchtown in the playoffs, and beat No. 9 Griffin in early October.

          Starr’s Mill has had three double-digit win seasons in the last five, and went 14-1 in 2010, losing 24-0 to Chattahoochee in the 4A championship.

          The Panthers have won four straight region titles, and got to the 2017 quarterfinals, losing 59-10 at home to Rome.

          Warner Robins is winning games by 20.1 points this year to 11.6 for Starr’s Mill.

          Both teams are solid at running back.

          Ben Bodne of Starr’s Mill has 1,084 yards and 16 touchdowns while Kalen Sims had 1,374 yards and 13 scores.

          Warner Robins’ Jahlen Rutherford has 1,246 yards but only four touchdowns.

          One reason for Rutherford’s moderately low TD total is because of Warner Robins’ balance and diversity.

          Ahmad Walker is a short-yardage power back with six touchdowns on 40 carries, with 267 yards. Quarterback Jalen Addie has scored three times, running 84 times for 536 yards, throwing for 22 scores on 130-for-254 passing and 2,142 yards.

          The Demons boast a number of targets, led by Marcayll Jones, last season’s single-season record-setter in the state for yards. He has about a third as many yards this year, only because of the increase in weapons and tweaks in the offense. Armon Porter and Ty Carr get plenty of attention.

          Warner Robins has a steady defense loaded with playmakers, led by linebackers Demarcious Robins,on, Walker, and Vic Burley.

          The Demons are giving up 11.2 points a game at home this season.