By Michael A. Lough

The Sports Report

centralgasports@gmail.com

 

          The calendar says it’s been exactly 13 weeks since Brookstone and FPD first played.

          That was back on Sept. 1 in Columbus when FPD cruised to a 46-28 win.

          It’s been a long 13 weeks between meetings, from that Friday to this Friday, when they meet in the GIAA Class AAAA state title game at Mercer’s Five Star Stadium.

          Both teams have ridden rollercoasters since then.

          FPD followed with a 44-44 tie with GHSA Class AA Laney, and soon enough went through a spell of injuries that kept out several of the Vikings’ most key players, like quarterback Jakhari Williams, wideout/defensive back Carter Hayes, wideout/defensive back Benjamin McElreath, among others.

          “We’ve had lots of injuries throughout the year.  Two collar bones, a few concussions, several banged up shoulders, two broken ankles, an ACL, etc.”

          They lost to GHSA Class A Commerce – a top-10 team that last in last week’s quarterfinals 24-16 – and then gave GIAA powerhouse John Milledge plenty of trouble in a 27-22 loss.

          Health returned, and the high expectations resumed being met, starting with a tough 29-26 win over Tattnall and a 35-6 thumping of Stratford, the Vikings’ biggest in that series since 34-7 in 2007.

          They then held off Strong Rock 23-13 and Tattnall 33-27 in the playoffs.

          “We are as healthy as we’ve been in a while, barring normal end-of-season bumps and bruises,” Collier said. “Our kids have had a ‘next man up’ mentality. Several guys, both young and old have stepped up in either first-time roles or have changed positions.”

          Lucas Buckner has handled kicking duties well, but has also plugged in holes at wideout and defensive back. Underclassmen Major Simmons and Brady McHugh have been boosts on defense with that unit has been short-handed.

          Brookstone opened the season 0-2, losing first to Glenwood, Ala. 38-17 before falling at home to the Vikings.

          They split the next four games, beating GHSA Mount Zion-Carrollton and Stratford before losing to GHSA Class A Whitefield Academy and then defending 4A champ St. Anne-Pacelli.

          The four losses were by 21, 18, 23, and seven points.

          The ship was soon righted, starting with a 64-16 rout of GHSA Class A Crawford County.

          The Cougars’ passing game became sharper, especially with an 11-for-16 night for 176 yards in a 38-21 win over Westfield. They’ve been either very efficient or able to rack up some passing yards in the last six games.

          Brookstone was 19 of 25 for 212 yards last week against Bulloch, and the Cougars haven’t thrown an interception since the Westfield game.

          The air attack and defense saved Brookstone against Bulloch, the Cougars held to 50 yards on 21 carries, their second-lowest total of the season.

          Lowest? When they got 47 yards on 23 tries against FPD. The Vikings defense gave up a 44-yard run, and stuffed the Cougars the rest of the way.

          That was then, this is now.

          “They’ve improved more throughout the season than any team I’ve ever seen,” Collier said. “They’re playing at a high level on both offense and defense and have had several quality wins in the last six weeks.”

          Brooks Roney has completed 67.9 percent of his passes for 1,886 yards, but has only three more touchdowns than interceptions. Lane Cannon leads the Brookstone ground game with 1,187 yards and 16 touchdowns.

          Harrison Baker, Jaxson James, and Mercer Hudson team for 24.5 tackles a game, Hudson with five sacks.

          FPD counters with Williams through the air. The Syracuse commit has yet to throw an interception while passing for more than 1,600 yards. Hayden Aulds grew into a 1,000-yard rusher, and Carter Hays is among the state’s leaders in receiving yardage.

          All despite missing some time with injuries.

          Brady Lincoln, Kip Cawley, and McHugh lead a balanced defense.

          This is rare air for both teams, Brookstone with only one championship game in its history, and FPD eyeing its first state title since 1985.

          The Cougars are led by second-year head coach Rance Gillespie, who came to the Columbus private school world after stints at Banks County, Peach County, Valdosta, and Hart County.

          He owns a 163-86 record (65.5 percent) with five region and two state championships.

          “They’re very multiple,” Collier said of Brookstone’s offense. “Rance has been all over, and I guess he’s picked up things at each place.”

          Collier is in his first year as head coach at FPD, and in his second stint. He’s trying to be the second head coach at FPD to win a state title in his first season, matching the Vikings’ trophy of 1985, when Mark Farriba succeeded Bobby Brown. Three years before Collier was born.

          Experience may be the difference.

          “We have a really deep senior class,” said Collier, defensive coordinator for three GHSA state title teams at Eagle’s Landing Christian. “That matters in all levels of football, but particularly more in smaller schools with smaller roster sizes.”

          And that was big during the mid-season battle with health issues.

          “That’s how you get here,” Collier said. “Our seniors have done a great job. I’m proud of ‘em.”

 

Class AAAA

Brookstone vs. FPD

Brookstone Cougars, 8-4

Glenwood, Ala.           17-38
FPD                               28-46
Mt. Zion-Carrollton    38-14
Stratford                       20-14
Whitefield Acad.        6-29
St. Anne-Pacelli          17-24
Crawford County        64-16
Westfield                     38-21
Strong Rock                 31-7
Heritage                       48-7
Playoffs
St. Anne-Pacelli          13-10
Bulloch                         24-22

Head coach: Rance Gillespie, 16-8, second season; 163-86, 21st season
GISA championships: None
GISA runner-up: 1987
All-time record: 313-253-2, 55.3 percent

Scouting Report
          The Cougars are fairly aggressive on both sides of the ball.

          They have passed for 1,953 yards and run for 1,918 yards, with 29 rushing touchdowns and 11 through the air.

          Quarterback Brooks Roney has three targets with at least 32 catches and 361 yards, and teaming for nine of the passing touchdowns. Lane Cannon has 62 percent of the rushing yards and 55 percent of the ground scores.

          Brookstone is very multiple on offense, under center or out of the shotgun with a solid short and perimeter passing game.

          Defensively, they go with a 3-4 scheme that’s aggressive in the secondary. They gave up 168 yards and three scores through the air in the early-season loss to FPD.

          And kicker Jimmy Hunter has hit 41 of 44 PATs and a solid 9 of 12 field goals with a long of 43.

 

FPD Vikings, 8-3-1

Parklane, Miss.           7-28
Brookstone                  46-28
Laney                            44-44
Pinewood Chr.            28-14
Mt. Pisgah Chr.           42-0
Commerce                   14-28
Mount de Sales           30-6
John Milledge             22-27
Tattnall                         29-26
Stratford                       35-6
Playoffs
Strong Rock                 23-13
Tattnall                         33-27

Head coach: Brett Collier, first season
GISA championships: 1985, 1980
GISA runner-up: 2005, 2004, 2001, 1989, 1988, 1983, 1979
All-time record: 362-224-6, 61.7 percent

Scouting Report

          Collier can laugh about it now, but a season of injuries finally cleared up for game 10, the first time the Vikings had all of their normal starters and regulars in  uniform and able to play.

          Despite that, they were in two of the three losses for most of the game.

          Jakhari Williams is a true dual threat, especially now that he’s mostly healthy. He reads well as a thrower or runner, although some teams have had a little success corralling him. Part of that was not having a completely healthy collection of skill players.

          RB Hayden Aulds has had a better year than expected, and has some toughness despite not being all that big. Carter Hays is as steady as it gets at receiver.

          Lucas Buckner has been solid at kicker. 

Common Opponents
Stratford: Brookstone won 20-14; FPD won 35-6
Strong Rock: Brookstone won 31-7, FPD won 23-13

Series history

          It’s even at 5-5, FPD winning the first meeting 49-33 in 2012. FPD won the first two, then Brookstone won three straight, they each won two in a row, and FPD won 46-28 to start September.

Game Scouting Report

          FPD may have more weapons, especially now that the Vikings are in good health.

          But expect a second-half slugfest, since both teams have battled through assorted issues and now are finding ways to win close games.

          Don’t underestimate Brookstone, a team that lost to defending champ St. Anne-Pacelli 24-17 in October and then knocked out the Vikings 13-10 in their playoff game. The Cougars then were clutch on some fourth-down plays and got a few breaks – like on a controversial fumble call - to eke ahead of and then hold off Bulloch 24-22 on the road, ending an undefeated season.

          Both teams come in with momentum and confidence, and hunger. Holding a state title trophy is foreign to both programs.

          Rain is expected, although less than predicted early in the week. Odds are they’ll be on a wet field. The Vikings have a little bit more versatility and should be able to adjust better. Plus with Williams being a threat to run – not necessarily huge plays, but clutch plays – gives FPD another edge.

          FPD should also have an advantage with more experience and more seniors, so important on the big stage.

Maxwell Ratings Prediction: FPD 28, Brookstone 20

The Sports Report prediction

          Weapons, experience, versatility on offense, and playmakers on both sides, all those check marks go to FPD.

          Which, of course, doesn’t mean this won’t go down to the final few possessions. The Vikings may be able to get a little control, and then play the clock. There’s also a chance FPD could start clicking in a big way and pull away early in the second half.

          FPD 30, Brookstone 17

Sources: Schools, MaxPreps, Georgia High School Football Historians Association