Would there be any suspense in FPD’s attempt to break a championship drought dating back to 1985? No, the Vikings taking control and rolling over Brookstone
By Michael A. Lough
The Sports Report
centralgasports@gmail.com
For a good while, it seemed like the final GIAA championship game of 2023 would be a thriller, a slugfest.
The defenses got off to a solid start, and then the offenses made some progress, and an impressive 11-play drive pulled Brookstone within three points of FPD.
Well, its seems the Vikings had enough of that.
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They scored on their next two possessions, touchdowns covering 112 yards, and went on to roll to a 44-24 win over the Cougars for their first state title since 1985.
The only flaw was late when the Vikings coughed it up and then gave up two quick touchdowns in the final minutes, a 44-10 lead becoming more respectable for the Cougars.
“I guess we kind of took our foot off the gas a little bit,” first-year head coach Brett Collier said after a water-bucket bath on an unseasonably warm December night. “They were still fighting to the end, which they should be.”
But the suspense had long ago been taken care of.
“I’m just proud of our gus for hanging in there, and getting gout into an early lead and hanging on to it. Brookstone’s got a really good team. They’re well-coached, I’ve got a lot of respect for them.
“But we’ve got a great senior class that worked really hard for a long time for us.”
And the veterans certainly showed up.
Gavin Spillers was fairly beastly on both sides, getting inexplicably wide open for two touchdown catches covering 103 yards as well as throwing around some Cougars from his defensive lineman spot.
Quarterback Jakhari Williams was only 9 of 18 passing, but those nine covered 256 yards and went for touchdowns three times. He also had a physical running night, with 12 carries for a team-high 86 yards, with two touchdown runs.
The defense, led by Patrick Thompson, Kip Cawley, Brady Linocln and Brady McHugh, among others, held Brookstone’s running game to 65 yards on 21 carries, the Cougars managing 204 yards on 20-of-34 passing.
But the Vikings got interceptions, inspired some second-half drops, and allowed only 10 first downs. And 46 of those passing yards allowed game on the two scores in the final 4:29.
Brookstone (8-5) was in danger of its second-lowest point total of the season until the late excuse-me touchdowns. And FPD put the most points on Brookstone this year, winning 46-28 on Sept. 1. The Cougars gave up more than 30 points only three times, the first coming in a 38-17 season-opening loss to Glenwood, Ala.
“All year, it’s just the ability to offensively be balanced, running and throwing,” Collier said. “That matters, I think. Folks can’t get key in on anything.
“It helps when you have really great players, like Jakhari Williams and Carter Hays and Gavin Spillers, all those kids.
“They just did a heck of a job all year, and tonight it really paid off.”
Williams rolled right and zipped it to Spillers, who was wide open deep, the 68-yard play putting FPD up 20-10 with 3:11 left in the half.
On the next possession, Williams found 18 for 28 yarder, and then Hayden Aulds down the left side after looking to the right and teasing the Brookstone defense that way.
Aulds weaved and powered his way for the 44-yard score, and a 27-10 lead with 47 second until halftime.
Brookstone opened the third quarter with a three-and-out, highlighted defensively by Spillers tossing quarterback Who downfor a 16-yard loss on a sack.
The Vikings went forward and then backward, and then 5 went around the left side, after hinting at an inside move, for a 34-yard touchdown, and a 34-10 lead at the 7:06 mark of the third quarter.
Defensive lineman Kamari Harvey was helping wherever he could.
Photo: Michael A. Lough/Central Georgia Sports Report
That was FPD’s fourth-highest point total of the season, the final 44 matching the 44-44 tie with Laney for the second-most points.
The game had its physical spells.
“It was to wear them down all night,” Williams said of the offensive game plan. “Just be physical and see if they can play 48 minutes of physical football.
“I think we executed really well. We came out firing, and we fired all night.”
And the firing ended the drought of no state title hardware since 1985.
“It feels great,” said Williams, among the man Vikings who had notable injury battles during the season. “It feels great to have everybody back, and everybody can experience how it feels to win a state championship, healthy, and contribute to the game.
“It’s crazy. FPD’s fans have been awesome all year, ever since I’ve been here. They’ve always been supportive. You’ve just gotta love it. There’s no better place, in my opinion.”