Bradwell Institute will host Region 3-AAAAA rival Coffee Friday night at Hokey Jackson Stadium.
The powerhouse Trojans sport an 8-1 overall mark and 6-1 region record. It is the final regular season game for the Tigers, who will honor senior players, cheerleaders and band members during halftime.
Tiger football coach Greg Hill said he wishes his current coaching staff could have seen this senior class through their football careers.
Most of the seniors were around when longtime coach Jim Walsh finished his final year at Bradwell. The school then hired Adam Carter. Carter stayed one year before taking another job. Hill was hired after Carter left and is in his second season.
“This senior class has been through a lot,” he said. “These young kids have taken on new coaches and changes year after year, and I know that had to be tough. And on top of that, these past two seasons have been rough.”
Hill commended the senior class for leading by example and never quitting.
“They fought and fought and fought, and that says a lot about their character,” Hill said. “Being 0 and whatever … it is just human nature to give up, but those guys never gave up.”
The seniors include standout running back Luther Echols, Keith Thomas, Duane Johnson, Trevon McCoy, Deion Stewart, Jarvis Payton, Tavarus Jones, Isaac Moana, Xavier King, Shawn Strickland, Wes Brooks, James Jones, Zachary Vereen and Hisheen Scott.
“To say the least, those kids are going to be good citizens, and that is what we hope to produce here,” the coach said.
Hill said the final game will be yet another test for the Tigers’ endurance.
“It is going to be a tough match … but I will take the fight in my guys and put it up against anybody,” he said. “They are one of those programs you want to emulate and they have a rich tradition, and we know the road just doesn’t get any easier for us.”
The coach expects the Trojans to run the wing-T just like the Tigers.
Trojan quarterback Max Hughes is 58-of-109 passing for 861 yards and six touchdowns. Running back Demetrius Davis has 14 rushing touchdowns to go with his 826 yards on 90 carries.
Jay Ashley is sometimes placed under center, where the part-time quarter back and running back will take the snap and run to add to his current 391 yards and three touchdowns. Tywone Brewton is second in rushing for the Trojans with 461 yards and six touchdowns. Tray Bryant is their main receiver, with 12 receptions for 283 yards and two touchdowns.
Last Friday, freshman Tiger starting quarterback Quin McMassey had to sit out because of injuries and the Tigers used freshman Gage Sills under center against Brunswick.
McMassey’s return is still questionable, but Sills and senior quarterback Duane Johnson will be ready.
Echols continues to lead the rushing game for the Tigers with 752 yards and five touchdowns.
Freshman Kevin Harris now has 375 yards, and freshman Imani Hurte has 158 yards. To date, the offense has rushed for 1,630 yards.
Junior Christian Evans leads with six receptions for 82 yards and a touchdown.
The game is set to kick off at 7:30 p.m.