Q: How long have you been at Dodge County? How are things going with the team?
Last year was tough trying to get kids to buy into what we were trying to do in the weight room and on the field, but it’s been fun watching this year’s group lead in a positive way.
This year has been hectic trying to play games with all the COVID situations and all. We played Toombs County in the first game of the season and only had two days to prepare after being on quarantine for two weeks before that. Game 2 was against Dublin, which we won. It’s the only game thus far that we’ve had our whole team with an entire week of practice. Then, the entire varsity team was quarantined the Friday after the Dublin game, so we had to cancel games with West Laurens and Fitzgerald. We had to pick up a game with Whitefield Academy with multiple starters out again and play on a Saturday afternoon. Game 4 was versus Bleckley County, which was played on a Thursday night with only three days of preparation (lost 38-33). After the Bleckley County game, we had a positive case the following week, and our offense (including myself) had to be quarantined another two weeks.
So, we just played Monticello this past Friday and hadn’t practiced in two weeks and were missing four starters again. Needless to say, we’ve had our share of COVID problems.
Q: You’ve had some great wins in your career as head coach. One of the best has to be in 2010 when you led Cook to a season opening victory at Colquitt County against the heavily favored Packers of Rush Propst. This season, you led Dodge to a big victory over defending Class 2A champion Dublin. What other memorable wins have you had?
A: The win over Colquitt definitely set the tone for the rest of the season in 2010. Them being nationally ranked and then playing for the state championship in 6A that season made it even more special. No doubt that team was the most talented and family oriented team I’ve ever been a part of in my career.
The win over Dublin this season was pretty special for our community as it’s a huge rival, as well as them being the defending state champs. Whenever you can beat a Roger Holmes coached team, you’ve definitely had a good night. He’s one of the best in the business.
Beating a No. 1 seed Pierce County while Cook was a No. 4 seed in 2011 was big for us. Cook was always good for taking out a larger seed in the playoffs (not so sure they may not do it this season as well).
Beating a 3A ranked Pierce County while I was at Bacon County (41-40) was another big win. We had to slow down a QB that currently starts at UGA.
The 2010 season at Cook beating a 3A ranked Worth County team that had beaten Fitzgerald the week before was also big. We felt like we had controlled the game and moved the ball up and down the field but found ourselves down 14-7 with five minutes to play. We proceeded to throw two long TD passes and got a pick six to win 28-14. Big for us to win like that.
Q: You’ve had the pleasure of coaching some special players. Who are some of those?
A: Shannon Brown (Cook High School) would have to be the first one on that list. That joker could do it all and coach others on the run as well. He was so smart and worked his tail off his senior year (was defensive player of the year in 2A that year).
Zach Folsom (Cook High School) was the Offensive POY in 2A in 2010. Smartest kid I’ve ever coached. (He coaches at Cook now). It was a special bond between Zach and the players on that team. They loved him. I still think he got hosed on never playing college football.
Trey Register and Clifford Pettiford (Cook High School) were All-State receivers that year. Both worked very hard and did special things.
The whole offensive line that year was special, not big at all, but nasty. Destry Walker, Dexter Walker, Xavious Adkins, Keita Bass, Tim Smith, and Lewis Boyskin. (Clifford Miles was a great RB too.)
Travin Henry (Cook High School) played at Georgia Tech. Made a lot of unreal catches during his time at Cook.
Desmond Tisdol and Martez Thrower (Wilcox County High School) were amazing. Desmond is at Auburn, and Martez will be playing at Kentucky after he finishes his senior year at Wilcox.
Tron Folsom and Drell Greene (Bacon County High School) were two studs. Tron played at Troy, while Drell played at Western Kentucky. Wish I could’ve coached them their whole high school careers.
I have two guys at Dodge County that I think will be special at the next level: Daylon Gordon (RB, LB) and Mikhail Carr (WR, DB). It’s fun to watch them play.
Q: What’s your game day during the season like, from start to finish?
A: I’m a huge body of nerves on game day. I think I’m worse than the kids. I’m usually very quiet during the day, although when I talk to people more and more it helps me calm down, and we end up handling things better that night. We always have a pre-game meal at one of our community churches, come back to the school for a little film watch, and rest time. (There’s a 10-minute prayer time I have by myself to just talk to the good Lord and go over what I need to do for the night.) We then head on to the stadium at 6 p.m. At 6:15 we have our devotional, and then at 6:30 our first group goes out to warm up. Game time is a little intense, so soon after I get home I’m usually worn out. I couldn’t imagine doing anything else.
