We tell you everything you need to know about the 2022 Coffee football team in this preview. We take a look at roster changes and what fans can expect from the team this season.
2021 Stats
- Overall Record: 7-3
- Points Scored: 276
- Points Against: 136
Key Losses
Coffee said goodbye to Robby Pruitt after a 10-year run as head coach of the Trojans. He is returning to Florida to take over a struggling Williston program. Mike Coe, the former Madison County (Florida) coach, will be taking over for Pruitt. Among Coe’s first tasks as the new Coffee coach will be to find replacements for a group of talented multi-year starters who were a big part of Coffee’s success over the last few years.
Leading that group is Maurice Turner, who played every skill position player on offense during his career at Coffee, and excelled on special teams returning kicks and punts. He takes his talents to the University of Louisville.
Another athlete who will be missed is Brady Skipper, who was a potent RB on offense and DB on defense. He leaves Coffee with 109 tackles as a defender, and 929 yards rushing, averaging six yards per carry. DB Emarion Graham has graduated, also.
Kicker David Vaughn was one of the finest kickers in the entire state. He converted 12 of 18 FG attempts along with 28 of 30 PAT attempts. His long was a 55-yard field goal. The twin brother duo of Brandon and Cameron High have taken their abilities to Albany State, where Cameron will play DT and Brandon will play LB and stand-up DE.
Who’s Back
While Coe must find a way to replace some good talent, he will have some good players coming back to work with in his first year at Coffee. That group includes the big guys up front such as offensive linemen Luke LaRiccia, Dane Rish, and Mason Roberts. On the defensive line, Jackson Banks returns to give the Trojans a big man with explosiveness.
As far as the skill positions go, Coe and Coffee are in good shape with several experienced weapons returning like Anthony Paulk, who can line up at cornerback and on offense, when needed, and WR Billy Simpson. Last year, as a sophomore, Paulk ended up with 24 tackles and three interceptions, and averaged 21.7 yards on kickoff returns. He’ll have Tyrique Edwards, and a trio of RBs in Fred Brown, Larry Daniel, and Antwain McDuffie all coming back, as well.
What to Expect
Coach Coe inherits a young team that lost some key pieces from a year ago. But, if there is a coach that you want in this situation, it’s Coe. He built and sustained a winning program at Madison County with the Cowboys, so he’s been in this situation before.
If Coffee fans are expecting any type of “break-in” period with Coe, forget it, says the new coach.
“I fully expect to play and compete at a high level from the start,” said Coe. “While we will be young and inexperienced, our ability to play with a high football IQ and maturity level will determine how fast we can get to the level we want to be at.”
An important part of the upcoming season will be the fact that Coffee is in a new-look region, without Warner Robins, who moved to 5A; Veterans, who moved to class 6A; and Wayne County, who moved down to 4A.
Coffee’s new region mates are Bradwell Institute, Greenbrier, Jenkins, and Statesboro. Those are all fine teams, but let’s face it: Not having the defending two-time state champion Demons to deal with in your region any longer has got to make Coe and the Trojan fans rest a bit easier heading into the 2022 season.
Prediction
Look for a solid season in Coe’s first year: 8-3 overall and another trip to the playoffs.
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