December 11, 2015. Downtown Atlanta, Georgia in the Georgia Dome.
The Region 2-A Champion Irwin County Indians had fought hard to earn the right to stand across the field with a state title in their collective eyes. A playoff run that saw them knock off the likes of Wilkinson County, Trion (in a 21-0 shutout), and the Emanuel County Institute left one obstacle between the Indians and the trophy: the Region 2-A runner-up, Clinch County Panthers.
Unfortunately, the results differed from the 28-12 victory over the Panthers on September 18 that pushed the Indians to 2-1-1 early. At the final buzzer, Irwin sat on the opposite end of a 24-7 GHSA Class A State Championship Game win for Clinch County.
However; regardless of the final game, Irwin County Head Coach Buddy Nobles is confident that 2016 can be the same, if not better.
“We were blessed to have another great year,” Coach Nobles said. “It set the standard for the offseason and what we will face in 2016. Our job going forward is to compete on a daily basis, no matter what comes our way. I just want the team to be the best they can be.”
The Indians’ sole region loss came at the hands of Charlton County on October 2, and perhaps the defeat served as adequate fuel; Irwin reeled off seven consecutive wins (including three in the postseason) after the loss on their way to the grand stage in Atlanta.
Accompanying the team to the capital city was an army of the loyal Irwin County fans that have stood behind their student-athletes from the season’s opening kickoff.
“Our fan and community support are huge in such a small town,” Coach Nobles said. “Especially in South Georgia, we are known as a team; the pressure is there to produce because of our fans and community and what they expect of us.”
The defending region champions will obviously have to replace the talent and productivity formerly provided by last year’s seniors, led by Region Player of the Year DJ Pollard. However, according to Nobles, there is still a plethora of skill waiting in the trenches as the team looks to make another run at the gauntlet.
“Our depth will play a large role in our performance,” Coach Nobles said. “We’ve still got a lot of great kids in this program. Also, attitude and leadership within our roster will be valuable, especially from our seniors.”
Nobles plans to take the same approach that has led to success in his first two seasons at the helm of the Indians; the most important task is to concentrate on the game at hand. No opponent is more important than the next one. Home or away makes no difference; game planning and practice schedules alter for no one.
Also, in typical Irwin County fashion, he makes it his mission to create winners on more than just the gridiron.
“The daily challenges of the weight room and practice field help to create competition for the team. Off the field, our goal is to build young men that will make Ocilla proud. We talk constantly of having high character and doing what is right. When you walk down the hallway or in class, you need to set the standard for Irwin County High School.”
Irwin County Indians
Class A State Runner-Up Looks To Build On Last Year’s Run
Written by James Washington
Photo by Sandy McClurd
