Clint Thompson
THOMASVILLE — Lady Luck was on Thomas County Central’s side Saturday morning.
In a coin toss to determine who will host a third-round Class AAAA playoff game, Sandy Creek coach Chip Walker guessed tails and it landed on heads.
“He said, ‘Well I guess we’re playing down there.’ I went, ‘Yep,’” recalled Central coach Bill Shaver.
For the third straight week, the Yellow Jackets will be at home in the playoffs. They followed a close 15-8 win over Alcovy in round one with a resounding 56-7 victory Friday night over Richmond Academy. The Yellow Jackets will look for their 12th straight win next week with kickoff set for 8 p.m.
“Anytime you play at home and you’re familiar with your surroundings and you do the same, normal things before a game that you do, I think it’s going to be, obviously, an advantage for you,” Shaver said. “Of course, the long road trip wouldn’t have bothered our guys. We’ve taken those long road trips all year long. Sandy Creek wouldn’t have been but about 45 minutes more than the Harris County trip.”
Central has already had long road trips to Jones County, Harris County and Americus-Sumter this year. The Yellow Jackets, though, have grown accustomed to playing at home in the playoffs. Central has not had to play in an opposing team’s stadium since 2005. Only twice playing in the Georgia Dome in 2007 had Central not played at home in the playoffs in the last four years.
“We’re glad to be playing at home in front of our home crowd,” Shaver said. “It’ll be a holiday weekend. Hopefully, we can get a big, huge crowd out there. I know Sandy Creek will bring a huge crowd down here, too. It should be a good atmosphere.”
