THOMASVILLE – This Friday Thomas County Central will travel 286.6 miles north to Rome to take on the Wolves in round two of the 5A state playoffs. It’s a game that is not only for a spot in the elite eight but is also a rematch of last year’s round three thriller that saw Central beat Rome on a game-winning field goal.

“This game will be personal for them,” said Central head coach Justin Rogers, who is very aware of the target on the Yellow Jackets as reigning state champs. “Very much like Lee County and Houston, in the fact that it was kind of personal to them too to beat Central. So, we know that we better put that chip on our shoulder because they dang sure got it on theirs.”

Rogers spoke about this game differently than he has in the past. Rogers and the Yellow Jackets have never been ones to underestimate an opponent. There is always an awareness about them on the field and in practice, but as Rogers spoke about Rome he emphasized the amount of respect this matchup brings. 

“Both sides respect each other immensely,” Rogers said. “Both sides know the type of football both teams play and so, I think both sides recognize that they have to make sure they’re on their A-game.”

“Now, it’s a good football team,” Rogers continued about Rome. “I mean, we know what Rome is. Rome is built like a South Georgia team. They play with great effort, great pad level, very physical. He (Rome head football coach John Reid) has built that team around the principles that make South Georgia football great.”

For the Yellow Jackets on-field success, Rogers focused on pad level and tackling, knowing that this Wolves team is dangerous in space. 

“For this game, we have to play with really good pad level and be able to stop them from just trying to play bully ball and out-physical you,” Rogers said. “The next thing is we have to tackle well. Rome’s going to try to get the ball in space. They do a lot of things out there with quick screens and quick gain to their receivers and so that puts you in some space there that if you miss a tackle it has a chance to go for a big play. So, it’s going to be very important that we tackle well.”

The Yellow Jackets will face the Wolves this Friday in Rome with the game slated for 7:30 p.m.