THOMASVILLE — Last Friday was just what the doctor ordered for the Brookwood Warriors. In head coach Shane Boggs’ words, his team “finished.”

A kickoff return for a touchdown, subsequent onside kick and eventual touchdown toss from Rodge Waldrop to Destin Moore erased a fourth-quarter deficit and provided Brookwood a 36-26 win over Edmund Burke Academy. It was Brookwood’s first win of the season. It hopes to continue the momentum Friday night against Southwest Georgia Academy (SGA).

“It was just good to finish,” Boggs said. “It’s a back and forth game in the fourth quarter. We were the ones that made the plays down the stretch finally. I was really excited about that.”

It is hard not to put too much stock in one game, but then again, the Warriors have felt heartbreak on multiple occasions this year. Three of the Warriors’ first six losses came by a touchdown or less. Having one finally go in Brookwood’s favor could be the confidence boost this team needs. 

And it couldn’t have come at a better time with GISA Region 3-AAA action on the horizon.

“We certainly needed it, and I’ve seen a bunch of times in the past where that one (win) can create a lot of positive momentum. I’ve seen it before, and I’m hopeful that’s what we get down the stretch here,” Boggs said. “I certainly feel like we have the kind of team that can make a little run. We’ve just got to be more and more consistent every week.”

Brookwood’s final non-region tuneup comes at home against SGA. It’s a foe the home-standing Warriors are very familiar with.

“Scheme wise, it’s the same group,” Boggs said. “Last year, they were just huge up front and had those two big backs. They’ve got a real slippery kid back there (this year) who’s much smaller but a lot quicker than either of them were. They still do a lot of the same stuff, misdirection, the wing-T; traps, buck sweep. Any time you play the wing-T, it has to be assignment football and make sure you’re reading your keys. Defensively, I think their team speed is a hair better than last year; not as big, but a little quicker.”

Brookwood won last year’s game 41-28.