QUITMAN —
The Brooks County Trojans’ football motto is to ‘bring the hammer’ each and every Friday night.
Well, the Trojans now know exactly who they will have to bring that hammer to this upcoming season, as head coach Maurice Freeman recently finalized Brooks County’s 2012 football schedule.
“We have to work hard every day,” Freeman said. “That’s what I am telling the guys right now, ‘you have to work hard’. One, we have to fight some real tough teams that are non-region teams and then we have to fight these big dogs when we get into region play.
“But, you have to stay healthy and if you don’t stay healthy, you can be beat any week you play. But, if we can stay healthy and stay on a roll, then a state championship is in our reach.”
After scrimmaging the Albany Indians on Aug. 17, the Trojans will welcome Clinch County to Veterans Stadium for the regular season opener. The meeting between the Trojans and Panthers will be the first since 2005 when Brooks County claimed a narrow 7-6 win. Up next, Brooks County will face Monroe in a rematch of last year’s meeting, which the Trojans won, 21-12.
The Trojans won’t have to travel far for their first road contest of the season as they visit Valdosta at Bazemore-Hyder Stadium on Sept. 7. The Wildcats are 6-0 all-time against the Class AA Trojans, including a 2-0 mark the past two seasons. The lack of success against Valdosta hasn’t dampened the excitement for Freeman, who said he and his team are looking forward to the meeting with the Wildcats.
“I look forward to playing this game, our players look forward to it, our fans look forward to playing in it,” Freeman said. “Matter of the fact, I was in Sams (Club) two or three days ago and a guy walked in with a Valdosta Wildcat T-shirt on and I had a Brooks County coaching shirt, and he was like ‘Yeah, I know you. I am watching you.’ It is a rivalry game that never ends.”
Brooks County will enjoy a bye week before rounding out non-region play with a visit to Mitchell County on Sept. 21. The Trojans will enjoy another bye week on Nov. 2, one week before closing out the regular season at Berrien.
“We need those bye weeks bad,” Freeman said. “Especially after we play Valdosta. They are a big, physical team. And then we have Berrien right before the playoffs, and our plans are to make the playoffs, so you want to be healthy and you want a great showing when you play Berrien and you want to be on a roll when you go into the playoffs.”
The Following week, the Trojans head home to open region play against Early County. The Trojans have won four-straight against the Bobcats. The Sept. 28 meeting will also serve as the Trojans’ homecoming game.
The Trojans continue region play in the month of October, visiting Thomasville Oct. 5 and Pelham Oct. 19. Brooks County will host Fitzgerald on Oct. 12 and Cook on Oct. 26. The meeting with the Hornets will be the first at Veterans Stadium since Cook’s 54-12 victory in 2010. While Freeman and the Trojans beat the Hornets in Adel this past season, the 2010 loss is something that is motivating the Trojans this offseason.
“We will not forgot that game,” Freeman said. “They beat us pretty good. It wasn’t even close. So, we went up there and beat them at there place this year, but it was a down to the wire game. We need to pay them back for that game.”
2012 schedule:
Aug. 17 at Albany (Scrimmage)
Aug. 24 vs. Clinch County
Aug. 31 vs. Monroe
Sept. 7 at Valdosta
Sept. 14 Open
Sept. 21 at Mitchell County
Sept. 28 vs. Early County*
Oct. 5 at Thomasville*
Oct. 12 vs. Fitzgerald*
Oct. 19 at Pelham*
Oct. 26 vs. Cook*
Nov. 2 Open
Nov. 9 at Berrien
*Indicates Region 1-AA game
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Freeman, Trojans finalize '12 schedule
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