Breaking out
A solid second half propels Rockmart to a win over a tough Coosa squad.
ROCKMART — It was clear from the start to Rockmart head coach Biff Parson that Coosa had done its homework prior to their Region 7-AA meeting Friday night.
But two big plays by the Jackets got through the Eagles’ grasp in the first quarter, and then good field position helped lift Rockmart after halftime and on the way to a 43-20 win on its home field.
The victory keeps the Jackets undefeated in region play as they attempt to win a region title for the first time since 1988.
“Coming off an emotional last week versus Pepperell … what we tried to tell our kids is you have to take one game at a time and nobody is going to give you a region championship. Each week is going to be hard,” Parson said.
“But we’re excited about this win and what the future holds. It’s been a long time since Rockmart has been in this position.”
Jacket quarterback Dylan Bailey was 6-of-14 for 140 yards passing and a touchdown, and also ran for 150 yards on seven carries. Markus Smith scored three touchdowns
Rockmart 43, Coosa 20
while rushing for 55 yards.
Coosa signal caller Logan Pledger threw for 123 yards and two touchdowns, while Jalen Hodge had 107 yards on 21 carries, including a 54-yard touchdown run in the game’s final seconds.
And while the Eagles’ defense was able to keep Rockmart’s lead to 14-7 at halftime, the Jackets’ benefitted from some miscues in the second half and pulled away, outscoring Coosa 29-7 before Hodge’s breakaway run.
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“I thought we did a great job with our game plan. The coaches did a great job, and I thought our kids did a great job executing,” Coosa head coach Todd Wheeler said. “The biggest thing that happened to us is we had some breakdowns. And when we had a breakdown, Rockmart exposed it with their speed and athleticism.”
The Jackets’ attempts early to utilize their speedy backfield and run the ball to the edge was met with the Eagles’ defenders catching them at the line of scrimmage. The catalyst that kept Rockmart’s offense moving was Bailey.
The junior hit Michael Gay on third-and-12 during the opening possession that the receiver turned into an 84-yard gain down to the Coosa 2-yard line. Smith punched it in for a touchdown on the next play.
Coosa (5-3, 3-2 7-AA) answered on its second possession with Pledger completing a screen pass to Sean Brown who took it 34 yards into the end zone to make it 7-7 following the Juan Cornejo kick.
The two teams traded punts before Rockmart (6-2, 5-0) got the advantage when Bailey broke through the middle of the line and raced 86 yards down to the Coosa 3 where Zabrion Whatley took over and ran it around to the left and in for a touchdown.
“Todd Wheeler and his staff did a great job of preparing for us,” Parson said. “It slowed us down. We couldn’t get on the edge. And we had to make some adjustments.”
Coosa received the kickoff to start the second half, but a fumble on the return allowed Rockmart to recover the ball at the Eagles’ 20, setting up a short field and eventually a 19-yard touchdown pass from Bailey to Gay.
After throwing an interception on the drive before, Pledger capped Coosa’s next drive with a 24-yard touchdown pass to Kameron White that pulled the Eagles back within a touchdown of Rockmart.
Juke Boozer returned the ensuing kickoff 54 yards for Rockmart and set up a one-play, 31-yard drive as Smith took to the right edge and scored to put the Jackets up 28-14.
Coosa still has a state playoff berth on the line as it hosts Model next Friday. Meanwhile Rockmart will be on the road at Gordon Central.