Back to ‘The Mac’

♦ Rome matches up with Warner Robins on the Demons’ home field again, this time in the state semifinals.

There isn’t a lot of prodding of Rome High football players and coaches needed to bring up memories of Warner Robins’ McConnell-Talbert Stadium.

When a team shuts out an opponent RQ WKHLU KRPH ¿HOG WR ZLQ D VWDWH FKDPpionship, it tends to be a good memory WR UHYLVLW HYHU\ QRZ DQG WKHQ

As this year’s Rome team prepares WR VWHS RQWR WKH ¿HOG DW ³7KH 0DF´ IRU WRQLJKW¶V &ODVV $ VWDWH VHPL¿QDO WKH\ NQRZ WKH\ ZLOO IDFH D :DUQHU 5RELQV WHDP WKDW KDV JURZQ WKLV VHDVRQ DQG put themselves in position to cause the Wolves some problems.

But Rome head coach John Reid is FRQ¿GHQW RI KLV WHDP DQG NQRZV WKH challenges and obstacles they have already faced this season has better SUHSDUHG WKHP IRU ZKDW OLHV DKHDG LQ WKHLU TXHVW WR ZLQ D WKLUG VWUDLJKW VWDWH championship.

³$W OHDVW WKHUH LV VRPH IDPLOLDULW\ WR LW DQG , WKLQN WKDW LV JRRG IRU WKH NLGV ´ Reid said about going back to McConnell7DOEHUW ³:H ZRXOG UDWKHU EH DW KRPH but this seems to be our destiny, and \RX JR ZKHUH \RX¶YH JRW WR JR LQ WKH GHSA playoffs. We’ve got a good plan DQG KRSH WR SOD\ JRRG IRRWEDOO ´

No. 1-ranked Rome (13-0) has the PRPHQWXP FRPLQJ RII D ZLQ LQ WKH TXDUWHU¿QDOV RYHU 1R 'XWFKWRZQ one of the top defensive teams in Class

$ 7KH :ROYHV¶ ZLQ JDYH WKH SURJUDP VWUDLJKW YLFWRULHV DV WKH\ DGYDQFHG WR WKH VHPL¿QDOV IRU WKH WKLUG VHDVRQ LQ D URZ

5XQQLQJ EDFN -DPLRXV *ULI¿Q KDV KDG D FDUHHU EHVW VHDVRQ OHDGLQJ &ODVV $ ZLWK

\DUGV UXVKLQJ DQG WRXFKGRZQV to create the backbone for Rome’s offense. The North Carolina State commit is given plenty of support by four-year starting quarterback Knox Kadum and receiver ;DYLHU 5REHUWV 'RQDOGVRQ