Rome Wolves welcome Patriots for homecoming
Rome High’s Tim Jones Jr. (from left), Scott Peterson and Nick Burge have been some of the top players on the Wolves’ defense this season.
Game:
Paulding County (33, 2-2) at No. 6 Rome (5-2, 4-1)
Last meeting:
Rome 68, Paulding County 7 (Oct. 12, 2018)
All-time series:
11-0
On the air:
Rome leads WRGA-AM 1470, FM 98.7
Rome High is back at Barron Stadium for the first of two straight home games Friday night and will appropriately celebrate homecoming as they host Region 7-5A foe Paulding County.
The Patriots have not been too much trouble for the Wolves in the past as Rome owns an 11-0 mark in the series and has allowed Paulding County to score in double digits just four times.
No. 6 Rome is coming off of its most dominating defensive performances of the season after outscoring its last three opponents 13510 to post a 4-1 mark in region play.
The Wolves’ defense held its opponent to less than 85 yards of offense in each of the last three games, while Rome’s offense took charge on the ground with Ahijah Blackwell and EJ Burks leading the way.
Senior Nick Burge, who has spent some time split between the offense and defense this season, tops Rome with 56 total tackles — 35 of which are solo — and three tackles for loss. Simon Nguyen is next with 50, 31 of which are solo stops.
Bryant Wilkinson and Bryson Hill are tied with nine tackles for loss each for the Wolves, while Tim Jones Jr. has three interceptions with one returned for a touchdown.
Scott Peterson has two interceptions.
— Jeremy Stewart
Game:
(5-2, 2-2)
Last meeting:
12, 2018) No. 4 Darlington (6-0, 3-0) at Trion Darlington 17, Trion 14 (Oct.
All-time series: On the air:
Darlington leads 15-3 WLAQ-AM 1410, FM 96.9
Darlington’s final push through the Region 6-A/A schedule brings the Tigers to Trion this week knowing that they have to be ready for every situation when it comes to taking on the Bulldogs.
It’s been three years since Darlington has visited historic Sam R. Mccain Stadium, but the Tigers haven’t exactly had smooth sailing against Trion the last two years at Chris Hunter Stadium, winning 35-31 two years ago and 17-14 last season.
It was a defensive stand by Darlington in the second half last year that made way for the win as the Tigers were down 14-10 at halftime.
This year’s game comes as No. 4 Darlington continues to feed off of the dominance of its front line and the quickness of its defense.
“We’ve been pleased with kids that we felt we would be able to count on,” Darlington head coach Tommy Atha said recently. “One of the concerns we talked about before the season was being able to match up with people in space at the skill positions, and that’s been a pleasant surprise. We’ve been able to throw the ball around and get our linebackers flying to the football.”
Georgia commit Tate Ratledge was recently named the Touchdown Club of Atlanta’s Lineman of the Week, while fellow lineman Cade Brock is currently committed as a preferred walk-on for the Bulldogs.
Trion started the season 3-0 but has gone 2-2 against subregion opponents after lopsided losses to North Cobb Christian and Christian Heritage.
Darlington played Christian Heritage down to the wire two weeks ago for a 2922 victory, handing the Lions their first loss of the season. Trion got the brunt of Christian Heritage’s wrath the next week, however, losing 52-6.
One of the areas that has pleased Atha the most this season has been the Tigers’ secondary, with Kobe Nadu and Frank Manning both with a pair of interceptions. Manning’s most recent pick came in the fourth quarter against Christian Heritage that ultimately sealed Darlington’s win.
“He’s taken on a different role this season,” Atha said of Manning, who started at quarterback last year after Griffin Brewster’s injury. “He’s a good football player and can do good things on different sides of the ball. He’s about as good a team player as I think ever had.” — Jeremy Stewart