Prep Football: Seasons not lost for East Coweta, Trinity
By CHRIS GOLTERMANNcgoltermann@newnan.com
You’d have to go back to 2002 to find an East Coweta High football team that suffered three losses before the last week in September arrived.
Indians fans remember where that lineup finished the year. Namely the Georgia Dome and the Class AAAAA semifinals.
Unfortunately for the Indians, it’ll continue with this week’s trip across the border to play Central of Phenix City, Ala. The Red Devils improved their record to 3-1 last week with a 54-28 victory over Lee-Montgomery (1-3).
It’ll be East Coweta’s fourth straight non-region opponent that enters a Friday night with a winning record, following Archer (1-0), Sandy Creek (2-0) and Lovejoy (2-1). The combined record of the Indians’ last four opponents including Central-Phenix City is 11-4.
Compare that to a much-improved Langston Hughes team that at 3-1 has defeated teams with a combined record of 5-7.
The Region 3-AAAAAA schedule won’t begin until Oct. 12 with four of its six teams advancing to the postseason. In addition to East Coweta, Westlake (0-5) and Douglas County (1-3) have losing records while preseason favorite Tri-Cities sits at 2-2 following a loss to Carver-Columbus.
Trinity Christian defense turns corner
Despite last Friday’s outcome, Trinity Christian’s defensive play continues to be one of the biggest positives from a 2-2 start to the schedule.
Trinity Christian tries to rebound this week against 1-4 Piedmont Academy, a Class AA school.
With Region 2-AAA play still three weeks away, the Lions held Flint River’s shotgun offense to 122 yards and just 14 through the air. Trinity Christian finished with four sacks including a pair by Jay Walton. Senior Drew Gibson netted a first-half safety with his sack in the end zone while Aaron Johnson and a combined tackle by Edwin Rivera and Diego Henriquez claimed the others.
Trinity allowed an average of 37.6 points against its nine GISA opponents last year. This season, the Lions’ defense hasn’t allowed more than a touchdown in any of their first four games.
Penalties, however, were costly for both teams in a game that ran long due to yellow flags. Trinity took a 9-6 lead into halftime only to see Flint River (3-2) turn a pair of Lions turnovers into touchdowns in the second half.
