Few football fans likely expected to see a rematch between Warner Robins and Bainbridge in the state championship game. But after 10 weeks of the regular season and four weeks of the playoffs, the final two teams standing are the Region1 rivals who finished one-two during the regular season.
Both have earned their way to the final. Neither dodged any of the state’s big boys en route to the title game, which comes Tuesday at 4:30 p.m. at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
No. 2-ranked Warner Robins is 12-2, but has been beaten only once on the field – that by Class AAAAAAA No. 1 Colquitt County. The other loss was a bookkeeping mistake when a reserve was used for a play in lopsided win. The penalty was hardly egregious; the Demons self-reported the issue and had to absorb a forfeit.
The Demons opened the playoffs by beating Locust Grove 27-7 and followed that with a 35-0 win over Ware County. After a close-call against Clarke Central (21-14), Warner Robins played its best game in a 45-28 win over two-time state champion Rome. Not only did the Demons end Rome’s 40-game winning streak, it avenged a 38-0 loss to the Wolves in last year’s championship game.
Unranked Bainbridge (9-5) turned around its season after a 2-4 start and have won seven of its last eight. (The only loss was a 38-0 setback to Warner Robins.) The Bearcats have overcome some tough competition in the playoffs, rolling over four straight ranked teams: No. 8 Jones County 40-13, No. 5 Wayne County 26-19, No. 2 Buford 23-20 and No. 6 Stockbridge 20-19.
The last two wins were especially notable. The win at Buford ended the Wolves’ streak of reaching the state semifinals. (Coach Jeff Littleton said they prepared for Buford by calling the Wolves “the green team” so to lessen any intimidation by the perennial contenders.) The win at Stockbridge came on a kickoff return in the final two minutes.
Both teams are loaded with playmakers on both sides of the ball.
Warner Robins quarterback Dylan Fromm is a savvy playmaker who has thrown for 4,107 yards and 44 touchdowns. Last week he surpassed the season total of brother Jake Fromm, who threw for 4,073 for Houston County in 2015.
He has plenty of weapons, too. Wide receiver Marcayll Jones was the Region 1 Offensive Player of the Year and has 101 catches for 1,868 yards and four touchdowns. Jones set a record for the most receiving yards in a season, eclipsing the record of 1,655 set by Demarco Robinson of M.L. King in 2010.
Jones is hardly the lone target. Ty’larrious Carr, Devin Brown and Jalen Addie are all very good and Fromm has a particularly close relationship with tight end, Auburn commit Tyler Fromm. Running back Jahlen Rutherford needs four yards to reach 1,000.
The linebackers are gifted, particularly sophomore Demarcus Robinson, who leads the team in tackles, and junior Malachi Weatherspoon.
Bainbridge has a legitimate playmaker in tailback Caleb McDowell, who has rushed for 910 yards and 11 touchdowns. The junior is elusive and has the ability to turn on the jets when he gets a step on the defense. He has returned a kickoff in each of the last two games.
The Bearcats have another solid back in Rashad Broadnax and a quarterback who has grown exponentially this season in Quayde Hawkins. He has thrown for 1,601 yards and 12 touchdowns, but has been intercepted 12 times.
The playmaker on defense is lineman Roman Harrison, who has committed to Tennessee. Harrison is big (6-2, 230) and has the speed to chase down speedy runners and receivers. Senior Randy Fillingame leads the team in tackles and is the quintessential undersized linebacker who seems to make every play.
The first meeting between the two teams wasn’t close. Warner Robins got in front early and Bainbridge was unable to make a move. It was also the second week after the Bainbridge community had been ravaged by Hurricane Michael and most of the town – players included – had other things on their mind.
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