Today’s interviewee is Thomasville coach Zach Grage, whose team defeated Fitzgerald 15-8 to clinch the Region 1-2A championship. Thomasville is ranked No. 2 this week in Class 2A.
Zach Grage, Thomasville head coach
1. For those not there to see it, what were the big plays in the game? “This game was an unbelievable, old school, South Georgia physical battle, not necessarily won or lost on ‘big’ plays. I would say the turning point in the game was a mishandled punt by Fitzgerald that we were able to recover in their territory and turn into the go-ahead touchdown and two-point conversion. From there, our defense bowed their necks and made key stops while our offense and special teams were able to do just enough to flip field position. The game was still in question down to the final snap.”
2. What is the Fitzgerald rivalry like? What was the atmosphere like at the game and the buildup before? “The Fitzgerald rivalry was not one that a lot of folks down here talked about when I first got here six years ago. Of course, you are going to hear about Cairo, Thomas County Central, Bainbridge and Brooks. Since Brooks moved out of our region, the Fitzgerald rivalry has taken on a life of its own. Throughout the past six years, it has been marked by close, physical, well-coached battles. I think Tucker Pruitt and his staff are one of the best in the state about using their personnel in the best way to make their teams successful. Their kids play extremely hard, and you always have to stay on your toes because you know they are going to make great adjustments. The atmosphere was indescribable! Our fans are the best in the state, bar none. Both sides were filled to capacity, and it was extremely loud. The build-up to the game between the two fan bases was also something to be marveled at. A major factor in South Georgia football is definitely the passionate fans. We are blessed in Thomasville to have a community that will support these young men at home or on the road, and there is no doubt we feed off their energy.”
3. You’ve had some good teams at Thomasville, with three winning region titles and three that have made the quarterfinals or further. How does this team stack up with those? Is there something a little extra that this team might have? “I believe each team has their own identity, and it is our job as coaches to allow the players to foster that unique identity with a little direction. This is actually our third region title in my tenure – 2017 and 2019 were the others – and I think each of them hold a special place in the longstanding tradition of Thomasville football success. The 2021 edition is definitely a special group. We have right at 100 players, including 24 seniors and 36 juniors. Although we only had 14 seniors last year, they were a group with great leaders and high character that permeated throughout the entire program. The upperclassmen this year have continued that same identity and have added an accountability factor amongst themselves that I have never seen before. These guys truly love each other and have each other’s backs in all situations. I absolutely love coming to work every day and watching these players and coaches work together to be the best they can be in every aspect of their lives, trying to be 1-0 in everything from brushing their teeth to winning a ball game on Friday night. The end goal of winning the last game has not been reached by the previous teams here since 1988, and whether this group can accomplish that goal is yet to be seen, but I know these young men will do whatever they have to do for each other and for the Diamond T.”
4. This year’s team is more run-oriented than most I’ve seen. Have you changed schemes, or is it the same scheme, just tailored more toward your talents? “You are absolutely right, this team is definitely more run-oriented. Our schemes have not changed, but like I mentioned before, our identity is rooted in the fact that we returned our top eight offensive linemen from last year, our top two running backs, and have a 6-2, 200-pound quarterback that can serve as another legitimate threat in the run game. Combine that with an inexperienced, but very talented, group of receivers, and a defense that returned 10 of 11 with experience, as well as a solid special teams unit, and we thought it would be very unintelligent to not work our play-calling around that. Fortunately, we have had some success with running the ball, and as the season has gone along and our receivers have gained experience, we have been able to put the ball in the air a little more and allowed them to make plays. Our focus on creating explosive plays and scoring points has not changed. We just go about it in a little different way this year.”
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