November 14, 2023 • 10 mins
Lee County head football coach Dean Fabrizio reflects on the Trojans’ early round playoff success.
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
All right, guys, welcome into another week of talking Lee
County Trojan football playoff style. As we get into it
with the coach Dean Fabrizio about the Lee County Trojans
and who they have coming up. But first we're going
to reflect on last week's when in the first round
of the state playoffs. So let's welcome in coach Dean Fabrizio. Now, coach,
(00:20):
thanks so much for joining.
Speaker 2 (00:21):
Us, Bill, thank you for having me.
Speaker 1 (00:23):
As always, absolutely, coach, we always look forward to it
and coach you you know, this time of the year,
unfortunately we lose some of the coaching brethren if their
teams are no longer playing, then we have to say goodbye.
But that's not the case with you and your Lee
County Trojans. You guys are alive and well and we're
glad to have you. Well.
Speaker 3 (00:43):
It's definitely great to still be playing. I think this
is the eighth year in a row we've advanced to
at least a second round. How about that pans in
the last I think tenth time in the last eleven years.
So fortunate to still be playing. As always, you know,
we had a good performance in the first round of
playoffs or a Woody team that was coming off their
best year in a long time, jumped out to a
(01:04):
forty one to seven lead at half and kind of
cruise or a forty four to seven lead at half
and kind of cruise to a fifty one to fourteen
win with the second half running clock.
Speaker 2 (01:13):
A lot of kids played well.
Speaker 3 (01:14):
Westn Bryan was nineteen of twenty two with four touchdowns
in the first half, and then he also ran for
fifty two eight carries for fifty two yards, so good
night for him.
Speaker 2 (01:24):
Yep.
Speaker 3 (01:25):
Jeremiah Jackson eight receptions, two touchdowns all in the first half.
It was Moni Croma eleven carries, one hundred and eight yards,
two touchdowns and also two receptions and a touchdown, so
I think he's got nine receiving touchdowns on the year
to go along with a bunch of rushing touchdowns. So
we didn't have to overuse hm, which is good keeping
him fresh and a good night, a good win over
(01:47):
Like I said, a Dunwoody team that has had their
best season a long time.
Speaker 1 (01:50):
Absolutely, coach, you seem to really be playing well. I mean,
your team just seems to be clicking. You know. I'll
take us back to last year. Uh we remember kind
of the stumbles that Lee County took. Still got to
the playoffs and you won your first round game and
then of course somebled against Woodward Academy, but that was then.
(02:11):
This is now My point being is this how important
is it to be playing well and with a lot
of confidence going into the playoffs.
Speaker 3 (02:20):
That goes without saying, I mean you need to be.
You should be hopefully you're peaking or playing your best
football this time of year. A lot of injuries as well.
You know last year, you know, we lost a couple
of games and then had a big injury and it.
Speaker 2 (02:33):
Kind of took a little win out of our sales.
Speaker 3 (02:34):
And that was, like I said, the first time and
in five six years and we didn't go to the
third round or beyond.
Speaker 2 (02:39):
So it was that that was tough. You know. We
we we ran into a really good Woodward team in
the second round.
Speaker 3 (02:46):
Uh you know, lost talked about that, lost some games,
you know, a tough fashion that kind of gave us
a bad scene and bad draw and uh, you know
it was what it was. We won big in the
first round over over in fing M team last year
and then and then lost very good Woodward team. But
you know every year of the new year, we had
a lot of guys back from that team. These we
got a lot of experience, and you know we've been
(03:07):
playing playing pretty well these last couple of games, so
hopefully we continue to do that.
Speaker 1 (03:12):
You really have coach. I mean, the offense is playing well,
you're getting stellar defense when you need it. And again,
I'm just seeing an inspired team. It's kind of interesting
year to year where this comes from. Where's the inspiration
come from for your early county football team here in
twenty three.
Speaker 3 (03:32):
I think the first thing is that you know, there's
a standard of excellence here at Lee County, and these kids,
particularly the senior class, want to uphold that. You know,
they know what comes before. There's a lot of former
players at the game Friday. You know, they they want
to uphold the standard that's been set and they want
to leave their mark. I think that's the first thing.
And then you know this in particular this year, especially
(03:53):
the seniors, you know, they they want to make their
own mark and their own legacy. And like I said,
they we lost a couple of games during the year.
They didn't like the taste of that. They've kind of
hopefully that that in the long run helps us increasing
our focus.
Speaker 2 (04:08):
But they didn't like that feeling.
Speaker 3 (04:09):
And they've been doing a really good job at practice,
continuing to practice hard, and you know, we expect that
to continue this week as we got another tough matchup.
Speaker 1 (04:17):
All right, let's move ahead and talk about that match
up that you briefly mentioned. It's love Joy and I
got to be honest with you, there's a lot of
folks who do did a double take on this game.
I mean, you know, with apologies to coach Forward, you know,
I think a lot of people were expecting to see
you guys playing Effingham. That's not the case. Love Joy
(04:40):
got the victory. Talk about this team that you guys
are gonna be facing, well, I love.
Speaker 2 (04:44):
Joy got the victory in a big way. You know.
Speaker 3 (04:46):
I think they were the only four seed to win
last Friday, and they won big forty seven to fourteen.
Speaker 2 (04:51):
We're up big at half to thirty four to fourteens.
Speaker 3 (04:54):
So you know, they're a team that's got a lot
of weapons, very athletic, big tall, long receivers, big, a
lot of size, especially along the front, the defensive front.
So uh, you know, they present a lot of challenges. Uh,
we're very, very thankful to get another home game. Uh,
but you know, and in that we're getting a team
that is playing with a lot of confidence because they
(05:14):
probably played their best game of the year versus Eppingham
last week. So we know it's gonna be a we're
gonna have to be at our best this Friday. Like
I said, we've got to prevent big plays. They've got
a lot of skill and long receivers outside, they've got
a really good running back, a lot of size in
the offensive line. Defensively, they've got big kids, you know,
special teams. I think they've blocked the punt, ran in
for touchdown. I had to punt return for a touchdown,
(05:36):
which kind of broke the game open versus Eppingham. So
we're gonna have to play really good in that phase
of the game as well. And we know what the
challenge lies in front of us. But our kids, so
they're they're really excited to be back at home. They're
really excited to be in the second round. And you know,
they're they're they're they're gonna have a good performances Friday.
Speaker 1 (05:53):
Absolutely, we're talking to the head coach of the Leak
County Trojans. Just Dean Fabrizio checking in with us as
he does every week, and obviously we now have rolled
over to the playoff version of the Leak County Coaches Show,
which we hope there are many more of these conversations
to be had. I want to go back what you said, though,
(06:13):
you know, I ask you know where the inspiration came from,
and I'm going to blend that with what you were
talking about with with Lovejoy getting their big win, you
can call that inspiration for their team, you know, And
I guess that has a lot to do with how
you're playing going into the playoffs. I talked about, you know,
I started the show talking about how you guys are playing,
(06:34):
but you know, talk about what one big win, like
what they did. You're talking about you guys controlling your
own desk. Negative, but you know, you got to consider,
and I guess concede in some ways that that's a
huge deal for them and trying to springboard off that
win over a good Effingham team. How are you guys
going to try to defend against that?
Speaker 3 (06:55):
Well, there's no doubt, I mean, and we kind of
in that position last year we went down there at
tapping him and had a big win. But uh, you
know when you when you get a win like that,
it does wonders for your confidence. And I think the
key with that is we've got to start the game
off playing well. You know, we can't allow them to
jump up on us and and let that confidence Matt
continue to manifest itself. You know, we we've got to
We've got to jump out on them and play well
(07:16):
right from the start, hopefully get to leave and take
control of the game right as things go. Because you
could just see this last game, they hit a few
plays on them early in the first quarter and then
they were and really you could see their confidence level
just go through the roof. And uh, you know, not
that they don't play with conference during the year, coach
Carson there does a great job, and but uh, we
you know, we've got to do a good job of
(07:36):
hopefully establishing control of the game early and uh and
not allowing them to jump up on us and then
you know, play loose and free and with a lot
of confidence like they did this past week vers Effingham.
Speaker 1 (07:48):
Talk about what it means to be at home. Now,
had you guys had to have played Effingham, you would
have had to go on on the road, coach Breeze yet.
But you're not going to have to do that. That's
got to be a huge win in and of itself.
Speaker 2 (08:03):
Well, yeah, I mean not having to.
Speaker 3 (08:05):
Make that long trip is big. Being able to play
right here. I'm sure a lot of our fans would
have made the trip. Being able to get to play
at home it's a lot easier trip from our fans
is great. It's great for our kids to play in
these confines. And the other thing about that is is
it just takes a little bit out of you now
making those long trips and getting back at three four
in the morning, like you're going to get back from
(08:26):
a trip to Effingham. And that's certainly we're fortunate enough
to win this week, will help us going in the
road again in the playoffs if we have to do
that the following week.
Speaker 1 (08:36):
Finishing up with Dean Fabrizio, head coach of the Lee
County Trojans, you're listening to the Lee County Coaches Show
as we are breaking it down for your playoff style Trojans.
Moving to the second round of the playoffs. You know
you mentioned the streak earlier and that it was completely
lost on me a number of years now consecutively that
(08:58):
you guys are playing in the second round. Coach, you know,
I think you kind of addressed that and we look
at it casually, but talk about how hard it is
to do that you're in and year out, especially when
you're playing in what is arguably the tough, if not
one of the toughest regions and classifications in the state.
Speaker 3 (09:18):
Well, there's no doubt, and I think what makes that
more impressive is that we're generally we've been in for
those eight years, we've been in one in the eleven years,
we've been in one of the toughest, if not the
toughest region in the state.
Speaker 2 (09:28):
So and what that does it sometimes.
Speaker 3 (09:31):
It lends you to where you don't get a good scene,
then you've got tough matchups right off the bat. So
to do that, you know, we're very proud of that street.
I didn't really realize that was someone brought it up.
And to do it coming out of the regions we've
come out of is I think even more impressive. And
that just goes to show the consistency of our program
that we've had here at Lee County.
Speaker 1 (09:52):
Coach, thank you so much for joining us. Brother, we
do appreciate it.
Speaker 2 (09:55):
Thanks a lot, Bell appreciate you.
Speaker 1 (09:57):
I have a great day. You've a listen to the
leak in Coach the Show with Dean Fabrizio and myself
Phil Jones right here at itg Next
All right, guys, welcome into another week of talking Lee
County Trojan football playoff style. As we get into it
with the coach Dean Fabrizio about the Lee County Trojans
and who they have coming up. But first we're going
to reflect on last week's when in the first round
of the state playoffs. So let's welcome in coach Dean Fabrizio. Now, coach,
(00:20):
thanks so much for joining.
Speaker 2 (00:21):
Us, Bill, thank you for having me.
Speaker 1 (00:23):
As always, absolutely, coach, we always look forward to it
and coach you you know, this time of the year,
unfortunately we lose some of the coaching brethren if their
teams are no longer playing, then we have to say goodbye.
But that's not the case with you and your Lee
County Trojans. You guys are alive and well and we're
glad to have you. Well.
Speaker 3 (00:43):
It's definitely great to still be playing. I think this
is the eighth year in a row we've advanced to
at least a second round. How about that pans in
the last I think tenth time in the last eleven years.
So fortunate to still be playing. As always, you know,
we had a good performance in the first round of
playoffs or a Woody team that was coming off their
best year in a long time, jumped out to a
(01:04):
forty one to seven lead at half and kind of
cruise or a forty four to seven lead at half
and kind of cruise to a fifty one to fourteen
win with the second half running clock.
Speaker 2 (01:13):
A lot of kids played well.
Speaker 3 (01:14):
Westn Bryan was nineteen of twenty two with four touchdowns
in the first half, and then he also ran for
fifty two eight carries for fifty two yards, so good
night for him.
Speaker 2 (01:24):
Yep.
Speaker 3 (01:25):
Jeremiah Jackson eight receptions, two touchdowns all in the first half.
It was Moni Croma eleven carries, one hundred and eight yards,
two touchdowns and also two receptions and a touchdown, so
I think he's got nine receiving touchdowns on the year
to go along with a bunch of rushing touchdowns. So
we didn't have to overuse hm, which is good keeping
him fresh and a good night, a good win over
(01:47):
Like I said, a Dunwoody team that has had their
best season a long time.
Speaker 1 (01:50):
Absolutely, coach, you seem to really be playing well. I mean,
your team just seems to be clicking. You know. I'll
take us back to last year. Uh we remember kind
of the stumbles that Lee County took. Still got to
the playoffs and you won your first round game and
then of course somebled against Woodward Academy, but that was then.
(02:11):
This is now My point being is this how important
is it to be playing well and with a lot
of confidence going into the playoffs.
Speaker 3 (02:20):
That goes without saying, I mean you need to be.
You should be hopefully you're peaking or playing your best
football this time of year. A lot of injuries as well.
You know last year, you know, we lost a couple
of games and then had a big injury and it.
Speaker 2 (02:33):
Kind of took a little win out of our sales.
Speaker 3 (02:34):
And that was, like I said, the first time and
in five six years and we didn't go to the
third round or beyond.
Speaker 2 (02:39):
So it was that that was tough. You know. We
we we ran into a really good Woodward team in
the second round.
Speaker 3 (02:46):
Uh you know, lost talked about that, lost some games,
you know, a tough fashion that kind of gave us
a bad scene and bad draw and uh, you know
it was what it was. We won big in the
first round over over in fing M team last year
and then and then lost very good Woodward team. But
you know every year of the new year, we had
a lot of guys back from that team. These we
got a lot of experience, and you know we've been
(03:07):
playing playing pretty well these last couple of games, so
hopefully we continue to do that.
Speaker 1 (03:12):
You really have coach. I mean, the offense is playing well,
you're getting stellar defense when you need it. And again,
I'm just seeing an inspired team. It's kind of interesting
year to year where this comes from. Where's the inspiration
come from for your early county football team here in
twenty three.
Speaker 3 (03:32):
I think the first thing is that you know, there's
a standard of excellence here at Lee County, and these kids,
particularly the senior class, want to uphold that. You know,
they know what comes before. There's a lot of former
players at the game Friday. You know, they they want
to uphold the standard that's been set and they want
to leave their mark. I think that's the first thing.
And then you know this in particular this year, especially
(03:53):
the seniors, you know, they they want to make their
own mark and their own legacy. And like I said,
they we lost a couple of games during the year.
They didn't like the taste of that. They've kind of
hopefully that that in the long run helps us increasing
our focus.
Speaker 2 (04:08):
But they didn't like that feeling.
Speaker 3 (04:09):
And they've been doing a really good job at practice,
continuing to practice hard, and you know, we expect that
to continue this week as we got another tough matchup.
Speaker 1 (04:17):
All right, let's move ahead and talk about that match
up that you briefly mentioned. It's love Joy and I
got to be honest with you, there's a lot of
folks who do did a double take on this game.
I mean, you know, with apologies to coach Forward, you know,
I think a lot of people were expecting to see
you guys playing Effingham. That's not the case. Love Joy
(04:40):
got the victory. Talk about this team that you guys
are gonna be facing, well, I love.
Speaker 2 (04:44):
Joy got the victory in a big way. You know.
Speaker 3 (04:46):
I think they were the only four seed to win
last Friday, and they won big forty seven to fourteen.
Speaker 2 (04:51):
We're up big at half to thirty four to fourteens.
Speaker 3 (04:54):
So you know, they're a team that's got a lot
of weapons, very athletic, big tall, long receivers, big, a
lot of size, especially along the front, the defensive front.
So uh, you know, they present a lot of challenges. Uh,
we're very, very thankful to get another home game. Uh,
but you know, and in that we're getting a team
that is playing with a lot of confidence because they
(05:14):
probably played their best game of the year versus Eppingham
last week. So we know it's gonna be a we're
gonna have to be at our best this Friday. Like
I said, we've got to prevent big plays. They've got
a lot of skill and long receivers outside, they've got
a really good running back, a lot of size in
the offensive line. Defensively, they've got big kids, you know,
special teams. I think they've blocked the punt, ran in
for touchdown. I had to punt return for a touchdown,
(05:36):
which kind of broke the game open versus Eppingham. So
we're gonna have to play really good in that phase
of the game as well. And we know what the
challenge lies in front of us. But our kids, so
they're they're really excited to be back at home. They're
really excited to be in the second round. And you know,
they're they're they're they're gonna have a good performances Friday.
Speaker 1 (05:53):
Absolutely, we're talking to the head coach of the Leak
County Trojans. Just Dean Fabrizio checking in with us as
he does every week, and obviously we now have rolled
over to the playoff version of the Leak County Coaches Show,
which we hope there are many more of these conversations
to be had. I want to go back what you said, though,
(06:13):
you know, I ask you know where the inspiration came from,
and I'm going to blend that with what you were
talking about with with Lovejoy getting their big win, you
can call that inspiration for their team, you know, And
I guess that has a lot to do with how
you're playing going into the playoffs. I talked about, you know,
I started the show talking about how you guys are playing,
(06:34):
but you know, talk about what one big win, like
what they did. You're talking about you guys controlling your
own desk. Negative, but you know, you got to consider,
and I guess concede in some ways that that's a
huge deal for them and trying to springboard off that
win over a good Effingham team. How are you guys
going to try to defend against that?
Speaker 3 (06:55):
Well, there's no doubt, I mean, and we kind of
in that position last year we went down there at
tapping him and had a big win. But uh, you
know when you when you get a win like that,
it does wonders for your confidence. And I think the
key with that is we've got to start the game
off playing well. You know, we can't allow them to
jump up on us and and let that confidence Matt
continue to manifest itself. You know, we we've got to
We've got to jump out on them and play well
(07:16):
right from the start, hopefully get to leave and take
control of the game right as things go. Because you
could just see this last game, they hit a few
plays on them early in the first quarter and then
they were and really you could see their confidence level
just go through the roof. And uh, you know, not
that they don't play with conference during the year, coach
Carson there does a great job, and but uh, we
you know, we've got to do a good job of
(07:36):
hopefully establishing control of the game early and uh and
not allowing them to jump up on us and then
you know, play loose and free and with a lot
of confidence like they did this past week vers Effingham.
Speaker 1 (07:48):
Talk about what it means to be at home. Now,
had you guys had to have played Effingham, you would
have had to go on on the road, coach Breeze yet.
But you're not going to have to do that. That's
got to be a huge win in and of itself.
Speaker 2 (08:03):
Well, yeah, I mean not having to.
Speaker 3 (08:05):
Make that long trip is big. Being able to play
right here. I'm sure a lot of our fans would
have made the trip. Being able to get to play
at home it's a lot easier trip from our fans
is great. It's great for our kids to play in
these confines. And the other thing about that is is
it just takes a little bit out of you now
making those long trips and getting back at three four
in the morning, like you're going to get back from
(08:26):
a trip to Effingham. And that's certainly we're fortunate enough
to win this week, will help us going in the
road again in the playoffs if we have to do
that the following week.
Speaker 1 (08:36):
Finishing up with Dean Fabrizio, head coach of the Lee
County Trojans, you're listening to the Lee County Coaches Show
as we are breaking it down for your playoff style Trojans.
Moving to the second round of the playoffs. You know
you mentioned the streak earlier and that it was completely
lost on me a number of years now consecutively that
(08:58):
you guys are playing in the second round. Coach, you know,
I think you kind of addressed that and we look
at it casually, but talk about how hard it is
to do that you're in and year out, especially when
you're playing in what is arguably the tough, if not
one of the toughest regions and classifications in the state.
Speaker 3 (09:18):
Well, there's no doubt, and I think what makes that
more impressive is that we're generally we've been in for
those eight years, we've been in one in the eleven years,
we've been in one of the toughest, if not the
toughest region in the state.
Speaker 2 (09:28):
So and what that does it sometimes.
Speaker 3 (09:31):
It lends you to where you don't get a good scene,
then you've got tough matchups right off the bat. So
to do that, you know, we're very proud of that street.
I didn't really realize that was someone brought it up.
And to do it coming out of the regions we've
come out of is I think even more impressive. And
that just goes to show the consistency of our program
that we've had here at Lee County.
Speaker 1 (09:52):
Coach, thank you so much for joining us. Brother, we
do appreciate it.
Speaker 2 (09:55):
Thanks a lot, Bell appreciate you.
Speaker 1 (09:57):
I have a great day. You've a listen to the
leak in Coach the Show with Dean Fabrizio and myself
Phil Jones right here at itg Next
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