October 3, 2023 • 16 mins
Lee County head football coach Dean Fabrizio talks about the Trojans’ win over Houston County.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
All right, guys, welcome into another great show of Lee
County Trojan football. Why do I say it's great to
always trade after a win, and after a great win
that it was for coach Dean Fabrizio and his Lee
County Trojans. Let's welcome in the head coach and let
him tell you all about it. Coach Dean Fabrizio joining us. Coach,
congratulations on a great win.
Speaker 2 (00:20):
Thank you Phil. It was a really good one. It
really was.
Speaker 1 (00:23):
I hate that I missed it, of course, so we
were full and well, actually we were busy, I should say,
with a lot of football on our own end up
in Burke County. But where you guys were at, they're
in the middle part of the state. Great game from
what I understand, from all points, coach, and again you
guys come out on the on the winning side. Tell
(00:44):
us about this thing. It sounded like it was every
bit a seesaw affair back and forth. Kind of give
us go back to the very beginning. Kind of give
us the insight before the game. I know now that
there was a question mark of other whose mind he
was going to play or not. Kind of take us
from last week and tell us how all that progressed
(01:06):
into Friday night.
Speaker 3 (01:08):
Well, you know it's uh, on Monday came in he
had a calf strain. You know, he kind of tweaked
it last week and you know, kind of really tightened
up on him over the weekend. So you know, we've
got a great trainer here and Brian Davis. He did
a great job rehaving him all week and we really
limited him practice.
Speaker 2 (01:24):
But you know that morning it was.
Speaker 3 (01:26):
Really really tight on him Friday morning and uh, you
know he was really having trol putting pressure on it.
So we weren't sure if he play or not. It's
really kind of a game time decision. But you know,
nothing was going to hold him out of this game.
Speaker 2 (01:36):
And you know, as you could.
Speaker 3 (01:37):
See, I don't know, I don't know if you noticed
it or not, but he really couldn't open up and
run like he normally could with that. But you know,
it stayed in that loose up on him to play all.
Speaker 2 (01:45):
Game and he was just a tough, tough kid and
there was no way we're keeping him out of this game. Wow.
Speaker 1 (01:51):
So coach, I didn't realize that it was you know
that serious. Uh, an incredible situation.
Speaker 2 (01:58):
There, Yeah, it is.
Speaker 3 (01:59):
I mean definitely was, you know, and you know we
saw him this morning, you know, and he's he's gonna
be limited in practice again this week. You know, we'll
see if he can play Friday. But you know, it's
it's a pretty good little little strain. He's gotten that calf,
and but it's something that you know, he are trained,
did a great job of loosening the thing up.
Speaker 2 (02:15):
And you know, obviously it was mine. He played a
great game.
Speaker 1 (02:18):
Boy, he certainly did. Had a ton of yards. We'll
talk about that in a minute. But so this was
obviously a big game, region opener for both teams. Going
into this game. I mean, I don't have to really
talk about the magnitude. Uh, you have about one of
these a year. I'm talking about games like this, not
really a must win, but pretty darn close. And this
(02:41):
one was right up there with your big ones.
Speaker 3 (02:45):
Well, yeah, definitely was a big win. You know, We've
had a lot of big games over the years. This one,
you know, obviously being broadcast live throughout the state on
Peach Street TV, uh, and just being a region game,
Houston County being under needed ranked what's second or third
in the state depending on the pole, huge crowd there.
Speaker 2 (03:04):
It was just a great atmosphere.
Speaker 3 (03:06):
And yeah, first I want to say what a great
team Housing County has, you know, a great well coached,
a lot of talent. Uh, just you know, what a
great team they have, and I got to give them
a lot of credit. It was just a It was
just a great football game and great to be a
part of it.
Speaker 1 (03:20):
Yeah, absolutely, all right. So you know, going into the game,
I know that there were some concerns that USMANI uh,
you know, potential injury situation notwithstanding, Uh, just based on
talent versus talent, and it's understandable.
Speaker 3 (03:37):
Uh.
Speaker 1 (03:37):
You know, they've got one of the best quarterbacks in
the state of Georgia. They've got an elite receiving crew group,
and so there was a lot of reasons understandably to
be concerned.
Speaker 3 (03:47):
Uh.
Speaker 1 (03:47):
Talk about last week trying to prepare for the different things.
I know, you know, I was trying to talk to
you and obviously you guys were in heavy preparation for
this game. What were the things you were trying to
work on, trying to limit the best you could in
practice last week leading up to this game.
Speaker 3 (04:04):
Overall as a team or yes, uh, you know, Obviously
you have to slow down their passing game, but you know,
you can't underestiorate their running game either. Their offensive line
coach does a great job there at Housing County. Uh
they've got a really good running back. So they put
a lot of stress on you all over and so
you know, we had to find ways to to to
(04:26):
do a great job taking away their passing game, but
also be sound versus the running game because they can
hurt changes so many ways. So that was something you know,
we had to mix up our calls. Our defensive coordinator
Jason Butler did a great job with that, and then offensively,
we had to be efficient with what we did. You know,
we couldn't we couldn't stall out too many times. We
had to be able to control the clock, control the ball,
(04:46):
and get big plays when we needed them. Fortunately, we
were able to do a lot of those things. We
also spent a lot of time special teams, as we
always do, because we knew that was going to be
a critical factor in the game as well when you
have a game that tight, and you know, as it
turned out, Devin Kellier had a big pump return on
that last on the on the last punt.
Speaker 2 (05:02):
That they did. They kind of set up the go
ahead touchdown.
Speaker 1 (05:05):
We talked about this kind of being a back and
forth game, kind of you know, you score, you answer
that kind of thing, and it all started. It sounded
like from Uzmani's big run from scrimmage to start the game.
Take us back to the point, where did that happen?
What was the yard edge, et cetera.
Speaker 2 (05:24):
Well, we you know, we were able, we scored to
tie the game there in the fourth quarter.
Speaker 3 (05:27):
We got to stop. We were able to hold them
down there deep in their territory. They had a punt
about midfield and Devin had about a twenty yard return,
really a really great return to set things up and
set us up in great field position.
Speaker 2 (05:38):
We're able to drive down, you know, with under a minute.
Speaker 3 (05:40):
We had a fourth and two at about their twenty
that we converted on and then we got it down
to a first and goal at the eight with a
little over a minute left. Then it was MONI just
had an unbelievable run, carrying people at the ends of
a score.
Speaker 2 (05:53):
I was just a little word. We scored too quick,
a little much time on the clock.
Speaker 3 (05:57):
But as you know, as explosive as they are, you know,
over a minute with the time out left as an eternity,
but you know our defense, you know, stepping up there
at the end, we got several sacks and actually kind
of ended it with a safety, a sack for safety
there at the end.
Speaker 1 (06:12):
I got you, So, coach, I wanted to ask you
about the opening score where OSMANI takes it from the
line of scrimmage. Big score to start the game. You
can take us back to that.
Speaker 3 (06:23):
Well, you know, we we've got a three and out
the first series, which was big. We kicked off to them,
and then first play of the game, we have great
brock and bar offensive line and full back. He hits
a scene, makes a guy miss at the second level,
and then he's off to the races and it was
a great, great, great run by his mindy, great blocking
and execution, and it was a great way to start
(06:43):
the game. Almost very reminiscent of the game the year
before with the first series he breaks off a big run.
Just this time he did it on the first play,
and that certainly, you know, helped us start started off
with the momentum and a big uh you know, big
game there.
Speaker 1 (06:56):
Yeah, absolutely, so, I knows many obviously he was very critical,
But talk about some of the other guys that stepped
up big in this game, Coach, I mean, I know
again it's a it was a great effort, team wise effort.
So talk about some of the other guys who maybe
didn't get quite the headlines.
Speaker 3 (07:14):
Well, we had several guys, you know, that played well
on our offensive line. You gotta start with our center
Dial Long just played played a spectacular game. Then you
go with the Braxton Honer who had two rushing touchdowns
as well, played a big game defensively, Jays Angry two sacks,
Leroy Jackson of course three sacks, and then Corey McDowell
with an interception and probably twelve tackles played. Gus younger
(07:37):
brother who's becoming a great player in his own right,
just played an exceptional game. Our punter Riker moy had
had a great game punting the ball really helped the
field position wise.
Speaker 2 (07:46):
And just several of the guys who really stepped up.
Speaker 3 (07:48):
You know, we defensively the first two series who played
really well, and then that the last part of the
first quarter, in the second quarter, they they really got
us some you know, they they they hit some plays
on us. They inverted I think three or four fourth
downs in the late first quarter, second quarter, and you
know they kind of hit and then we went in
half twenty eight twenty eight. The second half, we really
(08:11):
really stepping up. Gave up one score early and then
after that really stepping up. The player played great defense.
So you know, other than that little over quarter, I
thought our defense played excellent. But you know, he got
to credit the Housing Counties offense for that time too
when they get scored, because we're just so explosive and
execute so well.
Speaker 1 (08:27):
Talking to Dean Fabrizio, head coach of the Lee County Trojans,
as his Trojans able to escape, I think is the
right word to use, a close, close game. But in
the end, they were the ones that come out on top,
actually kind of putting the cherry on top of the
Sunday with a quarterback sack in the end zone to
(08:47):
give him an additional safety and to really put the
game out of reach. So obviously tied at halftime, I
think they got the lead in the third quarter. Talk
about going into the fourth quarter, So I'm getting you
got if I look at this right, coach, you guys
were down by a touchdown going into that fourth quarter.
Speaker 3 (09:05):
Yes, we were, and we weathered to drives into our territory.
You know, one of them, uh, you know, one of them,
we were able to hold them on bounds, and then
the other one we got a sack and a bumble
sacked by jayde Corey. We recovered a fall and a
third down. So our defense really rose up, and at
times when they had the momentum and we're kind of
really starting to really start to take control of the game,
(09:26):
we were able to kind of rise up and get
the stop. And it was a back and forth a
pair and then finally we got that tying touchdown there
in the fourth quarter, and uh with a run by
Braxton Honer and then we're able to get the touchdown
and go up there with about a little over a
minute left and then sealed it with the safety after that.
Speaker 1 (09:43):
So, coach, you've won some big games in your career.
We've talked, we kind of opened up the show talking
about that, you know, talk about what this game means.
I mean, it's you're you're able to get the leg
up in the ragion. That's a big check mark. You're
able to get it against one of the teams. Obviously,
favored you know in this region. That's another check mark.
(10:06):
But talk about what it means, you know, for the
morale of the team moving forward, because I mean this is,
like I said, it's a pretty big game, and you
did it up at their place.
Speaker 3 (10:16):
Well, to go on the road and to be the
team as good as they are, as highly ranked as
they are, and it to be a region game just
says so much about our kids and our team. Definitely
definitely be a big morale booster. But you know, when
you played as many big games as we have, and
you played in the region one as long as we have,
you know that you know you can't get too high
or low after any game, and you've got to refocus
(10:37):
the next week because you know, just like last year
we had a big, huge win Knockinghouston County.
Speaker 2 (10:41):
Off, they rundefeated and a highly ranked last year looked up
a little bit later. So reason so you know, we
definitely know that, you know, we can't get too high.
Speaker 3 (10:50):
Or low after a win or loss. We've got to
refocus the next week. And that's one thing we always
try to do is get ourselves back and prepare the
same exact way that the way. But yes, it definitely
was a was a big boost for our team. You know,
it was a big boost for ow Wis. I mean,
our kids worked so hard and I couldn't be proud
of the effort they showed in that game. I mean
that just to be down laid and to have a
(11:13):
couple of times where we had to make big defensive stops,
just to keep fighting the whole way.
Speaker 2 (11:18):
Really really proud of this group. And you know, we
feel like, you know, we feel like we're still not
near as good as we could be.
Speaker 3 (11:24):
We feel like we've got a lot a lot of
room to improve and get better. And you know, our
kids were they were back to work this morning in
the weight room, and you know, hopefully what we expect
to have a great practice today.
Speaker 1 (11:34):
I know last year there was a lot of anticipation
with Weston taking over the quarterback position after you had
a turnover there in personnel talk about his play, not
just Friday night, but up to this point this year, coach,
as is he matured into the as good a quarterback
(11:56):
as you thought he could be, because I know you
mentioned that last year he really thought the sky was
the limit for him.
Speaker 3 (12:03):
Well, when you get a kid that Weston, he's a
three sport athlete, and we've talked many times. He was
second in the state wrestling at two undred and fifteen pounds.
He's a great baseball player. He just does so much,
you know, he's he's got such a high stealing as
a quarterback at this year. Even though we've been primarily
a running team and we've had some games that were
blowouts where we didn't throw it as much as.
Speaker 2 (12:21):
Stats may not reflect it, we feel like he's doing
a good job. You know.
Speaker 3 (12:25):
Even Friday night, he didn't have great stats, but he
had some big third down throws. We had of course
a big I think fifty plus yard touchdown that was
called back on a penalty that he threw a great
throw to Jeremiah Jackson. But the thing about him is
we feel like he's got a lot of room to
continue to grow. We're pleased with his progress. He's a
great leader for us, and he did some good things
(12:47):
getting us out of trouble again and making some key
throws to extend drives Friday night.
Speaker 1 (12:51):
Without a doubt, coach will wrap up with this talking
to Dean Fabrezio, head coach of the league. Any Trojan's
big win obviously, Uh for Lee County. All right, so
talk about the play kind of saved the best for
last year. I think it was Monti Croma. Uh, you know,
our very own Mark Dyce was at the game. And
(13:13):
by the way, we got some great footage at the game,
and uh, he was, you know, just texting me just
how what a great game he was seeing and what
a great performance that he was seeing with his money
showing exemplary feats of strength and speed, just everything that
a great football player displays. Talk about and it seems
(13:37):
like we're running out of superlatives to describe his play.
Speaker 2 (13:40):
Uh, but just talk.
Speaker 1 (13:41):
About the impact that that comes out in him and
that he has on a game like he did Friday night.
Speaker 3 (13:47):
Well, he's you know, he's such a such a great
kid and such an unselfish kid. I mean, all those yards,
but you don't think he does. He did such a
great job blocking when we asked him to block. He's
such an unselfish player. You know, we're just we're really
blessed to have him and he just you know, we
like I said, the Soperlas Friday night, he almost run
(14:08):
out of he runs so well.
Speaker 2 (14:09):
He makes he's able to make.
Speaker 3 (14:11):
Guys miss and short spaces. He's able to stop on
a dime. And like I said, he did all this
and he was probably maybe seventy five eighty percent tops
with that calf injury. But he's just such got such
great strength, especially in his lower body, and you know,
just just a phenomenal performance. You know, that's one thing
you know, and we can't they are aligned did a
great job or pull back to Mindy Kentrell a great job,
(14:34):
but he's just you know, you know, when you've got
a guy like.
Speaker 2 (14:36):
Him and he play could be a big one.
Speaker 3 (14:38):
That's certainly is his great thing to have and it
helps everybody else play better because.
Speaker 2 (14:43):
Of having a guy like that.
Speaker 1 (14:45):
Got you well, coach, it was a great, great win
and you got veterans. That's next, I believe. Man talk
about the Warhawks.
Speaker 3 (14:53):
Well, you know, they started out the year really good.
Now they've dropped the last couple, but we expect we'll
get their best game. You know, it's again another Region
one team. They've got a great player in Preston Bird.
If you guys haven't heard about this guy, he is
he is electric. I mean he is absolutely electric. I
think versus Perry had over two hundred yard receiving and
add or rushing touchdowns in addition to the two hundred
(15:15):
plus yards receiving.
Speaker 2 (15:16):
I mean, he is he is something else.
Speaker 3 (15:18):
So we're gonna have to get ourselves refocused, even though
they probably haven't played their best football the last two weeks.
You watch him early in the season, they start off
three and oho and the boy they look really good.
So we know we're gonna have to get ourselves refocused.
As homecoming so there's always there's a lot going on
this week, but you know, we've got to do a
good job of, you know, keeping the focus where it
needs to be, enjoying all the festivities about the safetkey,
(15:39):
keeping the focus where it needs to.
Speaker 2 (15:40):
Be, and and get continuing to get better. That's the
biggest thing.
Speaker 3 (15:44):
Can we continue to get better as a team, because
we know, like I told Friday, this isn't the end.
Speaker 2 (15:49):
I mean, it was a huge win. Everybody's excited, but
this is just really the beginning.
Speaker 3 (15:52):
You know, we expect to play football, hopefully for a
bunch of more weeks.
Speaker 1 (15:56):
Here, all right, coach big win and man, you're right,
if you're not careful, a team like Veterans can come
in and spoil the whole party. So I know you'll
be ready for that and do everything you can to
prevent that.
Speaker 2 (16:12):
Great Phil, thanks for having me as always.
Speaker 1 (16:15):
Okay, Coach, thank you.
Speaker 2 (16:17):
There he is.
Speaker 1 (16:18):
That's Dean Fabrizio checking in with us on the Leak
Handy Coaches Show. I always appreciate Coach's time and we
look forward to talking to him again next week. Right
here on the Leek Handy Coaches Show with Coach Dean
Fabrizio and myself, Phil Jones from ITG. Next
All right, guys, welcome into another great show of Lee
County Trojan football. Why do I say it's great to
always trade after a win, and after a great win
that it was for coach Dean Fabrizio and his Lee
County Trojans. Let's welcome in the head coach and let
him tell you all about it. Coach Dean Fabrizio joining us. Coach,
congratulations on a great win.
Speaker 2 (00:20):
Thank you Phil. It was a really good one. It
really was.
Speaker 1 (00:23):
I hate that I missed it, of course, so we
were full and well, actually we were busy, I should say,
with a lot of football on our own end up
in Burke County. But where you guys were at, they're
in the middle part of the state. Great game from
what I understand, from all points, coach, and again you
guys come out on the on the winning side. Tell
(00:44):
us about this thing. It sounded like it was every
bit a seesaw affair back and forth. Kind of give
us go back to the very beginning. Kind of give
us the insight before the game. I know now that
there was a question mark of other whose mind he
was going to play or not. Kind of take us
from last week and tell us how all that progressed
(01:06):
into Friday night.
Speaker 3 (01:08):
Well, you know it's uh, on Monday came in he
had a calf strain. You know, he kind of tweaked
it last week and you know, kind of really tightened
up on him over the weekend. So you know, we've
got a great trainer here and Brian Davis. He did
a great job rehaving him all week and we really
limited him practice.
Speaker 2 (01:24):
But you know that morning it was.
Speaker 3 (01:26):
Really really tight on him Friday morning and uh, you
know he was really having trol putting pressure on it.
So we weren't sure if he play or not. It's
really kind of a game time decision. But you know,
nothing was going to hold him out of this game.
Speaker 2 (01:36):
And you know, as you could.
Speaker 3 (01:37):
See, I don't know, I don't know if you noticed
it or not, but he really couldn't open up and
run like he normally could with that. But you know,
it stayed in that loose up on him to play all.
Speaker 2 (01:45):
Game and he was just a tough, tough kid and
there was no way we're keeping him out of this game. Wow.
Speaker 1 (01:51):
So coach, I didn't realize that it was you know
that serious. Uh, an incredible situation.
Speaker 2 (01:58):
There, Yeah, it is.
Speaker 3 (01:59):
I mean definitely was, you know, and you know we
saw him this morning, you know, and he's he's gonna
be limited in practice again this week. You know, we'll
see if he can play Friday. But you know, it's
it's a pretty good little little strain. He's gotten that calf,
and but it's something that you know, he are trained,
did a great job of loosening the thing up.
Speaker 2 (02:15):
And you know, obviously it was mine. He played a
great game.
Speaker 1 (02:18):
Boy, he certainly did. Had a ton of yards. We'll
talk about that in a minute. But so this was
obviously a big game, region opener for both teams. Going
into this game. I mean, I don't have to really
talk about the magnitude. Uh, you have about one of
these a year. I'm talking about games like this, not
really a must win, but pretty darn close. And this
(02:41):
one was right up there with your big ones.
Speaker 3 (02:45):
Well, yeah, definitely was a big win. You know, We've
had a lot of big games over the years. This one,
you know, obviously being broadcast live throughout the state on
Peach Street TV, uh, and just being a region game,
Houston County being under needed ranked what's second or third
in the state depending on the pole, huge crowd there.
Speaker 2 (03:04):
It was just a great atmosphere.
Speaker 3 (03:06):
And yeah, first I want to say what a great
team Housing County has, you know, a great well coached,
a lot of talent. Uh, just you know, what a
great team they have, and I got to give them
a lot of credit. It was just a It was
just a great football game and great to be a
part of it.
Speaker 1 (03:20):
Yeah, absolutely, all right. So you know, going into the game,
I know that there were some concerns that USMANI uh,
you know, potential injury situation notwithstanding, Uh, just based on
talent versus talent, and it's understandable.
Speaker 3 (03:37):
Uh.
Speaker 1 (03:37):
You know, they've got one of the best quarterbacks in
the state of Georgia. They've got an elite receiving crew group,
and so there was a lot of reasons understandably to
be concerned.
Speaker 3 (03:47):
Uh.
Speaker 1 (03:47):
Talk about last week trying to prepare for the different things.
I know, you know, I was trying to talk to
you and obviously you guys were in heavy preparation for
this game. What were the things you were trying to
work on, trying to limit the best you could in
practice last week leading up to this game.
Speaker 3 (04:04):
Overall as a team or yes, uh, you know, Obviously
you have to slow down their passing game, but you know,
you can't underestiorate their running game either. Their offensive line
coach does a great job there at Housing County. Uh
they've got a really good running back. So they put
a lot of stress on you all over and so
you know, we had to find ways to to to
(04:26):
do a great job taking away their passing game, but
also be sound versus the running game because they can
hurt changes so many ways. So that was something you know,
we had to mix up our calls. Our defensive coordinator
Jason Butler did a great job with that, and then offensively,
we had to be efficient with what we did. You know,
we couldn't we couldn't stall out too many times. We
had to be able to control the clock, control the ball,
(04:46):
and get big plays when we needed them. Fortunately, we
were able to do a lot of those things. We
also spent a lot of time special teams, as we
always do, because we knew that was going to be
a critical factor in the game as well when you
have a game that tight, and you know, as it
turned out, Devin Kellier had a big pump return on
that last on the on the last punt.
Speaker 2 (05:02):
That they did. They kind of set up the go
ahead touchdown.
Speaker 1 (05:05):
We talked about this kind of being a back and
forth game, kind of you know, you score, you answer
that kind of thing, and it all started. It sounded
like from Uzmani's big run from scrimmage to start the game.
Take us back to the point, where did that happen?
What was the yard edge, et cetera.
Speaker 2 (05:24):
Well, we you know, we were able, we scored to
tie the game there in the fourth quarter.
Speaker 3 (05:27):
We got to stop. We were able to hold them
down there deep in their territory. They had a punt
about midfield and Devin had about a twenty yard return,
really a really great return to set things up and
set us up in great field position.
Speaker 2 (05:38):
We're able to drive down, you know, with under a minute.
Speaker 3 (05:40):
We had a fourth and two at about their twenty
that we converted on and then we got it down
to a first and goal at the eight with a
little over a minute left. Then it was MONI just
had an unbelievable run, carrying people at the ends of
a score.
Speaker 2 (05:53):
I was just a little word. We scored too quick,
a little much time on the clock.
Speaker 3 (05:57):
But as you know, as explosive as they are, you know,
over a minute with the time out left as an eternity,
but you know our defense, you know, stepping up there
at the end, we got several sacks and actually kind
of ended it with a safety, a sack for safety
there at the end.
Speaker 1 (06:12):
I got you, So, coach, I wanted to ask you
about the opening score where OSMANI takes it from the
line of scrimmage. Big score to start the game. You
can take us back to that.
Speaker 3 (06:23):
Well, you know, we we've got a three and out
the first series, which was big. We kicked off to them,
and then first play of the game, we have great
brock and bar offensive line and full back. He hits
a scene, makes a guy miss at the second level,
and then he's off to the races and it was
a great, great, great run by his mindy, great blocking
and execution, and it was a great way to start
(06:43):
the game. Almost very reminiscent of the game the year
before with the first series he breaks off a big run.
Just this time he did it on the first play,
and that certainly, you know, helped us start started off
with the momentum and a big uh you know, big
game there.
Speaker 1 (06:56):
Yeah, absolutely, so, I knows many obviously he was very critical,
But talk about some of the other guys that stepped
up big in this game, Coach, I mean, I know
again it's a it was a great effort, team wise effort.
So talk about some of the other guys who maybe
didn't get quite the headlines.
Speaker 3 (07:14):
Well, we had several guys, you know, that played well
on our offensive line. You gotta start with our center
Dial Long just played played a spectacular game. Then you
go with the Braxton Honer who had two rushing touchdowns
as well, played a big game defensively, Jays Angry two sacks,
Leroy Jackson of course three sacks, and then Corey McDowell
with an interception and probably twelve tackles played. Gus younger
(07:37):
brother who's becoming a great player in his own right,
just played an exceptional game. Our punter Riker moy had
had a great game punting the ball really helped the
field position wise.
Speaker 2 (07:46):
And just several of the guys who really stepped up.
Speaker 3 (07:48):
You know, we defensively the first two series who played
really well, and then that the last part of the
first quarter, in the second quarter, they they really got
us some you know, they they they hit some plays
on us. They inverted I think three or four fourth
downs in the late first quarter, second quarter, and you
know they kind of hit and then we went in
half twenty eight twenty eight. The second half, we really
(08:11):
really stepping up. Gave up one score early and then
after that really stepping up. The player played great defense.
So you know, other than that little over quarter, I
thought our defense played excellent. But you know, he got
to credit the Housing Counties offense for that time too
when they get scored, because we're just so explosive and
execute so well.
Speaker 1 (08:27):
Talking to Dean Fabrizio, head coach of the Lee County Trojans,
as his Trojans able to escape, I think is the
right word to use, a close, close game. But in
the end, they were the ones that come out on top,
actually kind of putting the cherry on top of the
Sunday with a quarterback sack in the end zone to
(08:47):
give him an additional safety and to really put the
game out of reach. So obviously tied at halftime, I
think they got the lead in the third quarter. Talk
about going into the fourth quarter, So I'm getting you
got if I look at this right, coach, you guys
were down by a touchdown going into that fourth quarter.
Speaker 3 (09:05):
Yes, we were, and we weathered to drives into our territory.
You know, one of them, uh, you know, one of them,
we were able to hold them on bounds, and then
the other one we got a sack and a bumble
sacked by jayde Corey. We recovered a fall and a
third down. So our defense really rose up, and at
times when they had the momentum and we're kind of
really starting to really start to take control of the game,
(09:26):
we were able to kind of rise up and get
the stop. And it was a back and forth a
pair and then finally we got that tying touchdown there
in the fourth quarter, and uh with a run by
Braxton Honer and then we're able to get the touchdown
and go up there with about a little over a
minute left and then sealed it with the safety after that.
Speaker 1 (09:43):
So, coach, you've won some big games in your career.
We've talked, we kind of opened up the show talking
about that, you know, talk about what this game means.
I mean, it's you're you're able to get the leg
up in the ragion. That's a big check mark. You're
able to get it against one of the teams. Obviously,
favored you know in this region. That's another check mark.
(10:06):
But talk about what it means, you know, for the
morale of the team moving forward, because I mean this is,
like I said, it's a pretty big game, and you
did it up at their place.
Speaker 3 (10:16):
Well, to go on the road and to be the
team as good as they are, as highly ranked as
they are, and it to be a region game just
says so much about our kids and our team. Definitely
definitely be a big morale booster. But you know, when
you played as many big games as we have, and
you played in the region one as long as we have,
you know that you know you can't get too high
or low after any game, and you've got to refocus
(10:37):
the next week because you know, just like last year
we had a big, huge win Knockinghouston County.
Speaker 2 (10:41):
Off, they rundefeated and a highly ranked last year looked up
a little bit later. So reason so you know, we
definitely know that, you know, we can't get too high.
Speaker 3 (10:50):
Or low after a win or loss. We've got to
refocus the next week. And that's one thing we always
try to do is get ourselves back and prepare the
same exact way that the way. But yes, it definitely
was a was a big boost for our team. You know,
it was a big boost for ow Wis. I mean,
our kids worked so hard and I couldn't be proud
of the effort they showed in that game. I mean
that just to be down laid and to have a
(11:13):
couple of times where we had to make big defensive stops,
just to keep fighting the whole way.
Speaker 2 (11:18):
Really really proud of this group. And you know, we
feel like, you know, we feel like we're still not
near as good as we could be.
Speaker 3 (11:24):
We feel like we've got a lot a lot of
room to improve and get better. And you know, our
kids were they were back to work this morning in
the weight room, and you know, hopefully what we expect
to have a great practice today.
Speaker 1 (11:34):
I know last year there was a lot of anticipation
with Weston taking over the quarterback position after you had
a turnover there in personnel talk about his play, not
just Friday night, but up to this point this year, coach,
as is he matured into the as good a quarterback
(11:56):
as you thought he could be, because I know you
mentioned that last year he really thought the sky was
the limit for him.
Speaker 3 (12:03):
Well, when you get a kid that Weston, he's a
three sport athlete, and we've talked many times. He was
second in the state wrestling at two undred and fifteen pounds.
He's a great baseball player. He just does so much,
you know, he's he's got such a high stealing as
a quarterback at this year. Even though we've been primarily
a running team and we've had some games that were
blowouts where we didn't throw it as much as.
Speaker 2 (12:21):
Stats may not reflect it, we feel like he's doing
a good job. You know.
Speaker 3 (12:25):
Even Friday night, he didn't have great stats, but he
had some big third down throws. We had of course
a big I think fifty plus yard touchdown that was
called back on a penalty that he threw a great
throw to Jeremiah Jackson. But the thing about him is
we feel like he's got a lot of room to
continue to grow. We're pleased with his progress. He's a
great leader for us, and he did some good things
(12:47):
getting us out of trouble again and making some key
throws to extend drives Friday night.
Speaker 1 (12:51):
Without a doubt, coach will wrap up with this talking
to Dean Fabrezio, head coach of the league. Any Trojan's
big win obviously, Uh for Lee County. All right, so
talk about the play kind of saved the best for
last year. I think it was Monti Croma. Uh, you know,
our very own Mark Dyce was at the game. And
(13:13):
by the way, we got some great footage at the game,
and uh, he was, you know, just texting me just
how what a great game he was seeing and what
a great performance that he was seeing with his money
showing exemplary feats of strength and speed, just everything that
a great football player displays. Talk about and it seems
(13:37):
like we're running out of superlatives to describe his play.
Speaker 2 (13:40):
Uh, but just talk.
Speaker 1 (13:41):
About the impact that that comes out in him and
that he has on a game like he did Friday night.
Speaker 3 (13:47):
Well, he's you know, he's such a such a great
kid and such an unselfish kid. I mean, all those yards,
but you don't think he does. He did such a
great job blocking when we asked him to block. He's
such an unselfish player. You know, we're just we're really
blessed to have him and he just you know, we
like I said, the Soperlas Friday night, he almost run
(14:08):
out of he runs so well.
Speaker 2 (14:09):
He makes he's able to make.
Speaker 3 (14:11):
Guys miss and short spaces. He's able to stop on
a dime. And like I said, he did all this
and he was probably maybe seventy five eighty percent tops
with that calf injury. But he's just such got such
great strength, especially in his lower body, and you know,
just just a phenomenal performance. You know, that's one thing
you know, and we can't they are aligned did a
great job or pull back to Mindy Kentrell a great job,
(14:34):
but he's just you know, you know, when you've got
a guy like.
Speaker 2 (14:36):
Him and he play could be a big one.
Speaker 3 (14:38):
That's certainly is his great thing to have and it
helps everybody else play better because.
Speaker 2 (14:43):
Of having a guy like that.
Speaker 1 (14:45):
Got you well, coach, it was a great, great win
and you got veterans. That's next, I believe. Man talk
about the Warhawks.
Speaker 3 (14:53):
Well, you know, they started out the year really good.
Now they've dropped the last couple, but we expect we'll
get their best game. You know, it's again another Region
one team. They've got a great player in Preston Bird.
If you guys haven't heard about this guy, he is
he is electric. I mean he is absolutely electric. I
think versus Perry had over two hundred yard receiving and
add or rushing touchdowns in addition to the two hundred
(15:15):
plus yards receiving.
Speaker 2 (15:16):
I mean, he is he is something else.
Speaker 3 (15:18):
So we're gonna have to get ourselves refocused, even though
they probably haven't played their best football the last two weeks.
You watch him early in the season, they start off
three and oho and the boy they look really good.
So we know we're gonna have to get ourselves refocused.
As homecoming so there's always there's a lot going on
this week, but you know, we've got to do a
good job of, you know, keeping the focus where it
needs to be, enjoying all the festivities about the safetkey,
(15:39):
keeping the focus where it needs to.
Speaker 2 (15:40):
Be, and and get continuing to get better. That's the
biggest thing.
Speaker 3 (15:44):
Can we continue to get better as a team, because
we know, like I told Friday, this isn't the end.
Speaker 2 (15:49):
I mean, it was a huge win. Everybody's excited, but
this is just really the beginning.
Speaker 3 (15:52):
You know, we expect to play football, hopefully for a
bunch of more weeks.
Speaker 1 (15:56):
Here, all right, coach big win and man, you're right,
if you're not careful, a team like Veterans can come
in and spoil the whole party. So I know you'll
be ready for that and do everything you can to
prevent that.
Speaker 2 (16:12):
Great Phil, thanks for having me as always.
Speaker 1 (16:15):
Okay, Coach, thank you.
Speaker 2 (16:17):
There he is.
Speaker 1 (16:18):
That's Dean Fabrizio checking in with us on the Leak
Handy Coaches Show. I always appreciate Coach's time and we
look forward to talking to him again next week. Right
here on the Leek Handy Coaches Show with Coach Dean
Fabrizio and myself, Phil Jones from ITG. Next
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