2023:A Team With All the Weapons

Lee County head football coach Dean Fabrizio discusses the Trojans’ upcoming opponent, the Thomas County Central Yellow Jackets.

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
All right, guys, welcome into another week of talking Lee
County Trojan football. Appreciate everybody checking out the show every week.
We have a lot of you that listen, and we
thank you for that. Right now, let's bring in the
reason you guys listen. It's the head coach of the
Lee County Trojans joining us as he does every week,
Dean Fabrizio. How are you, sir, Bill, I'm doing good.

Speaker 2 (00:21):
How are you doing?

Speaker 1 (00:22):
I'm doing fantastic, Coach. We always enjoy the time that
we have to talk to you, especially getting here to
the end of the season. Man, I tell you, it's crazy, coach.
It's been a crazy kind of year. Upsets galore here there.
And uh, before we get started on your situation, I

(00:43):
want to ask you. Obviously, the two members of the
region went at it Saturday afternoon, and I think that
game called a lot of people by surprise. I'm talking
about the Thomas Keunny Central Houston County game.

Speaker 2 (00:53):
Well, TCC has got a really good football team, you know,
Justin Rodgers done a great job there. Yeah, you know,
score probably surprised the little people thought it'd be a
little bit closer game. But you know, Houston County. Yeah,
they've got a really, really good football team. So it
was just just one of those nights that looked like
I'm sure TCC had a lot to do with that,
But you know, I think Houston's gonna rebound from this

(01:15):
and make a run in the playoffs. They've just they've
got their they're too good a football team not to
But you know, TCC certainly went over there and made
a statement and played played a heck of a football game.

Speaker 1 (01:25):
Well, and I asked you about that because obviously you're
very familiar with those two teams. But but let's get
back now on the Lee County trail and uh, you guys, coach,
it looks like you're really playing some good football. You know,
look at the last few games. You know, the Houston
County game, you got to survived that, But even before that, coach,

(01:47):
after the Callquick County game, it seems like you guys
really have come out of that Calquick game clicking on
all cylinders. You're playing well, and that includes this last
against Hey, we all know about North Side Warner Robbins
and their reputation sartly precedes them, and that was a
huge win for you guys. Fifty six to seven games.

Speaker 2 (02:11):
Yeah, I'll be able to go over to McConnell Talbert
and have a performance like that. I was really proud
of our team. Played well in all three phases of
the game. You know, jumped on them early, had some
brakes fall our way, and then we're able to get
up big and played in a running clock. But you know,
they've they've got a lot of tradition at the North side.
They're going through a transition year with Ben Bailey taken
over for Chad Alley Good. I'm sure Ben's going to

(02:32):
do a great job there, but you know they're in
a little transition right now. They've had some injuries, and
you know, we we came out and played really well.
You know, each each year the team, you know, each
team kind of takes on and a personality of its own.
Each team's a little bit different and sometimes you know,
you got to move the pieces around to find the
right combination. And you know, we kind of even though

(02:53):
we had a lot of returners, we still did that
to do that early in the year. And you know,
we feel like our kids have really taken the challenge
of getting better each week and approving each week and
I think we're doing that. Hopefully we're peaking at the
right time, and hopefully we can continue to get better.

Speaker 1 (03:07):
Yeah, you know, coach, I compare and I know it's
a year later. I know it's a year removed, but
you know I still do for comparison's stake. You know,
you look at comparison's sake, I should say, you look
at where you guys are now versus last year, same time,
and again we've talked a lot about it, but you
guys started struggling there, you know, towards the end with

(03:30):
some games that didn't go your way and the ball
did not bounce your way, unlike this year. It's like
one hundred and eighty degree turnaround in difference, and so
that's got to be encouraging as you hit down the
stretch looking like you're playing some of your best football
of the season.

Speaker 2 (03:46):
Well it is. You know, last year, we're rolling along
pretty good, and then we had that collapse in the
fourth quarter versus North Side again, as I said many times, no, no,
you know, they deserve a lot of the credit for that.
But you know, to lose a game like that just
takes touch of toll on your gan of motion. And
the psyche of your team and then delude you know,
Davey ferguson the injury right after that, there's there's tough

(04:07):
for us to come back from. And unfortunately got a
tough draw, played really well in the first round with
a big win over Epingham County. Then you know, ran
into a Woodward team that was a tough matchive for us.
Got to beat the second round. But you know, each
year is a new year. We got a lot of experience,
a lot of guys back, and you know we're playing
pretty good football. You know, we did phases the other

(04:27):
night which was really really pleasing to see.

Speaker 1 (04:29):
Absolutely we're talking to Lee County had football coach Dean Fabrizio.
This is the Lee County Coaches Show here at it
g next. Okay, so let's go back now to Thomas
County Central. You had a chance to see them. We
talked about it very briefly to start this show. Now
you guys will line up against the team that, let's

(04:50):
face it, everybody's talking about it. Uh, what did you
see Saturday that you know concerns you as you guys
get ready you prepare for TCC.

Speaker 2 (05:02):
Well, they've got a good football team. You know, defensive
side of the ball, they're long, they're fast. I mean,
they've probably got I don't know, I counted maybe ten
kids six four bigger on their team, So a long team,
a lot of size, a lot of length, a lot
of speed. Defensively, I think I counted they have five
guys with Division one offers, so basically half their defense.

(05:23):
They played really well. They're well coached, like I said,
defense offensively, even though they're breaking a new quarterback, they've
got good running backs, they execute well, They've got some
good guys out of receiver. Quarterback is playing well for
him even though he's a young kid. And they put
a lot of stress on you to defend the whole field,

(05:43):
to defend all areas. And you know, it's certainly don't
be a challenge to play them, you know, with what
they've got. You know, they've they've got us over here
last year, but you know that was the first time,
like I said, we hadn't won the region and in
five years. So it's nice to be back playing for
the regis chamampionship this Friday.

Speaker 1 (06:01):
Absolutely, So you know, well, I mean, without giving away
a whole lot, and I know you don't want to
do that. But you know what's the best way to
try to counter what you know seemingly has been an
impossible task, which is to try to corral this incredible
Thomas County Central offense while trying to break through with
offense of your own.

Speaker 2 (06:22):
Well, we've just got to go out and execute. You know,
it sounds simple, but it's uh, and maybe it's overly
simplified there, but we've got to go out and play
well and execute and take advantage opportunities when they present themselves.
We feel like we've got a pretty good football team
with some good players as well. Our kids are excited
to be in this opportunity. We've got to go on
the road. But you know, the thing you've got to

(06:43):
do versus a team that's on such a role like them,
is you know you've got to withstand uh. You know,
they're momentum. You've got to we understand we're you know
there were We've got to go down there and play well.
They're not going to give this game away by any means.
But you know, our kids are been in a lot
of big games. We've been in big games on the
road this season. Uh, We've been in tough atmosphere. So

(07:03):
hopefully that's prepared as well, because we know it's gonna
be a great atmosphere down there Friday night. You got
this is where the region championship, you know, Region one.
I saw it's been ready to the toughest region and
in sixth A you've got the number two of the
top four ranked teams in the in the state playing
each other. I mean, this is this is what it's
all about. Man. You know, guys coach all careers don't
get the coaching games like the game like this, and

(07:25):
we're fortunate to be in it. And it's gonna be
a it's gonna be a great atmosphere and a great
experience to.

Speaker 1 (07:29):
Be in, no doubt, no doubt. Talking to Dean from Brizio,
head coach of the Lee County Trojan, this is the
Lee County Coaches Show. So last year we saw Thomas
County Central get up ended. It look like they were
on their way. It's gonna be steamrolling, which they had
done in the regular season. Look like they were gonna
steamroll their way into a state championship game. Roswell had

(07:52):
different plans. Do you maybe go back and look and
see what Roswell did is that would that be part
of your preparation.

Speaker 2 (08:00):
You know, the more you can see on a team
and the more you can prepare, the better obviously. But
you know, we had a tight game with them last year.
You know, we we had three really good drives early,
but we stalled in the red zone. Then they hit us,
you know, and so instead of being up twenty one nothing,
it was ten to nothing. And then they hit some
trick plays on us and kind of got momentum and
you ended up and then we had a fumble in

(08:22):
the end zone give them safety, and you know, ended
up losing the game by nine. So it was a
close game throughout. You know, we did feel like we
played well, but you know, again, a lot of that
has to do with TCC. You know, well they played
so they're you know, similar, they're they're coming in on
a roll this year. They're playing with a lot of confidence.
But you know, our kids are you know, they they
didn't like not being the reach of Jamps last year

(08:43):
and they certainly want that title back. They're motivated, not
that you need any more motivation for a game like this,
but you know, we'll be ready to go Friday and
we expected to be a great game in a great atmosphere.

Speaker 1 (08:53):
What has the final question? Coach? What do you think
is spurned this great run that you guys are on.
I mean it just you know, you putting up a
lot of great a lot of points. The offense is
playing well, but so is the defense. What do you
attribute to everything seemingly coming together here all at once
over this last month.

Speaker 2 (09:12):
Well, we'll see if it comes to Friday. Hopefully we're
saying that again next week at your show. But you know,
I think our kids, we've got experience, We've got good players,
We've got really good experienced coaches, and I just think
they're coming to work every day focusing on getting better.
You know, when you play a tough schedule like we play,
you could very well get beat And you know that
happened to us early in the year. But you know,

(09:32):
I think we're a better team for playing that game
at that mult Earlier this year we got beat in
I think we're a lot better team now. But we uh,
I think, like I said, we we've kind of moved
the pieces around throughout the year to try to see
what they find the best patient uh to put players
to put on the field and what positions we've kind
of tinkered with with. You know what, the stress of
this team are. Our kids will continue to get better.

(09:55):
So it's gonna be a good game Friday. Our kids,
like I said, they could be more excited in the community,
could be more excited. He's out here at home, which
we'd love to have, but we got to go on
the road do it. I'm sure it's gonna be a
great damas for down there at Thomasville. And this is
what it's all about. Man, you can get playing games.

Speaker 1 (10:13):
Like this absolutely, coach, best of luck. I can tell
you personally going to be rooting for you, and UH
want you guys to get down there, play well and
let's bring back a win and we'll talk about it
next week.

Speaker 2 (10:26):
What do you say, Bill, that sounds like a plan.
I appreciate you having me on. Thanks for all you
do to promote high school football.

Speaker 1 (10:32):
Thank you for that, Coach. I appreciate you saying that
that's the luck Friday night. There he is Dean Fabrizio,
head coach of the Lee County Trojans. Big game Game
of the year, Lee County and Thomas County Central. It's
going to be a good one. We'll come back next
week and talk about it right here on The Lee
County Coaching Show with Dean Fabrizio, heard only at ITG

(10:56):
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