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Class 5A preview: Coffee vs. Creekside
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Creekside Seminoles vs. Coffee Trojans
When: Wednesday, 4 p.m.
Records, ranking: Creekside (13-1, No. 2) is the No. 1 seed from Region 5. Coffee (14-0, No. 3) is the No. 1 seed from Region 1.
Coaches: Creekside – Maurice Dixon (56-29, seventh season). Coffee – Mike Coe (24-3, second season).
How they got here: Creekside – d. Flowery Branch 63-6, d. Dalton 49-14, d. Warner Robins 35-14, d. Jefferson 28-17. Coffee – d. Chamblee 56-6, d. Jones County 45-14, d. Cass 30-0, d. Cartersville 33-18.
Creekside: The Seminoles’ attack revolves around quarterback Vinson Berry, who coach Maurice Dixon says is the best QB in Class 5A. Berry has several small college offers, but his stock has been going up. He has thrown for 2,412 yards and 39 touchdowns rushed for four touchdowns. The top running back is Roderick McCrary, who has rushed for 1,959 yards and 13 touchdowns and caught three touchdown passes. McCrary has 22 offers, including Georgia Tech, Florida State and ODU. The most productive receiver is Shane Kelley, a big-play maker with 64 catches and 18 touchdowns. The veteran offensive line is led by Caleb Homes, a four-star tackle who has committed to Pitt, and Bam Williams, a Jackson State commit. The top defensive players are linemen Michai Boireau, who has committed to Florida, and ShuMond Johnson (nine sacks), who has committed to Eastern Michigan, and cornerbacks Kevon Gray, a Virginia commit, and Travis Terrell, who has offers from several Sun Belt teams. Gray and Terrell both have four interceptions. Ricky McCrary leads the team with 112 tackles and has numerous Group of Five offers
Coffee: The offense is powered by Fred Brown, a sturdy senior who carried 40 times in last week’s game. He has rushed for 2,305 yards and scored 23 touchdowns. He has rushed for 100-plus yards in each of the 14 games.Quarterback Maurice Hansley has thrown for 1,422 yards and 15 touchdowns. The senior has developed into a good field leader and understands the nuances of the fast-paced attack. Pat McCall leads the team with 41 receptions and five touchdowns. The offensive line is led by Jerzabeon Grant. The defense is led by edge rusher Larenzo Harvey, who has an offer from two-time Sun Belt king Larenzo, and cornerback Anthony Paulk, who has committed to Charleston Southern. Paulk leads the team with 75 tackles and 11 sacks, as well as two interceptions and two blocked field goals.
Series history: Creekside defeated Coffee 28-18 in the first round of the 2021 playoffs in their only previous meeting.
State championships appearances: Creekside won its only state championship in 2013, its only appearance in the final. Coffee has never won a state championship. The Trojans appeared in the final in 2017.