Putnam County will host defending Class AA state champion Thomson this Friday at Al Reaves Field.
• Series History: Thomson leads the all-time series, 1-0.
• Last Meeting: Thomson defeated Putnam County 27-3 in 2022.
Both Putnam County (5-2, 4-0 Region 4-AA) and No. 1 Thomson (6-1, 4-0) had byes this past week.
The War Eagles and Bulldogs are tied for first in the Region 4-AA standings at 4-0, so this Friday’s matchup will determine who takes that top spot heading into the final two weeks of the season.
Thomson defeated Putnam County 27-3 last year on its way to winning the program’s sixth state championship. The Bulldogs are currently ranked No. 1 in Class AA and hope to win another title.
However, the War Eagles, coached by Joel Harvin, are anticipating pulling off the big upset.
“The bye week was big. We’ve been banged up the past few games, especially after playing some physical teams,” Harvin said. “We’ve been trying to get through every game and then prepare ourselves to get ready for the next. But to have that week off let us get our legs back under us and get prepared for Thomson.
“It’s going to be another physical game this Friday, so we’re gearing up for it. The next three are going to be important against some good opponents as well.”
Thomson will be Putnam’s toughest test of the season. The Bulldogs are on a six-game winning streak, with their only loss this year being a 14-12 decision for Class AAAA’s No. 7 Burke County.
Thomson returns a lot of its offensive firepower from last season, including dual-threat quarterback Jahkiaus Jones with running backs Anthony Jeffery, Jordan Lane, and Jamere Roberts.
The Bulldogs currently average 42.7 points per game, which is one the highest marks in all of Class AA. They’re also averaging 58.3 points over their last three games, dating back to Sept. 22.
On the defensive side of the ball, Thomson returns several seniors from last year’s state championship team, among them last year’s sack leader Jamere Roberts and a few others.
Thomson’s defense is giving up only 10.7 points per game, which is a top-five mark in all of Class AA. The Bulldogs have also given up only 10 points or more in three of seven games this year.
Harvin has a lot of respect for Thomson head coach Michael Youngblood, who is in his sixth season at the helm. The Bulldogs have won 31 of the last 34 games under Youngblood’s direction.
“He has done a great job of developing that program. They’ve got their system they run and have managed to fill it with some really good players,” Harvin said.
“They are very sound fundamentally on both sides of the ball. They’ve got playmakers, so we’ve got to do our best at limiting them from making big plays. We’ve got to move the ball on offense and not stall on drives or do anything that will cause us to have negative plays such as commit penalties. We’ve also got to be on our Ps and Qs and got to make sure we’re executing what we’re trying to do as well.”
Harvin’s players know this week’s game can help decide what team wins the region title this year. The coach hopes they come ready to play in front of a packed crowd at Al Reaves Field on Friday night.
Putnam’s coaching staff has been challenging their players the past few weeks and holding them to a high standard. They’ve also been mentally preparing their guys for a game like this all season.
“We’ve got the No. 1 team coming into our house, and if they can’t get up for that, I don’t know what can get them [excited]. Hopefully, we will have a good week of practice knowing that the top team in the state is coming in. I feel like we should just because it’s going to be a big game and a great atmosphere,” Harvin said. “I look forward to seeing what our kids can do against them. It’s going to be a challenge, and nobody expects us to put up a fight, but I am excited to see how our kids react.”