Tattnall Square prepares for their toughest test of the season
The Tattnall Square Academy Trojans (7-1, 3-0) takes on the FPD Vikings (8-1, 3-0) for the GIAA Region 6 AAAA Championship in our Week 11 Game of the Week
MACON, GEORGIA – (41NBC/WMGT) – Jack Baynes Field is the site of Tuesday’s practice where fifth year Tattnall Square Academy head coach John Abernathy has his 7-1 Trojans team right where they need to be heading into the last game of the season. After falling to Brookstone in Week One this season, these Trojans have rattled off seven straight wins to get a shot at the Region 6 AAAA Title come Friday night when they head four miles southwest to George S Johnson Memorial Stadium to take on 8-1 First Presbyterian Day.
After losing 12 games in 2022 and 2023, these Trojans have come a long way and are winning behind the success of an offense that is scoring 28 points a game, while allowing just 14 a game on defense. Which includes one shutout win against St. Anne Pacelli in the second week of the season, the one team FPD lost to this year.
Even with blowout wins, Tattnall Square has faced adversity this season, including the 10-point comeback victory over John Milledge Academy last week after three turnovers in the first half. Their first win over JMA since 2011.
However, Coach Abernathy has had some trouble against the Vikings down the road in the past. Abernathy is 1-4 in the last five meetings with FPD, including last year’s playoff loss to his good friend, Vikings head coach Brett Collier. Of course Coach Abernathy won’t be friendly come Friday, as these Trojans look for redemption against their rival in a Region Championship game to end the regular season in our Week 11 Game of the Week.
“So, its huge. We try not to make the moment too big. We don’t want our kids to think its some huge ordeal. Obviously it is. It’s a really big deal” said Coach Abernathy Tuesday afternoon. “We want to win this football game, but we’ve gotta make sure that we are staying confident and staying into it, because we’ve got to build momentum going into the playoffs. You lose this one and it could derail a lot of things going into the playoffs.”
Coach Abernathy went on to talk about his dear friend, and future opponent, Coach Collier. “He’s actually one of my good buddies. So, there’s a lot of friendly competition. Of course I want to beat him, I want to beat him every time we play him, but it hasn’t gone too well for us. He’s the one I talk to two to three times a week. We go to the Waffle House after games. I don’t know if we’ll go to the Waffle House after this game, but I want him to be very successful. I just don’t want him to be successful Friday night. They’re well coached, they do a good job, they execute well. They’re a really good football team. They are the best football team I have seen on film by far. So, we are going to have to play really good to beat them. Our guys are going to have to execute and do the little things right in order to be successful.”
Senior Wide Receiver and Defensive Back Ty Hunnicut knows that him and his team need to be more prepared heading into their toughest game of the season. “We just need to start off fast this game instead of starting off slow. We got a little too much confidence going into the game” said Hunnicut when speaking about the John Milledge comeback win last Friday. “We got a little too cocky I think. When we play down to their level, we need to play up to our level and what we are capable of. So, we need to do that this game.”
Senior Linebacker and Offensive Lineman Anson Talcott is all about the rivalry and is not going to let the Vikings stand in his way of a Region title. “No red at school this week. It’s hate week all week baby” said Talcott. “That FPD chemistry is not there so, I don’t like them in any sport. Baseball, softball, football, basketball; wherever I see red, unless its Georgia, I don’t like it.”
Kickoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. at George S. Johnson Memorial Stadium.
Catch live pregame coverage during 41NBC News at 5, 5:30 and 6 p.m. Don’t miss highlights from our Game of the Week, and others, on this Friday’s edition of The End Zone during 41NBC News at 11.
