Peach County Looks to Build Momentum from 2024 in a Season Opening Rematch with the Raiders
The Trojans improved from 4-7 in 2023, to 11-2 and region champions in 2024 in Head Coach Marquis Westbrook's second season
FORT VALLEY, Georgia – (41NBC/WMGT) – After a remarkable turnaround from a 4-7 record in 2023 to an 11-2 season and a region title in 2024, Peach County enters the 2025 campaign with high expectations under third-year head coach Marquis Westbrook.
The Trojans will have to replace 22 seniors from last year’s squad, including standout quarterback D.J. Hudson, now at Fort Valley State University. But the team retains key play makers like All-State wide receiver Zion Hudson, D.J.’s brother, and junior running runningback Ashton Barton, who scored three touchdowns in last year’s season opener against Northeast.
Junior linebacker Ace Blunt, coming off a strong sophomore season, will be counted on to lead the defense, and give the Trojans’ offense plenty of opportunities to score.
Westbrook said the focus is on developing the skill players they have and making steady progress throughout the season.
“Compared to last year, personnel-wise, we’re really close,” Westbrook said. “We graduated a lot of production, but we’re hoping some of our support guys can make the difference in our skill positions. We want to make sure we’re doing the little things right every day to get better.”
Peach County’s season ended last year with a third-round playoff loss to Calhoun at home, and Westbrook said the team is determined to go further this year.
“This year, we got to be more hungry, change our mindset,” Blunt said. “We are Peach County — we’re supposed to win — but we can’t think people are going to come and lay down for us. One game at a time. Focus on us. Peach versus Peach. We can only beat ourselves.”
The Trojans open the season Friday at home in Trojan Stadium against Northeast in the End Zone’s Game of the Week. Westbrook expects a battle.
“Coach Wiggins is a great coach, and I know those guys are going to bring it,” Westbrook said. “They’re coming off a state championship run, we had a deep run, and we just want to see what we’ve got and what we’ve been working on all summer. It’s going to be a great game and great competition.”
Peach County will host Northeast at Trojan Stadium on Friday, August 15, at 7:30 p.m. Catch highlights from the game on The Endzone on 41NBC News at 11 p.m. Tune into pregame coverage on 41NBC News at 5, 5:30, and 6 p.m.
