Dublin Ready for Rescheduled Region Rivalry with East Laurens

Now 2-1, Dublin is looking to return to where it was a year ago as region champion, hoping to redeem its semifinal loss to eventual state champion Toombs County.

Seniors like quarterback Jeff Davis and defensive end Quantavis Lovett are stepping into bigger roles after the departure of key players such as Micah O’Neal, Willie Batts and Xavier Bostic. Holmes said only about four seniors are playing full-time after the team lost 80 percent of its offense from last season.

The Irish now look for consecutive road region wins, as they prepare to take on East Laurens. Many of the players on both sides grew up playing together before becoming rivals, and they expect a rowdy crowd for a matchup that intensifies every season.

Holmes said discipline and limiting mistakes will be critical for his young squad to earn the program’s 31st victory in the 32nd all-time meeting between the two schools, separated by just eight miles.

“We’ve got to do a good job as coaches of identifying what this football team does well,” Holmes said. “I think we’re getting a little bit better at that. As a coaching staff, the kids have got to start understanding we constantly talk to our players about everybody has strengths, everybody has weaknesses. How do you improve the most? It’s not by getting better at something you already do well. It’s by improving on something you’re not doing as well.”

Players said the team is settling in offensively and improving its focus.

“Offensive side, we’re starting to get our assignments down,” Davis said. “Toward the beginning of the year, it was kind of busted assignments here and there, but everybody’s starting to lock in and figure out what’s going on.”

Lovett credited the seniors from last year’s squad. “It’s a young group. But like, even the knowledge that you got last year, you know, they’ll get there, they’re understanding it fast. I’ve learned a lot from those seniors, you know, and I’m trying to pass it down.”

Holmes said East Laurens is a dangerous opponent. “Well, I think they’re a very explosive football team,” he said. “They’re a solid football team. They have tremendous skill kids on both sides of the football. You know, they have nothing to lose going into this game. Our young men understand the importance of this game and what it means to our community, and I think our young men will be ready to play. I would be sorely disappointed and surprised if we’re not, but I think East Laurens will be ready to play too.”

Players expect a hard-hitting rivalry atmosphere.

“It’s always going to mean something to play them boys over there, everybody wants to see you come out here and put on for what side you rep,” Lovett said. “They always come to play. Everybody over there, know I’m coming to play too. Coming to give you what you’re trying to give me.”

“It’s always big, you know, always a lot of emotions going on,” Davis said. “Don’t get caught up in all the outside stuff, we have to play. You know, just stay focused on what you got to do and let’s go play ball.”

“It’s gonna be physical,” Lovett added. “Everybody needs to stay locked in, and let’s go play our best game as always.”

Holmes summed it up simply: “Dublin needs to go play good, hard, physical football and see if we can make a play or two and find a way to win.”

Dublin defeated East Laurens 66-26 at the Shamrock bowl in 2024, improve to 30-1 against the Falcons all-time.

The Dublin Fighting Irish and the East Laurens Falcons kickoff at 7:30 p.m. Catch highlights from the game, along with several others, on The Endzone on 41NBC News at 11 p.m.