“How do you feel?” He called out.
Each player in maroon and white responded in unison: “Goooood.”
And with that, the celebration was on.
The Trojans captured their first city championship since 2005 with a 28-12 win against Monroe at Hugh Mills Stadium on Friday — and they did it all while playing a new style.
After playing a balanced attack during the early part of the season, on Friday — and for the second week in a row — the Trojans ran for more than 200 yards, this time amassing 240 yards on 39 carries as Arabian Williams led them with 150.
“That’s basically what we have to do,” said Trojans running back Rico Watts, who added 33 yards and a touchdown of his own. “We can’t run from our opponents. We can’t be scared out there. We have to go at them.”
Dougherty coach Charles Flowers said he didn’t envision his offense running quite like this at the beginning of the season but admitted that his players are taking pride in just lining up and going right at the other team.
“They like it,” Flowers said with a wide grin. “Our guys have a little bit of an attitude. They just want to line up and see if the other team can stop us. And so far, we’ve executed well.”
On the other sideline, execution was used in a different sense. The Tornadoes offense amounted 283 yards but had trouble finishing. They committed three turnovers and QB Justin Pride was sacked seven times.
“We didn’t execute,” Monroe coach Charles Truitt said. “I still thought we gave a good fight. I’m proud of my guys, especially my seniors. I love them and I don’t want to see them get their head downs about it.”
The Trojans established their power running game early. On their second possession, they ran eight plays all on the ground and capped off the 55-yard drive with an eight-yard scamper from Williams.
“We worked so hard in practice all week to come out and play hard because we lost 50-12 last year (to Monroe),” Byrd said. “That tells me, we just have to keep practicing hard.”
After two miscues cut Monroe drives short, the Tornadoes defense came up big. The "D" forced a fumble in Trojans territory and Curtiss Walker scored on the next play to tie it, 6-6.
But Dougherty scored for the second week in a row right before halftime to keep the momentum. With 51 seconds remaining in the second quarter, Trojans quarterback Felton Walls hooked up with Ezekiel Knowles in what both coaches felt was the turning point.
“The game of football is about momentum and that one was big in keeping it,” Flowers said.
Using that momentum, the Trojans scored on their initial possession of the second half. Watts scored from 11 yards out to complete the five-play drive.
The Tornadoes answered immediately with their biggest play of the night. Pride found Larry Whitfield 15 yards downfield on an out pass and Whitfield took it 71 yards. The two-point conversion run failed and it was 21-13.
In the fourth quarter, Watts scored one more time for the Trojans and dampened any hopes of a Monroe comeback.
After the loss, the Tornadoes fell to 0-4 in Region 1-AAA. On the sidelines in the final minutes of the game, the Tornadoes were silent knowing their playoff hopes are slim to none now.
“We’re still going to fight,” Truitt said. “I don’t care. We’re a young team and our guys are going to fight. Our seniors deserve better and we’re going to get better and make it happen for them.”
Outside of the stadium after the game was a different story.
The Dougherty team bus was shaking. Players and coaches danced and sang as fans cheered from outside — it was clear the city championship was back at Dougherty.
“It means a lot to the seniors and to the fans,” Flowers said. “I’m proud of our seniors and what they accomplished (Friday) night. They’ve been through a lot.”
