Demons not done dancing yet, victory over Rome books ticket to state title game at Mercedes-Benz Stadium

Warner Robins senior defensive end Caleb Thomas could not get his pads over his shoulders. After the game he had during the Demons 45-28 victory over Rome High School in the AAAAA semifinals on Friday night he was tired. Thomas made a number of big plays throughout the game and due to his hard work he needed help getting his pads off after the game. “Somebody help me,” yelled Thomas as friends and teammates assisted in freeing one of the shining stars of the night.

The Demons both avenged last year’s state championship loss to the Wolves and booked a ticket to Atlanta for the 2018 state championship game (as did Northside in a 14-7 victory at Dacula High School on Friday night). “God is great,” said third-year Demons head football coach and athletic director Mike Chastain after the game and moments after getting a Gatorade bath from his players. “That’s a phenomenal football right there,” added Chastain about the Wolves who came into the game undefeated in 13 contests. The same record Warner Robins had last season before taking their first and only loss of to Rome. “We just had to keep fighting through adversity.”

The Wolves went ahead by a touchdown early on after senior quarterback Knox Kadum found fellow senior receiver Xavier Robertson a 59-yard connection. The two seniors would make quite the impact during the game but it was another senior quarterback, Mercer University commit Dylan Fromm, who would leave the game with four touchdown passes (and a third quarter interception) and another shot at winning a state title.

The first of Fromm’s touchdown passes came with 1:15 remaining in the first quarter when he found his twin brother and Auburn University commit Tyler for a 10-yard score. On a previous fourth down with five yards to go Fromm found his favorite receiver (in regards to yardage, I can only assume his twin is his favorite receiver off the field) junior Marcayl Jones for a first down that kept the drive alive.

Fromm and Jones would hook up for another touchdown just before halftime and again during the third quarter that put the home team ahead for good 35-28. Junior running back Deondre Duehart and sophomore Jahlen Rutherford each scored rushing touchdowns during the game, the former during the second quarter to put Warner Robins ahead 14-7 and the later with 4:29 remaining in the game.

With the Demons ahead by just a touchdown with 6:10 remaining in the game senior kicker Samariy Howard made a 31-yard field goal that put his team up by 10 points. Junior receiver Devin Brown caught Fromm’s fourth touchdown pass.

Big plays were made by players up and down the lineup on Friday night and none were more important in the grand scheme of things as Thomas and sophomore linebacker Ahmad Walker’s play up front. Walker finished the game with three tackles but also made his impact on offense when he earned a crucial three yards on a third down to keep a fourth quarter drive alive. Demons first-year defensive coordinator Larry Capasso came to middle Georgia on a mission and tonight that mission got a step closer to being completed. “It’s a dream,” said Capasso, also soaked in some mixture of water and soft drinks. “I came up here to try and win a state championship. This is the greatest group of kids I’ve ever coached. 20 years in coaching and this is the best group I’ve coached.”

Presumably one of the best players Capasso ever coached, Thomas, finally got out of his pads and joined his teammates in celebrations with the student-body behind the Demons bench. GHSA rules forbid fans and non-media to enter the playing field.

On Tuesday, Dec. 11 the Demons and their fans will get one last opportunity to celebrate when they meet familiar opponent Bainbridge High School, 20-19 winners of the other semifinal game against Stockbridge High School, in the AAAAA state championship game at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.

The Warner Robins Demons are not done dancing yet. Still one more party to go.