Mashburn is the Demons not-so secret weapon

Warner Robins High School senior kicker/punter Eli

Mashburn has not been perfect this season. In fact he’s not only missed one

field goal, he’s missed two field goals. Washburn was perfect on Friday night against

Coffee however, seven for seven on PATs while being good on the only field goal

attempt he would have. That field goal won the game for the Demons -the sixth

win of the season after winning three games last year- and gave Mashburn two

game-winning field goals for the season. He made a now famous game-winning

field goal at Peach County a couple of weeks ago and added to his senior season

highlight reel on Friday. “It’s a surreal blessing to kick a game-winning field

goal on homecoming night with all of the former Warner Robins players here,”

said Mashburn. “It was great.”

Something else that has been great this season has

been the option of having Mashburn available if and when the powerful Demons

offense has stalled at times this season. Eli has made 80 percent of his field

goals this season, an unheard level of performance especially at the high

school level. Mashburn, a 2016 all-region and all-county kicker, knows that his

teammates and coaches count on him and he relishes that responsibility,

particularly in big moments. “When we were driving the ball down the field you

could just tell the guys energy was just building,” said Mashburn who doubles

as a Demons soccer player.

Asked what was going through his head as he

prepared to take the kick on Friday night Mashburn said, “The same thing that

was going my head during the Peach County game. I had a job to do and I went

out there and di my job.” He continued, “I have nothing but thanks and prayers

to God for giving me that opportunity.”

This season is a 180 degree turn from last season

when Mashburn was counted on to provide a lot of the Demons offense. He

understands that the team as it’s currently constructed will have no problem

scoring points -The Demons are averaging over 30 points per game- but when they

do need him, either for extra point attempts or field goals of the not so

game-winning kind, he’ll be ready. “We are 6-0 and it’s hard to tell you how it

feels,” he said. “Before the season began I knew we would be pretty good but to

be undefeated, it feels really good.”

On Friday the Demons are traveling to Thomasville

to take on the Thomas County Central Yellow Jackets. Despite having a 2-4

overall record and not having won a home game this season (0-3), Thomas County

Central will be a tough test and the region opener for Warner Robins. This is

an important game and having a good kicker, arguably the best in the county

(Northside junior Cory Muson is his closest competition in regards to success

rate), can make all the difference between having an undefeated pre-region

season and winning a regional title. “We’re 0-0 right now, it’s a new season,”

said Mashburn. “I think the team has been wanting to get to these games.”

And when they get to the region games the Warner Robins Demons will have

a not so secret weapon waiting his turn to help lead them back to the playoffs.

“That’s why they call us specialist,” said Mashburn in between laughs. “From a

kicker’s perspective, for me, it’s always attack the ball and put it through

the post.

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