Twiggs Goes for School's First Football Championship

Winning a football state title is a magical moment for players, coaches, and the towns that support their teams. Twiggs County is a relatively new program, kicking things off in 1996.

This year, they've stormed through their schedule winding up 9-1 and looking strong going into the playoffs this Friday night.
If the Cobras can snake their way through the post-season, it would mean a lot to the team and Jeffersonville on the road to the championship.

In a tough economic year, head football coach Dexter Copeland knows his guys could generate a bright spot for December.
"It would mean a lot to this town. We don't have a lot going on here, a lot of industry here, so one thing that people could be proud of is their football program. It would be one of the proudest moments in this town if we could win a State Championship," Copeland explained.

25 miles east of Macon sits the tiny town of Jeffersonville.
With a population just over 1,200, the US Census gives somber numbers for the area.

A little over 17 percent sit below the poverty line.

Coach Copeland started wearing the black and gold in 2001.

 
Since then, they've reached the quarterfinals twice.
And he says folks around town continually ask him about the Cobras.

"Biggest thing they ask me is, 'Are we going to win this Friday night?,' and my answer is always the same, 'I hope so,'" Copeland chuckled.

The team has won a lot this year. Their record going into the post season is 9-1.

And in a one stop light town, with one Piggly Wiggly, that warrants a lot of conversations on the checkout line.

Linda Clay works the express lane at the grocery store.
"Everybody is encouraging them to go on. We want the very best for them," she said.

Clay's son Antonio Clay played for the team about five years ago. The mom says if the team can bag a title, the town would burst with excitement.

"It would mean putting the Twiggs County football team on the map. It would be amazing that finally the team that all of us have supported has really come this far to be the best they can be," she said.

Copeland's banking on their best. He says they'll need to get a little better tackling and blocking, but he figures his kids are focused.

"Ever since the summer workouts in June, they've been talking about it," he recalled. "We've come close twice getting to the quarterfinals, and they're talking about getting over the hump and winning this first ever state championship,"

If the timing is right, then you can bet this town will go hog wild.
Friday, the Cobras will take their first step towards that championship when they take on Savannah Country Day in the first round. Last year, Twiggs made a quick exit in the playoffs when they lost to Clinch county in the first round.