In 1975, we achieved it.  We were the first Eagle team to go undefeated and we set the standard for future teams to try to beat.  A few teams have reached that goal and beyond, but never without hard work and burning desire.  I took pride in the 1999 Eagles as I sat at home and watched them on television in the state championship semi-finals.  The coaches and young men on the 1999 team delivered the hard work to get there, but we, the Eagles of 1975, set the bar---that high target--- they had to clear to get there.

The WRHS game of 1975.  Every Eagle vs. Demon matchup is a BIG deal but this was the first year that both teams entered the game undefeated (5-0).  The Demons were ranked number 1 in the state.  Not many people believed the Eagles could beat the mighty Demons.  We showed them.  I remember the pandemonium of that stadium brimming with 20,000 fans.  With each score, there was chaos on one side of the stadium, complete quiet on the other.  Being on that field for any Eagle-Demon game is an awesome experience.  

The score was 18 to 13 in favor of the Demons with 1:53 on the clock.   Things looked grim, especially since our team was a ball-control running offense (wishbone).  I remember the final drive, the gut-wrenching pressure as we took the ball on 3rd down and long (11) on about our 49 yard line.  David Norman, who didn't do much passing in our wishbone offense, rolled out and threw the ball to split-end Ricky Wade...the ball hung in the air for an eternity ....and Wade made a diving catch for the first down.  A few plays later, the clock almost expired, Norman fired the pass that will live on in our memories forever.... 

Tony Davezan caught the ball and scored with about 28 seconds remaining.  Behind us there was pandemonium....across the stadium...silence.  Of course we were going wild and jumping around as the coaches screamed for the extra point team to get on the field.  See the news clippings from this game...there was a lot of coverage.

We went on to crush Northeast and then play Hardaway in the game that clinched us the Region 2-AAA Championship.  We defeated Central of Macon to achieve the 10-0 mark.   Two weeks later, we played Central again in the state quarter-finals.  My friend Ken Herndon, of Macon, played for Central that year.  Since he and I are friends, I promised not to break his hands as long as he doesn't mention "state championship." I remember Central had a fullback named Rutherford (#33) who was a punishing runner.  Hitting him was like hitting a telephone pole.  I've hit bigger guys that didn't impress me, so it's a compliment that I remember this guy. I digress... 

We were leading and we had Central 4th down, 20 yards to go with only a few minutes remaining.  If they punted, the game was over. Mike Jolly (Central QB) rolled out as if to pass, then turned up field.  Four of our best tacklers missed him (you four guys know who you are!) and he got the first down on about the 20-25 yard line.  A few plays later, they were at the goal line.  One of our defensive ends (not me--you know who you are) lined up on the wrong side in all the chaos.  It was 4th and goal to go. Their running back hit the line of scrimmage and stopped....he rolled to his left...stopped...and rolled again and fell into the end zone where our DE should have been. 

Again, there was deafening silence behind us...and pandemonium on their side of the stadium.  I was on the sideline, a few feet from Coach Nix who was looking on with one knee on the ground.  His mouth hung open in disbelief.  That image says it all.  We couldn't believe it.  We couldn't score in the few seconds remaining and Central won the game.  10-0 changed to 10-1.

Central went on the win the state championship that year.  I'm convinced that, had we defeated Central on that fateful night, we would have won the state championship for 1975.  We were that good.  While I'm tooting our horn, let me add that it was the Eagle defense that made us that tough. 

Defensive Coordinator, Coach Steve Atchley, was good---he was a motivator and we wanted to please him.  He savored every victory, but especially the shut-outs.  Speaking to the defensive unit, Coach Atchley would say, "Men, I want another goose-egg," as he held his finger and thumb together, making the sign of a ZERO.  "I want that goose-egg."  Check the stats and scores for 1974 through 1976.  We gave him a lot of goose-eggs.

My good friend, James Tyson (a '78 grad), told me about the 1995 20-Year ReUnion of the 2-AAA Champion Eagles.  I had a call from Melanie Kinsaul's mom inviting me to come, but I was already committed to a Boy Scout camp out that night.  I called Coach Nix and gave him my regrets.   James told me how much fun it was to see the guys from the team there that night.   I really hate that I missed that event.  Maybe they'll schedule another similar event, maybe a 25-year reunion?

I'll be back to add more soon. ----Steve Scroggins