Godwin, a standout defensive back, wide receiver and special-teams player for the Callaway Cavaliers, made his season debut Friday night in a 28-7 win over the Troup Tigers, and he was sensational.
Godwin returned a punt for a touchdown, he recovered a fumble in the end zone for another touchdown that was set up by his own long kickoff return, and he helped stabilize a defense was pushed around two weeks before against Heard County.
“It was good to get Terry Godwin back,” Callaway head coach Pete Wiggins said.
It didn’t take Godwin long to make a big impact when he returned the opening kickoff to the Troup 29-yard line.
Seven plays later, Godwin was the man on the spot when he pounced on the ball in the end zone after a Callaway running back fumbled.
In the third quarter, Godwin showed his explosiveness on the offensive end when he caught a long pass from quarterback Tez Parks that eventually led to another touchdown, giving the Cavaliers a 14-0 lead.
Later in the third quarter, Godwin gave the Cavaliers a 21-0 lead when he returned a punt nearly 90 yards for a touchdown, capping an amazing night for the sophomore.
Godwin was a starter last season as a freshman, and he’ll be a centerpiece of what the Cavaliers do this season.
Godwin is turning aheads outside of Troup County as well.
This summer, while participating in a seven-on-seven passing tournament in Athens, Godwin made enough of an impression that he received an offer from the Georgia Bulldogs.
Godwin is the first player in the class of 2015 to receive an offer from Georgia.
Callaway also received a lift from defensive lineman and offensive lineman J’Lynn Allen, who made his season debut against Troup after returning from an injury.
Allen and Godwin both were key reasons a defense that struggled against Heard County was much improved against Troup.
“Both of those kids did a fabulous jobs,” Wiggins said.
FAST START: Senior wide receiver Dee Smith figured to be a major part of LaGrange High’s offense this season, and he has been that and more.
LaGrange head coach Donnie Branch said Smith is “the top weapon. He’s the guy you better account for.”
So far, teams aren’t doing a very good job of keeping an eye on him.
Through two games, the explosive Smith has scored four touchdowns.
He scored twice during a season-opening loss to Newnan, and he had two more touchdowns in a 37-13 victory over Harris County last week.
Smith made an amazing play for his first touchdown against Harris County.
With the Grangers up 3-0 in the first quarter, Smith came up with a catch in traffic around the Harris County 20-yard line, and it looked like he was about to hit the turf.
Smith stayed upright, though, and he raced untouched to the end zone for a 50-yard touchdown.
Smith struck again in the fourth quarter when he dashed right down the middle of the field and snared a perfectly-thrown ball from quarterback Zach Giddens for a 46-yard touchdown.
In the Newnan game, Smith scored the Grangers’ first two touchdowns of the season.
On the team’s opening drive, he caught an 18-yard scoring pass from Giddens.
Later in the quarter, Smith scored on a 38-yard run.
In addition to his offensive contributions, Smith is also starting on defense at outside linebacker.
“We’re really excited about Dee,” Branch said. “He’s excited about playing defense. We’d like to have a rotation so we can keep him fresh because he’s so important.”
From an offensive standpoint, it helps that Smith is hardly the only target.
Fellow senior wide receive Dee Gates also has big-play potential, and he had a 29-yard catch that set up the first touchdown against Harris County.
Also, running backs Benny Gray and Mon Denson have each scored multiple touchdowns through two games, and Giddens has done a terrific job of distributing the ball.
SEARCHING FOR OFFENSE: Through two games, the Troup Tigers are still searching for their offensive identity.
The Tigers have moved the ball well at times against Redan and Callaway, but they’re having a tough time finding consistency on offense.
“We have to take a look at those things that are causing us to not have that rhythm, especially on offense,” Troup head coach Lynn Kendall said following last week’s 28-7 loss to Callaway. “We had some drives, but we did not sustain them.”
When the Tigers have had success, they’ve done it mostly on the ground with a talented group of running backs running behind a big offensive line.
Against Callaway, senior running back Lemonta Truitt scored the team’s lone touchdown.
Truitt also scored one of Troup’s two touchdowns the week before against Redan.
Senior Ricky Frazier has also done some nice things in the running game, and Daryl Dunlap has been a threat on the ground, and in the passing game.
Dunlap caught a touchdown pass from sophomore quarterback Will Smith against Redan, and he had some big gainers against Callaway, including a 20-yard run in the first half.
Dunlap also had a 13-yard run on fourth-and-eight that set up Troup’s only touchdown against Callaway.
Dunlap also showed off his throwing arm against Redan when he completed a long pass to Malcolm Tatum that set up a late touchdown.
Tatum has been Smith’s favorite receiving target so far.
“We’ve got some playmakers, it’s a matter of getting them opportunities to do that,” Kendall said after the loss to Callaway. “I thought Ricky Frazier ran hard (against Callaway). The offensive line improved. This game is a learning experience.”
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