Gwinnett Daily Post

GDP Archer Media Day

Archer Tigers (8-AAAAA)

Coach: Andy Dyer

Record: 1-2, 0-1 region

Last week: Lost 34-7 to Grayson

Brookwood Broncos (8-AAAAA)

Coach: Mark Crews

Record: 1-2, 0-1 region

Last week: Lost 20-6 to Dacula

Coming off a shocking loss to a now surging Dacula team, the defending Class AAAAA state champion Broncos get another team searching for a signature win.

Archer, in its third year as a football program, comes to Snellville heartened by its performance against nationally ranked Grayson but still hungry for the Tigers' first signature Region 8-AAAAA win.

"Grayson, they do an awesome job over there, but our kids fought for 48 minutes," said Archer head coach Andy Dyer, who watched his Tigers lose 55-0 last season. "Our challenge each week is not who we are playing. Our challenge is ourselves and being able to muster up enough courage to play our hearts out every Friday."

Brookwood's offense, even with a slow start, oozes talent. Nick Tompkins and Jamaal Cole lead a Broncos attack with big-play potential and Archer's defense has allowed an average of more than three touchdowns a game.

"They are as talented and as good as ever," Dyer said. "Their running backs are great players and they can go the distance any time they touch the ball."

Every team has a few players it requires to stay on the field, but for still-young Archer, there are more than most. Romauld Kugbila plays both offense and defense and the senior has improved every week Dyer watches him.

"He gives us all he's got," Dyer said. "When you are building a program, and I explained this to (my two-way players) what their role would be in the spring. They just have to continue to play as hard as they can go."

And keep chasing that big, turning-point win.

Last meeting: Brookwood won 37-0 last year

Directions to Brookwood High School: From I-85, go east on Pleasant Hill Road and merge onto Ronald Reagan Parkway. Proceed to the Five Forks-Trickum Road exit. Turn right and the next left on Dogwood Road. School is on the right.