It was Brooks’ least points scored since a 20-6 week 2 loss to Americus-Sumter. It was their most points given up all season long.

“We just want to get better this week and the kids are ready to play,” said Branch.

Brooks now sits in sixth place in the region at 2-3, and needs to win out to reach the post-season.

“This game means something for us, it’s the first of three we need to win to go to the play-offs, but we’re feeling good,” said Branch.

It will be a big game again this year for the two schools, but that’s nothing new for the Trojans and Hornets. Over the past seven years the game has repeatedly been of the season’s best.

2006 – Cook 27, Brooks 20

It was the Hornets second closest game of the season as they held off a scrappy Brooks team. Cook lost in the first round of the play-offs to a revenge seeking Dublin team, while the Trojans missed out.

2005 – Brooks 9, Cook 0

In a year where both teams were dominating during the regular season the Trojans handed the Hornets their only shut-out of the year. Cook took the region Championship though, while Brooks finished second.

2004 – Cook 17, Brooks 14

In their closest win of the season the Hornets won their first 1-AA region match-up with Brooks. In the Trojans’ four losses they were held to 14 points or less, in their wins they scored 26 or more points.

2003 – Cook 43, Brooks 8

In their last region 2-AA match-up the Hornets (11-2) dominated the season and the Trojans (8-3-1). It was the Trojans’ worst loss of the season.

2002 – Cook 30, Brooks 21

It was a tough year for each team as the Hornets finished 6-5 and fell to Vidalia 20-7 in the first round of the play-offs. Brooks went 5-5 and missed the post-season.