CHICKAMAUGA, Ga. — Josh Groce laughs about the incident now and admits he’s not the first person to be fooled by Nate Dunfee’s natural speed.
Dunfee, Gordon Lee’s senior running back/defensive back, gets up to hyper speed with such little effort that Groce, the Trojans’ head coach, once stopped a sprint drill to make a quick point to Dunfee.
“As a freshman or sophomore, I forget which, I was getting onto him in practice one day because I thought he was loafing,” laughs Groce. “He just didn’t look like he was putting much effort into it. I remember he looked at me like I was crazy and said, ‘Coach, I promise I’m not loafing.’
“He’s just got elusive speed and he’s such a smooth kid. You can’t tell by his mannerisms how fast he’s going. He just glides.”
Several opposing defenses have found that out the past two seasons, the latest being Lakeview-Fort Oglethorpe, where Dunfee broke loose last Friday for 264 yards rushing and three touchdowns (74, 67 and 17 yards) in a 47-27 Region 6-AAA win.
Dunfee also registered an interception and two pass breakups, an overall effort that earned him Times Free Press Player of the Week honors.
“Other than his speed, the thing about Nate is he’s 150 pounds, but he plays so much bigger than that,” Groce said. “Even on defense he never backs down and will bring all 150 pounds on every play.
“He’s also such a tough kid. Last year he had a badly sprained ankle and didn’t miss a day of practice. I’ve had to get on him about not running out of bounds and saving those hits. We can’t afford to lose him. I tell you, he’s the perfect small-school football player who never wants to come off the field.”
Groce is quick to point out the play of the Trojans’ offensive line — center Reece Eldrige, guards Nolan Doston and Jonah Davenport, tackles Eli Shell and Brodie Genter and tight ends Sam Sartin and Timy Duke — an experienced group that makes the wing-T offense work.
“They have really gelled as a unit and bought into the scheme,” said Groce, whose rushing attack also features fullback Holt Roberts (546 yards). “Also, with five of the seven being seniors, they have truly taken ownership and done a great job communicating.”
Dunfee’s big night brings his season rushing total to 963 yards to go with 12 touchdowns for the Trojans, who are 3-4 overall and now 2-2 in 6-AAA and squarely in the playoff hunt in the program’s first season in triple-A.
Contact Lindsey Young at lyoung@timesfreepress.com; follow him on Twitter @youngsports22
Staff Photo by Robin Rudd / Gordon Lee’s Nate Dunfee (2) escapes two Colt defenders. The Coahulla Creek Colts hosted the Gordon Lee Trojans in a GHSA football game on September 30, 2022.