Friday night's high school football roundup, overnight edition
Teams: send info to centralgasports@gmail.com by or 9:30 a.m. Saturday
3:30 a.m. update (yeah, so, ya know, a little love, huh?). Final edition comes at 11ish a.m. Saturday.
Class 6A
Coffee 7, Northside 0
A memorable defensive performance wasn’t enough to overcome Northside’s offensive issues, although the Eagles (3-4/0-1) outgained the hosts 187-133 overall, on four more snaps and had chances but couldn’t get in the end zone. Northside had more passing yards, albeit only 67-47, on two fewer completions. The Eagles, who lost QB Mason Ford again to an injury and went most of the game with Elijah Robinson, ran 35 times for 67 yards to 29 for 47 for Coffee (5-1/1-0), which got the lone score on a 1-yard run four seconds into the second quarter. Northside, which had three turnovers, hadn’t gone two consecutive games without scoring since 1970, the Eagles having a week off after a 39-0 loss to Warner Robins.
Valdosta 52, Houston County 20
The Bears (4-3/0-1) were hanging with the Wildcats (5-1/1-0) early, trailing only 22-6 at halftime and scoring early in the third to pull within 22-13. The Wildcats outscored the Bears 9-7 in the third and pulled away with 21 in the fourth.
Class 5A
Veterans 16, Bainbridge 13
The Warhawks (5-0/1-0) took down the defending state champs with a fourth-quarter touchdown from Kedrek Smith and the Daniel Gibbs PAT with 9:12 left in the game. Veterans’ defense then had to stand up time after time in the fourth quarter, including in the final minutes. Bainbridge, ranked eighth, may protest, though, since the Bearcats (5-2/0-1) might have had one or two seconds on the clock after an incomplete pass in the end zone from the 14 on a play that started with seven seconds left.
Veterans led 3-0 after one and trailed 7-6 at halftime – on a 75-yard return (blocked field goal or fumble, as per social media reports) for a touchdown - and 13-9 after three, on field goals from Gibbs. It’s Veterans’ second win over a ranked team this season (7-2 over then-No. 6/6A Houston County) after winning two in their last 10 meetings against a ranked team.
Warner Robins 37, Harris County 22
Harris County led 14-13 at halftime, but the Demons took the lead and momentum when Ahmad Walker went in from four yards out on fourth and 2 less than three minutes into the third quarter. They went up by two scores in the final minutes of the third quarter.
Jones County 27, Dutchtown 22
The Greyhounds took a major step toward their first region championship since 2001 and only third in program history with a big road win against another ranked region opponent. Dutchtown (6-1/3-1) led 14-0 early in the second, and had to use backup QB Brandon Savage soon after the Greyhounds (7-0/4-0) scored. The Bulldogs led 16-14 after a punt pinned Jones County deep and led to a safety. Hunter Costlow’s third TD pass to Malik Wooten – an 18-yarder after 11- and 19-yarders - put JC up 21-16 early in the third, the Bulldogs – who put pressure on Costlow most of the night – retook the lead late in the third but failed on the conversion. Costlow’s fourth TD pass, a 20-yard game-winner, went to Jontavis Robertson midway through the fourth quarter. Jones County’s defense than came up big down the stretch.
Class 4A
Mary Persons 37, Upson-Lee 28
The host Bulldogs couldn’t shed the scrappy Knights, who seemed to counter most of what Mary Persons offered much of the night. The Bulldogs (4-3/2-0) scored with eight seconds left in the second quarter for a 24-15 halftime lead and upped it to 30-15 on a 25-yard pass from Logan Hickman to Malikk Harris midway through the third. The Knights (2-5/0-2) answered with a 15-yard run to open the fourth and got within two on a 55-yard scoring pass, but couldn’t get the tying conversion midway through the fourth. The Bulldogs took advantage of a muffed punt after an Upson-Lee defensive stand, and scored with 2:05 left to seal the homecoming win.
West Laurens 49, Spalding 6
The expected lack of suspense came to fruition, the Raiders opening up a 28-6 halftime lead and holding their fourth opponent of the year to single digits.
Baldwin 35, Richmond Academy 20
The Braves (2-5/1-0), as they did last year, won their second straight game after an 0-5 start, taking last year’s meeting 28-21.
Class 3A
Jackson 34, Westside 31
The Seminoles took a 24-13 lead with 21 seconds in the second quarter, but gave up a huge kickoff return and then a 27-yard field goal for a 24-16 halftime advantage. Then the hosts themselves tied at 24 and then at 31, then down by seven. The Seminoles (4-3/2-1) tied it with 4:58 left in the game, and got the ball back at their 31 with 2:47 left in the game, but didn’t go into a hurry-up offense. On third and 12 from its 44, Westside was picked off at the 26-yard line and it was returned to the Seminoles’ 44, the play’s line of scrimmage, with 32 seconds left. The Red Devils (5-2/3-0), who had lost the last two meetings with Westside 28-7 and 40-7, converted a third and three and reached the 12 with two seconds left. Two Westside timeouts later, freshman Peyton Zimmerman hit the 30-yard field goal to win it.
Pike County 31, Rutland 24
The Hurricanes (2-5/1-2) lost a heartbreaker to a playoff-caliber team, leading 8-7 after one and 24-17 at halftime but getting shut out in the second half on the road. The Pirates (3-3/1-1) tied it on a short pass with about five minutes left in the third and took the lead with about a minute to go in the game.
Class AA
Bleckley County 21, Washington County 18
The Royals led much of the game, falling behind by four on a 27-yard run by Shamarcus Poole. The Golden Hawks (4-2/1-1) missed another conversion, and led 18-14 with 2:01 left in the third. Bleckley County (5-2/2-1) finally regained the lead on Bryce Bailey’s 5-yard run with 4:51 left in the game. The Royals’ defense then held on fourth down with 2:13 left when 6-foot-7 Amarius Mims batted down a fourth-down pass. Washington County had two timeouts left, and used both in forcing a punt from inside Bleckley County’s 15, getting the ball back on Bleckley County’s 49 with 1:05 left. But a big rush on fourth and 14 from the Golden Hawks’ 47 led to a game-clinching incompletion.
Dublin 35, Dodge County 6
Dodge County couldn’t get much going, yet battled and trailed only 14-6 at halftime and 21-6 after three. But the Irish (6-0/3-0) ground the Indians down with two fourth-quarter touchdowns, from JaQues Evans and Zion Kemp. Evans had a 45-yard second-quarter score and caught a 19-yard TD pass from Markell Mitchell with 1:17 left in the first to start the scoring. Dodge County (3-4/1-1) countered immediately with a 64- yard pass from sophomore Kade Harpe to junior Keldrick Beck. Marcus Adams went four yards 56 seconds into the third quarter for the Irish score. Dublin had 19 more first downs, outrushed the Indians 340-20, and more than doubled Dodge County in time of possessions. The Indians failed to convert a third down, and did get 78 yards passing from Harpe.
Class A
ACE 52, Glascock County 6
ACE (1-5) rolled to its first win of the season against 7-A opponent Glascock County (1-6). Neither team is playing a region schedule.
Dooly County 47, Hawkinsville 28
FPD 39, Wilkinson County 14
Parker Ingram completed 19 of 26 passes for 199 yards and three touchdowns for the Vikings (3-3/2-0).
Hancock Central 50, Greene County 0
The Bulldogs (3-3/2-1) scored in one game half of their total going into the night, Hancock Central putting up 54 in game 2 last year. It tied the sixth-most points in program history.
Mount de Sales 54, Twiggs County 8
The Cavs cruised as expected, leading 40-0 at halftime and losing the shutout 14 seconds into the fourth quarter. The stats weren’t staggering, thanks in large part to a running clock and non-offensive scores with A’Khori Jones scoring on a 42-yard punt return and Patrick Green taking an interception back 25 yards. MdS also scored on a safety and 25-yard Ethan Aler field goal. Josiah Cotton had 92 rushing yards on eight tries, with three touchdowns. Dexter Williams ran four times for 34 yards and a score, and passed for a TD on a 4-for-6 night for 100 yards. The Cavs’ defense held the Cobras to a stunning minus-60 yards rushing, countered by 93 yards passing.
Macon County 55, Crawford County 0
The Bulldogs (3-30/2-1) scored 57.8 percent of their season total in points, and first 50-point game since winning 68-0 over Twiggs County last year.
Schley County 49, Taylor County 14
Stratford 24, Tattnall 7
The Eagles were bad homecoming guests, getting on top less than three minutes into the game and staying there. Stratford (2-4/1-1) scored twice in the second quarter and held a three-score lead until the Trojans (3-3/2-1) broke through with 6:41 left in the third.
Warren County 37, GMC 33
GISA/GAPPS
Brentwood 61, Robert Toombs 37
The War Eagles (5-2) scored 14, 28, and 19 points in the first three quarters to cruise, the 28-6 second quarter putting the hosts in control. It was 42-12 at halftime, Brentwood having gotten touchdowns from Chase Everett on runs of 11, 6, and 5 yards plus a 75-yard pass from McKinley Newton. Colby Johnson adding an 11-yard run and Ben Tarbutton a 17-yard TD reception for the first-half scoring. Everett rambled for 126 yards on six carries, Johnson and Schley Moore adding 65 and 55 on five carries each. Newton was 5 of 8 for 128 yards and two scores. Brentwood had six fewer first downs, but outgained RTCA 532-381, 404-120 on the ground. RTCA completed 18 of 37 passes for 261 yards with a pick.
Frederica 43, Westfield 10
John Milledge 28, Bulloch 14
Terrell 49, Piedmont 12
Trinity Christian 49, Augusta Prep 7
The Crusaders were up 35-0 before Augusta Prep cross the goalline, Carson Hall with TD runs of 2 and 39 yards and David Coleman with two TD passes and scoring run by that pont. TCS had a 459-188 total offense advantaged on 26 fewer plays, averaging 15.8 yards a play. Coleman was perfect on seven pass attempts for 257 yards and four touchdowns, Walker Payne catching three for 135 yards and two scores. Hall gained 74 yards on six carries. The defense, led by Kyle Curry, Karsen Kight, and Zack White, gave up only 3.4 yards a snap.
John Hancock vs. Lanier
CFCA vs. Sherwood
Thursday
Callaway 46, Lamar County 7
Central 41, Kendrick 12
Northeast 28, Southwest 22