HSFB2019: Central Georgia's high school football roundup (12:45 a.m. edition)
Teams: send info/updates to centralgasports@gmail.com by 10:30 a.m. Saturday
More to come when you visit first thing in the morning, and then for the final 11 a.m. update.
Class 6A
Houston County 38, South Paulding 22; next: at Harrison (beat Brunswick 51-19)
The Bears again went on the road like it was a trip to Rigby’s. Houston County led 28-7 at halftime, getting two short TD passes from Max Rigby to Isaia Harris, followed by two long TD runs, South Paulding squeezing in a 3-yard scoring run. The Houston County defense came up with some energy-sapping fourth-down stops, adding a Simeon Askew interception. The momentum stayed with the Bears, who turned another defensive stand into a long touchdown pass to Harris and a 35-7 lead just before the midway point of the third quarter. South Paulding scored late in the third, but the Bears tacked on a 32-yard Luke Rigby field goal to more than seal it and put Houston County in the quarterfinals for the first time since 2015.
Class 5A
No. 2 Warner Robins 25, No. 3 Rome 17; next: vs. Clarke Central (beat Wayne County 28-20)
The third playoff meeting in three years had more suspense than the first two, but a good chunk. Rome trailed 25-10, but got within a score midway through the fourth quarter. Then the Wolves started a drive, and drove and drove and drove, reaching the red zone with 20 seconds left on a clutch drive. A sack and an incompletion preceded defensive penalty, giving Rome the ball on the 10 with eight seconds left. But the Demons came up with the stop on the 3 on a tunnel screen to survive. The Demons went up 12-7 on TD runs from Ahmad Walker and James Smith, Rome getting one back on a powerful run from Ahijah Blackwell, and then a field goal. QB Jalen Addie went in for a short rushing score late in the third quarter and after penalties doomed a quick Rome drive, Walker added one inside the final half-minute a 25-10 lead entering the fourth.
No. 1 Carrollton 21, Veterans 10
Veterans made the long drive almost worth it, giving the top-ranked hosts a full game. The Warhawks answered Carrollton’s second-quarter score with a field goal, and kept it to a 7-3 game at halftime. The undefeated Trojans added a 10-yard TD pass about three minutes into the third quarter, and took a 14-3 lead into the fourth. They added to it on the ground early, Veterans scoring on a 6-yard run only a few minutes later. But Carrollton was able to keep Veterans from mounting any further rally, and record its second-closest win of the year, just behind a 24-20 win over Rome in mid-September.
No. 7 Jones County 17, Cedar Shoals 6; next: vs. Griffin (beat Hiram 49-14)
Jones County won the first and third quarters 7-3 each, adding an insurance field goal in the final minutes. Hunter Costlow put JC up 7-0 with a 9-yard rush in the first quarter, Cedar Shoals answering a few minutes later with a field goal. Malik Wooten gave the Greyhounds a hint of breathing room by returning the third-quarter kickoff 86 yards for the touchdown. Evan West made it a double-digit game with a 40-yard field inside the four-minute mark.
Class 4A
No. 7 West Laurens 34, No. 10 North Oconee 17; next: at Blessed Trinity (beat Baldwin 36-3)
The Raiders got off to a great start, scoring on the first play. But North Oconee wasn’t going anywhere just yet, taking a lead that West Laurens took back late in the second quarter on a 30-yard scoring pass from A.J. Mathis to Brent Carr for a 14-10 halftime lead. Two Cam Coup field goals put West Laurens up 20-10 entering the fourth, A Cam Coup field goal put the Raiders up by 7 and then by 10. Shonta Burney Jr.’s 20-yard TD run midway through the third all but sealed it for the Raiders, who got a TD pass from Mathis to Tyler Franks late in the game.
No. 6 Oconee County 39, Perry 7
Perry lacked sharpness early, and Oconee County eventually started taking advantage of Panther mistakes, such as two interceptions and a blocked field goal, plus some penalties. The Warriors scored twice in the final few minutes of the first quarter, converting an interception into a TD pass and then getting a pick-6. They scored with 8:39 left, and then with 11 seconds in the half.
Madison County 38, Mary Persons 14
Another win, and Mary Persons would’ve been fitted for the Class 4A Cinderella slipper, but Madison County has emerged as the surprise quarterfinalist, a sub-.500 team that strolled into Dan Pitts Stadium with confidence and danced out with a convincing win. The visitors came out ready to go and led 21-7 at halftime, and let the hosts get only as close as 21-14 in the third quarter. The Red Raiders put it away with 17 points in the fourth quarter, but didn’t get the first score until past the midway point
No. 3 Blessed Trinity 36, Baldwin 3
The Braves were doing to Blessed Trinity what they did to Cartersville a year ago, coming out strong and making it interesting. It was more interesting longer in this one, the hosts taking only a 9-3 halftime lead. But within 93 seconds of the third quarter, the score had exploded to 29-3 after a long touchdown run, fumble recovery in the end zone, and a pick-6.
Class 3A
No. 1 Peach County 35, Calhoun 0; next: at Cedar Grove (beat Benedictine 49-13)
So much for another close game. The Trojans rolled to a 20-0 halftime lead. Noah Whittington scored from 3 and from 74 in the third quarter half to lead to a running clock in the fourth quarter. Peach County scored the most points against the Yellow Jackets since Cartersville’s 58-6 win in 2017, and handed Calhoun its first shutout since a 56-0 loss to Cartersville on Sept. 2, 2016, and only third this century. It was the worst postseason loss since a 28-0 defeat to Wesleyan in the 2003 AA playoffs, topped by losing 48-6 to old R.E. Lee in 1991.
The win was marred by an apparently serious injury to Kap Everett, who was taken from the field on a stretcher in the fourth quarter.
Class AA
No. 5 Dublin 49, Bremen 26; next: vs. Hapeville Charter (beat Swainsboro 70-28)
Bremen’s defense didn’t get as off a night from Dublin’s offense as it needed. The Irish ran for 283 yards and outgained Bremen 334-245 in total offense, a below-average game yardage-wise for Dublin. Still, the hosts never trailed, leading 18-6 after one and 25-12 at halftime. The advantage grew twice to 26 in the second half. Zion Kemp ran for 138 yards and two touchdowns on nine carries, JaQues Evans adding 116 and one on 22. Markell Mitchell’s two completions went for touchdowns, of 27 and 24 yards to A.J. Guyton. Wyatt Underwood added field goals of 42 and 29 yards, and D.J. Wright a 39-yard interception return.
Class A Private
No. 12 Hebron Christian 35, No. 5/8 Mount de Sales 6
The Cavs were held scoreless until 75 seconds remained, Hebron Christian taking control in the first half and maintaining it. The Lions led 14-0 after one and 21-0 at the break, en route to a 369-198 total yardage advantage. Hebron Christian’s defense held Dexter Williams to 53 rushing yards, and 103 yards passing on a 12-for-22 night. Josiah Cotton managed only 37 yards on six carries for the Cavs, who were hoping for their first GHSA playoff win. Colten Gauthier was 9 of 16 for 157 yards for the Lions.
GISA
Class AAA
John Milledge 21, Southland 0; next: Tiftarea/Heritage winner
The Trojans didn’t quite convert yards into points, but the defense kept Southand from doing the same. John Milledge held Southland to 76 rushing yards and 67 through the air, while getting 138 rushing yards and two touchdowns from Amaad Foston, Grayson Hopkins getting the scoring going with a 50-yard TD pass to Kelvin Jackson.
Class AA
Brentwood 42, Terrell 14; next: vs. Gatewood
The War Eagles wasted little time in taking control, with a 21-0 first quarter and getting another score before Terrell broke the shutout. McKinley Newton had TD passes of 19 to Schley Moore and of 21 to Chase Everett en route to a 35-7 first half lead, Newton adding a rushing TD along with Thomas Denton and Everett. Newton completed 5 of 8 for 79 yards and two scores. Colby Johnson and Denton basically split 140 yards, with Everett getting 80 on nine carries.
Gatewood 60, Memorial Day 12; next: vs. Brentwood
The defending state champs Gators cracked pretty much ended this one early with their second straight 60-point game, and third in the last four games and fourth of the season.