By Michael A. Lough

The Sports Report

centralgasports@gmail.com

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WARNER ROBINS – Jalen Addie looked well-rested, and that was probably appropriate.

          After all, he only played a little more than two and a half quarters in a state semifinal game. And that was his fault.

          The senior quarterback had quite the statement game Friday night in leading Warner Robins to a 56-21 thumping of Jones County in a GHSA Class 5A semifinal game at McConnell-Talbert Stadium.

          “The guy’s phenomenal,” Warner Robins head coach Marquis Westbrook said. “I’m just trying to figure out why he didn’t sign on the dotted line this past week. The kid can do everything.”

          Addie and the 12-1 Demons will take on Cartersville at 3:30 p.m. on Dec. 30 at Georgia State’s Center Parc Stadium. Warner Robins knows it well, having reached the championship last year.

          Addie’s final work of the night came with 3:51 left in the third quarter after Jahlen Rutherford plowed in from the 2, Daniel Barber’s PAT making it 56-21.

          He finished with a remarkable evening, completing 15 of 18 passes for 295 yards and six touchdowns, adding 119 yards and a score on 13 rushes.

          “The kid is multitalented,” said Westbrook, now 1-0 against former boss Mike Chastain. “Whoever he goes to play for is gonna get a gem, because the kid is a true leader. I just can’t say enough about him.”

          About the only contact Addie had – other than poundings from teammates – came on maybe half a dozen of his runs. The offensive line – with starters Jose Gonzalez, Bobby Hutchinson, Lamartreal Carter, CJ Brooks, and Noah Stovall, plus a chunk of backups – kept Addie upright on those pass attempts, many of which include multiple fakes.

          And he tended to have some room when he took off, either by design or on a scramble.

          “Now that you say that, and I think about it, I think that was the least I’ve been touched,” he said. “I was tackled a couple times (on runs), but that’s football.”

          Warner Robins will carry more confidence into this year’s championship matchup after scoring a season-high 56 points, recording their fifth win this season of at least 35 points.

          It was the Demons’ second straight big semifinal, Warner Robins thumping unranked Starr’s Mill 55-3 last year, and was just short of the 63-24 win over No. 10 Carrollton in a 2017 quarterfinal.

          That there would be a running clock in this showdown of neighbors was anything but unexpected. Yet it was assured when the Greyhounds ended the third quarter without scoring after reaching the 11 with more than a minute left.

          Quavion Lawrence’s running-back pass on fourth and goal from the Demon 7 on the first play of the fourth quarter was batted down, ending an otherwise nice 13-play drive.

          What followed was a pair of Demon firsts for the night: a punt, a shank of less than 15 yards on the first Addie-free possession of the evening, which was nullified by a five-yard running into the kicker penalty.

          The second first followed the free first down when Lawrence was able to pick off Christon Lane’s long pass and return it past midfield. Alas, even the good didn’t work out: flags on the return brought the ball back to the 5.

          Seven plays later, it was over.

          The Demons scored on eight straight possessions, averaging about six plays per drive. Warner Robins racked up a staggering 599 yards on 58 plays, best of the season in total yards, and rushing and passing yards.

          Addie set a career best in yards passing, topping the 292 last year against Veterans (on 13-of-24 passing). Hitting on 83.3 percent matched his previous high-water mark, set last week against Blessed Trinity.

          And he felt it coming early.

          “The first drive,” Addie said about when he started getting confident. “I think this is the first time we’ve scored on the first drive. We came out and hit (them) in the mouth

          “When we did that, I was like, ‘This is fixin’ to be a good night for the offense, and a long night for their defense.’”

          Addie connected with seven receivers and threw TD passes to five.

          Armon Porter caught three for 113 yards and touchdowns of 59 and 40 yards, showing superb extension and focus on the 40-yarder. Two of Kaleb Howard’s three catches were for scores.

          Rutherford added 101 yards and a touchdown run on 12 carries, Malcom Brown good for 71 yards on nine carries plus five catches for 54 yards.

          Andrew Carner finished with 79 yards on 21 carries for Jones County, and John Alan Richter completed 12 of 28 for 183 yards and two touchdowns with no interceptions.

The Demons will hop back into full go mode on Monday, after obliterating any 24-hour rule. Leading the way will be  by Addie, who may get some things done the day after a game for a change.

          “I’ve been sore for like the last three weeks,” he said. “Finally, I can wake up, get my mojo, and get out and do some stuff.”