By Michael A. Lough

The Sports Report

centralgasports@gmail.com

Class 6A
Houston County 42, Veterans 0
          The Bears (8-2/3-2) rolled to their first shutout of the season and first since topping West Laurens 58-0 early last season. Houston County finished third in Region 1, Veterans (3-7/0-5) last, suffering its second straight blanking and third of the season. It was only 7-0 after one, on Antwann Hill’s short keeper. But the Bears took control with two scores in the second quarter, a 48-yard pass from Hill to Ricky Johnson and and 42-yarder to Ty Waters.

No. 1 Thomas County Central 31, Northside 16
          Northside, deep into the depth chart at quarterback, gave the region champs a respectable night, down only 7-0 after one. But Thomas County Central (10-0/5-0), with fluid substitutions, soon took control, and outgained Northside 323-131, doubling up the Eagles 18-9 on first downs. Keron Milton had 44 rushing yards and 48 yards in catches for Northside (4-6/2-3), the fourth-place team in Region 1.

Class 5A
No. 8T Warner Robins 51, Locust Grove 21
          The region champs (7-3/6-0) had no trouble on Senior Night, storming out to a 34-0 lead in the first half en route to a 44-7 lead at the break. Judd Anderson hit Cam Flowers and Jah Avilez with touchdown passes, Chase Reese went in from 4 yards and Jeremiah Cray from 12, and Khalil Quinn added a 65-yard punt return for a first-half touchdown to get the big lead. The Demons enter the playoffs on a five-game winning streak, the last three by 28, 15, and 30 points.

Class 4A

Baldwin 22, Griffin 7
          The Braves (6-4/3-3) clinched the fourth spot in Region 2 with the road win, avoiding becoming Griffin’s second victim of the season.

No. 6T Perry 55, West Laurens 7
          The Panthers (8-2/5-1) showed no ill effects of last week’s loss to Spalding for the region title, blasting out to a 41-7 halftime lead. Corrion Daniels got them going with a 20-yard score midway through the first quarter, getting a TD pass about five minutes later.  Tavares Simmons amped things up by returning a blocked punt a long way for a score. Daniels later went 60 yards for a score, Perry adding another touchdown before Johnny Williams broke the shutout with a 80-yard touchdown. Dakarai Anderson finished the first-half barrage with a 7-yard run.

Westside 27, Howard 21
          Howard took a 21-7 lead, only for the homestanding Seminoles to score 20 unanswered points and hold on, cementing third place in Region 2. Westside (8-2/4-2) scored the game-winner on a run with about two minutes left, and held on. Howard (5-5/2-4) needed to win and have Griffin knock off Baldwin to make the playoffs.

Class 3A

No. 4 Mary Persons 56, Pike County 7
          The region champs (9-1/4-0) showed they’re ready for the playoffs, bolting out to a 35-0 halftime lead en route to their third-biggest win of the year, cracking 40 points scored for the fourth time, and winning by 30 or more for the third time.

Peach County 43, Jackson 0
          The Trojans (4-6/2-2) dominated the one-sided battle for third in Region 2. Peach County recorded its first shutout of the season, and first since topping Crisp County 23-0 in the first round of last year’s playoffs.

Class AA

ACE 30, Spencer 27
           A fumble led to Spencer (7-3/6-1) scoring the go-ahead touchdown with 55 seconds left, and seemingly erasing one of ACE’s biggest wins in program history. Big catches from Jalen Davis and Brice Whitley plus a big run from Kaleb Scarbary helped the Gryphons move downfield. Scarbary then hit James Patterson with a 3-yard scoring pass on the game’s final play to give fourth-place ACE (8-2/5-2) the win over the region champs. Scarbary threw for 260 yards on 15-of-27 passing and three touchdowns, Whitley catching 7 for 149 yards. Aaron Davis ran 16 times for 114 yards and a score. Spencer outgained ACE 429-396 on seven more plays, ACE boosted by a 36-yard field goal from Henry Carder.

Northeast 37, Rutland 7
          Rutland made things interesting early with a 7-0 lead on a TD pass late in the first quarter. Northeast got a 22-yard field goal from Jakwon Woodford five minutes into the second quarter, then took the lead inside the final minute on Reginald Glover’s 30-yard TD pass to Kavon Conciauro, Glover running in the conversion for the odd 11-7 lead. Northeast, the second-place team in Region 2, started flexing its muscles with Ezekiel Hicks’ 2-yard score four minutes into the third quarter, the Raiders (8-2/6-1)adding 19 in the fourth quarter while shutting out the Hurricanes (4-6/2-4) for the final three quarters.

Putnam County 49, Washington County 47
          The battle for third in Region 4 was an offensive display, Putnam County (6-4/5-2) leading 35-20 at halftime, the Golden Hawks (5-5/4-3) having a lead of 14-0 in the first quarter. The War Eagles went on a 35-6 flurry for the halftime lead. Washington County got within 42-40 with 1:43 left in the third quarter, the War Eagles going up 49-40 48 seconds into the fourth and Washington County getting back within two with 6:40 left. Putnam County held on to take third, Washington County settling for fourth.

CENTRAL GEORGIA’S BEST HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL COVERAGE

* Roundup: You’re reading it
* Scouting Reports: Friday’s GHSA and GIAA games
* Maxwell Ratings picks, Central Georgia state rankings
* Who’s going to win this week’s Central Georgia football games?
* So, you’re wondering about Central Georgia playoff scenarios … There’s still wondering to be had
* Monday Morning Quarterback: Latest ‘Dear Arthur Smith’ facepalm; upsets & surprises, predictions accuracy, toughest schedules in CGA, more Loughmouthings, Central Georgia rankings
* Macon Touchdown Club players of the week

Last week
* Roundup: Region titles to Warner Robins, Mary Persons, Bleckley County, Lamar County; clutch wins by Westside, Macon County, FPD; some monster smashes, heartbreakers
* Maxwell Ratings picks, Central Georgia state rankings
* Scouting Reports: Friday’s GHSA and GIAA games
* Who’s going to win this week’s Central Georgia football games?
* A look at Thursday’s games
* Big news is bad news for Northeast: Star RB Woodford done for the season
Monday Morning Quarterback: All’s well in Athens, Atlanta; sure were some surprises last week; HS playoff picture clear yet fuzzy; Loughdmouthings galore, Central Georgia’s top teams
* Macon Touchdown Club players of the week

Class A/Division I

Dublin 41, Swainsboro 20
          The tussle for second in Region 2 between physical run-heavy teams started off well for the hosts, who took a 6-0 lead late in the first quarter. Little did Swainsboro figure it was downhill soon after that. Micah O’Neal’s long run set up Xavier Bostic’s short score, Connor Daniel’s kick putting the Irish (8-2/3-1)  up 7-6. Swainsboro (8-2/2-2) answered only a few minutes later on a t3-yard run, the lead lasting until Bostic’s 32-yard score and Daniel’s kick for a 14-12 Dublin lead with about two minutes left in the half. O’Neal followed a blocked punt with a 26-yard score and a 21-12 halftime lead. Bostic went in from the 4 midway through the third quarter, Swainsboro answering about three minutes later. Dublin regained control on O’Neal’s 50-yarder a minute into the fourth quarter, the Irish sealing it after a fumble recovery and another O’Neal score halfway through the final quarter.

East Laurens 51, Jefferson County 15
          East Laurens (3-7/1-3) left little doubt about its hunger for fourth place in Region 2 with its biggest win since beating Baconton Charter 63-14 in 2021.

Lamar County 45, Heard County 28
          The visitors set the hosts on their heels by taking the lead five minutes into the game. The Trojans (8-2/3-0) tied it a little more than three minutes later on Ty Head’s 3-yard run, boosted by Qua Hughley’s 50-yard scoot. Head went that far at the 9:51 mark of the second quarter for the lead, and Jordan Glover added a pair of 19-yard runs for a 28-7 lead, Heard County grabbing a late scoring pass to make it 28-13 at halftime. Heard County got back within a score five minutes into the third before Caleb Miller’s 34-yard field goal. The Trojans clinched the Region 4 title with Head’s 12-yard TD pass to Huston Traylor, Head adding a 7-yard run in the final minute.

Oglethorpe County 35, Jasper County 28
          Jasper County (5-5/0-3) led 7-0, 14-7, 21-14, and 28-21 only for Oglethorpe County (4-6/1-2) to tie it each time in the showdown for third in Region 5,. Then the Patriots finally took the lead on a 60-yard fumble return for a touchdown on – based on a MaxPreps report – the game’s final play.

Temple 62, Crawford County 20
          Temple took control early en route to taking third place in Region 4, Crawford County settling for fourth in the four-team region.

Class A/Division II

Dooly County 30, Hawkinsville 23
          The region champs felt pretty comfortable after three quarters with a 30-7 lead, only for the Red Devils to score twice in the fourth quarter and get within a touchdown. Dooly County held on, dropping Hawkinsville (6-4/2-3) to fourth place.

Johnson County 41, Hancock Central 14
          Hancock Central (4-6/2-3) enters the playoffs  as the third-place team in Region 5.

Wilkinson County 47, Glascock County 27
          The Warriors (5-4/4-1) led from the start, opening up 16-6 lead and then 23-6 advantage. Glascock County got within 23-14, but Wilkinson County got a touchdown and conversion with about four minutes left in the third to take control and seal second place.

Class AAA
Mount de Sales 45, Athens Christian 14
          The Cavs avoided the first winless season in program history, leading from the start and putting it away with a 21-0 third quarter to beat the GHSA Class A/Division I Eagles.

FPD 35, Stratford 6
          It was a good start for the hosts, going up on Billy Noblitt’s 5-yard run at the 6:45 mark of the first quarter. Then the Eagles (5-5/1-3) missed the point-after kick. Less than two minutes later, FPD (6-3-1) took the lead for good on Major Simmons’ 4-yard run. The Vikings added second-quarter scores on Jakhari William’s 9 yard run and Tinsley Lewis’ return of a blocked punt, putting FPD up 21-6 at halftime. They added a third-quarter pass from Williams to Carter Hays of 46 yards and a pass in the fourth of 6 yards to Hayden Aulds. Stratford racked up 226 yards on 46 carries, but completed only 1 of 7 passes. FPD was balanced, rushing 36 times for 183 yards and completing nine passes for 183 yards. Aulds ran for 77 on 13 carries, Williams was 9 of 14 passing, adding 57 rushing yards.

Westfield 17, St.Anne-Pacelli 16
          The defense came up with the play of the night in the final 80 seconds when it stopped St. Anne-Pacelli’s try for what would’ve been the lead-taking two-point conversion. The Vikings, though, recovered the onside kick. They stalled, and a 39-yard field goal on the game’s final play was wide left, giving the Hornets (5-5/2-2) a win over the defending 4A state champs (8-2/3-1), and avenging last year’s 45-7 loss.

John Milledge 45, Tattnall 21
          The visitors (4-6/2-2) teased a little in the Trojans Bowl, pulling within 10 points in the second half. But John Milledge (10-0/4-0) put any doubts its winning streak not continuing to 60 games after Kolt McMichael’s 60-yard TD pass to Javian Butts, followed by Butts’ scoring runs of 19 and 14 en route to a 160-yard rushing night. Butts had first-half scoring runs of 43 and2, Bud Veal adding a 34-yard score and Jacob Noles a 22-yard field goal. Caden Faulk passed for a score and ran for one, Ayden Dunn adding a late score. JMA outgained Tattnall 357-277, Tattnall getting 99 rushing yards from Antone Johnson, Faulk completing 5 of 13 for 118 yards.

Class AA
Gatewood 42, Brentwood 14
          The visitors took the first lead, on Baylor Cobb’s score in the final minutes of the first quarter. That woke up the Gators, who answered a few minutes later but missed the conversion. Gatewood scored twice and added both conversions for a 21-8 halftime lead. A 14-0 third quarter sealed it.

Lake Oconee 55, Piedmont 0

Central Fellowship 27, Thomas Jefferson 6
          The Lancers enter the playoffs 7-2-1 after rolling to their fourth straight win, losing the shutout n the fourth quarter.