By Michael A. Lough

The Sports Report

centralgasports@gmail.com

Class AAAA

Benedictine 41, Baldwin 0
          A 13-0 game after a quarter became a blowout by halftime, Benedictine scoring three times in the final seven minutes of the second quarter. The Braves (6-5) suffered their second shutout of the season (34-0, Spalding) and worst defeat since Northside’s 45-0 win midway through the 2018 season.

New Hampstead 40, Westside 12
          The Seminoles were down 7-6 early ad only 14-6 at halftime, the second quarter ending on a sack and fumble by the hosts. The Phoenix started taking control early in the third quarter on a 40-yard touchdown pass, then converting a fumble recovery into a  23-yard TD run in the final 90 seconds of the third quarter for a 26-6 lead en route to handing the Seminoles (8-3) their second biggest loss of the season (55-14, Perry).

Perry 35, Burke County 14
          The Panthers won their fifth straight first-round game under head coach Kevin Smith, all by at least 16 points. Perry had three state first-round wins in program history before Smith’s arrival. Burke County got too much Ahmad Gordon and Cullen McDaniel. Gordon continued his march on a 2,000-yard season with 158 yards and three touchdowns on 30 carries, while Cullen McDaniel threw for 152 yards on 21 of 25 passing. But it took a little while for the Panthers (9-2) to take some control, Burke County battling to within 14-11 at halftime and then tying it midway through the third with a field goal. Gordon’s 4-yard score put the Panthers on top a few minutes later, another short Gordon run doubling up the visitors halfway through the fourth quarter. He added an icing score late in the fourth.

Class AA

No. 1 Appling County 49, Northeast 0
          Boosted by a solid collection of fans making the 130-mile drive, along with the band, Appling County was in control from the start, leading 14-0 barely halfway through the first quarter, gaining momentum on a fumble return for a touchdown. The Pirates rushed for two more scores before the end of the quarter, and scored their final points with 2:31 left in the third quarter. Northeast (8-3) was handed its worst loss since losing 48-0 to Brooks County in the first round of the 2015 playoffs, and its first shutout since falling 28-0 to Washington County late in the 2016 season.

No. 9 Cook 25, Washington County 14
          The Golden Hawks (5-6) led 14-13 after one, but Cook took the lead for good with a field goal about four minutes into the second quarter. The Hornets led 23-14 at halftime.

Fitzgerald 38, Putnam County 7
          The Purple Hurricane won their  fourth game of the season by at least 30 points, the War Eagles (6-5) held to single digits for the third time in four games.

No. 2 Pierce County 42, ACE 7
          The Gryphons (8-3) dug an early hole, giving up touchdowns on an interception and fumble return early  en route to a 21-7 first-quarter deficit that grew by a touchdown in the second quarter. The Bears controlled the ball with 334 rushing yards, holding ACE to 68. Aaron Davis managed 67 yards on 21 carries, scoring on a 17-yarder. The Gryphons were without WR Brice Whitley, injured Tuesday in an auto accident.

No. 5 Toombs County 64, Southwest 6
          The trip southwest went south right away for Southwest, the hosts scoring three minutes into the game and rolling to a 20-0 first quarter lead. The lead was 36-0 before Southwest (6-5) scored in the final minutes of the second quarter on Chase Dupree’s 68-yard pass to Malik Sands. It is Southwest’s biggest margin of defeat since losing 62-0 to Lamar County in October of 2021.