HS FB roundup: Warner Robins stuns Ware County; Jones County surprised in 2 OT; Peach County upset; West Laurens stays perfect; Northeast nears rare title; Brentwood bops rival; CFCA, Windsor hit 50
By Michael A. Lough
The Sports Report
centralgasports@gmail.com
Class 5A
Coffee 35, Veterans 25
The Warhawks showed quality fight and won the final three quarters 25-21, but Coffee marched out to a 14-0 first quarter lead to put the Warhawks in a hole. Veterans got to within 28-18 with a rushing score and conversion with less than five minutes left in the third, and got back within 10 in the final four minutes, but that was it.
Lee County 54, Northside 12
The Trojans passed for 234 yards and ran for 233, marching out to a 28-6 first-quarter lead en route to their ninth win over Northside in the last 10 meetings. The 42-point margin is the third-largest in series history, following the last two games.
CENTRAL GEORGIA’S BEST HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL COVERAGE
This week
🏈 Scouting Reports: This week’s GHSA and GIAA games
🏈 Maxwell Predictions
🏈 Who’s going to win this week’s games
🏈 Central Georgia state composite rankings
🏈 Central Georgia rankings
🏈 Monday Morning Quarterback: What do we know about our main teams in Georgia, near and far? Well, it’s complicated, and entertaining; Surprises, Loughdmouthings (a readable podcast, OK?) galore
🏈 Macon Touchdown Club players of the week
Last week
🏈 Roundup: Houston County handles Coffee, Dublin pulls away from Bleckley County in second half, Jasper County & Lamar County stay perfect, Westfield wins showdown, Windsor upends CFCA
🏈 Scouting Reports: This week’s GHSA and GIAA games
🏈 Maxwell Predictions
🏈 Who’s going to win this week’s games
🏈 Breaking down the GHSA, GIAA playoff picture
🏈 Central Georgia state composite rankings
🏈 Central Georgia rankings
🏈 Monday Morning Quarterback: Sit down for more Palooza on the Plains; surprises, Loughdmouthings
🏈 Macon Touchdown Club players of the week
Two weeks ago
🏈 Roundup : West Laurens, Lamar County stay perfect; Thrillers with Baldwin, Mary Persons, Westfield; Streak-breakers for Westside, Hawkinsville, John Milledge outlasts FPD, CFCA rollsp
🏈 Scouting Reports: This week’s GHSA and GIAA games
🏈 Maxwell Predictions
🏈 Who’s going to win this week’s games
🏈 Central Georgia state composite rankings
🏈 Central Georgia rankings
🏈 Monday Morning Quarterback: Nobody knows who’s in the CFP, nobody, so get ready; Surprises, Loughdmouthings (are loaded up, from ball dropping, high schools, fibbing …)
🏈 Macon Touchdown Club players of the week
Thomas County Central 31, Houston County 7
The fourth-ranked Bears took the lead in the final minute of the first quarter on Austin Stinson’s 7- yard run. But that was it against the favorite to win the 5A title. Thomas County Central regained the lead on a short run set up by a long pass two minutes into the second quarter, and the top-ranked Yellow Jackets added two more scores for a 24-7 halftime lead. Houston County got inside the 5 in the final minute, couldn’t punch it in, then missed a chip-shot field goal.
Class 4A
Benedictine 41, Perry 17
The Cadets took control early and kept it, leading 24-3 at halftime and keeping the Panthers from any rally. Perry did get to within 27-17 early in the fourth quarter, but that lasted about three minutes, Perry unable to do anything with a fumble recovery and then throwing a pick-6.
Eagle’s Landing 30, Jones County 24, 2 OT
Jones County got inside the 25 four times in the first half and managed just 10 points. The loss knocked the Greyhounds out of contention for the top seed, which they could have won by beating Locust Grove next week.
Warner Robins 48, Ware County 44
The Demons’ ability to win the third quarter 7-3 and make Ware County trade a touchdown for a field goal and then stop the Gators on fourth down inside the 20 in the final seconds led to Warner Robins best win of the year. The Demons led 34-31 entering the fourth quarter, but the Gators tied it quickly on a 25-yard field goal and took the lead after stuffing Warner Robins with a 65-yard punt return. The lead grew again by 3 with 7:10 left. Warner Robins scored on a TD pass at the 4:13 mark, and, and took the lead back with 1:36 left. Ware County was a little choppy as it drove downfield. On fourth and 10 from the 16 with eight seconds left, the Gators managed only eight yards. The win combined with Wayne County’s loss to 1-7 New Hampstead puts the Demons in the playoffs. They’re in a three-way tie for second with Perry and Ware County.
Class 3A
Cairo 38, Peach County 31
Bryan Johnson scored four touchdowns for the Syrupmakers in knocking off the No. 2 and undefeated Trojans. A 63-yard TD pass put Cairo up for good at 14-7. Peach County missed a tying PAT early in the third, a score Cairo answered with another long pass for a touchdown and 21-13 lead. A Peach County field goal was quickly countered with a fumble recovery for a touchdown of more than 70 yards. The lead gre to 35-16 after a 70-yard punt return for a touchdown two minutes into the fourth quarter. Peach County made it a one-score game in the final two minutes, but Cairo clinched it by recovering the onside kick.
Harlem 32, Howard 14
Sandy Creek 44, Mary Persons 0
The top-ranked Patriots led 21-0 at halftime en route to handing Mary Persons its first shutout in more than a decade, since falling 31-0 to Washington County early in the 2014 season, head coach Brian Nelson’s third year.
Trinity Christian 34, Upson-Lee 21
The Lions pulled off a mild upset with their first win this season over a team with a winning record. Trinity Christian ran for 199 yards and passed for 195. The Lions led 17-0 before Upson-Lee scored, midway through the third quarter. The Knights were within six after Malachi Character’s score with seven minutes left in the game, but the Lions sealed it with a pick-6.
Westside-Augusta 44, Baldwin 27
The Braves gave the undefeated Patriots a battle all night, tying it at 7 and taking the lead with a kickoff return for a touchdown. The Braves missed the PAT, and then the lead a few minutes later on Westside’s rushing touchdown. The Patriots scored a touchdown and added a safety a few plays later for a 23-13 lead entering the fourth quarter. Baldwin got within 10, but Westside broke off a 55-yard score with about five minutes left to go back up 17.
West Laurens 49, Aquinas 42
The hosts took a 21-7 second quarter lead only for the Raiders to tie it after two touchdowns by Ty Cummings covering more than 12 yards. Aquinas retook the lead, and Cummings’ 55-yarder inside the last two minutes of the first quarter tied it again, at 28. Cummings went long again early in the second quarter for a 35-28 lead, Shannon Adkins added to it not long after that and the Raiders led 42-28 at halftime. Cason Pollock connected with Juvon Hill early in the fourth to go up 49-28. Cummings went for about 250 yards on four touchdowns alone.
Class AA
Westside 16, Rutland 14 (Click here for full story)
The Seminoles rolled out to a 16-0 lead, Rutland letting opportunities slip away on a night of fumbles. But the Hurricanes rallied back to within two, and appeared destined for their first win of the year, but fumbled inside the 10 with 29 seconds left, allowing the hosts to escape.
Class A/Division I
Bleckley County 48, ACE Charter 9
The Royals felt at home on the road, scoring inside the first two minutes on Brody Fleming’s 75-yard touchdown pass. ACE answered late in the first quarter, but missed the PAT. The Gryphons recovered the onside kick, but were picked off, paving the way for Fleming’s short pass to Octavius Tate and a 13-6 lead after one. Isaiah Simeton’s 1-yard got the Royals going, Kelvin Sneed Jr. adding a pick-6 less than a minute later for a 27-6 lead at the 7:01 mark of the second quarter. ACE couldn’t take advantage of anything until a 32-yard Henry Carter field goal late in the half. After a scoreless third quarter, Bleckley County put it away with three fourth-quarter touchdowns, the last one coming on a long pass from Fleming to Sneed with about four minutes left. The Royals racked up 278 rushing yards and 274 passing yards. Hatcher was 16 of 43 for 211 yards with two interceptions.
Click on 'how to contribute' to help support Central Georgia's best high school coverage. A boost is needed and appreciated
〰️
Click on 'how to contribute' to help support Central Georgia's best high school coverage. A boost is needed and appreciated 〰️
Jasper County 28, Putnam County 10
Putnam County kept answering Jasper County scores, until the Hurricanes scored midway through the third quarter. The defenses took over for a bit until Jasper County fully sealed it with about three minutes left in the game. Tyler Epps had a night with 133 yards and 4 touchdowns on 13 carries while racking up six tackles from his outside linebacker position. The Hurricanes ran for more than 330 yards, and now face Lamar County for the region title outright.
Lamar County 22, Social Circle 6
The Trojans led only 7-6 at halftime, but they started to get a cushion midway through the third quarter on Kenyae Barnes’ fumble return for a touchdown, followed three minutes later by RJ Starks’ 66-yard interception return. The Trojans take on equally undefeated Jasper County for the outright region title.
Northeast 33, Dodge County 14 (Click here for full story)
The Raiders outscored the hosts 13-7 in the first and third quarters, and sealed it with one score in the fourth. Jordan Wiggins hit Keandre Jackson for a 51-yarder early on, Dodge County tying it a few minutes later on the ground. Northeast took the lead for good in the penalty-heavy game on Reginald Glover’s short run in the final four minutes of the first quarter. A Northeast touchdown pass was countered by an interception that set up a Dodge County score to get the Indians within 20-14. That lasted only a few minutes before Jackson’ss 41-yard TD catch in the final minute of the third quarter. Jackson caught six passes for 170 yards and two scores on a night in which Dodge County put plenty of pressure on Wiggins. Jaiden Center had one of Northeast’s four interceptions of Kain Mincey, returning it for a touchdown. The win puts Northeast in position for its second region title (first was in 2009) and the first region title for a Bibb County public school, since 2012 (Westside).
Class A/Division II
Hancock Central 36, Twiggs County 16
The Bulldogs moved into a tie for fourth with Glascock County, who visits Sparta next week for the final playoff spot.
Hawkinsville 22, Treutlen 10
Treutlen took the lead early in the second quarter with a field goal, but it didn’t last, Hawkinsville’s Sebastian Clark scoring less than two minutes later. The Red Devils missed the PAT, and led 6-3 at halftime. Hawkinsville got another field goal midway through the third and finally hit the end zone on a rush in the final minute of the third quarter for a 15-3 lead. Treutlen got within a touchdown halfway through the fourth quarter, but Hawkinsville sealed it with a touchdown in the final minute. The Red Devils are tied for third with Wilcox County, which wins a tiebreaker with Hawkinsville for third, meaning the playoff-bound Red Devils will be the fourth seed.
Macon County 57, Central-Talbotton 6
The Bulldogs stayed tied for second after putting up their highest point total since beating Central 65-o in 2022.
Taylor County 24, Crawford County 6
The Vikings rolled to their seventh straight win and remained in sole possession of first in 6-A/II. They visit one-loss Macon County next week, and clinch their first region title since 1998 and first home playoff game since 2016 with a win.
Wilkinson County 34, GMC 6
The Warriors won their third game in the last four, and cracked 30 points again. The win ties the two teams at 3-1, all but assuring Wilkinson County second place and GMC third.
GIAA
Class 4A/3A
FPD 31, Tattnall 6
The stress on the FPD side was big at halftime, the Vikings holding only a 3-0 lead on the winless Trojans, thanks to Dominic Economopoulos’ 43-yard first-quarter field goal. The Vikings finally got going a little bit in the third quarter on Marlon Kramer’s 51-yard interception return for a touchdown with 8:05 left. But things were quiet until Cash Walker connected with Breck Griffin for an 80-yard score 90 seconds into the fourth, Brady McHugh rushing one in from 29 yards less than two minutes later for a 34-0 lead. FPD held Tattnall to minus-27 yards on the ground in the first half. But the Vikings managed only 24 yards on 20 carries, Walker completing 7 of 12 for 127 yards.
John Milledge 42, Mount de Sales 0
The Trojans rolled to the district title outright with 28 first-quarter points and the remaining 14 in the second quarter, handing the Cavs their first shutout of the season and first since 2022. Asa Wall scored on a 17-yard run and 30-yard catch of Lewis Cheney’s pass. Cheney hit Bryce McDonel with two TD passes, while Duke Hurt added touchdown runs of 47 and 11 yards. Hurt ran for 104 yards and Cheney threw for 215, 111 to McDonel. The Trojans racked up 483 yards of total offense and held the Cavs to 105.
Piedmont 18, Athens Christian 10
Stratford 34, Calvary Christian 7
George Dunn kicked a pair of field goals after the Eagles got started on Tucker Johnston’s 27-yard pass to Waldron Hiley for a 13-0 halftime lead. Sanford Horne went in from 17 yards out and Cole Sasser followed a few plays later with a pick-6 for a 27-0 lead with more than seven minutes left in the third. Stratford finishes the regular season 8-2 and is the likely top seed in Class 4A.
St. Anne-Pacelli 28, Westfield 16
A week after winning the district title, the Hornets struggled on the road and fell to four-win St. Anne-Pacelli. Westfield is the top seed, and missed on winning the district title outright.
Class AA
Brentwood 48, Gatewood 14
The War Eagles got rolling early on Abe Williams’ run of more than 60 yards less than two minutes into the game. Brayden Tyson added a field goal in the final three minutes of the first quarter, Jackson Bragg following with a TD run of 30-plus yards for a 17-0 lead after one. It was 31-0 before Gatewood’s Ben Brannen returned a kickoff for a touchdown with about four minutes left in the half.
CFCA 56, Cherokee Christian 32
Judson Walls accounted for six touchdowns on the ground, from 13, 10, 34, 30, 19, and 11 yards.
Robert Toombs 34, Trinity Christian 7
Windsor 51, Heritage 35
The Knights led by one early in the second quarter, and expanded it to 11 at halftime. Windsor scored three times in the third quarter to put it away, leading 44-20 entering the fourth.
8-man
Monsignor Donovan 50, Covenant 22
Holy Spirit 21, John Hancock 0