HS FB: Stratford, John Milledge, Westfield advance to finales; county of Houston goes 1-5; ACE guts out first playoff W; Bleckley County & Dublin win by 119-34; Northeast, Dodge County roll
Come back Saturday morning and afternoon to check out the GHSA seedings and playoff pairings.
Editor’s note: Thanks to Dublin and John Milledge for sending box scores Friday night to The Central Georgia Sports Report.
Note: Scoretracker users, please note the time of major plays and all scores, and use names as much as possible. Please check accuracy of yardage listed as well.
CENTRAL GEORGIA’S BEST HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL COVERAGE
This week
🏈 Scouting Reports: This week’s GHSA and GIAA games
🏈 Scouting Reports, Thursday
🏈 Maxwell Predictions
🏈 Who’s going to win this week’s games?
🏈 Central Georgia state composite rankings
🏈 Central Georgia rankings
🏈 GHSA's Post Season Playoff Rankings offer clarity and confusion, but Central Georgia's field is almost set ... almost
🏈 Macon Touchdown Club players of the week
Last week
🏈 Roundup: Jones County handles Warner Robins; Perry explodes; Bleckley County survives East Laurens; Routs for Washington County, Dublin, Taylor County, Macon County, Stratford, Windsor
🏈 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
🏈 Macon Touchdown Club players of the week
Class 6A
Kell 37, Houston County 17
It wasn’t the Bears night, and early. Houston County had first and goal at the 2 and fumbled, Kell returning it nearly 50 yards and scored a few plays later. Houston County tied it, but the hosts scored the next 20 points to take control. Houston County finishes 5-6.
Lee County 55, Northside 0
The hosts were in no mood for a challenge, and led 41-0 at halftime. Northside finishes 3-8.
Thomas County Central 56, Veterans 6
The Warhawks were in it for a quarter, actually leading 6-0 on a rushing touchdown. The defending champs scored 56 straight, leading 21-6 after on and rolling. Veterans finishes 4-7.
Lithonia 34, Jones County 24
Lithonia led by 10 at halftime, thanks to a 20-3 second quarter, and kept fighting off Jones County in the second half. t going tin the second half. The Greyhounds trailed 6-3 in the second quarter, but the visitors kept the lead at 13-10, adding a long touchdown pass with a few minutes left in the half. The Greyhounds got it to within 20-17 on Laquan Pendleton’s third-quarter run at the 10:10 mark after the hosts recovered the second-half onside kickoff. Lithonia converted a fourth and 7 with a TD pass in the final 30 seconds of the the third to go back up 10. The Bulldogs botched a punt snap, and region champ Jones County converted with a Pendleton touchdown to get back within 3 with just less than 6 minutes left. It stayed that way until the Bulldogs sealed with an 8-yard score in the final minute. Jones County’s season ends at 6-5.
Jefferson 28, Warner Robins 14
The visiting Demons took the first lead on a touchdown passof nearly 50 yards, but it was slowly downhill after that. Jefferson tied it on an 80-yard TD run in the second quarter, and took the lead after converting a fumble recover. Another run made it 21-7 early in the third quarter. The Demons finish 6-5.
Cartersville 42, Perry 3
A county trend (see above): Perry scored on its first drive for a 3-0 lead, which Cartersville answered with a touchdown. After another score, the Panthers then fumbled in the red zone to continue trailing 14-3. Cartersville added a score for a 21-3 halftime lead. Perry finishes 5-6.
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Northeast 49, Thomson 28 (Click here for complete story)
The expected battle turned into an unexpected romp for the host Raiders, who led 12-7 at halftime, Thomson ending the half inside the 5 and running out of time. Jordan Wiggins hit Duke Tinsley with a 54-yard score four minutes into the third, but Thomson answered with a long screen pass. Wiggins carried it in from the 19, and the Raiders added the 2-point conversion for a 26-15 lead with four minutes left in the third. And the Bulldogs answered to get within 26-21 late in the third quarter. Wiggins then went left on a straight keeper and sprinted for a 61-yarder, shedding some ulldogs inside the 10 to finish it off on the firs tplay of the fourth quarter for a 13-point lead and started blowing it open on Emmanuel Thorpe’s steal and strip and 95-yard fumble return for a 42-21 lead with 8 minutes left.
Next: No. 27 North Murray (34-23 over No. 6 Ringgold) at No. 11 Northeast
Lamar County 22, Worth County 19
Worth County took a 19-14 lead early in the fourth quarter, but missed on another conversion. The Trojans recovered a fumble and scored on a run, then passed for the conversion and a 3-point lead late. Lamar County’s defense came up with a stop on fourth down to get the ball back and seal it..
Next: No. 16 Lamar County at No. 1 Appling County (41-10 over No. 32 Jackson)
Rockmart 56, Washington County 14
The Golden Hawks stayed in it for half, trailing 28-14 at intermission, the Yellowjackets taking over in the second half. Washington County finishes 4-7.
Bleckley County 59, Jefferson County 14
The knockout punch came early, the Royals taking a 37-7 lead into the second quarter. It was 9-7 6 minutes into the game, only a safety putting Bleckley County on top. Then the Royals scored on a long Brody Fleming pass to Octavious Tate, a pick-6 from Kelvin Snead, Zyion Love’s 10-yard run, and a Fleming-to-Love pass, and it was over.
No. 19 Pepperell (30-21 over No. 14 Putnam County) at No. 3 Bleckley County
Dublin 60, Vidalia 20
The Irish tripled up the Indians behind a balanced run game that racked up 406 yards with four backs getting at least 50 yards, and five scoring touchdowns. Ryland Yates completed 4 of 5 for 71 yards and 2 scores. Dublin led 14-7 after one, and then scored five straight touchdowns for a 46-7 lead midway through the third quarter. The Irish had a 477-235 edge in total offense on a clock-eating night with only 5 third downs faced. Jamarcus Knight led the run attack with 90 yards on 6 carries. Dontavious Cannon scored on half of his 4 carries.
Next: No. 13 Swainsboro (31-6 over No. 20 Screven County) at No. 4 Dublin
ACE 14, Jasper County 10
The Gryphons’ first win in program history was some old-school football, with their lowest point total in a win since starting football. It tied the fewest points in an ACE victory this season, with the 17-7 win over Vidalia. The Gryphons took a 14-7 lead less than two minutes into the third quarter on Ace Hatcher’s keeper of 40 yards. Jasper County added a Parker Eaton field goal less than three minutes later. The teams then went back and fourth the rest of the way, each coming up with big plays on defense. Hatcher kept and converted a fourth and 1 to seal it after the Hurricanes gave it up on downs. Jasper County’s season ends at 6-5.
Next: No. 22 ACE at No. 6 Bremen (52-19 over Washington)
Dodge County 41, Berrien 22
The Indians showed why they were favored, shrugging off blowing a 14-0 lead by scoring 27 straight points. QB Kain Mincey got it started by going in from the 9 late in the third quarter. Jordan Spady’s run of about 30 yards a few minutes into the fourth quarter got the thumping going more. A defensive stand set up Aamaury Fountain’s touchdown for a 34-15 lead.
Next: No. 18 Dodge County at No. 2 Thomasville (47-12 over Utopian)
Pepperell 30, Putnam County 21
Putnam County played Pepperell even for the final 3 quarters, but the Dragons’ first quarter was the difference. Pepperell went up 9-0 in the first and broke a 9-all tie in the final four minutes of the second quarter, and kept a 1-point lead when Putnam County scored but missed the PAT. It was 23-21, Pepperell up early in the fourth, sealing it on the ground in the final 2 minutes on Trey Chatman’s fourth touchdown. Putnam County finishes 7-4..
Jeff Davis 14, East Laurens 13
The Falcons made the Yellow Jackets sweat as a possible victim of one of the first rounds major upsets, but held on. The hosts led 7-0 in the first quarter and East Laurens tied in the third quarter. Jeff Davis retook the lead in the final four minutes of the third, East Laurens countering five minutes into the fourth quarter only to heartbreakingly miss the conversion. East Laurens finishes 3-8..
Taylor County 38, Seminoles County 14
The top seeds plodded along to a 13-0 halftime lead and came out swinging to pull away in the second half.
Next: No. 16 Warren County (37-27 over No. 19 Jenkins County) at No. 1 Taylor County
Macon County 35, Early County 7
The Bulldogs went up 21-0 at in the second quarter and kept on cruising. The final score was reached in the final half of the third quarter on Noah Parker’s 10-yard score.
Next: No. 10 Portal (41-6 over No. 23 Glascock County) at No. 7 Macon County
Schley County 56, Hawkinsville 14
Schley County had it going from the start en route to a surprising 42-6 halftime lead. Hawkinsville’s season ended at 5-6.
🏈🏈🏈GIAA playoffs🏈🏈🏈
Class AAAA
Stratford 42, St. Anne-Pacelli 7 (Click here for complete story)
Little went wrong for the defending 4A champs, who got rolling after a middlin’ first quarter. Tucker Johnston was sharp, completing 18 of 24 for 231 yards, hitting eight teammates with passes. Cale Smith scored 3 times as the Eagles led 21-0 at halftime as the Eagles took advantage of superb field position all night. Stratford’s defense got a boost with the return of lineabcekr (and running back) Aaron Jefferson, out for a few weeks after a knee injury. He came up with tackles on his first two snaps, to start the second half. Stratford’s starts racked up 339 yards on 58 plays.
Next: Stratford vs. Bulloch, Nov. 21, 8 p.m., Paulson Stadium, Georgia Southern.
Class AAA
John Milledge 45, Tiftarea 8
Four Trojans scored touchdowns and Jamel Cooper scored three times as John Milledge bulldozed to a win with three straight two-touchdown quarters. The defending 3A champs ran for 391 yards and passed for 100, Nathan Snow completed 6 of 8. Cooper scored on a pair fo runs and a pass, Snow also hitting Parker Soltay with a score. Asa Wall chipped in a 65-yard run.
Next: Westfield vs. John Milledge, Friday, 8 p.m., Paulson Stadium, Georgia Southern
Westfield 49, Athens Christian 35
The 21-point fourth quarter was too little too late for Athens Christian, whith trailed 35-14 after three quarters. Plus, Westfield scored twice in the fourth to maintain a fairly safe lead. The Hornets were up 35-7 at halftime, and the margin never dropped below two scores.
Next: Westfield vs. John Milledge, Friday, 8 p.m., Paulson Stadium, Georgia Southern