AROUND THE STATE: Lovett hands first loss to Jefferson

Zach Boden and Jonathan Carkhuff led a solid Lovett offensive performance, and the Lions ended Jefferson’s undefeated season with a 34-24 victory at Memorial Stadium in Jefferson.

Boden rushed for 197 yards on 19 carries and scored three touchdowns, Carkhuff passed for 258 yards and two touchdowns, and the Lions rolled up 513 total yards.

Boden’s final two fourth-quarter touchdowns provided the margin of victory. He scored his second touchdown on a 37-yard run to give Lovett a 28-24 lead. He scored again on a 5-yard run moments later after Lovett recovered an onside kick.

After trailing 3-0 at the end of the first quarter, Lovett scored 21 points in the second quarter.

The Lions scored first when Max Williams caught a 27-yard pass from Carkhuff. Then they added touchdowns on Boden’s 4-yard run and a 7-yard touchdown pass from Carkhuff to Drew Stockton.

Jefferson scored twice in the quarter —- Crosby caught 12- and 10-yard touchdown passes from Darius Minor —- to trail 21-17 at the half.

Jefferson took the lead in the third quarter when Hoytez Damons caught a 61-yard pass from Minor.

—- David Brock

More Class AA

> Brooks County 27, Jefferson County 7: Martez Christopher ran for 158 yards and two touchdowns, and the Trojans defense held Jefferson to four first downs and a minus-8 yards rushing. No. 2-ranked Brooks County is 11-1. Jefferson County finished 9-3.

> Calhoun 38, Westminster 20: Michael Johnson threw for 244 yards and three touchdowns to pace the Yellow Jackets. Derek Ramsey caught 72- and 26-yard touchdown passes, and Darick Rodgers caught a 55-yard scoring pass. A 5-yard touchdown run by Dustin Christian and a 1-yard run by Johnson put the game out of reach.

> Dublin 21, Thomasville 14: Rashard Smith returned a kickoff 90 yards for a fourth-quarter touchdown to lead the Fighting Irish (11-1). Josh Jordan added an 11-yard touchdown run, and Chris Smith caught an 18-yard touchdown pass to round out the scoring for Dublin. Jeffrey Dyson led Thomasville (7-5) with 80 yards rushing, including a 27-yard touchdown run. Dublin led 13-7 at halftime.

> Fitzgerald 45, Henry County 20: Brad Taylor completed 7 of 9 passes for 162 yards and four touchdowns to pace the fourth-ranked Purple Hurricane (10-2). R.J. Davis and Tevin Stewart-Gaulden caught two scoring passes each. Henry County finished 10-2.

> Pepperell 40, Callaway 20: Brandon Whitaker ran for 256 yards on 31 carries, including touchdown runs of 66, 10, 1 and 1 yards. Marcus Jackson added 110 yards on 10 carries, highlighted by a 64-yard touchdown run. No. 6-ranked Pepperell improved to 11-1. Callaway finished 10-2.

> Toombs County 19, Cook 7: Demery Hawkins was double-trouble for the Hornets. Hawkins rushed for 174 yards and two touchdowns while recording 10 solo tackles, 10 assists and an interception on defense. Lorenzo Skinner contributed a 45-yard touchdown run for Toombs.

Class A

Clinch County dominated early and led top-ranked Emanuel County Institute 14-7 at halftime. Then Super 11 running back Washaun Ealey took over.

Carrying the ball on virtually every play in the second half, Ealey scored on runs of 59, 46, 25 and 3 yards, and ECI escaped with a 33-21 victory, the 28th consecutive win for the defending Class A champion.

No. 7-ranked Clinch finished 8-3. ECI advances to play Bremen.

Ealey finished with 255 rushing yards on 30 carries, giving him 548 yards in two playoff games. He left the game with a minor injury after intercepting a pass in the fourth quarter.

> Bremen 28, Athens Academy 20: Quarterback Clayton McIntosh rushed for 106 yards and three touchdowns to lead the Blue Devils (11-1). Kell Singleton caught an 18-yard touchdown pass in the fourth quarter for what proved to be the decisive score. Athens Academy finished 10-2.

> Lincoln County 7, Eagle’s Landing Christian Academy 0: A.J. Middlebrooks’ 59-yard run in the second quarter stood up for the fourth-ranked Red Devils. The Lincoln County defense stopped the Chargers five times inside the 20-yard line and forced four turnovers.

> Wilcox County 34, Schley County 13: Antonio Marshall led the No. 2 Patriots (12-0) with 213 yards rushing and three touchdowns on 23 carries. Tay Porter returned a fumble 50 yards and also had a 34-yard punt return. Both plays set up 1-yard touchdown runs by Nick Marshall. Schley finished 8-4.

Class AAA

> Baldwin 29, Shaw 19: Rico Ford rushed for 265 yards on 21 carries and scored from 85, 80 and 3 yards. Javonte Edwards added a 2-yard touchdown run. Corico Hawkins led the defense with 11 tackles and a sack. Baldwin (12-0), ranked No. 2 in Class AAA, scored 15 points in the fourth quarter.

> Cairo 41, Burke County 28: Reginald Bryant ran for 229 yards on 18 carries, including touchdown runs of 18 yards and 1 yard, to lead the top-ranked Syrupmakers (11-0). Ronnie Wooten added 21-yard and 15-yard scoring runs. Quarterback Angelo Pease scored on a 48-yard run and completed 6 of 8 passes for 95 yards and another score. Cairo totaled 384 yards rushing. Burke finished 8-4.

> Carver-Columbus 21, Woodward Academy 6: Jarkius Morgan scored on 79- and 65-yard touchdown runs, and Isiah Crowell ran 13 yards for another touchdown to pace the fifth-ranked Tigers. Ryan Campbell led the defense with three interceptions. Carver-Columbus totaled 306 yards rushing.

> Eastside 21, Carrollton 9: Justin Wray completed 8 of 12 passes for 176 yards, including a 70-yard touchdown pass to Antarius Terrell. Wray also scored on a 24-yard run. Broderick Alexander led Eastside (11-1) rushers with 121 yards on 12 carries. The Eagles held Carrollton to 160 yards of total offense.

> Flowery Branch 21, Ridgeland 14: Connor Shaw threw a 16-yard touchdown pass to Robbie Boubreau for the game-winner in the fourth quarter. Shaw completed 12 of 15 passes for 173 yards and two touchdowns. Imani Cross added a 7-yard touchdown run as Flowery Branch improved to 10-2.

> Gainesville 42, Car-tersville 28: Blake Sims completed 12 of 21 passes for 222 yards and three touchdowns. Tai-ler Jones, Juwon Jeffries and Teryan Rucker all caught touchdown passes for the fourth-ranked Red Elephants (12-0). Rucker added a rushing touchdown. Cartersville finished the season 8-4.

—- Compiled by Tom Barry