Metro high school football roundup

By Staff

For the AJC

Lovett reached the Class AA semifinals for the third time in four years behind 144 rushing yards and two touchdowns from junior running back Zach Boden in a 35-32 win over Charlton County.

The Lions scored with 5:32 left in the fourth quarter on a 35-yard touchdown pass from Jonathan Carkhuff to Max Williams to take a 35-24 lead. Charlton County countered with an 88-yard punt return from Chris Milton, then converted the two-point conversion to draw within three points.

Lovett, however, was able to run the clock out after stopping Charlton County on downs. Boden scored on a 13-yard run in the first quarter, then struck on a 93-yard run in the third quarter. For Charlton County, Milton, the quarterback, finished with 280 all-purpose yards. Carkhuff finished 11-of-22 for 165 yards and two touchdowns. Charlton County outgained Lovett 536 yards to 389, but only scored on one two-point conversion try in five attempts.

Alex Ewalt, ScoreAtlanta

Eastside 14, Jackson 0: The Eagles (11-2) advanced to the AAA state semifinals with a road win against the previously unbeaten Red Devils (12-1). Eastside scored in the first quarter on a 1-yard run by Greg Griffieth that capped a 71-yard drive. Two other Eagle drives ended with fumbles in Jackson territory.

The Red Devils’ best offensive surge of the night ended with an interception at the goal line on the final play of the third quarter. Jackson attempted a halfback pass in the fourth, but Eastside’s Kevis Bell stepped in front of it and returned it 35 yards with 6:32 left for the final score of the game. Git Aiken led Eastside with 163 rushing yards on 21 carries.

Monroe Roark

Wilcox County 20, Wesleyan 15: Wilcox County overcame an inauspicious start, which saw it turn the ball over on its first two possessions, to dethrone the Class A defending state champs in a quarterfinal game in Norcross.

Trailing 15-14, Nick Marshall hit Nate Moorhouse on 22-yard scoring strike with 5:06 remaining in the game to cap an eight-play, 65-yard drive to put the Patriots up for good.

A Marshall fumble led to Wesleyan’s first score in the game’s opening moments, but he would make amends with a 20-yard interception return for a touchdown late in the first quarter to even the score at 6-6.

Wilcox County’s Jonathan Howard scored on a 33- yard pass reception and notched two interceptions, the second of which came in the game’s final minute to seal the victory for the Patriots.

The loss snapped Wesleyan’s 24-game winning streak.

Michael Paden

Clarke Central 52, North Clayton 13: Quarterback Martay Mattox threw for three touchdowns and ran for another while accounting for 218 all-purpose yards as the host Gladiators advanced to the Class AAAA semifinals for the first time since 1996.

Clarke Central (11-2) converted five North Clayton fumbles into 28 points and limited Eagles running back Clarence Jackson to 61 yards on 14 carries. Jackson scored the lone meaningful touchdown for the Eagles (10-3) in the first quarter to pull within 10-7.

Mattox completed 12-of-18 passes for 183 yards and three scores — two to receiver Dimitri Holmes — and rushed eight times for 35 yards. Quenshaun Watson carried 13 times for 101 yards and a touchdown for the Gladiators, who host upstart Rockdale County next weekend.

DAVE PAUL

Flowery Branch 35, Carver-Columbus 33: Flowery Branch quarterback Connor Shaw rushed for four touchdowns – including one with 30 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter – and passed for another to rally the Falcons over Carver-Columbus in a Class AAA quarterfinal game in Columbus.

Carver (11-2) moved quickly down the field on its final drive, but Flowery Branch’s Mykah Hester intercepted a last-second pass in the end zone to finish the top-seeded Tigers’ season.

Shaw scored on runs of 5 and 15 yards and twice from a yard out. He hit Rodney Young for a 44-yard score. Flowery Branch led 14-7 at halftime behind the first of Shaw’s two runs, but Carver quickly took the lead on a quick pair of long runs from Isaiah Crowell, who scored on 48- and 98-yard runs to put Carver ahead 21-14. Carver’s Devin Lewis scored on a 3-yard run to put the

Tigers ahead 27-14 after three quarters and scored midway through the fourth period to put the Tigers ahead 33-21.

Chris White, For the AJC

Rockdale County 23, Westside Macon 7: Rockdale County continued its road march in the Class AAAA playoffs by turning fourth-quarter turnovers into two touchdowns at Westside Macon. It was the third straight road playoff win for Rockdale (10-3).

Up 10-7 with 5:38 remaining, Rockdale defensive lineman Grady Jarrett tackled Westside quarterback Cameron Jones at the Seminoles’ 5, resulting in a fumble recovered by A.J. Ward. Two plays later, Rockdale quarterback Isaiah Gresham scored from the 1 for a 16-7 lead with 4:48 left.

Then, with Westside at its own 13 on third-and-12, Gresham, playing defensive back, picked off Jones and ran 38 yards for the game’s final score.

Rockdale scored first on Tavaris Williams’ 21-yard run in the first quarter. Westside answered with Robert Brown's 4-yard run. Tied 7-7 in the second quarter, Rockdale stopped Westside Macon on a fourth-and-goal at the Bulldogs’ 2, stifling a 68-yard drive.

Bailey Webb

Griffin 24 Apalachee 3: Xzavier Dickson picked off Apalachee's Mike Norman and returned it 33 yards for a touchdown, then D. J. Morgan scored on a 34-yard run to lead Griffin to the AAAA semifinals. The Bears (13-0) took a 7-0 lead late in the first quarter when Marcus Waller hit Buck Hancock on a 32-yard touchdown pass to cap a 76-yard, 11-play drive. Apalachee stuggled offensively, and despite a pair of Griffin fumbles, the Wildcats (12-1) could never get on track, managing just a 40-yard Guy Hunt field goal as the first half ended.

Dickson's interception return with 8:42 left in the third put Griffin ahead 14-3, then Morgan capped a six-play, 80-yard drive to put the Bears ahead 21-3.

Eddie Glanton added a 32-yard field goal on the second play of the fourth quarter.

Steve Shelnutt

Buford 26, Cook 0: Jessel Curry scored three touchdowns as the Wolves shut out visiting Cook to advance in their quest for a seventh state championship and third AA title in a row.

Curry scored on runs of 1, 2, and 1 yards after drives of 73, 79, and 94 yards. Many of the yards were gained by the Wolves' Seon Jones, who carried 21 times for 114 yards.

Cook never threatened and gave up two interceptions, one fumble, and three sacks. The Wolves' Rick Legrant scored on a 35 yard run with 1:09 left to seal the victory. Buford's kicking game struggled missing two field goals and two extra points.

Eric Bruce