Defending state champion Blessed Trinity flexed its muscles in a blowout victory at previously undefeated Eastside on Friday.
The Titans were up 35-0 at the half, after holding host Eastside to just 21 yards of offense and won 42-15. U.S. Army All-American Steele Chambers gave the Titans their early 14-0 lead with a pair of touchdown runs, and it was Jackson Hamilton’s turn to get on the board twice in the second quarter. Blessed Trinity quarterback Jake Smith also connected with Ryan Davis for a 44-yard touchdown before the half. Eastside broke the shutout with 7:15 left in the third quarter on Noah Cook’s 24-yard touchdown pass to Antavius Cobb. Blessed Trinity returned to the end zone less than a minute later to make it 42-8, and Eastside’s Taylor Carter ran in the only points of the final frame.
A 13-0 Baldwin lead was eclipsed by Cartersville’s 42 unanswered points as the visiting Purple Hurricanes overcame their slow start with a 42-13 win. Baldwin fumbled on its opening drive, and Cartersville’s failed fake punt attempt returned the ball back to the Braves. Baldwin’s Derrick Lewis threw a 21-yard touchdown pass to Noah Hill, and a blocked PAT kept the lead at 6-0. Baldwin used a 93-yard drive that was capped by a 22-yard Zaahir Salahuddin touchdown run that increased the lead to 13-0 with 9:28 left in the half. Following a turnover on a Baldwin snap, Cartersville’s Marcus Gary took four straight carries and cashed in a 3-yard touchdown run to put the Canes on the board with 3:10 left in the half. Quarterback Tee Webb gave Cartersville a 14-13 lead with a 62-yard touchdown pass to Trendon Horton on the opening drive of second half. Gary returned to the end zone following another Baldwin fumble, and added a 52-yard rushing touchdown that grew the lead to 28-13 entering the final frame. Cartersville’s Marquail Coaxum returned an interception for a touchdown, and Evan Slocum’s interception led to a 3-yard Webb touchdown run for the game’s final points.
Marist 10, Mary Persons 7
Mary Persons took a 7-0 lead midway through the third quarter on an 11-yard touchdown run by senior Quen Wilson. Marist evened it up in the final frame with a 1-yard Connor Cigelske touchdown, and kicker Brendan Farrell provided a game-winning 25-yard field goal with 2:16 left to spoil the host Bulldogs’ perfect season.
Troup 20, Cairo 17
Troup quarterback Kobe Hudson found Joko Willis for a 55-yard touchdown less than three minutes into the game. Cairo’s Demetrius Coleman answered with a 12-yard touchdown pass to Markus Morman and a 46-yard field goal gave the Syrupmakers a 10-7 halftime lead. Hudson escaped for an 80-yard touchdown run to put Troup back in front 13-10, but Cairo answered with a Jamarcus Vicks 4-yard touchdown with 3:22 left in the third to reclaim a 17-13 lead. Troup’s game-winning points came on a reverse to Ja’Rell Smith that the junior wide receiver lofted to Jamari Thrash in the end zone for a 6-yard touchdown pass with 10:35 left. The win gives Troup a season-best 12th victory and sends the Tigers into the semis for the first time since 2001.
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