Archer began the season with three straight losses. Three months later, the Tigers are headed the quarterfinals of the Class AAAAAA state playoffs.
Archer quarterback Gabe Tiller threw four touchdown passes, Randy Nails scored three times, and Frank Finch returned an interception 70 yards for a score to fuel the Tigers’ 56-13 rout of visiting Lee County on Friday.
Archer, a young program in only its fifth season, advances to the quarterfinals for the first time in school history and will face the Roswell-Hillgrove winner.
The Tigers (9-3) scored on their first three drives and led 28-0, after Finch picked off Lee County quarterback Garet Morrell and raced 70 yards with five minutes left in the second quarter.
The Trojans (8-3), who moved up to Class AAAAAA this season, tried to stay close, with Morrell connecting with JQ Quimbley for a 30-yard touchdown with two minutes left in the half.
Archer answered right back, though, with Nails taking a screen pass 49 yards to give the Tigers a commanding 35-6 lead at halftime.
Tiller completed 18 of 24 passes for 219 yards. Kyle Davis caught touchdown passes of 26 and 17 yards, and Connor Redmond had a 20-yard touchdown reception for the Tigers, who have won nine straight.
Lee County scored on its first possession of the second half on a 6-yard touchdown run by Jamal Gardner to make it 35-13. But Archer squashed any comeback hopes on its next possession, with Nails breaking free up the middle for a 52-yard touchdown run. Nails finished with 115 yards rushing.
The Tigers returned the bulk of their playmakers off of last season’s 11-1 squad, but were hampered by early injuries and dropped their first three games to Sandy Creek, Peachtree Ridge and Grayson, three playoff teams. They got healthy and ran through Region 8-AAAAAA for their second straight region crown.
Dylan Singleton scored on a short touchdown run in the third quarter and had an interception for Archer.
Lee County has the smallest enrollment in AAAAAA, but earned the three seed out of Region 1-AAAAAA and knocked off Lovejoy, 44-6, in the first round.
About the Author
