Cartersville 30, Allatoona 14
In a cross-classification battle of defending state champs, Cartersville cushioned an early 21-0 edge before hold off the Bucs for their 16th consecutive win. Cartersville’s five-star junior quarterback Trevor Lawrence opened his junior season with a 46-yard touchdown pass to E.J. Turner on the fourth play of the game and added a 36-yard touchdown pass to St. Francis transfer Avery Showell later in the quarter. This was just the beginning of Showell’s unbelievable Purple Hurricane debut. Showell also added a fumble recovery, four sacks and a safety on the defensive side of the ball. The Bucs got on the board with a Tate Tatum touchdown pass to Jacob Perry before the half and opened the third quarter with a Keeton Bowen 4-yard touchdown run that was set up by a field-flipping ,76-yard carry by Charles Anderson that made it a 21-14 game. Lawrence responded with a 12-yard touchdown pass to Turner to push the lead back to 28-14 and Showell iced the game with a safety for the final score.
Prince Avenue Christian 35, Aquinas 14
How the game was won: Noah Campbell set the tone with a 92-yard kick return to give the Wolverines an early lead they would never relinquish. Joseph Douglas punched in a 3-yard touchdown run for the Fighting Irish before Thomas Huff scored on a 6-yard run for Prince Avenue. Grant Roland threw a 26-yard touchdown pass to Christian Parrish to make it 21-7. Roland added a 1-yard score on the ground at the 6:29 mark of the second quarter. Roland found Parrish one more time from 24 yards away in the fourth quarter before George Welch caught a 16-yard touchdown for Aquinas.
Top Performers: Grant Roland threw two touchdowns and ran home a score.
Gainesville 20, West Hall 10
Tyrese Osborne paced West Hall with 104 rushing yards as the Spartans racked up 140 yards on the ground, but Gainesville reigned supreme in the battle of Hall County powers. DJ Irons kicked off the scoring with a 40-yard touchdown toss to Martavious Davis at the6:37 mark of the second quarter. Brandon Reyna added field goals of 33 and 41 yards to balloon the Red Elephants’ lead to 13-0. Israel Lopez booted a 40-yard field goal as time expired in the second quarter as the Spartans entered the second half trailing 13-3. Patrick Hudson returned a 25-yard fumble for a touchdown with 6:58 to play in the third quarter, making it 13-10. After a long Irons pass play, Kadarius Smith punched in a 1-yard score to put the game out of reach as the Red Elephant defense denied the Spartans from finding the end zone in the fourth quarter.
Northside-Warner Robins 55, Warner Robins 7
How the game was won: Host Northside-Warner Robins took a 34-3 halftime lead before coasting to the largest margin of victory in the programs' 59th meeting with a 48-point blowout.
Top Performers: Tobias Oliver ran in two touchdowns and caught a 20-yard touchdown pass from Jadin Daniels to lead the victorious Eagles. De’Sean Dinkins scored on a 77-yard touchdown run in the second quarter and added a 1-yard touchdown run to open the second half. Trayvon Willis (21 yards), Daniel Neal (2) and Courtney Patmon (4) also added Northside rushing touchdowns.
Eagle’s Landing Christian 39, Eagle’s Landing 13
How the game was won: ELCA scored the first 36 points of the night, starting with a safety in the first quarter and rolling to a 36-0 halftime lead. Eagle’s Landing scored its two touchdowns in the fourth quarter with a running clock.
Top performers: ELCA's Johnathan Youngblood scored back-to-back touchdowns in the second quarter, first from linebacker on an interception return and second on a reception from fullback. Josh Mays scored on short rushes in the first and second quarter, and Brayden Rush hit Sean Queen for a long touchdown to give the Chargers their 36-0 halftime lead. Alex Usry hit a 30-yard field goal early in the third to cap ELCA’s scoring.
Jefferson County 40, Savannah Christian 7
How the game was won: Debo McKinney ran in an 11-yard touchdown and caught a 38-yard touchdown pass from C.J. Hales to build an early 14-0 Jefferson County lead. Kidarian Dixon intercepted Savannah Christian to set up McKinney’s touchdown reception and found the endzone later in the first half on a 94-yard fumble return to make it 21-7 at the half.
Top performers: C.J. Hales threw touchdown passes to McKinney (38), Seneca McGee (62) and Ty King (64 yards) before sophomore quarterback Jaden Jenkins hit Ja’darious Hector for a 32-yard touchdown that made it 40-7. Miles Jackson and Dixon both notched interceptions.
North Paulding 31, Paulding County 10
How the game was won: Sophomore quarterback Ross Malmgren connected with Chad Terrell for their second touchdown of the night with 1:02 left to give North Paulding a 24-10 lead. On the ensuing Paulding County possession, Easton Murphy iced the game with an interception return for a touchdown to make it 31-10
Top performers: Malmgren threw two touchdown passes to Chad Terrell. Paulding County’s Ryan Martin kicked a 47-yard field goal in the fourth quarter that cut the deficit to 17-10.
Benedictine 24, Glynn Academy 7
How the game was won: Wesley Kennedy caught a touchdown pass from Nick Iannone and ran in an 82-yard touchdown to give Benedictine a 14-0 halftime lead. Benedictine capitalized on five Glynn Academy fumbles.
Top performers: Kennedy produced 147 yards of offense and two touchdowns off his three touches in the first half. Terrick Smalls Juniors added a 35-yard touchdown run to give Benedictine a 21-0 lead in the second half.
Valdosta 38, Lowndes 13
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