Oconee County has been eliminated in the first round each of the past three seasons, but this year’s Warriors team has strung together an impressive postseason run that has them in the championship for the first time since 1999. As for Blessed Trinity, the Titans are one win away from a three-peat and appear to only be getting better and better as the weeks pass by. Here’s a look at how the two finalists did Friday night.
Oconee County 35, Sandy Creek 28
The Oconee County Warriors are headed to the state championship for the first time since 1999 after a thrilling win over the visiting Sandy Creek Patriots. Senior quarterback and LSU-commit Max Johnson was huge for the Warriors, with two touchdown passes and two rushing scores. A passing touchdown from Sandy Creek gave the Patriots a 7-0 lead after the opening frame, but Oconee County’s offense got going with a touchdown pass from Johnson to West Weeks at the 11-minute mark of the second quarter to spark a 20-0 run by the Warriors. Johnson added his first rushing score later in the quarter, and a strip by Oconee County’s Darius Johnson was returned to the end zone to give the Warriors a 20-7 lead at the break. Sandy Creek cut the deficit to 6 with a rushing touchdown, but another score on the ground from Johnson and a successful two-point conversion from Jimmy Boswell brought Oconee County’s lead to 14 by the end of the third. The Warriors blocked a Sandy Creek punt as the third quarter was winding down, allowing an Oconee County touchdown pass from Johnson to Jake Johnson on the first play of the fourth that made it a 35-14 game. Sandy Creek scored on the following possession, and an 80-yard rushing score by South Carolina-commit Rashad Amos with a 1:26 to go brought the Patriots within 7. Sandy Creek went for the onside kick, but Oconee County recovered and stayed in control of the ball for the remainder of the game. Oconee County will face Blessed Trinity in the state finals next week.
Blessed Trinity 46, Woodward Academy 17
The Titans avenged a 13-10 regular season loss to Woodward Academy and toppled the War Eagles in convincing fashion to advance to a third-straight championship and fourth in the last five seasons. Senior running back Elijah Green racked up 180 yards and three touchdowns and freshman Justice Haynes added 158 yards off 20 carries and a 53-yard score in the winning effort.
The Titans will face sixth-ranked Oconee County (13-1) in the state final at 4:30 p.m. on Dec. 14 at Georgia State Stadium.
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