PRIVATE
No. 9 Wesleyan 56, No. 5 Fellowship Christian 20
Wesleyan is now 3-0 all-time against the Paladins (12-1), and Friday night’s win was the biggest thus far. The Wolves (12-2) were nearly unstoppable as they scored touchdowns on eight of nine possessions to earn a trip to the private state finals for the first time since 2010. Sophomore DB/WR Cooper Blauser got things started early with an interception on the first play of the game. Four plays into its first possession, Wesleyan went up 7-0 on a 2-yard touchdown run by sophomore QB J.C. French and the rout was on. Sophomore RB/LB Griffin Caldwell led the way offensively with 122 yards rushing on 25 carries and two touchdowns.
No. 3 Eagle’s Landing Christian 21, No. 2 Holy Innocents’ 7
ELCA head coach Jonathan Gess said his team had been waiting on a second shot at the Bears (12-1). His team cashed in on the opportunity as both teams clamped down defensively in a game that was far from the 42-41 slugfest Holy Innocents’ (12-1) won back on September 20. This time, the Chargers jumped out to a 14-0 halftime lead, thanks to touchdown passes of 10 and 23 yards from senior QB Gabe Wright to senior WR/DB Devon Dorsey, and a and hung on to advance to the private state finals for the sixth consecutive season. The Bears narrowed the gap to 14-7 midway through the third quarter after a 35-yard touchdown run by senior QB Matt Davis, but ELCA put the game way late in the fourth quarter when senior RB Keaton Mitchell broke free for a 77-yard touchdown.
PUBLIC
No. 1 Irwin County 36, No. 4 Clinch County 0
Irwin County (12-0) emphatically vanquished years of frustration against Region 2 rival Clinch County (11-2). Prior to this season, Irwin was 3-4 against Clinch since 2015 with all three loses coming in the public state finals (2015, 2017 and 2018). But this season Irwin went 2-0 against Clinch by a combined score of 50-0, as Irwin won the regular season matchup, 14-0.
No. 2 Marion County 42, No. 6 Pelham 25
Marion County rallied from a 25-14 deficit in the third quarter, and seniors Trice McCannon and Brandon Thomas accounted for all six touchdowns for the Eagles (11-2), who advanced to the public state finals for the first time since winning the championship in 2013. QB/DB McCannon had two, 3-yard touchdown runs and threw touchdown passes of 45 and 9 yards to Thomas, who added scoring runs of 16 and 67 yards. McCannon was 13-of-24 passing for 231 yards and added 80 yards rushing on 21 carries, while Thomas had 10 carries for 105 yards. Pelham (11-2) was led by senior QB Kendrick Patterson, who was 21-of-40 for 227 yards and three touchdowns, all to junior WR Cameron Bailey on tosses of 21, 25 and 39 yards. Patterson also had a 3-yard touchdown run and finished as the Hornets leading rusher with 68 yards on 18 carries.
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