The Lovett Lions were seeking to steal the region title from GAC on Friday at Spartans Stadium. The Lions came up well short, however, as GAC stole the show with a 34-7 victory.
Now, it’s the No. 2-ranked Spartans (8-1, 6-0 Region 6-AA) who are a win away from winning the region and earning a coveted No. 1 seed for the state playoffs. The winner of next week’s matchup between GAC and No. 10 Wesleyan will earn the league title.
For the No. 8-ranked Lions (5-5, 5-2), it was their regular season finale and the outcome of next week's Wesleyan-GAC game determines Lovett's playoff seeding. If GAC wins, Lovett becomes the No. 2 seed. If Wesleyan wins, GAC takes the No. 2 seed and Lovett slides to No. 3.
The Spartans took charge early and never looked back. They marched 65 yards in just over three minutes on the game’s opening drive, which culminated in a 1-yard run score from quarterback Davis Mills.
The Lions’ ensuing possession sputtered after just four plays, and GAC engineered a 69-yard drive, ending again with a 1-yard run from Mills.
“That’s what set the table for tonight,” Spartans coach Tim Hardy said of the game’s first three possessions.
The Spartans didn’t let up, scoring on their first four possessions to take a 24-0 lead into halftime.
Their third score of the game – a 45-yard field goal by Bruce Buce – was set up by a 45-yard flea-flicker from Mills to Harrison Sloan on the drive’s first play. Buce would later add a 47-yard field goal.
Not only did the Spartans’ up-tempo offense give the Lovett defense fits, but the Lions could never find a rhythm offensively. The Lions had a chance to score with two minutes remaining in the first half, but turned the ball over on downs on a botched quarterback run on fourth-and-goal from the 8.
By the time they got on the board with a 5-yard pass by Brady Tindall to Max McCrady, there was only 9:25 left in the game and it only cut the margin to the game’s final score.
Hardy said his team is still improving as they seek a second consecutive 6-AA title. They’re on a 13-game win streak in region play.
“We’re growing and we’re getting better,” he said. “And the great thing about a football season is you’ve got a lot of chances to get better, and we continue to improve every step along the way.
“We have two goals this season. Our first one is to win the region championship. We haven’t done it yet (this season), so the next step is next week. I like our football team and I like the things that are going on here.”
Spartans running back Marcus Young led all rushers with 193 yards and two scores on 25 carries. Alex Rowe rushed for 109 yards on 18 carries. Mills was 10 of 16 passing for 110 yards and an interception, while Sloan had 73 receiving yards on four catches.
Tindall was 14 of 26 passing for 113 yards and an interception. K.J. Wallace led the Lions in receiving with eight catches for 75 yards.
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Lovett 0 0 0 7 – 7
GAC 14 10 10 0 – 34
G – Davis Mills 1 run (Bruce Buce kick)
G – Mills 1 run (Buce kick)
G – Buce 45 FG
G – Marcus Young 10 run (Buce kick)
G – Buce 47 FG
G – Young 1 run (Buce kick)
L – Max McCrady 5 pass from Brady Tindall (Cole McGowan kick)
