The clash of the Class AA titans never fully materialized as expected Friday night, as top-ranked Greater Atlanta Christian seized on early mistakes by No. 2 Vidalia and didn't give the Indians a chance to recover in a 34-22 win.
The Spartans (13-0) will face Fitzgerald in the semifinals next week. A coin flip will determine the location.
GAC quickly scored the first 21 points of the game and held on from there, buoyed by some big runs from Micah Abernathy.
On the game's opening possession, GAC forced a three-and-out, then took over possession at the Vidalia 18 when the punt snap sailed high. It took the Spartans two plays to capitalize with a 17-yard touchdown pass from Davis Mills to Darius Slayton.
The game's earliest stages continued in much the same manner. With all aspects of its offense clicking, GAC drove 50 yards on five plays on its next possession, scoring on an 11-yard pass from Mills to Paul Carothers.
Vidalia (12-1) fumbled on the ensuing kickoff, and the Spartans scored again in just two plays, punching it in on a 1-yard run by Micah Abernathy to take a 21-0 lead with 4:10 left in the first quarter.
The Indians found their footing thereafter, with quarterback Jordan Black ripping off a pair of big runs that led to field goals of 35 and 32 yards from Carlos Giron. That kept Vidalia within striking distance before a 70-yard run from Abernathy with 4:25 left in the second quarter gave the Spartans a 28-6 lead at halftime.
The Indians had a chance to make it interesting in the third quarter, moving 79 yards on 13 plays before the Spartans turned them back with consecutive stops at the 1-yard line on third and fourth downs.
Early in the fourth quarter, Abernathy put the Spartans ahead 34-6 with his third touchdown run of the game, this one from 48 yards out. Abernathy led all rushers with 186 yards on 18 carries.
Vidalia scored twice in the waning minutes with an 18-yard run by Nate McBride and a 10-yard pass from Black to Shon Jones with three seconds remaining.
Four Indians ran for at least 50 yards, led by Black's 86 on 16 carries.
About the Author
