Credit: Stan Awtrey
Credit: Stan Awtrey
It was a big night for Sonoraville and Spencer, which both went on the road and came away with the first state-playoff wins in GHSA history.
Sonoraville, which has fielded a team since 2006, defeated East Hall 49-28 in Gainesville. This is the third time the program has made the playoffs, but marked its first victory.
Spencer, which had not been to the playoffs since 1993, defeated Washington County 47-34 in Sandersville. Spencer won a region-playoff game that year, but had not won a state-playoff game since 1967, when Spencer was a state champion in the old Georgia Interscholastic Association.
Sonoraville, the No. 3 seed from Region 6, ran for 518 yards and seven touchdowns and never had to punt. Quarterback Cody Long ran 23 times for 261 yards and three touchdowns and running back Hunter Lay rushed 13 times for 192 yards and three touchdowns.
East Hall made it easy by turning the ball over on three interceptions and one fumble. Quarterback Austin Parker completed 17 of 25 passes for 213 yards and one touchdown before leaving the game with an injury.
In a weird turn over events, Sonoraville will get to host the second-round game against Westside-Macon. The Seminoles upset Region 3 champion Laney, but Sonoraville (the No. 3 seed from Region 6) gets the home field over Westside (the No. 4 team from Region 2).
The win improved Spencer to 8-3, the most wins the program has compiled since it joined the GHSA. Spencer was 10-1 in 1967 and won the Georgia Interscholastic Association championship.The Greenwave got two touchdowns from Tyrell Smith and Ervin Davis and one each from Khalil Thomas, Jermaine Hernandez and Daymeonta White.
Spencer will play at Dawson County in the second round.
In other games played on Friday:
Dawson County celebrated its first trip to the postseason as the region champion with a 63-40 win over Ringgold. The point production was the most in the program’s history.
Quarterback Coey Watson completed 15 of 22 passes for 330 yards and five touchdowns and also ran for a score. Tucker Maxwell caught six balls for 224 yards and four touchdowns and tailback Hunter Mitchell rushed 21 times for 161 yards and one touchdown.
Ringgold quarterback Devin Lancaster threw three touchdown passes, two to Andre Tarver, and rushed for a touchdown, and Dee King ran for two scores.
Elbert upsets No. 7 Central Carroll: Elbert County rode quarterback Mecole Hardman into the second round. The senior carried 29 times for 269 yards and scored two touchdowns in a 17-7 win over the Lions. The Blue Devils limited the powerful Central running attack to only 123 yards.
The Wildcats limited Southeast Bulloch to only 125 yards rushing (160 below its average) and nine first downs in a 31-7 win in Brooklet. Westminster used three turnovers in the second quarter, one of them a 30-yard fumble return for a touchdown for Nance Hill, to take a 17-0 lead. Southeast’s Chase Walker was limited to 77 yards on 21 carries.
No problem for Jefferson: The Dragons rushed for 377 yards and overwhelmed Pepperell 49-0. Running back Colby Wood was limited to 60 yards rushing, his lowest total of the season, but crashed through the 2,000-yard barrier and ran for two scores. Wood also returned an interception for a touchdown. Zack Boobas picked up the slack by rushing for 194 yards and two touchdowns. Deshon Lester set the pace for Jefferson by picking up a fumble and returning it for a touchdown on the first play of the game.
No. 1 Calhoun cruises: Quarterback Kaelan Riley threw for 300 yards and three touchdowns, plus ran for a score in a 34-7 win over west Hall. Olico Dennis rushed 21 times for 138 yards and one touchdown.
Jackson sparks Peach County: James Jackson rushed nine times for 120 yards to help No. 10 Peach County rout Josey 42-0. Jackson scored on a 4-yard run. The Trojans also got two touchdowns from Antonio Gilbert and two touchdowns from Otha Redding and ran for 362 yards.
Westside went on the road the eliminated Region 3 champion Laney 21-12. Savion Knowlton led the Seminoles by throwing for 123 yards and rushed for 54 yards and two touchdowns. Laney’s Willie Eubanks ran for an 88-yard score, but finished with 85 yards on eight carries. Quarterback Vicente Thompkins threw for 48 yards, including a touchdown.
Dodge keeps rolling: No. 4 Dodge County rushed for 369 yards and overwhelmed Jackson-Atlanta 45-3. Quarterback Clint Thompson rushed five times for 126 yards and two touchdowns and Kyle Glover rushed 22 times for 118 yards and one touchdown. Thompson also threw a touchdown pass.
Oconee wins while Chubb watches: Injured Georgia star Nick Chubb took in the game and saw his alma mater Cedartown drop a 38-7 decision to Oconee County. Quarterback Zeb Noland led Oconee County with 265 yards passing and two touchdowns, two of them to Tyler Davis, who also returned a kickoff for a a score.
Shelton rolls for 235 for B.T.: No. 2 Blessed Trinity broke away in the second period and beat Cook 40-14, as Milton Shelton rushed 25 times for 235 yards and three touchdown. Conor Davis completed 5 of 10 passes for 165 yards and one touchdown.
Johnson, Lee pace Adairsville win: Sidnee Johnson ran for 111 yards and one touchdown and Marquel Lee ran for two touchdowns to lead Adairsville to a 35-7 win over Franklin County. The Tigers also got touchdowns from Dallas Cannon and quarterback Roger Redd.
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