(Branden Camp / Special to AJC)
icon to expand image

By Score Atlanta

Class A-Public

Irwin County 21, Trion 0

How the game was won: Irwin County returned two interceptions for touchdowns and used a 12-yard touchdown run by quarterback Zach Tolar to secure its third straight trip to the state semifinals. Cartavion Benyard opened the scoring with a 59-yard interception return for a touchdown that eventually gave Irwin County a 7-0 halftime lead, despite getting outgained 83-to-60 in total yards. The third quarter saw the only offensive score of the game as Tolar ran in the 12-yard touchdown on a critical 4th and 4 call. Earlier in what turned out to be a gamechanging 12-play 71-yard drive, Tolar also converted a fake punt. William Lewis iced the game with a 67-yard interception return that made it 19-0. The successful 2-point conversion came on a Tolar pass to 6-foot-5 tight end Cully Jones. Trion ended up outgaining Irwin County in total yardage 195-to-175. Irwin County, which fell 15-6 to Hawkinsville in last year's state championship game, sits two wins away from the program's first state title since 1975.

Top Performers: Zach Tolar ran in a 12-yard touchdown to make it a 13-0 Irwin County lead. … Cartavion Benyard (59 yards) and William Lewis (67 yards) returned interceptions for touchdowns.

About the Author

Keep Reading

Angel Reese (5) of the Chicago Sky and Caitlin Clark (22) of the Indiana Fever meet at mid court prior to tipoff for the Fever's home opener, May 17, 2025, in Indianapolis. (Gregory Shamus/Getty Images/TNS)

Credit: TNS

Featured

A rendering shows the proposed skybridge included in state plans to give Capitol Hill a $400 million makeover. (Courtesy of Georgia Building Authority)

Credit: Courtesy of Georgia Building Authority