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.
