Tift County 35, Fitzgerald 28
How the game was won: The two teams went scoreless in the first quarter, while Tift County took only a 10-7 lead into halftime. The Blue Devils pulled ahead 28-14 but Fitzgerald wasn't done. The Purple Hurricanes would tie the game with a minute left in the game after a Milk Balon ran back a fumble recovery for a 61-yard touchdown. Tift County would drive down the field and scored within 19 seconds off Brant Watson 31 touchdown reception from Griffin Collier. On Tift's 27 yard line and five seconds remaining, the Purple Hurricanes went for the tie, only to have Eric Atkins pick off James Graham's pass and spoil the comeback. Tift County hands Fitzgerald their first loss of the season while picking up their fifth.
Top Performers: Tift County's Griffin Collier threw for three touchdowns, including the game winning pass to Brant Watson, who found the end-zone twice on the night. Damien Devine finished off an 80-yard drive and punched in his touchdown on a 1-yard rush, while Montreil Harris had his own 2-yard rushing touchdown.
Stratford Academy 41, Mt. de Sales 14
How the game was won: Russell Mole ran wild, scoring four touchdowns to turn a 7-6 second quarter score into a 27-point blowout.
Top Performers: Russell Mole was the offensive catalyst for the Eagles, scoring on runs of 43, 21, 50 and 39 yards. Tyler Jordan scored the first Stratford touchdown on a 72-yard run in the first quarter to take a 7-6 lead after Pinkney Gilchrist threw a 68-yard touchdown pass to Coleman Roberts. The Cavaliers got their only other score on a late Adrian Hardwick 62-yard dash.
Northside-Columbus 24, Columbus 23
How the game was won: After taking a quick 10-0 lead, Northside saw itself down 16-10 heading into the fourth quarter following a Ty Lucas 5-yard run. Northside's Bryce Valero hit Cordale Scott on a 35-yard touchdown then 40 seconds later at the 5:40 mark of the fourth, Dayshun Johnson jumped a screen pass for a 14-yard interception return to go ahead 24-16. Just 13 seconds later Caleb Bailey connected with Josh Lee on an 80-yard touchdown but instead of going for two to tie, the Blue Devils elected to kick the extra point. Columbus had an opportunity to take the lead after forcing a punt, but the Devils turned the ball over on downs with 1:35 to play, allowing Northside to run the clock out.
Top Performers: David Apiag scored on a 7-yard end around following a Nathan Robertson 29-yard field goal to take an early 10-0 lead for the Patriots. Columbus saw Caleb Bailey punch in a 1-yard touchdown and Patrick Kitchens nail a 35-yard field goal to enter the half down 10-9.
Dalton 34, Creekview 17
How the game was won: JP Tighe and Kyric McGowan did the heavy lifting in the first half while Ahmad Tanner took over in the second half, scoring two touchdowns to power the Catamounts to a region victory.
Top Performers: Dalton took a 13-0 lead behind a pair of touchdown passes from JP Tighe to Kyric McGowan, hooking up from 55 and 28 yards. Ahmad Tanner scored the first of his three touchdowns on a 5-yard run in the second quarter, giving Dalton a 20-10 lead at the half. After a scoreless third period, Tanner found the end zone on a 3-yard run and a 40-yard burst to put the game out of reach following a Creekview touchdown with 11:56 remaining that brought the score to 20-17.
Prince Avenue Christian 21, Commerce 14
How the game was won: Thomas Huff punched in a 1-yard touchdown run with 10 seconds left to sneak past Commerce.
Top Performers: Grant Roland tossed a 75-yard touchdown pass to Christian Parrish. Roland hit Noah Campbell for a 12-yard score to give Prince Avenue at 14-6 lead at the half. Commerce was powered by Cole Chancey who scored on runs of seven and 14 yards.
Northside-Warner Robins 45, Macon County 6:
How the game was won:
Northside-Warner Robins took advantage of five first half turnovers and turned them into touchdowns in the romp of Macon County
night in Warner Robins. The Eagles led 45-0 at halftime.
Top Performers:
Tae Dailey anchored the Eagle defense with a big play early in the first quarter that set the pace for the game. Dailey took the ball directly out of the hands of Macon County receiver Tra Mathis after a long gain and took it 50 yards for a touchdown. Desean Dinkins added two touchdowns on runs of four and one yard. Daniel Neal scored on a 15-yard rush and Tobias Oliver trotted in from four yards out for a touchdown. Kicker Alex Gelter booted a 26 yard field goal in the win. Macon County found scoring from K'hari Lane who threw a 14 yard pass to Trey Brown.
Twiggs County 29, First Presbyterian Day 17
How the game was won: Two Class A powers met with A-Public's Twiggs County knocking off A-Private's First Presbyterian Day. The Vikings trailed 20-3 early in the fourth before surging back and cutting the deficit to 23-17 with 3:32 to play. First Presbyterian recovered the ensuing onside-kick, but the ball was ruled out of bounds, giving possession to Twiggs County. Ja'Mon Height put the game on ice with a 52-yard touchdown run at the 1:45 mark.
Top Performers: Javoris Smith scored on a 2-yard touchdown run to give the Cobras a lead they never let go of. Devion Height scored on a 4-yard run and Calvin Stephens punched in a 1-yard score. Baylor Butcher sank a 27-yard field goal. First Presbyterian received a 25-yard Andrei Parrish field goal to enter the half down 14-3. Dalton Cox tossed a pair of touchdowns in the second half, hitting Harrison Aulds from 34 yards out and Armaun Smith on a 12-yard strike.
Alexander 21, Northgate 14
How the game was won: Two Northgate fumbles inside the Alexander 10-yardline in the first half came back to haunt the Vikings as Daetrich Harrington rumbled in 55 yards late in the fourth quarter to win in a battle of unbeatens.
Top Performers: Daetrich Harrington carried 23 times for 203 yards and two touchdowns. Mason Wood added a 12-yard rushing touchdown. Northgate rushed 55 times for 224 yards with Kyle Cater scoring on a 3-yard run with 6:46 to play to take a 14-13 lead before Harrington's game-winning touchdown on third-and-seven.
Mt. Paran 28, Pinecrest Academy 3
How the game was won: Stuart Jeans gave Pinecrest Academy a 3-0 lead with a 31-yard field goal in the opening quarter and carried the 3-point lead into the second half. Mt. Paran's Jack Allen opened the third quarter with a 59-yard touchdown run that fueled the Eagles' 28 unanswered points. Chandler Webber ran in a pair of third quarter touchdowns and Jared Knox capped off the scoring with a 20-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter.
Top performers: Mt. Paran's Chandler Webber ran in an 11-yard touchdown with 4:08 left in the third quarter and added a 62-yard touchdown run two minutes later to give the Eagles a 21-3 lead.
Cartersville 59, Central-Carroll 9
How the game was won: The Purple Hurricanes jumped out to a 45-6 halftime lead, giving the heavy underdog Central-Carroll no chance at an upset.
Top Performers: Trevor Lawrence accounted for three first half touchdowns, hitting Avery Showell from 15 yards out and Antoine Jefferson on a 16-yard score before running in a 5-yard keeper. Showell returned a fumbled 23 yards for a touchdown while Trey Creamer powered in two scores. Jonathan Cruz knocked in a 43-yard field goal before the half.
Salem 6, Luella 0
Heritage, Catoosa 47, SE Whitfield 10
Flowery Branch 33, Cedar Shoals 0
Banneker 49, Lithia Springs 15
Dutchtown 14, Eagle's Landing 6
Whitewater 39, Morrow 0
Worth Co. 48, Harris Co. 28
Rickards, Fla. 36, Bainbridge 34
Camden Co. 67, Forest Park 14
Savannah Country Day 35, Portal 7
Clinch Co. 49, Atkinson Co. 14
Screven Co. 42, Harlem 10
North Springs 35, Jackson, Atl. 34
Telfair Co. 27, Wilcox Co. 7
Mountain View 56, Duluth 21
Warner Robins 45, Macon County 6
Stephenson 27, Jonesboro 0
Sequoyah 17, River Ridge 0
Cairo 36, Americus-Sumter 21
Grovetown 34, Alcovy 0
Alpharetta 7, North Atlanta 0
Coosa 27, Armuchee 14
Athens Academy 42, Riverside Military 0
Athens Christian 28, Lakeview Acd. 21
Vidalia 31, Bacon Co. 13
Terrell Co. 40, Baconton 16
Rabun Co. 46, Banks Co. 3
Benedictine 48, Bryan Co. 20
Meadowcreek 38, Berkmar 10
Bowdon 31, Gordon Lee 21
Crisp Co. 16, Brooks Co. 14
Calhoun 44, Haralson Co. 7
Cedartown 27, LaGrange 17
Manchester 54, Central, Talbotton 0
Irwin Co. 36, Charlton Co. 14
Rockmart 10, Chattooga 3
Cherokee 28, Etowah 21
Trion 41, Christian Heritage 0
Thomson 73, Clarkston 8
Calvary Day 7, Claxton
Cook 18, Early Co. 7
Cross Creek 49, Hephzibah 13
Dade Co. 34, Gordon Central 14
Mt. Zion, Carroll 25, Darlington 17
Dawson Co. 17, North Hall 14
Perry 56, Dougherty 28
Douglas Co. 37, New Manchester 0
Dublin 21, Bleckley Co. 6
Union Co. 21, East Hall 0
Morgan Co. 42, East Jackson 0
Elbert Co. 42, Social Circle 14
GAC 52, Fannin Co. 10
Tift Co. 35, Fitzgerald 28
Hart Co. 42, Franklin Co. 39
George Walton 27, Providence Christ. 0
Temple 41, Georgia Military 38
Greene Co. 31, Warren Co. 21
Groves at Beach (SM)
Jones Co. 45, Hampton 6
Aquinas 49, Hancock Central 6
Hebron Christian 31, Towns Co. 13
Holy Innocents' 23, Mt. Vernon 13
Colquitt Co. 56, International, Fla. 24
Toombs Co. 49, Jeff Davis 0
Jefferson 28, Madison Co. 7
Jefferson Academy at Glascock Co.
Jefferson Co. 52, Glenn Hills 14
Treutlen 31, Jenkins Co. 24
Josey 35, Butler 12
Northwest Whitfield 30, LaFayette 0
Bradwell Institute 31, Lakeside, Evans 7
Ringgold 60, Lakeview-Ft. Ogle. 20
Landmark Christian 35, O.L. of Mercy 6
Laney 48, Westside, Augusta 0
Effingham Co. 35, Liberty Co. 34
Marion Co. 49, Greenville 16
Mays 31, Tri-Cities 0
Calhoun Co. 44, Miller Co. 7
Jackson Co. 41, Monroe Area 21
ECI 42, Montgomery Co. 7
Mt. Pisgah Christian 38, King's Ridge 0
Lovejoy 35, Mt. Zion, Jonesboro 9
North Murray 37, Murray Co. 18
Dodge Co. 41, Northeast 0
Woodland, Stockbridge 28, Ola 0
Brookstone37, Pacelli 7
Cross Keys 21, Pataula Charter 16
Pelham 25, Chattahoochee Co. 2
Pepperell 28, Model 14
Pickens 32, Gilmer 7
Pike Co. 30, Central, Macon 20
Putnam Co. 42, Oglethorpe Co. 10
Riverdale 38, Fayette Co. 20
Rome 45, Carrollton 28
Carver, Columbus 23, Shaw 7
Sonoraville 28, Bremen 21
KIPP Atlanta 26, South Atlanta 14
Richmond Hill 28, South Effingham 7
Mary Persons 17, Spalding 14
Starr's Mill 52, Griffin 49
Stockbridge 21, Locust Grove 10
Strong Rock Christ. 42, Fulton Leadership Acd. 0
Swainsboro 24, Metter 6
Tattnall Co. 31, Statesboro 24
Taylor Co. 42, Crawford Co. 6
B.E.S.T. Academy 20, Therrell 0
Troup 28, Sandy Creek 20
Turner Co. 49, Lanier Co. 16
Villa Rica 42, Paulding Co. 38
Walnut Grove 28, Johnson, Gaines. 0
Lowndes 56, Ware County 35
Washington Co. 49, East Laurens 24
Lincoln Co. 17, Washington-Wilkes 14
Glynn Acad.34, Wayne County 0
West Laurens 46, Howard 14
Wheeler County 28, Johnson Co. 14
Tattnall Square 35, Wilkinson Co. 6
Winder-Barrow 28, Apalachee 21
Hiram 49, Woodland, Carters. 13
About the Author
