Here’s what went down Friday night in the quarterfinals.
PRIVATE – Top Bracket
No. 1 Prince Avenue Christian 30, No. 8 Savannah Christian 10. Kevon Hudson scored on touchdown runs of 70 and 50 yards, while Jordan Hightower scored on a 6-yard run and a 43-yard pass to lift the undefeated Wolverines (12-0) into the semifinals. Demetris Robertson scored on a 25-yard run for Savannah Christian, which finished the season 9-3.
No. 4 Eagle's Landing Christian Academy 31, No. 5 Mount Paran Christian 7. ELCA (9-3) got revenge for last season's blowout loss (49-7) in the championship game with a blowout of its own. Four different Chargers scored – Trevor Gear on a 14-yard run, DJ Hammond on a 1-yard run, Johnathan Youngblood on a 30-yard fumble recovery and Josh Mays on a 20-yard run. Mt. Paran (10-2) did not score until a running clock was implemented in the fourth quarter.
Bottom Bracket
No. 3 Aquinas 28, No. 11 Christian Heritage 27. The Irish's Will Evans blocked an extra point and Christian Heritage missed a 40-yard field goal in the game's final minute to help Aquinas (11-1) avoid the upset. The Lions hung with Aquinas all night as quarterback Tyson Cooper ran for 148 yards and three touchdowns. D'Angelo Durham countered for Aquinas with 128 yards rushing and three touchdowns. Chris Gate's touchdown run and Crimmins Hankinson's extra point kick provided the winning points for the Irish, who will now face Stratford Academy for the third time this season.
No. 10 Stratford Academy 43, No.2 Pinecrest Academy 15. The Eagles (9-3) had three 100-yard rushers in a dominating win over the Paladins (10-2). Tyler Jordan had 112 yards, Kasey Sanders ran for 110 and three touchdowns, and O'Showen Williams had 106 and two scores.
Semifinals
-- No. 1 Prince Avenue Christian (12-0) vs. No. 4 Eagle’s Landing Christian Academy (9-3)
-- No. 3 Aquinas (11-1) vs. No. 10 Stratford Academy (9-3)
PUBLIC – Top Bracket
No. 9 Commerce 20, No. 1 Marion County 7. The absence of all-state ATH Lorenzo Smothers, out with a broken rib, and a physical defensive effort from Commerce (9-3) defense was too much for Marion (10-2) to overcome. Marion's normally high-powered offense managed just 188 yards total while Commerce got short touchdown runs from Will Thomas and Caleb Brooks and two field goals from Andres Salgado.
No. 5 Clinch County 50, No. 13 Johnson County 34. The Panthers (11-1) pulled away from Johnson County (7-5) in the second half on the strength of a 482-yard rushing effort led by Zebulon Johnsons 179 yards and two touchdowns.
Bottom Bracket
No. 3 Irwin County 21, No. 11 Trion 0. Irwin (9-2-1) advanced to the semifinals for the third consecutive season, returning two interceptions for touchdowns in the process. Cartavion Benyard and William Lewis has pick-sixes of 59 and 67 yards, respectively, while quarterback Zach Tolar added a 12-yard score. Trion (8-4) outgained Irwin in the game, 195-175.
No. 2 Emanuel County Institute 34, No. 10 Mt. Zion-Carroll 31. ECI (11-1) drove 64 yards in 1:23 and scored the go ahead touchdown with 1.6 seconds to play to foil the Eagles' (8-4) upset big.
Semifinals
-- No. 5 Clinch County (11-1) vs. No. 9 Commerce (9-3)
-- No. 2 ECI (11-1) vs. No. 3 Irwin County (9-2-1)
