Buford was able to answer its big second-round challenge, while Wayne County could not.
The No. 2-ranked Wolves routed No. 9 Kell 44-11 on Friday, while No. 5 Wayne County saw its unbeaten season end in a 26-19 loss to Bainbridge
Buford's Derrian Brown ran 14 times for 81 yards and scored three touchdowns, one an 83-yard punt return.The Buford defense intercepted three passes off Kell's Evan Conley and came up with even sacks. The Wolves also got a 62-yard run from quarterback Aaron McLaughlin, who also thre a 19-yard touchdown pass to Dom Maggio, a 14-yard run from Elijah Turner and a 42-yard Hayden Olsen field goal.
Bainbridge knocked of a ranked opponent for the second straight week. The Bearcats last week eliminated No. 8 Jones County. This week they renewed a rivalry against Wayne had had been inactive since 1943 and claimed their fourth straight win.
Here's a look at the other Sweet 16 games:
Dutchtown prepared for its showdown with a 28-7 win over Griffin. Quarterback Arendez Fedd threw three touchdown passes and ran for another. Fedd connected with Taurean Johson, Javorri Mack and Travon Jones. The Bulldogs defense was challenge by the speedy Bears (9-3), who got their touchdown on a 43-yard pass from Darshaveious Foster to Teron Jones in the fourth quarter.
No. 1 Rome amassed 509 yards of total offense and defeated Cedar Shoals 35-3 for its 39th straight victory. The Wolves got 169 yards rushing and one touchdown from Jamious Griffin and 204 yards passing and two touchdowns from quarterback Knox Kadum, who also ran for a score. Xavier Roberts-Donaldson caught seven of the passes for 190 yards and both touchdowns. Traceton Lawrence scored the other touchdown. Cedar Shoal's only points came on a 31-yard Gabe Bush field goal.
Carrollton's Brandon Marenco rushed for 135 yards and two touchdowns to help No. 10 Carrollton (10-2) to a 29-7 win over Loganville. Marenco scored on runs of 11 and 36 yards to help the Trojans build a 29-6 halftime lead. Quarterback Miles Morris threw for 43 yards (8-for-15) and ran for 54. Carrollton also scored on a 50-yard pass from Terrell Carmichael to Virgil Brewer and a 14-yard Trent Lane run. Loganville (5-7) got its only touchdown on an 11-yard pass from Tanner Greene to Derrius Hart.
Stockbridge used a strong second half to beat New Hampstead, which upset Region 3 champion Starr's Mill in the first week. The No. 6 Tigers won 25-6 over the Savannah team and reached the quarterfinals for the xx-year. Stockbridge (11-1) was tied 6-6 at halftime, but Markell Ramsey scored on a pair of runs to open up the lead. Jevon McDonald threw two touchdown passes, a 14-yarder to Calvin Rogers in the second quarter and a 2-yarder to Quantez Futch to put the game away. New Hampstead finished 5-6 and made its first trip to the second round of the playoffs.
Clarke Central played old-school football, using its powerful running game and stout defense to turn aside East Paulding 24-7 at Death Valley. Jonathan Sewell ran for 95 yards and a 36-yard touchdown and O'Brien Barnett ran for 79 yards and one touchdown. Isaac Ward threw a 16-yard touchdown pass to Chris Johnson. Clarke limited East Paulding to 116 yards and had a shutout going into the fourth quarter.
No. 2 Warner Robins warmed up for the quarterfinals with 35-0 victory over Ware County. The Demons (10-2) got three touchdown passes from Tyler Fromm, who connected twice to Ty'larrious Carr and once to Marcayll Jones. Jones surpassed the state record of 1,655 receiving yards in a season with his touchdown reception. Deondre Duehart scored on an 80-yard run and intercepted a pass. It was the third shutout in five weeks for warner Robins, which has allowed only 17 points in the last six games.
Next week's quarterfinal schedule:
- Bainbridge at Buford
- Carrollton at Stockbridge
- Rome at Dutchtown
- Clarke Central at Warner Robins
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