Super sophomore JaVonte Middleton of Jenkins High School put his name in the record books last weekend. The only thing the quarterback failed to do was find a way to win the game.
Credit: Stan Awtrey
Credit: Stan Awtrey
In the crazy 64-62 triple-overtime loss to Pierce County, Middleton completed a variety of passes, short dump offs, lasers over the middle, even a fade into the end zone. He was 14-for-27 for 281 yards and seven touchdowns. He also ran six times for 34 yards and ran for a two-point conversion.
The seven touchdowns was two short of the state record set in 1962 by Ed Staten of North Whitfield. Charlton County’s Jeremy Privett and Lassiter’s Hunter Mason each threw eight touchdowns in a game. Middleton joined seven others who have thrown seven touchdowns in a game.
Middleton has completed 61.3 percent of his pass attempts this season for 1,049 yards and 10 touchdowns.
Winless start unusual for Washington County
The four-game losing streak to open the season at Washington County is uncharacteristic for the Sandersville school, but it isn’t unprecedented.
The Golden Hawks, a state finalist the last two seasons, is off to an 0-4 start.
It’s the team’s worst start since 2007, when they opened with three losses and dropped five of their first six en route to a 4-6 season.
But you have to go back to 1983 to find something equal to this year. That season Washington County lost its first eight and finished 2-8 in the final season under coach Charles Young.
Part of the misfortune at Washington County is due to graduation. The Hawks lost Georgia High School Player of the Year A.J. Gray, who is contributing as a freshman at Georgia Tech.
The other part of the equation is a wickedly difficult schedule. Washington County has lost to Burke County (4-1), Class AAAA No. 5 Thomson (4-0), Class AAAA No. 4 Mary Persons (4-0) and Veterans (1-3), which has made the playoffs the last two years.
Despite the bad start, it’s best not to go to sleep on Washington County, which opens Region 3-AAA competition this week at Glenn Hills (0-4).
Goodwin, Steeple big for Banks
Banks County has thrown its hat in the ring to be considered as a contender in Region 7-AAA, a league that has no ranked team and carries little cache around the state. The Leopards are trying to change that image and have won three straight after dropping the season opener to rival Commerce.
Banks made it three in a row with a 44-36 win over North Cobb Christian. Quarterback Griffin Goodwin completed 13 of 21 for two touchdowns in that game and receiver Zezmon Steeple caught nine balls for 182 yards and two touchdowns.
The Leopards will get a real evaluation of their chances this week when they open the region schedule at Franklin County.
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