Bowdon running back Tay Sheppard and Central Gwinnett quarterback Micah Maxey took aim at two Georgia football state-playoff records last week, and fell just short.
Sheppard’s 415 yards rushing against Union County ranks second all-time in the playoffs behind the 463 of Heard County’s Duranta Dunson in 2013. It is among the 20-best rushing performances in Georgia all-time.
Maxey’s seven touchdown passes against Walton are one short of the record set in 2009 by former Lassiter and Georgia quarterback Hutson Mason.
Those two stood out among several outstanding individual efforts in the first round.
*Blessed Trinity RB Milton Shelton rushed for 235 yards and three touchdowns on 25 carries in a 40-14 victory over Cook.
*Bowdon RB Tay Sheppard rushed for 415 yards and five touchdowns on 30 carries in a 56-55 victory over Union County.
*Brooks County QB Demontay Jones was 18-of-23 passing for 181 yards and two touchdowns and rushed for 77 yards and three touchdowns in a 48-0 victory over Northeast.
*Cedar Grove RB Tre' Shaw rushed for 252 yards and three touchdowns in a 47-0 victory over Pierce County. Shaw also made seven tackles on defense.
*Dawson County WR Tucker Maxwell had six catches 224 yards for four touchdowns and intercepted a pass in a 63-40 victory over Ringgold. It was Dawson County's first-ever state-playoff victory.
*Drew RB Quarderman Sloan rushed 294 yards and four touchdowns in a 70-34 victory over Carver-Columbus.
*Elbert County QB Mecole Hardman rushed for 301 yards on 35 carries in a 17-7 victory over Central-Carroll.
*Gainesville QB Messiah Dorsey passed for 204 yards and rushed for 208 in a 25-14 victory over Alexander.
*Glynn Academy QB Deejay Dallas rushed for 167 yards and three touchdowns and intercepted a pass in the end zone on the game's final play in a 28-22 victory over Jones County.
*Houston County QB Jake Fromm threw for a season-best 479 yards and six touchdowns in a 53-6 victory over South Effingham.
*Lovett RB Jay Harris rushed for 180 yards and had 37 receiving in a 34-28 victory over Chattooga.
*Mays QB B.J. Phillips was 26-of-35 passing for 35- yards and three touchdowns in a 31-0 victory over Creekview.
*Rabun County WR/DB Charlie Woerner had eight catches for 186 yards and two touchdowns, had 17 tackles and forced a fumble in a 49-14 victory over Bremen.
*Rome WR Jai Creamer had eight catches for 125 yards and one touchdown – the game-winner on the final play – in a 7-6 victory over second-ranked Stephenson. Creamer has 1,160 receiving yards on the season.
*Screven County FB/DT C.J. Wright rushed for 70 yards, a touchdown and a conversion on 10 carries, blocked a punt that was returned for a touchdown and made nine tackles in a 35-0 victory over Bryan County.
*Starr's Mill RB Rico Frye rushed for 185 yards and three touchdowns, playing only the first half, in a 49-0 victory over Northside-Columbus.
*Sonoraville QB Cody Long rushed for 219 yards and RB Hunter Lay ran for 201, with each scoring three touchdowns, in a 49-28 victory over East Hall. It was Sonoraville's first-ever playoff victory.
*South Pauldng RB Kameron Watts rushed for 287 yards and four touchdowns on 25 carries in a 34-16 victory over Loganville. Watts went over 1,000 yards (1,199) on the season.
*Thomson RB Billy Mance rushed for 297 yards and five touchdowns on 24 carries in a 49-35 victory over Veterans.
*Wesleyan WR Tucker Cannon had eight receptions for 145 yards and three touchdowns in a 45-27 victory over Model.
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