Cedar Shoals saw its decade-long nightmare against Clarke Central come to an end on Friday. The Jaguars won the game 17-7, ending a 10-game losing streak against their arch-rivals, and did it at Death Valley.
In a weird twist of fate, Cedar coach Leroy Ryals was the coach at Clarke Central the last time Cedar Shoals won the Battle of Athens.
“I’m happy for the community, but the biggest thing is that they can now leave these kids along,” Ryals told the Athens Banner-Herald. “I’m happy the stress was gone and I’m glad they get a little bragging rights.”
The difference was the Cedar Shoals defense, which forced five turnovers, four of them interceptions.
Cedar Shoals scored when Kiyonnice Smith ran it in from the 2, to even the game at 7-7. Clarke’s Isaac Ward scored the first touchdown on a keeper.
Cedar Shoals took the lead in a 23-yard field goal by Gabe Bush and put it away on a 5-yard run by Osiris Walker.
“In the second half we had some really bad turnovers,” Clarke coach David Perno told the Banner-Herald. “Anytime we started to get something going, we’d end up 15 yards behind the chains, and that’s just not us.”
More yardage for Rome's Griffin: Jamious Griffin only carried 11 times, but still gained 141 yards and scored three touchdowns in the 48-7 win over Woodland. Griffin now has 1,158 yards rushing in 2018. Quarterback Knox Kadum completed 7 of 10 passes for 140 yards and three touchdowns, all of them to Xavier Roberts-Donaldson, who had five receptions for 118 yards. The Rome defense was led by Derricus Smith and Odesmun Heath, who each had four solo tackles and one assist. Woodland's Justice Carter ran for 85 yards and scored a touchdown.
Carrollton takes it easy: The No. 5 Trojans easily defeated Cass 41-7, more than doubling the Colonels in total yardage (380-183). Brandon Marenco ran for two touchdowns, Miles Morris ran for one and threw for one, Keshawn Ridley ran for one and Virgil Brewer caught a pair. Cass running back Thomas Gilliam rushed for 82 yards.
No. 3 Stockbridge improves to 6-0: The Tigers put a 49-10 whooping on Ola on Friday, with the versatile Jahsyn McKee scoring three touchdowns.
Buford rolls in region opener: The Wolves took a 49-0 win over Johnson in its Region 8 opener. Quarterback Aaron McLaughlin threw for 175 yards and four touchdown passes and Derrian Brown rushed for 84 yards and one touchdown. Brown now has 923 yards rushing and didn't touch the ball in the second half.
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