Class 4A Blog: Perry finishes strong, playoff field is set

Perry built a commanding 34-0 lead early in the second quarter and cruised past Baldwin 40-8 to win the Region 4-4A title. Quarterback Armar Gordon got the Panthers on the board with a touchdown pass to Casson Clark. Before the half was over Demetrious Carter scored a pair of touchdowns and Demetrious Carter racked up three touchdowns—including a 37-yard reception from Clark in the first quarter.

Defending state champion Marist also clinched a region title (Region 6) on Friday in its 56-21 win over Mays. The War Eagles led by a modest 22-15 margin at halftime and 28-21 midway through the third quarter, but they dominated the fourth quarter to pull away. Champ Davis accounted for four touchdowns, with scoring runs of 20 and 38 yards plus a 30-yard pass to Quinn Gooding and a 51-yard strike to Will Gerrick. A three-touchdown onslaught in the fourth began with Gerrick’s 6-yard run and it was capped off by rushing TDs for Eli Clarkson and Michael Schoenberg. Andrew Mannelly helped the War Eagles lead 15-0 after one quarter with his 4-yard plunge into the end zone.

There were also three games played on Thursday. Cairo got its fourth region win of the year in its 48-7 regular-season finale against host Westover. Quarterback Braylon Robinson threw first-half touchdown passes to Kamaree Perry (63 yards) and Mo Wilson (11 yards) and Gary Davis added a pair of scores to give the Syrupmakers a 28-0 lead at the break. Amarion Byrden took a 6-yard trip to the end zone in the third, and in the running-clock fourth quarter, backup quarterback Juderek Gee Simmons connected with Corey Baker for a 26-yard touchdown and Drew Owen returned Westover’s onside kick attempt for a score. Cairo will host New Hampstead next week — its 18th-straight season with a home playoff game.

Cedar Shoals ended its regular season with a 27-20 victory over visiting Chestatee to improve to 3-6 on the year and 3-3 in Region 8 play. The win snapped a four-game losing streak and secured fifth-straight playoff appearance for the Jaguars, who will face Marist next week in the opening round.

Class 4A GHSA First Round Pairings

Nov. 11-13

R1#3 Dougherty at R3#2 Jenkins

R7#4 Pickens at R5#1 Riverdale

R6#3 Hapeville Charter at R8#2 Jefferson

R4#4 West Laurens at R2#1 Carver-Columbus

R3#3 New Hampstead at R1#2 Cairo

R5#4 Hampton at R7#1 Cedartown

R8#3 Flowery Branch at R6#2 Mays

R2#4 Hardaway at R4#1 Perry

R2#3 LaGrange at R4#2 Baldwin

R8#4 Cedar Shoals at R6#1 Marist

R7#3 Heritage-Catoosa at R5#2 Luella