The Ware County Gators proved Friday that No. 1 Warner Robins isn’t invincible after all.
Paced by its physical defense, the No. 5 Gators raced to a 22-0 lead and scored a 29-21 win over the Demons. Warner Robins entered the game averaging 54.8 points, but went three-and-out on its first two possessions, fell behind 22-0 and scored its only first-half points on a trick hook-and-ladder play at time expired.
Ware County attacked early. They got two touchdown passes from Thomas Castellanos, a 4-yarder to Landon Dean on the opening drive, and a 77-yard touchdown pass to Cartevious Norton. A safety following a blocked punt and a pair of Henry Hyde field goals put the Gators ahead 22-0. Norton ran for a 5-yard touchdown in the second half.
Now the question becomes: Who is the new No. 1 team in Class 7A?
No. 2 Cartersville certainly has a case after its 49-21 win over No. 10 Blessed Trinity. The Purple Hurricanes (7-0) got three touchdown passes from quarterback Jake Parker in the first half to take a 35-7 lead. Amari White ran for 143 yards and two touchdowns and caught a 32-yard touchdown pass. BT’s Justice Haynes ran 17 times for 154 yards for two scores. The victory sets up Cartersville’s showdown for the Region 7 championship against Calhoun in the final week of the season. No. 6 Calhoun routed Woodland 52-6
No. 3 Creekside blanked Banneker 41-0 to improve to 6-1. The Seminoles have shut out three of their last four opponents since a 17-14 non-region loss to Cartersville on Sept. 10. The win moves coach Maurice Dixon’s team a step closer to a showdown with No. 4 Woodward Academy in the season finale. Woodward (7-0) hammered Drew 42-0 for its second shutout of the season.
No. 3 Coffee (7-1) opened the game with a pick-six an rolled to a 48-0 win over Wayne County. The Trojans led 42-0 at halftime and used another interception and fumble recovery to set up touchdowns. Coffee can finish no worse than third in Region 1, if it defeats Veterans next week.
No. 10 Decatur (7-0) ripped King 41-0 for its third straight shutout.
Although the schedule was light because many schools were on spring break, there were numerous other important games contested.
In Region 2, Starr’s Mill defeated rival Griffin 28-20 to set up next week’s game with Whitewater for the championship. The two teams exchanged touchdowns in the first half, which Starr’s Mill led 21-20 n a 30-yard touchdown pass from William Yarbrough to Josh Phifer, a 65-yard run by Brandon Mathis and a 70-yard kickoff return from Marc Stampley. Greigh Joseph scored on a 1-yard run in the final minute and the Panthers forced a turnover to end the Bears’ hopes.
In Region 5, Southwest DeKalb’s ran for 140 yards and three touchdown and Billy Johnson had two defensive touchdowns and a rushing touchdown in a 48-0 win over Stone Mountain. The Panthers evened their record at 4-4 and have a key date with Decatur in two weeks. … Lithonia gave first-year coach Kevin Hill his first victory with a 70-13 win over Northview. Darius Sanders ran for four touchdowns and Delano Jean-Jacques ran for three for the Bulldogs, who had scored only 34 points all season. … Chamblee blitzed East Forsyth 55-7 behind Fabian Walker, who threw for five touchdowns and ran for another.
In Region 6, Villa Rica won its fifth straight game, beating Lithia Springs 33-30. The win sets up a likely showdown with defending region champion New Manchester on Oct. 28.
In Region 7, Cass nailed down a playoff spot with its 34-24 win over Hiram. The Colonels overcame a 10-0 deficit and will be going to postseason for the first time since 2006. Devin Henderson threw for a touchdown and ran for three and Fredi Gbadie ran for a score for Cass.
In Region 8, Clarke Central virtually clinched its third straight region title with an emphatic 76-34 win over Greenbrier. It was the most points scored in a single game in the program’s 52-year history. Quarterback Lucian Anderson completed 11 of 15 passes for 225 yards and two touchdowns; he also ran for two touchdowns. Eli Warrington caught seven passes for 153 yards and three touchdowns.
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