Schley edges Chattahoochee in a classic
Public No. 5 Schley County took another step toward hosting a first-round playoff game with a 20-19 win over Chattahoochee County. Sophomore QB Jay Kanazawa’s 14-yard touchdown pass to Demarkis Clark with a minute left provided the winning margin. Chattahoochee hurt itself by failing to convert its extra point attempts on both of its last two touchdowns on the night in the fourth quarter. A missed kick gave the Panthers a 13-7 lead, instead of 14-7. Schley took a 14-13 lead midway through the period. On Chattahoochee’s ensuing drive, Jamyran Thomas’ 5-yard touchdown run with five minutes left gave the Panthers the lead again, but their two-point conversion run failed, so the score was 19-14 instead of 20-14. Kanazawa completed 15-of-27 passes for 222 yards and two touchdowns with an interception. Freshman RB Zayden Walker piled up 138 all-purpose yards, including 97 yards on 22 carries and a touchdown. The win puts Schley in the driver’s seat for the No. 2 seed in Region 5 behind Public No. 2 Macon County.
Tattnall wins overtime thriller over Stratford
Tattnall Square rallied from a 34-21 third quarter deficit and then made good on a gutsy call in overtime to knock off Macon-area rival Stratford Academy, 42-41. The Trojans tied the score at 34 with less than a minute left in regulation but Stratford blocked the extra point attempt, forcing overtime. In the extra period, Stratford went up 41-34 on junior RB Keondre Glover’s fourth touchdown of the game. But Tattnall tied the score on the first play of its overtime possession as junior ATH Demario Wilmore scored on a 15-yard touchdown run. Then Trojan head coach John Abernathy, in his second year in charge, elected to go for the win and Tattnall converted. The win pushed Tattnall’s record to 6-1, 2-1 in Region 1, while Stratford dipped to 6-2, 2-1. The Trojans now lead the all-time series against Stratford, 30-25, in a rivalry that dates back to 1973. Both teams are a game behind fellow Macon rival First Presbyterian (6-2, 3-0) in one of the most hotly contested regions in the state. Even though the top three teams in the league are a combined 18-5, none of the three are ranked.
Athens Academy knocks off Athens Christian for “Athens championship”
Private No. 10 Athens Academy jumped out to a 22-7 halftime lead and never looked back en route to a 30-14 win over Athens-area rival Athens Christian. The win essentially locked up the No. 2 seed in Region 8 for the Spartans, who got nearly 300 yards rushing from junior QB Sam Bush and junior RB Tre Hawkins. Bush ran for 122 yards on 20 carries while Hawkins ran for 174 yards on 27 carries and three touchdowns. But Athens Christian senior RB/LB Johne’ss Davis was the offensive star of the game with 234 yards of total offense. He ran for 134 yards on 15 carries and a touchdown, and caught four passes for 100 yards. Athens Academy is now 6-3, 2-1 in the region with one game left to play. Athens Christian is 5-3, 1-1 with two games left, one against league leader No. 3 Prince Avenue (8-1, 3-0).
Washington-Wilkes wins latest 378 War over Lincoln
Public No. 8 Washington-Wilkes outslugged Lincoln County, 44-36, in the 85th edition of the Highway 378 War, one of the oldest high school football rivalries in the nation. The win for the Tigers means they will be the Region 8 champs if they can defeat Commerce (5-3, 2-1) next week. Senior QB/ATH Dalen Cobb was a one-man wrecking crew for Washinton-Wilkes. Cobb, who has offers from Georgia State and Tulane, completed 11-of-13 passes for 198 yards and three touchdowns (two to senior WR Quinzaibian Jackson), and ran for 168 yards on 21 carries and three scores. The slugfest between the longtime rivals was one for the books. The teams combined for nearly 800 yards of offense (794), and the combined total of 80 points is the most ever scored in the 85 years of the rivalry, 11 points more than the previous record of 69 points in 2001, a game the Tigers won, 55-14. The 36 points put up by the Red Devils was the most they have scored in a loss.
About the Author
