FOOTBALL: Johnson County flies high in first round at Falcon Field

On a bright Saturday afternoon, Johnson County moved to the second round of the GHSA playoffs by handling the Pelham Hornets at a temporary home field.

The Trojans won 16-8.

Because Hurricane Helene damaged Herschel Lovett Stadium, the Trojans haven’t had a home game since the storm. For the postseason, Falcon Field became the Trojans’ home away from home. 

“We knew it was going to be a hard-hitting defensive battle, and man our kids showed up today and played,” said Johnson County head coach Don Norton. “It was nice to wear blue again for the first time since September. I couldn’t be for happier for our kids.”

Tashawn Norris, who had two interceptions, said his team had to overcome. It was a feeling the team had about losing to East Laurens in this same stadium their first game of the season. 

“I feel like it is a great experience coming down here to play on somebody else’s field,” Norris said. “You know, the field that we lost on, so, you know, adversity, adversity, adversity.”

Defense dominated during the first quarter, and someone needed an offensive break. 

The Trojans had the Hornets pinned at their own 25, and got one. 

It was mid-second quarter when Norris intercepted a pass and ran to the 17. A facemask by Pelham put the ball on the 11. Carswell ran it to the 6 for first and goal, then carried to the 2 and for a touchdown, and the Trojans led 7-0 with 2:56 left in the half.

At the break, Johnson County had 56 yards. The Hornets had 53. 

After receiving the kickoff, the Trojan offense started the second half with a bang.

Cory King ran the first play of scrimmage 55 yards to the 25. Carswell then got to the 10, and Norris ran the rest of the way for a touchdown with 11:05 in the third. The point-after attempt failed, but Johnson County led 13-0.

In the fourth quarter the Trojans had a six-play drive from the 50 to the 12, where it stalled.

Though no Johnson County field goal has occurred in recent memory, much less in a playoff, Norton sent in his kicker.

Will Peebles made the 27-yard try with 5:26, and the Trojans led 16-0. 

“It was my second (attempt) of the year,” Peebles said. “I attempted one in Glascock County, and it was blocked, but we came out on top of that one. (It) helped us a lot with the score.”

Pelham scored a touchdown on a 7-yard rush with 1:23 in the game. With a conversion pass the score was 16-8.

Although the Trojans seemed to dominate, the Hornets still had a chance to tie or win. JoCo recovered the onside kick. Although Pelham had two timeouts, the Trojans managed to run all but three seconds off the clock before turning it over on downs. With pressure, an incomplete pass ended the game.

The Trojans had 193 yards rushing, against 124 by the Hornets. Cory King led on the ground with six carries for 66 yards.

Johnson County led in passing yards 19-13. Billy Tuberville was 2-for-7. 

Pelham had 13 first downs, the Trojans had 12. 

Next Friday at 7:30 p.m., Johnson County (9-2) will host Clinch County (10-1) back at Falcon Field.