FOOTBALL: Johnson County rolls at Glascock to clinch three-peat in region

GIBSON – The Johnson County Trojans triumphed 34-8 over Glascock County Friday to take their third region championship in as many years. 

Head coach Don Norton was pleased with how hard his defense played, and with the offense’s success in the passing game. But most of all, he was thrilled with the significance of the win.

“Back-to-back-to-back, I think that’s pretty awesome,” Norton said. “I think the Johnson County Trojans  just made history tonight. We’re gonna solidify back-to-back-to-back region championships, and it’s never happened at Johnson County in history, so I’m very excited for the senior class.”

The Trojans didn’t lead or dominate the entire game, but built momentum by the end of the first half.

In the first quarter, JoCo stopped the Panthers on the Trojans’ six, and began an eight-play drive. Billy  Turberville completed a 24-yard pass to Tashawn Norris. Jeremiah Scott had a 20-yard run.

Tashawn Norris ran eight yards for the touchdown. 

Will Peebles kicked the point-after to put the Trojans up 7-0 with 3:27 in the first.

Early in the second quarter, Glascock had a six-play, 64-yard drive. 

The Panthers scored on a nine-yard run. They ran the conversion and were up 8-7 with 6:37, perhaps leading the Trojans for the first time in history. 

Scott returned the kickoff 26 yards for a Johnson County start on its 44, and later scored on a nine-yard run with 2:37. Peebles kicked to put the Trojans up 14-8.

Johnson County stopped the next Panther drive, and didn’t waste time adding to the lead. 

With 57 seconds in the half, and on the first play of a new possession, Turberville completed a pass at the line of scrimmage to Xavier Wright, who ran 71 yards for a touchdown.  

Peebles kicked, and with 51 seconds remaining in the half, the Trojans led 21-6.

Wright had been told earlier in the week that he would need surgery for a hand injury, and would be out for the season. 

“I told the doc I wanted to play. I had to finish the seasons with my brothers,” he said. 

After going with a non-surgical option, Wright got his first receiving touchdown in Glascock County. 

At the half, the Panthers had 135 yards, all rushing. Meanwhile, the Trojans had 203 yards with 86 yards rushing.

Late in in the third quarter, a Cory King run added on. Peebles kicked and with 11:07, the score was 28-8 JoCo. 

Turberville capped things off, and scored with a 16-yard touchdown run. The kick failed, but the Trojans led 34-8 with 6:07 to play.

Johnson County had 379 yards total offense, to 219 by the Panthers. 

Unique for the Trojans was 115 yards passing. Turberville was 4-for-10 with no interceptions.

Scott led all rushers with 6 carries for 94. Wright had the most receiving yards – 75 – due to his touchdown play.

He says Glascock played well, but his team wanted the win more.

“I loved how we played tonight,” Wright said. “Very aggressive, physical, fast, how we always want to be.”

Next week the Trojans (6-2, 3-0 region 5-Low A) will travel to Milledgeville to face GMC Prep.