FOOTBALL: Johnson County runs past GMC to tack fourth win onto region streak

MILLEDGEVILLE – Johnson County scored 41 unanswered points in the first half, while holding Georgia Military College Prep to 14 yards and one first down.

The Trojans, region champions for the third-straight season, went on to beat the Bulldogs 41-7 Friday night at Davenport Field. 

Johnson County head coach Don Norton is proud for his seniors and their championships. He liked that his team took control and his starters later cheered hard for the younger players.

“It was good to go ahead and jump out on them,” Norton said. “I was very proud of how our kids handled the success, which is important as well.”

The Trojan defense played well all night, but set up the first touchdown by allowing two yards and stopping the Bulldogs on their own 32. 

J.D. Carswell blocked a GMC punt to allow the Trojans to begin on the Bulldog 23.

Tashawn Norris then covered the distance for a touchdown. Will Peebles kicked and the Trojans led 7-0. 

Next, as part of a seven-play, 61-yard drive, Billy Turberville scored on a seven-yard run. Peebles kicked again and the Trojans were up 14-0.

Later, on the second play of the second quarter, Turberville completed a 51-yard pass to Xavier Wright to get the Trojans to the Bulldog 4. Carswell rushed that far for a touchdown. The try failed, but the score was 20-0. 

Five plays later, Turberville hit Wright on a 52-yard touchdown pass.

Peebles got the PAT and the lead was 27-0

On the next scoring drive, Cory King rushed for 54, then 10. Carswell had a 10-yard touchdown. Peebles kicked to make it 34-0. 

Carswell had one more 10-yard touchdown and Peebles booted another just a few plays before the half ended to make the score 41-0. 

Beginning in the mid-third quarter, GMC had a 76-yard drive, much of it with a running clock.

The Bulldogs beat a tough stand by a young defense and scored on a four-yard run. Late in the game, with the point-after kick, the score was 41-7. 

Carswell had three tackles and three assists. King had three and one assist. Zacarion Graddy had three and two assists. 

The Trojans end the night with 171 rushing yards and 118 passing.

The Bulldogs had 76 yards total offense.

King led the rushing with five carries for 68.

Turberville was 2-for-6 with 103 yards passing. Chance Wombles completed one for 15.

When asked about the game, Carswell – a senior – had specific things to say about a lot of players, and almost nothing to say about himself. He liked that his teammates were able to accomplish good things. 

“It was fun,” he said. “We saw a lot of what everybody could do. We saw a lot of freshman get in.”

This goes hand-in-hand with Turberville’s idea of why the team has improved so much.

“Our chemistry has improved so much since the beginning of the season, all of us are like brothers now,” he said. “Our seniors have stepped up big time by leading our team and our younger guys have improved a lot. All of us players have communicated with each other and the coaches so we’re all on the same page.”

Next week, the Trojans (7-2, 4-0 region) will play their final regular season game in Twiggs County.