FOOTBALL: Turberville throws for four TDs, Johnson County takes down GMC to tackle 4-peat

WRIGHTSVILLE – The Johnson County Trojans beat the Georgia Military College Bulldogs 42-3 Friday to cap a perfect season, and capture their fourth consecutive region championship. 

Coming into the last game of the regular season, the Trojan defense had only given up 15 points in a first quarter the entire season, and none in the second. 

GMC received the opening kickoff and drove 57 yards in 11 plays. The Trojans stopped them on the Johnson County 19. 

The Bulldogs’ Zac Koehler kicked a 36-yard field goal with 5:51 in the first quarter. The Trojans, down 3-0, trailed for only the third time this season. 

Fortunes changed quickly. 

The next drive, six plays and 57 yards, changed the lead. Jeremiah Scott ran for 23 of the yards, and Tayshawn Norris for 12.

Daezon Devero caught a 19-yard pass from Nathan Turberville for touchdown with 3:02 to go. The point-after attempt failed, but the Trojans led 6-3.

“We started off slow,” said JoCo senior Cedric Bridges. “We had to lock in and get focused, and we executed.”

At 10:43 in the second, Scott intercepted a Bulldog pass in the Trojan red zone.

Then began an eight-play, 81-yard drive. Turberville threw to Norris for a nine-yard touchdown at 6:42. Scott ran the conversion and Johnson County was up 14-3.

On the Bulldogs’ next drive, Bridges recovered a fumble and advanced it 14 yards to put the Trojans on the GMC 48.

Turberville connected with Scott again on a 48-yard pass with 37 seconds in the half. Will Peeples kicked and the score was 21-3.

The Trojan kickoff was backed 15 yards due to an unsportsmanlike penalty, and afterwards the Bulldogs started at the 50. 

On the final play of the half, their quarterback lost 11 yards and fumbled. Jalen Daniels scooped and scored, 39 yards, with no time left on the clock. Peeples kicked and the Trojans led 28-3 at half. 

On the Trojans’ first possession of the second half, Turberville threw a 28-yarder to Daezon Devero and another 28-yard touchdown pass to Cory King. Peeples kicked and the Trojans led 35-3. 

With Chance Wombles at quarterback, Johnson County moved eight plays and 58 yards. Zacarion Graddy had a 34-yard run during the drive. Jamie Wadley had the 4-yard touchdown carry. Preston Kilpatrick kicked, and the Trojans led 42-3. 

Jeremiah Taylor led JoCo tacklers with five and four assists. Ziion Wesley had four with five assists. King had four with one.

Jeremiah Scott led Trojan rushers with five carries for 63 yards. Scott had two receptions for 58.

Turberville, who was 6-for-6 passing, said it was a great feeling to win the region championship. 

He felt like his team made some mistakes, but he’s glad they were made in the final game instead of the playoffs.

“This team is resilient and we showed that we are the better team,” Turberville said. 

The Trojans will be at home for the first round against McIntosh County Academy on November 14.