FRIDAY NIGHT SCOREBOARD: Region titles all around in winning finishes for West Laurens, Dublin, JoCo, Wheeler Co.

Dublin had already secured its region title, but had three other Heart of Georgia neighbors join it in the ranks of champs Friday as the GHSA regular season drew to a close in week 12.

Johnson and Wheeler counties clinched outright with big road wins at Jenkins County and Dooly County. West Laurens took care of its business at home, but only learned later in the night of its fate that hinged on the favorable result of another region game.

In other results, Treutlen sent Bobby Driggers Stadium out with a win over Wilcox County, Dodge and Montgomery counties got back in the win column and Brentwood’s run as defending state champion reached its conclusion as the Eagles were upended by Southland at home in the first round of the GIAA playoffs.

Full coverage will follow early next week, but here’s a glance at this week’s local results, and your full area scoreboard…

West Laurens 22, Windsor Forest 12

The Raiders finished out their regular season with a sixth victory, to become just a third team in their program’s history to post three winning records in a row. But they, more importantly, will be region champions for a second-straight year after a 33-28 New Hampstead upset to knock Harlem out of first, and back at home for next Friday’s first-round playoff game. West Laurens scored its full total in the first half. Justin Blash twisted his way to a 20-yard touchdown run to capitalize on a blocked punt late in the first. A bad snap-turned-safety opened a 40-second burst that included the remaining 16 points, as Jaden Stanley returned the ensuing free kick 56 yards for another TD and the Raiders recovered a second fumbled kickoff reception of the night to set up a 31-yard play action strike from Duggan Malone to Jace Williams. They couldn’t slam the door, as a sack-fumble and two turnovers on downs ended three remaining possessions, and Windsor Forest crept back with touchdowns on a Jayden Martin pass to Gavin Johnson in the third and Jaimeer Duncan run in the final minute of the fourth. But the Knights were too short on points (two earlier conversions with a chance to cut the deficit to eight) and time to make it any tighter.

Dublin 56, East Laurens 28

The Falcons kept it close through three quarters, but Dublin poured on three unanswered touchdowns to pull away in the fourth. Dontavious Cannon rushed for three touchdowns. V.J. Bond and Trav Bostic had two each. JaKarian Jones intercepted two East Laurens passes. The Falcons’ offense traded some early fire, leading once in an active first quarter and a half with touchdowns rushing for Bryson Hazley and JaBryan Bigham, and another passing from Skyler Snead to Demarcio Holliman. Dublin led 35-28 through halftime.

Other area scores…

Johnson Co. 42, Jenkins Co. 7

Dodge Co. 35, ACE Charter 25

Treutlen 43, Wilcox Co. 8

Montgomery Co. 21, Claxton 8

Wheeler Co. 54, Dooly Co. 0

Jeff Davis 28, Brooks Co. 0

Swainsboro 34, Vidalia 0

Southland 34, Brentwood 13

Warner Robins 34, Perry 33

Callaway 28, Northeast Macon 24

Thomas Jefferson 46, Flint River 28

Toombs Co. 49, Tattnall Co. 3

Peach Co. 52, Troup 38

Coffee 42, Veterans 8

Glascock Co. 18, GMC 10

Howard 42, Westside 32

Baldwin 30, Spalding 25

Hawkinsville 17, Telfair Co. 16

Jasper Co. 35, Jefferson Co. 6

Pike Co. 57, Southwest Macon 14

Thursday: Rutland 44, Central 18

Thursday: Thomas Co. Central 52, Northside 7