MIDSTATE FOOTBALL ROUNDUP: ACE gets best of Bleckley in OT; WACO survives scare against Southwest

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ROYAL CARDS: Bleckley County played a solid hand to start ovetime by entrusting the ball to stud running back Josh Stanley on this go-ahead run from nine yards. But deuces were wild for ACE, which called the Royals’ touchdown, and raised them a two-point conversion. The Gryphons bet it all on an Ace Hatcher pass to Bryce Whitley that came up a winner in their 29-28 victory Friday in Cochran/MARK S. POWELL, for the Macon Melody

ACE Charter 29, Bleckley Co. 28 (OT)

Kam Everett, who led the Royals with 180 total yards, threw and ran for touchdowns in the first quarter (a first set up by the fumble recovery of Landry Nobles) to build an early lead that ACE had to chip away at for the rest of the night. Noah Syme’s second-quarter scoop-six, off the block of a Bleckley field goal, provided the Gryphons their first points and a key momentum swing that kept it a single-score game at the half. A long Dequavis Benjamin kickoff return for a touchdown to follow was called back on a penalty, and the Royals could do nothing more before the half. Ace Hatcher’s touchdown pass helped tie it early in the third, and the teams traded a touchdown each to the end of regulation, Bleckley via an Everett pass to Nykez Farrow, and ACE’s to quickly answer on a 20-yard run by Hatcher. The Royals’ streak of rotten luck (which also included an earlier turnover on downs) continued late in regulation as an odd bounce led to a Sawyer Raugh interception in the red zone that spoiled a Bleckley shot at tiebreaking points about two minutes in. The remaining 10 were a stalemate. The Purple and Gold drew first blood in overtime on a Josh Stanley nine-yard touchdown and Ford Childers PAT, but ACE responded with Hatcher’s one-yard keeper to pull within one, and went for two and the win. Hatcher found Bryce Whitley for the game-winning conversion to hand Bleckley its fifth single-digit loss of the season.

Next: Royals at Central Macon, Friday

Washington Co. 28, Southwest Macon 26

The Patriots brought a pre-Halloween thriller to the House of Pain in a bid for their second road upset of region play (the first came at Bleckley back in September) that WACO was able to hold off after recovering from a slow start. Steve Robinson completed 15 of 20 passes for 296 yards, and threw for a pair of touchdowns in a set of three unanswered that helped Southwest jump out to a 20-0 lead. Jamarea Watkins caught eight of the throws for 240 yards and one of the touchdowns. The Golden Hawks got things back on track, rallying for two touchdowns in the last six minutes before halftime to get within six points, then ultimately scoring two more unanswered in just as short a time window to take a 28-20 lead, as Rekevious Swint split a hole and kept his feet up the middle on a 29-yard run for the go-ahead (on Christian Rountree’s extra point) and Mack May’s six-yard pass to Jaden Jackson. Robinson, who also ran for the Southwest lead of 109 yards on 15 attempts, scrambled in to make it a two-point game late in the fourth, but the Patriots failed to tie on the conversion. WACO’s Amir Rylan had an interception in the end zone to save the game with just under a minute remaining.

Next: Golden Hawks at ACE Charter, Friday

Hawkinsville 27, Treutlen 13

The Vikings kept up in the turnover battle, matching Hawkinsville’s two and cashing in a fumble for a touchdown, but not with the pace of offense set by the Red Devils, who outgained them 367 yards to about 88. Malek Brown’s 7-of-9, 90-yard passing night at quarterback, and Zernard Smith’s 18 carries for 115 were the principal drivers of the Hawkinsville momentum. Smith scored after Nakivius Releford forced a fumble, and Mason Coley recovered, to give the Devils a short field about three minutes in. Treutlen drove to score and make it 7-6 (trailing by a missed point) on Kylan Page’s 12-yard run to answer at the end of one. Hawkinsville led 13-6 going to halftime after a touchdown run by Martin McDonald. Smith and Nieem Blair added two more to the lead before Treutlen’s Tyrone Jones returned a bad snap for a Viking touchdown early in the fourth. But that was the extent of their comeback.

Next: Vikings vs. Telfair Co., Friday

Brentwood 45, Gatewood 27

The Eagles got behind their offensive line for a 330-yard ride on the ground, with both Zach Denton (149 on 15 carries) and Tristan Robinson (127 on 12, with two scores) leading the way. Robinson also had a 15-yard touchdown catch and two kickoff returns for over 70 yards, bringing his all-purpose total to over 220. Baylor Cobb completed four passes of eight for 82 yards. Abe Williams, who scored on a rush and a reception, and Jones Sheppard, with a touchdown carry, also found the end zone.

Next: GIAA Playoffs (The Eagles’ projected first-round opponent is Rock Springs Christian, though brackets will not be finalized until this weekend)

FLOCK TACKLING: Brentwood Eagle defenders Jaelyn Johnson (3) Riley Helton (34) and Tucker Collins (33) take down Gatewood quarterback Ames Johnson on a group effort in the second half/SPECIAL PHOTO, submitted by Brentwood School via the Sandersville Progress

Wilcox Co. 28, Wheeler Co. 0

The Patriots gave up only 167 yards – all rushing – in a shutout that turned a pivotal final homestand for Wheeler County into a two-game slide. Jason Culver carried 14 times for 88 yards, and Alvin Ricks 15 for 62, to lead the Bulldogs on the ground. All four Wilcox County touchdowns, including two in the first quarter to develop an early lead, were scored on the ground.

Next: Bulldogs at Treutlen, Friday

Wilkinson Co. 33, GMC 0

The Warriors, with usual quarterback Quenterrion Sanford held out for the first half, had to take a different offensive approach at the start, but had no trouble moving it with 424 total yards in their second-straight win. They churned out 307 on the ground, led by Myles Cobb (who took charge as a wildcat QB under center until the break, and ran for two touchdowns on six carries for 62 yards) and Terrelle Blount (the team leader with 13 touches for 188 yards and another pair of scores). Upon his return, Sanford was 7-of-10 for 117 yards and a touchdown to Rahiym Thompkins. Jatavius Hill added two catches for 48 yards.

Next: Warriors vs. Twiggs Co., Friday

Best of the rest…

Thomas Co. Central 41, Houston County 31

After being shut out the prior week by Coffee, the Bears brought some scoring to this second-straight top-10 showdown, which had right about 400 total yards on each side. Both QBs – TCC’s Jaylen Johnson and HoCo’s A.J. Hill – threw for over 250 yards and touchdowns to three separate receivers. But the Jackets forced three turnovers, including a fumble that Kendarius Reddick scooped and returned 36 yards for the touchdown that put them up for good, that were pivotal plays to help them pull away after coming back from a 24-21 deficit at the half. Central also got a hold on downs late, and a pair of field goals from Drew Reneau to salvage points on drives in the third and fourth quarters that were important.

BEAR NECESSITIES: Houston County needed more offense than it could produce in a shutout loss at Coffee the week before, and got most of what it needed with 388 yards Friday vs. Thomas County Central, including two catches for 92 yards and a touchdown from top receiver Isaiah Mitchell (above). But the Bears could’ve used just a tad more in a close game that slipped away late/MICHAEL HARDISON JR., for the Houston Home Journal

Perry 31, Benedictine 27

The Panthers kept Benedictine out of the end zone until there were three minutes left to play in the first half, using the time to build a 17-3 lead that was just enough of a head start to hang on in the back-and-forth battle that followed. The Cadets commanded the possession battle, and took two second-half leads, but couldn’t stay in front thanks to two non-offensive scores, on a pick-six by Ashlon Ashley and the 99-yard kickoff return score of Decorrion Daniels. Reid Ginn was 17-of-21 passing for 132 yards – the majority share of just 206 total yards for the Panthers. Omari Burse had threw for 286 of BC’s 469. The Perry iced the late lead with a fourth-down stop and fumble recovery, both in the fourth quarter.

Ware County 24, Warner Robins 21

William Bates’ 28-yard field goal, for the Gators’ only points of the second half with two minutes to play, kept them out front in spite of back-to-back Warner Robins touchdowns in the fourth (on the receptions of Nick Linder) that would have otherwise tied the game. Ware County’s Luke Hooks was 16-for-23 passing for 170 yards and a touchdown to Cole Cox.

Mary Persons 37, Sandy Creek 29

A 24-point second quarter, and some defensive stands, helped the Bulldogs hand the No. 1 team in AAA its first loss of the season. Mac Nelson threw 19 completions of 23 attempts for 280 yards and three touchdowns, two to top receiver Caden Lavinka (six catches for 85 yards) and another to Mason Stephens (who made five grabs for 125) to help Mary Persons build a 34-13 lead through three quarters that withstood a 16-point Sandy Creek rally in the fourth. Special teams played a big role, as well, with Ryan Bankston kicking three field goals (a longest from 41) and Nic Arnold (who also rushed for a touchdown) blocking one for some small, but significant swings in the scoring.

Toombs Co. 51, Vidalia 6

The top-ranked Bulldogs were dominant in a fourth-straight win over their crosstown rival, which keeps them an unbeaten 7-0 and sets up a likely region title game at Savannah Christian this Friday. Toombs used seven carriers to gain 282 on the ground, with Justin Powell carrying for two touchdowns. T.J. Stanley was 13-of-20 passing for 189 yards with two touchdowns, both to close out a 28-0 first half on receptions by Mike Polke and Gavin Fletcher. Vidalia intercepted him once, as Alton Boles picked off a pass to prevent a first-quarter addition to Toombs’ 7-0 lead amid a tennis match of turnovers that also included a fumble recovery by the Dogs’ Zyreese Scott and a pick by Lagonza Hayward. Dabvn Wadley broke free for a 46-yard touchdown for the first of three scores in the second quarter that sent things downhill.

Westside, Macon 57, Rutland 18

The Seminoles rushed for 417 yards – K.D. Iverson for 190 and five touchdowns on just a dozen carries – to tie their head coach Sheddrick “Spoon” Risper with Central (and former Dublin) legend Tom Simonton for most career wins in Macon-Bibb district history. The win also clinches Westside a playoff spot.

Read more on the game from the Macon Melody’s Josh Davis here.

MACON HISTORY: Westside coach Spoon Risper shouts from the sideline during the Seminoles’ win over Rutland in Macon Friday night. Risper tied the all-time record for most wins by a coach while at a Bibb County school with the victory/JASON VORHEES, for the Macon Melody

Baldwin 42, Westside Augusta 14

The Braves, who’ve been rolling since the storm, won the physical battle at the line of scrimmage on defense to limit Westside to 114 yards rushing, and also had their way going the opposite direction, doubling up Westside in total yardage 490-211. Johnathan Butts, Jaquan Hill, Lamar Pounds, Kaiden Gibson, “Q” Russell and Sadur Salahuddin scored Baldwin’s six rushing touchdowns. Tight end Jaylen King caught eight passes for 103 yards. Pounds ran for 76 and threw for 270, completing 17 of 21 passes. The Braves gave Westside the first points by muffing a punt, and committing an offside foul for a free conversion ahead of the touchdown run of Jeanarion Kamga in quarter 1, but were awful stingy the rest of the way, giving up only a late first-half passing touchdown by Jaylen Stone before a scrub-time TD in the last minute of the fourth. Baldwin intercepted two passes in the second to stiff-arm any potential comeback.

Harlem 32, Howard 13

The Bulldogs, back on top of region 4-AAA, took care of their business at home by cranking out 378 total yards – a healthy 167 and two touchdowns passing by quarterback Mercer Barton – and holding Howard to just 157. The Huskies had nary a conversion on 11 third downs. Barton completed 9 of his 15 passes, including four for 135 yards to Futrell, who caught the 67-yarder that tore open a previously 10-7 ballgame early in the second quarter. That lead was more than enough of a cushion for Harlem’s defense, which was led by Baylor Davis’ 11 total tackles, three for loss, and a sack. Malik Tyler rushed for 113 and two touchdowns.

FPD 27, Tattnall Square 20 (OT)

The Vikings rallied back from a 20-3 deficit with 17 unanswered points in the last two quarters to tie, and pulled out the district-title clinching win with a Major Simmons-Tinsley Lewis touchdown connection, followed by a pass break-up to force their second turnover on downs since the break. The teams only played free football after a Dominic Economopoulos field goal for the win – to follow an opportune Peyton Howard interception – swung wide left. Major Simmons completed passes to Benjamin McElreath and Heisman Alvarez for touchdowns to make it 20-17, bookending a stop on downs inside the FPD 5 to hold off a Tattnall touchdown. Economopoulos hit from 23 to tie with a litle less than two minutes left in the game. McElreath had 220 yards on 11 receptions. Simmons was 16-of-24 passing for 268 yards.

For more on the game from the Macon Melody’s Michael A. Lough, click here.