MIDSTATE FOOTBALL ROUNDUP: Bleckley, Wheeler, Wilco rack up region wins, WACO falls in one of Thursday’s thrillers

Bleckley County, Jeff Davis and others in the top 10 stayed on a roll, Wheeler County, Wilkinson County and Hawkinsville made some moves and a front-runner emerged as Washington County and Hephzibah played some Thursday-night overtime.

Here’s a look at how the rest of the Heart of Georgia’s week 8 high school football schedule played out…

Bleckley Co. 45, ACE Charter 15 

Brody Fleming fired three touchdown passes, one to Jason McNulty in the first half and two others to Kelvin Sneed in the third quarter, and rushed for a fourth to lead the Royals to their second-straight win of region play. Zyion Love and Raylan Devane also scored rushing touchdowns, and Dylan Lamb added an early field goal. The Royals used three fourth-down stops, including one at the goal line in the last minute of the second quarter, to maintain their shutout until ACE’s back-to-back scores on throws by Ace Hatcher in the third and fourth. The win, a 75th in nine seasons for Bleckley head coach Von Lassiter, pushed him past Jimmy Kilpatrick as the school’s winningest all-time. 

Wheeler Co. 28, Treutlen 16 

The Vikings spotted Wheeler County an early touchdown after an issue fielding the opening kickoff, and the Bulldogs cashed in with a pass from Kavion Williams to Joseph Moore. They’d go on to take full advantage of three other scoring chances, as Tyrese Parker ran for scores in the second, third and fourth quarters. Treutlen, presented the same number, was only able to score on two as Peanut Tobler (15 carries for 106 yards) finished off drives with runs and two-point conversions for a 16-14 halftime lead. A surefire chance to go back up failed on a fourth down at the Wheeler 5 with four minutes left, before Parker’s third touchdown provided a parting shot in the last minute.

Wilkinson Co. 14, GMC 12

A touchdown and two-point conversion amid a penalty-plagued portion of the second half delivered the Warriors their third win, and a key second in league action to grab a share of third place with Glascock County, which they’ll host this week. Multiple plays in the third-quarter sequence got called back, but Quenterrion Stanford was able to find Mahki Johnson on a corner route for Wilco’s go-ahead touchdown, then Tyler Hogan from a similar distance away for the conversion that had them in front after GMC returned the ensuing kickoff (which was also backed up by a 15-yard penalty) for a touchdown. The Bulldogs’ effort at a game-tying conversion was stuffed by a yard and a half, and they wouldn’t make it further than the Wilco 35 on any remaining possession. Evan Stasney rushed for 179 yards and GMC’s first-half touchdown to answer the Warriors’, via a six-yard pass from Stanford to Daverie Walker on the opening drive. The Wilco defense held GMC on multiple opportunities, including once in the red zone just before halftime. 

Hephzibah 42, Washington Co. 35 

The teams went tit-for-tat in regulation, with the Rebels holding a 7-6 lead after a quarter, WACO recouping the point to tie at 14 going to the half and the teams trading 14 each in the third and seven each in the fourth. Hephzibah struck first in its portion of overtime, as Reante Byrd and quarterback Trust Mack went in together on a mesh play for a short touchdown. WACO reached first and goal from the Rebels’ 5 on its possession, but ran into some trouble on losses of six, then 10 more, courtesy of tackles for loss by Jayden Hester and Roosevelt Habersham. A 15-yard pass completion to the 7 got them a manageable shot on fourth down, but the pass on a sprint-out play fell incomplete to place Hephzibah by itself, above the once-beaten Hawks, Westside, Thomson and Burke County, as the unlikely leader of region 4-AAA. Mack threw for 137 yards and a pair of touchdowns to Christopher Kohn and Byrd, who had 87 yards on 11 carries, and three other rushing touchdowns. 

Hawkinsville 28, Wilcox Co. 0

The Red Devils solidified their standing in first place with a third region 4-A win in this strong Thursday-night showing in Rochelle. Ethan Coffey was 5-of-6 for 89 yards and a touchdown to Johnathan Solomon. Martin McDonald ran for two of the three remaining scores, on 10 carries for 192. Samir Whitehead had the other. William Robinson recorded 21 total tackles and three for loss, while Peyton Jackson, Kenyez Bryant and Kaleb Nelson intercepted passes to lead the Hawkinsville defense. 

Jeff Davis 37, Bacon Co. 0

Mark Durden accounted for 154 of 315 total yards, and three of five touchdowns, for the second-ranked Jackets as they continued their unbeaten run going into this week’s showdown at No. 3 Thomasville. The junior QB rushed for 114 and a score, and completed both his two passing attempts for 20-yard TDs to Jacob Laney and Braylon Varnadore. Kobe Hill also rushed for a touchdown, and had eight tackles and a sack on the other side of the ball. Jude Worthington and Jaiden King intercepted passes for a Jeff Davis defense that held Bacon County to only 110 total yards. 

Perry 45, Jones Co. 20

The Panthers’ offense continued its hot streak since scoring 57 on Locust Grove before their bye week, with Jhamard Cobb completing 6-of-9 for 160 yards, and a touchdown on one of two receptions by J.D. Arnette that accounted for all but 20 of them. Kam Oliver toted a big load on 32 carries for 173 and four TDs, while Bhryson Gordon also scored once on seven attempts for 45. Perry batted down eight passes, and Trystan Rhoades had two sacks, on the defensive side. 

Northside 25, Tift Co. 24

The Eagles trailed 21-13 at the half, and then by two after Keirion Tate’s second rushing touchdown of the night narrowed the Tift County lead but failed to tie on an unsuccessful conversion attempt. David Olguin knocked down a field goal to stretch the Blue Devils’ lead to five, but Northside overtook them with just under two minutes to go as Tate – the Eagles’ offensive leader on 25 carries for 145 and 12 (of 15) completions for another 142 – entered the end zone for a third time. Northside sealed the game with a turnover on downs. Tift County’s Ty Roberts was 16-of-29 for 191 and two scores. 

Northeast Macon 42, Central 0

Jordan Wiggins completed 25 of his 30 passes for 302 and three touchdowns, and rushed for a fourth to help get the Raiders to 6-1 overall. Scottavian Thomas had five receptions for 76 and two of the TDs. Ryan Brinson and Landen Jefferson also had scores on the ground. Cedric Jackson registered eight total tackles, and two for loss, to lead a Northeast defense that gave up only 83 total yards. 

Peach Co. 54, Westside, Macon 14

The Trojans broke 50 points for a fourth time this season, as Ashton Barton (16 attempts for 157 and two scores) and Zion Ellison (10 carries for 149 and three) once again led its several-headed offensive attack. Westside’s Jaiden Stephens completed 12 passes for 217 and a touchdown to counter, but the Seminoles had only 94 yards rushing. 

Thomasville 24, Fitzgerald 21

The Bulldogs won it late on a memorable scoring drive, capped by a memorable trick play as Christian Hayes caught a 16-yard touchdown pass from his receiver Kensley Reddick on a throwback with a select few seconds to go on a running fourth quarter clock. Hayes had a touchdown passing and rushing to go along with the reception, completing 12-of-20 from QB for 120 (his passing TD was to Michael Watts) and rushing 12 times for 115. Fitzgerald’s late lead resulted from carries by Darryon Devine and Abraham Phelps, who rushed 18 times for a team-leading 180 yards. The third was a 56-yard connection – the Canes’ lone pass completion – between Caden Cowan and David Davis. 

Thomas Co. Central 43, Houston Co. 3

The defending state champs rolled in their third-straight region game, headlined by a pristine 12-of-13 night for quarterback Aidan McPherson, who had 178 yards and two touchdowns passing, plus a pair more on 10 carries for 60. Kobe Carnage and Gary Pringle had interceptions. The Yellow Jackets held Houston County to a total in the neighborhood of only 175 yards. 

Windsor 30, Gatewood 17

The Knights got one of their biggest wins yet as their strong season continued in The Swamp. Heath Woodard was picked off twice on a hard-luck night passing, but rushed 24 times for 180 yards and three touchdowns. Hunter McGreggor added a fourth on three carries for 58, and made 13 tackles, and two for loss. Windsor also forced two fumbles. 

Last week’s local coverage…

Other week 8 finals… 

Lee Co. 49, Veterans 0

Telfair Co. 56, Turner Co. 33

Aquinas 42, Jefferson Co. 19

Rutland 55, Southwest 32

Central Fellowship 7, Tiftarea Academy 0

Edmund Burke 49, Thomas Jefferson 6

John Milledge 49, Tattnall Square 7

Stratford 45, Mount de Sales 0