MIDSTATE FOOTBALL ROUNDUP: Wheeler's perfect record survives OT, Treutlen tripped up, WACO/Wilco get big wins in week 11

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Wheeler Co. 40, Wilcox Co. 38 (4OT)

Deciding factor: In the gripping finish to a never-say-die night by either team, Kasyn Troup batted down a potentially game-tying two-point conversion pass in the back left corner of the end zone to win it for the Bulldogs after a fourth helping of free football. Alvin Ricks rushed for 134 yards and two touchdowns on 27 carries, as well as three two-point conversions throughout the overtime periods. Reco Wooten was 6-of-8 passing for 63 yards and a touchdown, and carried six times for 78. A 70-yard Jah Dinkins kickoff return provided the first of three unanswered Wheeler County touchdowns after Wilcox County opened the scoring with a “Deac sneak,” as Billy Evans shoved quarterback Deacon McDuffie over the goal line from six yards out. The Dogs’ 21-7 lead after three got away as Wilcox County scored 14 in the final period of play. Touchdowns on a weaving 41-yard carry by Melvin McAdoo, then a run by Jacobia Bolden tied it for the Patriots. Time ran out in regulation as Wheeler tried for a final shot just inside the Wilcox 20.

Pivotal moment(s): McDuffie slung passes for both Wilcox County scores, while Ricks and Justin Culver ran for sets of six to answer as the teams traded touchdowns and first PATs, then two-point conversions in the first two overtimes. Ricks spun through contact at the goal line for two to extend the game at the end of the second, then dove for the same in alternating runs as it progressed to dueling two-pointers in the third and fourth. In between, McAdoo scored on a penalty-shortened run to force the fourth, in which Wilcox County went to the air for an equalizer, and the hurried McDuffie’s throw toward a double-covered receiver was broken up incomplete.

What it means: Wheeler County, after the fall of a similar drought in its series with Telfair County a week before, broke a 21-year losing streak in the rivalry to stay undefeated. The Bulldogs need one more victory, this week at home, to capture their first-ever region championship.

Game ball: Though he scored just once, to answer Wilcox County’s second overtime touchdown on the last of his 17 carries for 84 yards, Culver brought some key pressure to force the issue as McDuffie released the ball on Wheeler County’s game-winning play.

Next: Bulldogs vs. Treutlen, Friday

OLD McDONALD: Hawkinsville’s Martin McDonald took one to the barn from 37 yards to take his team from a slight lead to a commanding one as the Red Devils opened it up in the second half of their 22-10 win in Soperton to hand Treutlen its first region loss/LOGAN REYNOLDS, GTLN

Hawkinsville 22, Treutlen 10

Deciding factor: The Vikings were held to a season-low in points, and under 200 total yards for the first time all year, as Hawkinsville’s defense stymied its ground attack for the majority of three quarters, and a few more times in short-yardage situations to keep up its end of an early deadlock. Martin McDonald, with 13 rushes for 75 yards and over 160 total adding kickoff returnage, and Sebastian Clark, who completed nine passes for 94 yards and rushed for a touchdown on 29, were catalysts for the Red Devils’ offense in breakthroughs for two key touchdowns in the second and third quarters, after Treutlen found the scoreboard first on a 32-yard field goal by Leo Brinson. Hawkinsville outgained the Vikings 227-185 in the defensive struggle. Devil defensive leaders Nakivius Releford, with 16 total tackles and two for loss, and Landon Johnson, with 14 and one, both had a sack apiece.

Pivotal moment: The manageable deficit turned unmanageable for Treutlen as McDonald spilled outside and engaged the jets on a 37-yard touchdown run to give the Red Devils a two-score lead in the last minute of the third quarter. Treutlen turned around to cut it to 15-10 with a nearly seven-minute scoring drive ending on a 9-yard Zan Stokes run with six minutes left. The Vikings forced a punt, but then had a deep pass sail into an interception by H’ville’s Jaden Collins, and the Red Devils ran out the clock as time expired on a 4-yard touchdown run by Nieem Blair.

What it means: Hawkinsville’s win secured a playoff berth, and a shot to create some chaos if No. 7 Wheeler County gets the best of Treutlen in what still sets up as a winner-take-all for the region championship (the Vikings vying for their first since 1990) Friday in Alamo. Scenarios abound, but a possible three-way tie for second could have the Treutlen, H’ville and Wilcox County falling a number of different places in the region 4-Low A playoff draw.

Game ball: Markel Hamilton led Treutlen rushing with 20 carries for 94 yards.

Next: Vikings at Wheeler Co., Friday

Washington Co. 28, Southwest Macon 14

Deciding factor: Xz’ira Miller housed a kickoff for the second-straight game, this one from a slightly shorter distance to open the ballgame with a first of three unanswered Golden Hawk touchdowns to open Thursday’s game. They put up one per quarter, Jordan Edwards lowering shoulders after a catch to drive his way in through contact on the first play of the second before a Rekevious Swint run finished off a 57-yard scoring drive in the third. WACO started it on downs as Cam Battle tracked down Chase Dupree for a sack, following a Southwest third-down shot that was caught out of bounds. Mack May was 5-of-8 for 77 yards in the duel of quarterbacks, as Dupree posted 10 completions of 18 for 191 and nine rushes for 45 in rebuttal.

Pivotal moment: The Patriots scored two in the last quarter, bookending a key fumble recovery by Algeron Williams with touchdowns on a Lavaris Harris run, then his 70-yard reception on a throw from J.J. Wilson. But Southwest – thanks to some downhill running by WACO and a key Southwest penalty – never got the ball back as the Hawks picked up two first downs and exhausted the clock.

What it means: Washington County, with back-to-back wins, has upgraded its playoff standing from “on the bubble” to “squarely in.” The Golden Hawks, now with a power ranking of 27th, don’t have to have it, but can significantly improve their draw with a third-straight this Friday. Southwest, along with East Laurens, remains among the last few teams inside the top-32 cutoff.

Game ball: Miller, in addition to his tone-setting kickoff return, also had a 28-yard pass reception.

Next: Golden Hawks vs. ACE Charter, Friday

Wilkinson Co. 34, GMC 6

Deciding factor: It was as self-destructive a game for the Bulldogs as it was a flawless one for Wilco. The Warriors made their way up the field quickly and efficiently every time they had the ball, while GMC moved mostly backwards on repeated penalties, and gave possession away three times on turnovers. Quenterrion Sanford was a near perfect 11-of-13 passing with 104 yards and a touchdown to Makhi Johnson, and rushed for another on 25. But Terrelle Blount’s three rushing scores were game-breakers. GMC was held entirely out of the end zone, with a Zac Koehler field goal in either half as its only points, by a Wilco defense that was led by the 11 total tackles, three for loss and a sack of Amare Todd. Sanford and Daverie Walker had interceptions.

Pivotal moment: GMC fumbled away the game’s first kickoff, and punted it the ball back to Wilco quickly on its first possession. The Warriors scored their second play after taking over on both opportunities, then slowed things down over long drives to finish the first half, and open the second, for a lead of 27-3. Blount broke his longest run, of 53 yards, for the third touchdown to put the game completely away right after a quick interception.

What it means: Wilco stays in the mix for the runner-up spot in the region, and conceivably the title as well, though in a remote tiebreak scenario that would require a GMC upset of Johnson County as the first of multiple dominoes. Provided the Trojans run the table, a win in their finale would put the Warriors back at Bud Dupree Field in the first round of the playoffs.

Game ball: Blount carried 10 times for 148 yards and three touchdowns, caught a pass for nine and forced a fumble.

Next: Warriors at Twiggs Co., Friday

Brentwood 48, Gatewood 14

Deciding factor: Big plays through the air featured heavily in the Eagles’ ninth win, but so did their steady ground attack (which compiled 240 yards and all five offensive touchdowns) and plenty of non-offensive impact in the kickoff return game and turnover battle, where Brentwood made a number of other game-swinging plays. Running back Tristan Robinson out-threw starting QB Baylor Cobb, on two completions for 86 yards. Cobb, who was 4-of-11 for 84, rushed for 25 and a touchdown. Abe Williams scored twice on seven carries for 147 and the rushing lead. He also had two catches for 62, Robinson one for 51 and Riley Helton another for 44. Collins and Cobb intercepted passes, Cobb forced and recovered a fumble and Collins returned a kickoff 85 yards for a touchdown.

Pivotal moment: And most of the above fit into a dominant first half as Brentwood got off to a quick start on the 66-yard outbreak of Williams for an opening touchdown with less than a minute gone. A 42-yard Brayden Tyson field goal, a 34-yard Jackson Bragg touchdown carry and a Gatewood fumble helped pad the lead before the end of one. Second-quarter touchdowns bookended another turnover, before the Gators’ Ben Brannen returned a kick for a touchdown to give the home team a brief glimmer of life amid the early slide. But it was indeed brief as Collins brought the next kickoff back for an immediate answer, and another Tyson field goal put the Brentwood lead well in hand, by a count of 41-8, going to halftime.

What it means: The Eagles finish 9-1 and will be a favorite to repeat as state champion with a starting spot from the pole position of the AA playoffs next month.

Game ball: Williams, by far, led Brentwood in all-purpose yardage with 209, and had a hand in two touchdowns.

Next: Eagles vs. (9) Augusta Prep or (8) Windsor, Nov. 7

Bleckley Co. 48, ACE Charter 9

Deciding factor: The outage of some injured players from the prior week’s game at Dublin was no issue for the Royals, whose Brody Fleming carved up the ACE defense for 272 yards and four touchdowns, and joined Kix Foskey (16 carries for 147) with over two-thirds of their 307 yards on the ground. Gage Harris led Bleckley receivers with four grabs for 119. The Gryphons, comparatively, had just 274 total, most of which were the responsibility of Ace Hatcher, whose 14 completions of 40 numbered 203 yards, but no touchdowns and two interceptions (snagged by Jireh Campbell and Kelvin Sneed). He rushed for ACE’s only touchdown, but was held to 12 yards on 11 carries. Sneed, who was on the receiving end of at least one Fleming touchdown pass, returned an interception for a touchdown in the second quarter. Jireh Campbell had another, while Marty Beck and Keegan McClinton also recovered fumbles to join in the forcing of four turnovers. Jason Balthrope four total tackles and two for loss, and Landry Nobles added 11 and one. McClinton, Malachi Ates and Balthrope had sacks. The Bleckley defense combined to break up 10 passes.

Pivotal moment: Harris broke a tackle and dashed to the house from 75 for the first touchdown very early in the first quarter. ACE drove back to answer on Hatcher’s short keeper, but would be kept out of the end zone the rest of the night as the Royals piled on with three unanswered touchdowns going into the second, the last Sneed’s pick-six. A field goal, for the Gryphons’ final points, kept it a close game through halftime and a scoreless third quarter. But Bleckley put it squarely away as Fleming and the offense got back in the zone and tacked on three more touchdowns in the fourth quarter.

What it means: The Royals have clinched the last of region 2-High A’s automatic playoff bids, awarded to the league’s top four finishers, though their final standing (and position with respect to overall seeding in the playoffs) will be determined by the regular season’s last week of games.

Game ball: With the addition of 100 yards on his five carries, Fleming’s total impact numbered 372 yards and five touchdowns.

Next: Royals vs. Central Macon, Thursday

Hancock Central 36, Twiggs Co. 16: The Cobras forced a fumble early in the first quarter, and capitalized on the 19-yard touchdown run of Koby Stephens to go up first, and took a 16-14 lead on a second score of the night via Jeremy Stanley keeper later in the first half. But Hancock Central, after two touchdowns in between the first set, reeled off three more unanswered to pull away. Twiggs County couldn’t chip away any further on a few visits to plus territory, and the red zone. (Next: Cobras vs. Wilkinson Co., Friday)

Best of the rest…

Thomas Co. Central 31, Houston Co. 7: The Bears held a 7-3 lead after one, but owed that to their only touchdown – on a 78-yard Austin Stinson run – that came after a failure to convert multiple other opportunities in a turnover-laden first quarter. HoCo would go on to be outgained 416 yards to 273, and wouldn’t find the end zone again. Central, after sputtering a good bit early (with a 1-for-2 clip on field goal tries by Carson Morales for the lone points of the first), got its offense cranked up, and took the lead for good in the second with three unanswered touchdowns, twice on runs by Christian Lawrence, who carried 22 times for 153 of the Yellow Jackets’ 218 on the ground. Jaylen Johnson threw for two other touchdowns (one each to Lawrence and Frank Garbett) on 14 completions for 198. Rodney Dunbar had eight receptions for 154 yards. The Bears’ Ryan Maxwell (15-of-31 for 128) was sacked five times, and intercepted for three of HoCo’s four turnovers.

Click here to read Clay Brown’s full recap of the game in the Houston Home Journal.

THE STING OF TURNOVERS: Thomas County Central defensive back Jermaine Dennis (13) skies up to intercept Ryan Maxwell’s pass in the first half of the Region 2-AAAAA championship game. The Yellow Jackets forced four takeaways/CLAY BROWN, Houston Home Journal

Cairo 38, Peach Co. 31: Momentum-changing plays on defense and special teams helped the Syrupmakers wrest control of the region from the grasp of Peach County, as the teams’ two big-ticket offenses made their share of impressive plays. Peach had goal to go, down five points late in the third, when a blocked field goal was returned by Bryian Duncan for a 78-yard touchdown in a 10-point swing that put Cairo up 27-16. Duncan, who rushed for a first-half touchdown and was active on multiple pass break-ups defensively, sprung a 70-yard punt return touchdown early in the fourth to help drive home the nails as Dray Bass added a field goal with three minutes left to put it out of reach of Peach County. The Trojans rallied for two touchdowns late, but the comeback fizzled as Cairo recovered their onside kick (both teams, ironically, came up with one to steal the first possessions of either half) with 62 seconds to play. Duncan, with one score rushing and two receiving (on receptions from an 8-of-9 Bryce Puckett 8-of-9), had a hand in all five Cairo touchdowns and north of 300 all-purpose yards. Peach’s Caiden Ivory was 10-of-21 for 178 yards and two touchdowns, one each to Josh Reis and Ashton Barton. Barton carried 30 times for 120 and two touchdowns.

Savannah Christian 45, Swainsboro 19: The Red Raiders led 521-283 in total yardage, with Blaise Thomas rushing for 128 and a score, and completing 14 of 18 passes for 262 and two touchdowns. Swainsboro’s Joshua Gray and Kason Edenfield combined to throw for 180, and two touchdowns, but were intercepted twice. Gray’s early-second quarter TD pass to Shannon Benjamin and a five-yard Marco Danford rushing score out of halftime both cut a two-score Savannah Christian lead back to one. But two of Allen Hudspeth’s three rushing touchdowns closed the quarter as the Raiders pulled away.

Warner Robins 48, Ware Co. 44: The Demons’ Chandler Dyson, with three passing touchdowns, and Ware County’s Isaiah White, with one score rushing and 230 passing yards, paced the offenses in a wild shootout that featured three non-offensive touchdowns. Khari Ptomey opened and closed the fireworks show, running back the opening kickoff 98 yards to give Robins its first lead, then scoring on an 8-yard run to put it ahead for the final time with 96 seconds left in the fourth quarter. A fourth-down stop at the Demons’ 8 sealed the playoff-clinching win.

Westside, Augusta 44, Baldwin 27: The Braves had Westside sweating a bit early in the third quarter, after Jerrick Carswell’s return of the third-quarter kick for a score gave them a 14-7 lead. But the Patriots, who were held in check after their opening drive for a Jaylen Stone-to-Joshua Crawford touchdown connection, quickly responded with the first of four rushing touchdowns by Tamari Curry, who exploded for the rest of his 335 yards on 34 carries that put their ninth win away. Jeffery Hughes’ sack forced a fumble that Reonte Brown returned for six in the fourth quarter to help top it off.

THROUGH THE EYE: Rutland’s Kentavious Spivey darts through a gaping hole in the trenches during the Hurricanes’ region showdown with Westside/DONN RODENROTH, for the Macon Melody

Westside, Macon 16, Rutland 14: The Hurricanes were poised for a chance to score and grab their first win, but Tylen Bobbitt snuck up on an unsuspecting ball-carrier to club it out just after a critical fourth-down conversion, and Westside recovered to run out the clock on a narrow win to preserve a shot at making the playoffs. Rutland, whose lengthy losing streak now spans 20 straight games (its last six defeats at the hands of teams ranked in the top 10), committed four red zone turnovers to negate the impact of Zamarien Johnson’s pair of touchdowns, one rushing on six carries for 84 yards and the second to Jordan Orange, on nine completions of 11 for 104. An early third-quarter safety, plus the rushing touchdowns of Jaiden Stephens and Kaleb Blount, were the difference for the Seminoles.

Click here for a full write-up of the game by Michael A. Lough, reporting for the Macon Melody.

Worth Co. 26, Jeff Davis 14: The Yellow Jackets held a 7-6 lead at the half after an R.J. Simms rushing touchdown, and Fabian Valdelamar point-after to go up, late in the second quarter. But Worth County, whose Lyndon Worthy was 9-of-13 passing for 107 yards and a touchdown, with Kaden Chester and Treshaun Jones combining for 152 yards and three scores rushing, outdid Jeff Davis 20-7 in the last two quarters.