Week 4 Scoreboard: Jones County dominates Peach County. Perry and Veterans trade blows
In a battle between two teams trying to find a direction for the 2023 season, the Jones County Greyhounds put on a show at their home stadium to earn a 48-21 win over the Peach County Trojans on Friday night.
The victory brings Jones County to 2-2 and rights the ship for this touted Greyhounds team after a flat start to the year.
“I really believe, since I’ve been at Jones County, this might be the hardest our kids have played,” Greyhounds coach Mike Chastain said. “They flew around, just gettin’ after it tonight, and that’s what I’m really proud of.”
The first win of the Marquis Westbrook era at Peach County will have to wait, as the Trojans fell to 0-4 on the year to begin the head coach’s first campaign after leaving Warner Robins last offseason.
Jones County was expected to improve on its 6-5 finish in 2022, with several returning defensive starters and solid offensive pieces, but suffered a tough loss against Northside in the season opener before losing to Perry in a 54-21 blowout last week.
The win brought momentum back to the squad and showed what the offense was capable of, Chastain said.
“Bouncing back after gettin’ our butts whooped a week ago and they come back and do that, I’m just so proud of them,” Chastain said. “I can’t say enough about our coaching staff getting these kids to buy in. The morale that these kids have is through the roof, even after a lackluster start to the season.”
With the Greyhounds back at .500, it looks like they might have put themselves back on the right track for the season.
“We know going in we’re going to play tough teams,” Chastain said. “Sometimes tough losses happen, but I don’t want to make any excuses about the first part of the year. All I know is, if we can stay healthy, we’re gonna be a tough team to play. Proud of our guys, and just hope we can continue to build on it.”
A lights-out performance
The Greyhounds dominated early on both sides of the ball, scoring three touchdowns in the first quarter. Some solid passing from Jones County quarterback Devin Edmonds netted the Greyhounds a fourth touchdown in the second quarter as they pulled ahead 28-0.
Yards after the catch were the name of the game for Jones County, with receiver Zion Ragins juking multiple Peach County defenders on two different touchdown grabs. Rusher David Little also got in on the action, breaking some ankles on the way to a touchdown in the first quarter.
The Jones County defensive line played a major role in its early success, as the unit beat the Trojans in the trenches throughout the first half as well, holding Peach County to a lone touchdown in the second quarter. The Greyhounds entered the break with a 28-7 lead.
The Trojans showed some life to start the second half, stopping Jones County quickly on its first drive before blocking a punt and returning it for a touchdown to make it 28-14. The Greyhounds snuffed out any signs of a comeback, though, controlling the rest of the third quarter, striking for two more scores to blow the game open.
A long rushing touchdown at the beginning of the fourth quarter sealed the deal for Jones County, as the Greyhounds put some backup players in the game with about nine minutes left.
Some garbage time Peach County touchdowns altered the final score, but the outcome was already decided.
Other scores
- Houston County 56, Locust Grove 12
- Perry 49, Veterans 41
- Valdosta 45, Warner Robins 12
- Baldwin 21, Washington County 10
- Westside 49, Rutland 35
- Harris County 27, Howard 19
- Mary Persons 35, Haralson County 14
- ACE 54, Jordan 0
- Northeast 25, Carver (Columbus) 18
- Worth County 49, Central 0
- CFCA 31, Crawford County 29
- Stratford 45, Brookwood 26
- FDP, Laney
- John Milledge 34, George Walton 7
- Bowdon 40, Tattnall 13
- St. Anne-Pacelli 48, Mount de Sales 7
Washington-Wilkes 47, GMC 14
