Middle Georgia football scores: Northside, FPD punch tickets to second round of playoffs
The high school football playoffs in Middle Georgia are officially under way. Teams took the field on Friday night with the goal of surviving and advancing to the second round.
There were plenty of upsets, close calls and blowout wins to go around on Friday night including defending 5A champion, Warner Robins advancing to the second round of the playoffs behind a big day from running back Jafredrick Perry.
Here is a look at some of the best games, highlights and scores from around Middle Georgia in first round of the playoffs.
Best game
Warner Robins 64, Jonesboro 20
The Warner Robins Demons came into the playoffs this year in relatively unfamiliar territory as No. 2 seed after failing to win the region title for the first time since 2016. But the defending champions got off to a hot start: Running back Jafredrick Perry rushed for three touchdowns in the first quarter.
Jonesboro got on the board on the final play of the first quarter with a kickoff return for a touchdown. But once again the Demons responded with a touchdown. The two teams continued to trade scores down the stretch in the first half with Warner Robins taking the lead into the half up 34-20.
In the second half, it was more of the Demons rushing attack on display. Perry carried the ball down the field on the opening drive of the second half before quarterback Christon Lane took the read-option for a score to put Warner Robins up 41-20.
The Warner Robins defense managed to pitch a shutout after halftime as Jonesboro struggled to get past the 50-yard line in the second half. The Demons continued to pour it scoring three touchdowns and field goal down the stretch.
The quest to repeat as state champions is one step closer for Warner Robins as it moves on to the second round.
Three stars
Jafredrick Perry, Warner Robins RB: With star running back Malcolm Brown out of the game, Perry came out on a mission as the lead back in this game. Perry rushed for three touchdowns in the first half and also set the Demons up with good field position on a pair of long kickoff returns.
If Brown is forced to miss the rest of the season, look for Perry to step into the role on offense. His performance against Jonesboro shows he is more than ready for that task.
Bleckley County: The Royals were down 16-6 in the second half against upset-minded Early County. The No. 1 seed Bleckley County managed to settle down and storm back down to take a 20-16 win.
This is a team that has had to stage a couple comebacks in the regular season and wasted no time getting itself in a similar position Friday night.
But the resilience was on full display in the win. Bleckley County came off a bye week before the playoffs and it took them a bit to get going but will look to carry this momentum over to next week.
Perry: The Panthers have been on a roll recently blowing out opponents including a 40-8 win in the region title game against Baldwin County.
Perry managed to jump on Hardaway and never look back. The defense has given up just 20 points over its last five games. This looks like a team that is poised to make a run in the playoffs.
Scoreboard
- Woodward 48, Veterans 14
- Peach County 42, Morgan County 3
- Thomasville 42, Washington County 0
- Perry 31, Hardaway 12
- Northeast 42, Cook 22
- Jones County 56, Griffin 42
- Carver-Columbus 22, West Laurens 7
- Bleckley County 20, Early County 16
- LaGrange 19, Baldwin 0
- Fitzgerald 15, Dodge County 6
- Burke County 42, Mary Persons 21
- FPD 21, Aquinas 14
- Turner County 38, Dublin 36
- Calvary Day 49, Mount de Sales 7
- Savannah Country Day 21, Stratford 19
- Northside 35, Lakeside Evans 3
- Tattnall 28, Savannah Christian 21
- Evans 19, Houston County 10
What’s next?
Warner Robins vs Cartersville
These two teams met last year in the state championship game in 5A. Warner Robins dismantled Cartersville by a score of 62-27. The game was held at Georgia State on a neutral field. Warner Robins will have to travel to the top seed’s home next week.
The location could play a factor in this one as it will be harder for Warner Robins to duplicate its performance in a more hostile environment.
This is a different Cartersville team. They have not lost a game since the title game a season ago. This should be one of the best games of the season and the winner will advance to the third round of the playoffs.
This story was originally published November 12, 2021 at 10:58 PM.