Middle Georgia football scores: Warner Robins, Jones advance to Elite 8 showdown
The high school football playoffs in Middle Georgia are in full swing. Teams took the field on Friday night with the goal of surviving and advancing to the quarterfinals.
There were plenty of upsets, close calls and blowout wins to go around on Friday night, including defending 5A champion Warner Robins in a rematch with Cartersville from last season’s title game.
Here is a look at some of the best games, highlights and scores from around Middle Georgia in second round of the playoffs.
Best game
Warner Robins 24, Cartersville 17
These two teams squared off in the state-title game last season when Warner Robins put up more than 60 points on the Purple Hurricanes. This game was a completely different game as the defenses flexed their muscles from the early moments of the game and ultimately decided this game.
After a scoreless first quarter, Warner Robins finally broke through for a touchdown with 8:43 left in the second quarter as Christon Lane hit Cam Flowers on a deep fade route to the back of the end zone. Flowers outjumped his defender for the score on fourth-and-long.
The Purple Hurricanes answered quickly with a touchdown drive of their own. Running back Amari White capped the drive with a leap into the end zone to tie the score with under 5 minutes left in the first half.
The two teams went into the half deadlocked at 7 after Warner Robins fumbled the ball deep inside Cartersville territory for the second time in the first half.
Warner Robins offense struggled on the first drive of the second half and punted the ball down inside the 20-yard line. Amari White found the end zone the first play of the drive with an 83-yard touchdown run to put Cartersville up 14-7.
The Demons drove down the field behind a pair of long runs by Jafredrick Perry but the drive stalled out near the goal line. Kicker Daniel Barber hit a 25-yard field goal to get Warner Robins within four with 5 minutes left in the third quarter.
After Cartersville answered with a field goal of its own, the Warner Robins offense came alive. With nine minutes left in the game, Christon Lane hit Vanderbilt commit Daveon Walker for a 40-yard touchdown.
The defense came up with a stop on the following drive to get the ball back in the hands of Lane and the offense.
Warner Robins found the end zone on a short run by Perry to go up 24-17 with under seven minutes left in the game.
The Purple Hurricanes looked as though they would tie the score at 24 as they drove down to the Warner Robins’ goal line with ease.
On first down, Perry came off his block to make a leaping tackle to save the touchdown. The Demons came up with back-to-back stops to force a key fourth down.
Defensive end Victory Burley dove in to break up the pass but a flag for pass interference gave Cartersville one final chance from the 2-yard line.
But once again, Warner Robins stuffed the run up the middle to hang on and advance to the quarterfinals.
Three stars
Warner Robins defense: When the Demons needed it the most, the defense came up with the biggest stop of the season. With Warner Robins up 24-17 on the road, it came up with five straight stops on the goal line to help propel the Demons into the third round of the playoffs. Jafredrick Perry had a big impact on this game on the offensive side of the ball, but his biggest play was a touchdown-saving tackle at the goal line. Warner Robins is looking to repeat as state champions in 5A and the win over Cartersville feels like a potential momentum builder.
Northeast: The Raiders cruised in the first round at home against Cook County. Northeast had to go on the road this week against a No. 1 seed in Haralson County. The upset looked to be on early as Northeast jumped out to a 20-6 lead, but Haralson County responded with a late rally to tie the score at 20. But the Raiders would shut the door with a long touchdown drive to go up 26-20 and seal the game with an interception before going into victory formation.
FPD: This team beat Aquinas in the first round, a team that beat them earlier in the season. But the Vikings were not content with simply getting out of the first round. They turned in one of their most dominant performances of the season with a shutout of Mount Vernon. FPD will get a chance to host a third straight home game next week.
Scoreboard
Jones County 66, Eastside 42
Northeast 26, Haralson County 20
Peach County 24, Monroe Area 21
Callaway 35, Bleckley County 14
FPD 31, Mount Vernon 0
Northside 42, Douglas County 13
Perry 42, Flowery Branch 7
Darlington 24, Tattnall 14
What’s next?
Jones County vs. Warner Robins
These two teams are just 30 miles from one another. The two Middle Georgia schools met in the semifinals last season with Warner Robins beating the Greyhounds 56-21. But Jones County comes into the game on back-to-back games with more than 50 points scored.
The Warner Robins defense hasn’t given up more than 34 points in a game all season long and has held five straight opponents to under 20 points.
Jones County will get to host this game and the atmosphere will be one of the best in the state as the two local schools battle for a spot in the semifinals.