Dodge County breezes past Jackson-Atlanta
EASTMAN -- For a team that likes to grind things out on offense, Dodge County found a way to beat its first-round playoff opponent with a big play.
Quarterback Clint Thompson's 95-yard option keeper with 4:06 to go in the second quarter gave Dodge County the momentum it needed to pull away for a 45-3 win over Jackson-Atlanta in the first round of the GHSA Class AAA playoffs Friday.
The fourth-ranked Indians (11-0) racked up 369 rushing yards while putting forth a strong defensive effort as they won their first-round game for the second year in a row.
Up next is a home game next week against Elbert County, featuring four-star cornerback Mecole Hardman. Elbert County defeated seventh-ranked Central-Carrollton 17-7 on Friday.
"They're a quality football team," Dodge County head coach Rex Hodges said of Elbert County. "It will be a big game here next Friday. We've got to get ready for them."
Thompson, who ran for a 1-yard score on Dodge County's first drive and added a 16-yard pass to A.J. Lampkin early in the second quarter, was under center at the Indians' 5 following a Jackson-Atlanta punt. On the first play of the drive, he ran an option to the Jackson-Atlanta sideline, keeping it around end. He turned up the field, and no defender was able to catch him.
The long run gave Dodge County a 21-3 lead. And it was all Indians from there. Thompson finished with 126 rushing yards and 22 passing yards on 2-of-6 passing.
"It was big; I think it got them down and out a little bit," Thompson said. "We just kept on fighting, and that's how it went."
There was plenty of run support all night for Dodge County. Power back Kyle Glover had 118 yards and a touchdown, while Camron Young and Cameron Coleman also had scoring runs.
Place-kicker Peyton Bush also had a strong night, connecting on all six of his extra-point attempts and making a 40-yard field goal as time expired in the first half.
Jackson-Atlanta (6-5) lost starting quarterback Roderick Hammond in the second quarter when he was on the receiving end of what officials called a helmet-to-helmet hit on a loose ball scramble. Jackson rotated two other quarterbacks after that, with a third player throwing an unsuccessful halfback pass, but the Jaguars managed just 18 passing yards after the injury to Hammond.
Dodge County held Jackson-Atlanta to 99 yards of total offense while recording four takeaways.
"We did a pretty good job defensively," Hodges said. "We had some turnovers and got good field position. They blitzed a lot, so it was hard running the ball to start with, but we kept plugging at it and got some good runs."