Jefferson 31, Gainesville 28
How the game was won: D.J. Irons’ pass sailed incomplete in the end zone as Jefferson held on after Irons had drawn the Red Elephants to within a field goal with an 11-yard touchdown pass to Jeff Barnett with 6:22 remaining in regulation. The game marked the first time in history the two prestigious North Georgia programs had met on the gridiron.
Top Performers: Colby Wood and Zack Boobas carried the Dragons, both scoring two touchdowns apiece. Wood broke off scoring runs of 57 and 13 yards while Boobas added a pair of 6-yard scores. Hayden Kilgore knocked in a 26-yard field goal in the second quarter to give Jefferson a 17-0 lead. D.J. Irons ignited the Gainesville comeback with a 6-yard touchdown run just before the half. Irons hit Jeff Barnett on a 16-yard strike and Martavious Davis from 20 yards out to make it 24-20 heading into the fourth.
Rabun County 34, West Hall 10
How the game was won: Andrew Barnes gave the Wildcats a 6-0 lead after two first quarter field goals. Bailey Fisher and Cal Drummond did the rest, combining for four touchdowns.
Top Performers: Andrew Barnes sank field goals of 37 and 30 yards. Bailey Fisher snuck in a score and connected with Braxton Hicks on a 40-yard touchdown strike. Cal Drummond powered in a 1-yard and 4-yard score in the fourth quarter. West Hall received a field goal from Israel Lopez in the second quarter and a Michael Thompson 5-yard quarterback keeper in the fourth.
Stratford Academy 35, Lincoln County 19
How the game was won: Lincoln County quarterback Javon Reid ran in a 1-yard touchdown and and threw an 89-yard touchdown pass to Quindarious Wright in the first half. Stratford Academy, however, used a safety and first quarter touchdown runs by Deondre Duehart and Ames Jamison to hold a 15-13 lead at intermission. The Jamison touchdown was set up by a Lincoln County fumble and the Trojans continued to struggle protecting the football in the second half. Reid found Duke Roberts for an 80-yard touchdown to open the third quarter to put Lincoln County up 19-15, but Stratford Academy used 20 unanswered points to close the game. Jake Jamison kicked a 35-yard field goal to pull Stratford Academy within a point (19-18) and after a 3-and-out to open the fourth quarter, the Eagles punted to Lincoln County, which muffed the return at its own 23 to set up another Jamison field goal from 35 yards out (21-19). With 3:50 left in the game, Stratford Academy went for it on a 4th and 3 from the 4-yard line as Ames Jamison found the end zone to make it 28-19. Jourdain Irvin intercepted the next Lincoln County possession at the 33-yard line and Carter Griffin closed the game with a 2-yard touchdown run with 1:22 left.
Top performers: Stratford Academy’s Ames Jamison ran in a 4-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter for his second rushing score. Lincoln County quarterback Javon Reid passed for 212 yards in the first half as his offense was held to minus-10 rushing yards.
Fitzgerald 41, Smiths Station (Ala.) 7
How the game was won: Host Fitzgerald scored the first six touchdowns of the night before a kickoff-return score by Smiths Station in the third quarter. Fitzgerald quarterback James Graham accounted for four total touchdowns to help his team move to 4-0.
Top performers: Graham rushed 12 times for 93 yards and three scores on runs of one, 11 and 14 yards and was 8-of-14 passing for 103 yards and a 39-yard touchdown to Montrell Harris in the second quarter. Star running back JD King was used sparingly in the blowout, rushing 13 times for 72 yards and a one-yard touchdown in the third quarter. King also had one catch for 28 yards. Antonio Perry had a 25-yard interception return for a touchdown for the Purple Hurricane.
Prince Avenue Christian 39, George Walton Academy 21
How the game was won: In a battle of undefeateds, upstart George Walton Academy threw the kitchen sink at the Wolverines, jumping out to a 14-0 lead thanks to a flea-flicker and a 54-yard run. The Bulldogs led 21-14 heading into the fourth quarter. After a pair of Wolverine scores, George Walton attempted to catch Prince Avenue off guard one more time with another flea-flicker, but instead Noah Campbell picked off the pass with 5:36 left to play. The Wolverines iced the game on a Thomas Huff touchdown and a Christian Parrish pick-six.
Top Performers: Sam Wessinger first put the Wolverines on the board with an 87-yard kick return at the 8:44 mark of the second quarter. Noah Campbell returned a block punt for a score and intercepted a pass. Thomas Huff scored on runs of 15 and 27 yards. Grant Roland tossed a touchdown to Christian Parrish, who also scored on an interception return.
Eastside 32, Oconee County 31 (OT)
How the game was won: Eastside’s Billy Love kicked a 27-yard field goal with 55 seconds left in the game to force overtime tied 24-24. A Jared Hood 5-yard touchdown run in extra period gave Oconee County a 31-24 lead. Eastside answered with an Austin Holloway quarterback keeper touchdown run to make it 31-30. On the ensuing 2-point conversion, Holloway found Jamari Brown on a bubble screen out in the flats before the sophomore plunged his way into the end zone for the game-winning play.
Top performers: Josh Sims gave Eastside a 21-14 halftime lead with a pair of touchdowns. Oconee County’s Champ Bell caught a touchdown pass in the second quarter and opened the third quarter with a 17-yard touchdown run that tied it at 21-21. Hunter Reynolds kicked a 32-yard Oconee County field goal with 2:46 left before Love tied the game at 24-24 with his 27-yard field goal less than two minutes later.
Cartersville 44, Cedartown 6
How the game was won: The Purple Hurricanes outgained Cedartown 380 to 48. A 51-yard swing pass to Trey Creamer that went for six set the tone.
Top Performers: Trevor Lawrence went 18-of-31 for 300 yards and five touchdowns. Antoine Jefferson caught 10 balls for 153 yards and one score. JKobe Orr caught two touchdowns. Trase Fezzia brought in a 43-yard touchdown pass.
Jefferson County 48, Westside-Augusta 0
How the game was won: Jefferson County began the first quarter with a 25-yard touchdown run by Jimmy Thomas to spark the scoring. Jaden Jenkins followed up with a pair of touchdown passes to Nikel Stone and Ja’darius Hector. Jefferson County took a 35-0 lead into the second half and improved to 5-0 for the first time since 2013.
Top Performers: Jenkins threw three touchdown passes to lead the Warriors. Jefferson County has outscored its five opponents 174-28 this season.
West Forsyth 26, Newnan 21
How the game was won: Adam Clack and company dominated the the first two quarters as host West Forsyth entered halftime with a 19-0 lead, but the Cougars started to crawl back. Newnan scored seven seconds into the third quarter on two plays for 62 yards capped off by a Kadarius Satterwhite touchdown run. The Cougars stormed back to cut the deficit to 26-21 with two minutes left, but the Wolverines held on to get the win.
Top performers: West Forsyth’s senior quarterback Kiernen Hamilton and junior running back, Blake Snee provided the offensive spark for the Wolverines. Hamilton went 19-of-31 passing for 200 yards and three touchdowns while Blake Snee recorded 22 carries for 137 yards and a touchdown.
Houston County 28, Spalding 24
How the game was won: Spalding opened the game with a 17-0 lead that held up late into the second quarter until Houston County chipped away to make it 17-8 at the half. Looking to stay undefeated, Jake Fromm led the Bears to three second half touchdowns as they completed the comeback and improved to 6-0 for the second straight season.
Top Performers: To go with his record-setting season, Houston County quarterback Jake Fromm, would complete 24 of 36 passes for 309 yards and three touchdowns. Fromm gained 72 yards on the ground and added to his three passing touchdowns with a rushing score.
Carrollton 33, Woodland-Cartersville 0
Grady 54, Decatur 0
Woodstock 35, North Forsyth 3
Calhoun 31, North Murray 7
North Paulding 31, Cherokee 21
Lee County 37, Thomas County Central 7
Colquitt County 45, Valdosta 24
Jones County 44, Eagles Landing 28
Northgate 35, South Paulding 7
Ridgeland 48, Northwest Whitfield 42
Tift County 31, Coffee 20
Athens Christian 21, Commerce 14
Wesleyan 47, Holy Innocents’ 7
Hughes 41, Douglas County 21