Senior American team downs Nationals 17-14 after deciding Trevor Thomas TD run

In the final game of the 2017 Georgia Elite Classic, the Senior American team defeated the National team 17-14. The Americans scored a touchdown on an 11-play, 69-yard drive that took 5:40 and spanned the end of the third quarter and four minutes into the fourth. But it took a long run from the American quarterback for the go-ahead score.

Quarterback Trevor Thomas (Pepperell) put the Americans ahead for good with a 33-yard touchdown run, and the defense held on the Nationals’ two possessions in the fourth quarter. On the Nationals’ final possession, the team was backed up on a 10-yard sack of quarterback Garrett Bass (Woodstock) and a false-start penalty, making for a fourth-and-23 from its own 27. A 20-yard run from Bass on fourth down left the Nationals short with 42 seconds left, and the Americans ran out the clock from there.

The Americans struck on the first play from scrimmage, as quarterback J.T. Rice (Thomasville) hit wide receiver Julius Cobbs (Warner Robins) for a 70-yard touchdown to give the team a 7-0 lead.

The Nationals tied the game at 7-7 in the second quarter after Trevon Wofford (Cedartown) found Steven Peterson (Harrison) for a 26-yard touchdown just a minute into the period (the Senior game featured 13-minute quarters). They then took the lead 14-7 after Jalyn Shelton (Ridgeland) rushed 6 yards for a touchdown with 4:11 left in the half. The Americans drive on the next possession was thwarted by a Wesley Wells (Lumpkin County) interception near midfield, and the halftime score remained 14-7 in favor of the National team.

The National team hit a 34-yard field goal at the 5:06 mark of the third quarter to make it 14-10, setting up its game-winning touchdown.

Thomas, who was named the game’s MVP, rushed for 106 yards for the Americans with a touchdown, and Rice was 7-of-11 passing for 142 yards and his scoring pass on the first play. Cobbs finished with 94 yards receiving.

Wofford led the Nationals in rushing with 55 yards and was 4-of-6 passing for 34 yards and a score. Peterson led his team in receiving with four catches for 50 yards and his score.