Coach Gene Cathcart and his Jefferson Dragons are headed to the big show. The Dragons defeated Benedictine in the Class 4A semifinal Friday night. The other local favorite, Rabun County, is out of the title hunt.
#1 Callaway 41, #1 Rabun County 17
The Wildcats fell behind 14-0 quickly. After coming back to get within 14-10, Callaway went on a 27-0 run to put the game away. Gunner Stockton had a rushing TD and a passing score to Adriel Clark. Clark set the single-season TD record with his 28th of the season.
#1 Jefferson 42 – #1 Benedictine 35
Malaki Starks had a legendary game, as the Dragons advanced to their first title game since 2012. Constantly Benedictine would take a lead, only to see Jefferson knot it up. It was tied at 7 after one, as Starks had a 2-yd TD run. Kolton Jones had a 22-yd TD in the second to tie it at 14, as that held to the break. After going down 21-14 in the third, Starks scored on a 5-yd run to tie it back up, and did it again to tie it at 28 with a 6-yd TD by Starks. It was tied at 28 going into the fourth. Starks threw a 32-yd TD pass to Spencer Neese to push the Dragons ahead with 10:20 to go, but Benedictine responded quickly to tied it at 35. With 4:52 left, Starks scored on a 65-yd run to put the Dragons up 42-35. Benedictine drove down to the 12-yard line, but Starks came up with a game-sealing end zone interception.
The Dragons face Marist in the Class AAAA finals next week in Atlanta.
Other state semfinal scores
Class A Private
#1 Prince Avenue Christian 50 – #1 Wesleyan 3
Class AA
#1 Jefferson County 0 – #1 Fitzgerald 24
Class AAA
#1 Oconee County 21 – #1 Greater Atlanta Christian 20
Class AAAAAA
#1 Buford 45 – #2 Valdosta 26
Class AAAAAAA
#1 Grayson 28 – #1 Norcross 0
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