Our Round 2 Game of the Week takes us to Jefferson for the fourth time this season in a second round playoff matchup.
JEFFERSON
The Dragons just destroyed the Golden Tornadoes of Monroe. Jefferson was up big 31-0 at the half, and Gavin Markey had himself a day with 5 total TDs. Jefferson averaged nearly 6 yards per tote, and only passed the ball 3 times – with 2 going for TDs. The defense was extra-special, as they came up with 3 picks and blocked 2 kicks, adding 2 sacks. The boys are undefeated at home, and have only one time in such games given up more than 14 points. In fact, Jefferson has given up 7 or fewer points at home in each of the last 4 contests at Memorial Stadium. The 3 losses have all come on the road including against (drum roll) this very Oconee County team.
OCONEE COUNTY
The Warriors are 7-4 and coming off a 31-14 win against Westside on the road. QB Titus Watkins, RB Caiden Wood, and WRs Mason Hall and James Holland make for an uber-talented offensive core. The defense is what really makes this team a threat though, as Zach Weeks is part of that group as a Power 4 prospect. Since starting the season 0-3, Oconee has gone 7-1 since, giving up more than 17 points just once (to Jefferson).
BY THE NUMBERS (2024)
JEFFERSON
8-3 (8-AAA Champions)
Region Standings: 1st
34.4 OFFENSE AVG
16.0 DEFENSE AVG
#1 State Ranking
OCONEE COUNTY
7-4 (8-AAA Runner-Up)
Region Standings: 2nd
30.7 OFFENSE AVG
15.2 DEFENSE AVG
#4 State Ranking
GAME HIGHLIGHTS
Be looking for highlights post-game later tonight as well as a story recapping Round Two. BLITZ partners with Fox 5’s 11 PM “High 5 Sports” show throughout the season. We make sure to get Jefferson coverage on the big market show! (schedule is different this week). You can also follow us on Twitter (@BlitzSportsGa) for live score updates (5G pending).
TEAM LOWDOWN
Let’s begin with the Dragons. First off, they’re at home. With Dragon Nation behind them, it will be tough for anyone to win there. If the trend continues, Jefferson wins by that alone as the Dragons haven’t lost at home this year. But also, if Gavin Markey can alleviate the pressure on the defense by getting some early scores, this one’s in the bag. Oconee needs to be opportunistic, and come up with some huge stops on defense and perhaps a turnover or two. If they win the turnover battle, look out. OUR PICK: SEE HERE
MATCHUP DETAILS
TIME: 7:30 PM Kickoff
PLACE: Jefferson HS / Jefferson, GA / Memorial Stadium
LAST MEETING: 2024 (Week 12) / #9 Oconee County 32, #2 Jefferson 30 (3 OT)
ALL-TIME RECORD: Jefferson leads 13-12 in the all-time series
RECORDS: #1 Jefferson Dragons (8-3) vs #4 Oconee County Warriors (7-4)
HEAD COACHES: Travis Noland (218-96; 27 Seasons); Ben Hall (106-41; 12 Seasons)
HISTORICALLY SPEAKING
These teams have squared off 25 times all the way back to 1968. Jefferson leads 13-12 overall, and won the first 7 meetings up to 1976. In 1977, Oconee grabbed its first win, and won 8 of the next 11. Since 2014, the Warriors have won 5 of the 8 meetings, including 4 of the last 5. That also includes this year’s 32-30 overtime game. As if the rivalry needed any more sauce on it – coaches Travis Noland and Ben Hall are facing both of their former teams. This marks the fourth meeting between the pair in their new roles, but their seventh overall (on the opposing sideline). In other words, Ben Hall was at Jefferson in the 2014, 2015, and 2016 matchups against Travis Noland’s Oconee County team. They switched seats and have squared off in 2022, 2023, and now twice in 2024. Overall, Hall is 4-2 in the head-to-head matchup. This is the first time the Dragons and Warriors have ever faced in the playoffs though. They just played 3 weeks ago, but this will be totally different.
TEAM LEADERS (2024 Stats)
*Stats accumulated by team-published data on Ga MaxPreps
JEFFERSON
PASSING
Gavin Markey – 1,197 pass yds, 14 TD, 6 INT
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RUSHING
Gavin Markey – 1,051 yds, 15 TD
Dallas Russell – 655 yds, 10 TD
Mickell Pittman – 339 yds, 4 TD
Rett Hemphill – 327 yds, 5 TD
RECEIVING
Talan Childress – 452 yds, 5 TD, 21 rec
Dalton Dye – 375 yds, 5 TD, 22 rec
RJ Hinton – 143 yds, 3 TD, 10 rec
Rett Hemphill – 84 yds, 1 TD
Dallas Russell – 75 yds, 1 TD
DEFENSIVE LEADERS
Max Brown – 103 TKL, 10 TFL, 2 Sacks, 3 FR, 1 FF
Rett Hemphill – 97 TKL, 8 TFL, 2 Sacks, 4 INT, 1 FR, 1 BLK
Jayden Yang – 68 TKL, 4 TFL, 1 Sack, 1 FR, 1 BLK
Kelan Butler – 65 TKL, 9 TFL, 5 Sacks, 1 FF, 1 BLK
Dashaun Keith – 48 TKL, 3 INT
Darren Pinkard – 46 TKL, 9 TFL, 5 Sacks
OCONEE COUNTY
PASSING
Titus Watkins – 1,895 yds, 12 TD, 5 INT
RUSHING
Caiden Wood – 865 yds, 10 TD
Tyler Garrett – 534 yds, 3 TD
Darius Darden – 384 yds, 8 TD
Titus Watkins – 179 yds, 5 TD
RECEIVING
Mason Hall – 667 yds, 6 TD, 52 rec
James Holland – 440 yds, 1 TD, 26 rec
Caiden Wood – 225 yds, 0 TD, 15 rec
Zach Weeks – 174 yds, 3 TD, 12 rec
Cole Johnson – 145 yds, 0 TD, 8 rec
DEFENSIVE LEADERS (partial stats published)
Zach Weeks – 87 TKL, 4 TFL, 3 Sacks
Conner Jackson – 48 TKL, 4 TFL, 1 Sack, 3 INT, 1 FR
Cole Johnson – 38 TKL, 2 TFL, 1 INT
Grady Spurlin – 29 TKL
Kmari Morrow – 17 TKL, 4 Sacks
