Week 12 was the end of the regular season – the end of the road for some and a final tune-up for others.
Elbert County 28, #10 Rabun County 21
The Blue Devils never trailed in a contest that was a ‘Jekyll and Hyde’. After a defensive stalemate for much of the first half, the offenses traded blows for about a quarter before a scoreless final frame. Elbert went up 14-0 when Jayvyn Hickman had a 1-yd run in the first, then threw a Hail Mary TD as the buzzer sounded at the half, which was tipped into the hands of a diving Ty’Rikis Jones. Lake Evans took the second half kickoff to the end zone, and Ty Truelove tied it up with a 40-yd TD moments later. Jacari Barnett’s 1-yd TD regained the Elbert lead, but Evans had his own from 39 yards out to tie it at 21 apiece. Barnett’s 68-yd TD near the end of the third was the final dagger.
Jackson County 34, Habersham Central 21
Jackson took a 10-0 lead after one, but a 1-yd TD run to open the second got Habersham back into it. The Panthers retaliated with a 75-yd TD for the 17-7 edge late in the second. Habersham got another score just before the half to pull within 17-14. A third quarter response for Jackson created some breathing room for the Panthers. Both teams traded punches the rest of the way to a 34-21 final.
#5 Oconee County 32, #1 Jefferson 30 (OT)
In heart-breaking fashion, Jefferson lost an overtime thriller at the hands of Oconee County. The Dragons took an early lead on a 13-yd TD for Dallas Russell, then reclaimed the lead on a 25-yd TD pass from Gavin Markey to Talan Childress early in the second. An Eli Primm interception turned into an Taylor McCall field goal a bit later. Oconee stormed back to tie the game at 17 late in the third. Markey drove one in from 3 feet out for the lead with 4:04 to play. Oconee tied it to go to overtime. Once there, Jefferson lost 32-30. Despite the loss, the Dragons still are Region Champions!
#5 North Cobb Christian 44, Union County 24 (THURSDAY)
4-star sophomore QB Teddy Jarrard carved up the Panthers’ defense, as #5-ranked North Cobb Christian won 44-24. It didn’t help that Union lost star defensive player Ethan Lester early on. NC took a 20-3 lead after the first, and led 30-10 at the break. Kamden Kendrick had a rushing TD for Union. In the second half, Connor Schuknecht had a rushing TD, and the Panthers got one more score before it was all said and done.
#8 Commerce 55, Providence Christian 23
The Tigers clawed right through Providence Christian. It started with a 61-yd TD by Jaiden Daniels. Midway through the first, Jacari Huff had a 70-yd run for pay dirt, and a 75-yd touch for Tysean Wiggins made it 21-0 in the opening quarter. Wiggins had a 55-yd TD in the middle of the second, and Jace Lyle added a 20-yd TD before the half to make it 35-10. Another Huff TD, this time from 61 yards out, made it 41-16 going into the fourth. Lyle and Terrence Burtch added TD runs in the final period, as Commerce prevailed 55-23.
#10 North Hall 35, Dawson County 3
North Hall celebrated its first region title in over a decade with a blowout 35–3 win over Dawson County at the brickyard. The Tigers managed only a field goal by Jacob Felkai in the second half. .
Lumpkin County 29, Pickens 26
The Indians held a 21-13 halftime lead and Pickens closed out the third down just 21-20. Lumpkin held on for the 29-26 win, securing a Region Runner-Up finish.
White County 47, Johnson 6
The Warriors obliterated Johnson all night long. Tripp Nix had an early TD pass of 21 yds to John Phillips, and Noel Lammers had a 10-yd TD for the 13-0 lead. Lammers had a 13-yd TD in the second, as well as a 1-yd plunge for his third TD of the night. Gaines Clark had a punt return for a score as part of a 34-6 halftime lead. In the third, Noah Williams added a 15-yd score, and Cooper Garrett had a 10-yd TD to make it 47-6, which proved the final as the Warriors closed their season with a win.
#9 Stephens County 55, East Jackson 31
The Indians won their second straight game in blowout fashion, 55-31 over East Jackson in the regular season finale.
Banks County 29, Oglethorpe County 23
Banks County earned a win in their final game of the season, closing with back-to-back victories. It was a 29-23 final against Oglethorpe County.
Other local scores
#4 Cherokee Bluff 52, East Hall 26
Chestatee 30, GAC 20
Monroe Area 31, West Hall 21
#10 Hart County 29, Franklin County 9
#1 Buford 32, #8 Mill Creek 7
Flowery Branch 21, Cedar Shoals 7
BYE: #6 Gainesville, Riverside, Lakeview
BYE: Towns County
SEE ALSO
