Titans nearly perfect in rout of Warriors

BOGART — North Oconee’s coaching staff didn’t believe the Titans played a perfect game during their undefeated regular season.

But after a 63-6 defeat of Gordon Central in their Class AA playoff opener on Friday, they may have found that elusive effort.

Behind its trademark defense, which had five shutouts in the regular season, and six different players scoring touchdowns, North Oconee rolled.

“As players, you’re never going to play the perfect game, we’re going to ask you to, but you probably never will,” Titans coach Terry Tuley said. “But if you don’t ever strive to be there, then it never will happen. … It’s just a critical eye of the coaches expecting perfection.”

Big blown lead ends Eagles' crazy ride

After a lackluster first half, George Walton Academy looked nothing like a team that could pull off a fourth-quarter comeback. Not that it appeared the Bulldogs would even have that chance.

But thanks to an 85-yard touchdown run by quarterback Hunter Rice, the visiting Bulldogs were given hope with less than a minute left in the third quarter. And after Athens Christian struggled to drain the clock late in the fourth, George Walton came back to finish an improbable 23-21 victory on Friday night.

Titans take region's top spot with win over Elbert County

ELBERTON — Terry Tuley walked away from the handshake line, faced the scoreboard and raised both hands above his head.

“Victory!” he shouted into the cold drizzle.

North Oconee’s head coach, who turned 63 on Friday, celebrated one of the biggest victories of his career with a 17-6 win at Elbert County.

Tuley, who hadn’t won a region championship in his coaching tenure, now owns the Region 8-AA South crown after his Titans dispatched of the reigning champion Blue Devils in The Granite Bowl.

“We might not leave, we might camp out, because it’s so sweet,” Tuley said.

Warriors begin playoff push against Johnson

WATKINSVILLE — After Oconee County dropped its third straight game against Gainesville at midseason, the Warriors shifted their mindset.

Coach Mitch Olson’s team entered playoff mode in hopes that it could scramble back to .500 and earn a playoff berth. The Warriors are one step closer to meeting their goal after a 35-8 victory over winless Johnson-Gainesville on Friday night.

Oconee County picked up consecutive wins for the first time this season, and it was the second victory in which they posted 35 points.

“We win two games in a row, and we had to win them,” Olson said. “If we hit like that, we’re going to be in good shape.”

Spartans slaughter 'Skins

Coming off of two straight losses for the first time in six years, Athens Academy got exactly the tonic it needed on Friday night.

The Spartans welcomed winless Social Circle to Slaughter Field, and coasted to a 48-3 victory, their largest scoring output since 2006.

The Redskins had three first-quarter turnovers — two the rest of the way — as Athens Academy rolled.

Jags squander chances vs. Pats

In a span of less than three minutes early in the second half, Heritage erased all of its first-half mistakes.

The Patriots’ two fumbles and an interception in the first half gave Cedar Shoals plenty of chances to build a lead.

But the Jaguars couldn’t generate much momentum, and it came back to burn them at home in a 36-19 loss on Friday. The unbeaten Patriots scored 16 unanswered points in a decisive third quarter that started with another highlight reel play from Cedar Shoals running back Rodney Willingham.

But that momentum didn’t last long as Heritage went 80 yards in 10 plays to restore its eight-point cushion and then coast to victory.

Defense overcomes Titans' many mistakes

BOGART -- In a game of twists and turns, the North Oconee defense, which stood tall the entire night, stopped Hart County when it mattered most.

The Titans' defense, which only allowed a touchdown when it started at its own 5-yard line, stalled an 18-play Hart County drive at its own 3 to start the fourth quarter. And despite another turnover by the Titans, that defense responded again to preserve a 28-20 victory on Friday night.

"We finally got some backbone, we finally stepped up," said North Oconee coach Terry Tuley. "Give up that and give up this, before you know it, you stand around, and all of a sudden you're at the goal line. Our guys have a lot of pride, and the defense pitched a shutout. It ain't their fault there's not a goose egg up there."

Eagles make it two straight behind Wildgoose, Sims

Athens Banner-Herald

Athens Christian had already been on the wrong side of a down-to-the-wire finish this season, so Eagles coach Steve Brooks wasn't interested in going down that path again.

Thanks to a two-pronged rushing attack, and a broken play that set up a first-and-goal situation, the Eagles knocked off visiting Banks County 27-21 on Friday.

Senior running back Travis Wildgoose led the way with 192 rushing yards on 13 carries, while junior Malik Sims had three touchdowns.

Willingham rings in birthday with huge night

Athens Banner-Herald

Rodney Willingham just smiles when he's asked his height and weight.

The pint-sized junior running back for Cedar Shoals -- officially listed at 5-foot-5, 155 pounds, but closer to 5-4, 145 -- didn't let his size hold him back Friday night.

Willingham scored three touchdowns and rushed for 124 yards on 12 carries in the Jaguars' 28-14 victory over Rockdale County at The Jungle.

For Willingham, the victory and touchdown binge was just one reason to celebrate. He also rang in his 17th birthday.

"That's the biggest present I wanted," Willingham said. "I told my team, 'Y'all just go out and play hard.' I knew we were going to face some kind of adversity. That's all I really wanted for my team was the victory."

Passing game carries Spartans past Pats

Athens Banner-Herald

LEXINGTON -- As Athens Academy continues to develop its young offensive line and inexperienced backfield, the Spartans might do well to lean on the passing attack.

After a season-opening win fueled by special teams last week, the Spartans used three touchdown passes from senior quarterback Lake Lindsay to win at Oglethorpe County, 21-0 on Friday.

Lindsay was 8-for-16 with touchdown passes of 2, 40 and 15 yards.

Special win for Spartans

Athens Banner-Herald

If the Athens Academy special teams units keep playing like this, no one will worry about the Spartans' small senior class.

Behind 23 defensive or special teams points, the Spartans upended visiting Southwest Atlanta Christian 30-0 on Friday night in their season opener at Slaughter Field. Junior Jordan Lawson provided the punctuation on a quick scoring burst after a 74-yard kickoff return late in the first quarter.

Lawson had a punt return called back on a penalty early in the game.

"To get that back on the kick return really meant a lot," said Lawson, who also made a fourth-quarter interception. "All of my blockers were really working hard, everybody on kickoff team."