Advancing to the next round is the most important thing in the state football playoffs. Style points aren’t all bad though either. Both Whitewater and Sandy Creek advanced in convincing fashion and are now in their respective classifications’ sweet sixteen.
It didn’t take long for Whitewater to take control of the AAAAA first round playoff game against the Lee County Trojans.
Kendall Conley ran 20 yards down the sideline for Whitewater’s first touchdown just over two minutes into the game. After that it was full speed ahead. Conley added two more touchdowns in the first half, which is also the half with featured all of the scoring in Whitewater’s 49-7 win, Christian Wafford added one, Jay Ashley connected on a touchdown pass to Matt Ogle and Trevor Morgan connected on a touchdown pass to Ashley.
The offense was obviously impressive but the defense did a great job too. Malcholm Graham returned an interception over 60 yards for a touchdown, Caleb Martinez recovered a fumble, Colton Clemons blocked a punt and Jevarus Bradford was just one of many players to pressure the Trojans quarterback and get a sack.
Lee County put together a 70 yard touchdown drive late in the first half but that was all they could scrape up against a determined Whitewater squad.
The Wildcats (10-1) will host Glynn Academy (8-3) next Friday. Glynn beat Jones County 26-14 tonight.
Happy birthday Sandy Creek Head Coach Chip Walker. To celebrate, the Patriots gave him their first playoff win of the season against Eastside. After four quarters the score stood Sandy Creek: 55, Eastside: 0.
The swift legs of sophomores Delvin Weems and Eric Swinney contributed immensely as they had a combined 364 yards and four touchdowns. Weems alone had 219 yards.
In total the Patriot offense generated over 630 yards on the night, almost 500 of which came on the ground. Receiving, junior Demarre Kitt had eight receptions for 117 yards and two touchdowns, one of which was a diving catch in the end zone on Cole Garvin’s 50-yard pass.
The defense forced two fumbles and recovered both in a game where Eastside would not once see the red zone. Juniors Wesley Sullivan and Khari Lain led the team in tackles and senior Corey Griffin got the big hit of the night award after flipping a wide receiver trying to make a play. All-in-all a good night for the Patriots who hope to take this momentum with them into next week’s game at the Battlefield.
Sandy Creek will host Dalton (8-3), which beat Carver-Atlanta 17-14 tonight, next Friday.
Sandy Creek senior Jacob Renie assisted with this story.
