Video by Natalie Ripps and Colin Frick
The Clarke Central High School varsity football team defeated Wayne County High School on Nov. 22, advancing to the third round of state playoffs.
After a 64-34 win in the first round of the Georgia High School Association AAAAA state playoffs against Lithia Springs High School, the Clarke Central High School Gladiators advanced to the second round battling the Wayne County High School Yellow Jackets on Nov. 22 where the Gladiators won 28-20.
Within the first four minutes of the game, the Gladiators punted and recovered a fumble by WCHS leading to a reception for a touchdown by CCHS wide receiver Jairus “Nono” Mack, a junior.
“Coming out of the gate, we did pretty good stopping the run, getting the rush and playing physical,” CCHS defensive end Shemar Lowe, a senior, said. “We just know what we want at the end of the day and going to state just keeps us driving and motivated to play hard every snap.”
With five minutes left in the quarter, the Yellow Jackets fought back putting a touchdown on the board. Throughout the first quarter WCHS continued to shut down the Gladiators’ offense with a sack of CCHS quarterback Isaac Ward, a senior, and later intercepting a pass by Ward which lead to another touchdown making the score 14-7 in favor of WCHS at the end of the first quarter.
Approaching halftime, things started to slow down for the Yellow Jackets, with multiple illegal procedure penalties and the Gladiators scoring another touchdown after a two-yard pass from Ward to CCHS wide receiver Jalen Gary, a senior, tying up the game at halftime 14-14.
“We dug deep, you know it was close at halftime but we worked too hard since January. I mean, this was a hard one, we pulled it out,” Gary said.
Starting off the second half, Ward threw a 49-yard pass to CCHS wide receiver Justin Hodges, a junior, for a touchdown three minutes into the third quarter. After the touchdown, the Gladiator defense took over, forcing an interception by CCHS cornerback Tracy Hill, a senior. This led to a second touchdown from CCHS tight end Chris Johnson, a senior, from an eight-yard pass by Ward, bringing the score to 28-14.
Despite the Gladiators’ sack of the WCHS quarterback starting the fourth quarter, the Yellow Jackets gave a final push, coming up with a touchdown pass, but the PAT was blocked by CCHS free safety Deuce Clark, a junior. The Gladiators ended the game with a final score of 28-20. For WCHS head coach Ken Cribb, the game was a letdown.
“I’m just disappointed, we didn’t play our best game. (We) had our chances. We played a really good football team — a well-coached team,” WCHS head varsity football coach Ken Cribb said. “(CCHS) didn’t win their region by accident. Quality football game, quality football team. I’m proud of my kids.”
After the victory, CCHS will advance to the Elite Eight for the next round of the GHSA AAAAA state playoffs.
“It was back and forth early and then we got defense kind of settled in and they played great,” Perno said. “I’m real proud of them and offensively we did enough. We weren’t the best but it was enough.”
The Gladiators will face off against Warner Robins High School at WRHS in the next round of the playoffs after WRHS defeated Rome High School, with the date to be determined.
