Clarke Central High School tight end Xayvian Berry, a senior, runs the football in the Georgia High School Association Class AAAAA State Playoffs first round against Houston County High School on Nov. 15 in Billy Henderson Stadium. Although CCHS lost the game, head varsity football coach David Perno still appreciates the team’s effort. “I’m proud of this team, I tip my hat to them. (HCHS is) really good. They have a lot of good athletes, and I think that region swept our region, so we’re a little unfortunate with the draw, but it happens,” Perno said. Photo by Grady Dunston
After a hard-fought game, the CCHS varsity football team lost in the first round of the GHSA Class AAAAA State Playoffs to Houston County High School with a score of 69-48.
In the first round of the Georgia High School Association Class AAAAA State Playoffs, Clarke Central High School (8-3, 6-0 in region) was defeated by Houston County High School (7-4, 2-3 in region) in a 69-48 thriller on Nov. 15 in Billy Henderson Stadium.
The Gladiators came into the game as the first seed coming out of Region 8-AAAAA, while the Bears were No. 4 in Region 2-AAAAA. However, Region 2 is considered a more difficult region, with nationally ranked Lee County High School and Coffee High School belonging to the region, meaning HCHS was favored to win despite being the lower seed.
Though the Gladiators fought for the win, their defense and special teams were continually overwhelmed as the Bears ran out winners on the road.
“They were a good football team. We knew it. They were favored to beat us, and I know why. Now they have some really good athletes,” head varsity football coach David Perno said. “They’re long, physical and fast, we just had a tough time matching it.”
Houston County High School running back Austin Stinton, a sophomore, carries the football in the Georgia High School Association Class AAAAA State Playoffs first round on Nov. 15 in Billy Henderson Stadium. Photo by Wyatt Meyer
The Gladiators received the ball first, and through a long 50-yard pass to running back Corey Watkins Jr., a senior, CCHS was brought to the 1-yard line. After a quarterback sneak from Hezekiah Millender, a senior, the Gladiators were looking strong. However, a bad snap caused a missed extra point by kicker Heinkel Mejia-Quintero, a junior, meaning CCHS went only six points up.
“They just were better tonight, and we were a little uncharacteristic. We didn’t do some things that we’ve been doing all year, we had a lot of time off, and kind of lost our mojo,” Perno said.
The next drives for both teams were uneventful, with both teams being forced to punt. On HCHS’s second drive, they responded with a strong passing attack, with wide receiver Isaiah Mitchell, a senior, and running back Austin Stinson, a sophomore, catching passes for a combined 85 yards. Their combined effort helped end the drive with a touchdown, bringing the score to 7-6 in favor of the Bears.
On their next possession, after a contested incomplete pass meant for Lagracion Little, CCHS was forced to punt again, but weren’t made to pay. Shortly after, HCHS quarterback Antwann Hill Jr., a senior, threw an interception to cornerback Da’Rod Hester, a senior.
Early in the second quarter, the Gladiators fought back. Watkins Jr. rushed a total of 59 yards on a drive that culminated in another Millender sneak on a fake handoff, but another missed PAT by Mejia-Quintero only put the Glads up 12-7.
“They just were better tonight, and we were a little uncharacteristic. We didn’t do some things that we’ve been doing all year, we had a lot of time off, and kind of lost our mojo,”
— David Perno,
CCHS head varsity football coach
CCHS kicked off to Houston free safety Jordan Smith, a junior, who returned the kick for a 98-yard return touchdown. Though the touchdown was overturned due to an illegal block in the back, the Bears, not to be deterred, drove down the field again and punched another one into the endzone.
Millender threw an interception to Smith on the Gladiators next drive. Houston looked to have capitalized on the opportunity but their touchdown was eventually called back due to an offsides call. After a solid defensive effort and a fumble recovered by the offense, the Glads pushed HCHS back and the Bears’ eventual field goal attempt missed.
CCHS’ next drive looked to have stalled again as the Gladiators were set up to punt from their own 23 yard line. However, CCHS faked the kick, with Millender keeping the ball for the first down, causing a loud roar from the home crowd. The drive ended in a field goal, with CCHS leading 15-14 going into the half.
“(Halftime) was a lot of, ‘(We) have to execute, cut down on the penalties.’ (We had to) make sure we do a great job of executing the plays, and not getting caught up in some of the extra stuff” Houston County special teams coordinator Michael Lee said.
Houston County High School middle linebacker Westen Ard celebrates a touchdown in the Georgia High School Association Class AAAAA State Playoffs first round on Nov. 15 in Billy Henderson Stadium. Photo by Wyatt Meyer
The tide turned against the Gladiators after the break. The Bears received the ball first after halftime, and Smith returned the ball for an 86-yard return touchdown, immediately putting HCHS up 21-15. The Bears held the CCHS offense to a punt, then immediately scored a passing touchdown on their next drive.
HCHS then forced a fumble from Troy Rucker during his kickoff return, which put the Bears at the Gladiators’ 27 yard line. HCHS ran a trick play, with Hill Jr. running it for a touchdown, making the score 34-15.
“We just came out with some really good energy, and getting a turnover on special teams was huge, and kind of shifted the momentum,” Lee said.
CCHS rediscovered their offensive mojo on their next drive, but the defense couldn’t stop the Bears either. As such, the rest of the second half proved to be a shootout.
Millender’s touchdown passes to Xayvian Berry and Watkins, in addition to another Millender keeper, were canceled out by three more HCHS touchdowns, aided by more strong kick returns from the Bears special teams, putting the score at 55-35 halfway through the fourth quarter.
Clarke Central High School cornerback Kaleb Sewell, a senior, kneels on the field after the Gladiators’ loss to Houston County High School in the Georgia High School Association Class AAAAA State Playoffs first round on Nov. 15 in Billy Henderson Stadium. Photo by Wyatt Meyer
The Gladiators looked to have a glimmer of hope after Millender ran for a 22-yard touchdown, pulling the Gladiators within two scores with his fourth rushing touchdown of the night. The comeback looked like it might be on when CCHS recovered an onside kick, hoping to score and get back in the game, but Millender failed to connect with Watkins Jr. on a fourth down, and CCHS was turned away.
“I thought we had a chance to make something happen. But we just couldn’t convert.” Perno said.
Capitalizing on the Gladiators’ dropped points, Stinson then ran for a 26-yard touchdown, making the score 62-42.On the Gladiator’s next possession, Millender threw an interception to Smith, his second of the night, and HCHS scored one last touchdown to put the game out of reach at 69-42.
Result beyond doubt but eager to end the season on a high, the Gladiators drove down the field in the final two minutes. On the game’s penultimate play, Millender threw a 29-yard pass to Triston Thomas, a junior, making the game’s final score 69-48.
“We fought our hardest. We could have done better, but it is what it is and we just have to keep moving forward. Combat next year and come stronger. Next year, it’s personal,” Little said.
