MOULTRIE — All three Region 1-AAAAA teams that played first-round playoff games on Friday were winners.
Two of the victories — by Lowndes over Luella and by Northside-Warner Robins over Union Grove — were unexpected.
Coffee’s 17-14 overtime win over Region 2-AAAAA champion Stephenson was not.
The Trojans went into the playoffs as Region 1’s No. 4 seed after falling to Tift County 30-27 in their regular-season finale on a field goal with three seconds remaining.
On Friday in Stone Mountain, the Trojans used a late field goal of their own to advance to the second round of the playoffs for the third straight season.
Aaron Lott kicked a 24-yarder for the winning points in Coffee’s first overtime possession.
Stephenson, which finishes 9-2, attempted a 22-yardd field goal by Colin Anderson on its first overtime possession, but Coffee’s Pernell Williams blocked it.
The Trojans the ran the ball three times to the Stephenson 6 before Coffee head coach Ken Eldridge elected to send out Lott, who converted the game-winner.
Stephenson scored twice in the second half on 90-yard kickoff return and a 4-yard run, both by Raymond Sanders.
Sanders also scored on a 2-point conversion to tie the game after his second touchdown.
Coffee advances to play Chapel Hill, which eliminated Windsor Forest by a 23-12 score.
NORTHSIDE 24, UNION GROVE 7
Northside held Union Grove to just 22 yards of total offense in a 24-7 victory at McConnell-Talbert Stadium that sets up one of the best second-round matchups in the state on Friday.
The Eagles will have to travel to Kingsland to meet Region 2-AAAAA champion Camden County.
The Wildcats, now 11-0, blanked Creekside 49-0 on Friday.
Lowndes, Camden County, Newnan and Grayson are the only remaining unbeaten teams in Class AAAAA.
Northside, now 10-1, is unlikely to be awed at the prospect of meeting Camden County.
The two-time defending Class AAAA state champions have now advanced to the second round of the state playoffs in each of the last 12 seasons.
Their 10th victory gives the Eagles double-digit victories for the 11th straight season.
Northside led just 14-7 at the half, but shut down the Wolverines after the break.
The Eagles scored on their two possessions.
Xavier Bacon, Region 1-AAAAA’s leading rusher, scored on runs of 54 and 8 yards and went on to score three times and rush for 175 yards on 28 carries.
Lowndes 41, Luella 13
The Vikings jumped out to a 14-0 lead with just over 4 minutes gone in the game and went on to notch its 11th straight victory of the season with a 41-13 victory over Luella High.
The Vikings, ranked No. 1 in Class AAAAA, advance to play host to Bradwell Institute, which defeated East Coweta 19-6 on Friday.
Lowndes established itself early, with Gerald Demps breaking loose on a 65-yard run on the second play of the game. Greg Reid scored from three yards out and Demps added a 2-point conversion and the Vikings led 8-0.
The Vikings’ Marcus Solomon intercepted a Luella pass on the Lions first series and Robert Anderson scored the second Lowndes touchdown moments later.
Luella managed just 122 total yards, including minus-15 on the ground.
Demps led the Lowndes rushing attack with 77 yards and Reid added 69 more and two touchdowns on just five carries.
Mikiell Padgett had a 50-yard touchdown run and quarterbacks Khary Franklin and Tyler Hunter combined to complete4-of-6 passes for 48 yards.
Tift County played at M.L. King on Saturday night.
Local Sports
Coffee upsets Stephenson in playoffs
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Conference champions
The Colquitt County seventh-grade girls basketball team celebrates its South Georgia Athletic Conference championship. The team includes, front, from left, coach Sheila Williams, Za'Nautica Downs, Akia Sutton, Ty'Asia McNeal, Shy Seay; and back, Sydnee Dalton, Shay Stanfill, Kiarra Lovett, Abiyah Spencer, Coach Jon Scroggins, Angel Kinchen, Chyna Calhoun, Michaela Bennefield, Istajhe Johnson, Ashuntee Stewart and Ja'nysia Brown. Not shown, Coach Tamika Seay and Emily Dozier.
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Lady Pack clinches top seed for region tournament
Makeba Ponder’s free throw with 6 seconds remaining gave the Colquitt County girls a 55-48 victory over Lowndes on Tuesday on the William Bryant Court at the Gladys Espy Gymnasium and ensured the Lady Packers would have the top seed in next week’s Region 1-AAAAA tournament at Tift County.
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Rifle team defeats Worth County
The Colquitt County High rifle team remains unbeaten after taking a 1,098-1,082 victory over Worth County on Tuesday in Sylvester.
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Prine shines at Snowflake Invitational
Kenyadah Prine is progressing just fine in her comeback from two frustrating seasons that were marred by injuries. The Lowndes High senior is making the most of her opportunities to return to top form, no matter how big or small the stage.
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Prine shines at Snowflake Invitational
Kenyadah Prine is progressing just fine in her comeback from two frustrating seasons that were marred by injuries. The Lowndes High senior is making the most of her opportunities to return to top form, no matter how big or small the stage.
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Level 3 gymnasts first, Level 4 team second in Thomasville
The Moultrie YMCA MGs headed to Thomasville on January 28 to continue their meet season in the Rose City gymnastics invitational and the Level 3’s took first place and the Level 4’s placed second.
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Register wins region wrestling championship
Travis Register will take an unbeaten record into next weekend’s state sectional after going 2-0 and winning the 220-pound weight class at Saturday’s Region 1-AAAAA wrestling tournament at Lowndes.
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Lady Packers hold off Tift County
The Colquitt County girls basketball team held off a determined Tift County second-half rally on Saturday on the William Bryant Court at the Espy Gymnasium to get a 59-48 Region 1-AAAAA victory.
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Talking it over
The defending Region 1-AAAAA champion Colquitt County High baseball team held an intrasquad scrimmage on Saturday at Ike Aultman Field at Packer Park. The Packers are gearing up for their Feb. 21 season-opener against Lawton Chiles of Tallahassee at Packer Park. Packers assistant coach Jake Mobley talks with sophomore pitcher, and little brother, Gabe Mobley during Saturday’s scrimmage.
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Seventh-grade girls win conference championship
The Colquitt County seventh-grade girls’ basketball team claimed the conference championship Saturday, upsetting previously undefeated Coffee, 20-19.
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