By Wayne Grandy
wayne.grandy@gaflnews.com
MOULTRIE — Warner Robins’ 21-20 victory over Northside on Friday at McConnell-Talbert Stadium has opened some interesting Region 1-AAAAA playoff possibilities.
The Eagles can still win the region championship with a victory over Colquitt County at home next Friday night.
But the Packers can claim the region crown with a win combined with a Warner Robins victory over Lowndes. And the Demons kept their playoff hopes alive with its first victory over Northside since 2004.
Despite the 21-point fourth quarter that fueled the win over its cross-town rival, Warner Robins still must defeat the Vikings at Martin Stadium to qualify for the postseason.
That appears to be an exceedingly difficult assignment, with Lowndes needing a win to have a chance at the title. And the Vikings are coming off a 63-7 victory over Coffee at home last Friday.
The Demons should be juiced, however.
After being shut out by Colquitt County 17-0 in Moultrie the week before, the Demons headed into the fourth quarter of their big rivalry game again without a score, trailing 20-0.
But Warner Robins scored on the second play of the final quarter on a 1-yard run by fullback Brian Sutton and the conversion cut the Northside lead to 20-7.
The Demons were forced to punt on their next possession, but the Eagles Brison Williams fumbled and Warner Robins recovered at the Northside 48.
That turnover turned into a 7-yard touchdown run by fullback Dominic Butts and the Demons had pulled closer at 20-14.
After forcing another Northside punt, the Demons then took over at midfield with 2:59 remaining.
Unable to move, the Demons elected to go for it on fourth down, and quarterback Maurice Dudley threw deep to Jonathan Jackson.
Jackson was all alone after the Northside defender fell down and he gathered in the pass and took in the end zone for a 47-yard touchdown to tie the game.
Warner Robins was then penalized for its excessive celebration, forcing sophomore Kyle Floyd to kick what proved to be the game-winning extra point from 35 yards out.
Northside scored on its first series, with Williams running for 30 yards and catching a 23-yard pass from quarterback Briar Van Brunt to set up Van Brunt’s 1-yard touchdown run.
But the only other Northside scores in the first half were field goals by Devon Pike of 50 and 27 yards.
In the third quarter, Van Brunt connected with Williams for a 36-yard touchdown pass to give the Eagles what appeared to be a safe, 20-0 lead.
But Northside had just 10 offensive snaps the rest of the game as the Demons mounted their winning rally.
Valdosta 35, Tift County 14: Valdosta (6-3, 3-3) kept its playoff hopes alive with a 35-14 victory over Tift County at Bazemore-Hyder Stadium.
The victory was the second in a row for the Wildcats after it was announced that head coach Rick Tomberlin would not be rehired for next season.
And Wildcats can qualify for the playoffs as the region’s No. 4 team if they defeat Houston County (3-6, 0-6) next Saturday and Lowndes beats Warner Robins.
Valdosta was able to win on a night it played without starting quarterback DaShay March and leading receiver Jay Rome.
Chad Prain stepped in at quarterback for the Wildcats and rushed for 165 yards on six carries and scored three touchdowns.
Tift County (2-7, 1-5) jumped out to a 7-0 first-quarter lead, converting a Valdosta fumble into a Micah McCant touchdown and a Griffin Martin extra point.
In the second quarter, the Wildcats tied the game on a 29-yard touchdown run on a reverse by Malcolm Mitchell then went ahead 14-7 on a 55-yard run by Prain.
In the third quarter, Valdosta scored again when Prain picked up a teammate’s fumble and raced 25 yards to the end zone for the touchdown.
Reggie McQueen scored on a 2-yard run and Prain added his third touchdown on a 10-yard run to close out the Valdosta scoring.
Tift County’s final score came on a 5-yard touchdown run by Malcolm Dixon with 2:30 left in the game.
Lowndes 63, Coffee 7: Lowndes, despite a 10-7 loss to Northside back on Oct. 2, can win the region with a victory over Warner Robins coupled with a Colquitt County win over Northside.
And the Vikings (8-1, 5-1) had their wing-T in high gear and their defense at its hard-hitting best on Friday in the lopsided win over Coffee (3-6, 1-5).
Lowndes held the Trojans to just 170 yards and scored all six times its offense went on the field.
The Vikings rolled up 327 yards of offense, including 257 on the ground. Troy Braswell led the way, carrying six times for 82 yards and a touchdown. He also returned a punt 83 yards for a touchdown.
Khary Franklin scored twice, once on a 21-yard run and again on a pass from Cole Parker.
Telvin Smith also returned a punt for a touchdown and James Battle recovered a blocked punt for another Vikings score.
Coffee’s only score came on a 69-yard run by Carnillous Crockett in the third quarter.
