HEPHZIBAH, Ga. — A freshman star shined through the fog on a dreary Friday night.

On a soggy night when footing proved difficult, Chad Mascoe gained ground through the air and with his legs to lead Thomasville to a 42-7 victory against Hephzibah in the first round of the Class AA playoffs.

The Rebels (8-3) were seeking the first playoff win in school history but ran into the buzzsaw of a standout freshman and a No. 3 seed that reached the quarterfinals a year ago.

“Hats off to them,” Hephzibah coach William Harrell said. “Can’t take anything away from them. Our guys played hard. It wasn’t an issue of effort or anything like that. We just lost to a better team tonight.”

Mascoe, considered one of the nation’s top middle school players before entering the high school ranks, went 16 for 23 for 249 yards and four touchdowns while adding 56 rushing yards.

The loss marked the end of the most successful season in Hephzibah history. Its eight wins are the most in program history, and the Rebels were playing host to their first postseason game since 2008.

“Even through all the adversity we faced, those guys did a good job keeping things afloat and staying the course and staying consistent,” Harrell said. “They’re a special group to me and I’ll never forget them.”

Senior Rayquan Riley was a catalyst for the team’s quick climb as one of the state’s top rushers in Class AA. Thomasville (7-4) keyed on him Friday night and limited him to eight rushing yards.

Sophomore quarterback Marshall Chambers was forced to pick up the slack and totaled 40 passing yards and 40 rushing yards.

Mascoe showed his talent quickly by dropping a 36-yard touchdown pass into the hands of Jakarius Tillman at 8:54 in the first quarter.

Hephzibah responded when Chambers hit Henri Travis on a 13-yard touchdown pass at 10:30 in the second for a tie at 7.

It proved to be the final tie. Tan Gelin punched in a score from a yard out for a 14-7 Bulldogs lead, and it grew to 21-7 before the half on a Mascoe 5-yard strike.

Mascoe provided an early dagger at 8:32 in the third in the form of a 28-yard touchdown pass to Tillman. Malek Miller added a 5-yard touchdown run late in the third for a 35-7 lead.

The advantage continued to grow in the fourth as Mascoe threw a 30-yard touchdown pass for 35 unanswered points.