MACON, Ga. — Many young athletes across Central Georgia had to say goodbye to football tonight.
As seasons end, and seniors eventually graduate, there was a lingering sadness in the air. However, many of these players found a way to end their seasons on a high note.
Other players’ seasons aren’t over just yet, however. Many teams looked to gain some momentum heading into the postseason and did just that.
Here is a recap of all the action from Football Friday Night.
Game of the Week: Warner Robins vs Perry
Coming into the game, both teams, which hadn't faced each other since 1965, had something to prove.
Perry, who won its region last week, had an opportunity to continue to demonstrate why the team should be considered a top contender to go back-to-back and win another AAAA classification championship.
Warner Robins had a chance to gain some momentum heading into the playoffs and show why they still have a chance to make some noise in the postseason.
The Demons managed to accomplish just that with their 27-24 win over the Panthers. This win also meant that Warner Robins went 4-0 against Houston County opponents this season.
Perry got things started early, taking a quick 7-3 lead in the first quarter. The Demons, after a Perry field goal, bounced back towards the end of the first half. Quarterback Skyler Williams and the offense worked its way down the field and Williams himself eventually brought the ball into the endzone to tie things up.
Panthers quarterback Cullen McDaniel got his team back down the field and connected with Kiel Sparks to retake the lead. About six in-game minutes later, Williams did it again and found the end zone to tie the game up 17-17.
The two teams traded blows again in the fourth quarter, as both McDaniel and Williams completed touchdown passes. However, despite not leading once in the game, the Demons sent out kicker Jabez Too to seal the game. Too nailed the 34-yard field goal to help Warner Robins gain a needed win and deliver Perry a brutal loss to close its regular season.
Three Stars
Sheddrick Risper, Westside head coach: Last week, Risper was given an honorable mention for his feat of tying a Macon-Bibb record. After a 29-23 win over Jackson, he’s being lifted up to main star status for breaking that record.
With “Coach Spoon’s” 115th win as Westside’s head coach, he broke the record for most wins by a Macon-Bibb coach. Risper, who’s been with the team since 2009, is now the winningest coach in Macon-Bibb football history.
He takes the record from former Central head coach Tom Simonton, who coached the Chargers from 1979 to 1997.
Senior Brashod Heggs, Washington County defensive back: Washington County had a difficult test on its hands when facing ACE. However, the Golden Hawks defense stepped up to the plate to keep the Gryphons to only two scores and help Washington County win 17-14.
Heggs was a big part of that, having not one, but two key interceptions to stall out ACE’s drives and prevent touchdowns along the way.
Without Heggs, the Golden Hawks may be 5-5 instead of having a 6-4 winning record to close the season.
Veterans High School defense: It’s no secret this season hasn’t gone well for the Warhawks.
They went 0-9 to start the season but had a chance to end the season on a high note at home on senior night against Northside. Safe to say, after a 17-0 win, they finished the season strong nearly all thanks to the defense.
The Warhawks' defense shut out the Eagles and scored 14 of their 17 points thanks to a myriad of turnovers. The Warhawks forced six total turnovers — five interceptions and one fumble — and five of those were in just the fourth quarter.
Junior Lincoln Goode recovered the fumble in the first half but also pressured Northside quarterback Amari Fountain and forced an errant pass; An errant pass that senior Kane Byrd took all the way to the house for a touchdown. Junior Lawrence Moton also had a pick-six to seal the victory for the Warhawks.
HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL SCOREBOARD
- Westside (Augusta) 28 - West Laurens 7
- Baldwin 49 - Howard 36
- Bleckley County 56 - Central 0
- Northeast 32 - East Laurens 7
- Washington County 17 - ACE 14
- Veterans 17 - Northside 0
- Jeff Davis 26 - Fitzgerald 20
- Savannah Country Day 31 - Vidalia 14
- Hawkinsville 36 - Dooly County 13
- Peach County 44 - Monroe 7
- Warner Robins 27 - Perry 24
- Gatewood 48 - Thomas Jefferson 8
- St. Anne-Pacelli 31 - Mount de Sales 3
- Upson-Lee 18 - LaGrange 15
- Whitewater 38 - Mary Persons 27
- Westside 29 - Jackson 23
- Sumter County 61 - Columbus 17
- Crisp County 47 - Cook 17
- Dublin 50 - Dodge County 33
- Macon County 20 - Taylor County 3
- Wilkinson County 40 - Twiggs County 0
- Southwest 26 - Jefferson County 7
- Wilcox County 53 - Montgomery County 13
- Hancock-Central 46 - Glascock 32
- Telfair County 40 - Treutlen 14
- Lee County 63 - Houston County 48
- Lamar County 28 - Jasper County 6
- Thomas County Central 38 - Coffee 7
- Crawford County 17 - Chattahoochee County 7
- Jones County 48 - Locust Grove 13
- Pike County 35 - Rutland 18
- Johnson County 41 - Georgia Military 7
What’s next?
While normally it would be time for the playoffs, Helene changed a few things around.
The damages and game cancellations that came from the deadly hurricane forced the GHSA to add an additional week to the regular season.
Howard will face Aquinas and Bleckley County and Jefferson County will kick off the action on Tuesday, but there's also a slate of Friday games. Johnson County and Twiggs County will face off, Southwest will take on East Laurens, Telfair County and Wilcox County will battle and Treutlen and Wheeler County will play in an exciting Friday of football.
Meanwhile, the GIAA have already begun their playoffs, and a few teams face off on Friday, Nov. 8. Stratford will take on Brookstone, Gatewood will play Trinity Christian, Westfield will face John Milledge and Tattnall will play Bethlehem. FPD will also play, but the GIAA, as of posting, has not announced their opponent.