HINESVILLE — Unanimous Class 5A top-ranked Ware County listened to head coach Jason Strickland and his staff all week about taking care of business against one of the bottom tier teams in Region 1-AAAAA.
“We can’t worry about anybody else and what they may be going through.” - √
“We need to focus on us and execute on both sides of the ball.” - √
“If we do that then we can take care of business. That’s our key to success.” - √
The Gators (6-0 overall, 2-0 region) made quick work of outclassed Bradwell Institute (0-7, 0-2) scoring on their first offensive snap in racing out to a 34-0 halftime lead en route to a 48-0 mauling on Senior Night for the Tigers here at Olvey Field/Hokey Jackson Stadium — the 28th straight loss for the home team.
“It could have been real easy tonight with fall break and playing on the road against a team that hadn’t won a game to come in here and look real sloppy,” said head coach Jason Strickland. “The leadership we have wants to go play well every time we step out on to the field. That’s what they are trying to get their teammates to do.
“Overall, the energy was there all night. We’ve got a lot of football left ... the games are getting bigger as we go.”
Dae’Jeaun Dennis (four carries, 76 yards) got Ware County’s party started bolting 47 yards on its first snap. The Gators would add a five-play score, two-play score, three-play score and a special teams’ touchdown before the first half ended building a comfortable lead and bringing on a running clock for the final two periods.
Ware County’s four touchdown drives totaling 11 plays came in just 2:55 of clock time (4:39 total first half). The Gators finished the game with only 12:31 in time of possession in eight series covering 28 snaps.
Quarterback Nikao Smith (8-of-12) opened 8-for-8 spreading the wealth to six different receivers for 165 yards and three touchdowns before taking the final two periods off. Luke Hooks (2-for-3) hit two more receivers giving Ware County a total of eight receivers with a catch.
“Nikao threw the ball well after having a good week of practice,” said Strickland. “He’s getting better every week and more comfortable in the offense.”
Defensively, the Gators’ front seven wreck havoc. Bradwell Institute lost a yard on its first run from scrimmage and it never got any better. The Tigers, who had three six-yard runs, finished the game with minus-28 yards rushing on 26 attempts losing 60 yards on half of those running plays. Nary a ball carrier finished with positive yardage.
Only 14 of Bradwell Institute’s 59 offensive snaps were in Gators’ territory with four of its 10 possessions crossing the midfield stripe. The Tigers had eight rushes for five yards and were 1-of-6 for nine yards with an interception on those plays.
“Defense is all about effort,” stated Strickland. “They (players) are so good at fitting in where they are supposed to be at each level. It’s a really the mentality of telling teams they are not going to run the ball on us. I think stopping the run is about a mind-set and mentality and that group right now has that mind-set.”
As poor as Bradwell Institute’s run game was, the punting game was a nightmare. Outside of the block for a touchdown, the Tigers averaged 10.2 yards on six punts with three traveling less than 10 yards setting up Ware County for three short touchdown drives.
The lone bright spot for Bradwell Institute under the dimly lit stadium lights was the play of junior quarterback Christopher Garrett. He completed 10-of-17 passes for 89 yards before departing with a leg injury with 3:14 left in the first half.
Garrett was 3-of-6 on third down converting passes on third-and-14 (19 yards), third-and-seven (14) and third-and-10 (16).
“That will give us (coaches) something to gripe about this week at practice,” said Strickland of the otherwise flawless defensive effort. “One of things may have been rolling a bunch of guys in. We’ll look at the tape and see who was in there and if they’ve had enough reps in that scenario.”
Following the Dennis touchdown with 8:17 left in the opening period and a William Bates’ extra point, Ware County went 58 yards in five plays on its second possession with Alex Justice pulling in a nine-yard pass from Smith with a toe-tap along the boundary line for a 13-0 lead after the missed PAT with 4:09 on the clock.
The Gators scored on the first snap (second in the possession) of the second period when Smith connected with a wide open D.J. Loriston on a 61-yard scoring play upping the lead to 20-0 with the Bates’ PAT with 11:51 left in the half.
Trey Hargrove blocked the Tigers’ ensuing punt with Jayden Jones picking the ball up at the 13. He fumbled near the goal line, but was credited with the recovery for the touchdown. Bates kicked the margin to 27-0 with 10:01 remaining.
Ware County’s next possession began after the Tigers’ second-longest punt (24 yards) of the night. The Gators went 51 yards in three plays with Jarvis Hayes weaving the final 36 yards with a reception from Smith. Bates’ conversion with 6:09 on the clock extended the margin to 34-0.
The Gators’ lone offensive blemish of the half came on their next possession starting with 3:14 left in the half. Ware County turned the ball over after four snaps with three incompletions working in its two-minute offense.
“We were trying to do a couple of things in the two-minute drill we don’t normally do and that got him (Smith) out of sync a little,” Strickland said of the empty possession.
Two offensive possessions in the second half resulted in two final scores on six snaps. Following an R.J. Boyd 40-yard burst on the initial snap of the third period, Dennis went untouched for the final 13 yards for a 41-0 advantage at the 10:27 mark with Bates’ PAT.
The second possession covered 31 yards in four plays with Quinton Orange pulling in a quick screen for a 31-yard score on fourth-and-10. Orange broke free of an arm tackle after making the reception and split two would-be tacklers around the 15 to score with 2:26 left in the third quarter. Josue Delgadillo tacked on the PAT
Defensive back Jaiden Peterson’s interception near the goal line with eight minutes to play thwarted Bradwell Institutes best scoring opportunity after the Tigers reached the Ware County 18.
