DOUGLAS — Top-ranked Ware County used a second-half, three-touchdown blitz here pulling away from a 10-6 halftime lead in throttling fourth-ranked Coffee 31-6 to capture the Region 1-AAAAA championship for a second straight year.
The Gators (9-0 overall, 5-0 region) opened the second half with touchdown drives of 81, 56 and 97. The last came with 11:08 to play nearly emptying the home side of Jardine Stadium claiming the “Border War” trophy for the third consecutive time.
“This group of guys just want you to put the ball down and play,” said head coach Jason Strickland of his team. “This group really supports each other. Defensively, the leadership we have on that side of the ball is unbelievable — they have a high standard.
“Offensively, we gave them (Trojans’ defense) some unique formations we haven’t shown this season. (D.J.) Loriston made a great catch on the first drive. Nikao (Smith) made some great throws all night.”
The region title was the third in Strickland’s four years leading the Ware County program. It also guarantees at least the first two rounds at home while universal coin flips would decide the quarterfinals and semifinals in region champion matchups.
Ware County begins the first of four legs to reach the Class 5A championship game in Atlanta against Region 2 fourth-seed Jones County (6-4). The game will be played Saturday, November 12 at 5:30 p.m.
With a capacity crowd packed into Jardine Stadium, Coffee High alum and NFL star and Miami Dolphins wide receiver Tyreek Hill received a thunderous ovation when he was introduced as he joined the teams for the coin toss at midfield.
Ware County then took the home crowd out of the game with many starting for the gates after the Gators went up 24-6 with 4:30 to play in the third quarter. Less than a quarter of the home stands were occupied when the lead reached 31-6 just 52 seconds into the final period.
“Our defensive staff put together a really good game plan,” said Strickland after smoothering the top scoring offense (43.7 points per game) in Class 5A.
Ware County’s defensive unit has allowed three touchdowns over the last five games and just one in the four-game season-ending slate.
After Coffee opened the game with an eight-play drive consuming 4:53 off the clock which ended with a punt, the Gators flew down the field scoring on a seven-play, 71-yard possession in 2:12.
A 40-yard pass three plays in from Smith (17-of-26, 210 yards) to Loriston (four catches, 66 yards) on a third-and-10 fade was the big play. The drive ended with a 20-yard bubble screen from Smith to Brandon Washington (five catches, 42 yards). William Bates split the uprights for a 7-0 lead with 4:55 to play in the quarter.
Following a three-and-out, the Trojans pounced on a muffed punt at their own 45. Four running plays managed eight yards with Ware County getting a stop for no gain on fourth-and-2 at its 47.
The Gators marched 48 yards in 10 plays (eight passes/two runs) in 1:54 stalling at the Coffee five when a third down pass slipped off the fingertips of Dae’jeaun Dennis at the goal line. Bates kicked the lead to 10-0 with a 22-yard field goal with 9:52 to play in the half.
The Trojans put together their lone scoring drive of the game, 58 yards in 11 plays, set up by a 38-yard kick return from Tyrese Woodgett. Quarterback Maurice Hansley connected with Jyarius Carter for a 27-yard gain on the seventh snap moving the ball to the Gators’ two.
Coffee needed four plays to get the touchdown scoring on fourth-and-goal off bootleg action from Hansley to Range Robinson from two yards away. The PAT was no good leaving the score at 10-6 with 4:30 remaining in the half.
Ware County opened the second half with a 10-play, 81-yard drive. A 19-yard completion from Smith to Kasai Jones on third-and-10, the first of six consecutive third down conversions, moved the chains.
The Gators kept the drive alive converting twice on third-and-2, the later a 37-yard run by R.J. Boyd (eight carries, game-high 97 yards) setting Ware County up at the Trojans’ six. Dennis (17 totes, 80 yards) needed two runs out of the “wildcat” to cover the distance scoring with 8:39 on the clock. Bates’ PAT pushed the lead out to 17-6.
Coffee threatened to answere getting a 45-yard pass play on the first snap following the kickoff to reach the Gators’ 33. The Trojans would punt the ball away four plays later from the Ware County 41 with the ball downed at the Gators’ three.
A 12-yard completion from Smith to Washington on third-and-11 from the two following a Ware County timeout with 1:28 on the clock kick-started the drive.
The Gators would be gifted a first down on a third-and-two offsides penalty against Coffee and get another first down via an unsportsmanlike penalty one snap later moving the ball to the Trojans 42. Two plays later and on the third snap of the final period, Smith found Jarvis Hayes (five catches, 72 yards) running uncovered up the middle of the field for a 41-yard scoring play. Bates added the final point of the night with 11:08 remaining in the game.
Coffee’s final two possessions ended with a punt and a fourth down incompletion.
