SYLVESTER – Sixthranked Worth County’s high-powered offense and stout defense proved too much for Brantley County to handle here in a 49-0 victory in the regular season finale.
The win gave the Rams (7-3 overall, 5-1 Region 1A) their first region football championship since 1989 when they finished runnerup in Class AAA with a 14-1 record.
Kaden Chester led the way for the Rams, rushing for 109 yards and four touchdowns on just seven carries. Brandon Powell also contributed significantly, hauling in 85 receiving yards and a touchdown.
Worth County’s defense was equally impressive, holding the Herons (2-8, 24) to just 94 yards of total offense and four first downs.
Brantley County’s opening possession ended with a pass from punt formation on fourth down fell incomplete giving the home team possession at the Herons’ 48.
The next four series set the tone for the Rams. They scored their inititial touchdown on the second snap after sophomore quarterback Lyndon Worthy (11of-14, 217 yards, three touchdowns) hit Jayden Farley (two catches, 55) for 24 yards and Chester took it in from there with a 24yard run. Brody Hancock connected on the first of his seven PATS for a 7-0 lead.
YARDSTIICK
Brantley County 0 0 0 0 - 0 Worth County 28 21 0 0 - 49 SCORING SUMMARY First Quarter WCHS - Kaden Chester 24 run (Brody Hancock kick) WCHS - Brandon Powell 24 pass from Lyndon Worth (Hancock kick) WCHS - Chester 6 run (Hancock kick) WCHS - D’ontae Fulton 41 pass from Worthy (Hancock kick)
Second Quarter WCHS - Jaquaveon Nelson 12 pass from Worthy (Hancock kick) WCHS - Chester 23 run (Hancock kick) WCHS - Chester 50 run (Hancock kick) BCHS WCHS First downs 4 15 Rushes-yards 28-51 20-158 Passing yards 43 217 Total yards 94 375 Comp-Att-Int 3-16-0 11-14-0 Punts-Avg 4-38.8 2-37.0 Fumbles-lost 3-2 1-1 Penalties 3-25 5-50 3rd Down Con. 3-of-8 1-of-5 4th Down Con. 0-of-2 1-of-1 INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS RUSHING – BCHS: M. Kicklighter 14-29, Hendrix 2-23. WCHS: Chester 7-109, Jones 4-13.
PASSING – BCHS: Hendrix 3-16-0 43. WCHS: Worthy 11-14-0 217. RECEIVING – BCHS: Walker 3-43.
WCHS: Powell 4-85, Fulton 2-60, Farley 2-55, Nelson 2-12.
On the ensuing kick, Worth County’s D’ontae Fulton, a Georgia State commit, outjumped the Brantley County players for a recovery at the Herons’ 40.
Three passes from Worthy to Powell (four catches, 85 yards), the final one covering 24 yards pushed the margin out to 14-0.
William Crowe’s third pooch kickoff again caused Brantley County problems with a fumble giving the Rams possesion. Worth County needed six plays to up the score to 21-0 when Chester plowed six yards for the first quarter score.
The drive was kept alive by a 19-yard completion from Worthy to Fulton on a 4th-and-10 play. Chester scored two plays later.
Brantley County was able to flip the field on its next possession. A punt was downed at the Rams’ 15.
Worth County quickly covered the distance with a Worthy 45-yard screen pass to Powell and a 41yard scoring strike to Fulton two plays later on the last play of the opening period.
The Rams scored three more times before intermission for a 49-0 lead. Jaquaveon Nelson reeled in a 12-yard scoring strike from Worthy and Chester added touchdown runs of 23 and 50 yards to cap the scoring binge.
The second half was played with a running clock.
Worth County, seeded fourth in the field of 32 teams comprising the Class A DI playoff bracket, will host 29th-seed Coosa (4-6) of Rome Friday in the first round of the state playoffs.
Coosa is led by former Brantley County head coach Geoff Cannon.
Joining the Rams in the playoff field are seventhseed Thomasville hosting 26th-seed Bacon County in a region re-match, 12thseed Fitzgerald hosting 21st-seed Rabun County, and 16th-seed Jeff Davis hosting 17th-seed Washington County.
Brantley County linebacker Mason Kighlighter drops a Worth County ball carrier for a short gain during first half action Friday night in the Region 1-A Division I matchup. Photo Courtesy of THE SYLVESTER LOCAL NEWS
