Waycross Middle School captured the City Championship trophy in Memorial Stadium Wednesday turning back Ware County Middle School 16-8.
The two teams battled to a scoreless stalemate in the opening period. Following back-toback punts on the opening possessions, the Bulldogs got a defensive stop at the Ware Middle 29 tackling the Gators’ Ja’ccheus Cooper behind the line of scrimmage on a fourth-and-two run.
Waycross Middle advanced the ball to the Gators’ 22 before turning the ball over. Ware Middle’s Jimmy Green intercepted a Chase Cone pass in the end zone.
The Gators punched the ball to the Waycross Middle 48 before punting the ball away.
Taking possession at their own 26, the Bulldogs’ Jimmy Taylor exploded for a 74-yard jaunt on the first snap. Cone ran in the two-point conversion for an 8-0 lead with 4:17 left in the half.
Waycross Middle’s Michah Porter picked off the first of two errant Gator pass attempts three plays after the kickoff giving the Bulldogs possession at the Ware Middle 31.
The Bulldogs needed six plays to double its score with Cone calling his own number from two yards away. He also converted the two-point conversion to give Waycross Middle a 16-0 lead with 1:16 left in the first half.
Waycross Middle opened the second half driving to the Gators’ 34 before running out of downs.
Porter picked off his second pass of the afternoon eight plays into Ware Middle’s ensuing possession at the Bulldogs’ 15.
Unable to move the ball, Waycross Middle punted the ball away with the Gators opening up shop just 18 yards away.
Ware Middle opened the 18yard drive with the “Big Gator” package with runs by Marquez Jenkins and Rakeem Munford. On first-and-goal from the six, Munford powered his way into the end zone for the first and only score for the Gators. Munford added the two-point conversion, cutting the Bulldogs lead in half with 7:34 left in the game.
Waycross Middle put together a nearly four-minute, nine-play drive turning the ball over on downs with 3:46 left in the contest. Ware Middle turned the ball back over after four plays.
Waycross Middle took a knee on first and goal to run the clock out and give them a 16-8 victory over Ware Middle.
The Bulldogs will host Bethune Middle School for Homecoming today (Wednesday, September 11) at 5 p.m., at Memorial Stadium. Ware Middle travels to Caney Bay to take on Brantley County Middle School at 5 p.m.
