Unbeaten Region 8 champion Titans roll to 35-6 win over WCHS
BOGART — Ware County head coach Jason Strickland knew his team would need a flawless game to defeat third-ranked North Oconee Friday night in the second round of the GHSA Class AAAA playoffs.
From the opening kickoff, the undefeated Titans showed why Strickland’s assessment was spot on.
North Oconee (12-0), the Region 8 champion, displayed a balanced offense that could grind out a possession or strike quickly complemented by a stingy defense to eliminate the Gators 356. The Titans scored the first five times they had the ball while blanking the visitors to bring on a running clock in the final quarter under the “mercy rule.”
“We knew we would have to play an almost perfect game coming in here,” Strickland said. “It wasn’t about the effort. We were just out executed, especially on long down situations with an opportunity to get off the field.”
The Titans didn’t face many late down situations, but when they did, they were impressive in their conversions. North Oconee converted 4-of-7 third downs and both of its fourths. Three of the successful thirds and both of the fourths came in the first half.
“They (Titans) did a great job converting to stay on the field and we struggled,” Strickland said. “They executed at a very high level. They’re a terrific team.”
The loss ended Ware County’s season at 6-6. It was the second straight year the campaign closed in the second round after winning the Class AAAAA state championship in 2022.
That title was the highlight of the career of this year’s seniors, who weathered a freshman season marked by the COVID pandemic and Hurricane Helene’s aftermath this year.
“What a tough, resilient group of kids,” praised Strickland. “They had COVID to start, then being displaced by the hurricane, and so many battled though injuries. It’s an incredible, incredible group of young men, and I’m so thankful they let me be a part of their lives.”
Junior quarterback Harrison Faulkner was North Oconee’s catalyst. The son of Georgia Tech offensive coordinator Buster Faulkner completed 12-of-18 passes for 262 yards and four touchdowns. He ran 13 times for 83 additional yards.
Three of the scoring tosses went to Landon Roldan, who caught five passes for 94 yards. Tight end Khamari Brooks had four receptions for 124 yards, 75 coming on a touchdown catch.
Luke Hooks and Ja’Londi O’Hara teamed up for Ware County’s only points on a 68-yard pass in the fourth quarter. Hooks finished 10-of-21 for 146 yards. Tayshaun Franklin ran 19 times for 82 yards.
North Oconee, winners of at least 12 games for three straight seasons, set the tone for the game taking the opening kickoff 85 yards in 12 plays for the first of their four first-half touchdowns.
A 23-yard pass from Faulkner to Roldan off play action capped the possession. Oliver Buckley added the first of five straight extra points with 6:41 left for a 70 lead.
The Titans converted a trio of third downs in the march. Faulkner, a left-hander, accounted for two, scrambling 13 yards for one and connecting with Dallas Dickerson on a 19yard pass on a third-and-12 situation for the other.
Ware County, the second seed from Region 1, threatened on the ensuing possession, driving from its 26 before being stopped on downs at the North Oconee 37.
“We missed some opportunities to extend some drives,” Strickland said.
The Titans converted the stop into their second touchdown to cap a 63-yard, eight-play drive, this time converting a fourth down to extend the margin to 140. Roldan pulled down Faulkner’s pass among three defenders to complete the 32-yard play on fourth-and-10 with 10:38 left in the half.
Ware County’s following possession was kept alive by a running into the kicker penalty on a punt from its 37, but eventually stalled three plays later.
William Bates’ punt pinned the Titans at their 16. It only took two plays for them to extend the lead to 21-0 with 4:54 left in the half courtesy of an impressive individual effort by Brooks. Under heavy pressure, Faulkner checked down to the 6-foot-5 220-pounder in the flat, and the receiver slipped out of a pair of tacklers to start a 75-yard romp that he finished by shedding three more defenders just short of the end zone.
North Oconee added its fourth touchdown with just 53 seconds left in the half when Faulkner hit Roldan on a nine-yard slant to cap a 76-yard, nine-play possession to build a 28-0 advantage. Roldan ran five yards on a jet sweep to convert a fourth-and-1 situation at the Titans’ 36 to keep the drive alive.
Ware County was able to get one first down after taking the second half kick before punting with the Titans possession at their 30.
They covered the distance in 10 plays with J.T. Doster scoring from a yard out with 5:05 left in the third quarter for a 35-0 advantage activating a running clock in the final period.
Faulkner converted a third-and-11 play from the Gators’ 28 with an 18-yard pass to Brooks to set up firstand- goal.
Ware County scored its points after forcing the Titans only punt of the game midway through the final quarter. Hooks hit O’Hara with a 68-yard pass to end the 80yard, four-play possession with 4:41 left in the game. Bates’ conversion kick was blocked leaving the score at 35-6.
The Gators had another chance at points after recovering a fumble off a bad shotgun snap at the Titans’ 15 with 2:15 left. However, Hooks misfired on three passes before the clock ran out.
“This wasn’t the outcome we wanted,” Strickland said. “But we’re not close to being done.”
