All four classes get in scoring act versus hapless Rebels
If you truly do play like you practice, Ware County head coach Jason Strickland will take another dozen or so of last week’s workouts the rest of the season.
Stung by a 13-7 loss to Richmond Hill that came on a miracle blocked field goal return on the game’s final play, the Gators (2-2 overall, 1-1 Region 1AAAAA) responded with a spirited practice week and the result was a 68-6 rout of winless Groves (0-4, 01) in the region opener for both schools in Memorial Stadium on Rec Night.
The point total was a school record in its 763rd game, topping the 67-0 victory against Brantley County in 1994. It marked the fifth time in school history Ware County has scored 62 points or more.
“We showed a lot of resiliency from that one last week with a great week of practice,” Strickland said. “We needed this tonight. I couldn’t be more proud of what we did this week and tonight.”
The win snapped a twogame losing streak for the Gators. It was the 20th straight loss for the Rebels dating to the 2024 season.
Every phase of Ware County’s game — offense, defense and special teams — had a hand in the scoring in the onslaught. And, the points came by all four classes on the roster as the Gators led 33-0 after a quarter and 54-0 at intermission to bring on a running clock in the second half.
Junior receiver LeTarrian Hayes led the way with a pair of touchdown passes from senior quarterback Isaiah White, and a third off a run. Junior classmates Misayer McKoy and Jimmy Taylor added touchdowns while kicker Jeffrey Gonzalez had a field goal and seven straight extra points, all in the first half.
Marquez Jenkins and De’Shavious Gibson scored for the sophomore class while freshmen Mekai Porter and Cole McGuffin got into the scoring act with touchdowns and Mason Hereford had the final two conversion kicks. Senior defensive back Lojuan Blue was credited with the tackle for loss that resulted in a safety for the Gators.
White completed 8-of-14 passes for 188 yards. Hayes caught three for 89 of the total as White and backup Ryder Gilbert spread their throws among seven receivers.
Gibson led the Gators in rushing with 67 yards on six carries. He was one of eight players with a run for WCHS, which had 374 total yards and 14 first downs.
Groves managed only 125 yards and five first downs, the first not coming until 10:57 was left in the game. The Rebels, whose only points came on a 10-yard run by Taff James, suffered 14 negative plays.
Ware County served notice it wanted to gain the upper hand early when it surprised the Rebels with an onside kickoff it recovered at their 46 to start the game.
“We said all week long we’ve got to start faster,” Strickland said.
Three plays later, the Gators had first down at the six, but had to settle for a 36-yard field goal by Gonzalez with just 100 seconds gone in the game. Two incomplete passes and a holding penalty stymied the Gators.
Stalling on the first-andgoal situation was an eerie reminder of Ware’s struggles in last week’s loss.
“I just looked up to the sky, ‘please not again,’” Strickland said. “Once we settled down, we understood this was not going to be a black cloud hanging over us all year long. It was just about execution.”
Three plays later, the Ware County defense got its first tally when James was stacked up in the backfield. McKoy pulled the ball away before the whistle blew, returning it 40 yards for a touchdown with 8:38 left. Gonzalez added his first conversion kick for a 10-0 lead.
“‘MooMoo’ was a man again,” Strickland said of the linebacker. “He’s turned into that ‘alpha’ player over there (defense).”
The Ware County special teams added to the total on the ensuing Groves’ possession. On fourth down at the 21, punter Steve Ramiriez couldn’t pull in a low snap, and Jenkins picked up the ball returning it eight yards for the score and a 17-0 lead with 6:28 left in the period.
After another stop, Davion Jones returned the punt 39 yards to give the Gators a first down at the Groves’ five. Eric Tongori’s diving tackle kept Jones out of the end zone, but it only prolonged the inevitable as Taylor covered the distance in two runs, the last from four yards out with 4:31 left in the period for a 24-0 lead.
Ware County scored just 2:15 later after a nine-yard punt handed it a first down at the Rebels’ 36. White found Hayes wide open in the Rebels zone defense on the second snap. The junior receiver spun out toward the sidelines and completed the 27-yard scoring play at the 2:16 mark to swell the lead to 31-0.
The Rebels started the possession after the kickoff at their 20, but promptly lost 15 yards on a bad shotgun snap and four more on a run by James. Lowan Blue then ran down James on a sweep attempt for a safety with just 15.8 seconds left to cap the decisive first quarter and a 33-0 bulge.
Jones returned the following free kick to give Ware County a first down at the Rebels’ 37. After White hit Elan Jones for 28 yards, Hayes collected his rushing touchdown on a jet sweep for 40-0 cushion with 11:53 left in the half.
Another short punt gave the Gators the ball at the visitors 28. Three plays and a facemask penalty later, Gibson scored on a one-yard run with 9:32 left in the half for a 47-0 margin.
White and Hayes finished the first-half scoring with 2:46 left when they teamed up on the game’s longest play. White found Hayes wide open in the secondary after his coverage man fell down for a 62-yard score extending the margin to 54-0.
Porter, a speedy starter in the secondary, gave the special teams another tally when he raced 85 yards with the second half kickoff for a touchdown. Hereford added the extra point for a 61-0 lead.
Going exclusively with backups in the second half, another freshman finished the rout for the Gators. McGriff scored on a six-yard run with 3:19 left in the quarter and Hereford added the final point with his kick.
The Rebels avoided the shutout with 8:37 left when James skirted right end from 10 yards away to cap a six-play, 89-yard drive. The powerful senior, who finished with 103 yards on 20 carries, keyed the game’s longest drive with a 36-yard run and a 37-yard pass reception from quarterback D.J. Ferraro a play before the touchdown.
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