Ware County closed out its regular season Friday night with a dominating 42-0 victory against Region 1-AAAA rival Wayne County on Senior Night in Memorial Stadium.
The “mercy-rule” win sent the Gators (8-2 overall, 3-2 region) into the GHSA Class AAAA playoffs as the third seed from Region 1. They will play at Region 8 No. 2 Flowery Branch (7-3) Friday, November 14.
Ware County finished tied with Warner Robins at 3-2 in the region, but the Demons claimed the better seed with their 4844 win against the Gators two weeks ago.
“It was big to come off that gut punch last week,” Ware County head coach Jason Strickland said. “The way they (players) practiced all week and worked in the weight room we (coaches) felt like the guys would come out and play well tonight.”
It was a workmanlike win for the Gators, who had contributions from all around the roster.
The offense had 391 total yards — 202 rushing and 189 passing — 23 first downs and never punted.
Quarterback Isaiah White was 13-for-22 passing for 174 yards and a touchdown to Ja’Londi O’Hara. White also added a scoring run.
Running back Jamir Boyd ran 14 times for 709 yards and two touchdowns. Wide receiver Ja’Mario Rice had a touchdown run while Tayshaun Franklin returned a kickoff for a score.
‘The defense limited Wayne County (1-9, 1-4) to 68 total yards — 58 on nine runs by Tyrese Wright — and recovered a fumble.
“It was big to rebound like that,” said Strickland, whose defense had seven negative plays and yielded just four first downs. “They were embarrassed and devastated last week.”
Franklin set the tone for the game by returning the opening kickoff 75 yards for a touchdown. The senior fielded the sky kick at the Gators’ 25, tucked in behind a wave of blockers, broke free from the pack around midfield and outraced the defenders to the end zone.
Jeffrey Gonzalez added the first of his four firsthalf conversion kicks for a 7-0 lead just 11 seconds into the contest.
The Gators stretched the lead t0 14-0 after forcing a Wayne County punt following three plays. Ware County moved 57 yards in six plays with White connecting with O’Hara in the back corner of the end zone for the touchdown with 7:27 left in the quarter.
After the Yellow Jackets went three-and-out on their ensuing possession, Ware County pushed the lead to 21-0 with. Boyd scored from four yards on the first snap of the second period capping a 12play, 64-yard march with 11:55 left in the first half.
Ware County’s most impressive drive of the night — 95 yards in eight plays — culminated in a twoyard run by Boyd with just 45.1 seconds left in the half for a 28-0 cushion. White was 4-for-5 passing in the march for 62 yards.
Wayne County ran three plays and punted after the second-half kickoff, and White turned the stop into points with an 11-yard scoring run. The junior’s keeper after a fake to Boyd into the line capped an eight-play, 54yard drive with 5:39 left in the third period. The first of two extra points from Joel Cortez made it 35-0 to bring on the running clock in the final period.
The Yellow Jackets mounted their best threat of the night after the kickoff as Wright broke free for 39 yards and a first down down to the Gators’ 39. Defensive tackle Nick Grant had the hustle play of the night, tracking the running back down for the tackle.
Wright picked up another three yards on first down. However, a false start penalty put the Yellow Jackets behind the chains. Sacks of quarterback Max Copley — one by Grant — on two of the next three plays ended the possession.
“(Grant) had a great night,” Strickland said of the senior, who had two of the Gators three sacks. “It was maybe his best night of the year. He’s a selfmade guy who’s worked his butt off and just got better and better as the year went on.”
The stop led to the Gators final score of the night with 10:29 left in the game. Rice went untouched around left end on a jet sweep to cap a four-play, 46-yard possession.
