FAIRBURN — Creekside lived up to its ranking as the top team in GHSA Class AAAA and one of the top five in the state regardless of classification Friday night here against Ware County in the second round of the playoffs.
The Seminoles (12-0) ended the Gators season with a 49-0 victory capped by a running clock in the fourth quarter. Creekside, ranked 42nd in the country by MaxPreps, dominated on both sides of the football, rolling up 603 yards of offense while limiting the Gators (9-3) to just 116 yards.
The 49-point loss was the largest margin of defeat in the post-season for Ware County surpassing the 40-0 defeat against Warner Robins in the 2004 Class 4A semifinals.
“Their (Seminoles) coaches did a terrific job of finding ways to create explosive plays,” said Ware County head coach Jason Strickland. “That’s what we had seen on film for 11 games.”
The home team scored on six straight possessions at one point, led 28-0 at intermission and activated the running clock with the first of three touchdowns in the third quarter. Creekside’s scoring possessions ranged from one play (twice) to as many as 14.
Ware County, who’s season ended in the second round for a third straight year, threatened only once. That came late in the second quarter after that Seminoles’ 14-play drive set the halftime score.
The Gators were first-and-goal at the Creekside three, but came away empty when quarterback Isaiah White was smothered in the backfield on a keeper on the next-to-last play of the half.
Running back Gary Walker sped through the Gators defense for 250 yards and two touchdowns on 13 carries to lead Creekside. The 6-foot, 180-pound junior totaled 203 yards on 10 carries with scoring runs of 73 and 93 yards in the first quarter, both off simple dive plays into the middle of the line.
Quarter Caden Benson was 9of-13 passing for 213 yards and two scores with an interception. Eric Paul caught four passes for 104 yards.
“We (coaches) went in trying to limit Walker and Benson’s production,” Strickland said. “We wanted to make them uncomfortable and force them to punt. We did twice and had great field position, but was unable to capitalize.”
Ware County managed just 15 yards rushing on 22 plays. Of those snaps, 11 went for zero or negative yards. White struggled in the face of heavy pressure all night, going 7-of-22 for 101 yards and his only two interceptions of the year.
More than half of the Gators’ yardage total came on a 52-yard pass to Ja’Londi O’Hara which set up Ware County’s only scoring chance. The Gators managed just four first downs, half resulting from Creekside penalties.
“Their defensive box was impressive,” Strickland said. “We had the the best offensive line I’ve ever coached and it was just a tall tasks for what they had over there on the other side of the ball. We struggled trying to run against that unit and protect (passing) against it.
“Our offensive guys went out every drive and tried to battle and compete and I give them credit for battling. There wasn’t a lot of frustration or any of those type things. It was just trying to find ways to move the football and there just wasn’t a whole lot of positive plays to be had out there.”
Ware County had an early highlight, forcing a Creekside punt after only three plays off the opening kickoff. The other times the Seminoles were limited to three or fewer plays in a possession ending in touchdowns.
Two of those came in the opening quarter courtesy of Walker’s scoring jaunts. After Ware County went three-and-out on its first possession, Walker sprinted 73 yards up the middle. Delano Jones added the extra point for a 7-0 lead with 8:59 left in the quarter.
After a 38-yard punt by Jeffrey Gonzalez pinned Creekside at its seven, Walker needed just one run off the same play to score from 93 yards out at the 2:07 mark. The conversion by Jones was good to make it 14-0 at the quarter break.
The Seminoles scored the first of two touchdowns in the second period on a 44-yard run by Ced Kelley with nine minutes left for a 21-0 lead after Jones’ extra point. The play capped an eightplay, 73-yard drive.
After forcing another threeand- out, Creekside stretched the cushion with its longest possession of the night in terms of play and time. The 14-play, 80-yard march was capped by Benson’s seven-yard run and another Jones conversion with 2:26 left in the half.
Ware County then had its best chance for points. The Seminoles roughed White on a first down pass before the junior connected with O’Hara, his classmate, on the 52yard post pattern for first down at the Creekside six.
A defensive holding penalty moved the ball three yards closer, before an incompletion and two runs put the ball at the one.
White faked a handoff to Jamir Byrd into the line, but when he pulled the ball to run himself, the Seminoles had him surrounded for a two-yard loss.
Creekside put the game away by scoring on all three of its possessions in the third quarter. Anthony Hill accounted for two of the touchdowns on a 80-yard pass from Benson and a 10-yard run. Benson connected with Damien Henderson on a 12-yard pass for the quarter’s other touchdown.
Two of the Gators four possessions in the quarter ended in interceptions. Defensive back LoJuan Blue gave Ware County one last chance to avert a shutout with an interception later in the fourth quarter.
However, the Gators could muster nothing deep in their own territory and had to punt after three plays.
“We’re losing an incredible group of seniors who did everything that we (coaches) asked them to do battling for this program and representing this community,” said Strickland. “I couldn’t be more thankful for what they have meant to this program and what they have meant to me and my family. The big takeaway is there’s another group of players coming. They’ve got to watch an unbelievable group of young men represent our program exactly the way it should be and they are the example.
“ If the younger guys were watching, and if they are doing what they’re supposed to be doing, they had an example before them of how to work and how to attack each day and how to try to make the Gators better. That’s what we’re (coaches) hoping they got out of this season. I couldn’t be more thankful for this group and what they’ve done over these last four years.”
