Had Locust Grove not gone for it four times on fourth down, and not make it. Had it not fumbled twice, and lost both. Had it converted those. Had it not lost the others – or had to punt once – all of this happening in the first half – perhaps it would have had a chance against Warner Robins.
Then again, it would also have had to stop the Demons. That was something it didn’t appear capable of doing. (Actually there were times neither appeared able to stop the other.)
Warner Robins, in a wild one, won 50-40.
It scored its first touchdown right after the Wildcats had failed to convert their first fourth-down attempt. That came around midfield. It took two plays for the Demons to score. The second of those was a 59-yard run by Marcayll Jones. Cary Payne made it 7-0 with the point after.
Locust Grove went from its own 5 to Warner Robins’ 25 following. It stalled there and went for it on fourth-and-two. See: Had it converted. The Demons had to punt after that, but the Wildcats fumbled it right back over. That resulted in Dylan Fromm’s 28-yard touchdown pass to Devin Brown. The point after was missed.
The Wildcats failed in their latest-and-greatest fourth down try on their next possession. Warner Robins again was forced to punt, but Locust Grove again fumbled it back over to them.
That resulted in a missed field goal attempt.
The Wildcats finally completed a drive following for a score to cut it to 13-7. That came with the game just into the second half.
The Demons showed the host how to convert on fourth down following. That came on the Locust Grove 23. That also eventually led to a one-yard touchdown run by Fromm. The point after missed.
After a fourth-and-11 came up short for the Wildcats, Warner Robins put together an 80-yard drive and made it 26-7 – Samariy Howard now kicking the points after. Jalen Rutherford’s 17-yard run a short time later and with the PAT made it 33-7. That came with just over a minute left in the half.
One thing you can say about Locust Grove: It doesn’t quit (evidence to follow). It answered that with a quick drive – ending on a 21-yard pass to tight end Billy Ward to make it 33-13.
The Demons made it 40-13 to start the third. The Wildcats answered that with a touchdown to make it 40-20.
A 33-yard field goal by Payne following an interception made it 43-20. Locust Grove made it 43-26 just before the third came to an end.
The Demons made it 50-26 less than a minute into the fourth, but the Wildcats roared back. With the aid of a pick-six and a fumble, they cut it to 50-34, then 50-40.
Both put together some threats from there before Warner Robins was finally able to get the ball with a handful of seconds left and run out the clock.
McDonald’s Offensive Player of the Game – # 24 Jaylen Rutherford
Your Pie/Flint Energies Defensive Player of the Game – # 12 Christian Anderson
