Houston County got a good look at Georgia-commit Kearis Jackson – not to mention a talented Peach County squad – Friday in Freedom Field.
It was perhaps too good a look as he helped the Trojans beat the Bears 44-14.
Peach County won the toss and elected to receive. They, aided by a 54-yard run by Jackson on the first play from scrimmage, then went 68 yards for the score.
The Bears did answer with their best drive of the night and went 51 yards on four plays for the score. Wesley Steiner, who carried the ball three times on the drive, finished it off from 11 yards out. Jon David Ferraris made the point after to tie it. That was with just inside the eight-minute mark.
Peach County went out front for good on its next possession, a seven-play, 65-yard drive, that ended when quarterback Antonio Gilbert found Sergio Allen from five yards out and the score. Mitchell Fineran again made the extra point to make it 14-7.
The Bears made a couple of first downs following but eventually faked a punt, didn’t make it and had to turn it over on downs.
Both punted as the game gave way to the second quarter.
The Trojans – thanks to a long, long penalty – forced a safety and then scored on the next possession when Jackson caught a pass and raced his way 55 yards for the score. That made it 23-7 with the extra point.
Both punted again before Fineran missed a 32-yard field goal attempt.
The Trojans did score again, however, when on the next possession Jackson went 62 yards. That made it 30-7, which is where it stood at the half.
Houston County added its final score in the third on a 47-yard run by Steiner.
But, Peach County answered that right back with a 52-yard drive that went seven plays. Gilbert capped it off with a one-yard run.
After a couple of punts the Trojans recovered a Bears fumble and turned it into their final score – Tijah Woolfolk from 20 yards out. That came with 2:47 left in the game.
The Bears fell to 0-2 with the loss, while it was the opener for the Trojans.
MCDONALD’S OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE GAME WESLEY STEINER. PAPA JOHN’S DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE GAME KHALIL POLK.
