Prep football roundup: Glads warm up for Flowery Branch with rout of Rockdale

Staff Reports

CONYERS — Clarke Central prepped for its Region 8-AAAA showdown next week against No. 4 Flowery Branch with a 44-0 victory at Rockdale County on Friday night. The Gladiators (8-1, 8-1) will host the Falcons (9-0, 9-0) at 7:30 p.m. next Friday at Billy Henderson Stadium.

Quenshaun Watson led the way for Clarke Central, rushing 17 times for 100 yards and two touchdowns in the first half. Jalani Payne rushed six times for 46 yards and a pair of 15-yard touchdown runs.

Quarterback Cameron Johnson completed 11 of 19 passes for 178 yards and a 16-yard touchdown pass to Torey Gartrell in the second quarter. Gartrell caught six passes for 101 yards.

Noah Welch added three field goals, two for 37 yards and one for 38 yards, all in the third quarter.

Clarke Central can do no worse than third place in Region 8-AAAA and the Gladiators have qualified for the Class AAAA state playoffs for the sixth consecutive year.

OCONEE COUNTY 41, WALNUT GROVE 14: At Walnut Grove, Davis Aiken rushed 18 times for 200 yards and three touchdowns as Oconee County moved closer to its first postseason berth since 2008.

Aiken, who broke the 1,000-yard rushing mark against Walnut Grove, was followed by Xavier Grant, who rushed for a 12-yard score in the third quarter, Connor White, who ran 8 yards for a touchdown in the second quarter, and Keenan Brown, who caught a 60-yard touchdown pass from White in the third quarter.

Oconee County (5-4, 3-2 in Region 8-AAA) will play Franklin County in a region play-in game at 7:30 p.m. Friday. If Oconee County is victorious, the Warriors will advance to the Class AAA state playoffs.

ATHENS ACADEMY 44, RIVERSIDE MILITARY ACADEMY 6: At Athens Academy, Taylor Allen and Lake Lindsay teamed up to collect a decisive Region 8-A victory over Riverside Military.

Allen rushed four times for 65 yards and two touchdowns, scoring on runs of 21 and 10 yards in the first quarter. Allen also returned a punt 42-yards for a score in the second quarter.

Lindsay completed 3 of 5 passes for 109 yards and touchdown passes to John Braucher (76 yards) and Jordan Lawson (18 yards), both in the second quarter.

Paul Linck, who rushed six times for 40 yards, closed out the scoring with a 1-yard run with 1:32 remaining before halftime. Michael Santamaria was a perfect 6-for-6 on extra points and the Spartans also got a first-quarter safety.

Athens Academy (6-3, 3-3) will host Jackson County at 7:30 p.m. Friday.

GEORGE WALTON 24, COMMERCE 14: At Monroe, Cody Streetman rushed 18 times for 76 yards and two touchdowns and completed 6 of 12 passes for 110 yards and two interceptions, but George Walton posted its third straight victory to remain in second place in Region 8-A.

Commerce (3-6, 2-3) will play at 7:30 p.m. Friday at Social Circle.

APALACHEE 47, WINDER-BARROW 0: At Winder, Stanley Williams collected 251 all-purpose yards and scored a school-record five touchdowns as Apalachee defeated Winder-Barrow for the fourth consecutive year and handed the luckless Bulldoggs their 23rd straight loss.

Williams scored on runs of 16 and 50 yards in the first quarter and reached the end zone in the second quarter twice, courtesy of Clint Ashe, who connected with Williams on scoring strikes of 60 and 57 yards.

Zay Henry added a 4-yard run in the second and Eric Tanner completed Apalachee’s scoring with a 64-yard rush with 9:34 remaining in the third quarter.

Williams rushed seven times for 134 yards and three touchdowns and Ashe completed 2 of 3 passes for 117 yards and two touchdowns.

The Wildcats (4-5, 4-5 in Region 8-AAAA) will host Apalachee at 7:30 p.m. Friday. Winder-Barrow (0-9, 0-9) will play at 7:30 p.m. Friday at Cedar Shoals.

HART COUNTY 22, JACKSON COUNTY 13: At Hartwell, Jackson County dropped its third consecutive game, falling to 2-7 overall and 1-5 in Region 8-AA South.

The Panthers will play at 7:30 p.m. Friday at Athens Academy.