MT. AIRY, Ga. — The ghost of Blind Willie McTell traveled all the way to Mt. Airy Friday night and left everyone in Raider Stadium singing the Statesboro Blues.
Habersham Central pushed to the final minutes, but costly penalties and Statesboro High School’s punishing ground game proved too much Friday night as the Raiders fell 36-28 in the first round of the GHSA Class AAAAA playoffs at John Larry Black Field.
Fireworks to start
Both teams opened with fireworks. Habersham Central (7-4) struck first when quarterback
Paris Wilbanks hit Jay Feitus on a 40-yard-deep ball to set up a 3-yard score by star running back Donnie Warren. Statesboro (8-3) immediately answered as Blue Devils running back Keon Childers broke free on a direct snap for a long touchdown, adding a two-point conversion to take an 8-7 lead.
The teams traded touchdowns in the first four minutes before penalties began to take a toll on Habersham. Two unnecessary-roughness flags helped extend a Statesboro drive early in the second quarter, culminating in a 2-yard touchdown by senior Rashad Chavers for a 15-7 lead.
Habersham responded with a quick strike. After a strong return by Feitus and a pass-interference call, Wilbanks connected with Tylon Davis on a 33-yard touchdown. Warren powered in the two-point conversion to tie the game at 15.
A missed 37-yard field goal by the Raiders late in the half proved costly. With 44 seconds remaining, Statesboro quarterback Beckham Jarrard found Gage Newsome for a 41-yard touchdown to send the Blue Devils into halftime ahead 21-15.
Statesboro takes command
Statesboro seized control on the first play of the second half when Childers tore through the middle for a 75-yard touchdown, adding another two-point run for a 29-15 lead.
Habersham battled back behind Warren, who broke loose for gains of 30 and 38 yards on a third-quarter drive, trimming the deficit to 29-22. But Statesboro extended its lead again in the fourth when Childers scored his third touchdown of the night.
Wilbanks and Feitus kept the Raiders alive with a 54-yard connection that set up Warren’s
third touchdown, cutting the deficit to 36-28 with under eight minutes left. But after forcing a punt with under five minutes remaining, Habersham’s final drive stalled following an 11-yard sack on Wilbanks. Statesboro ran out the clock to seal the win.
Key statistics
Statesboro dominated time of possession and the ground game, rushing 55 times for 346 yards and finishing with 440 yards of total offense. Childers led the way with 21 carries for 186 yards and three touchdowns. Chavers added 55 yards and a score.
Jarrard finished 5-of-9 passing for 89 yards and a touchdown, while Newsome caught two passes for 57 yards.
Habersham Central posted 399 total yards, including 207 on the ground. Warren matched Childers with 186 rushing yards and three touchdowns on 26 carries. Wilbanks went 12-of-23 for 192 yards and a touchdown, with Feitus hauling in six passes for 143 yards.
Penalties loomed large for the Raiders, who were flagged 12 times for 84 yards compared to just four penalties for Statesboro.
The loss ends Habersham Central’s season at 7-4 in head coach Benji Harrison’s third playoff appearance in the last four years with the Raiders since returning to the program. Statesboro advances to the second round of the Class AAAAA playoffs.
