Local Sports

Round One Scores & Recaps (from the United Community Bank Scoreboard)

November 15, 2025

This post was originally published on this site.

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The playoffs…we waited a long time for it to get here, and already the first round is in the books. Here’s what happened.

#15 Rabun County 56, #18 Dodge County 21

Rabun County was in a tight one for about 16 minutes. After going back and forth with a 14-14 tie, the Wildcats produced three turnovers and two turnovers on downs as part of 42 unanswered points. The final score read 56-21. The Wildcats had three touchdown runs by Lake Evans, two touchdown passes from Ty Truelove – both to Reed Lafevers, and two TD runs by Reid Giles. JK Fruster had a punt block that he took back for the go-ahead TD midway through the second.

#3 Statesboro 36, #2 Habersham Central 28
courtesy of Now Habersham

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.

Both teams opened with fireworks. Habersham Central (7-4) struck first when quarterback Paris Wilbanks hit Jay Feltus 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.

Senior running back Donnie Warren scores his first of three touchdowns on the night for the Raiders. (Vivian Fargason/Now Habersham)

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 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.

Raider quarterback Parris Wilbanks takes the snap prior to a big pass. (Vivian Fargason/Now Habersham)

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 taking over the program. Statesboro advances to the second round of the Class AAAAA playoffs.

#1 Jefferson 55, #32 Dougherty 13

The Dragons fired past Dougherty 55-13. It was 21-0 Jefferson after one, as Eli Primm had a 33-yd TD, followed by Boone Horn’s 55-yd TD to Logan Edmunds. Primm added a 5-yd score for the 21-zip lead. Colton Grant had a 14-yd rushing score in the second, and Darren Pinkard had a 9-yd TD in the third. Grant threw a TD pass to Dalton Dye from 18 yards out later in the quarter, as he made a crazy catch for the 42-13 lead. Jacob Berardinelli added a 39-yd TD, and Amire Barnes had a 3-yd tuddy late.

#6 Calhoun 35, #27 Lumpkin County 13

After trailing 35-0 at the half, the Indians buckled down defensively, and got the offense going to finish strong in a 35-13 final.

#11 Callaway 25, #22 Franklin County 15

Callaway edged out Franklin County 25-15 to close the Lions’ season in the opening round.

#19 Stephens County 24, #14 Crisp County 21

The Indians pulled off a big opening round upset with a 24-21 road win at Crisp County, making it now four straight years going to the second round or further.