Adairsville takes down Astros to win state playoff opener
The Adairsville Tigers started fast Saturday afternoon and controlled the action most of the day in a 55-20 home, Class AAA first round playoff game over the Douglass Astros.
Placekicker Arthur Lefler kicked the Tigers to an opening possession with an onside kick and recovery on his own on the opening kickoff of the game.
Ninety-one seconds later, Ethan Blome scored on a six-yard run to cap a five-play drive. Cooper Souders’ PAT gave the Tigers an early 7-0 lead. Douglass came right back down the field. The Astros needed just four plays scoring on a 40-yard touchdown run by Antoine Walker with 9:41 to go in the first quarter. The Douglass PAT kick failed.
Chris Roper’s ensuing kickoff return to the Adairsville 40-yard line gave the Tigers great field position. Runs by Blome, Roper, and quarterback Jonathan Gough moved Adairsville into scoring position. Roper scored on a direct snap with 7:04 to go in the opening period to make the score 14-6.
Following an Astros’ fumble recovered by Hayden Blalock, Gough connected with Grayson Belcher for a 34-yard scoring strike. The touchdown pass gave Adairsville a 21-6 lead with 6:24 remaining in the first quarter.
On the next Douglass possession, the Tigers defense got a stop and blocked a fourth down punt. The Adairsville recovery at the 10-yard line set up Blome’s 10-yard touchdown run on the first play. The Tigers had a 27-6 lead after the kick failed.
The Astros drove to the Adairsville 14-yard line on their next possession, but a Tre Winters pass break up on fourth down stopped the scoring threat.
Roper then broke off a 71-yard run at the end of the first quarter to set up the next Tigers’ score. Two Kolt McCord runs later, Adairsville led 34-6 two plays into the second period.
The final score of the first half was a 1-yard run by Wilson with just under four minutes left in the half to make the score 34-13.
Adairsville drove to the 20-yard line with 20 seconds left in the first half, but turned the ball over on downs to lead by 21 points at the intermission.
The Tigers marched for a long, methodical scoring drive to start the third quarter. Chris Roper capped the crive with 7:16 to go in the period to give the Tigers a 41-13 lead.
A long Douglass pass completion from Demari Wilson to Anthony Harris set up an 11-yard touchdown pass. Wilson connected with Watkins on the scoring play to make the score 41-20.
On Adairsville’s next possession, McCord had a long run to the Astros’ four-yard line to set up a 4-yard touchdown pass from Gough to Roper with 8:22 to go in the third quarter.
Peyton Bowen added a 6-yard touchdown run for Adairsville to build a 55-20 lead.
Wilson then tossed a 48-yard touchdown pass to Kenneth Johnson for a final Douglass touchdown and a 55-26 final score.
Adairsville (10-1) will host Oconee County next Friday in the Class AAA second round.
Oconee County defeated Lumpkin County in the first round, 49-21.
