Tigers' bid to take down 2nd-ranked Warriors comes up just short

Eli Agnew

The Adairsville Tigers battled second-ranked Oconee County to the wire but came up short Friday night in Watkinsville, 29-22, in the opening round of the Class AAA state playoffs.

In a back-and-forth contest, Adairsville had the ball inside the host Warriors’ red zone with an opportunity to tie at the end of regulation, but an interception with about 10 seconds remaining ended the threat and sealed the Oconee County win.

Adairsville jumped out to a 15-0 lead early on a pair of Eli Agnew touchdown runs. Agnew capped the opening drive with a 2-yard plunge followed by a two-point conversion.

Following a successful onside kick, the Tigers drove for a second score culminated by an Agnew three-yard run on a fourth down play with 3:31 left in the opening quarter.

The Warriors cut the Adairsville lead to 15-7 on a short rushing touchdown by quarterback Jacob Wright, but the Tigers answered early in the second quarter with a 20-yard touchdown pass from Jonathan Gough to Evan Sanders.

The connection had Adairsville ahead 22-7 with 11:42 remaining in the first half.

The Warriors scored twice to close out the first half and send the game to halftime tied 22-22.

C.J. Jones scored on a 13-yard touchdown run midway through the period and Wright found the end zone with a 5-yard rushing play with 0:27 remaining in the half. The Warriors knotted the score with a two-point conversion reception by Jack Ward.

The teams battled through a scoreless third quarter before the Warriors grabbed an early fourth quarter lead.

Wright hooked up with Whit Weeks on a 23-yard touchdown pass that gave Oconee a 29-22 advantage with 9:14 left in the game.

The game ended on Adairsville’s late threat thwarted by an interception.

Oconee County (10-1) won its eighth straight home playoff game over the past three seasons. The Warriors travel to Crisp County next week for a second round game.

Adairsville had its season end with an 8-3 record.