THOMASVILLE —
Thomas County Central’s region championship dreams slowly evaporated Friday night one miscue after another.
Thanks to two fumbles, two interceptions, a roughing-the-punter penalty, a missed extra point and an ill-timed false-start call, the Yellow Jackets lost in the Region 1-AAAAA championship game 18-12 to Harris County at Thomas County Stadium.
“Where that execution came from, I don’t know,” Central coach Bill Shaver said. “I don’t have words to say why we executed that way.”
The offensive struggles started on Central’s opening drive. A holding penalty negated a first-down run by Adam Choice. Two plays later, Central (8-2, 4-1) threw an interception deep in Harris County territory.
On Central’s next series, following a turnover by Harris County (6-4, 5-0) on a punt, Central gave it right back by fumbling a snap. It was the first of two fumbled snaps by the Yellow Jackets.
Despite the lack of execution on offense, Central led 9-7 at halftime thanks to a four-yard touchdown run by Shaquille Coleman and 30-yard field goal on the last play of the second quarter by Gavin Wilson.
Trailing 10-9 in the fourth quarter, the Yellow Jackets drove deep into Tigers territory. Central had possession at the Harris County 5-yard line, facing a fourth-and-two. The Yellow Jackets lined up to go for the first down but were flagged for a false start.
“We jumped offsides before we even got underneath the center,” Shaver said.
For full details, see Saturday's edition of the Times-Enterprise.
Harris County...........18
Central......................12
Harris County 0 7 3 8 — 18
Central 0 9 0 3 — 12
Second Quarter
C — Shaquille Coleman 4 run (kick failed)
H — Esaias Chapman 2 run (Issac Grimes kick)
C — Gavin Wilson 30 kick
Third Quarter
H — Grimes 36 kick
Fourth Quarter
C — Wilson 27 kick
H — DiQuan Roberts 7 run (Chapman run)
Harris County Central
First downs 15 16
Rush-yards 47-191 44-279
Passing 67 8
Comp-Att-Int 7-10-0 1-4-2
Fumbles-Lost 1-1 2-2
Penalties 4-41 7-66
———
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
RUSHING — Harris County, DiQuan Roberts 2-16 TD, Esaias Chapman 24-104 TD, Justin Wright 15-56, TaQuon Marshall 4-15, Jay Ellison 2-0. Central, Adam Choice 24-158, Deondre Cooksey 12-57, Shaquille Coleman 8-64 TD.
PASSING — Harris County, Wright 6-9-0 52, Marshall 1-1-0 15. Central, Choice 1-4-2 8.
RECEIVING — Harris County, Marshall 1-27, AJ Howard 3-25, Chapman 3-15. Central, Malcolm McClenton 1-8.
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