Pat Donahue/Times-EnterpriseDylan James (95) celebrates after the Cairo defense held at the goal line to preserve the shutout in Friday night's 24-0 win over Hardaway.

CAIRO, Ga. — The Cairo Syrupmakers made sure the Hardaway Hawks’ mistakes hurt.

Despite making a slew of transgressions themselves, the Syrupmakers blanked the visiting Hawks 24-0 Friday night at West Thomas Stadium, posting their second straight shutout.

With the win, the Syrupmakers improved to 2-2 overall and more importantly, 2-0 in Region 1-AAAA.

“We made a bunch of mistakes tonight,” Syrupmakers coach Steve Devoursney said. “It wasn’t a great game by us by no means, but hopefully, we’ll get it corrected and get ready to go. 

“Our coaches probably aren’t real happy right now with a 24-0 win, but a lot of people will take that. We just have to go back to work.”

After getting stopped on fourth-and-goal at the Hawks 1-yard line, the Syrupmakers turned their own fourth-down stand into the game’s first points. Hardaway quarterback Dominique Ford was bounced backward at the Cairo 39 and he fumbled. As many players appeared to wait for a whistle, Derrick Simmons scooped up the loose ball and raced 57 yards for a touchdown. Noah Jones’ point after gave Cairo a 7-0 lead with 4:18 left in the first half.

On Hardaway’s first possession of the second half, Zavier Clark shanked a punt, and the Syrupmakers took over at the Hawks 45. Tay Solomon dashed through the Hardaway defense on the very next play, and Jones’ PAT pushed the lead to 14-0 at the 9:26 mark of the third.

Jarion Carter tackled Clark, who had dropped back to punt, to give Cairo the ball at Hardaway’s 14 late in the third. That led to quarterback Ronnie Baker’s 10-yard scoring toss to Cameron Goosby, who made an over the shoulder catch in the back right corner of the end zone with 1:05 to play in the third.

Jaron Early broke the Cairo defense for a big gain on the next series, but he coughed up the football. Keon Bogan recovered the rolling football, fumbled it himself, but the Syrupmakers recovered that at their own 20.

From there, the Syrupmakers embarked on a nine-play drive that ended in Jones’ 37-yard field goal with 5:49 remaining.

Hardaway used up that time to get down to the Cairo 1-yard line but on the game’s final play, Ford was stuffed at the line of scrimmage and time expired, preserving the shutout.

“The defense played good all night,” Devoursney said. “They had a couple of mistakes and miscues but at the end of the night, you look up there and there are zero points. Give Hardaway credit — they didn’t quit. They almost got it in there at the end.”

While Cairo did not turn the ball over, a penalty on a fake punt that had gained a first down instead became a fourth-and-1 play at midfield. The Hawks stuffed Solomon on the next play.

The two teams combined for nine penalties in the first half, and the Syrupmakers got a personal foul call on a drive that put them with a first-and-goal at the 3. Hardaway, however, held, and Carter was turned away on fourth down.

“We were struggling to get the ball in the end zone in the first half.” Devoursney said. “Thank goodness the defense scored one. That was big right there. It changed the game. We probably should have kicked the field goal early to get some points.”

Baker’s 22-yard pass to Nick Gosier, who weaved through the Hardaway defense, set up Jones’ 50-yard field goal attempt on the first half’s final play. Jones’ kick had the distance but missed just wide right.

Cairo travels to Westover for its next game. 

Editor Pat Donahue can be reached at (229) 226-2400 ext. 1806.