THOMASVILLE – It was a fun night for the red and gold on Friday as Thomasville claimed victory in their round one contest versus Bacon County. It was an onslaught from the start as Thomasville built a 21-0 first-quarter lead and took the Raiders all the way to the end for a 48-6 W.

Running back Lavonte Cole took over the very first drive, taking two runs deep into Raider territory before punching in a three-yard score less than two minutes into the game. Si Wilson and Leelend Chapman decided to get in on the fun as Wilson spun in and out of defenders and past the 40. Chapman took it the rest of the way on two carries to find the end zone and put the Bulldogs up 14-0 just six minutes into the game.

Bacon County couldn’t get anything going against the Thomasville defense. Their first drive ended in a punt and their second drive of the game went nowhere fast, as Pace Hale and Geremiah Humbert came away with a tackle for a loss and a sack respectively.

Thomasville was dominating on the ground. Even quarterback Cam Hill got it done in the run column, as he took a long rush into the red zone. Ant Anderson would finish the drive off with a five-yard touchdown run to make it 21-0 after the first quarter.

Bacon County responded with a long drive that ate up nearly five minutes of the clock and ended in a touchdown. A missed point after left the score at 21-6.

Thomasville answered by opening up the pass game with a deep shot from Hill to receiver Rex Schofill. Hill scampered into the red zone on another long run that Anderson finished off with a two-yard score.

The air attack really picked up in the ensuing drive, however. Hill found Schofill again on a deep shot and then connected with AJ Hill for a 34-yard receiving touchdown.

The Bulldogs headed into halftime with a 35-6 lead, three running backs having rushing touchdowns, and five different players having recorded a TD.

The Bulldogs came out of halftime with no mercy on their mind. Junior corner Kayden Walker helped the Bulldogs force a punt on the first drive of the half with a tackle for a loss. Thomasville attacked immediately on the ground and in the air. On their first drive of the second half, Hill found Hunter Blanton and Demario Sawyer for a combined 57 yards. Anderson contributed with two long runs before Hill and Sawyer capped off the drive with a touchdown. The Bulldogs began to take their foot off the gas slightly after building up a 36-point lead, though Humbert didn’t get the memo as he came up with another sack in the dying minutes of the third quarter.

Thomasville ate up minutes in the fourth, but did manage to score on a Recardo Hudson four-yard rush. As the horn sounded on the Raiders’ season, the Bulldogs claimed a 48-6 round-one victory.

Other notable round-one wins include Fitzgerald over Rabun County, Jeff Davis over Washington County, Worth County over Coosa, and Elbert County’s upset of number 14 Gordon Lee.

Now, Thomasville looks ahead to round two where they will face Temple, who finished the season at 9-2 and entered the playoffs as a 10 seed. Temple is coming off a 40-27 round-one victory over Putnam County.

The Bulldogs and Tigers will face off in Veterans Memorial Stadium this Friday with the game scheduled for 8 p.m.