THOMASVILLE — The Region 1-2A championship was secured.

But there was still so much for the Thomasville High School Bulldogs to play for. 

Going unbeaten in region play. 

Check.

Finishing the season strong and keeping its win streak alive. 

Check.

Keeping positive momentum going heading into the postseason.

Check.

While it may not have been the most-dominating and convincing victory, the Bulldogs checked all those boxes in their regular-season finale, rolling past Berrien 35-14 Friday night at Veterans Memorial Stadium.

The Bulldogs led 35-0 before two fourth quarter scores, including a 76-yard scoop-and-score fumble recovery for a touchdown from Josiah Davis with 45 seconds left in the game left Thomasville a little sour.

“That was not our best game, but every win at this point in the season is beautiful,” Thomasville coach Zach Grage said. 

With an open date next week, Thomasville (9-1 overall, 5-0 Region 1-2A) will enter the Class 2A state playoffs in two weeks riding a five-game winning streak and playing solid football at the most critical point of the season.

The Bulldogs will play host to the fourth seed from Region 3 when the seeds are determined after next week’s games. The Georgia High School Association state football playoffs begin on Nov. 12.

“That was the first time this year I’ve had to fuss at them at halftime,” Grage said. “We kind of got after it at halftime. I thought we would have came out (to open the game) a little more energized with the first home game in a while, it being Senior Night and so forth. I try to get them to understand that energy creates big plays.

“We had to challenge them at halftime and they responded.”

It took a little bit for the Bulldogs to get on the scoreboard. Quarterback Shannen White tossed a 34-yard touchdown pass to Jordan Williams with 9:34 left in the second quarter.

Then on Berrien’s ensuing possession, Evan Wynn returned a pick-six 25 yards for a score and a 14-0 halftime advantage.

Berrien (3-6, 1-4) threatened midway through the third quarter with its best drive of the game. But the drive stalled and the Rebels faced a fourth-and-6 at the Thomasville 31. The Bulldogs forced an errant pass to take over on downs.

On the next play, Ricky Fulton provided the clincher by gashing Berrien on a 67-yard scamper and a 21-0 lead at the 3:46 mark of the third quarter.

White tossed a 26-yard touchdown pass to Javon Pittman on the first play of the fourth quarter to extend Thomasville’s lead to 28-0., then Malik Harper added a 2-yard run with 7:16 left after Jeray Randall’s 52-yard punt return gave the Bulldogs a first-and-goal at the Rebel 9.

Berrien did get a 49-yard touchdown run from De’mar Riley with 3:56 left in the game to prevent a shut out to make it 35-7.