THOMASVILLE — The Thomasville Bulldogs offense wasn’t on the field much Friday night against Heard County.

It made the most of its opportunities.

Behind big plays from the offense, big plays from the special teams and a stifling defense, the Bulldogs rolled to an easy 42-16 win over the Braves in the Class AA state playoffs second round at Veterans Memorial Stadium.

“They played their rear ends off,” Bulldogs head coach Zach Grage said. “Special teams played extremely well tonight. “

It sets up a third-round showdown between the Bulldogs (11-1) and Rabun County, a 56-7 winner over Jeff Davis.

Shannen White threw three first half touchdown passes, and Joe Williams raced 33 yards with a blocked punt as Thomasville led 28-0 at the half.

All while running just 11 plays on offense in the first two quarters. 

“Guys played well for what the opportunity they had to do. So this was a fun one,” Grage said.

The Bulldogs’ longest drive was their first of the second half, a seven-play march that was all Ricky Fulton. The running back carried it six times and caught a short screen from White. His 5-yard TD run with 6:30 to go in the third quarter pushed the Bulldogs lead to 35-0 and effectively ended the game.

White started the scoring with a 6-yard pass to DJ Thurman. He then hit Joe Williams on a tunnel screen and Williams, slipping out of a tackle, raced 80 yards for a score. White and Jay Cody hooked up on a 54-yard strike, and Cole Shaw stiff-armed a defender away and sprinted down the sideline for a 39-yard TD pass from White.

Thomasville forced four first half turnovers and scored on three of them. The only that didn’t result in a score was an interception on the first half’s final play.

Up 21-0, the Bulldogs had a punt block wiped out on a roughing the punter call. Given another try after holding on third down, the Bulldogs blocked a punt and the ball wobbled into Williams’ hands. 

Heard County posted two late scores against Thomasville’s reserves.