Live from the Georgia Dome in Atlanta.

It's a class three state semifinal.

The Granger's up, La Grange, ten two on the air.

Take on the Peach County Trojans, ten and three.

This game kicks off day two of our coverage of the GHC State semifinals right here on Georgia Public Broadcasting.

And good morning, everyone.

I'm John Wilkerson.

Along with Bobak, we feel we got a real good match up between Peach County and Lagrange both.

These are two teams that struggled out of the gate, righted the ship, and now it can be said they may be the hottest teams coming in the dome.

Well, Lagrange started out by being upset, but since then have run off 11 in a row.

Pete's County, on the other hand, lost a lot a lot of seniors a year ago.

They opened up on three.

But, boy, they're on a roll now.

Well, let's talk about the Lagrange Rangers, who, by the way, have won two straight state titles, three of the last four.

And let's talk about their quarterback, Travis Tucker.

Well, there he is right there.

Number three, Travis Tucker's really something, 13 touchdowns, only two interceptions in 134 attempts.

But he does his best work running with the pigskin on the defensive side of the ball.

They've got a real Marauder in number 15.

Anthony Blackmon, he's a linebacker, 86, tackles a bunch of assists.

And this guy is really something the.

Rangers are coached by Steve Perdue and he gives us the lowdown on the Grange.

Offensively base out of the Lane team, but we try to be real multiple in it.

We'll go three wide receivers and then we've kind of got to where we go.

Some know back stuff and get in the shotgun and and probably the strength of our offense right now is Travis Tucker, our quarterback.

We kind of go out, he goes he's had a great senior season here of late.

He's really played well.

He's down four, right at 1500 yards, 14 touchdowns and just three interceptions.

So he's really carrying this offensively.

Defensively, we're an eight man front team.

We're attacking senior Anthony Blackmon anchors the middle of our defense at linebacker is having a great senior season and probably the strength of our team is our two defensive ends.

Senior Robert Ramey, a three year starter, and junior D.J.

Stafford, who is just a phenomenal player, a64 £255 and can really run.

So that would say that's the strength of our defense.

That we've told you about.

La Grange, us tell you about the Peach County Trojans and Bo.

They've got a quarterback, Antonio Hinton.

This kid is big time.

Oh, he really is.

He's already committed to Ohio State and he's got a battery mate by the name of slaughter.

And these guys will combine this morning to really put on a show.

They are something else.

On the defensive side of the ball is number 99 at defensive tackle Samuel.

Chester and Chester can pick them up, put him down and wreak havoc on the interior of that defensive front.

Imagine we call him Big Sam all day.

Let's hear from fifth year head coach Grant Gillespie.

How the Trojans are going to look offensively.

We base out.

We're not in it very often.

We're pretty multiple.

We've we've kind of gone to a more spread oriented shotgun gun run type offense with the personnel that we have.

But we do based out of that.

And you'll see us in there some defensively, we base out of a43.

We are not in that very much either pretty multiple on defense and try to give them a lot of different looks and we'll blitz occasionally plays and zone coverage and zone blitz.

So well we've heard from both coaches.

Now let's hear from our third member of the crew down the field, Scott Kozlowski.

Good morning, Scott.

Good morning, gentlemen.

I had a chance to talk to both coaches before the game here, and I asked them about this 9 a.m. kickoff.

And both of them actually put a positive spin on it, saying that they're able to warm up as long as they want.

They had gone through their normal two hour pre-game routine, and they like it because the other teams that play later in the afternoon only have a limited time to warm up.

So they said that there's going to be no intensity missing from this game because it starts at 9 a.m. John.

Welcome back to the Georgia Dome in Atlanta.

As we get set to kick off this three day semifinal between the Lagrange, Grangers and the Peach County Trojans, as you get a good look at the Grangers here in the Georgia Dome, they won three of the last four class three AA state championships.

All they know about this dome experience, though.

John, it's always fun to follow one of these teams in here as they come in for the first time, which both yesterday and today I was able to do.

And the kids, their eyes just opened up.

And you can imagine the magnitude of this Georgia Dome and they're about to play football on it.

We're going to get after it.

Here comes Peach County.

The Trojans come into the game.

As you take a look at the greens, grangers, as they get ready to bust the paper.

And the Georgia Dome is alive.

The grange comes in this game ten and in three, here's the four.

La Grange.

In the regular season, as you can see, no run more than pass.

All 32 touchdowns on the ground, 13 touchdowns in the air.

BO Yeah, they are pretty well balanced and they're going to be a fun team to watch today.

They defeated Cairo in the first round Mary Persons and then a classic game up in Gainesville with the Grangers using their experience defeating the red elephants.

That came down to the fourth quarter.

It was a doozy.

Peach County, they begin the season on three and as you can see it, their numbers again a well balanced offense there.

Bo Yeah.

And they guys said they've got a great battery with Hinton and Slaughter and they're going to be fun to watch.

No problems with Cross Creek in the first round, defeated North Side 4213 and then put up a basketball score against Stephens County 5642.

It's an offense that can and will score points and you get a good look at quarterback Travis Tucker of Lagrange.

He guided this team to a state championship last year.

Are you ready, Bo?

I'm ready.

Let's go.

It's go.

Time to take a look.

Rance Gillespie, Tommy Traylor.

We'll kick it off.

For the Grangers.

And La Grange, a very disciplined team.

You can see even the way they take the field for the kickoff.

Steve Pardue in his 12th year.

Well, he's built that program to a high level, the class of class three eight this decade and.

22 and five playoff record for him, 100 and.

18 and 28.

That's his current record at the school.

From Austin Peay.

Where he went to school.

And oh, Governor.

Okay, ready?

And you'll see this from La Grange.

An unusual.

Kickoff position.

I like the short kick off exactly what you'll see there.

And field it at the 25 and to the 30.

Five yard line.

That was Mario Howard.

Little pooch kick.

That was kind of like a rugby kick off.

And you can call a fair catch on something like that.

Get a good look at Antonio Hinton, senior quarterback, 6 to £215.

Check out those stats by him.

We mentioned at the top of the show, Bo, he'll be going to Ohio State.

There's over a thousand yards passing, 25 touchdown yards.

I'm looking forward to watching this kid play on first down.

He'll take to the air.

Let's head towards slaughter.

And what was Newsom.

Immediately looking toward his buddy and he's committed to Auburn.

The offensive line of Peach County.

It's a good one.

Right range.

Antonio.

Right.

Jared Nelson, 230 and Dustin Chandler, 250.

Oh, you'll see Slaughter quite a bit today.

DiCenzo Brown is a big play, running back along with Mario Howard.

He can play Udoh Muma is the other wide receiver.

And Tony Davis, your tight end.

When Omer Udoh started playing well, people coach was talking about touchdown.

You said Coach, what's a touchdown?

He caught on.

Quickly.

He caught him very quickly.

Yes, he did.

So second and ten and wound up long on the first play of the game.

And this one off the monitor, Howard Harris, a good move has a first down, a lot more gets out to the 48 yard line before Randall Burton brought him.

Down for the Granger's.

Go see some dancing early on here, Bo.

Watch this great move right there.

And now watch him come to the point of contact, pop up above him and he bounces outside.

Howard just shy of a thousand yards on the year average of six yards per carry and he gets a first down for the Trojans.

He hit the shotgun.

It's how, again.

Howard will pick up about four yards before being brought down by Anthony Blackmon.

Take a look at the Lagrange defense of Robert Ramey, Vic Williams, Mike Daniel and D.J.

Stafford.

He has 102 tackles on the year the linebacking crew of Keon Harris, Anthony Blackmon here, the 139 tackles Bailey and Maddox and Dow Kelton and Burton are the secondary.

The very active defense by the Granger's under center.

Is Antonio Pittman.

Hinton Big Russ.

He'll talk and run, nice thing and go out of bounds at the 45 yard line.

Forced Out of Bounds by Anthony Blackmon.

Stewart is talking about him doing his best work when carrying the ball.

Yeah, he's an accomplished runner.

You'll see him right here.

Slide us to the bottom of your screen is look.

Takes a look at him and sees that he's in space and makes that spin move, picks up another seven or eight yards.

What's the spin on Anthony Blackmon?

Who is 32?

Howard.

Howard has a first down for you, a 35 year old, 32 yard line.

Gordon, does he have some wiggle.

On his hips?

Yeah.

More moves than a bag of worms.

We've seen two guys whip already this morning.

Keon Harrison.

Michael Bailey.

Here he comes here.

Great block to kick out the defensive end.

And then here's here.

There's an array of moves that just gets him extra yardage.

He's a morning person trying to do that this early in the morning.

So the Peach County offense moving at will you take a look at the stats of Mario Howard?

Eight touchdowns on the year.

10% completes the quarter.

Across the 20 to the 19 yard line.

That was Odom Muma on the catch.

His set down right in the zone Tucker found him.

As it's a first down for the.

Trojans.

Back shovel pass Lorenzo Brown and Brown goes all the way to the.

One yard line.

Randall Bailey saved the touchdown.

But Coach Gillispie is showing us an array of offensive playcalling here that's really mixing it up as the old shovel pass and a good, hard nosed running to the one.

500 yards rushing on the year for De Enzo Brown out of the eye formation first and goal.

And movement on the line.

Looks as if Dustin Chancellor may have jumped number 69.

Know he did.

Are a referee today is David Hudson.

Our officials are from the Atlanta area football officials association ball foul.

Ball start offense five yard penalty still a first down.

Dustin Chancellor guilty it's he's got a 3.8 GPA and score to 1060 on the S.A.T.. No reminds me of myself.

Don't expect someone with that.

Kind of smarts to jump off the line or if you.

Call him out to things.

Looking toward the end zone.

Now, talk that Lauren has now he touchdown Peach County and the Trojans made.

This look easy.

Great job by the offensive line they funneled them outside and they've made that that opening their.

A carbon copy what we saw yesterday morning Bo the offensive scoring early now Juan Rodriguez is out to kick the extra point they plucked him from the soccer team.

This is his first year.

He's a junior.

That's right down the middle.

Antonio Hinton, the good look at the big senior, his run to give the Trojans their first touchdown.

Just a simple back up the middle.

Look at that hole he had to run through there.

Bo Yeah, that's why I said the offensive line just created that.

Just fed everybody to the outside, influence them outside, look at that.

I think Jim Tressel is going to like having him on his team.

I guess so.

There were 22 big.

Plays, 67 yards, almost 3 minutes of time.

And Antonio hitting with the seven yard touchdown run to make it seven to nothing.

And a busload of fans came from Fort Valley.

As you take a look at Rance Gillespie, he's in his fifth year at Peach County.

Two years ago as the Atlanta Touchdown Club coach of the year.

And though he attended Georgia, I wonder who he's for today.

Yeah.

It's got to be watching that game tonight for sure.

Scott Kozlowski.

What do you got, John?

I talked to Coach Pardue before the game and the one thing he told me was they can't let them score early.

And that's just what happened.

He wants to control the ball.

He says they don't need to score every time, but they need to make first downs and play well on special teams and eliminate the turnovers.

Steve Pardue knows this coaching three state titles last four years, the Grange working on two in a.

Row, also for Coach of the Year.

Several times over.

And Rodriguez with a short pooch kick and a fair calf caught by La Grange, is number eight.

Randall Burton.

That was a smart play because they were on top of him.

That was a better pooch than peach put up, or rather La Grange put up more height, more hangtime.

And you get a good look at La Grange quarterback Travis Tucker over a thousand yards passing this year.

He started out as an outside linebacker moving quarterback last year.

And then this year he's led the Rangers here to the Georgia Dome.

And on first down, they give it to Shepherd and a couple.

Of yards there, Bernard Hurt, I should say and heard great gains a couple you take a look at La Grange offense, the line of Colin Thompson, Dennard, Pickett, Lucas Palmer, Drew Smyth and Keyshawn Deal Kendall and hurt you're running back shepherd and point the rest of your wide receivers and Lance Palmer.

On tight end you hear a lot of shepherd to that.

Motion.

In the round that shepherd shepherd stood up at the line of scrimmage maybe a yard.

Big Sam Chester on the.

Tackle yeah conservative beginning out of that wing team full of range and more conservative than we've seen both yesterday or today.

Certainly Chester at 275, Deon Armstrong to 90 Rayfield Everett are you line the backers of Wembley Victor Neal He's got the most tackles on the team and Kip Pearson.

Maggie Thompson, Marion Barry Williams and Brad Brooks the secondary on third down and Tucker will throw it in towards shepherd nothing they don't going across the middle and it's completed Shepard makes the catch at the 46 yard line.

Well shepard does a great job of keeping him, keeping his feet moving through the zone.

And Tucker, I thought it might be a little late to throw this pass, but did a great job.

Shepard gathered it in.

See the receiver.

Keep moving.

Shepard averages 25.

Point four yards per catch, so it's a first down for the Rangers and the Granger offense is moving play action Tucker.

As it incomplete intended for point Thrace that's some pressure from Chester Glenn Green and.

Well coach started conservatively but then came back now on first down and he's looking to throw deep.

They do like to mix it up but if you look at the base of Lagrange, it's a wing type of base.

He's smart, but they like to do some option, like to do so.

Throwing out of that, as he said, they're very versatile.

And here's the pick and option pass and it's almost.

Intercepted.

Terry McGee and Andre Hardy with the Throw.

Boy had me feel pretty good.

Steve Pardue goes to his bag of tricks early on and.

Lucky that wasn't picked on.

Palmer, the intended receiver third down and ten.

To shotgun Look at him Travis Tucker he does so Shepard and Shepard try to turn the corner.

He'll have the first down.

He had to get to the 30.

Six yard line.

Terry McGee forced him out of bounds, going to mark him at the 35.

Here he comes right now.

Right into your picture, right into your living room.

Look at how big time he looks.

Look at the way he run.

Well, he's he's a classy looking football player.

He is the Granger's big play guy.

And he already has made a couple of big plays on this first offensive possession.

Won by big play.

Party in Motion.

Give us the heard and heard perhaps a couple of yards and that's it.

Skip Pearson in on the tackle along with the rest of the Trojan game.

Both these schools are multiple offenses and we've seen just about everything.

Shotgun screens.

Here comes right now deep.

Ball hurt a touchdown and gets Gainesville last week in the quarterfinal we need.

It down We need it done.

Now second and eight.

Three five receivers for the Blazers.

And we've got a flag to go then we'll hear from David Hudson again.

Hey, he said his Luther Walker, Philip Haze, Dave Hudson, Randy Lee and Ron Griffith from the Illinois Area Football Officials Association.

Said foul of shark offense, five yard penalty replay, second half full save.

They come out with five wides.

Again, I was going to say some fortunate we are they are.

Second and eight now terms the second and third team.

Tucker the past is complete first down.

Yardage a pointless and they'll move the chains again.

Oh take a look at that as pointer is just squats down in the zone turns in right there and sits down, picks up a nice first down.

And keeps the Lagrange drive alive.

Five touchdowns for Mario Poitras.

He's the other receiver on the other side.

Of Marshall Shepard.

But he's got the best chance of a Coast Guard breakdown.

DAX Shepard and Shepard will get to.

The 15 just short of the first down.

Really drawn up.

Well, Gaines or Lagrange scored on a similar play like that last week against Gainesville.

You see the block right there.

That was a great, great design.

And on second down, that was Bernard Hurd.

Looks as if he might have lost a yard.

Victor Neal on the stop so so almost like yesterday but we're seeing the other team counter.

Punch and counterpunch almost to.

Give it to Michael Kendall and Kendall gain just a couple he might be have enough for the first down depends on the spot needs to get to the 40.

Boy all of a sudden he's kind of getting pretty stout down here in the red zone.

Time out.

I'm sorry.

They did get the first down.

Steve Purdue talking to his quarterback, Travis Tucker.

12 years, three state championships, 0103 and oh four.

And they came up this morning from Lagrange, up about 5 a.m. from the Greens.

And the rest of the caravan.

Came up first, down.

To give it to.

Tyndall.

Whoa.

It's a keeper by Tucker.

Tucker, too short of the goal line.

Tucker's a pretty good ball handler.

That number three you see on the screen right there, he's full this a couple of times right here.

The wishbone look puts it in the belly, takes it out, gets outside, fakes the pitch, cuts it up inside.

Had me fooled as well.

So on the pitch count defense first down and goal.

Oh, right there three and a half off the play in the first quarter Tucker looking for the end zone shepherd in of the hands of Lance Palmer.

He had six points and the tight end couldn't gather it in.

Let's take a look at that.

As they flooded that area, that right part of the end zone there, sent one receiver out and then slipped another one in behind him.

No.

And there he is right there.

He'll recover from that.

But oh, my.

Hit him right where it's supposed to hit him.

So bring up a second down.

That's far more the tight end for Lagrange senior Steve Pardue, keeper of the tradition of the Greens.

And the Greens have one heck of a football tradition for wideouts that's heard in the backfield time out by Travis Tucker didn't like what he saw wisely calls timeout to talk to coach Perdue and away from the Georgia Dome John Wilkerson Bobak and Scott Kozlowski and this guy the Trojans.

And hopefully get him.

Here look out here we're going down in a down below.

I think you got up at 2 a.m. Just put the war paint on.

Or you might have gone home like.

Grant Gillespie, five years of Peach County, 48 wins.

He's he's built something special down.

In Fort Valley.

First down with Shepard.

Shepard and a stiff arm still can't handle it.

Chris Slaughter on the tackle.

Well, Sloan is known for his offensive work.

The boy, he fought through a block there to make the tackle.

Hope you can see him on the outside here.

Just comes right through the blocker.

Six £370 to slaughter runs a45 40.

He's going Auburn.

He'll sit well now all about playing second down.

Tucker well he caught the ones dropped.

Mario free throws couldn't handle it.

Boy Mario almost made a great adjustment on that ball and some good is a pure corner route it looks over the other shoulder as a well thrown ball.

Brad tucks was there on the coverage for the Trojans.

So on third down.

First outside ten range will try to score from there Michael Kimble in the backfield had Shepard in motion Tucker on the keeper looking in the end zone took course with nothing there talking wrong run through his own guy and lose eight yards.

It was absolutely nothing downfield beach town.

He did a great job of taking away what they wanted to do in the pass passing.

Tre Great block there, but he's looking, looking, working.

Everybody was on the left side and it was nobody to come back to on the backside.

And this didn't please Coach Pardue, Tommy Traylor is out to attempt a field goal.

He's two of four from field goal range.

This will be a 36 yarder.

This will match his longest this year of 33.

Our best as long as this year.

He's a senior.

Got the leg.

Into it.

And got it.

Oh good one.

So Lagrange puts points on the board.

At 7 to 3 as Tommy Traylor knocks down a 36 yard field goal.

And that matches as long or that best as long of the year.

Nice job.

Well.

You've got to be happy that you got some points and safety party with extremely pleased that his kicker he's got a kicker today.

Yeah both these coaches seem like pretty levelheaded guys you know they're not ranting and raving at their players and they're coaching them instead of intimidating.

Some of the throng that made it up from La Grange a little over an hour drive.

From the Georgia Dome in Atlanta.

And some of the students have made it from La.

Grange High School.

Supporting the Granger.

And.

What is the Granger?

Granger is a guy that goes out and keeps looking for a sandwich and you just go all over town.

Granger And looking for a sandwich.

I'll accept that definition.

That's on the website.

It says it's a winner.

Trailer came with that little pooch kick and sealed it at the 38 yard line by Peach County.

14.

Fielded by Keith Searcy.

Important for La Grange now to to stop Peach County.

Don't allow them to go downfield as they did in the opening drive.

Take a good look at Antonio Hinton, who commanded this Peach County offense and their first possession towards set for six points in the junior second offense to fester.

Now the shotgun and slaughter in motion.

You throw in the rough by block and get touch and run the football and cover by La Grange.

A big turnover for the Granger's Kansas now recovers for La Grange and the Grangers are excited.

Perfect example of you accepting your losses.

You're playing it conservatively.

Watch him now when he did a great job of stepping up here, now he takes off.

And now, instead of going outside around a bounce he tries to cut between defenders.

It makes something big when he really didn't have anything.

And so the Rangers now have a chance.

To add more points to get one more look at the turnover by Antonio Hatton.

Bernard heard our sweet kid get a block and brought down.

He gave Brad tucks was there to bring him down.

What a great job he did holding off that blocker from the inside.

Just playing off him.

Playing off him and forcing the running to go inside.

The loss of one bring up second and 11 one minute mark in the first quarter, the stoppage in play which doesn't please Steve Pardue at all.

So we got an equipment issue with one of the Grange players.

Hey, we'll settle this issue.

Talking to their quarterback Travis Tucker, David Hudson, the official wipe the flag.

I believe the issue was they may have it too many men on the field.

I didn't see 12 guys in the huddle.

In any case, the flag was picked up, so we'll keep playing those in, please.

Rance Gillespie in our film on that.

Now we have a flag.

So maybe there is justice for Coach Gillespie.

For the week.

Pete County got off the one scrimmage.

They should be happy there's a flag.

False start on the Granger's back them up five.

Ball is it right now.

Legal procedure offense five yard foul of your penalty it out.

All right three penalties for the Granger's costing in 15 yards.

Watch number 11 at left defensive end.

His name is Everett.

And look at the jump.

He gets off the line of scrimmage.

Incomplete in and out of the hands.

Of the receiver for La Grange, Randall Burden.

That was going to go.

John had big time written all over this.

Take another look at it.

You see he's is he's in space and this bullet comes like a rocket.

He's just not able to hang on to it.

Going got to pluck.

They're going to snatch it should have had pinkies up instead of thumbs up.

I think he was anticipating getting leveled afterwards.

Probably so soon on each down he got a quick turnover or the green's going to get a turnover.

He hasn't been able to capitalize so far.

And then moving backward, Tucker, after the throw, that's it.

Fly deep.

He's got a receiver down there.

Touchdown!

What a catch, Mario.

Pointless was in back of the line of scrimmage because he ran three long time.

I guess.

So I thought he was going to not going to go there because that.

Was open early and he saw it as he was scrambling outside.

Sorenson's arm didn't pull the trigger so hopefully he's given up on stayed with him.

And pointers has a touchdown and a pat on the head by head coach Steve Perdue.

And so Traylor will come out here and attempt the extra point.

He's 34, 44.

On and it's 10 to 7 long range.

Creativity by Travis Tucker to that guy Mario boy through his here he is again.

Yeah that's it.

Now he's open Now he's deep.

He's behind the defenders behind the secondary He's open, he's open his open.

I just thought it was going to be too late.

It wasn't too late is Tucker got the ball downfield.

Strong arm huh.

And slaughter was beaten in the late was to hit by Marion Williams.

Slaughter being an accomplished wide receiver should know better should not have given them that gap.

So the rangers take advantage of the turnover.

Three plays 53 yards, a 53 yard touchdown strike from Travis Tucker.

The Mario appointments and Rance Gillespie.

He's got to be wondering, you know, why did that happen?

Well, because he turned it over to quarterback, fumbled and he gave it to him in midfield.

And then you didn't play solid defense in the second half.

And while Peach County had momentum at the beginning of the game, is it taken away quickly by the Grangers?

We're also probably seeing some playoff experience by this Granger team.

When you win three state titles in four years.

That trickles down to Taylor.

They will do this throughout the game and now.

They're going to compete and they are fielded at 50 by Jim.

Pearson and he advances it to about after Enzo Brown.

I thought it would be interesting to take a look at it later on if we can.

It's average starting position with these funky kickoffs that we're seeing this morning.

I'm sure it's probably around the 30, 35 yard range borderline about.

Where it is right now.

Yeah, that's.

What one wondering Antonio hit now his third shot and 9 seconds to go in the first you ended up with Mario Howard and Howard with another big run across the 40 midfield lowers his shoulder and out of bounds at the 39 yard line lowered the shoulder and John Kelton pretty.

Good speed to the outside peach County watch him collapse the left side of that La Grange defensive front.

Boom, boom, boom, boom.

There he's going to go.

He's loading up, loading up.

Boom, go.

That was big time.

5.6 for Howard.

First down, it's Howard again.

No gain.

Perhaps five yards.

Anthony Buckman on it makes the tackle from his inside linebacker position Mario Howard eight touchdowns on the year and Coach Gillespie calls him he's a downhill runner and he's been running downhill in this first quarter so far.

Both and sure has been he's fun to watch we.

Near the end of the first quarter.

Just get the play off the floor It's simple zeros Haden going deep for the end zone incomplete.

Intended Keith Searcy on the coverage was Kinzel now welcome back to the Georgia Dome.

The Rangers are up 10 to 7 on Peach County.

Let's go down the field to Scott Kozlowski.

John, the coach told me Coach Gillespie told me two things before the game.

One, we can't afford to make mistakes.

Well, that fumble led to the touchdown.

But the other thing he told me was that we need big plays when we need them.

And I think now would be one of those times.

I would agree with you.

Scott, on third down it's Mario Howard.

He'll provide the big play.

15 spins in the ten gets down to the seven Another huge run.

By Mario Howard.

Well, what a great job by the offensive line for Peach County just opening up these huge holes and then the backs are so quick and speedy and talented that they're just running downhill.

What's this move?

What was one more coming up, though, then lowers the shoulder.

No huddle by peach County.

You got to try to up the tempo a little bit.

And the play has been whistled dead.

Yeah.

David Hudson's got the crew around.

You all discuss what this is.

Coach, really disappointed.

Thought he had something there.

We've had some untimely whistles for both sides to.

You looking toward the Lagrange crowd, somebody.

Refrained from using any noisemakers or whistles while the ball's in play.

This could seriously injure some of the players on the field.

Well, it looks as if somebody had a whistle in the La Grange side of the.

Of the stand.

Yeah, I didn't hear it.

Obviously, Rance Gillespie said, that's all right.

I'll take that.

Well, they've been warned.

If that happens again, you can get a 15 yard unsportsmanlike penalty from the fans.

Okay, here we go on first and goal.

Keeper five by Hinton hitting it's about 2 to 4 Anthony Blackmon is there for the Rangers I still think Bo a broken play.

You know stuck it in took it out that's the quarterback's option.

If that hole of the daylight opens up to the left side, he can pull it out of there.

Just like the wishbone.

He second and goal this time, Howard.

And this time Howard is not for a loss.

Brought down by number 35.

Robert Ramey It's tough to run wide down here.

You've really got to run north and south.

Boogie bumps into a big number 70, which I think is probably tough not to do.

Jeremiah Wright took some punishment yesterday for the loss of yardage, so it's third down and goal state in the shotgun.

Run while in the red zone Henson looking toward and nothing there He'll tough the line and hit an stretches and scores touchdown his second.

Touchdown of the morning.

We saw that yesterday in the semifinal game just when you thought the runner was out and down all of a sudden you get that last lurching and leaping, gets it over the goal line for a touchdown.

That was a great play.

It helps when you're six to go and when you're £214.

Now, if he does that in the Big Ten, he might get punished.

Long Rodriguez on for the extra point 14 to 10 Peach County and that was an impressive offensive possession by the by the Trojans and here comes Antonio hitting into your living room.

You can't say enough about this offensive line of Peach County the way they've been opening holes.

Jeremiah Wright, Darius Raines, Antonio Wright, Jared Nelson and Dustin Chancellor.

It's amazing how they can just part the defensive front, make them go in the direction they want, and just open up the middle of the field.

Seven plays 72 yards and hit and scores the second touchdown of the morning.

Right.

So again, what we have another game where we could be the last in math scores wins.

I know another shootout just like yesterday we had some great games yesterday.

It looks like this is going to be the the teaser for another day of great football.

Don't you love it.

These 9 a.m. games they throw all the they throw the book out the window.

This leg they.

Hang out play nothing like breakfast at the dome.

One.

Rodriguez will.

Kick it off.

Again.

Another huge kick field fielded at the 25 number four teams down ballot, a good return.

To the 35 yard line.

So there you go, 30, 35.

That's right.

Two positions and then starting this morning.

Then had the chance to really go, though.

And you've got to be careful of going to kick a pooch kick, then you've got to get it high and short.

You don't want any return.

Travis Tucker on the lead.

The troops again getting started out as an outside linebacker became the quarterback last year.

And now here he is carrying the team to the Georgia Dome over a thousand yards passing this year.

Now the shot got.

It done Tuck it all keeper fighting for yardage He'll get five right.

Marion Williams was in on the tackle ray field right also but Beau check him out he he's not afraid there's that linebacker mentality he's not afraid to take the fun.

First of all great fake to this guy size eight up number 56 from Peach County but look at them take on would be tacklers and just fight through.

Peach County with eight total yards so far this morning it's heard on a counter.

He'll get a couple that's it.

Big Sam Chester there on the tackle number 99.

Take a look.

Big Sam there, 642 75 to 95 tackles this year for the Trojans, the anchors, that defensive line.

Third down and four hurting motion.

Give it to the fullback.

No, it's a keeper by Tucker and Tucker will be cut from behind by Marion.

Williams brings him down.

It's going to be fourth down they can get it comes in here.

This wishbone influence we keep talking about now is going to turn it up.

You had heard there the pitch to just in case but it'll be short of the first down.

Beach county defended that so well he didn't take the chance on pitching and made the right decision.

So in fourth down, they're going to go for it.

Wow.

And they draw Peach County offsides.

Big Sam Chester just wasn't patient.

Terrible down those situations.

You've got to be able to hold your water.

Oh, Rance Gillespie knows it.

David Hudson makes it official.

Oh, that's got to be eating it.

Coach Gillespie right now the turnover.

Oakman defense by god penalty first down.

Chance to make a big statement on defense.

It gives Lagrange a first down.

It's a Shepard Marshall Shepard on the carry and Shepard trying to get outside.

Marion Williams shoulders him out of bounds along with Terry McGee.

Picks up three or four yards.

I thought they had him dead to rights, but he's had that extra gear and again.

The Trojan defense doing a good job on this Granger offense.

Speed to the corner.

That was McGee hitting him first and Williams forcing him out of bounds.

Good look.

Number 22, Marshall Shepard, 665 yards on the ground this year.

He is the his big play.

Guy for four for 40 as well of shotgun.

It's Tucker completing the pass short to the 45 yard line Randall Burton.

Boy he would have spun out of this.

It would have been lights out, wouldn't it?

And then came close.

He touches Tucker reading the corner there and see what he's going to do.

Is he going to go deep?

Who is he going to come up?

What's he going to do if it came up, he might have given them a pump.

They can pump and go.

To Pierce and finish him off.

He's on third down on situation 34.

Movement on the Peach County line, but looks as if the grains of time.

So the Rangers will take a timeout here at the 658 mark in the second quarter.

You take a look at Steve Purdue rallying troops.

It's going to be pleased with his offense.

Well, yeah, I think so.

And the way they bounced back and answered Peach County, which they had to do, but they've been very, very efficient ever since.

I'm not surprised by the offensive explosion after what we saw yesterday and today.

Travis Tucker, you take a look at his numbers on the afternoon, six of ten touchdown, 107 yards a quarterback they can bench press £285.

Need one of those.

He's strong.

For 540.

Shepard in motion.

On third down Tucker avoids the rush favors hammer taken off penalty flag down That was Chris Slaughter.

Merely took his hat.

Off and that drew the flag.

Travis Tucker couldn't shouldn't have stopped and I understand you have your helmet on, but you got to keep playing there.

You could get really hurt.

Suzy Helmet flew off the whistle.

The play ended due to the helmet coming off of the runner.

We have a 15 yard personal foul face that.

It's a slaughter will be tagged with the personal foul ball.

He flew in there.

Well, it's a good thing that helmet came right off.

That could have been a serious injury.

And the play was whistle dead right then.

What you can see slow to coming was making a beeline, wasn't he?

He had his ears pinned back here.

The full speed, each team, both teams with three penalties.

So it's good for greens at first down no and I snap Tucker handled it now look in the dance here escaped the grass a big number 11 of Peach County.

Gray Field every.

That play was just blown up from the beginning.

Not only was it a high snap, but it's a fastball.

Watch that boom you don't see that was that pump and go and that might have been a safety back there.

I didn't notice but that the pump and go would have gone good.

Look at the defensive lineman Everett making that big tackle every loss of.

Six so it's second and 16.

Shepard in motion, Tucker told Shepard.

Now going deep, the fortress double coverage and incomplete.

Williams was there along with Brad took and bring up third and long.

Great coverage on Peach County's part because you know that easily could have been pass interference but neither one of the fronts he backs he guys touched him.

Did a good look at Brad Dukes their 39 tackles on the year for number 16 as two interceptions five £870 senior.

Third in the long Tucker gesture there giving chase so it doesn't look good across the 40 it'll be well short of the first down had to get to the three penalty fly comes down terrible we got a late hit on Marion Williams.

Looks like it.

Well I tell you Peach County's made some stops on this possession, but are killing themselves with the penalties.

He's going looking secondary, doing a great job again for Peach County.

He's got to scramble.

He's going to take and try to make it himself makes a great inside cut here.

Look at that and then well that was that shouldn't have been.

Foul play did they fence 15 yards for them.

Oh yeah.

Maybe from that angle.

Yeah.

On this drive, Lagrange has been able to accumulate 35 yards simply on Peach County penalties.

To back that second in motion, third on the carry on the draw.

Crossed the 20 to the 19, and a bunch of Trojans were there on the tackle led by Big Sam Chester.

Sam Wimberly also there.

Granger's version of the draw.

It was a bit unusual, isn't it.

Bubba?

Well, I've got to imagine if you're Coach Gillespie, you need to say something in the locker room about.

The penalty, something you need to throw, something.

And after you just say the two mile marker killed it and you get nothing.

Tucker on The Keeper, what was the shoulder on?

Williams and.

We'll have a first down and Tucker slow to get up.

Every time Lagrange has run that peach.

Kenny has covered the pitch man here.

This time they don't.

And he might have been well-served to make that pitch.

He just faked it because it was wide open to the outside.

Lagrange will spin this last time out of the half.

Let's get the cobwebs out of Travis Tucker's head.

Well, he was holding his head there.

Trend is going to take a look at them along with coach.

You know, earlier we talked to Lagrange head coach Steve Perdue and he shared with us how much what he likes about coaching the kids.

You know, they drive me crazy at times, but they see the changes in them, you know, to see the the seniors.

It happened so quick.

Now, I guess I'm getting older those four years.

We have them go so quick, but see how they they change not not athletically but, you know, in the classroom and how they you know, they become a lot more mature and make a lot better decisions.

And that and that I know that sounds kind of cliche, but that really is the fun part.

You know, obviously the the Friday nights and all that.

And I love practice.

You know, I look forward to practice each day.

That's kind of my there's no phones on the practice field.

No.

By the by the end you go out and and when you work hard on something in to see it happen in a game you know that that's really satisfying.

Bo I've never liked practice.

If you take a look at the reigning champions from last year, Hawkins County in Clinch County, Hopkinsville in Clinch County, shared last year Charlton County in their goal defend next week Lagrange Warner Robins they're your list of champions from last year.

You take a good look at Steve Pardue.

You would like practice a lot more now if you were running practice.

Travis Tucker will stay on the sidelines, so John Kelton will come in as backup.

Check it out.

The mouth of Travis Tucker.

He's really got to get them out here.

And this is heard heard.

Struggling for some yardage.

He'll get to about the six yard line.

Great competitor on the tackle.

Great feet.

He was stymied to the outside, kept his feet moving and all of a sudden some daylight opened up and he was ready to go.

TUCKER Coming back in, everything's okay with him for right now, so he'll come back and lead the troops.

Second down, six.

It's hurt again with Kendall as is fullback leading the way be.

Short of the goal line.

Boy he hit a second gear there let's take another look at that play.

Simple role right now.

Turn it.

Up now.

Watch the second gear.

Boom lowers is shoulder.

Marion Williams there to take the punishment and dish.

It out to great stop.

The first and goal for La Grange.

On the doorstep.

The score again.

Tucker, keeps it no signal yet.

They're still fighting down there.

Oh, that was close.

Not to do it again.

He's about as close as you can get to that scoring now.

Peach County will take a time out and they'll take their first time out of the half.

Grant Gillespie in his fifth year and earlier he shared with us as well as what he likes about coaching the Trojans.

You know, I think I think the kids and the things that you get from those kids each and every day, spending time with them, that's a that's a special relationship that that you don't have an opportunity to to do and a lot of other things.

So, you know, I enjoy that.

I enjoy the competition.

I enjoy the challenges that you're faced with each and every week and, you know, all those things.

And of course, you know, before I was ever a football coach, I was a football fan.

And and I still am a tremendous football fan.

And, uh, you know, so I think all those things combined and I don't think I could be anything else.

Grant Gillespie wants his defense to make a big stop here.

In Second and goal.

Tucker keeps it again.

Touchdown!

Granger's And so La Grange and so the Granger score and Bo again more offense I love it.

We've seen a lot of different looks today from both of these squads.

And you Traylor comes out to attempt the extra point to give the Rangers a three point lead and he does 1740 and another wide open nine M game here at the Georgia Dome, Travis Tucker sneaks in.

It's just simple football.

Bo Yeah, just quarterback sneak.

I don't know how we got in that time and didn't get in the last time.

Tough to tell an angle.

You know, probably just a little bit of leather just made contact with a little white line.

And that's all, I think.

Coming into.

The La Grange, getting ready to kick off and a long, long scoring drive heating up six, almost 7 minutes and ended with Travis Tucker scoring and now a ground ball.

And a great mark on this one.

A mad dash inside while the fighting going on in that pile.

Wow.

Hill, stay with Peach County.

I saw a lot of white jerseys down there.

Bo I did two and one came in right as that ball was popping out of there.

And I was just about to say, Let's see what other variation on the kick off we can come up with tonight.

We see it.

Oh, here it is right here.

Just a squib.

Kick right through there.

Here comes the white jerseys.

Had it.

Holy cow.

Kip Pearson initially had it for the Trojans, and then the mad scramble ensued.

For Antonio Hinton, now under center for most and looking towards slaughter covered well and go for the sack now throw down field it incomplete and ten for Yuma that was a wild one.

That was too bad that wasn't completed because he that quarterback did a great job of of escaping from pressure.

Well he's looking looking looking he should have been dead to rights look at him look at that blocker.

Number 12 takes out two pursuers and Oden should have had that.

That was Mario Howard, who's had a big game on the ground.

And so this blocking skills as well take it out to got.

All that action and still second and ten the green Sean Blitz it's Howard.

Hill game five brought down by Clay Hussey.

And that's about as conservative as Peach County gets I would think John.

What they've been showing us today that would be my guess.

But you know Mario Howard's done a good job carrying the ball.

All year, all morning he's been.

Under two and a half minutes to go till halftime.

Anthony Black been trying to time the blitz.

Crossed the line and it's going to cost the Grangers five.

Good time to change up the snap count they're good guess.

Who showed Blitz last time came with two linebackers.

I think they're going to try to do it again.

This time they got caught.

Most importantly, it gives Pisani a first.

Down encroachment defense budget penalty first down.

Coaches thinking how can.

We.

Tie this Game of Thrones 1714 with 217 to go in the first half?

Probably also thinking firing something goes all.

The way to.

Slaughter in motion.

On first down then looking to excise warming state the grass for the Granger defense and then complete pass.

Bailey hit his arm, but the.

Arm is coming forward.

Well, let's take a look and see at what point he gets it looking.

Yeah, well, you know, might have been right at the bottom of his back swing.

That's close.

That's bang bang.

Call He might have gotten them before the arm came forward.

Oh, well, it's ruled an incomplete pass.

That was Marshall Shepherd that stuck his arm out there.

And took the ball out of Antonio Hinton's hand.

But second down and ten pressure.

Payton stepping off with a good move there be close to the first down.

Robert Ramey along with Randall burden in on the tackle Oh no straight up running by Antonio in Miami catching him from behind just getting a hand on the shoestrings.

Clipped his heels.

They had to get sped to 45.

Come on, Measure, as you take a look at the numbers so far for Antonio Hinton, his rushing numbers and his passing Scott Kozlowski on the field.

But if it comes down to them needing a field goal before the half, I was watching Rodriguez warm up before the game and he was hitting from 45 yards out.

So if they want to tie this up before halftime, if they have to settle for a field goal, he's got range.

Juan Rodriguez His range is between 35 and 40.

Scott and I was talking with Coach Gillespie earlier this week and he's attempted well, he's tried some 15, 55 yards in warmups and has made them, but he's not really ready to commit to that kind of yardage, especially in the semifinal.

There's a good look at Juan.

They plucked him from the from the men's soccer team at Peach County.

Good place to look for him today.

How would you like to come play football?

Fixing a field goal for us is a draw to Howard and Howard with some shifty moves, loses the football.

And again, the Trojans lay the ball in the ground.

I think he's going to stay with the Trojans.

Well, that's two breaks have gone.

The Trojans way.

Is another one of those Red Sea opening holes there.

And then that just popped out, tackled right on the ball.

Cause he just put his hat on his down on the ball.

Well, that'd be Victor Williams or Vic Williams had the good fortune of putting the helmet right on the ball and popping it loose.

Howard will go to the sideline the bit shaking up.

It was pretty good, huh?

Vic Williams at six one, £221 and you got a load like that unloading on you.

It's going to hurt a little bit.

It's a first down for the Trojans.

A minute and a half left in the game and the pass is incomplete and almost intercepted.

He certainly was in the 10th receiver.

He slipped down, Kinzel down was there number four on the coverage.

Just thrown a little bit behind him.

You see the arm strength that Minter has.

Fired that across the field.

So bring up a second and ten Howard back in the ballgame.

That's right next.

To Antonio hitting and getting some pressure down, going to the end zone for slow double coverage incomplete quarter had to take it.

Become a defensive back there as Michael Bailey.

Was there on the coverage that's how much confidence he has a slow down his controlling to him since then probably in the fifth grade all his life and double coverage and he still throws up because he knows he's got the ups they go up and get that ball.

Look at him.

Six three.

You normally probably jump over a defender and grab it, but that time he had to play defensive back.

Randall Burden was also back there in double coverage along with that guy.

Number 20, Mike McHale, Bailey.

So on third down for receivers, they get pressured by the defense they're hitting having the run and he's got a wild run up in there but he'll have a first down Kinzel Dow on the stop and a timeout.

By the Trojans got to credit the Lagrange defense rushing for and getting four and collapsing the pocket.

But you also have to credit Hinton because look at these moves look at the efficiency of moves and there's one there's a second one.

Here comes a third.

It's all Hinton.

Antonio Hinton has led the way for the Peach County Trojans.

He just picked up a first, an important first down for the Trojans.

If they want to keep this drive alive and get some points on the board before we go to halftime, check out those rushing numbers.

Bow Wow, 144 yards for Peach County, two only 45 for Lagrange.

I thought Lagrange would have more.

Or less that 25 yards drive to Howard that's been successful for him so far.

Hogtied by John Kelton, but not after a gain of six on the clock running under a minute.

Well, we're liable to see that field goal kicker.

Peach County and hurry up mode.

Timeout left and.

Again the draw to.

Howard and Howard with running room He'll go in for the touchdown Mario Howard Nice run.

That's what it said We're not going to see that field goal kick off.

Now when you can do that well.

The draw has been successful all morning for the Peach County Trojans and Mario Howard just put six points on the board and Rodriguez will come out for the extra point attack on 2117.

Peach County takes the lead before halftime.

As you take a look at the scoring drive, ten plays, 61 yards, two and a half minutes of time.

And here's another look at Mario Howard.

With a little dove play right there looked like and anyway then bounces outside slow two doing a great job on the defensive back.

Again just running downhill and who knew he could lower the shoulder like this?

Boom.

And so the happy Trojan Band getting ready to perform in a few minutes, their Trojans are up 21 to 17.

As you take a look at some more fans that made the trip up from Fort Valley for the Trojans.

There's our friend Bo.

Yeah, there he goes.

A happy group of Trojans fans as well.

We do know Lagrange.

Grange will have to employ a hurry up offense.

And with Travis Tucker know they have a little time to maybe and they get a kick or two.

They may have a time to get downfield and perhaps tie.

This vintage thing to see how Coach Perdue plays this.

Pooch kick again, fielded at 20 by Sheppard and.

Sheppard will get just short of the 30 yard line, and so they look great.

The Grange Granger's have 33 seconds to try to answer back the Peach County score.

They got the personnel for a quick strike.

Well, we've seen that all morning, by the way.

A great crowd for a breakfast game, isn't it?

It's awesome.

Number of fans from Fort Valley have come up for Peach County and La Grange travels in great numbers and is heard on the on a sweep and he'll get to the 32 and looks 31.

It looks as if La Grange is content to take this to the locker room.

Yeah, no use getting Nancy down here and giving up something cheap just before the half.

We'll hear both bands at halftime, and that's going to do it for the first half.

An entertaining first half.

Bo Yeah, sure was he.

We saw one line yesterday in class double or see another offensive show as Peach County leads 2117 over the La Grange.

Granger's Scott Koski.

It's all yours.

Here's Coach Gillespie.

Coach, four point lead going into halftime, what did you see in that first half that you liked and what do you need to improve on?

We just we can't make so many mistakes in a game of this magnitude, you know, couple of couple of mistakes defensively that really kept the drive going.

And we just can't do them.

We got to hold on the ball we're fortunate with two turnovers on that last drive and and then had the one we just we you can't do that.

You know still got a four point lead good luck in the second half thank you.

Welcome back to the Georgia Dome, where at halftime the Peach County Trojans in the La Grange, Granger's 21 to 17.

On the field right now is the Marching Grangers from La Grange High School.

The band director is Sheila J.

Young, Krystal Yarborough and Ashley Smith.

All your drum majors, there's 65 members to the Marching Grangers and the show they'll be putting on today.

America the Beautiful and let the Good Times Roll.

Sit back and enjoy the Marching Rangers from La Grange High School.

Will know.

Where you will do the.

That was the marching grangers of La Grange.

And standing by on the field is Scott Kozlowski.

Thank you very much, John.

I'm here with Sheila Young.

She is the band director for the Marching Rangers.

And tell me who you have with you here.

I have Miss Kathy Grissom, who works with our guard.

And Mr. Thomas over here works with our percussion.

Tell me what it takes to put on a performance like this.

Lots of practice and lots of patience.

You were telling me that this is a smaller sized band, 65 members, but you said you were growing.

Tell me all about that.

We have a great an outstanding middle school program that's starting to build up.

And over the years, there's been some inconsistencies with directors.

So we're hoping to see that change and just start building the program.

This is your first year?

It's my first year at the Grangers.

Yes.

So what do you do to try to build it and get more interest?

I said, I know you said you had a good middle school program.

We don't have to do a lot of recruiting.

Let them know what's involved in the program.

Let them know.

We have a lot of fun.

Just let them know about the opportunities there are for scholarships if they're a musician, just all kinds of things.

Anything we can do.

How excited are your kids get to come and perform in the dome?

I'm very excited.

This is actually my first time in the Dome at a football game, but this is, I think, their third or fourth for the Rangers.

So how do you choose what kind of music you play, what kind of formations?

All that kind of thing really depends on the ability level of the students, what kind of instrumentation we have and how much money we have.

Fantastic talking to you, John.

Back to you.

Thank, Scott.

When we come back, we'll hear from the Peach County Band, its 2117 Trojans at halftime.

Welcome back to the Georgia Dome.

Take a look at the mighty Trojans from Peach County High School.

And Scott Koslowski is standing by with the band director.

Scott.

Hey, John, I'm over here with Donald Clark.

He's the band director for Peach County.

And Donald, tell me what goes into putting on a performance like this?

Basically, we started during the summer about the.

Last week of July, and bringing the kids here for about 3 hours a day just kind of all come together after that.

Tell me a.

Little bit about your music selection for today.

Today we're doing a Spanish opening, provide our fellow five children a fair chance with the whole Chuck Mangione favorite.

We followed it up with a drum break during Jump Street and end with a modern number.

I'll be there.

You know which?

Mariah Carey and Michael Jackson.

So, you know, kids can appreciate that and they like that.

Our music.

Fantastic.

Now listen to a little bit.

The band.

And the one couple that's the mighty.

Trojans from Peach County, Scott Cowles asking this band's pretty good.

Yeah, they're great.

And I'm back here with band director Donald Clarke.

Donald, just coming at this band is great.

Thank you.

Thank you.

We really work hard.

We Will here for Instagram.

You were telling me, you know, the dedication you must put in in the practice.

Tell me about your trip up here this morning, what time you had to get up to to be here on time.

We left about 515 this morning that most of the kids were over the bedroom at 430.

So it's just a just the dedication.

Tell me about what does it take as far as work hours to get a program together like this.

Where we have the key event players daily?

That's a requirement.

And we practice at the beginning, about an hour and a half day after school, and we kind of tapered off.

Now we just got it like two days per week.

Fantastic.

Thank you very much.

John, back to you.

Thank you, Scott.

As we listen to the money joins us one more time, let's check out what happened the first half of this three day semifinal.

We begin with each county's first position of the game being capped off by this six yard touchdown run by Antonio Hinton.

It's seven nothing Peach County.

And then La Grange would answer Tommy Traylor with his longest field goal of the year, 36 yards splits the uprights.

It's 7 to 6 pitch county still in the first the first the big major mistake in the first half by the Peach County Trojans.

As Antonio Hinton coughs up, the football is recovered by La Grange.

And La Grange capitalize on that turnover.

It led to this touchdown pass as Travis Tucker fires it downfield and he's on target.

The Mario 4353 yards.

It's ten the second 10 to 7 Rangers in Antonio Hinton, his second touchdown of the morning, an eight yard touchdown run with some nifty moves and it's 14 to 10 Pinch County and then hits Travis Tucker diving in from a yard out to make it 17 to 14 Granger's and then right before halftime.

My Mario Howard a 15 yard touchdown off the draw and.

It's 21 to 17 Payton Napoli a pretty balanced stat sheet there.

Bo Yeah, that was.

Obviously very, very balanced.

And in fact when you take a look at the stats, there's two things that jump out at you.

One is the time of possession 1451 for La Grange, 2909 for Peach County, and also the rushing yards.

Peach County, 165, but only 17 carries to 45 yards on 21 carries for Lagrange.

Quickly, let's go down to Scott.

Thank you, John.

I'm here with Coach Perdue only down by four points.

Would you tell your team at halftime.

You know, this game's going exactly like I thought it would?

I told my friend it'd be like a heavyweight fight with Mike Blake.

They'd make a play.

We'd make a play.

Unfortunately, they made the last one.

You know, we just got to come back, get ourself back going and continue to make plays and hopefully we can make the last one.

Good luck in the second half.

Coach, thank you.

Welcome back to the Georgia Dome and get ready to start the third quarter.

This GHC football semifinal class 38, Peach County 21, Lagrange 17.

I'm expecting a same type of second half.

We had the first half.

BO Well, you, me and Coach Perdue because he said it's like a heavyweight championship bout, you know, one guy gets knocked down, the other guy gets knocked down, and he just hopes that they're the last one scoring in this half plate range.

We get the ball to begin the second half.

One.

Rodriguez does the honors for the Trojans.

Marshall Shepard Back deep for the Granger's buckle up.

And this could be.

A fun second half.

It's another short kick field it at 25 instead move and.

Maybe a ten yard pick up by Andre Hardy.

So again, we're seeing those, those unusual kickoffs.

BO Yeah, it's unusual that both schools employ the same method, taking away long kickoff returns.

As you take a look at the numbers tonight, this morning for Travis Tucker, six of 11 107 yard touchdown pass, 2.3.

One down first and ten.

35.

Plenty of time now the pocket collapses and Tucker will keep.

And will gain eight yards brought down by Deon Armstrong.

He did a great job of of protecting outside but didn't have balance inside and open up the middle of the field.

How many times have we seen that this morning?

And again, you got to credit both offensive lines to be able to give them a chance, a run second in short situation and they'll get to the first back through and just short of the first down.

Michael Kendall on the carry for Big Sam Chester and Deon Armstrong with there on the stop.

It was kind of strange but this games we've not seen the dove be successful the short yardage plays be successful we're getting lots of big runs but they're long yardage situations.

Draws oh quarterback keeper.

He 31 Tucker keeps it hot the first.

Down as he so short in midfield perhaps got to the 48 before the Peach County defense and Sam Chester brings him down and again here's Tucker getting those short yardage gain that first down yardage what his team needs it.

Sticking it in and taking it out.

And that's the mark of a good quarterback that can read the defense.

Yeah, absolutely.

Look at Travis.

Through first down yardage fakes in the herd looking down for the Shepard and Shepard can hang on penalty flag down and there's.

Offensive interference.

Terry McGee on the coverage for Peach County.

Oh, McGee was in position to catch the ball better than Shepard.

The joy above Shepard came over the top of him.

I don't think that McGee interfered.

Now I'll go against the grain.

I hope you like things.

Another look.

And he's open early.

And he should have thrown this much earlier because Shepard was able to catch up at that point.

And then he comes over the top of him, the gate and the.

Ball slightly under thrown.

Watch the replay.

PA do not see Purdue.

Not exactly thrilled by that and the replay back him up ten or 15 we hear from David Hutson.

Offense also down.

Second down somebody in the stands watch the replay ref watch replay.

Just because we're in an NFL stadium doesn't mean we're employing those devices right now.

There's no red challenge flags and there's nobody up here to to look, only us bow and we have no meaning or to put this game other than call the action for you at home.

Timeout by Lagrange.

So not a good way to start the offense for if you're a Granger fan.

Know you want to come out with big plays, you want to be running smoothly, you want to control the clock and you want to keep some pace in tempo.

And that's not happening here.

Steve Purdue calling an early timeout and he's out in the huddle right now, perhaps reiterating what he said in the halftime locker room.

Keep your poise.

Still plenty of time.

And this is a veteran team veteran in a sense that this program goes to the playoffs and goes deep in the playoffs every year.

Here's how they got there this year.

Big wins over Chiro and Mary Persons.

And then last week up in Gainesville, defeating the Red Elephants 28 to 20 and a great game up in Gainesville second and an acre.

Tucker Bible the staff covers and completes the pass the portraits and pointers has plenty of room to run they'll get the first down to the throw Marian.

Williams on the tackle.

Slot who missed that tackle?

Take a look at that as long as your left corner and the playing zone here and here comes the completion sits down in the zone.

There goes Slaughter lost his footing.

Williams was there to track him down.

And then after a long gain by the Granger's and so it looks as if Steve Pardue had a bit of a calming influence on his team.

They came out of the timeout with a big play on second and 25, and now in terms of territory, they're going to score six more.

But Tucker is wrapped up.

Big Sam Chester and Deon Armstrong close in on the Lagrange quarterback.

Tucker gave it away.

He had to be a little more patient than that.

He was had happy feet and showed them that it was the quarterback keeper and.

Now it's all gone.

It's a loss of a one.

And as soon as the snap comes, there should be a hesitation here.

But look happy feet.

Happy feet.

Bo didn't get to allow that play a chance to develop good.

Five wide receivers.

And Tucker one to go quick wrapped up poorly flagged down by Everett Ball's loose.

That was crazy Looks as if Lagrange kept Colin Thompson an offensive lineman came up with the football, but not after a big loss for the Granger's.

Holding against the Rangers.

See, we can see the holding that was in.

That was Everett right there, almost making that tackle for a loss.

And then he comes back and does and strips the ball.

Looks as if Thompson was holding Everett before he got away.

Holding offense and only decline third down.

Did you see Colin Thompson wrapping his big arms around the football and keeping the possession with Lagrange?

Granger's But it's lost a ton of yards for the Granger's.

It'll be third and 22 for receivers.

Tucker Johns looking for Sheppard.

He's covered big number 56 Shockwave he is.

Searcy tracks him down and the Peach County Defense gets a big play.

Let's take a look at them.

I'm surprised Tucker didn't have a little more sense of where he was.

Here he comes, pursuing, pursuing and then collapses on.

Searcy showed some speed.

Yeah did.

Track using.

Speed.

Tracking down Travis Tucker range punts and a fair catch by Chris Slaughter And so Peach County will start at the 19 yard line you can get good look there are Clay Searcy offensive linemen making the big defensive stop in Peach County.

All fired up now they love the fact that that they denied Lagrange and here they've got the ball back and a chance to separate themselves.

And we haven't seen much of Mr.

Slaughter in the first half.

No, we haven't.

Seen that battery yet.

You know, that's going to become.

A fire weapon.

Atlanta keeper has plenty of running room.

Nice move.

Gosh, midfield four style of found the huge run by Antonio Hinton forced out of bounds by Keon Harris.

One of Jim Tressel is watching.

I'm sure he's got it dialed in on his computer.

Watch him here.

A little bit of a looked at La Grange has been giving you and made that great cut right there.

Just a great sense of where the pursuit was coming from.

And now Peach County trying to up the tempo, using no huddle.

No no Mr.

Throw to Howard that's been effective all day.

Tracked Down Behind by Anthony Blackmon number 15 of La Grange.

But another big pickup on the draw play by Mario Howard.

No huddle bothered by the Trojans.

I like to think it really forces the action, put pressure on the defense.

Another throw it to Howard.

He's close to the first down.

Well, they're having a lot of success with that draw play.

Don't forget those halftime stats, 165 yards for Peach County on only 17 carries.

I'd like to see the yards per carry on that.

It's up there, third down and two out of the high 14 motion.

Mario Howard, he may.

Have gotten close to the first down needed to get to the 21.

You know, mark him at the 22, Mike Daniel was there to stop from his defensive lineman position, but it looks as if he's going to be a little short of the first down, although David Hudson would like to measure big look good.

Look at Rance Gillespie there.

I'm sure he had plenty of things to say in the halftime locker room.

Well, Rance Gillespie obviously decided at this point to run some clock.

It'd be interesting now to see if he would have the nerve to go play action and put the ball up top.

Maybe by the yard or the first down.

I don't think so, though.

The play here is to pick up this first down and continue to run the clock.

Might have been a field goal might test.

One Rodriguez's range and be about a 3938 yarder on fourth.

Down conversions.

La Grange is perfect this is the first opportunity for the Trojans, and that's a confident young man right there.

And Antonio in.

Howard in the back of the eye, it's Howard.

Howard, while the first down.

He'll pick up three.

So they'll keep the drive the line it's de Renzo Brown on the carry.

To San Antonio Blackmon that came firing through there and run blitz action.

And look at the Enzo Brown's numbers nine touchdowns on the ground this year over 500 yards here.

He was the most gifted athlete.

He's coach.

He's on the blitz and hidden in trouble.

He'll lose yardage.

Brought down by Robert Ramey.

They brought the house on that one.

Yeah, there was a run blitz situation and you're going to see he's going to juggle the snap.

And I think he wanted to hand this ball off, but then realized he better keep it.

No, he didn't.

He didn't want to hand it off.

He wanted to pull that out of there.

But that one blitz action really stymied him.

Toby second and long as La Grange now pinning his tears back on defense.

Their state champion, defending state champion, two time defending champion beginning to pull out.

There's Hayden looking towards sliders open incomplete What a.

Defensive play by Randall Burton Slaughter got behind his defensive back.

Little too much air the pass but we said these two are going to hook up and they've done it so many times in the past two years that should have been a completion, but a little bit of air and look at the Peach County, how they picked up the blitz that time.

It was perfect.

I thought that ball was tipped in.

It wasn't.

That was just a drop by slaughter things out of it.

Thought he had a sure six.

Point yeah took his eyes off it.

Third and long for receivers Hilton looking toward the middle mouthing Russ penalty finds down in five some time to the end zone corners there it was in and out of the hands of.

Keith Searcy and Slaughter ran into him.

No, I'm sorry.

That would be good of you to humor that ran into him.

Watch him escape the sack here.

Good job there.

That was a facemask.

I was wondering.

What the what the flags were going to be fourth what may be holding throws a great ball here and then those two guys in the same spot not supposed to be together and Otto didn't realize I don't think he realized that that receiver was there.

Searcy was upset because he had a sheer sure he had a, sure, six points and his own teammate knocked it out of his hands.

Well, that's what happens when you scramble and you get flushed and receivers have to know where.

Go accidental facemask defense free play third down.

Let's see how that happened here.

Oh, there it is right there.

After all that, it's pitch count, you'll still have a third down.

Then looking toward the sidelines.

We'll watch John Forte in motion.

Oh, snap handles.

Well, by getting it looking toward the end zone.

Touchdown the end zone Brown.

And Peach County tacked on six more.

Ran a skinny post and it ended with a rifle shot.

What a great, great throw.

So Juan Rodriguez will come out and it's Peach County up by ten.

What to wear, brown dress, shoes.

Whatever he's wearing.

It's been good so far as he takes on the extra point.

If you take another look at this touchdown.

Here's a skinny post right there.

And then look at that great shot and good job on the ball there.

Enzo Brown got a touchdown pass earlier this year, averaged 17 yards per catch and he caps off this Trojan possession of a 23 yard touchdown reception back, of course, as you know, La Grange, two time defending state champion.

And you know, they're the hunted team this year and Steve Pardue talks about, you know, the pressure of going for a three peat.

Really, I think pressure is pretty relative.

It's what you put on yourself, you know.

So it hasn't changed.

But, you know, last year the expectations were so high.

You know, we we won a game.

You're right.

That game's over.

Let's win the next one.

And then even we had we won the championship last year.

It was kind of like, well, we we didn't we were supposed to do, you know, we didn't let anybody down where this year is a lot more fun, you know, because every time we win, it's like we're believe we're going to win more than everybody else is.

So we win and people like maybe I'll win again, you know, and but the kids, the thing I like about is, right, we want to beat a very good Gainesville team at games, very excited after the game.

But you could tell by our kids that wasn't their goal to get to the dome.

They're not satisfied getting to the dome.

They want to win here and they want to win next week.

And and that's the way we're approaching it, just like we were treating this like another game and we're coming to in Atlanta on a business trip.

And hopefully it's going to be an early morning business trip.

But it's a business trip.

When you talk about one of the great programs in the state of Georgia, it begins with most of you can arguably say it begins with the Lagrange Granger's fact, in 1991, they won a state championship.

That was before Perdue got there, but they also claim the mythical national championship.

So this is a program that is very deeply rooted and this play will be blown dead.

Bill Killer David Hutchinson busy today.

False start on the Greens offense.

I was going to say there's going to have been some untimely whistles today in New York for both teams.

Football, foul ball, start, offense, steal first down.

But that obviously is a false start.

And you know, you have to blow up.

So we'll do it again with the first and 15.

Tucker gives it.

To Bernard heard and heard the two.

Lions scrimmage and that's about it.

And Sam Chester, Deon Armstrong and the rest of the Trojan defense converge on.

It's an old timey classic going to type of play with pirouettes, slants and all kinds of things going on.

Ex cuts.

To they used to do it in high school football.

Practice.

What we used to do in football.

Oh my head.

Time to change, Tucker.

Looking to throw that shepherd down there in Florida.

It, it and slaughter some running room.

They'll get down to the 27 yard line and the momentum is clearly on the Trojan bench that remember what we talked about.

Yesterday and earlier today, throwing late over the middle is a tough proposition to take their good play action.

Slaughter just climbed to get that one slaughter can play some defense yeah sure can two interceptions on the year and put the Beach County in a great position to tack on six more.

It's Howard on the draw and Howard will pick up about five yards brought down by the La Grange Defense.

What a game he's had.

Bo Yeah, it's been you know, we've had so many guys in this game have really shown themselves to be, you know, quality college recruits.

What's the slaughter going?

Auburn probably is a wide receiver, but, you know, maybe not.

Maybe as a defensive back.

And this kid will be wearing the red and silver of the Buckeyes.

As Mario Howard breaks out again.

Howard across the ten.

To the nine.

Anthony Blackmon there on the stop.

The grain scent, the blitz, the run blitz up the middle, but nobody protected the outside.

Watch them come one blitz up the middle and now nobody's outside to contain.

And again, he's kind of using a no huddle nine yards away, perhaps breaking this open, Howard, again, and this time shouldered by Anthony Blackmon, Robert Ramey.

Also there, you take a look at big Robert Raimi, 89 tackles on the year for the Granger's nine for loss, six sacks, three year starter red zone offense.

And and I would say the Trojans have been very efficient in the red zone three touchdowns and three possessions.

Well, it's almost critical.

Look, great.

Stop and hold them right here.

Stop.

Play on defense and head looking for the end zone.

He's got Chris Slaughter, he's got a touchdown.

And Peach County is up 3017.

It looks like those guys have done that before, didn't it?

Those guys have been scrims.

I've been friends since middle since elementary scores.

You look at Chris Slaughter time his school record the 22nd touchdown reception of the year they've been friends since they were five years old with the middle school together and now Juan Rodriguez is on to tack on the extra point.

He's been perfect so far today.

I snap.

RODRIGUEZ No problem.

And in 3517, there's Chris Slaughter.

Auburn Tiger fans don't like him in that and blue on the Alabama Plains.

Quick slant left side Great throw.

But.

No time for inside help.

And that's where them working together for so long.

What came into play will play 27 yards and slaughter 10 to 10 yards.

Reception.

They're the best of friends.

Antonio Hinton and Chris Slaughter and the Peach County fans are beginning to feel very comfortable about this trip to Atlanta.

You know, Steve Perdue called it a business trip.

It's been a successful one so far for the Trojans.

One, Rodriguez gets set to kick it off.

You mentioned about his dress shoes.

Bo Yeah, he's wearing golden shoe.

No, he's not.

I guarantee you.

Come on now.

I guarantee you there was a brown wingtip with a shine.

Glow in the dark.

Well, he's here ready to put the golden toe.

In.

That approach.

Kit taken by Hardy.

Hardy takes a whack, and.

La Grange will start from the 25.

I.

Hats off to our GPB audio guys because I've never heard such great onfield audio.

You know, the cracking of helmets and shoulder pads and everything has never been as obvious as it has been over these last two days.

Yeah, we're hearing some plastic popping.

Steve Pardew knows his offense has got to get on track now.

They're down by two touchdown.

He's also need a field goal as well as time penalty flags that look doomed from the start.

Yeah, don't get antsy now.

Green has got plenty of time.

Another false start on the Rangers.

But you can't start doing things that you just got to go about your business.

Nintendo.

And.

You know, we talk about La Grange.

They roll your tongue.

Well, I'll start offense five yards to go first down.

Now, this was a young rebuilding team that really wasn't expected to be at the dome year.

They only had two returning starters from offense and defense from two straight state title teams.

But Steve Party was proud of this group because they know the tradition at La Grange and they know that this is a group that has to uphold that tradition.

And here's Hurd on the sweep and he'll lose yardage.

Boy has this peach county defense picked it up Ray Field Everett there on the tackle along with our Cuevas Searcy.

La Grange has got the double down they've got to pick it up and and go about their business.

Now, they seem to be a little a little down now.

And all it takes is a big play on offense to get the confidence back the loss of two and now Tucker out of the shotgun.

Five with.

Five wide.

Hits rushing three good guys here We just threw that one away.

This big boy thrust was the intended receiver about way over his head.

Yeah.

He also aimed that a little bit, you know, not playing instinctively.

Now you're thinking about the score and thinking about hoping they can get back in it.

Just go about your business.

Get yourself back in.

No time to start thinking.

You're talking about 16, 17 year old.

They know they're down and they're in the building with the Falcons play.

So there's a lot of things going on.

They're not used to.

Sally 117 to run the broader hurt and hurt wrapped up by that defense.

Dion.

Dion got his big arms around Bernard Hurt and it's another loss for the Rangers.

Take a look at it here.

And you in the first half, this went pretty good.

It's not anymore pitch count.

He made that adjustment.

They've seen that look before where it's a lot of beef that met the.

Job trailer to punch slaughter calling fair catch but the thing is that balls will land at the 37 line and that's where Peach can have excellent field positions.

You take a look at big Deon Armstrong 6 to 90, and look at the total yards so far in the second half full of grain.

Well, 94 to -8, 290 total to 144.

To La Grange has been going backwards as you take a good look at Antonio Hinton.

And he has shown well in, the first and the second half, two scoring drives already for the Peach County Trojans, four under a minute.

In the third quarter to draw two.

Howard Howard cutback tripped up had.

Had quite high as he had not gotten a hand on him he may have been gone.

Because he just got him with his fingertips and tripped him up.

Let's take another look at that.

Oh, it's going to be coming.

A right to left makes a great cut there.

And then they're right there.

Just get his fingertips on his toes enough to trip him up.

And that'll do it for your third quarter.

Been all Peach County.

Peach County wasting no time to get back in the game.

They got all the momentum on their side as was in the fourth quarter 3517 Peach County lead in Kyle Wilkinson both box Scott Koski with you and it looks as if the Grangers are drawn offsides Miami and Bailey came blitzing through.

Yeah, I don't think they were drawn offsides.

I think they just had an inkling.

Yeah.

That's going to give Peach a first down.

Handball, foul encroachment defense.

Five yard penalty first down.

And you get the sense it's starting to fall apart a little bit for the green.

Here bounce Howard on the draw and no that's.

Dear Enzo Brown and there Enzo Brown brought down by DJ Stafford number 16 four for La Grange and boy all morning I've been getting Howard and pound confused.

They look just like I'm.

Just going to say that that cut was classic Howard.

It was the same cut.

The same look looked like the same tempo.

And there Enzo Brown and Coach Gillespie told me he's the most talented athlete he's ever coached.

Drew most gifted athlete.

And again, La Grange crossed the line.

Robert Ramey, impatient.

I think they have lost their poise a little bit.

Well, this is the time of the game where they need to be poised.

And I got to think, Steve Purdue is it might be good to call a time out here to get these guys calmed down, get them back on track.

That ball file encroachment defense still second half.

I'm surprised he hasn't pulled out.

Robert Ramey, the defensive end that's been offsides twice in a row.

Ten penalties on the morning costing the Granger 60 yards.

In that shotgun looking towards slaughter he'll try again and slaughter well he came down with it.

One handed unfortunate he's out of bounds.

Back of the end line.

Let's take another look at it.

You see what great athletic ability he has.

Ooh, look at that.

Hangtime one hand came right down.

Out bounds.

Wow.

Auburn fans get a good look.

He'll be wearing that uniform.

Second down and the draw.

The brown and brown.

Will be short on the goal line.

We'll get to the one there.

Enzo Brown had a clear path, lost his feet and fell short of the goal line.

Let's Take a look and see where he goes down.

Right there at the one.

Yeah, good call.

Credit the Peach County offensive line.

They've done a great job of blocking all afternoon and especially here in the second half, they've been dynamite.

Lorenzo Brown, let's take a breather.

Check this out for three backs.

Well, it's Howard.

Howard looks like he's going to be short of the goal.

Line I close my eyes from.

When was that?

The Four Horsemen.

Yeah, well, you're old enough to remember that.

Oh, I remember now.

Whenever I thought I saw three backs, it's usually a wishbone back in the days, and they're oil.

And Barry Switzer, again.

Three back browns and they're going though brown again.

Stop short Mario Howard fourth down and now is a great time for the La Grange defense to stiffen great Anthony Blackmon and Mikhail Bailey.

And then I'll give the ball to the Grangers.

What's that?

Penetration by La Grange.

Great job could be that will get them going a little bit.

Fourth down goal line stop Rance Gillespie not comfortable yet with this 35 to 17 lead.

Backed up though the Granger and give it.

To Tindle and Kendall will get the hard yards inside couple of yards bring up second down.

That left wing get back to the running back became the lead blocker.

Looks like La Grange wants to grind it out here I wouldn't be surprised.

We might see a of some sort of pass deep in their territory.

No.

Sure.

Three wise Bernard heard the ball back, heard up the middle.

Heard some of that plastic pop.

And Bo is Chester and Armstrong and Pearson all there.

Yeah.

Great job for this.

Peach County defensive front has also gotten better.

We know we talked about their offensive line, but these guys aren't allowing anything new.

Earlier in the game, there was some there was some holes.

There was some running room.

There's no running room anymore.

What's impressed me about the defensive line, though, is not only the big, but they've they're pretty fast.

Well, I think we've seen that both yesterday in the semi and also today.

There's a lot of quickness on these teams.

The long shift in motion Tucker on the keeper almost in trouble He able to get it out.

To nine going to be about three yards sure the first down but he was walking a tightrope there for a while.

Samuel Chester on the tackle so.

Take a look at that.

I was looking at a couple of players that turned into a little fisticuffs action after this big Tommy Brown.

Tommy Traylor on the front, nice high kick landed the 40 and make it the midfield and deep down at the 48 and that's where Peach County will take over some pretty good field position.

Well, we just joined us.

It's 3517, Peach County leading the Grange in the three a semifinal when we're done, Dougherty and Shaw will decide the other class three a semifinal.

Tommy Palmer and Mark Lassiter.

We'll have that one for you in the winner.

Those two games will meet in the state championship game next weekend.

And the draw and big yardage by the Winslow Brown.

If it wasn't for that tackle.

By Anthony Blackmon, he would had six points.

Sure.

Sure would have.

In fact, how many times we've seen today, guys just brought back down by those shoelace tackles in the loose.

Looks like they're going to go the distance.

What's that tackle?

That's the way to get it done.

The interesting thing about number 15, Anthony Blackmon for Lagrange, he missed all last year with a broken ankle.

He still has to speed.

For a huge pick up.

By the way, know Brown.

Peach County threatening to blow the scheme wide open.

Brown again tripped up in the backfield under his own feet, maybe got back to the line of scrimmage.

About same play, just about the same look.

Jeff Anderson there to make sure he was down turns brown you take a look at what we have next.

Dougherty and Shaw will kick off around noon for the other three state semifinal.

The that's Wilkes and Bolden in the single-A, the Red Devils Back, Brookwood and Dickwella meet in the five and lounge in Stevenson.

Good to see the Jaguars make it to the Georgia Dome and Durham, though Brown is running through this La Grange defense, John Kelly saves the touchdown, but I'll tell you the of Brown's coming out here with fresh legs and this La Grange defense just a little winded.

Well, that's what it is, in fact, that I was about to say.

La Grange looks as though they're worn out.

I know that's not the case.

And one team is not better condition than the other one here.

But you're injecting some new, new talent in there.

And these guys, a fresh.

Look at that Peach County defense, poised and ready to come back.

And they're not even breathing hard.

Sean Blitz And it looked as if Howard was carrying it.

It was a fumble.

And Robert Ramey picks it up for La Grange.

And so La Grange now has another shot with 547 to go.

And Rance Gillespie can't believe it.

It was there.

Enzo Brown, he never had the hand.

Three times in a row.

Give him the same look.

Well, you know, that's why he's not starting.

Well.

Well, and I don't mean that negatively.

I'm just mean from number of reps. How many opportunities he's had are limited.

Lorenzo is a junior, but here's La Grange back for an opportunity.

And Tucker looking to throw the ball over to a safety foul and look ahead.

By Terry McGee Randall Burden on the catch but he did cost him and they lost yardage.

Well he hit him looked like he brought Molly with.

Travis Tucker doing whatever he can to get this offense going.

As we near the five minute mark down by two touchdowns and field goal.

Yeah make some things happen now.

Yeah.

They're going to make a.

Big play just to start to feel better about yourself.

Maybe can get a turnover, maybe get an onside kick, try to get back in this thing with 5 minutes to go.

Marshall Shepherd some quiet today the and.

Some good yardage gained by Andre Hardy he close to the first down Trojan defense on the pursuit bring up third and long situation.

As I mentioned at the beginning we haven't seen much of Marshall Shepherd today.

He was a big play guy.

But yeah, you got to think the Lagrange defense has done a good job.

To zero him out three wideout before wideouts who providing protection on a first down.

And the catch is made by Marshall Shepherd.

So we finally see Mr. Shepherd make a big catch.

Nice throw and catch.

You can tell by his soft hands the way he plucked that that he's going to be going places.

Watch.

This is going to be a simple out also an excellent throw, but watch him just snatch this ball both ball hands.

Terry McGee all over.

But the green still a negative yard negative numbers.

For yards in the second half Tucker looking towards shepherd nothing there.

And there to grab him is Rayfield Everett.

He wasn't going to let Travis Tucker do anything special.

Rayfield Everett has had a great game rushing the passer, you know, just been tough.

Tough at the point of attack.

He's been excellent.

Wearing number 11 from a defensive lineman position.

He must have been a back at one time.

Here we go, Peach County, 340 total yards, 237 for Lagrange.

Look at the yards in the second half, -15 for Lagrange, 153 for Peach County.

You got to create that Trojan defense.

And they.

Came alive.

They made some great adjustments at halftime.

Credit coach.

Bye wideouts on second row and.

Completion.

That was Cortez Stricklin on the Catch no fumble.

Great open field tackle as we've seen so much speed in this game.

Let's take a look at that.

Here he is in space, lots of places make a move.

And that was Brad Dukes.

But Lagrange still in a third and long situation.

And as we near the three minute mark, we think Marshall Shepherd needs.

To make some kind of big play.

He's a big play guy to get back in this game and the pass is incomplete.

Intended for points for us.

Who has a touchdown earlier today?

Boy, that could have caused some damage because that it was a great, great throw and he split defenders.

They were in too deep and he would have split them and taken it a long way.

So Tommy Traylor will come out to kick the score to 53 to go in the fourth quarter quarterback that's another good high kick fair catch Mario Howard And so at the 45 Peach County will take over and Granger territory John Wilkerson Beau Box Scott Kozlowski with you from the Georgia Dome this is the first five football games here.

Up here it's been a good one.

Peach County leading edge Mario Howard to the 40 brought down by Anthony Blackmon of Lagrange.

Well, it's all been Peach County in the second half, though.

It sure has been.

We can see that from the time of possession and also the yardage differential and.

Now they're just trying to run clock, obviously get ready for next week in the championship game.

Get the feeling if you're a Peach County fan, that might be a little revenge in this game.

Peach County and Lagrange met in the state title game two years ago with the Grange winning that one.

You take a look at the numbers of Mario Howard on the bench, a little more extra of this Peach County team is Howard all day has been getting great yardage.

Any advances that went out to the 30 yard line, it's another first down for Peach County in the clock runs.

Now you get a chance to avenge that game that you were talking about, John, by defeating the reigning state champions to time.

Reigning state champions?

Yeah.

You know, let's give some congratulate or some props over to Lagrange.

I mean, when you win three state titles in four years, you've got a program.

This has been the class program and Class three eight this decade.

That guy has had a heck of a game.

Antonio in.

So this guy, Mario Howard, he's brought down by Keon Harris.

I'm sure there are some transplants from Ohio tuning in, seeing what their Buckeyes are going to get.

If you take a look at Rance Gillespie.

They're not getting Rance Gillespie.

No, he's not part of the package.

Second down power.

Games.

A couple brought down by Mike McHale Bailey is four under a minute and I imagine the Peach County fans can feel it.

They're going to go to the state title game.

You can see the sportsmanship down there.

It's really a really good thing to see these guys hit it hard.

And go and look at that coaching staff of Peach County.

They know you risk has been a huge.

Smile.

On his face.

Chris Slaughter, acknowledging the crowd would be there won't be a three peat in Lagrange, but if the flag goes down.

But Granger fans, you can be very proud of this football team.

The two starters returned on offense to starters returned on defense, not much as was expected of this team.

But here they are in the Georgia Dome, maintaining that football tradition at La Grange.

Did a great job.

But that guy right there, Rance Gillespie, this team was only three to begin the year.

In fact, for the first time, Peach County lost the hosting county Antonio hit and didn't play in that game because he was recovering from a knee from ankle surgery.

They since he's come back they rattled off ten straight wins and punched their ticket to the state championship game.

Peach County is a state championship and they'll get the opportunity next week.

They'll take on the winner of Jordy and Shaw, which will come up at noon.

And the fans from Fort Valley that made the trip up this morning are celebrating a great win for the Trojans.

Bo and La Grange fans also celebrating and celebrating their team and how far they came in.

It's just been great sportsmanship in here this morning.

It's great to see you.

And if you've been tuning in the 9 a.m. timeslot, well, you've been entertained by outstanding offensive games as Peach County wins this 135 to 17 over the La Grange Rangers.

All right.

Let's hear from Scott Counsell ski with the winning coach, Rance Gillespie.

I'm here with Coach Gillespie.

Congratulations, Coach.

How's it feel to be going to the state championship?

Oh, we're just so excited and just real pleased with the way our our kids have rebounded from the start and just so proud of these kids and the way they came out.

Work continue to get better each and every week.

The second half shut out.

What'd you tell your kids at halftime?

Oh, I know.

And those defensive.

Coaches do all that and give all the credit to Jim Fitch, Jack Campbell and Joe Morgan and Jeff Bailey.

Those guys do a heck of a job over there on their defensive side.

And we are you know, they just rose to the occasion.

Real proud of them.

Congratulations, coach.

Go enjoy it and good luck next week.

All right.

Thank you.

Thank you, John.

Thank you, Scott.

3517 pitch counting.

We're back to wrap it up after this.

3517 pitch count, he wins it.

An impressive performance by the Trojans.

Bobak, a great football players over the last two days.

John I enjoyed it.

I loved working with you this weekend.

Thank you.

You too.

All right.

Coming up next, Doherty and Shaw for both.

Back and Scott Cowen Lansky and for our entire crew.

I'm John Wilkerson.

Thanks so long.