The following program is an exclusive presentation.

Of Jeepney TV.

PTV presents the 2000 to GHC Football semifinals.

Funding for this program is provided in part by IBEW Local 613 Georgia Electric Membership Corporation's South Trust Bank Dodge.

The Governor's Office of Highway Safety, Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

And by Powerade died at the Georgia Dome.

Atlanta.

Day two of the state semifinals continues.

Right here on Georgia Public Television.

Helena And I'm Dave Gardner, along with the dean of Atlanta, sports fullback, back once again and both yesterday, quite a action over time.

Thomas County Central over in a thriller.

Today it's number one Thompson taking on Shaw in the second half of the championship picture.

So you watch it.

It's going to be fun.

Oh, it's going to be fun.

Take it, get ready.

Tell everybody because last night we saw beer versus wishbone.

Tonight, we're going to see just pure wins from both sides.

But offense with Thompson versus defense for sure.

And they both play both sides of the ball to the hilt and indeed, they can indeed run the football as we take a look at what the shore has done.

And of course, here's the three teams remaining.

Merritt, of course, falling to Thomas County, central by one point overtime, 3534 and a two point conversion and of course, shot 12 and one Thompson at 13 and all right.

Number one most of the year in a quarter.

And of course, the Raiders out of region two.

You see what they've done this year.

They've gotten it done on the ground over 2400 yards, 31 touchdowns, not a lot in the air.

But look at the defensive touchdowns, five defensive touchdowns.

They get it done on defense.

And speaking of, they certainly have some guys on that side of the football that can get it done, particularly number 35 right there, Brandon Whaley.

Brandon Whaley is a linebacker that everybody is talking about because 75 tackles seven and a half for a loss.

He's got one interception.

This guy is going to cover the field is a major college prospect and he really you're going to have fun watching him tonight.

And also, number 91, Phillip Weaver as well, a Georgia Tech, a commitment.

Here you go.

Look at Charles Flowers, the head coach.

Tell you what, he's certainly been there while 14 seasons.

He's had all kinds of success.

As you get a look at his record there, 93 victories, closing it on 100.

And Coach Flowers is certainly a heads up guy.

And I'll tell you what a great coach down there has done a great job with that program in Columbus.

So they want a state championship, of course, in 2000.

And talking a little bit about Thompson, again, number one, throughout the year, these guys have gotten it done.

And when you look at their numbers, they are something else over 4600 yards of rushing.

Tell you what, they get it absolutely done, folks.

You going to look at those numbers, 64 rushing touchdowns, five passing TDs.

They don't throw unless they have to.

But when you have rushing numbers like that, you don't necessarily have to have to throw that much at the quarterback.

Deon Palmer right there is kind of like the quarterbacks we saw last night.

It does it all look at that 1258 yards.

And how about his yards per carry?

11.2?

He does it all.

And they also have DeMarco McNair running back, who's going to be something else tonight with over 1200 yards himself.

So we've got a game pitting defense of Shaw versus the offensive.

THOMPSON And if it's like the rest of the games we've had in this championship semifinal weekend, it's really going to be something.

All right, there you have it, Luther.

Well, so, of course, the head coach, 38 years as a head coach, he has certainly gotten it done well over 270 victories.

We caught up with him about the game plan tonight.

That but we're basically our own team because I have the running backs.

I'm a good fullback quarterback and a half backs and they are seniors and they were playing three years and they just have the experience and they do a good job defensively.

We are one.

We're on the five man front.

We flat out of it some of the time.

So it's it's good for us with the smaller people.

Our defensive linemen are small, but it helps us because we can see that they don't have to fight real big to understand why people head up all the time.

So it really helps us a good bit.

And of course, Luther, well, a very successful coach.

And here with more on Coach Welch and what we can expect today is the always colorful and creative John Nelson.

Even though I'm monochromatic down here on the field, we're going to talk about the turf a little bit.

You've got two teams that actually are going to have some experience coming into this game.

First, Shaw.

Shaw spent two days at Auburn working on a surface like this, and they're wearing brand spanking new shoes, except for the tape that you'll see for all the ankles.

On the flip side, Thompson They got their new shoes for turf on Wednesday.

They had a day of work at Athens on Thursday.

So they're used to this stuff as well.

Now, let's talk about attitudes when it comes to this game.

SHAW For the entire playoffs has thought that it's an us against the world mentality in their pregame meeting on the board twice on their dry erase board when it came to game plan, it said, No one expects us to be here.

It was point two and kind of point three B when it came to the offense.

So Charles Flowers, he thinks, is going to be very, very important to carry that attitude along for Thompson.

On the flip side, once again, no surprises.

But for Luther, well, he's been a kid all week.

It's an early Christmas present.

He said this was the only thing that he really has done in his career as a coach.

Now he's at the dome.

He's like the kid in a candy store and he's going to dance with the girls that brung him.

Let's send it right back upstairs to the ever colorful Dave and the ever colorful Bo.

All right, there you have it.

The scoop from Jon Nelson as we get ready for kickoff.

Go ahead.

Second time out, though.

We will be right back.

12 and one SHAW 13 and Thompson coming up next right here on TV.

And welcome back to the Georgia Dome live from Atlanta.

The Shaw Raiders at 12 and one, taking on the Thompson Bulldogs at 13 at Ole in the second half of our quarter semifinal here at the Georgia Dome.

Again, Dave Grant, along with Bobak, bringing you all the action, Jon Nelson on the sidelines with us this afternoon.

And we were getting ready to rock and roll seven down or eight down, two to go.

Now, of course, we just got through watching an excellent triple-A ball game with Screven County in Gainesville.

Of course, Gravett pulling that ballgame out there at the end, 13 to 10, the final very good look at the bulldog there for Thompson.

And it also a bone, just the name of that bulldog Bo and I found out that that's actually a descendant of Aga got to be of based on his style of forces Savannah there.

Oh yeah I know.

His.

Game you like the man and you go to that side, you've got to.

Show winning the toss, but deferring.

So Thompson will have a football first.

They've got features defense and that's what they prefer to do.

They love you to take it.

They'd love for you to be able to stuff you right off the bat.

Get the Thompson crowd out of the game and get going as the what you would call the underdog in this game.

They lost their first game of the year.

The car of Columbus in Cincinnati reeled off 12 straight.

So you've got two hot teams.

Undefeated, Thompson and the as well as 12 consecutive wins for sure unbelievable to win.

William Henry Shaw High School Sports Former Columbus school superintendent and here come the Shaw Raiders and incidentally Bo that loss against Carver Columbus right off the bat this year was the first regular season loss these guys have had since 1998 when they went seven three.

Since then they've been undefeated every year.

And so that 5 to 1 and here we get ready for the Thompson Bulldogs number one and 40 coming into this matchup and we talk about Cinderellas in a lot of games.

Of course, we saw Dooley County earlier today, a team with six losses that will play for a state championship next week.

But it quite a pretty much everyone that was supposed to be here was here, with maybe the exception of the defending state champion, Statesboro.

It is an amazing and you look at the coaches and as we introduce the coaches to go all day, but the teams again, here are the coaches with the best records, the guys who really do the best.

And for a number of years of doing high school games, I really had a feel for it being on the sideline and and seeing how some coaches make corrections as the kids come off the field and make adjustments.

And those are the schools that are not doing as well, don't seem to be able to make those adjustments as the kids are coming off tops.

That, of course, in McDuffie County.

They're going to look at Coach Flowers of Shore again, the stadium, the big brickyard for the Thompson Bulldogs there.

And they're going to look at the road to the dome for Charlotte, defeated Burt County, 27 to 6, and Pella, Brooke.

And then, of course, Tucker, a team that was number two in the state.

And you see what they did with the Tigers there, 37 to 7.

Very impressive win to get here to the dome.

Big win.

Huge win for sure.

So Shore getting ready to tee it up here.

Mitch White, the outstanding kicker will put his right foot into it at the 40 and back deep DeMarco make nearly outstanding running back Stanton's own goal line.

And we are underway at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta, a high, deep kick that will put Bartow back about five yards in the end zone.

And so Thomas will bring it out to the 20.

They'll set up shop there.

Of course, the quarterback, Deon Porter, number six, will lead him on out there.

And Palmer, actually the son of NBA star Horace Grant, they're going to look at Palmer, his numbers this year and what he's done through the air, 21 of 43 for 473 yards, five touchdowns for the senior.

But indeed, he gets it done on the ground, being recruited by a lot of schools on a big schools, but mainly as an athlete.

Well, we're going to see quarterbacking tonight, like we saw last night with Thomas.

Kelly, Central and Marist and then as both of these kids can really run the option to win, these teams squaring.

Off tonight and give it to Antoine Johnson, the big fullback.

It's put £200.

They're gone forward for about four yards.

Big baby, they call him, they run hard.

And as we said in the open, Thompson has really racked up the overland yards.

Of course, McNair, number 22, with that last period here, you get a look at the offensive line English and really Williams the tackles Brinson Neal and Boatright.

In the middle although again under center we see what they shifted.

I did look at the drill and did exactly that there.

And he has hit it stopped for a loss.

Big number 98, Robert Lins, the junior, came shooting through there to break that boy up and will be third and long.

You see how stout they are in the interior line?

I'm going to try probably Troy Palmer outside.

Now I got to look at the rest of the offense again.

DeMarco McNair, the running back, Johnson Jackson Drake are the receivers and Hawkins is the wingback.

And you'll notice again a wing team but really not get one out of their tied in this year so coach Welsh wanted to split all those guys out.

He's about three yards outside that battle over there.

But this is Danny Warren first carry the ball game across the 25 and driven backwards and got to be well shy that first down play off to put it away Well that's Shaw's game.

That's what they wanted to do.

Go ahead and take the ball.

We'll put our defense on the field and see what you can do.

And there you look at the defense again, Philip Wheeler, a defensive end committed to Georgia Tech.

Dugger The defensive end has a twin brother that plays on this team are you get to look at the linebackers Parker and Whaley outstanding guys and then Jones Merritt Alexander and Bynum Merritt number 21.

Keep your eye out on him.

Randy Young will be out of the way for Thompson.

No, this is put into it to try back inside the 40.

That's Anthony Merritt, who is going to be dropped down hard at the 35 good coverage by the Bulldogs and it's all set up on offense and a good punt by Brandon Young.

You know Thompson Bo known for some good punters, great guy.

Chris Moore I guess currently with the Falcons was a Thompson just a that's just a couple of beauties right there talk about rate guy the all timer and Chris Moore I think there's no point in pondering that in the league today then.

Chris Morris As far as Hangtime goes, as far as no returns are concerned, as far as directional punting is concerned, and you saw the numbers on Terence Morris.

He gets to their fullback, Jerome Avery, number 39, the sophomore for his first period.

This is going to be a big deal for Thompson's defense today, maybe at six foot £260.

He's a big hit.

They're going to have to get a body on him today.

Got to stop him.

And now this is Thompson's test.

This is not their favorite side of the ball.

Kind of a split back look here.

They'll do a little bit of everything, but mainly after Stephen Moore is hit and drop with a 44 no game pass for Brinkley in on the stop again, Kasper and Jasper Brinkley play on both sides of the defensive line.

They are twins.

I like to call them the Thompson twins.

They're going to look at how they line up offensively.

Kevin Murray are the tackles Herbert smothering the guards and performing in the middle anchoring that up big offensive line there.

And Mayberry and Wheeler are the running backs along with Garcia Powell.

Garcia is the big play guy.

Courtney Ellison's the tight end more.

That last time was a little bit indecisive.

Third down and five Stephen right now Garcia in.

Motion on the near side and we'll likely have some movement there.

Thompson pointing against Chicago, but it looks like Culpepper may have come across there.

I don't know.

Somebody might have moved a quarterback.

Moore looked like he might have took off a little early there.

I didn't see any movement.

Might have been looked like he started to back out from underneath the center there.

But let's check the flag here.

The fourth start on shore.

If I want to move the.

Raiders back, five of them third down and all those 10/3 down, again, more the quarterback.

Not a lot of impressive numbers.

He's just a sophomore.

Solid rush for 100 yards or so, thrown for a little over 500.

But they keep the ball on the ground and have running backs like Garcia Mayberry.

Those guys, you don't really have to do a lot of throwing.

I see a version fastag will.

Look to throw this time rolling rep goes down, but he's got Garcia at the 40.

Five on the first down Garcia out of the backfield and.

A nice tackle by Logan Johnson, 32 but not before a big gain by the Raiders.

Well, great seal block on the left side of that line on course for Brinkley, number 89.

See it here if you can see it out of the frame right now with that left tackle for sure really turned him inside, didn't allow with the opportunity to force that throw.

And we talked about Garcia.

You see it right there?

Yep.

Garcia, a big play guy runs a45 40 and he has his first big play of the ballgame twins.

Right this time Garcia is there to make it shrimp's great pass power number 18 on the completion of the rock Thompson play that nicely on defense Danny Verdun the standout linebacker and of course number 12 right there Dexter Crawford the other linebackers well done gets a lot of a lot of credit there.

But Dexter Crawford, also a big play guy, try to run the funnel screen made famous by the University of Georgia with Champ Bailey and Coach Dunn.

And that was one of the coaches on his favorite plays and try to come inside against the grain.

Brinkley and Brinkley, Culpepper, McCord and Williams, the lineman for Dunn and Crawford, an excellent four.

At linebacker Johnson, Warren, Mathis and Rodgers are a secondary bulldogs again at 13 and oh AT&T giving that boy what a touchdown again the second down 11 and Morgan to keep it going the fighters want to take.

Something out of nothing We'll punch it inside the 40 down to the 39 gain of about three.

That will be third and long.

We'll tell you what about Thompson's defense.

They don't mind contact.

They don't mind hitting and moving to the ball.

That's pretty good defensive sense, right there when you watch them initiate the contact shot there.

By the Bulldog Defense, for sure.

The opening round loss.

Last year to Chris County at the time, the championship fourth.

In 2004.

Look at the throw thing.

Frankie will go back at the 49.

That's faster.

Number 91.

Brinkley, the senior with a big rush.

Jasper Brinkley, oh, his twin brother, Caspar on the other side.

Those are the Thompson defensive ends.

And he did a great job.

And we'll take another look at it right here.

Good upfield rush.

Moore nearly broke out of that.

Yeah.

And how much white will have to punt?

MATHIS Number two, back deep, Mitch White averaging 36 yards a punt this year.

He also handled this place taking duties.

THOMPSON With a return and a little punt there.

All take a nice little bounce and we'll go out inside the 20.

Not a bad punt trying to keep it away from those return guys and Tom will be back on offense talk about Porter Looks like he's headed to Georgia Southern six two.

Hundred and 75.

He's rushed for over a thousand yards.

He's got 2786 yards.

His career, an 11.2 yards, a carry as an athlete, not necessarily a quarterback.

Right.

24 and three, though, as a starter.

And that's the bottom line right there.

That's a school record.

That's going to get to.

McNair 22, not much there, maybe a yard or so.

Charlotte, a nice job offensively.

Dietrich final number four right there with the hit.

Both of these defensive fronts have taken the initiative and Shaw just then has been doing what Thompson is doing.

They own the line of scrimmage.

Bynum 611 7827 tackles this year, three interceptions.

So he's also had two big plays and so great and.

Offensively giving up under ten points.

A game this year almost going to get to Warren this time and one minute drive home across the 25 to the.

27 Anthony Merritt 21 and on the spot but the game there on second down bring up third short yeah third the seven yard romp there on second down.

And that's the biggest gain of the game.

So far Warren also 11.2 yards a carry about five and one seventies also a good kick off.

The German had an 84 yard touchdown deal.

Well he was schooled in that replace in protecting the.

Ball rushing yards well over 2000 is Brandon Parker the.

Junior wrapped him up Parker also 43 tackles this year two sacks very quick yeah we didn't see good tackling last night but we're seeing it tonight.

That was a picture perfect tackle.

Look at the wrap up.

Wow, mano a mano right there.

And it's going to break out of measurement right here.

Pretty close to that first down marker.

Little short, though, DeMarco McNair.

Three in 1000 yards, sees as the only back in school history to achieve that here.

DeMarco McNair, number 22, certainly a division one prospect.

And that doesn't leave a decision to make when it's on your 27.

Brandon Young right there, number 14 to boot it away once again, got a pretty good on off on his first attempt.

So far, Sean's defense has done the job there.

Got to look at Merritt, who had a big punt return for a touchdown for Tucker Allen blocked shot got a hand on it and get a fall on it looks like at the 23 he took Bynum in look line number four came shooting through there he got a hand on that ball punt.

It was very slow getting it away.

I didn't think Digby Bynum.

Had enough opportunity to get it.

You take a look at it again.

Thousand, one, thousand, two, thousand, three.

That's too long now.

And you could see McNair.

Was the up back there on the but got a piece of it but Bynum really got some ups just got a hand on that ball.

So now the Raiders had business ball at the 23 of Thompson.

They're going to look at him on the sideline there.

Bynum with a big specialty play there.

And solid.

Don't get information out to the Man in motion and again a straight forward and maybe that's the big game big gain there on first down £260 comes in Ramblin acid extra Crawford with the tackle there but Mabry a big chunk and he's only a sophomore beau well boy he'll be 6 to 2 A.D They had to move him to the line there 141 yards versus Tucker in the quarterfinals at 132 and round one in three touchdowns against Curt Gowdy.

So his numbers are there, second down and three ball right at the 15.

Look back with Sam and give that back to maybe but top it all over that 131 John Williams the senior linebacker with the stop and he just got penetration beat the block and you know this is what we've been talking about both defensive front are owning the offensive line and you look at Brinkley to 68 tackles seven sacks look at that unbelievable three for a loss and Brinkley very quick as to force playing on the other side Casper go after that play third down and close to six yards more of a wing to a conventional.

Look by Phil most instances gun still burns on that four.

Five speed trying to get to the corner he's got the corner pushed out right at the marker on the far sideline.

The one Johnson was there.

But let's check.

That's fine.

Well, they'll go for it here.

I think he's just short.

They've let you know Coach Flowers will go for it here on the Thompson 14, 13 yard line.

If you look at it comes right here.

They've been much, much more successful running outside than they have up the middle.

And it looks like it is going to be fourth down here.

You look at Garcia this season, 74 rushes, 555 yards, seven and a half a carry.

Now time out on the field.

Going to talk things over here and the offense they're going to look at.

Coach Charles Flowers, who brings his team over a.

Little history here between some of the other coaches.

Of course, these two have never met.

Last night we were talking about Thomas County Central mayors.

That was their fifth meeting.

Not a lot of history between these two.

So it's a little bit of a different scenario tonight.

Some of the coaches actually worked together and of course, the winner of tonight's game will actually host the championship next Friday at 730 right here on TV.

They're going to look at it, of course, Thomas County Central, with approving a 14 and oh, last night.

So we're down to three.

And the other half of that playoff picture will become complete here tonight as Thompson and Shaw continue to tangle here at the Georgia Dome.

Coach Flowers played at Fort Valley State, 14 years at score 11 and eight playoff record, his career record is 126 and only 48 losses.

And on the other side of the ball for Thompson offensive coordinator Rob Ridings, those guys coached together at La Grange.

So they have figured out a little bit and on fourth and inches Morgan a bunch of forward and it's going to be a shot first down for the raiders move the sticks here and continue to move the football 3 minutes.

That's important.

Number one here at the Georgia Dome.

They're going to want to throw back at John Nelson on the rest of the TV crew doing an excellent job this weekend.

And a lot of folks don't realize you see it from morning to night.

But this crew has been here in a lot of these same folks out here all morning and all night long.

Our spotter, Richard, here shaking his head and he knows what I'm talking about.

And that's who the big boy maybe right there, but not much bad for the nice job in the middle.

That's good contact right there.

And as we said, other than that, quarterbacks sneak.

Thompson getting off the ball and beating so off the ball off the line of scrimmage and they're better off running outside And I think Thompson is two against Sean they've got the speed to do it.

So second down and nine, they can actually get a first down just inside the two.

They're Terrence Moore, the quarterback, a basketball player, started as a freshman at Shaw.

And of course, they've won a few baseball titles of Coach Flowers as well.

Looking to add another football title here in 2002 with Garcia trying to turn the corner him didn't get to back in and a big tackle there number 90 with a big hit Danny Vardon that linebacker we're talking about, Verdun, has committed to Georgia 3.7 GPA, six two, two, three.

This guy is a horse.

Yeah, he is.

And we did see you.

Look at Thompson.

Thompson gets ten people to the ball.

The only one that didn't come was the offside cornerback.

Ten people will get to the ball within that radius right there that you can't see in the entire frame.

Well over 100 tackles this year for Vardon, the senior.

And if you look at his number, 113 ten for a loss, I think that's the most impressive.

Number that jumps out at third, down eight and a half ball right at the ten and more look at the.

Throw goes up top bay Patrick Garcia in the corner not able to bring it down.

Danny Warren was there in coverage and he led them a little bit too far on the sideline.

Otherwise, that might have been.

Six up all their.

Standpoint.

Rodgers in coverage there and he made a made a very big mistake and that is he he let the separation come between he and the receiver you've got to be with that receiver.

When the receiver looks you look if the receiver touches inside shoulder, you turn your inside shoulder because it's outside, you turn outside, it's wide.

The place kicker will try to get Shaw on the board here with 116 left in the first.

So be a lot of 2027 yarder.

But stop and think about it.

It's right through there.

Well, it's quite eight of 12 now.

Nine of 13 on total this year had the 50 yard and just the job done there and it's three nothing the Shaw Raiders strike first blow here at the Georgia Dome.

Hey, we've seen some very good plays kicking in over these last two days as we have 49 yard.

Field goal last night from Mary's to send this thing into overtime Dublin with a long field goal as well to do the same.

So I think these kickers, like you said, but I think you mentioned something about it last night, they really like this for.

Yeah, yeah.

It's it's a great service to kick a lot of these kicks.

Don't forget them kicking obviously on grass, but off the ground surface, you would talk about.

John Nelson is talking about before the game setting up Shaw going to Auburn, Thompson going to Georgia.

Big difference there.

Auburn has got an indoor facility.

Georgia does not.

And Georgia's got kind of a worn out artificial surface.

And that's not really what it's like here at the Dome, obviously, right.

Saw graduating nine offensive players last year, seven off the deep bench.

So it's remarkable that these guys were able to get back to this point and we will bring it away hard.

It's short, definitely back in 1917.

And that is the big play down right there.

Number 32, Ron Johnson on the return takes it all out of the 30.

So that was almost great.

Your kick, the morning kick.

We're seeing a lot of that in high school football taking away the return people.

Obviously, some of the best, quickest athletes are you return men.

So in high school without the special teams to be able to counteract that you more than kick and try to take away that return.

So first down a tip for the Bulldogs.

Again, Deon Palmer under center and this time to get in there.

They're like 5/1 rule hole got it yards up to the 38 and that's five DeMarco showed off the jets Darius Alexander the free safety had to bring him down You see how he ran for over 1200 yards with steel blocking one or two broke a tackle.

Knees, knees come up high.

So second down and.

Short for the Bulldogs 3554, three yards for McNair.

And this time Palmer going to keep it turned the corner 45 and up to the 47 and he'll have a first down for the Bulldogs here.

It's Alexander.

Yeah.

The free safety.

You had to knock them out somewhere.

Horace Grant is smiling.

That's my boy.

Talk about a lot of other great times.

We talked about punters, Eddie Lee Ivory, some other names, Jerry Mays and those guys out of Thompson first down at ten, back 47, you back step and a quick handoff to Antoine Johnson nicknamed Big Baby.

They call him baby.

Now, he's certainly no baby, though, at six foot, £200.

He's also rounded 1000 yards this year, neither with the guys you mentioned from Thompson who went to Georgia Tech.

Mays, you've just two, Eddie Lee, Avery, two of them, two of the best running backs ever there.

The one was Robert Love and of course, out of Cartersville.

Well, that's it for quarter number one.

Time is winding down three to nothing short of the field goal.

They've got the early lead.

Step five, take five.

I'll be right back with quarter number two from the Georgia Dome semifinals.

Right here on GPB Dry with a three nothing lead after 2017 field goal Thompson with the football open at quarter number two in the Bulldogs nine region championships two state titles under coach Luther Welch trailing by three here with the ball in midfield for Deon Palmer and that dangerous bulldog offense, Wayne T and Paul are going to keep it left.

Five tries to bust it outside and will punch it down to the 45 shy will to get a couple bodies on him there.

Guys, that was a great run.

I mean, they had them did the right at the line of scrimmage and watch him lower his head.

What's being a Palmer here great instincts.

Now look and look at the body lean one, two, three, four, five picks up five yards after contact Brandon Parker Anthony Merrett had to bring him down so third down in about two here for good on 32 of 17 playoff record there the most and Palmer going to KP is brought down over the line and a nice job by Diedrich Bynum he is already making his presence felt here in this first half.

Big time.

Yeah, he is.

And you see that, you know, Thompson running the ball as much as Diedrich Bynum is a safety and they walk him up and he is on the line of scrimmage.

And I think to soften it up a little bit, if that Thompson would just throw it a little bit.

So fourth down and three doesn't look like you're going to go in the front formation here ball on the shot 45 to you look at Bynum 53 tackles for loss, two sacks and three picks, just a junior.

So fourth down to ball arms are going to line it up against the Raiders.

Here we see a little.

Misdirection play Danny Warren across the 45 spins his way but I don't believe he got there so the awfully close but looks like he might be a half yard short is that's that sure defense and very proud of it and very quick when they all stayed at home nobody was really fooled by the misdirection.

One, two, three, four.

Five guys at the line, at the ball and the point of contact didn't get it there.

So the ball will go over to Shaw and Coach Flower is pleased with what he saw there.

Out of his defense.

The way to go defensive coordinator So now Shaw will take over a lot.

So that opening week lost it.

Finally Columbus and the hits at midfield is complete.

Do number two Marvin Menefee and a pick for that six on the play three step drop Good delivery and a great catch And if his seven catches 124 yards it's a pretty good average there.

He gets down the field so second down and four this time Garcia will go wide par five formation and to give it straight ahead it is number ten Brandon Rose who is in for the had to get old Wheeler who is out of today's lineup throws number 1051 carries close to 400 yards and a touchdown this year you know Moore just threw it and that was his 74th attempt of the year.

If that sounds like a few attempts, he's he's had 37 completions, then you have to consider Deon Palmer on the other side with Thompson, we're talking it's going well, but he's only 43 attempts.

Well, you know, we're going to get it after that big pullback again, maybe up the middle on third, down and short, and once again, going to be dependent upon.

The spot here.

He brings a wrecking ball in there, though.

It's just Shaw frankly.

And Culpepper with the a stop right here at the line.

Well, if you're enjoying GHC Football, live from the Georgia Dome, show your appreciation by becoming a member of TV log on to our website at WW dot gp-b dot org.

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You see the final measurement just a little short there and it looks like Mitch White going to come out here.

Possibly to punt this thing away for sure.

But tell you what, it's in that area of the field ball where you got to think about a thing, a fake.

But I don't know if you do that this early in the game up three point lead, but when you've got that big full back, I'm kind of surprised that Coach Bowers is not going there, even though you know, the quarterback sneak with the more you got to think, you get £260 moving in the right direction.

Good things are going to happen probably nine out of ten times.

Well, hey, he just saw Thompson.

Still would rather pin them loose.

Yeah.

Charlotte, the kind of defense they have, without a doubt.

Low snap white picks it up, good high tech passing.

No one back there takes a little bit of a bulldog bounce and we'll come back to about 218.

So not a bad one at all.

Thompson playing completely for the fake.

Yeah, they had nobody deep and too bad they didn't get the bounce there because Shaw really had great coverage.

So the Bulldogs will trot back out here again.

Thompson had a McDuffie count.

If you get at a high 20 east towards Augusta, you'll run into it.

And of course they beat the defending state champion states for a 42 seven back on October 18th.

So those are the kind of people bounce has been this year.

As you said.

They really haven't had any close this year but yeah automated driving great to tackle good looking run they're on first down picks up the basket up to the 24 and McNair you can see as soon as he gets on the loose he's going to be something in this game because he's a ferocious running.

The great instincts and runs with abandon protects the ball.

He's going to the line of scrimmage.

Also pretty dangerous as a pass catcher.

You got it.

Watch an eight receptions 34 yards to go.

Look at his numbers for the year.

We mentioned 40 touchdowns, well over 3500 yards, eight receptions in this offense.

Is that 18 somebody else?

Exactly.

Everything.

And again, watch out, he's got the speed.

Another six to.

Seven across the 30 and Dedrick Bynum had to bring it down again.

It'll be a first down for McNair and he's warming up.

511 185 As I mentioned, he does have the speed and 94 yard kickoff return for a touchdown early this year.

Eight yards a carry average.

Yeah, 18 rushing TDs.

The first down at ten ball across the 30 And it goes to end for JOK he's got some room up to the 40.

Eight or nine there on the quick hitter up the middle there is Alexander run about in the secondary post on the first down there it's going to be second and short.

That was great call coach Welsh because everybody's team on McNair now and you give it to the big guy they've basically got three rushers over 1000 yards with Palmer in there, McNair and Johnson, those three guys in court.

You can't take your eyes off Danny Warren here.

The number ten run reverse of team formation.

And this time all around.

Receiver first down and more, up to the 49 yard bomber brought down by the nose tackle Jeremy Jarell Edwards down field there.

But hammer moving the sticks again call him deep and a great block at the point of attack look at 28 Remick is Harden's that's what we didn't see last night.

Marissa's not able to get that block.

Thompson Is he the team real big up front with Boatwright to center.

We're going to look at bombers numbers most by quarterback in school history 2786 yards and a couple of records there.

And of course, as we mentioned earlier, 24, three of the starters is also a school record.

And this time two or three over the left side.

Robert Lenz on the stop.

So a lot of career yards for a quarterback.

And when you think about McNair, he almost has 4000 career yards.

But take a look at some earlier action.

Of course, Dooley County, as we mentioned, the team had six losses coming into the playoffs with a 2420 victory over matter.

Who was here last year and of course, GMC right at the end over early counting.

An exciting ballgame there.

And of course, Devon County with five three over Gainesville and then on the rest, another good ballgame here at the Georgia Dome that time that Palmer wrapped up by Brandon Whaley.

Whaley, as I mentioned, six foot £225 linebacker for Sean Koch.

Buzz Buzbee of Statesboro was talking about this offensive in today's Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

This is a you know, just a great the midline option game with the Palm.

They've got some size up front Thompson does on the offensive line a little bit there tough Neil number 70 headed to a clock.

You and Willie Williams number 77 also looks like he said at the clock university.

So I guess Charles Ward those guys are the last be all of their numbers I guess in the future the ball after 46 to fall crowd trying to get into it and a little quick posterity McNair passes it down and close to another first down the 42 Bynum the safety number four did a great job of getting undrafted and participating in that play that have gone to a huge yard.

That block was allowed to stand.

Watch him here on this ball coming at you.

Number four, commit to your picture.

He gets off the block right there to slow him up.

One thing they like to do and I notice, too, Neal, some others you can look at McNair's numbers over 1200 yards, eight yards here.

They like to pull the guard.

It's tough.

He'll pull in around there a while ago, having a lead block this time.

And there again, 340, 3530 blocked out 2010 and McNair.

Will go in for the touchdown they've you made the call great call it called the garden the.

Tackle in the garden the tackle.

Folks got a piece of somebody from the loose 41st rushing.

Touchdown of the year for DeMarco.

McNair and the touchdown for the Thompson Bulldogs.

And they've got the lead Here comes.

The Garden, the tackle 70 and 72.

They both get a piece.

That's all you need when you've got a back like McNair and back without it out.

Aaron Johnson, the senior place kicker.

Lack of flying.

In here on the extra point football league suspension and the offense five yards like they might have had 12 in the huddle there so Johnson will.

Back this extra point up he's five of six on field goals this year 61 of 70 on eight during the season had a 40 yarder against Washington looks so he's got a leg here and a 25 yard extra points on the way here Thompson trying to go up seven three quarters.

That's good.

So Johnson boots it through late black ops flying in.

Now let's check that one.

Well, that was one thing we were very fortunate yesterday.

Didn't have a lot of flags, no central mirror scheme.

Well, then this game also very clean.

Looks like this is going to be penalized on the kickoff there.

And here you look at McNair, who's really been the workhorse in that office.

We talk about Antoine Johnson, the fullback normally as your fullback, as your workhorse in a wink to offense, but never gets the bulk of the work.

That was Montréal Neil and Brian Brinson out front of two seniors that the garden the tackle and those guys you got to give them a lot of credit there loves big loves leading them here they come boom and right up the chute comes DeMarco McNeil.

That'll help that 8.1 yard average for McNair really turned it on.

It was Brinson at the end and kneel before him.

Thomas has got some size up front, Shawn not quite as big.

When you look at their numbers across the offensive line, their biggest guys, top 50, but everybody else, 200 to 4 to 15 to oh eight.

And they're going to look at the Bulldogs scoring drive eight plays, 81 yards, 351 near that 41 yard impressive touchdown run and the penalty will put the ball up at the 45 it was on shore and Aaron Johnson the kicker will put it away back deep for Sean number three Darius Alexander the junior and with high kick Alexander and going to wave it dead there Alexander the end zone again you can't bring him out of the end zone and high school football so we'll come out of the 20.

Troy has got to find a way to answer this.

Now might be the story we talk about.

Thompson's offense against its shots defense, both sides of the ball so impressive.

But this might be where the game is decided right here with Shaw's offense.

And see what Thompson's defense can do.

We're going to look at some crazy fans out here today.

I'll paint it up.

That's pretty much the typical scene here at the Georgia Dome on semifinal week.

And of course, the Falcons will be here tomorrow.

So really busy all.

Through the week in this time of shift.

Far sides are still very fast.

4.5 speed nearly break it still on its feet up to the 35.

What a run by Jose Garcia.

No, because the offense is not taking a backseat to anybody.

They've blocked that one to perfection.

They also pulling you look at Garcia this really turns it on there something else John Nelson of course on the sideline and it's good right on down to John.

What do you got for us, John?

Now you see what happens when coaching staffs finally talk to players.

They were saying they're running scared, stop running scared.

You get a touchdown drive.

I also talked to Danny Verdun of Thompson.

He said they're not seeing any surprises so far when it comes to the Shaw offense back upstairs.

All right, guys.

See in motion, foul ball loose on the ground there.

A little miscommunication there on the exchange, but the Raiders very fortunate to fall on that one big drill, maybe able to get a body on it.

And we noticed earlier that the more had a little bit of hesitation in where it was going to go off and option and we just talking about how good they looked on first down and then they come back second down and don't look as much in sync by continuing to rolled out here in quarter number two for 12 and counting fairly quick first half had some movement on the offensive line there looked like look like number 50 Kim may have left a little early there might have been a late snap versus offensive lineman Bo or those unsung heroes and unfortunately.

False start on the offense five yards.

Away sometimes the time I ever get called is when they make a mistake.

That's right.

They've been open also.

Now, Shaw going to call a time out here.

Well, get the call.

Coach Flowers, and get you composure back to the guys to settle down.

So you quarterback more to take control of that huddle, make sure they focus in going back with you facing a second and 17 right now Thompson with the seven three lead Shaw opening up the ballgame with the first scoring 27 yard field goal got him up three nothing there.

Of course that was Mitch White who booted it through there.

And now Thompson with that last touchdown making it seven three.

Mark your calendar for Friday night, January 31st for the return of Georgia's longest running high school sports and academics program.

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Plus, you'll meet some of Georgia's most successful student athletes, athletic programs and much more.

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An excellent job with that show.

Got to meet his father a little while ago up here in the booth.

I love.

Love watching that show.

If you love high school sports, you love checking out that sports book, second date.

And that's 17 here for the writers.

And we're going to beat my wife and he's going to go down Danny route on that linebacker.

It's shooting through there and a big loss.

But Danny's a big timer and he's got that great speed and he with the with the to Brinkley twins at defensive end provide a vulnerable defense.

You look at Moore once again just a sophomore sophomore and that's why he does go down relatively easy.

We saw him go down earlier with a one arm tackle, wasn't even really a tackle, just a swipe.

And he went down and he's like not much weight.

So the Raiders broke the huddle.

320.

Five Now before the half seven.

Three passing and now whistles empty backfield for the raiders that time and the live game going to be the call.

Here at the back of a five more the ball game and the offense.

Coach flowers it's it's time for a Bobby Dodd little quick quick kick here might not be a bad call there I formation first time.

And now they're going to split them off and I'm going to give you that back.

But again, going to go strip left right, winds right and more running.

Looking.

Big pressure hit and right third down and.

23.

It's going to be fourth down about 25.

Andre Culpepper, the senior defensive tackle, brought down more in the backfield.

Well, as two ways.

Look at it.

One, he didn't make it a stupid throw and try to force something.

And secondarily, he really had to get rid of it, throw it away.

Good coverage downfield.

That was one thing about this Thompson defense as they cover well good secondary and so Mitch White will come out to punt with his heels at the two and now with 15 Terrell Jackson a receiver stands at midfield.

Snap good rush but he gets it out of there and Jacksonville at this thing role.

Takes a nice little sharp out and we'll continue to roll inside the 45 to 43 so good punt there that'll help that 36 yard average and Boston will take back over coach didn't like that offensive send it off Wow was fired up Looked great on first down and then went backwards Coach Luther Wells Presbyterian College 38 years as a head coach two different stints and talk about all those Christmas state championships in 84 and 85 under Coach Fox.

It's time for we're going to keep it maybe a yard and a half, but that's all we talk about the tradition of Marist and Thomas County Central and the history they've had.

But Thompson has won four state championships back to back in 1845, with Coach Wells back to back at 67 and 68 and single-A and Shore again with the 2000 title a quarter.

So that short right there that that play looks as though it might go for something and then all of a sudden, well, he shows up, Parker shows up and the three people.

In on the tackle second down to nine.

25, we're going to keep it closed up nicely.

That was Desert Dugger and we talked about the Thompson twins, if you will.

But Shah also has a set of twins on their team.

Rick and Darnell Duggar desperate.

Rick starts the defensive end and his twin brother also playing up there as well.

And our it's not going to be called by Thompson the Bulldogs want to talk things over here and so does Rick.

You love that.

BLOCK You make that play another play that looked like it was going to go for something.

Well, this December, join Andy Williams, Charlotte Church and The Three Tenors for a special evening of musical holiday entertainment.

It all begins Tuesday, December 24th, 8 p.m., right here on TV.

Again, Andy Williams, Charlotte Church and The Three Tenors.

A special evening of musical holiday entertainment.

You got your Christmas shopping done yet, so I will right after I watch Andy Williams.

Let me just get me going.

When I was a kid Andy Williams always had Christmas specials on you look at the Thompson fans fired up, trying to continue that number one ranking all the way to the state championship.

We talk about their road to the goal.

Of course, they beat the county 35 to nothing, beat where county.

And of course, that overtime win against Roane really the closest ballgame they had all year long 22 seven.

It was scoreless.

They were able to throw a 20 in overtime.

The go ahead touchdown came on a hook and ladder play so third down and seven zero for the Belmont Shore defense try to force that punch the ball back misdirection Warren hit in the back foot and dropped a nice play there number 99 for short game blitz and through there, Jeremiah Edwards a nose tackle made a big hit.

Talk about getting off the ball.

Both of these defenses have been excellent tonight at the line of scrimmage.

Look at that.

Look at him.

Come through low.

Just getting off the ball, getting his pads under the Thompson Center's efforts, always in the right place at the right time.

4.5 sacks this year, three fumble recoveries.

Now Brian Randle put it away low liner.

And that was Anthony Merritt, the big play guy in trouble trying to turn the corner and will go out right at the 34 married, as he said, an 82 yard return against shocker.

Eight interceptions for Anthony Merritt.

See what this guy is really all over the place.

Just got to do a better job of holding up the the punt team as a cover team at the line of scrimmage because that low liner should have had should have had some room to get something done.

But He had six sure cover men down it or six Thompson government rather first down and ten raiders out of the huddle again Terrance Moore and Lucy Moore looking to throw this Protostar has another Powell hook and ladder play 4045 Garcia added midfield four Just talking about it shot trying to work a little bit of Thompson magic here we talked about it last night that's what Marcus needed at the end of the game.

Their only option.

This is the throw that Moore threw before it's an easy completion for him.

His effort, literally, he it they obviously watch that tape against Rome saying you guys can run it.

We can't do that and we'll run it on you.

The good job is looking to the right side does more well get low ball grab everybody out as well now Moore looking pump fake throws it up top Got a man down there He's going to be nearly intercepted the safety Marius Mathis number two rolled over into coverage that could have really gone either way right?

There could have been a catch.

Could have been an interception.

He throws that ball a little sooner and more on a rope.

He's got Garcia wide open but hung it up there just a little too long.

The contact from Garcia knocked it loose and he had them.

No doubt about it.

I think Sean may be finding out something here about the passing game that maybe we've got something here where he's thrown for over 500 yards, four touchdowns in the air just to think they're effective when they need to do second down.

And looks like Morris going back in the air is going to come under.

Heavy rushing will go down at the 51 yard loss will be third and ten and 9 seconds on the clock and shotgun, a solid time out here.

Well, it's kind of like one of those things that fool me once, but you can't fool me twice, you know, now all of a sudden should going to that passing game.

These guys have seen it, but with no time remaining but nine ticks on the clock, coach needs to go to the air and try to hit something big.

Sean out of five out.

So yeah indeed going to have to throw it up here come up with something have already shown Thompson the hook and ladder course coming up a little bit later on today we'll have the second half of that five match up.

Our final game this weekend playing out at the Georgia Dome, of course, Camden County taking on Brookwood.

And the big question is, will it be in all Gwinnett County final next Saturday right here on TV of for Sparky winning last night?

Keep that streak going.

44 consecutive victories now.

And Brookwood, of course, their Gwinnett County rival will be here a little bit later on after this one.

You have to know the real deal.

They what they're going to try to break it up.

Cannon, a very good football team.

So third down, 11 here, nine.

Seconds left, sharp to play.

We're going to.

Pitch it out there to midfield and it turns the corner and we'll get out of bounds with 3 seconds left.

Yeah, they've got one more play.

I thought that was going to be a half back option, didn't you?

Yeah, I thought so too.

I thought so too.

There for a second.

You want to get a little bit closer, perhaps take a chance at the end zone here?

More, though, pretty good arm.

I don't know if he can score quite that far.

Probably not.

But you get you've got that mid-range pass that's going to be available to you here.

And if you can get it to your most elusive receiver, who's probably Garcia, he may have a chance.

Final play of the half right here.

More out of the gun.

Range left with the rob pressure and he is hit hard and dropped big rush by that.

Type of defense Casper Brantley number 89 the first guy there and that'll do it for the first half of play from the Georgia Dome in the second quarter semifinals.

Take another look at that final play there.

Well, I thought he did a great job of stepping up, but, oh, here comes Casper.

Not much of a shot at all there.

So Thompson will take the 7 to 3 lead into the locker room here at half.

And let's go ahead, throw it on down to the field.

John Nelson standing by.

Thanks.

Thanks, guys.

Here with head coach Luther.

Well, obviously, the way that they finished the first half, obviously a solid moment there at the SEC.

Well, we just not playing.

We played, you know, excellent defense and they're doing a good job.

But we're not very consistent offensively and just not doing a good job.

And we're missing blocks because, as you know, they have a lot to do.

They're doing a good job defensively also.

And also first quarter, second quarter war in the trenches went your way.

Your line started to get the yards that they needed for that score.

Well, yes.

And we just got to get them ready at halftime.

So we cut back the second half and really get out there like we should.

All right.

Luther Rush, head Coach Thompson, thanks a lot.

Going to the locker room.

He's got a four point lead.

Let's send it back upstairs.

All right.

Thanks a lot, John.

Again, get set for halftime.

Here's some marching bands coming up.

Stay with us right here.

They've gone along with PO Box 703.

Toss it over, Shaw and the second quarter semifinal.

We'll be right back.

And welcome back to the half year Thompson with the 7 to 3 lead Oh Johnny quite a semifinal now it's time for Half Speed and he's marching bands folks and we got some good ones here today.

Again, the Shanghai Marching Raider Band, R.C.

Hankins, the band director, drum majors, our James Robinson and Jason Thorning, 61, members strong in that Raider marching band with the performance title Tower of Power.

Again, the award winning Raider Marching band.

One do 1200 and one, two, one, two and one.

And they're going to look at the Raider marching band, Shaw High School, 61 member strong and a good performance today as they wrap up Tower of Power, an award winning performance grade brought on down to John Hall, standing by with RCA.

And thank you, Dave, here with The Sound of Silvers.

Once you get Tower of Power, I've got their CDs.

I know what I'm getting into when I listen.

How did you come up.

With that idea?

That's a group that I've always liked, and it actually happens for the kids.

They really enjoyed it.

So we went.

With what was their initial reaction?

Did anybody have any idea who the Tower of Power was and what the horns were all about?

Only a few of the kids whose parents.

Really in fact, that would have the records of home.

But for the most part, they didn't.

Know that it was funky and they liked it.

So how long did it take to get a routine like this together with the music?

Wasn't all that familiar with them.

With me two weeks before school started in band camp and that's where they put it together.

Now, this is your first year.

What's your first year been like as the leader of the of Silver?

I'm sorry, what's it like?

What's it been like for your first year?

What's it been like?

It has been busy, but it's been exciting.

It's great to be part of this team.

We actually are coach Flowers is a wonderful man to work with and the kids are just fantastic.

I'm having a ball.

All right, Marcy, thanks for your time.

Nice sounds.

Let's send it back upstairs.

One down, one to go.

All right.

There you go, John.

723.

Our score at halftime again.

Thompson over Shaw as we continue with the marching band and we'll take a timeout and be right back to the Georgia Dome and Atlanta, Georgia State semifinal football right here on TV.

Thompson up seven three over.

Shaw in the second half of our championship picture in quarter.

For halftime.

Continuing here we heard from the Shaw Marching Band and now it's time for the Thompson Bulldog.

Great.

Made 140 members strong again.

Dominic Finch and Ben Porter are your drum majors and Jessica were on the band director performing selections from Michael Jackson's Bad Beat It and Thriller.

Go ahead.

Throw it on down there.

No.

Oh, oh, oh.

What's up?

All right.

There you have it pulled on brigade.

What a performance there.

Michael Jackson, Thriller.

Let's throw it on down to John Nelson, who's standing by.

Jeff, thanks.

Stand here with the band Big Dog.

Jesse, Marlon, Jesse, how did you come up with Michael Jackson as an idea?

Well, last year, a couple of students came up with the idea.

When Michael Jackson did his comeback concert.

And I was thinking about it.

You know, Michael Jackson's music was a fan of a couple generations.

And I thought it'd be a real crowd pleaser.

So what's the response been like?

How many of the kids knew the music before they were going in?

There's quite a few that knew the music.

It's funny how the music comes in cycles, kind of like bass, and I think some of the kids go to some of the dances that were very popular back in the eighties with Michael Jackson when he was coming out.

So they responded to it very well and a lot of them are very familiar with the tunes.

So is it easier for them to learn than, say something else?

Where on the scale?

Wasn't it a little bit easier, you know, when you're familiar with the tunes, but we've got some pretty hard arrangements out there and you know, it's a tough show.

So we're proud of them.

Real proud of them.

All right, Jesse, thanks for your time.

Let's send it back upstairs.

All right.

Thanks, John.

I enjoyed that.

I like that Michael Jackson music there.

Thriller certainly played well by the Bulldog Brigade.

Well, we have some great bands, so.

Definitely, definitely.

Of course, first half, not a lot of houses and a lot of scoring, a lot of highlights against us.

Not a lot of scoring as we take a look at what all went down there in that first half and indeed a lot of big plays, though.

Well, this is the first momentum.

Looks like Brandon Turner, Brandon Young rather back to punt for Thompson and that's blocked by Dietrich Bynum and that looked like they were going to be in business down deep in Thompson territory.

And of course, that led to this 27 yard field goal from Mitch White that made it three to nothing in Charlotte, the early lead in this ballgame.

But now, with McNair getting worn, Thompson comes back and look at the bam bam guys.

70 and 72, Brinson and Neal, they've paved the way for McNair to come off up the shoot.

And that was a six point play, just great blocking at the point of attack, 41 yards on the run there by McNair and Thompson, up with a73 lead.

And they're going to look at the first half comparison again, passing yards, none for Thompson, but they've been able to run the football 118, just seven rushing yards, though, for short.

I think that's what really sticks out there.

And of course, total yards of one, 18 to 49, first downs, five four time of possession, pretty even so other than maybe some of the rushing and passing totals overall, a pretty, pretty even first half, again here we see Thompson did not pass for any yards, I don't think attempted to pass in that first half.

And hopefully they'll keep the lead and won't need to throw it because they've only attempted 43 passes all year.

Big first half for the Thompson Bulldogs.

Shaw of course, winning with defense a lot this year as we talked about it.

Indeed they've been pretty superb this afternoon as you get a look at the Thompson Bulldogs, let's go ahead and throw it to break.

We'll be right back with the third quarter kickoff.

Again, what a semifinals right here live at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta.

Back in a moment.

It's us.

The Bulldogs up 7 to 3 over short here in the second quarter semifinal the week and of course, Thomas County Central with a 3534 victory over Memphis last night in the first half of the championship equation.

And of course, the winner of this ballgame will host Thomas County Central Friday night at 730 for quarter state championship and a matchup you can see right here live at 730 on TV.

Of course, the Bulldogs have pretty much had the number one ranking Thompson all throughout year.

They lost to Dalton last year and the quarterfinals.

Dalton a team that like to throw the football but two running teams here this afternoon but yeah to win teams that we saw a couple of we saw a wishbone a team last name, both Sean Thompson a wing teams and you know this is the one with the authority that we saw last night.

John Nelson standing by on the field with Coach Flowers.

Thanks, guys.

You're with Coach Flowers.

You weren't lying.

You said the game was going to be won in the trenches.

So far and so far, you're right.

Yes.

It's going to be one in the trenches in a tough ball game right now.

They're doing a great job and that's pretty good ball game.

The steps to at one big play that Iran is pretty equal right now.

Now any surprises being thrown at you so far I know that you're running game has had successes with drill may break but then that was kind of stopped in the second quarter when they started getting penetration yeah they.

Got penetration and we started doing some things that we don't know I'm going to do, and that's done in football.

We're going to go back to what we do and then try to do what we do and let them do what they do and let the best team win.

All right.

Now, also, anything else going on injury wise?

How are they handling the turf with all the turf issues in the new shoes, anything going on there.

That had nothing to do with the turf we get now?

But the real good team in turf had nothing to do with that.

So we just have to come out and play a little bit harder and try to make adjustments to get out of this go.

Okay, I can't say it any more.

Blaine, thanks for your time, coach.

The start of the second half to send it back upstairs.

This one halftime was like, guess what halftime was like the shot we just did.

But it has nothing to do with turf or grass or shoes or a cleats or anything.

Coach Flowers, of course.

As we mentioned, I coached at the La Grange with Rob Ridings, the offensive coordinator, Thompson.

So they may have it figured out a little bit here.

Of course, Larry Pressler, who did the single-A color course coach with those guys at La Grange as well.

So these coaches are a little familiar with each other.

And even though this is the first meeting between these teams we talked about, still a little bit of history there.

As far as the game plans go.

We were talking about a maybe the big fullback, again, 132 yards in the first round of the playoffs against Burke County, 141 yards, rushing against Tucker in the quarterfinals to get Shaw here at the Dome and also the defensive touchdowns.

We talked about that.

Anthony Merrett, a punt return for a touchdown and an interception, a touchdown in that quarterfinal matchup against Tucker as well.

They might need a big defensive touchdown second half.

I think they had five defensive touchdowns in the course of the year and it needs some of that tonight.

And of course, we've already talked about Thompson and what they've done, McNair, 148 yards in round one against troop carryover.

Check this out.

Deon Palmer, a quarterback, 260 yards rushing in, round two against.

We're counting a 5135 win.

The game has been mostly wrapped up tonight, as has been more for SHAW And we've got to see a little more quarterback play from from both of these guys and that's what's bogging down the offense.

They haven't been able to get started.

As we said, of course, Coach Welsh two championships back to back in 84 and 85 is one three and or looking for his third of course 38 years as a head coach, 272 victories and two different two different stints, I guess with the Bulldog program 13 and oh of legendary coach has done an excellent job and maybe trying to get another string of back to back titles going here starting in 2002 and Johnson will boot it away and back to back number three, Derrius Alexander, the return man of 20 on the bus outside.

Take him down for 25, 24, the Anthony Moss down on special teams along with Dan McNair and the 36.

It was a high arm tackle and not the way you want to tackle somebody, but they got him on the ground.

That's all that counts.

Another look at down here, the pop hits a pass.

Pop it out there tonight.

Yeah, they did.

But we've talked about you to talk about the offense is not getting going.

But look at the defensive front and the job that they're doing for the quarterback will hand off to Rose number ten.

He puts a couple defenders on his way up cross the 30, the 31.

Kaspar Brinkley brought him down again.

Rose getting the start tonight in the semifinal match up.

I guess coach did talk about something just all of a sudden she running it with authority great blocking too on the line of scrimmage in that play, of course, the Shah defensive coordinator, John Barnett, they did a good job there in that first half, especially that 41 yard run, was warned, turned the corner and another run of authority right there, another five yard pop should be good for a first down, depending on the spot there.

Lou-Ann Johnson number 32 brought him down the side just given the sliding factor good spot so first down a turnover at the 35 for the Shaw Raiders good halftime show there the Raider marching band and of course the Bulldog Brigade.

Really get this crowd fired up.

I want to thank those folks who make the trip and.

Maybe up the middle.

That's £260 fullback that we saw a good bit of in that first half.

And flags come flying in this Danny Bird Dunn, number 19, trying to yank that ball out of there.

He's going to be a good player.

Yeah, he might be one guy that can match up with maybe he's about 62 to 30.

Going against the Bulldogs.

Facemask.

On defense yard penalty.

Our referee Chuck Adams the man in the white hat this afternoon.

I you look at the rest of our officials there Barry Brady, Woody Jarrett, Tony Watson, Henry Adams and Jerry Lott.

Each state officials association the game today you see a motion near stop and maybe it be carried up the middle but not much there at all on first and short Danny Bird on number 90 with the tackle drove him back you know the big fella hasn't any room to get up ahead of steam and they're waiting for him there.

We talked about on the first down, they did a great job of blocking the line of scrimmage and but since then they have not that's a great job right there by Dexter Crawford at the linebacker position is a senior number 12 talk about two teams that really haven't had a lot of close games this year shot that a couple days in a five round deal that's double what 1970 but both teams play well when it's close and get there Garcia has got room and that'll man he can really turn it up gets up the midfield gain of seven in a first down for done again another tackle you see what Verdun did, but Dunn was outside thinking the play was going to go outside his back turn.

He made it.

He made a 360 degree pivot.

He's number 90.

Watch him here, Derek.

He just turned around.

He was facing the other way, made a complete rotation to make that arm tackle here.

You're going to see it right here.

Look at this.

No, comes back and say hello.

Nice plays their heads up first down a ten ball just across the midfield strike and more looking to throw coming under pressure get rid of it and he'll just throw it out of bounds.

Well, Coach spoke to about that, too.

Remember Moore earlier and in the first half did not getting rid of it and taking him on an eight yard loss.

Right.

Especially right there at the end of the half to saw a little trickery there.

I know, coach, after excuse me, after halftime wanted to come out.

I said, we're going to go back to what we do.

This is not what we do.

And he just wanted to march it down, want to knock them off the ball.

But if you can't, you have to make that adjustment play smash mouth football to more of a conventional wing to attack.

Thompson, of course, puts their wing back out a little further on the line there and another sweep back and flying in.

I believe they're going to blow this play this glass, to be sure, because Garcia, with his elude ability, might have been able to get something done.

And on the corner, false start on Sean, thereby false start on the offense second down.

So a second down and 15 now coming for the Raiders.

But Shaw's problem so far in the game, they get it going a little bit and then all of a sudden start going backwards with mistakes, false starts, late snaps.

You want to be a wide receiver from the far side I again in motion this time it's maybe he's going to be back up stays on his feet though and they're going to mark them up in midfield this second and third effort there by Jarell Mabry great effort.

And as soon as he got to the corner got his pants parallel to the line of scrimmage watch him now now turn up.

Turn up.

There you go.

And I think the top opposed to saying his knee was down didn't look like it, though.

On that replay, it looked like he stayed up.

I guess I know mark him up the 50 so he gets five yards back but his third down and ten get that big guy going, he can wear you out.

He'll come into play in that fourth quarter.

I guarantee you those two teams got to wear each other down.

Officials time out now and we're ready to play.

We'll talk about the two offensive lineman to Thompson headed to Clark thanks to prophet linebacker also meant to block university and last year running out more because of fraud and nearly knocked away and then nearly caught on the reflection there by Mary Dexter Cropper knocked it down and nearly had an interception if he could have squeezed that thing.

Well, I didn't like the execution, but the design was excellent that that thing would have gone for a bundle had it been able to hit the receiver.

Just a quick release inside was nobody on them.

Could have been intercepted right there had it.

Yeah.

Knocked it down.

So Mitch White stands at the 35 ready to punt it away.

MATHIS Number two back deep.

But Thompson stands out as ten white with a couple of good punts in the first half.

No rush and high kick gets it away, and that's going to back away from it.

Going to take a nice little shop bounce and things are going to roll inside the five and down at the two.

Anthony Merritt 21 down there, no demerits Mathis for Thompson really needed to come up and feel that punt that's what happens.

49 yards in the paint.

Let's go ahead and throw it on down to John Nelson.

Now, the way things go and I've been, what, seven, eight, nine years seeing you in all these places.

Let's introduce him to MTV TV nine in Columbus Quick Hub for you, Dave Platt.

And what's Charles life been like for you this year and what are you seeing here today?

Well, what I'm seeing right now with the first of all, this is a team that thrives on folks doubting them.

Nobody thought they'd get past Tucker in the last ballgame and they went out, made a statement.

That's what they'd like to do today against Thompson.

They've got one of the best defenses in the state.

They've got to step that up and they've got to get the offense going.

This time, this time.

Now, also with the way things go, Dave is one of the cogs in the wheel for prep sports.

Plus, he always helps us out with highlights.

Makes us look absolutely, totally fantastic.

And you're working today?

Absolutely.

How could I miss a game like this?

This is great.

Number one.

Number one in the state against one of our local teams here, a team with a shot at winning a state championship.

We'll see what happens.

Number one TV station in Columbus, too.

Do we even want to know what the halftime talk was like in their own locker room?

I you know what?

I think it was probably told them to get in here.

It's close.

You guys can do it.

You've done it before.

All right, Dave Planner, thanks for your time.

Get back to work.

Let's send it back upstairs.

All right.

Thanks, John.

Antoine Johnson on that last year there with that first down run of play, Pryor in there, Thompson really moving the football.

And as they were talking about that, this was a shot in the No.

One pocket.

Get to this point.

Yeah.

And they had an opportunity there that really pinned them down there.

McNair brought it out.

And Antoine Johnson, who's a junior in a senior laden team with that last run, an opening loss to Barber didn't look too good but they've won 12 in a row have the Shaw Raiders but it's Deon Barber up and running right now across the 30 for the Bulldogs and that'll bring up second down in about three and a half.

Shaw's game is defense and they've got to hunker down now, find a way to get it done because Thompson is finding some solutions.

Wheeler and Alexander combining for the staff.

And we're going to look at the elusive D Palmer at number 72, the big in there is 72.

And Brian Brinson again doing a great job when he pulls at the down three this time to give it was over the left side there and it's number 28 for Thompson.

This is Horton's Philip Wheeler with the stop there watch Brinson come out again that big 72 right there.

And actually the defender I didn't see his number was able to do a good job of just warning him off and making play.

DeMarco Drake Drill Jackson wideouts for Thompson.

They've got one of them on the far sideline, third down and short.

And again, McNair first down across the 35 to spin his way up to the 37.

McNair got to teach a touchdown in the first half.

Don't you get the feeling he's just inches away from breaking a long gain of that 41 yard touchdown in that first half and the Raiders got to kind of clamped down on him right now, they're going to look at McNair, as I mentioned, over 3500 yards in his career, over 1200 yards this year alone.

That was their Joe Duggar with the tackle and here's O'Connor on the keeper crossing 40 punches up to the 42 he'll have three or four on first down and right now they're just grinding it out branded.

Parker, the linebacker with the hit that was McNair does it all guys that was him with a key block from Bynum.

The safety for sure.

Watch number 28 come out here.

There he is.

Boom.

Just put it on them.

Turn them.

Not a factor.

And Bynum is the big timer for George.

Yeah.

He had a big first half, which, as you mentioned at halftime, you got a hand on that point that set up that field goal, the game short here, the lead time for up 7 to 3 here in the third quarter and driving a drawn 42 and Palmer going to keep it right side make one man that's across the 45 and up to the 47 and a half.

Oh ho ho ho.

There's my boys, Brinson and Neil, burying a couple of defenders at the point of attack.

These guys that often you see game one up when a couple of guards could be your MVP's but these guys are in on every play watch them 70 is 72.

Pull in.

There they go.

That's looks like an eclipse, right?

They're going to they're 70 starting at 70 to finishing them off the Duggar twins, 93 and 94.

And Derek combining for that last sack over the first down for the Bulldogs at the 47.

And this time Johnson the fullback at the end of a couple.

There Darnell Dugger in the sophomore.

Thompson started on their own two putting this drive together their defense is thinking they've been cut from the team second down and eight now oh former as you mentioned 11.2 yard average this year as a quarterback that's really an athlete.

How are they going to play receiver or DB wherever he winds up at?

And here's a little quick pitch to make, trying to turn that corner in midfield and we'll go down into shot territory, mark down right at the 48.

Jerome Jones, the senior cornerback, came up for the hit.

Thompson is trying to play this game without throwing the ball even once.

Reminds me of Georgia Gary Lineker, the only guy in the history of the world to beat Notre Dame without throwing a pass.

It was Pepper Rodgers old wishbone attack.

So I don't think Buck blew through too many in that Sugar Bowl.

No today either self-insure that sometimes you can get it on the road.

Take look at third down conversion shot one of the big top and just two of seven big third.

Down and five here ball the 48 and an option boy going to get it out there.

To Johnson Johnson comes back and he's going to hit stop and the raider defense holds that short pursuit really showed up when they needed them to Thompson have been doing a great job taking out of the shadow of their goal line.

And then when Jordan needed to have it on third down here came that pursuit again.

Brandon Whaley, the linebacker with the big hit, the guy featured in the pre game who is right here with the pitch.

And then look at that.

One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, eight score defenders.

Thompson held the ball for 5 minutes, so they did work the clock there but they do punt and Brandon Young trying to angling for the corner He'll go out and get a Marcus ball most of the ten and they're going to bring it back up and mark it out at the 13 and a half.

Let's go ahead.

Throw it on down to John.

One quick note when it comes to defense, just got finished talking with Danny Verdun of Thompson and watch the match ups and watch where Jarell Mayberry is running the ball.

They're trying to isolate on that particular corner so they can focus on the mismatch when it comes to maybe his weight and the weight of the undersized by death by nature defensive line for Thompson.

So watch where maybe he's going and see if they can isolate and get the yardage that they're looking for that they missed most of this third quarter undersized yet very quick.

Up front very quick size at the end takes over more.

On the keeper there look like he tried to follow maybe through a hole but not a lot of room or maybe went to the left side.

He came back to the right.

That's something we haven't seen yet from Shaw.

And that whole first half was a feeling out process.

Dexter Crawford, linebacker there, a number 12.

And on that last play.

Shaw has not been able to get the momentum back ever since McNair scored for Thompson.

And if they don't can't move it here, then the momentum definitely on the side of Thompson.

And the 200 mark in the third quarter lost five to nothing doing their.

Nice job by Crawford and we're done combining on that here that was Marvin Menefee number two did you see the penetration by Big Marcus McCoy number 61?

He's the one that caused him to belly out a little bit more than he wanted to in 61.

And there really wrapped up Menefee right here for a short game and when you belly or go deeper more than you want to and allows the rest of the defense to pursue and catch coach Wells pacing the sideline here third down and eight for the shop.

And ready to slip back and a wing.

Give it to Warren trying to get back up and gets up to the 20 we're going to be west side at first down Randle the short side of the field there Crawford and Culpeper for the tackle Coach Flowers playing the coast close to the vest you thought he might throw there and on third and long and just you can't view this game is is still right here I mean obviously 7 to 3 and you cannot possibly afford a turnover down here so now Mitch White will run it away inside his own ten.

To Marius Mathis, again Back Deep stands at his own 42.

And no rush out a very long punt.

And we'll take a nice little bulldog bounce back at the 45 there.

They'll mark it down.

So Thompson with an excellent build position with 54 seconds left.

Now in the third quarter, again, they've gone along with Bobak, John Nelson, bringing you all the action right here on TV.

Again, high school states, semifinal action live at the Georgia Dome and of course, five action coming up a little bit later on this evening.

Camden County and Brookwood are going to be a good matchup.

Charles Ward and former Falcon Gerald Riggs will have the call of that game.

Of course, earlier today we saw former Falcon and William Andrews.

His son plays for Greater Atlanta Christian.

Right.

I am of the stance that's Micah Mike and he's a beauty first down at did McNair on the serious hit right at the line good job there by number 94 for Shaw again Derrick Dugger one for that twin combination and of course going back to Gerald Ricks, his son is that Tennessee, of course, running back to Tennessee and, you know, we talk about those guys, William Andrews and Joe Riggs, playing on the same team for the Falcons and not Lehman Bennett, not being able to find a way to get them both on the field at the same time.

He was that was kind of like Jamal and Iron Head exactly 12 years earlier.

Second down it did wing to four Thompson.

Split back and now we're going to see a pathway here to place it here.

McNair breaks it back along with down to the 26.

Hey, coach.

Well, that's a beauty.

We can throw it.

Well, that caught me off guard right there.

That's the first pass attempt, I guess, is the ballgame right there for Thompson.

And we talk about McNair as a pass catcher, eight receptions, 134 yards this year.

You got to keep your eye on him out of the backfield.

Did you see Palmer throw the ball he threw with authority, knew exactly what he's doing.

Is and a lefty takes him out.

Yeah good ball.

A lot of RPMs on that so a big play there first down and kid at 26 for the Bulldogs 7 seconds left here in the third quarter and a73 lead for Thompson over strong Gary Lineker's record is intact and trying to get off one final.

Point here before the end of the quarter and to give us straight ahead to the big fullback Johnson and he'll.

Have a couple and that'll it for quarter number three.

So we're down to the final 12 minutes and the semifinals here at the Georgia Dome and the Thompson Bulldogs with a 7 to 3 lead over the Raiders the up side.

Be right back.

Fourth quarter coming up.

Stay with us.

They've gone along with Bo.

Back and Bo saw a lot of high scoring games last night.

Of course, the other quarter semi final, Thomas County Central 35, Mary's 34 and another thriller between those three.

A lot of history their first meeting between these two but a low scoring ballgame despite the big rushing game and you know, the dangerous proposition, really fantastic.

The show has been here before and they you know, they know they're in every game.

Fourth quarter action underway now in a big play.

McNair up the middle, tripped up right at the ten.

Otherwise he was gone and the Bulldogs will have a first down.

A goal.

Darius Alexander, the free safety saved a touchdown Well, he's one step away from me having to say maybe not.

Look at that hole up the middle two.

Nice job of that offensive line battle.

And Alexander just got a hand on him.

Yeah, he really a good look running McNair first and goal ball just inside the ten 102 yards today for DeMarco McNair and give it to the fullback Johnson who punches ahead for a couple.

Brandon Parker, the linebacker helping out on that play.

Coach Welsh looking on from the sideline, trying to add a third state championship to Thompson.

Yeah, this is where Shaw really needs one of those defensive turnovers that they've specialized in.

It's a fifth overall.

If you go back to the sixties, it was back to back wins in 67, 68, second down.

In goal and McNair five driving goal line touchdown DeMarco McNair.

Now all the great running backs we've seen over the last two days.

McNair is right there with me, running it with a vengeance.

So you can actually see him smell.

That goal line.

You had a feeling he was not going to be stopped.

Look at the big looking Neal Brinson coming out again.

Two touchdowns today for McNair.

That man right there pulling, blocking, fucking Aaron Johnson.

We'll try to tack on the bag and it's there.

And Thompson leads it 14 to 3 over Shaw with 1109 left in the game.

Wow came in late at the ten and I believe it's going to be on Shaw I penalize them on a kickoff good blocking couple of plays there in a row two plays in the fourth quarter Thompson back on the board is looking at number 72 right there.

He's run in the kicker an extra point five yards that on the kickoff.

But Brinson and Neal may be the two best guards that I've seen over the last two days.

And we talked about it in the opening.

These guys like to pull the guards and that's exactly what they've done.

This ballgame, it really gives them an extra dimension, get a couple of extra blockers out there on the corner and they are deadly.

Now, Shaw's offense really has the counter here.

They can't afford to punt that ball back to Thompson with the momentum on their side.

Well, they've got 11 minutes.

Coach has time, and they need to get something done on this drive because is really own the time of possession in the second half.

So, you know, you're going to have to maximize your offense and probably throw the ball down if you're not a if you're not a throwing football team.

It's tough to do that, especially when you get in the hole.

Johnson boots it away Low liner squib kick picked up after 12 And that is Merritt 21 across the 20 trying to reverse the spin will be taken down to lose yardage back to the 15.

So the Raiders find themselves on a little bit of a hole here.

Yancy Moss Number 24, getting it done on special teams and they're somewhat quiet today.

But for the 21, 22 and up, well, they give them.

Merritt Of course as we talk about that 94 yard kickoff return actually came against Wear County in round two.

So now Terence Moore and that offense will go back to work.

Slip backs.

Picked off that's Warren Johnson in the corner and he's going to be tripped up on at the 20.

Big hit that gets the crowd fired up.

Wow.

Check that rose.

Number ten, that was Brandon Rose.

Watch this.

The turn to call looks like he's got some room.

And I didn't see who slid it through right there.

It was 32, number 32, Logan Johnson now took his legs out from underneath him.

And look at this scoring drive for the Bulldogs.

Six plays, 45 yards and just a minute, 46 and of course McNair capping it off with that eight yard touchdown run and a little reverse here.

Anthony Merritt in trouble, though.

He's going to be slung now, still on his feet.

Still in trouble inside the five, going backwards and he'll fall down at the two and a penalty comes flying in at the five.

And Merritt just had nowhere to run that time.

Thompson all over it looked like a pretty good concept.

It was blown up by an Thompson defender who got great penetration, looked like somebody might have been called for holding on Shaw, but they didn't call that.

And let's see what they call it.

The end.

And our referee, Mr. Adams.

Holding two flags.

I want to get Sean here.

So it's not helping at all.

Writers really in a hole here.

And you got to look at coach flowers over there on the sideline.

Fort Valley State man, 14th year Shaw, of course, out of region two.

Thompson out of Region three.

So play will.

Stand they'll decline the penalty and the ball going to be all the way back inside the two look like they were flirting with the safety there.

I think Merritt realizes it.

He had already lost it up.

He went back any further would have been do why give him another down when you really get a half the distance which is six inches in this instance.

So here we go.

Thompson thinking safety.

Shaw tried to punch it out of their own end zone receiver, wide nearside by sea and again back and the ball's loose on the ground picked.

Up five was out at the goal line Well push it in for the touchdown Got some help from the defenders.

One yard touchdown officially for the senior for done Horrible mistake I think Brandon Rose went the wrong way Going to be a tough sweet left Brandon Rose came to the right side ran it to the green into the pits.

Well, they were thinking safety.

Here it is right here.

But Rose come from the right side of the screen right there.

He went in the wrong direction and we're done just pick that thing up and a little bit of help there from Kasper Brickley and now Johnson for the Patty and hits it through there.

So 21 to 3 and yet another penalty running at the kicker.

Again, they're going to look at four down on the sideline, well over 100 tackles this year.

And now a fumble recovery for a touchdown.

We've seen a 3.7 Asante committing to Georgia's got some other schools looking at him six 230 a good athlete and now a very memorable semifinal here at the Georgia Dome.

We talked about that.

Sure division.

Here it is one more time.

That's a good look at it.

He just went in the wrong direction and it's up right for a tough break.

Just talk him out there playing strong defense here.

That's that's their forte is the beginning of the game.

And then, you know, you've got to give Thompson credit because they really run it.

They've run it well all year.

But the way their defense has showed up tonight with Casper and Jasper and Verdun, they've been great.

These guys all play like two very aggressive.

And now Aaron Johnson booted away.

Shaw, though, still with 942 left in the contest but big defensive play there by the Bulldogs we talked about Shaw defense putting up the TDs but now Thompson has and here's Alexander will bring it out across the ten trying to force it down but won't even make it to the 15.

Great coverage on the kickoff by the Bulldogs.

Just not enough show up.

People and special teams putting bodies on bodies.

Jonathan Real number 21 of the first men down there for Thompson.

So once again, Shawn, another little hole here.

I guess they got to take care of the football, though, and few of those guys were untouched in special teams.

Well, at this point, you might as well throw caution to the wind to get protection thrown around a lot.

Spread them out.

Well, you got some guys with some speed, that's for sure.

Garcia, as we talk about four or five speed or so, and he's certainly shown that today, especially on this carpet, they got the athletes to make it happen.

But that's how it to be pinning their ears back and just showing that they can block them.

GARCIA And we're going to keep this one out of the shotgun.

And it's taken out of bounds of 20 and about five, maybe six yards.

Dexter Crawford on the tackle.

Nice score.

First down with nine and a half left in the passing formation, the run out of it.

You know, SHAW As we mentioned before, halftime and early on, a team that was supposed to be here.

So a lot of people thought anyway, rattling off 12 straight victories after that season, opening loss to Columbus, a lot of folks around the state not really giving those guys a lot of respect either, but they have shown that they're for real being in a hole here today.

We're done calls the timeout four wides he didn't like what he saw heads up play there by the senior linebacker so bulldogs will talk things over and we'll talk about Thompson here.

We talk about Sean's defense with Thompson again averaging allowing right at a touchdown a game that's it may have been superb really on both sides of the football hence the number one ranking I guess all year long.

Thompson got the rally.

Heck, he's there, I guess.

Yeah, but it brought a lot of fans up from Thompson.

The fact that you had the turnout today for a high school semifinal, it's just been fantastic.

When I walked in the building during the first game, it was the most people I've seen in the last few years.

People really starting to turn onto the Georgia Dome for these semifinal playoffs.

We talked about, of course, the North Georgia regionals for basketball may soon be here as well.

At the Georgia Dome.

So after the timeout.

Second down and about three and a half more, again, working out of the shotgun Quick Pass hits Merritt.

And he's got across 35 Look at both midfield Anthony Merritt 4030 He's going to go all the way Touchdown Anthony Merritt all.

I think we're done had the right idea It's why he called timeout he didn't like what he saw but when they went to the side they didn't make an adjustment.

Maybe they didn't think that the goal was going to come out in the same set.

80 yard touchdown for Merritt the guy that does see a lot of time on offense great.

Blocked by the wide receiver actually that's Garcia He just got a piece and that's all it took and the safeties got caught up inside.

Safeties are supposed to be out there for preventing that.

They got sucked up into the interior of the play.

So now Mitch White will try to tack on the extra point just like that.

The Raiders right back in it here with 916 to play white with a 27 yard field goal.

And the extra point is ripped through there.

So it's 21 to 10 now.

And we're talking about Merritt, a guy that really plays on defense.

He's a kick returner.

He's had eight interceptions this year.

But Coach Flowers says, Hey, we've got to have our best athletes on the field right now to make some plays.

I think he's got some long speed, good shot.

But see, they're just a piece.

That's all you need.

Great job by our Jeep TV camera crew, too.

They've been on it all day long.

And you saw it right there.

Merritt got to that sideline and it was nothing but jets after that.

There it is again.

Great block there.

Marius Mathis, number two, chasing him but unable to make up any ground there.

Merritt Turning it on.

Also, Derrick Powell getting a great block right there.

That's all you have to do.

Just see him bump somebody.

Just get a piece, just chip him.

And when you get up on your wide receiver with that kind of speed, so now nothing but play wild tee it off from the 40.

Thompson was looking at a possible onside kick there, but instead they'll put it out of the end zone and we'll come at it in 20 as we're in back deep.

So now Thompson still in control of this football game with 916 left.

But they've got to be careful here.

They've got to put together some to eat up some clock and.

See that the kick going into the end zone.

I always think when you're trailing, you just like the ball come down on the end zone and you want to make a play.

When you want to challenge the special teams, guys, we need ball.

Somebody knock it loose.

That's the scoring drive was only two plays, 86 yards, 26 seconds when you're behind, that's the kind of scoring drive you love.

Now the Raiders got some momentum and a big play on defense.

They're on first down.

Robert Lynn, number 98, shooting through there from the defensive tackle spot and they are fired up here.

They got some earlier.

They get this football back here.

They're going to make it a game.

Yeah, they're all fired up when the big guys, only a junior.

He'll be back next year.

Look at that That's contact McNair met in the backfield so a loss of yards second and 11 when he sacks this year £365 bench.

Press this bomb are going to keep turn the corner.

And the raiders do a nice job stringing that play out the what Shaw does they just need a little shot in the arm Alexander and Merritt force it out various Alexander five by one 6641 to watch out unfold right number 67 there he does his job in the middle line gets a couple of blocks.

In fact, the interior of the Thompson line just cascaded everybody in the other direction.

And defensive coordinator John Barnett absorbed trying to get us guys fired up, third down and long here.

Thompson, Boller under center corner on the keeper breaks it, gets out of there and will punch it across the 25 who was close to pass made a fumble there they really got a guy down at fullback that time Johnson Palmer able to sneak through there on the keeper but still going to be short on first down.

Antoine Johnson who took that fake, actually got a great pop there and he came up limping a little bit.

Watch right here.

Brandon Whaley, 35, really didn't make the tackle but really made that play on defense.

Getting through their style.

And now it's not going to be called by the Raiders here with 801 left in the ballgame, they still have two timeouts remaining.

Thompson still up 21 to 10, but going to have to get rid of this football.

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We're basketball finals, football finals.

You can find it all right here.

Well, that's Coach Welsh, and he knows it.

Coach Flowers has a punt block.

It's coming right now.

Full protection, the maximum protection right now.

Thompson open is nine guys for Shaun the Box.

They're not coming.

They want the return.

They're going to set it up.

Young gets it out of there and we'll go out of bounds.

And that's pretty good fun keeping it out of the hands of Merritt.

They're not.

The Raiders do get the football back trailing by 11 but still 754 left in the contest and now they need a quick strike and they're all charged up.

They were going to throw it and probably start off by running it here.

Still plenty of time, almost 8 minutes.

SHAW As we mentioned early on, advancing by wins over Burke County, Pella Brook and Tucker Thompson.

Meanwhile, the victories over Troup County, where county and road first and ten ball at the 43 grassy in motion Moore will work out of the shotgun and the throws a quick little hitter over there he Menifee he takes a pretty good look there from Jasper Brickley who played the pass that time he got out there well more could have checked out of that.

He really had a pass defense from Thompson and they were giving him a lot of running room.

If they could have checked out of it.

I know Coach certainly would have liked to by throwing and you played right into Thompson's hands so a loss of those two on that last play second down and 12 more looking long down the field he's got that here and it's taken away.

Intercepted intercepted by number 23.

San Juan Rodgers, the sophomore with a big play on defense.

Well, we talked about Moore earlier not being done with the ball and not throwing it up for grabs in the first half.

And that time he forced it a little bit.

He needed to throw that to the outside to give Garcia a chance to run under it.

But he threw it inside.

Here's Garcia just passing in the window right there.

And you see it puts a lot of air under it.

So there's a lot of time for the defender to make a play on the ball.

Rodgers went up, caught that ball at the highest point, which what you're taught as a DB.

So first down and then the ball goes back over with 713 left and now McNair tripped up right at the 35 up to the 37.

So a gain of a couple there.

Well, there, Brandon.

Well, he got a piece of him but just getting back to they, you know, they really had what they wanted from a running point of view.

They spread the field and they had Thompson all spread out.

And if they had run it, they probably could have made some hay vote.

BOATWRIGHT The center leads him up to the line BRINSON Neal your guards WILLIAMS.

Inglis for tackles PALMER under center slip back and it goes.

Straight ahead and across the 40 Cal Jacobs the linebacker brought down Johnson Big Berry Antoine Johnson and 34 and if you look at the tackle there by Jacobs plays a lot behind Whaley coming up again right after this ballgame a little later on, Brookwood and Camden County scheduled for 9 p.m. tonight right here on TV.

Kirkwood try to make it an all Gwinnett final.

Camden County trying to prove that they're for I believe they are.

And there's a big play for McNair.

Still driving across midfield and down to the 45 S. He got a.

First go watch.

That was 3535.

They needed to pick that up.

Shaw absolutely needed to stop.

They get a stop there.

They're still in the game with 6 minutes to go.

And McNair, as he's done all evening long, just picked up the tough yards.

Alexander number three matter about a gain of 15.

And now officials time out can be called here hundred and 25 yards now for DeMarco McNair at that, McNair is a sack and good foul just shy of 45 slip backs again.

And the game goes to the big fullback and he's got some room Antoine Johnson breaks it inside the 40.

Anthony Merritt brought him down in the secondary wants to be like McNair Saquon watch him try to finish off the run here watch him get his pads low.

We talk about the size of Mayberry for shopping to 60.

But I tell you what, Johnson's no small guy at all.

Six foot £200.

He's the kind of guy that can wear you down too late.

In the ballgame, second down and three, McNair once again driving 35, 30, still on his feet down to the 29 and McNair continues to add to his already impressive afternoon time.

They call they pulled rents and rents and turned the corner.

And I think we got a piece of it defender who might have had an opportunity to trip him up, but he just buried him.

Those two guys, Brinson and Neal, have really been something that Thompson.

Does not bother.

Get it back at Johnson.

He's got room 25, 20, and inside the 20 goes Antoine Johnson and going to be close to another first down and they're just heating up big shots, yardage right now the merits looking at him and he's saying, coach, don't send that locomotive this way again.

Watch Merritt at the end of this.

And I thought he was going to cut him again in that he might be able to to vault him.

But he just said, we don't do that.

We just power.

We're all about power.

Knocking out people at the end of runs.

And more importantly, for Thompson, that clock continues to roll nearing the four minute mark, now in the ballgame and they're up 2110.

Quick hitter straight ahead right over Boatwright Boatwright to the center number 67.

And depending on the spot here, Antoine Johnson, the running back of the block in there.

So third down an inch is a little short of that.

First down, but the clock is rolling.

344 D bomber under center and we're going to have width.

They're going to pull that play down there.

Look like somebody from sham half cam.

Yes left side of Shore's defensive front.

Now, Philip Wheeler over there, Robert Lentz, that's going to give back to the first down.

You know, Philip Wheeler, 91 guy that we've talked a little bit about today, he's a very good athlete as well.

Six three, two, ten, eight and a half sacks this year, 23 tackles for a loss.

And that's the.

First down there ball inside the 50 to pound it near hurdles over a guy stays on his feet but athletic play there gets down to the 12 with second effort yeah great great gain under the circumstances a lot of traffic over there Neil and Brinson trying to it was just it was just all muddy.

Look at the traffic out here.

Here comes Neil.

Here comes Prince.

And he buries him.

He gets a piece of him, gets a second block, and then McNair turns it up inside.

That's it.

That's about as good a three yard run as you're going to see.

Oh, yeah.

Credit score for the tackle, second down and eight.

Vince, it all went to work this time and foul on the keeper five deep touchdown 12.

Yard touchdown for Deon Farmer Brian Benson Brinson at left guard as you talk about one your heroes today Bo made a big big block there he did and they sent Horton to the other way, sent Horton the other way and take the safety out of the mix.

Here comes Horton's number 28.

He goes the other way.

Play action fake there.

Then they turn it.

Oh, look at that side.

Look at that block.

Brandon Whaley, the linebacker, taken out of play there and now there's Johnson block the 80 and no good there yeah I got the partially blocked there good job by Sean they've done a good job of that put some pressure on there today but they're going to look at Deon Palmer, the son of NBA star Horace Grant has certainly had another big ball game today here in the semifinals with 243 to go.

It's 2710.

THOMPSON Boom.

There it is.

And up the chute comes pump.

And he's a good looking athlete, isn't he?

He is.

Holy cow.

Look at that middle of the field open there.

FARMER Not a conventional.

He's like a mike baker.

Somebody that gives you that extra dimension, almost that extra running back back there, well over 1200 yards this year as a rusher and as we talked about, the most rushing yards by a quarterback at school history and of course, 24 and three as a starter.

And they're going to look at it right there great plays equals a Thompson victory in that may be the case today right here on TV they're going to look at the scoring drive Thompson Bulldogs 9.65 yards four and a half minutes off the clock and Palmer with that 12 yard touchdown run to cap it off.

I'd like to give you Brinson and Neal to everybody.

Their size is how big they are.

But I just listed of five is Darius Alexander hit a 20.

Yancy Moss number 24 had another special teams tackle there in the for a championship maybe coming Thompson next Friday night Thompson look at the host Thomas County Central.

Those two teams have met a little bit of history there.

There's some schools and full rosters with sizes and other schools, assigned names and numbers and other schools in a different format.

A little bit of everything.

Yeah.

Now they're big boys, a little bit more being pressured and will go down, picks up a couple on the play.

They're a good athletic play to avoid that sack aspect.

Brinkley With the pressure, but the clock will continue to roll down to 225.

And again, as I mentioned, SHAW Of course, winning 12 straight ball games.

William Henry Shaw High School out of Columbus, of course, William Henry Shaw, former Columbus school superintendent.

And these guys have had a lot of success.

Three undefeated seasons from 1999 to 2000 that were knocked away of nearly intercepted hit by two or three defenders there.

Yeah.

They were not for the setting the middle screen Verdun was there.

He wasn't fooled.

Jonathan Warrell was there.

He wasn't fooled.

One thing you got to look at, though, too, Bo, more sophomore drill, maybe the fullback, sophomore, Jose Garcia, junior power sophomore, those offensive linemen, those guys are going to be back here.

All will be back.

And what's scary, too, is when you look at Thompson, they've got a few sophomores and juniors on their side of the.

Ball, too, that are going to be around in 2003.

Dancing in motion for five more.

Get out of the gun, will throw it and.

They get it over there to Powell, who crosses the 30 and dives for the first down marker.

Good good job there on third long thought they go back to the well that play was so good him with that time to go with Derek Powell and Garcia does a nice job out there number six and he has all these he just gets a piece of the defender.

I'll tell you what.

Powell really picked that thing up off the carpet.

Yeah, well, look at that first down a ten ball just shy of the 35.

And that's Brian day number five.

He comes in motion and midfield reception, 35 to 38 goes Marvin Menefee, the junior receiver.

Dexter Crawford another tackle there on D Garcia that time didn't get a block and Logan Johnson and he was able to slow up the receiver Nice pass there by Moore the tight spiral 112 left here at the Georgia Dome Thompson trying to get back to that state championship more pump fake looking long down the field looking for Powell.

He is covered and it's going to be intercepted.

Demaryius Mathis, number two with the pick.

Well Coach Willis has him in a two deep and you need to receivers going down the outside so you can separate them they didn't have the two receivers and that's you get to too deep the middle usually open so fast it takes over with 60 seconds left and it's pretty much a done deal as you get a look at that pass.

Their second interception of the night for the Thompson secondary and once again Mathis catching that borders highest point well exactly one minute to go.

Coach Flowers didn't really have many options.

You had to throw it downfield.

Just get lucky.

Hope it tipped off somebody.

Hope to get an interference.

Call.

You need two scores.

Rome dome home and we're at the dog.

We let the.

Dogs out when they got on.

No something.

Let Thompson out.

Today the Bulldogs fired up, leading 27 to 10.

You know, we talked about the success that the shots have the regular season over the past five years or so.

When you look at Thompson three and seven and 98, they have turned it around nine in one regular season and 99, seven and three in the nine and one in this year.

Out of nowhere, it looks like we're going to be 14 and Ohio ranked number one all year long.

And this is a team that has really dominated throughout the season.

So Palmer in there at quarterback and McNair with another carries take it down at the throw good job there by Lynn's 98 but just had a pretty good pretty good ballgame today Oh he's had a great ballgame.

He's a junior he'll be back.

Thompson goes into next week's game against the County Central with a lot of momentum.

This is a great game for them and especially the way that they did it down the end here in the fourth quarter.

Here they go into the best formation of all victory formation.

That's right.

That's the best play you can run right there if you're on top and 22 seconds are going to run off the clock and actually look good.

They've they look to be a great game great file next week is Thomas County central clock continues to roll here Deon farmer and the Thompson Bulldogs getting ready to celebrate again.

They will indeed host the state championship next Friday night at 730 right here on ETV against Thomas County.

It would be a great matchup.

Once again, the final Thompson 27 shot, then take their hats off to the Raiders.

They to play but an excellent ballgame 7 to 3 at halftime but the Bulldogs showing they were just too much down the stretch so the field is set nine down one to go here at the Georgia Dome.

The five eight game, of course, coming up here in a little bit between Brookwood and Camden County, that promises to be a great ball game.

Charles Ward and former Fountain Gerald Riggs with the call of that one.

And I've certainly enjoyed my time here at the Dome.

Want to thank all the folks here at GPD TV.

Michael drives our stats.

Richard Buster, our spotter has done an excellent job all weekend long and these guys have worked some long hours as well this weekend.

And certainly take our hats off to the crew.

Well, the guys have done a yeoman job for two days, actually working for two weeks.

Two weeks to get to these two days.

Exactly.

Exactly.

A couple of overtime games yesterday as well in the Double-A and in the air rather than the triple-A and 48 games.

And they're going to look at what's going to go down next Friday night.

We'll be there it stops at 14, it only gets 14 and.

Oh, and you know what jumps out at me?

These teams are not used to losing 28 no combine.

That's going to be a heck of a match up.

County Central Force also with a good running game, very athletic as we saw last night, played with a lot of heart for that thing, went to overtime but for two John Nelson standing by down on the field with coach Luther.

Well it was throw it on down there for John.

Thanks, Dave.

Okay.

You're looking up there.

There were four zeros up there at one point.

You're on the winning side of the ledger.

You've been like a kid all week playing at the dome.

Did this meet your expectations all the way through?

Obviously, winning did.

But what about the whole rest of the week and the whole experience here?

Well, the whole experience would be great for us because we were just, you know, points for this game and we hoping to play well enough in order to win and all the excitement here, and I'm sure it will carry back over the whole next week because we playing at home and that's great for our team and our people because they show their support in the state.

Let's talk about that a little bit.

You're going to the boneyard.

What's life going to be like for us when we get there Friday night before?

What's it going to be like?

Where be a lot of people back and a lot of doors are they all excited and they're just looking forward to this really what I thought we Matt had a chance so they kind of carried away right now.

When you first took the job back for the second time, when you came back from Scranton County in January of 99, what were you thinking in your wildest dreams you'd like to do with the program?

Did you have a set plan that you wanted to be successful one year, two years, three years down the line?

What was your initial deal?

I don't have any set plan.

Well, there were one, two or three or four.

I just wanted to win one more state championship.

And I had that opportunity and and it just matter whether we can get it done.

But I didn't have really a plan just approved the program.

Got that good.

Did it take care of itself?

You know, you win and then validation of what has happened.

And I'm proud of the players and the community, especially the kids arena star of that program back again.

When I first went there, they kind of set a foundation and the other kids came along and external.

Now was ninth graders.

So they learned as they went through for those type of people.

Because when I first went there, you know, we won a region the first year, so they got the laid, the foundation, all the kids and, you know, the younger kids just got involved.

And so what it took and kept working hard and they put in a lot of work.

They deserved it.

Let's talk about it.

Both sides of the ball.

Let's start with the offense.

Second half, obviously more successful than the first half.

You were getting the push on the line of scrimmage and great play from Palmer and McNair.

Well, we do.

We like much better.

We have our blocks much better.

The second half we talked a little bit and help raising the bar a little bit and I try to make sure they understood it.

And I did a much better job holding the blocks the second half and the difference in their offense going right to saying plays.

But we did a better job execution and defensively you can't ask for more.

Now they made one mistake, but you know, our defense, like I told you before, the ball game, when you have defense, you can.

All right coach congratulations with was 70 years old the oldest head coach in high school football here in the state of Georgia.

We're going to the boneyard, guys.

And you know what Retro is in starting Friday?

I'm sure you go to super well with win number 273, 38 years as a head coach.

We'll go ahead and take a quick timeout.

We'll be back right here to the Georgia Dome to recap that body match up and look ahead to five eight coming up here in a little while.

Stay with us right here on GPB TV.

We'll go.

Oh, yeah, right.

Dave Garner, Bobak and Jon Nelson with you here at the Georgia Dome.

Thompson, a winner, 27 to 10 over shot toss will play for the state championship next Friday night right here on TV as they host Thomas County Center.

We're going to be a big ball game, but twixt the bricks, the brickyard, the boneyard out there and Thompson going to be a great venue.

Would you be surprised?

Would you be surprised if that was an overtime game?

I wouldn't be surprised.

Of course, that that was you know, that's it.

That's what it looks like it's going to be.

They're going to look at the championship bracket for next Friday.

And of course, the ballgame coming up is the second half of the five, a five, a semifinal there between Brookwood and Camden County in Brookwood at 12 and one and Camden County at 13.

And well, that's it for us though.

I've enjoyed it and look forward to working it.

It was fun day thing on the road there, so that's going to do it from the Georgia Dome.

Again, Jim Geraghty will have it here in a few minutes.

And of course, Charles Ward and Jordan Riggs will have the call of the five game for John Nelson.

Bobak, I'm gonna say it's so long from the Georgia again Thompson a winner 27 to 10 over shot.

This broadcast of the 22 GHC football semifinals has been provided in part by IBEW Local 613 Georgia Electric Membership Corporation.

South Trust Bank, Dodge, the Governor's Office of.

Highway Safety and by the Atlanta Journal Constitution.