By Danny Smith
A standing room only crowd witnessed a game for the ages Friday night as the Appling County Pirates traveled to Barnesville and defeated the Region 4AA Champion Lamar County Trojans 35-33 in quadruple overtime in Round Three of the state high school football playoffs. As expected, it was a tough, hard-fought contest between two evenly matched teams. Lamar County came into the game with a record of 12-0, averaging nearly 32 points per game in the playoffs. Appling County came into the game as a slight underdog despite an impressive win the week before against unbeaten and number five ranked North Oconee High School.
CJ NAILS (14) IS SHOWN RUNNING HARD FOR THE PIRATES. OFFENSIVE LINMEN STEPHEN SMITH, CONNOR WILKERSON, DEVONTAE WILKERSON, QUINCY REED, HEISMAN JOHNSON, ZACH HIGGINBOTHAM, AND JAKE MARTINEZ DID A GREAT JOB OPENING HOLES FOR THE PIRATES DURING THE GAME. (BNB PHOTOS - CHRIS FLOYD)
HEART-A game for the ages!
With the win, the Pirates are now 12-1 and join perennial north Georgia football powerhouses Buford, Calhoun, and Carver of Columbus as the final four in the AA playoffs. The Pirates travel to Calhoun Friday night to face the Jackets. Game time is 7:30 at Phil Reeve Stadium in downtown Calhoun. The winner of Friday’s game will face either Buford or Carver of Columbus in the Georgia Dome for the AA State Championship on December 9th.
Calhoun (13-0) is ranked number two in the state in AA and they are coming off an impressive 45-7 win against Dublin last Friday in Dublin.
Tickets for the Appling vs. Calhoun game are available in the front office at Appling County High School on Monday through Thursday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Game Recap
Well before the game began, it was clear this was not a typical Friday night high school football game for the Pirates and their fans. Despite the three-hour drive to Barnesville, Appling County fans arrived early and began filling up the visitor’s stands at Trojan field in Barnesville. By kickoff, there was standing room only as Appling and Lamar County fans filled the home and visitor stands and the fence lines on both sides of the field. This was also the first time the Pirates have played on artificial turf this season. Team captains for the game were Byron Buxton, Stephen Smith and CJ Nails.
After the Appling County kickoff, Lamar County quieted the Appling crowd with a 66-yard option running attack capped off by a one-yard run for a touchdown. The Pirates were unable to respond offensively in the first half, but kept Lamar County’s offense in check and the Appling County fans excited with strong defensive play. The first half ended with Lamar County leading 7-0.
The Pirates came out strong in the second half with a big kickoff return by Steve Crayton to the 49-yard line. The Pirate offense began an impressive drive that featured well-executed blocks by the offensive line and two long runs by Donnell McMillan taking the Pirates down to the Trojan 15-yard line. A 14-yard run by CJ Nails and a one-yard dive into the end zone tied the game at 7-7 where the score remained until the end of regulation.
The remainder of the second half featured solid defensive play and missed opportunities by both teams. In the third quarter, Pirates CJ Nails and CJ Alexander both had key stops on third down that forced Lamar County to punt. Offensively the Pirates were unable to score despite getting first downs and hard running by Donnell McMillan and CJ Nails.
The fourth quarter began with an interception by CJ Alexander. The Pirates took over on their own four-yard line but were unable to pick up the first down. On fourth down, Byron Buxton drove the Trojans back to their own 29-yard line with a booming 71-yard punt. Lamar County drove down the field but a defensive stand by the Pirates stopped the Trojan drive on the Pirate 26-yard line and resulted in a missed field goal by Lamar County.
With 1:40 left in the game, Byron Buxton intercepted a Lamar County pass near the 50-yard line. A quick seven-yard run by quarterback Lashune Moore and a 34-yard reception by Byron Buxton put the Pirates in scoring position to win the game. With 42 seconds remaining in the 4th quarter, CJ Nails broke a big 14-yard run to the end zone only to have it called back on a penalty. The resulting yardage put the Pirates out of field goal range. The fourth quarter ended with the Pirates unable to convert the first down and Lamar County taking a knee to put the game into overtime with the score tied 7-7.
Overtime began with Lamar getting the ball on the Appling 15-yard line. Lamar had a touchdown called back on penalty but were able to convert a fourth down pass to the end zone to go up 14-7. Appling County responded quickly with a seven-yard run by Donnell McMillan and an eight-yard run by CJ Nails to tie the game at 14.
In the second overtime, Donnell McMillan, CJ Nails and the offensive line powered their way into the end zone on five short yardage runs. The extra point put the Pirates up 21-14. Lamar County answered with short runs and a touchdown of their own to make the score 21-21.
Beginning with the 3rd overtime, both teams had to go for the two-point conversion after a touchdown. Lamar County’s quarterback scored first on a 12-yard run but the Pirate defense stopped the two-point conversion. The Pirates responded with short runs and a fourth down touchdown pass from Lashune Moore to Justin Javis. The two-point conversion pass was incomplete. The score remained tied 27-27.
Appling County got the ball first in the fourth overtime. Strong running by CJ Nails and Donnell McMillan led the Pirates to Lamar County’s two-yard line where CJ Nails willed his way into end zone for the touchdown and again for the two-point conversion. On the third play of Lamar County’s ensuing possession, it looked as though the Pirates had finally won the game when linebacker Kody Nail came out of the pile with a fumble recovery. However, the officials said the runner was down before the fumble. The onfield celebration was cleared and play resumed. The Trojans converted a fourth down on a one-yard run and put the ball in the end zone on the following play. Lamar County attempted a sweep play around the right side for the two-point conversion. Byron Buxton tackled the runner for a loss ending the game at 35-33 Appling County.
Game Stats (Regulation not including overtimes)
Top Team Stats
First Downs, Total - ACHS 12, LCHS 11
Rushing Attempts - ACHS 30, LCHS 40
Net Yards Rushing - ACHS 100, LCHS 146
Yards per Rush – ACHS 3.3, LCHS 3.7
Passing Net Yards - ACHS 86, LCHS 82
Passing Completed/Attempted/Intercepted - ACHS 8/23/2, LCHS 4/11/2
Yards per Completion - ACHS 10.8, LCHS 20.5
Total Offensive Plays - ACHS 53, LCHS 51
Total Net Yards- ACHS 186, LCHS 228
Average Gain per Play - ACHS 3.5, LCHS 4.5
All Penalties Number/Yards – ACHS 4/44, LCHS 6/60
Time of Possession Total – ACHS 22:13, LCHS 25:47
Top Offensive Stats
Passing - Lashune Moore eight completions on 23 attempts for 86 yards.
Receiving - Byron Buxton four catches for 58 yards and Jordan Vann two catches for 20 yards.
Rushing - Donnell McMillan 13 rushes for 66 yards and CJ Nails seven rushes for 42 yards and one touchdown.
Kicking - Byron Buxton five punts for 210 yards for 42.0 average and Israel Jaramillo one extra point attempt made on one try, two kickoffs for 89 yards for 44.5 average.
Kick Return - Steve Crayton one return for 36 yards and Justin Javis one return for 11 yards.
Top Defensive Stats
Kody Nail eight total tackles, one fumble forced, Derrix Henry seven total tackles, CJ Nails six total tackles, Justin Ellis six total tackles, Byron Buxton five total tackles, one interception, Jordan Vann four total tackles, Devontae Wilkerson four total tackles, C.J. Alexander three total tackles, one interception, Anthony Rayner two total tackles, Steve Crayton two total tackles, one sack, Dennis Williams two total tackles, Trey Newkirk one tackle and Zack Higginbotham one tackle.
Calhoun (13-0) is ranked number two in the state in AA and they are coming off an impressive 45-7 win against Dublin last Friday in Dublin.
Tickets for the Appling vs. Calhoun game are available in the front office at Appling County High School on Monday through Thursday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Game Recap
Well before the game began, it was clear this was not a typical Friday night high school football game for the Pirates and their fans. Despite the three-hour drive to Barnesville, Appling County fans arrived early and began filling up the visitor’s stands at Trojan field in Barnesville. By kickoff, there was standing room only as Appling and Lamar County fans filled the home and visitor stands and the fence lines on both sides of the field. This was also the first time the Pirates have played on artificial turf this season. Team captains for the game were Byron Buxton, Stephen Smith and CJ Nails.
After the Appling County kickoff, Lamar County quieted the Appling crowd with a 66-yard option running attack capped off by a one-yard run for a touchdown. The Pirates were unable to respond offensively in the first half, but kept Lamar County’s offense in check and the Appling County fans excited with strong defensive play. The first half ended with Lamar County leading 7-0.
The Pirates came out strong in the second half with a big kickoff return by Steve Crayton to the 49-yard line. The Pirate offense began an impressive drive that featured well-executed blocks by the offensive line and two long runs by Donnell McMillan taking the Pirates down to the Trojan 15-yard line. A 14-yard run by CJ Nails and a one-yard dive into the end zone tied the game at 7-7 where the score remained until the end of regulation.
The remainder of the second half featured solid defensive play and missed opportunities by both teams. In the third quarter, Pirates CJ Nails and CJ Alexander both had key stops on third down that forced Lamar County to punt. Offensively the Pirates were unable to score despite getting first downs and hard running by Donnell McMillan and CJ Nails.
The fourth quarter began with an interception by CJ Alexander. The Pirates took over on their own four-yard line but were unable to pick up the first down. On fourth down, Byron Buxton drove the Trojans back to their own 29-yard line with a booming 71-yard punt. Lamar County drove down the field but a defensive stand by the Pirates stopped the Trojan drive on the Pirate 26-yard line and resulted in a missed field goal by Lamar County.
With 1:40 left in the game, Byron Buxton intercepted a Lamar County pass near the 50-yard line. A quick seven-yard run by quarterback Lashune Moore and a 34-yard reception by Byron Buxton put the Pirates in scoring position to win the game. With 42 seconds remaining in the 4th quarter, CJ Nails broke a big 14-yard run to the end zone only to have it called back on a penalty. The resulting yardage put the Pirates out of field goal range. The fourth quarter ended with the Pirates unable to convert the first down and Lamar County taking a knee to put the game into overtime with the score tied 7-7.
PIRATE CHEERLEADERS SHOWN IN BARNESVILLE CELEBRATING AFTER THE PIRATE VICTORY.
Overtime began with Lamar getting the ball on the Appling 15-yard line. Lamar had a touchdown called back on penalty but were able to convert a fourth down pass to the end zone to go up 14-7. Appling County responded quickly with a seven-yard run by Donnell McMillan and an eight-yard run by CJ Nails to tie the game at 14.
In the second overtime, Donnell McMillan, CJ Nails and the offensive line powered their way into the end zone on five short yardage runs. The extra point put the Pirates up 21-14. Lamar County answered with short runs and a touchdown of their own to make the score 21-21.
Beginning with the 3rd overtime, both teams had to go for the two-point conversion after a touchdown. Lamar County’s quarterback scored first on a 12-yard run but the Pirate defense stopped the two-point conversion. The Pirates responded with short runs and a fourth down touchdown pass from Lashune Moore to Justin Javis. The two-point conversion pass was incomplete. The score remained tied 27-27.
Appling County got the ball first in the fourth overtime. Strong running by CJ Nails and Donnell McMillan led the Pirates to Lamar County’s two-yard line where CJ Nails willed his way into end zone for the touchdown and again for the two-point conversion. On the third play of Lamar County’s ensuing possession, it looked as though the Pirates had finally won the game when linebacker Kody Nail came out of the pile with a fumble recovery. However, the officials said the runner was down before the fumble. The onfield celebration was cleared and play resumed. The Trojans converted a fourth down on a one-yard run and put the ball in the end zone on the following play. Lamar County attempted a sweep play around the right side for the two-point conversion. Byron Buxton tackled the runner for a loss ending the game at 35-33 Appling County.
Game Stats (Regulation not including overtimes)
Top Team Stats
First Downs, Total - ACHS 12, LCHS 11
Rushing Attempts - ACHS 30, LCHS 40
Net Yards Rushing - ACHS 100, LCHS 146
Yards per Rush – ACHS 3.3, LCHS 3.7
Passing Net Yards - ACHS 86, LCHS 82
Passing Completed/Attempted/Intercepted - ACHS 8/23/2, LCHS 4/11/2
Yards per Completion - ACHS 10.8, LCHS 20.5
Total Offensive Plays - ACHS 53, LCHS 51
Total Net Yards- ACHS 186, LCHS 228
Average Gain per Play - ACHS 3.5, LCHS 4.5
All Penalties Number/Yards – ACHS 4/44, LCHS 6/60
Time of Possession Total – ACHS 22:13, LCHS 25:47
Top Offensive Stats
Passing - Lashune Moore eight completions on 23 attempts for 86 yards.
Receiving - Byron Buxton four catches for 58 yards and Jordan Vann two catches for 20 yards.
Rushing - Donnell McMillan 13 rushes for 66 yards and CJ Nails seven rushes for 42 yards and one touchdown.
Kicking - Byron Buxton five punts for 210 yards for 42.0 average and Israel Jaramillo one extra point attempt made on one try, two kickoffs for 89 yards for 44.5 average.
Kick Return - Steve Crayton one return for 36 yards and Justin Javis one return for 11 yards.
Top Defensive Stats
Kody Nail eight total tackles, one fumble forced, Derrix Henry seven total tackles, CJ Nails six total tackles, Justin Ellis six total tackles, Byron Buxton five total tackles, one interception, Jordan Vann four total tackles, Devontae Wilkerson four total tackles, C.J. Alexander three total tackles, one interception, Anthony Rayner two total tackles, Steve Crayton two total tackles, one sack, Dennis Williams two total tackles, Trey Newkirk one tackle and Zack Higginbotham one tackle.
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