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George Walton cruises past Trojans, 48-6
Published September 27, 2009
MONROE — George Walton Academy’s homecoming dance was set for Saturday night in the school’s gym. But the Bulldog football team began the festivities a day early at Keith Henderson Field with a 48-6 waltz past John Milledge Academy of Milledgeville.
The Bulldogs scored early and often to put the game away by halftime and then spent the second half emptying their bench.
After beginning the season with three straight games against teams ranked among the top five in the Georgia Independent School Association, third-ranked GWA (4-1) has taken advantage of a lull in its schedule to get everyone on the field and get healthy as it begins the second half of the season and a run at its third-consecutive region 1-AAA title.
After they cruised past a one-win Mt. de Sales team last week, the Bulldogs kept the Trojans winless. It was GWA’s fifth consecutive victory over JMA (0-5).
“We knew they were down, but we did what we had to do,” said GWA head coach Don Williams.
For the second straight week, the Bulldogs used the big play to jump out to an early lead. Junior running back Eric Dobbs put together his own personal highlight reel in the first quarter, scoring on offense and special teams.
On GWA’s fourth play of the game, he sprinted around the right end for a 42-yard touchdown run.
After the Bulldogs’ defense stopped the Trojans on three plays to force a punt, senior lineman Hunter Findley crashed over the right side to block the kick and Dobbs picked up the loose ball and sprinted 20 yards untouched.
But Dobbs’ most impressive feat was nullified by a penalty. Late in the first quarter, he fielded a JMA punt at the 12, sprinted to the right sideline, curved back to the middle, broke three tackles and coasted into the endzone.
An illegal block 60 yards earlier gave the ball back to JMA, which scored on the next play on a 23-yard pass from Ryan Blizzard to Johnny Pittman.
Despite giving up the long TD pass, the Bulldog defense had its most impressive game of the year. It held the Trojans to 27 total yards, including minus 31 net rushing. Of JMA’s 48 plays on offense, 18 were stuffed for negative yards.
“They tried some play action and misdirection, but our defense hung tough,” Williams said.
Junior running back Justin Brown picked up where he left off last week, when he scored three touchdowns on six carries against Mt. de Sales. Against the Trojans, he touched the ball five times and scored twice, once on a 19-yard pass from Ty Shelnutt and another on a 41-yard run.
Shelnutt had an efficient night through the air. Two of his three completions were for touchdowns. His second was a 38-yard strike to Cord Gunnin.
Leading 33-6 at intermission, the Bulldogs displayed a bright future in the second half, holding the Trojans scoreless while tacking on a pair of touchdowns and a safety with mostly ninth- and 10th-graders on the field.
Sophomore quarterback Matt Corder directed an eight-play, 57-yard drive to start the third quarter and scored on a 9-yard run.
Early in the fourth quarter, freshmen Logan Adams and Mason Johnson combined to sack JMA quarterback Derren McGiboney for a safety.
On the Bulldogs’ ensuring possession, freshman running back Tyler Jarvis culminated a seven-play drive with a 49-yard touchdown run.
GWA ended the game with 357 yards’ total offense.
The Bulldogs travel to Bellville to take on Pinewood Christian Academy on Friday.
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