Bulldogs and Jackets make it to second round of playoffs, Sports
ROCKMART — The season is over for the Region 7- AA champs, as they came up short at the Rock in the second round of the playoffs
The 9-3 Yellow Jackets fought until the final down of the game to keep their run through the playoffs alive, but fell short at home as the Callaway Cavaliers came up with the 40-35 win Friday night.
Rockmart had a chance late to take a lead, but after finding success in a fourth quarter drive on the ground switched to a pass- ing attack. On a 3rd and 9 play, Dylan Bailey threw a short pass hoping for a first down and it was instead grabbed by Callaway’s (no. 5) for a 96-yard return and a touchdown to put the game just out of Rockmart’s reach.
“We had an opportunity when we got down here to really take the lead and got behind the sticks and did some things that just didn’t go our way,” Rockmart head coach Biff Parson said postgame. “That’s just the way life is, and this bunch is a resilient bunch, and we’ll bounce back.”
Rockmart put together a drive on the following kickoff and scored with Bailey connecting with ( rock # 9) for a 9- yard touchdown reception, but it was too late for the Jackets with only 26 seconds on the clock, and a onside kick that was missed.
“They played a good team, and you can’t have mistakes and turnovers when you play a good team like that. But I love my team to death,” Parson said. “They’ve fought hard all season to the end, even in games when things didn’t go our way.”
The Jackets finished the night with 456.5 yards of offense, with Bailey throwing 8 completions on 15 attempts with 2 touchdowns and 1 interception. Whatley also put up big numbers on the night, with 15 carries and 83 yards and scored 2 touchdowns.
Callaway’s offensive numbers were just as im- pressive. The Cavaliers racked up 423.5 yards of offense, mainly on the back of DJ Atkins who put up 143.5 yards on 19 carries, but didn’t score a single Cavalier touchdown.
Rockmart’s season ends with their third loss after a big year, with a 6-0 run through 7-AA for the 2017 region championship, and a win over Alabama state champion Piedmont.
Parson said the team will come together after a break to look at ways to continue to improve and strive for excellence in the upcoming season after the passions of the loss have cooled.
He added that he expects good things to come from the team in the 2018 season.
The Cavaliers f ace Brooks County next Friday in the third round of the playoffs.