Tigers fall in defensive battle
Two defensive behemoths faced off at the famed Brickyard in Thomson on Friday night.
The visiting Ringgold Tigers entered the game allowing just 11.1 points per contest, while the host Bulldogs led the entire AAA classification with just 6.0 points allowed per game this season.
And it was every bit the defensive slobber-knocker it was touted to be.
Unfortunately for Tiger Nation, it also turned out to be the final game of the season as the fourth-ranked Bulldogs clamped down on the Ringgold offense in the second half and held on for a 14-7 victory that put them into the Elite Eight for the first time since 2017.
Thomson (11-0) will play that thirdround game at home this Friday against Appling County (11-1), who took out Region 7 champion and previously undefeated Cherokee Bluff, 34-20, in Flowery Branch.
Meanwhile, Ringgold saw one of its best seasons in school history end with a 10-2 record.
After an exchange of punts to begin the night, Thomson was able to drive 55 yards in 10 plays, converting a pair of fourth downs — one by a Ringgold penalty — before quarterback Tay Martin delivered a nice play fake before hitting a wide open Jaden Moss for a 7-yard score. Connor Askew’s extra point gave the Bulldogs a 7-0 lead with 3:16 left in the first quarter.
Another exchanges of punts would follow before the Tigers got the ball back at their own 30-yard line with 8:38 left before halftime and this time the Tigers showed their quickstrike capabilities.
Peyton Williams went for 12 yards on a catch from Mason Parker before ripping off a 16-yard run to the Bulldogs 42. On the very next play, Parker got the defense to bite on a nice fake before he found Williams wide open on a wheel route. The junior would take it the distance, completing the scoring strike, while Landon Eaker’s kick tied things up.
Although Ringgold’s next offensive possession resulted in a turnover on downs at the Bulldogs 38-yard line, the Tiger defense did its part to preserve the 7-7 tie. They forced a punt on Thomson’s first possession after Williams’ score and Jordan Garnica
third at the Class AAAA sectionals at Morgan County last weekend, the Navy-andRed finished fourth in the state finals, one spot ahead of sectional winner CentralCarroll.
Heritage also celebrated senior Allie Parker, who was named to the GCCA All-State Team for Classes A-AAAA.
Ridgeland also took the floor, but did not finish in the top five of Class AAAA. Ringgold and LaFayette also
performed in Macon, but did not finish in the top six of Class AAA. The only squad from Region 6-AAA to make it into the top six was Sonoraville, who placed sixth.
In addition to Gordon Lee’s sixth overall state championship, Mt. Paran Christian won its 10th state title in a row in Class A Private, while Northgate won its 10th state title overall, but its first in the Co-Ed Division. Class AAAAAAA champion South Forsyth celebrated its second state title in a row and its ninth all-time. South Forsyth has now won state in four different classifications.
McIntosh three-peated in Class AAAAA and picked up its seventh all-time GHSA state cheerleading championship, while Bleckley County won in Class AA. It was the third all-time state title for the program and its first title since 2001. And in Class AAAAAA, Creekview won for the second time in the last three years.
Two other programs celebrated their first-ever state cheerleading championship. Jefferson, sectional runnerup at Morgan County, took the Class AAAA state crown, while Dawson County won in Class AAA.