Hawkinsville ousts defending Class A champ Clinch County

ATLANTA - There will be a new state champion in Class A this season.<br> <br> Hawkinsville held defending state champion Clinch County to 183 yards of total offense as the Red Devils rolled to a 25-7 victory Saturday in the state semifinals at the Georgia Dome.<br> <br> The Red Devils (14-0) will host Lincoln County, who defeated Trion 28-24 on Friday, for the state title next weekend. Hawkinsville last won a title in 1959 as a Class C member.<br> <br> Jeremy Marshall ran for two touchdowns and finished with 173 yards to pace Hawkinsville&#39;s offense. His last touchdown run a 43-yarder with 7:25 left came a play after the Panthers (11-2-1) scored their only touchdown on B.J. Richardson&#39;s 29-yard catch from quarterback Joe Louis Mingo to cut the lead to 18-7.<br> <br> Red Devil quarterback Todd Coley tossed two touchdown passes, a 33-yard strike to Philanzee Lawson in the first quarter and a a 27-yarder to Dedric Smith in the fourth quarter, to make it 18-0. He finished with 122 yards on 10-of-15.<br> <br> Hawkinsville, which led 6-0 at halftime, scored 19 points in the fourth quarter to turn the game into a rout. Clinch had the ball twice inside the Red Devils&#39; 30-yard line in the third quarter but failed to score.<br> <br> The Red Devils defense sacked Mingo six times and much of Clinch&#39;s offensive yardage came in the final quarter. The Panthers had just 51 yards through the first three quarters.<br> <br> Hawkinsville finished with 285 yards of total offense.