ATLANTA - Charlton County quarterback Jeremy Privett passed for 278 yards and three touchdown passes to help his Indians to a 22-9 victory over Vidalia in the Class AA semifinals on Friday.<br>
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Privett finished the game 25-35-0, throwing passes to five different receivers. But it was Charlton's defense that sent the team into the state championship game.<br>
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Vidalia managed just 273 yards of total offense, but found the end zone just once when Josh Sasser tossed a 32-yard touchdown pass to Damian Turner on the team's second possession. The rest of the time, Charlton's defense kept Vidalia scrambling for positive yardage.<br>
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Charlton County (12-2) returns to the state championship game for the first time since 1999, when it defeated Lincoln County 20-0 while a member of Class A.<br>
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Vidalia fumbled on its opening possession, giving the ball to Charlton at the 6-yard line. Two plays later, Privett hit Tristan Bridges, who led all receivers with 90 yards on six catches and caught two touchdown passes, on a 10-yard scoring pass. Lemuel Walker's 2-point conversion run made it 8-0.<br>
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Charlton answered Vidalia's ensuing score on its next possession, when Privett hit Justin Williams on a 7-yard pass. Another 2-point conversion pass made it 16-6.<br>
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Vidalia (12-1-1) cut the lead to 16-9 on its first possession of the second half on Tyler George's 35-yard field goal.<br>
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But Privett hit Bridges on a 19-yard touchdown pass with 42 seconds left in the third quarter to make it 23-9, then Charlton's defense took over.<br>
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Williams finished with nine catches for 75 yards, while Harry Martin added six catches for 81 yards. Charlton rushed for minus-8 yards and didn't line up in a running formation until 6:41 left.<br>
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Sasser passed for 117 yards for Vidalia.<br>
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Charlton advances to meet today's Buford-Decatur winner next Saturday for the championship.
