Newnan ousts Parkview in dramatic fashion; state roundup

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Posted 10:47AM on Saturday, December 6, 2003

ATLANTA - There will be no four-peat for Parkview. Newnan ended Parkview's hopes for a fourth straight Class AAAAA Georgia High School Association football championship Friday night in dramatic, last-minute fashion. Newnan's Santez Mays returned a fumble 55 yards for a touchdown with 7.3 seconds left to give the Cougars a 20-14 quarterfinal playoff victory over Parkview. Parkview's Todd Faulkner fumbled when hit by Sergio Render. Mays picked up the loose ball and raced untouched into the end zone. "You can't make something like that up," said Parkview head coach Cecil Flowe. "It was just a fluky thing, but we've had that for us, too. It's over and I'm proud of (the team). Its been a great run." Parkview (11-2) and Newnan were tied 14-14 before the decisive play. It was the first home playoff loss in Parkview's football history and the team's first playoff loss overall since a 1999 defeat at Brunswick. Newnan (12-1) will join top-ranked Camden County (13-0), longtime power Valdosta and Westside-Macon in the Class AAAAA semifinals at the Georgia Dome next week. Newnan coach Robert Herring knows it will be difficult to top the play that landed his squad in the Georgia Dome. "It was like slow motion," Herring said of Mays' recovery and TD return. "I'd like to have fallen to my knees. It took my breath. It was like you were writing a book or a movie." Most of the semifinalists in Georgia's five classifications were determined Friday night. Two more quarterfinal games will be played Saturday. In Class AAAA, Tucker (11-1) plays at Troup (11-1). In Class A, Clinch County (11-1-1) will play at Landmark Christian (11-1). VALDOSTA TOPS CHEROKEE: Valdosta High, the subject of much concern after a 1-3 start to the season, earned its trip back to the Georgia Dome with a 21-14 home victory over Cherokee High. "I'm so proud of these kids, and so proud of the way they played tonight," said Valdosta coach Rick Darlington. "These kids have worked so hard to get here. Nobody believed we would make it this far back when we were 1-3, but these kids believed, and they're the reason why we're going to the Dome now." Valdosta (10-3) will be the only team with more than two losses in the semifinals. Valdosta quarterback Cedric Hatten ran for 122 yards and scored on runs of 26, 39 and 14 yards. The Wildcats made a goal-line stand in the final minutes to stop a Cherokee comeback. CAMDEN SHUTS OUT STEPHENSON:Top-ranked Camden County (13-0) scored two quick touchdowns and rolled to a 26-0 win over Stephenson in the Class AAAAA playoffs. It was the third year in a row that Stephenson (11-2) has been eliminated in the third round and the second straight year the Jaguars have been knocked out by Camden County. STATESBORO HOLDS OFF ST. PIUS: At halftime of the Class AAAA game, an official came into the press box and reminded the media of the state's new mercy rule, which allows for a running clock when a team leads by 30 points in the third quarter. Statesboro led St. Pius by 20 points at halftime but instead of using the mercy rule it had to hold on late for a 20-13 victory. "Getting up so big on them, I think we had a little letdown," Statesboro coach Buzz Busby said. Statesboro (10-2-1) had to hold on after St. Pius (10-3) scored touchdowns in the third and fourth quarters. MARIST EDGES SHAW: Sean McVay scored on a 5-yard run with late in the fourth quarter and then clinched Marist's 18-17 Class AAAA win over Shaw with an interception near midfield with 33 seconds left to play. Shaw, averaging 44.9 points, was held without a first-half touchdown for the first time and trailed 12-3 at halftime. Marist (12-1) gave Shaw (12-1) its first loss. LAGRANGE WINS WITH DEFENSE: LaGrange linebacker Wesley Woodyard tackled Swainsboro running back Albert Webb for a safety in the second quarter that held up for the only points in the Grangers' 2-0 Class AAA win. LaGrange's defense has not allowed any points in the playoffs and has produced eight points the last two weeks. LaGrange (12-1) has won 12 straight games since a loss to Troup in the season opener. Swainsboro (10-1-2) also lost to LaGrange in the regular season. WALLS WINS FOR WASHINGTON: Senior tailback Stacy Walls rushed for 172 yards and three touchdowns, the last one sealing Washington County's 18-7 Class AAA victory over Westminster. Washington County (12-1) will face LaGrange in the semifinals. Washington County led 12-0 entering the fourth quarter and hadn't allowed Westminster (10-3) within 20 yards of a touchdown. But Westminster pulled to within 12-7 with 6:08 left to play on a 7-yard scoring pass from Mark Olsen to Stuart Sitterson. PEACH TOPS STEPHENS COUNTY: A.J. Bryant completed 12 of 16 passes for 157 yards and two touchdowns and Tony Wright ran for 202 yards and another score as No. 1 Peach County eliminated Stephens County 28-7. Peach County (12-1) dominated both sides of the ball, rolling up 407 yards of offense while holding the Indians to 124 yards, to advance to the Class AAA semifinals. WALKER KEEPS BUFORD UNBEATEN: Buford running back Darius Walker scored four touchdowns to power the Wolves to a 30-12 win over Cook. With the four touchdowns, giving him 44 this season, Walker broke Herschel Walker's state record for rushing touchdowns in a season. Top-ranked Buford (13-0) has won 43 straight games as it advances to the Class AA semifinals against Decatur. ANDREWS CARRIES LINCOLN TO LOPSIDED WIN: Senior tailback Octavius Andrews, a converted fullback, rushed for 117 yards and two touchdowns as No. 1 Lincoln County picked up the school's 600th win with a 56-7 blowout win over Metter in the Class A quarterfinals. Lincoln County (13-0) will play Friday morning against Trion, which beat Dooly County 51-36. Lincoln compiled 537 yards of offense, including 435 yards on the ground.