CONYERS — Class AAAAA No. 4-ranked Lanier got three fourth quarter touchdowns to break a 10-10 tie and pull away for a 31-10 victory over Salem Friday night in Region 8-AAAAA action.
The win clinched a playoff spot for the Longhorns (8-0, 7-0 Region 8-AAAAA) who can clinch a home playoff game next week with a win over Winder-Barrow on the road.
Lanier trailed the Seminoles (4-4, 3-4) 10-7 at halftime after committing three turnovers before halftime. The first, an interception in the first quarter, led to a Salem field goal. Early in the second quarter the Longhorns fumbled and Salem used a reverse pass for a touchdown on the next play from scrimmage to push its lead to 10-0, the largest deficit for Lanier all season.
But the Longhorns trimmed the lead to 10-7 on a 15-yard scoring run by Marcko Baity before halftime. Noah Thomas tied the game at 10 with a 36-yard field goal in the third quarter.
Lanier needed just 22 seconds to put the game out reach in the fourth quarter. Marcko Baity gave the Longhorns their first lead with a 3-yard run one play after using a 60-yard jaunt to put them in scoring position.
On the ensuing kickoff, Juwan Jones forced a fumble that Isaiah Dozier scooped up and ran 35-yards for another touchdown just 22 seconds later for a 24-10 lead. The Longhorns sealed the winwhen Tahj Tolbert connected with Cole Paschall on a 19-yard touchdown pass for the final score.
