WASHINGTON — In a game of counter-punches, Commerce got in the last, and biggest blow Friday night in its crucial Region 8-A Public showdown with Washington-Wilkes.
Commerce scored a pair of fourth-quarter touchdowns and held Washington-Wilkes scoreless in the second half for a 28-17 win to put themselves within one win of its first region title since 2003.
“We don’t worry about region titles so much but I was really proud of how the guys kept fighting and never got down,” Commerce coach Michael Brown said on the WDUN AM 550 Hardy Chevrolet Scoreboard. “
The win for the Tigers (8-1, 4-0 Region 8-A Public) puts them in sole possession of first place. They will play host to Lincoln County (6-3, 3-1 Region 8-A Public) on Friday with a chance to capture the title.
“We’ve had some great games (with Lincoln) over the years and we’re looking forward to the opportunity,” Brown said. “It’s going to be a huge challenge for us like it always is. But I like the way we’re playing right now.”
A loss to Lincoln County, however, would throw the three teams into a three-way tie for first. However, Washington-Wilkes (7-1, 3-1 Region 8-A Public) still must play a very improved Towns County next week.
Commerce struck first, jumping out to a 14-0 lead on a 10-yard touchdown run by Sammy Brown in the first quarter and a 1-yard TD run from Trey Huff early in the second quarter.
But Washington-Wilkes answered back controlling the rest of the first half.
Washington-Wilkes got a 41-yard scoring romp from Corey Danner less than a minute after Huff’s score to cut the lead to 14-7 and Dalen Cobb set up his own 3-yard scoring run with a 27-yard scramble on a huge third down play with just over a minute left in the half.
But Washington-Wilkes wasn’t done. Commerce fumbled at its own 43 on the ensuing drive which eventually led to a 20-yard field goal by Eduardo Sandoval as time expired for a 17-14 Washington-Wilkes lead.
But after a scoreless third quarter, Commerce took control, led by Huff, who engineered a pair of scoring drives over a 5-minute span.
Huff capped the first drive with a 2-yard scoring run to reclaim the lead with 10:13 left and then after the defense forced a Washington-Wilkes punt, Huff scored again with 5:14 remaining for a 28-17 lead.
The defense stopped Washington-Wilkes on downs late in the game to seal it.
