Watson, Gladiators stun Falcons; Branch waiting on draw

ATHENS -- For one half, Flowery Branch looked to be on its way to its first-ever region championship.

Clarke Central's Quenshaun Watson had other plans, however. The senior running back scored three second half touchdowns, including a back-breaking 60-yard run with 2:15 left in the game, to give the Gladiators a thrilling 38-35 win Friday in a battle for the Region 8-AAAA title.

The win for Clarke Central (9-1, 9-1 Region 8-AAAA) forced a three-way tie with Flowery Branch (9-1, 9-1) and Heritage, Conyers (9-1, 9-1) for the region title. The crown will be decided Saturday at Loganville High School with a region representative pulling the region winner's name out of a hat. The second and third spots will be determined by head-to-head matchups between the remaining two teams.

Flowery Branch could still get its first elusive region title if its name is drawn. But, the Falcons could finish third and have to play their opening round playoff game on the road if Heritage's name is pulled.

The Falcons looked to be in control of the game midway through the second quarter when Kanler Coker connected with Jamaad Stephens on a 5-yard TD pass for a 21-7 lead. On the very next play, however, Clarke Central's Torey Gartrell raced 79-yards for a touchdown to pull within 21-14 and then Noah Welch drilled a 26-yard field goal to close the gap to 21-17 by halftime.

Clarke Central owned the third quarter grabbing a 31-21 lead on a pair of touchdowns, including an interception return for a touchdown.

It stayed that way until late in the fourth quarter. The Falcons trimmed the lead to 31-28 capping a 47 second, 45-yard drive with a 5-yard TD pass from Coker to Stephens.

The Falcons then elected to kick deep instead of trying an onside kick and Quinncy Hodges made the decision look golden when picked off a Clarke Central pass and returned it 25-yards for a touchdown with just under four minutes left for a 35-31 lead.

But Watson snuffed out the rally with his long run, his fourth of the game. He finished with 285 yards rushing on 28 carries.

Coker finished the game with 188 yards passing and three touchdowns but also had two interceptions. Casey Osborne led all Falcons receivers with eight catches for 80 yards, while Jeremy Haley rushed for 67 yards and a touchdown.

http://accesswdun.com/article/2011/11/243328