GA high school football Round 3 playoff scores: Mary Persons, Warner Robins both fall
The strongest Mary Persons season in the past five years came to an end Friday night at Dan Pitts Stadium in Forsyth as the Bulldogs lost a gritty matchup against the Cedar Grove Saints, 28-14, eliminating them from the playoffs in the third round.
It was the final game for a Mary Persons senior class that won its region this season for the first time. While the loss came against a talented team, head coach Brian Nelson could not help but feel for his upperclassmen.
“Their freshman year was COVID, so their intro to high school football was games being canceled, working in small groups, all sorts of stuff,” Nelson said. “I’m just so proud of them, they persevered through all that… I’m just really proud of what they’ve done for this program, and what they’ve done for me personally.”
The Bulldogs caught some tough breaks, key among them an injury to star running back Duke Watson in the first quarter. Without perhaps the biggest piece of its offense, Mary Persons struggled to move the ball.
The Bulldogs defense stepped up and kept Mary Persons in the game. After going into halftime down 14-7, the Bulldogs scored to tie the game at 14 early in the third quarter before two trick plays, a flea flicker and a double pass, ultimately gave Cedar Grove the win.
“At the end of the day we still fought, we had it 14-14 right there in the third quarter. I thought our kids fought hard like they have all year. Cedar Grove’s a real good team,” Nelson said. “You can’t help but think it might be different if a couple things go differently, but that’s how it goes sometimes.”
Mary Persons finished the year 11-2. Its season included a 10-game winning streak that was snapped by the Saints. The region championship was the first for the Bulldogs since 2018, and could offer a building block to future success.
“(Next season) is a long ways away, but guys will have to step up, and we’ll get in the weight room,” Nelson said. “Right now it’s all about decompressing and processing this game, and celebrating these seniors the right way.”
A tough night in the cold
Cedar Grove only went 5-5 before playoffs, but three of those wins came in region play to help the Saints cruise to a postseason spot. The team earned a reputation for playoff success regardless of record after winning four of the past seven state championships at the 3A level.
Cedar Grove also ranked higher than Mary Persons on GPB’s rankings for 3A despite the difference in record, as the Saints garnered a No. 2 ranking — thanks in part to their history of success — while the Bulldogs ranked No. 3.
It looked like the game might become a shootout when both teams scored with ease on their opening drives, but the contest turned into a defensive standoff quickly after. Neither team could get much offense going for the remainder of the quarter.
The second quarter was headed in a similar direction until the Saints intercepted a wayward Mary Persons pass and returned it to the Bulldogs 4-yard line, setting up a short touchdown. A two-point conversion made up for a missed PAT earlier, giving Cedar Grove a 14-7 lead at the break.
Mary Persons struck early in the third quarter to even the score and make the game interesting again, but the Saints offense slowly wore down the Bulldogs defense. Two trick play touchdowns — one a flea flicker for 32 yards and the other a wide receiver double pass from seven yards out — capped long, plodding drives for Cedar Grove and gave it a 28-14 lead it would not relinquish.
Other scores
Creekside 35, Warner Robins 14
Perry 34, Stephenson 20
FPD 33, Tattnall 27
John Milledge 63, Pinewood Christian 28
Telfair County 38, Macon County 14
Schley County 28, Early County 24
Swainsboro 34, Elbert County 28
