HIGH SCHOOL NOTEBOOK: Dougherty picks up key victory over Worth County

After a handful of close losses this season, it was just a matter of time before the bounces would go Dougherty’s way.

Friday night was just the night. And the result could end up producing a GHSA football playoff berth.

The Trojans controlled things most of the way Friday at Hugh Mills Stadium, defeating Worth County 26-13 in a Region 1-3A game. The victory puts Dougherty (2-7, 1-2 region) on an inside track for a playoff spot — four teams from the five-team region qualify — as the regular season nears its conclusion.

Should Dougherty make the playoffs, it would be its second straight trip after a seven-year absence.

“That’s the biggest thing with Albany and the Dougherty County schools, it’s taking a little while to get to the point where we want to be,” Dougherty head coach Corey Jarvis said in reference to Albany High’s closure and the additional players the remaining three county schools received. “Still have to work out some kinks and get things together, but hopefully by next year we’ll get things worked out.”

Despite missing three starters on offense and playing several ninth-graders, Dougherty controlled things through its ground game. The defense came up with some big plays, as well.

“We went with the run game,” Jarvis said. “Our offensive line played physical, and we came up with a couple of plays. We couldn’t throw it around, so we just pounded it. The offensive line did a great job of playing physical.

“The defense played lights out. (Defensive end) Ga’marcus Freeman was almost unblockable, and (linebacker) Kenorrie Brown did a great job.”

GISA brackets set

The GISA concluded its regular season Friday, and the brackets are set for the first round of the playoffs coming up this week.

Following a 34-13 win over Brookwood, Deerfield-Windsor claimed the No. 2 seed out of Region 3-3A and will host Bulloch Academy in the first round of the Class 3A playoffs at 7:30 p.m. on Friday.

The Knights (6-4, 3-1 region) scored four touchdowns in the first quarter against Brookwood, with Garrett Jones running for three of them. He added another touchdown in the third quarter and finished with 138 yards on 23 carries.

John Collier Logan ran for Deerfield-Windsor’s other touchdown. The Knights held Brookwood to 4 yards rushing.

Valwood won a three-way tiebreaker for the No. 1 seed and will host Edmund Burke. Southland will be the No. 3 seed and travel to Trinity Christian-Dublin, while No. 4 seed Tiftarea will go to Region 2-3A champion Frederica.

Terrell Academy beat Westwood 17-6 on Friday to wrap up the No. 2 seed out of Region 3-2A. The Eagles (5-5, 1-1 region) will host First Presbyterian Christian in the first round, while Westwood travels to Memorial Day. Region 3-2A champion Southwest Georgia will host the Brentwood-Piedmont winner on Nov. 3 in the quarterfinals.

Climbing the charts

Bainbridge running back Dameon Pierce moved past Herschel Walker on the all-time state high school rushing charts following a 226-yard, four-touchdown effort in a 63-14 win over Thomas County Central.

Pierce, who has committed to Florida, now has 6,196 career rushing yards, passing Walker and Chris Cole into the No. 16 spot all-time. He is also now 12th all-time in career rushing touchdowns with 85.

Around the Albany area

Westover’s 39-6 loss to Cairo prevented the Patriots (3-5, 1-4) from joining a three-way tie for fourth in Region 1-4A between Columbus, Hardaway and Carver-Columbus … Pelham kept its march toward a season-ending showdown with Mitchell County going with a 67-6 win over Stewart County … Mitchell County hosted Calhoun County late Saturday … Seminole County snapped Baconton Charter’s two-game winning streak with a 48-13 victory … Terrell County also had a two-game winning streak snapped, losing 19-6 to Chattahoochee County … Sneads (Florida) beat Pataula Charter 39-0 … Skipstone defeated Sherwood Christian 49-7.

Around Southwest Georgia

GHSA Region 1-7A: Lowndes, which moved into first place in the Georgia Sports Writers Association Class 7A poll last week, improved to 9-0 with a 52-10 win at Camden County … Sixth-ranked Tift County edged fifth-ranked Colquitt County 38-35.

GHSA Region 1-6A: Seventh-ranked Coffee beat fifth-ranked Northside-Warner Robins 14-12.

GHSA Region 1-5A: Harris County defeated Veterans 35-7.

GHSA Region 1-4A: Americus-Sumter preserved its one-game lead in the region with a 55-41 win at Hardaway on Thursday … Northside-Columbus, tied for second, kept pace with the Panthers on Thursday with a 7-0 win over Shaw … Columbus topped Carver-Columbus 36-13.

GHSA Region 1-3A: Seventh-ranked Crisp County beat Cook 31-7 to all but wrap up the region title.

GHSA Region 1-2A: Third-ranked Thomasville improved to 8-0 with a 49-12 win over Chiles (Tallahassee, Florida) … Fifth-ranked Brooks County is now 7-0 following a 49-17 win over Fitzgerald, the third time in the past four games that the Trojans scored 49.

GHSA Region 1-1A: Miller County beat Randolph-Clay 50-0.

GICAA South Region: Fullington topped Life Christian 37-30.