UPDATED: Friday Night Five: Lee County’s Jaden Upshaw is Player of the Week

Editor’s note: Several local schools had a bye Friday night and several others did not report or post stats, so finding five in each category was challenging.

For most players, 12 catches and two touchdown receptions would be enough for a pretty good Friday night.

Jaden Upshaw wasn’t finished.

With Lee County trailing Sequoyah in the final minutes Friday night in Canton, the Texas A&M commit fielded a punt and raced 55 yards for the touchdown that gave the Trojans the lead in an improbable 43-32 comeback victory.

That was the exclamation point on a huge night for Upshaw and makes the Lee County senior the Albany Herald Friday Night Five Player of the Week.

Upshaw caught 12 passes for 143 yards and two touchdowns and added a two-point conversion before delivering the biggest play of the night on special teams.

Lee County trailed 32-21 with three minutes remaining before scoring a touchdown to pull within four. After the Trojan defense forced a punt, Upshaw took care of the rest, racing 55 yards for the go-ahead score.

Montravious Clay followed with a pick-six to complete the stunning comeback and keep No. 2 Lee County unbeaten at 3-0.

Upshaw’s performance highlighted a week filled with big individual performances across Southwest Georgia.

Passing

1. Micah Joyner, Dougherty — 18-of-24, 333 yards, 5 TDs

The sophomore put together a remarkable night in Dougherty’s 42-19 victory over Spencer. Joyner completed 75 percent of his passes and threw five touchdowns to three different receivers.

2. Cohen Lawson, Lee County — 24-of-36, 277 yards, 2 TDs

Lawson threw for 277 yards and two touchdowns in Lee County’s comeback victory, with Upshaw serving as his favorite target.

3. Jacorey Williams, Terrell County — 7-of-17, 182 yards

Williams moves into the top five after throwing for 182 yards for the Greenwave.

4. Lyndon Worthy, Worth County — 13-of-19, 161 yards, 4 TDs

Worthy made his completions count, throwing four touchdown passes as the defending Class 3A champion Rams rolled past Early County 31-0.

5. Bryse Peachey, Terrell Academy — 13-of-20, 132 yards, 2 TDs, 2 INTs

Peachey did much of his damage with his legs, but he also threw for 132 yards and two touchdowns in a 35-21 loss to Calvary Christian.

Just outside: Colquitt County’s Khi Mitchell also threw for 132 yards and two touchdowns, completing 11 of 15 passes.

Rushing

1. Bryse Peachey, Terrell Academy — 20 carries, 200 yards, 1 TD

Peachey turned in the area’s biggest rushing performance, averaging 10 yards per carry and scoring a touchdown. Combined with his 132 passing yards, Peachey accounted for 332 yards of total offense.

2. Braylen Hundley, Baconton Charter — 30 carries, 189 yards

Hundley was a workhorse, carrying 30 times for 189 yards as Baconton Charter blanked Brookwood 27-0.

3. Malik Young, Westover — 17 carries, 139 yards, 4 TDs

Young turned 17 carries into four touchdowns in Westover’s rout of Columbus, averaging more than 8 yards per attempt.

4. Quin’traevion Huckaby, Terrell County — 15 carries, 127 yards

Huckaby averaged nearly 8.5 yards per carry while piling up 127 yards on just 15 attempts.

5. Jordan Bush, Lee County — 11 carries, 50 yards

Bush led Lee County’s ground attack during the Trojans’ 43-32 victory over Sequoyah.

Receiving

1. Jaden Upshaw, Lee County — 12 catches, 143 yards, 2 TDs

Upshaw’s receiving numbers alone would put him atop the list. Add the two-point conversion and 55-yard go-ahead punt return, and it became a Player of the Week performance.

2. Detavious Poole, Dougherty — 6 catches, 101 yards

Poole topped the century mark and caught one of Joyner’s five touchdown passes.

3. Jherel Gibson, Dougherty — 3 catches, 88 yards

Gibson averaged more than 29 yards per reception in Dougherty’s explosive passing attack.

4. Carter Blackwell, Lee County — 5 catches, 73 yards

The Clemson commit complemented Upshaw with five receptions for 73 yards.

5. Walt Lee, Terrell Academy — 4 catches, 71 yards, 2 TDs

Lee made his four receptions count, catching both of Peachey’s touchdown passes and accounting for 71 yards.

Player of the Week: Jaden Upshaw, Lee County

The additional numbers make the competition even stronger.

Peachey produced 332 yards of total offense and three touchdowns. Joyner threw five touchdown passes. Young ran for four. Hundley rushed for 189 yards.

But Upshaw’s combination of production and game-changing impact still separates him.

Twelve catches. 143 receiving yards. Two touchdown catches. A two-point conversion.

And, with an undefeated season hanging in the balance, a 55-yard punt return for the go-ahead touchdown.

That’s still the Friday night that tops them all.