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The Jenkins County Times
Wednesday, November 8, 2023 - Page 9
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BRAD ASBURY
WAR EAGRE
By Brad Asbury, Sports Editor
for
'l l 11 : Times
pastorbradasbury@gmail.com
War Eagles Fall in Championship
Friday night, before an estimated crowd that topped 2,000 screaming fans, the War Eagles and the Portal Panthers faced off for the Region 3 title. Both teams entered the game 3-0 in regional
play and the winner would not only be awarded the regional championship, but they would also have the number 1 seed entering the playoffs starting this week.
Portal was awarded the ball on the opening kickoff as the War Eagles won the coin flip and deferred until the second half. The War Eagles’ defense came out strong and forced a punt after
just three plays that netted little to no yards. The War Eagles quickly drove down the field and while inside the 10-yard line, the ball was stripped out of the hands of a War Eagle runner by
Portal, and they were able to mn it back for a touchdown. The momentum quickly shifted to Portal, and they would score again after forcing a War Eagle punt.
The War Eagles would not give up. As the second quarter got moving, so did the War Eagle offense and defense. The War Eagles would push the ball down the field on a strong running
attack that we have seen week in and week out. They would score a touchdown and cut the lead to one touchdown. Then on the kickoff, the War Eagles were able to cause Portal to fumble
the ball and they would take over again on offense. Another long drive resulted in a touchdown.
In what seemed like a game of momentum shifts every 14 points. Portal would score two more times before the War Eagles could score again. One of those scores was on a touchdown drive,
that came on the heels of several penalties against the War Eagles. As time expired in the 1st half. Portal was able to put points on the board. As the second half started, they were able to
strike again and take the lead to 28-14 in the 3 rd quarter.
Momentum would swing back in favor of the War Eagles heading towards the end of the game. Two touchdowns later for the War Eagles and only minutes left in the game, the Panthers and
War Eagles were tied at 28. Portal pushed the ball to the 10-yard line, and it appeared we were destined for a Portal win in the last minute; however, the War Eagles forced a fumble. Time
would expire and we would head to overtime.
In overtime. Portal would have possession first. And after just a couple of plays, they were able to push a touchdown across to take the lead. After the two-point conversion was good, the
War Eagles took over for their chance to tie the game at best. The War Eagles would continue their run attack and push the ball across. While the War Eagles had kicked a perfect 4 for 4
for extra points, this situation required the War Eagles to go for two. The ball would be placed around the 3-yard line. The ball was snapped and Rob-Travious Coney who has over 1200
yards for the season darted to the left to power his way to the end zone. However, a host of Portal defenders set up a wall to stop Coney. Coney fought through but was brought down on
the one-yard line. Tmly this was a championship battle that featured offense and defense of the highest caliber.
Many had said, prior to the game that this game would feature some of the best athletes in the state of Georgia. This was shown. Both teams finished in the top 10, the War Eagles at 9 and
Portal at 8. The Composite Poll still has the War Eagles at 6 th and Portal just outside the top 10 at number 12. Regardless, the War Eagles have nothing to hang their head about. They
finished the season at 9-1 and will face Charlton County for the first round of the GHSA Playoffs.
Portal will play Turner County out of region 2 while Jenkins County will host Charlton County also out of Region 2. This was Portal’s first-ever regional championship. The War Eagles
have won regional runner-up two years in a row.
2023 GHSA State Playoffs Region 3- Class A Division 2
2023-2024 GHSA Class A Division II State Football Championship
Wilcoa County
Rego" 4 - Team 1
SeminolE Co
Rego" 1-Team 2
Me I mto eh Co Ac kI
Rego" 3-Team 4
Cline h Co
Rego" 2-Team L
h-'t Z sn.ilan
Rego- 7-Team 1
Manchester
Rego" 6-T-eam 2
Vfcsh-Wilkee
Rego" S-Team 4
Johnson Co
Rego" 3-Team L
Nov 10-11 Nov 17 Nov 24 Dec 1 Dec 11-13 Dec 1 Nov 24
Randolph-Clay
Rego" 1-Team 1
Telfair Co
Rego” 4-Team 2
Turner Co
Rego" 2-Team 4
Portal
Rego" 1 -Team L
Macon Co
Rego" 6-Team 1
Christ an her
Rego" 7-Team 2
Glascock Co
Rego" 3-Team 4
Aquinas
Rego 1- 6-Team L
Runner-Up
INSURANCE
Champion
Hancock Cent
Rego" 3-Team 1
Greene Co
Rego" S-Team 2
Taylor Co
Rego" 6-Team 4
Bowdon
Rego" 7-Team L
Charlton Co
Rego" 2-Team 3
Jenkins Co
Rego" 1-Team 2
Miller Co
Rego" 1-Team 4
Dooly Co
Rego" 4-Team L
Nov 17 Nov 10-11
Lincoln Co
Rego" S-Team 1
Wilkinson Co
Reg o n 3 - Team 2
Rego" 7-Team 4
Schley Co
Rego" 6-Team L
ECI
Rego" 1-Team 1
Lanier Co
Rego" 2-Team 2
Ha^'kinsville
Rego" 4-Team 4
Early Co
Rego" 1-Team L
I" 1 he firsl fa, r ra, mas, 1 he h g her seec-sa team ■n ■ host. If sc noo s are 1 he same seec. see G H5A Gonsl 1,1 on. Fool oa Seel ov fo r o’ocec je. Wole: T he G HSA's "ut vosal' co " f p vJ de1e r m ne 1 he ces g "dec "ome lean
when dIs^ rvgal a rveytrals 1e iff Ddh learns are He same seec.
War Eagles Tie the 1955
Team Tor Most Wins
The most wins by any Jenkins County War Eagles football team in school history took place in 1955. That team also
finished 9-1. However, the difference in that team and this year’s War Eagle team was the one loss excluded the 1955 team
from the playoffs. The lone loss was to the Claxton Tigers and according to one of the players on the 1955 team, Mr. Julian
Wade, he still hates having to go to Claxton for anything!
In 1955, in the last game of the season, the War Eagles and the Tigers clashed, and the Claxton Tigers won the game by
a score of 33-6. Yet, the War Eagles that season defeated Metter 25-7, Bradwell
Institute Tigers 34-6, Glenville 32-0, and as the yearbook from 1955 stated,
“crushing ECI” by a final score of 59-6.
This year’s War Eagle
team has seen big wins
over ECI for the 2 nd
straight year, Screven
County, a blowout over
Claxton (revenge from
1955), and a last-second
touchdown win over top-
10 Johnson County. The
War Eagles will continue
to seek to improve on
their historic run and
continue to fight forward!
Ernest Thome was a member of the 1955 team.
Ernest still resides in Millen. Photo Submitted.
Shown are three of the seniors on the 1955 team that
was the winningest team in War Eagle history until this
year’s squad tied their record. From left to right: Julian
Wade (Millen Resident), Thomas Avret (Screven County
resident), and Otis Peel (unknown). Photo Submitted.
MORE GAME PICS!
Photos by: Danielle McBride Davis
