McNair running back Goni Santana (3) races down the right sideline during first half action against Chamblee. Santana scored a rushing touchdown and returned a fumblee 28 yards for another in the Mustangs’ 16-6 win over the Chamblee Bulldogs. (Photo by Mark Brock)
The McNair Mustangs remained perfect on the season at 7-0 as they jumped to a 16-0 lead early in the third quarter and held off the Chamblee Bulldogs for 16-6 Trail to the Title first round playoff win at Avondale Stadium on Saturday.
Chamblee (3-4) stopped the Mustangs (7-0) on fourth down at the Bulldogs own seven-yard line as a McNair pass went incomplete on fourth and two.
McNair would take 2-0 lead with 2:11 left in the first quarter on a safety when a Chamblee punt snap went into the end zone and the punter recovered to give the Mustangs the safety.
The Mustangs got the ball on the Chamblee 30 following the free kick and facing a fourth and nine at the 23 Goni Santana got loose around the left end and raced 23 yards into the end zone to push the lead to 8-0 with 7:00 to play in the first half. The two-point conversion failed.
Chamblee made another big defensive stop with just 10 seconds left in the first half as they stopped McNair receiver Braylen Whitlock five yards short on a fourth and 16 pass play to keep the deficit at 8-0 heading into the locker room.
On the second play of the third quarter Santana scored on a 38-yard fumble return with 6:20 to play in the period. Jaylen Alexander ran in the two-point conversion to make it 16-0.
Chamblee quarterback Gabe Jamison (1) gets past McNair defender Tysho Shaw (15) for a short gain. Jamison scored the Bulldogs’ only touchdown. (Photo by Mark Brock)
The Bulldogs marched back down the field on the arm and legs of quarterback Gabe Jamison. Jamison threw passes of 11 yards to Ryder O’Malley and 17 to Elison Eily that put the Chamblee at the McNair five-yard line.
Jamison then took the ball on a keeper around the left side and carried a couple of McNair defenders to the pylon to put Chamblee on the board with 3:22 left in the third. The two-point conversion pass failed and the lead was cut to 16-6.
Chamblee’s Jack Gladman recovered a McNair fumble on the next Mustangs possession, but the Bulldogs were forced to punt. McNair moved back down the field but the Bulldog defense once again came up big stopping the Mustangs on another big fourth down.
A fumble at the McNair 48 ended the Bulldogs next possession and the two teams traded fourth-down stops before McNair ran out the final 1:25 to secure the win.
McNair moves on to face off with defending and undefeated Stephenson on Saturday at 10:30 am at Godfrey Stadium.
WEEK 8 – OCT. 21
First Round of Playoffs
Avondale Stadium
Stephenson (7-0) 24, Lithonia (4-3) 8
McNair (7-0) 16, Chamblee (3-4) 6
Cedar Grove (5-2) 12, Champion (5-1-1) 6
Chapel Hill (6-1) 28, Tucker (5-1-1) 6
WEEK 9 – OCT. 28
Semifinal Round
GODFREY STADIUM
Stephenson (7-0) vs. McNair (7-0), 10:30 am
Chapel Hill (6-1) vs. Cedar Grove (5-2), 12:00 am