Arabia Mountain’s Carl White (with ball) dives to the corner of the end zone for a first half touchdown in the Ram’s historic first playoff game victory. (Photo by Mark Brock)
Two third quarter touchdowns propelled the Arabia Mountain Rams to their first ever playoff victory 34-14 over the Villa Rica Wildcats at Hallford Stadium on Friday night.
The Rams playing their first playoff game in the program’s eight-year history did not let the pressure of Villa Rica’s 27-yard touchdown run by Elijah Fluker to pull the Wildcats within 19-14 with 8:42 to play in the third quarter get to them.
Arabia Mountain answered quickly with a 9-play, 63-yard drive ending in a one-yard touchdown run by Brandon Snowball from the Wildcat position. Samad Noble connected with DeAnthony Garrett for a 26-yard pass play to get the drive rolling. Snowball would add runs of 11 and 16 yards to the Villa Rica two-yard line to set up his touchdown.
A fake reverse on the two-point conversion had Joshua Campbell taking a pitch from Noble then stopping and throwing back to the wide open Noble to make it a 27-14 lead with 6:02 left in the third quarter.
Villa Rica looked unaffected by the score as the Wildcats drove to the Ram 40 before a fumbled snap was recovered by Arabia’s Kenstan Hemphill at the 41.
One play later the Rams put the finishing touches on the game as Noble found a wide-open Garrett over the middle for a 59-yard pass play. Garrett turned up field after the catch at the Villa Rica 38 and raced past a pair of defenders into the end zone. Kameron Ward added the point after try for the 34-14 final margin.
The Rams and Wildcats could not get much going in the first quarter until Arabia began marching down the field via the air. Noble connected on passes of 41 yards to Baree Noble and 24 to Ross down to the Wildcats’ six-yard line.
A fumble at the three turned the game completely in favor of the Wildcats as Christian Farmer scooped up the loose football and raced 97 yards for the touchdown. Dawson Bundrum added the PAT for a 7-0 Villa Rica lead with 2:19 left in the first quarter.
Arabia Mountain defenders Terray Bryant (1) and Falcoe Johnson wrap up a Villa Rica running back for a loss. (Photo by Mark Brock)
It only took the Rams 52 seconds to knot the game at 7-7. Noble hit Campbell in the flat twice for gains of 12 and 16 yards before running for 14 to the Wildcats’ 27. He then dropped back and found Eric Ross up the hash. Ross took the football and raced to the end zone breaking several tackles as he bulled in for the score. Ward’s PAT made it 7-7.
Carl White’s 15-yard run and dive into the corner of the end zone with 7:36 left in the first half gave the Rams their first lead at 13-7 as Villa Rica blocked the PAT.
The Rams would strike again with just 2:54 left in the first half as Snowball scored the first of his two touchdowns in the game from the Wildcat position as he went in from three yards out. A two-point attempt failed as the Rams took a 19-7 lead into the half.
Arabia Mountain (9-2) gets to host a second-round game at Hallford next weekend as the Rams host Griffin (10-1) who advanced with a 56-49 shootout victory over Warner Robins.
In other Class 5A action Southwest DeKalb (6-5) fought hard, but fell 31-22 to Kell (9-2) at Godfrey Stadium. The Panthers held a 3-0 lead at the half, but Kell used a 60-yard scoring play to take the lead which would grow to 21-10 in the third quarter.
A 70-yard touchdown pass play from Justin Tomlin to Javeon Cody that would have closed the gap to 21-17 was nullified by a penalty. Kell would go up 31-16 late before the Panthers could put in a late touchdown to make the final of 31-22.
Miller Grove (4-7) lost its first ever playoff game 56-0 to Rome (9-2) in another Class 5A playoff game. Lithonia tied Carrollton 7-7 before Carrollton (10-1) got rolling on the way to a 48-14 win to knock the Bulldogs (5-6) out of the playoffs.
Brandon Snowball ran for 147 yards and two touchdowns on 15 carries to lead the Rams ground attack. Samad Noble was 12 of 20 passing for 225 yards and two touchdowns. Eric Ross had five receptions for 85 yards and a touchdown while DeAnthony Garrett added two receptions for 85 yards and a touchdown.
Class 6A
Both DeKalb entries in the Class 6A state playoffs were victorious with Tucker knocking off Bradwell Institute 48-15 and Stephenson went on the road to knock off Effingham County 7-0.
The No. 4 ranked Tucker Tigers (10-1) jumped out to a 35-0 lead in the second quarter and cruised to the 48-15 win over Bradwell (3-6-1).
Tucker advances to face Harrison (10-1) which knocked off Gainesville 45-24. The Tigers should host on Friday at Adams Stadium.
The Stephenson Jaguars (7-4) advanced to the Sweet 16 as well with a 24-7 victory on the road at Effingham County (8-3). Trailing 7-6 early, the Jaguars shutout Effingham the rest of way on the way to the 24-7 win.
Stephenson goes on the road to Dacula (7-4) next weekend.
The Class 3A No. 6 ranked Cedar Grove Saints (8-2) kick off their playoff season by taking on the Union County Panthers (8-2) in a 5:00 pm kickoff at Godfrey Stadium on Saturday.
DCSD FOOTBALL STATE PLAYOFF RESULTS
FRIDAY, NOV. 11
HOME GAMES
CLASS 6A
ADAMS STADIUM
Tucker (10-1) 48, Bradwell Institute (3-6-1) 15
CLASS 5A
HALLFORD STADIUM
Arabia Mountain (9-2) 34, Villa Rica (5-6) 14
GODREY STADIUM
Kell (9-2) 31, SW DeKalb (6-5) 22
AWAY GAMES
CLASS 6A
Stephenson (7-4) 34, Effingham Co. (7-4) 7
CLASS 5A
Carrollton (10-1) 48, Lithonia (5-6) 14
Rome (9-2) 56, Miller Grove (4-7) 0
DCSD FOOTBALL STATE PLAYOFF SCHEDULE
SATURDAY, NOV. 12
CLASS 3A
GODFREY STADIUM
Union Co. (8-2) at Cedar Grove (8-2), 5:00 pm
FRIDAY, NOV. 18 (Tentative)
CLASS 6A
ADAMS Stadium
Harrison (10-1) vs. Tucker (10-1), 7:30 pm
AWAY GAMES
Stephenson (7-4) at Dacula (7-4), 7:30 pm
CLASS 5A
HALLFORD STADIUM
Griffin (10-1) vs. Arabia Mountain (9-2), 7:30 pm