Class 5A: Ware County 38, Warner Robins 13
Ware County scored on four of its five first-half possessions, including two touchdowns in a two-minute span midway through the first quarter on its way to a 24-6 halftime lead, and cruised to a 38-13 victory over two-time defending champion Warner Robins in the Class 5A championship game Saturday at Georgia State’s Center Parc Stadium.
Top-ranked Ware County (14-0) earned the first state championship in school history. No. 8 Warner Robins, playing in the state finals for the sixth consecutive season, finished the year 10-5. The Demons started the year 1-4 but had won nine straight games since then.
Jarvis Hayes scored on a 19-yard pass from Niko Smith to give the Gators a 7-0 lead with 8:04 remaining in the first quarter, and Dae’Jeaun Davis had a 41-yard touchdown run on the first play after Ware County blocked a punt on the Demons’ ensuing possession.
Warner Robins’ Cam Flowers threw a 4-yard touchdown pass to quarterback Isiah Canion to cut the lead to 14-6 with 2:22 to play in the first quarter, but the Gators scored the final 10 points of the first half and were never in danger after halftime..
Smith, who took over at quarterback following the graduation of all-state selectee Thomas Castellanos, completed 14 of 26 passes for 256 yards and three touchdowns. Reggie Boyd ran 19 times for 138 yards, and Dennis rushed 17 times for 98 yards and two touchdowns. Hayes caught six passes for 171 yards and two touchdowns, and Brandon Washington caught six passes for 69 yards and one touchdown.
For Warner Robins, Canion completed 20 of 31 passes for 195 yards and one touchdown, a 32-yard throw to Aamir Quick. Malcolm Brown rushed 19 times for 90 yards.
Games Statistics
Warner Robins - 6-0-7-0 - 13
Ware County - 14-10-14-0 - 38
First quarter
WC - Jarvis Hayes 19 pass from Niko Smith (William Bates kick), 8:04
WC - Dae’Jeaun Dennis 41 run (Bates kick), 6:06
WR - Isiah Canion 4 pass from Cam Flowery (kick failed), 2:22
Second quarter
WC - Dennis 3 run (Bates kick), 10:28
WC - Bates 37 field goal, 4:50
Third quarter
WR - Aamir Quick 32 pass from Canion (Barber kick), 10:34
WC - Brandon Washington 35 pass from Smith (Bates kick), 8:54
WC - Hayes 39 pass from Smith (Bates kick), 3:13
Rushing: Warner Robins - Malcom Brown 19-90, Isiah Canion 9-26, Elijah Antonio 1-3, William Gunnings 1-2. Ware County - RJ Boyd 19-132, Dae'Jeaun Dennis 17-95, Niko Smith 3-1, CJ Johnson 1-1, Team 2-(-11).
Passing: Warner Robins - Isiah Canion 20-31-2-195, Cam Flowers 1-1-0-4. Ware County - Niko Smith 14-26-2-256.
Receiving: Warner Robins - Chaz Sturn 5-14, Aamir Quick 4-73, Dominick Faircloth 3-21, Malcom Brown 2-44, 29 2-26, Rasean Dinkins 2-15, Isiah Canion 1-4, William Gunnings 1-2, Cam Flowers 1-0. Ware County - Jarvis Hayes 6-171, Brandon Washington 6-69, DJ Loriston 1-9, Dae'Jeaun Dennis 1-7.