Class A Division I: Toombs County 38, Northeast 18
Recap: Mike Polke caught a touchdown pass, intercepted a pass and returned a kickoff for a touchdown, all in the first half for No. 1-ranked Toombs County. The kickoff return, which covered 92 yards, was the game’s pivotal play. It came after Northeast got within 14-12 with 6:54 left in the first half. Two minutes earlier, Polke scored on a 47-yard reception from T.J. Stanley at the end of an eight-play, 93-yard drive for a 14-6 lead. Northeast would get as close as 24-18 midway in the third quarter, but Toombs County put the game away in the fourth quarter with TD runs by Justin Powell and Stanley. Toombs County’s defense forced five three-and-out possessions and held 2,500-yard rusher, Nick Woodford, to 109 yards. He rushed for more than 300 yards in the quarterfinals and semifinals.
History: Toombs County won its first state title in its 38th varsity season, though a predecessor school, Lyons, was the 1975 Class B champion. The state title was the third for Toombs in all sports. The others were in boys soccer (2024) and baseball (1996). Toombs County was the first team this season assured of being ranked No. 1 from wire to wire. Only Milton could match that feat. Northeast was stopped in its bid to become the first Macon team to win a championship since Central in 1975. Northeast’s Nick Woodford finished with 2,604 rushing yards on the season and 6,282 for his career.
Game Statistics
Northeast - 6-6-6-0 - 18
Toombs County - 7-17-0-14 - 38
First quarter
NE - Nick Woodford 35 pass from Reginald Glover (kick blocked), 8:54
TC - Lagonza Hayward 29 pass from T.J. Stanley (Alex Otero kick), 5:38
Second quarter
TC - Mike Polke 47 pass from Stanley (Otero kick), 8:28
NE - Isaiah Stubbs 3 pass from Glover (kick failed), 6:54
TC - Polke 92 kickoff return (Otero kick, 6:39
TC - Otero 25 field goal, 0:00
Third quarter
NE - Glover 6 run (kick blocked), 8:27
Fourth quarter
TC - Justin Powell 12 run (Otero kick), 5:21
TC - Stanley 28 run (Otero kick), 1:04
Rushing: Northeast - Nick Woodford 19-109, Reginald Glover 13-72. Toombs County - T.J. Stanley 16-83, Justin Powell 7-46, Dabvn Wadley 14-41.
Passing: Northeast - Reginald Glover 9-20-1-92. Toombs County - T.J. Stanley 14-23-1-217.
Receiving: Northeast - Nick Woodford 3-41, Joshua Evans 3-30, Keundre’ Jackson 2-18, Isaiah Stubbs 1-3. Toombs County - Mike Polke 5-103, Lagona Hayward 4-59, Gavin Fletcher 3-24, Justice Wilds 2-31.