Big Game Barons advance to the second round
Published on Sunday, November 17, 2024 at 4:30 PM
GATESVILLE – When the postseason arrives in any sport, the idea is to survive and advance.
The barons of Gates County did just that here Friday night.
Gates County’s AJ Hart (with ball) pulls away from a Washington County defender on his way to returning a 75-yard kickoff for a touchdown in a 30-22 win over the Barons in Friday’s playoff opener. Photo by Charles Revelle
Senior AJ Hart scored two touchdowns, including a thrilling kickoff return, picked off two passes and recovered a fumble, while sophomore Cam Lee made a touchdown-saving tackle on the final play of the game as the Barons advanced to Round #2 of the NCHSAA Class 1A playoffs with a 30-22 win over upset Washington County.
With the win, #12 seed Gates County (7-4 overall) travels to #5 seed Northside (8-3) for a second-round matchup on Friday, November 22.
But to reach the next round, Gates County had to survive one last drive from Washington County.
Starting from their own 36 yard line with 3:27 left in the game, the Panthers got one down first and then faced a 4e-and-10 play from their own 47 with 1:34 left. Washington moved the sticks thanks to a 26-yard pass from Zedakiah Simpson to Jahvier Ford. The same two connected on another 26-yard pass on the next snap of the play, moving the ball to the one yard line. After penalties for both teams, the ball was on the three-yard line, where the Panthers attempted a bit of deception when Brandon Spruill took a handoff in his own backfield on a reverse. But Lee chased him down and made a perfect tackle in the open field on the seven-yard line to end the game.
On their second possession of the game, Gates County got on the scoreboard first, driving 56 yards in 10 plays, capped by DeAndre Smith’s one-yard touchdown run. Smith added the conversion run for an 8-0 lead at 5:10 of the first quarter.
Set up by a big passing play that covered 34 yards from Simpson to Christian Phelps, the Panthers answered with a five-play, 65-yard drive capped by Simpson’s 31-yard scoring pass to Ford. The conversion run failed, but Washington had cut their deficit to 8-6 with 2:32 left in the first quarter.
Eleven seconds later, Gates County increased the lead to 14-6 thanks to Hart returning the game’s ensuing kickoff 75 yards for a touchdown. The conversion run failed.
Washington even pulled within 14-14 late in the second quarter, where Simpson orchestrated a long drive with his right arm (5-of-6 passing for 93 yards) that ended with a 12-yard TD pass to Ford. The same two connected on the two-point conversion pass to tie up the score.
Gates County’s string of big plays continued on the kickoff to open the second half, one that was fumbled by Washington County and recovered by Rob Baker (the kicker) at the Panthers 48-yard line.
On first down from there, GCHS quarterback Chris Lee threw a 48-yard touchdown pass to Zeb Woodley. Smith ran in the conversion to put the Barons ahead 22-14 just 16 seconds into the third quarter.
Gates County would add another touchdown in the third quarter, this one set up by Cam Lee’s interception returning to midfield. From there, the Barons mounted a grinding 13-play drive that took nearly seven minutes, ending with Chris Lee’s 10-yard TD pass to Hart. Smith ran in the conversion to help GCHS to their largest lead of the match at 30-14.
But Washington would not give up.
The Panthers responded with a 13-play drive of their own. Highlighted by Simpson’s 26-yard pass to Ford on a 4e-and-15 play, Washington County advanced 58 yards and scored on JaQuay Brown’s two-yard run. The conversion failed, but the Panthers closed to within 10 points (30-20) with 10:51 remaining.
Washington got even closer when the defense recorded a two-point safety, making it a 30-22 game.
But Hart came up with two key interceptions in the fourth quarter, while Cam Lee’s game-saving tackle secured the win for the Barons.
Smith (72 rushing yards) and Chris Lee (78 passing yards and 37 on the ground) led Gates County’s offense.
Simpson had a big night for the Panthers, passing for 298 yards (17 of 33 with three interceptions).
About Cal Bryant
Cal Bryant, a 40-year veteran of the newspaper industry, is an editor at Roanoke-Chowan Publications, publishers of the Roanoke-Chowan News-Herald, Gates County Index and Front Porch Living magazine.
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