TWIN CITY — The Clinch County Panthers did something no other team has been able to do. The Panthers virtually stopped Washaun Ealey cold for two quarters of football.
Good thing for the defending Class A state champion Emanuel County Institute Bulldogs that four quarters make a game.
Ealey shook off a rough first half in which he gained only 19 yards on six carries, and scored four touchdowns in the second half, lifting the Bulldogs to a 33-21 win in the second round of the playoffs.
Clinch (9-3) entered halftime holding a 14-7 lead. The Panthers used some trickery to take a halftime lead. On a fourth-and-6 play from the ECI 31-yard line, Panther quarterback Vintavious Cooper threw a lateral to receiver Dominique Ellis, who turned and hit Brandon Richardson for a touchdown with only 16 seconds remaining in the first half.
But Ealey took control in the second half. The University of Georgia-bound senior running back scored on runs of 3 and 59 yards to give the Bulldogs the lead at 21-14 entering the fourth quarter.
In the final frame, Ealey scored two more times on runs of 25 and 46 yards, the latter coming on a fourth-and-1, giving ECI a 33-21 lead.
Ealey finished with 255 yards and four touchdowns on 30 carries. He also added a fourth quarter interception while playing defense.
ECI’s Dexter Moody scored in the first quarter on a 22-yard pass from Michael Robertson on a fourth-and-20. Moody also delivered a bone-crushing hit on Panthers receiver Trey Richardson in the fourth that jarred the ball loose. The Bulldogs’ senior linebacker recovered the fumble himself, and ECI ran the clock out from there.
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Strong second half propels ECI to victory
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Lady Packers beat Lowndes, 55-48
The Colquitt County Lady Packers handed the Lowndes Vikettes a second straight loss Tuesday night, 55-48.
Jamesia Jones led Lowndes with 10 points, while Courtne Washington had nine. Tasia Brown finished with eight. -
Braves unveil another alternate home uniform
Hank Aaron recognized the look. Just not the feel.
The Atlanta Braves unveiled a new alternate home uniform Monday that is based on the attire worn when the team moved from Milwaukee in 1966, with Aaron as its biggest star. -
Valdosta native Garland named to Armstrong Atlantic HOF
Armstrong Atlantic State University has announced its latest induction class for the Armstrong Atlantic State University Athletic Hall of Fame. Among the six inductees and one Service Citation award winner is Valdosta native Nikki Garland, who ran cross county and track and field with the Pirates.
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Freeman, Trojans finalize '12 schedule
The Brooks County Trojans’ football motto is to ‘bring the hammer’ each and every Friday night.
Well, the Trojans now know exactly who they will have to bring that hammer to this upcoming season, as head coach Maurice Freeman recently finalized Brooks County’s 2012 football schedule. -
New York wins Super Bowl
Eli Manning and the Giants one-upped Tom Brady and the Patriots again, coming back with a last-minute touchdown to beat New England 21-17 Sunday night for New York’s fourth Super Bowl title.
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Blazer softball sweeps Nova Southeastern
On Super Bowl Sunday, Valdosta State showed why it has been one of the super teams in the south region for years now.
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Blazers fall to Saints
Just 24 hours after earning an impressive opening day victory, the Valdosta State baseball team struggled to find a rhythm against North Georgia, as the Blazers fell to the Saints 8-3.
North Georgia pitcher Blake Hobby was a major factor for VSU’s struggles. The senior right-hander held the Blazers to just one run on four hits across his eight innings of work on the hill. -
Tift County wins region wrestling championship
Tift County won the Region 1-AAAAA traditional wrestling championship on Saturday at Lowndes High School.
Tift had three individual region champions, had wrestlers place in the top three in 13 of the 14 weight classes and qualified wrestlers for next weekend’s sectional tournament in all 14 weight classes. Tift earned 184 team points, two points more than second-place Lowndes. -
Wildcats beat Crisp in overtime
Valdosta’s boys basketball team dominated the overtime period, and defeated Crisp County 66-56 on Saturday night at the VHS gym.
The Wildcats outscored the Cougars 17-7 in overtime to pull away for the win.
“Another big win,” Valdosta head coach Antonio Haynes said. “I’m happy for the guys. They played hard. They deserved this win.” - More Local Sports Headlines
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Lady Packers beat Lowndes, 55-48
