Coweta clinches 5A playoff berth
BY SARAH ROGERS World Correspondent
Saturday, November 03, 2012
11/03/12 at 5:21 AM
COWETA - In a fight between Coweta and Central for a 5A playoff spot, it was the Tigers who came out victorious, 21-2, at Tiger Stadium on Friday night.
The win was the first for Coweta (6-4, 4-3 District 5A-4) at home this season. The Tigers went into the game 0-4 at home and 5-0 on the road.
For Tigers head coach Bubba Burcham, his team treated the game as an away game.
"And here's the funny thing today," Burcham said. "We had our pregame meal, we got on the bus, and then we went around the block. There's just something about being on a bus that makes our guys a little better."
Coweta scored on its first possession of the game, capping a 70-yard drive when senior quarterback Hayden Holmes connected with Jakeem Johnson for a 6-yard touchdown in the back of the end zone.
The Tigers scored again on the Braves' second possession of the game when Central fumbled the ball on its own 30-yard line and Coweta linebacker Tristan Butcher scooped up the ball, running it back for the score with 44 seconds left in the first quarter.
The Tigers' last score came with six minutes left in the third quarter when Johnson scored from 6 yards out, putting Coweta up 21-0.
The Tiger defense stuffed the Braves' offense, as Central's only score came from a safety.
With three minutes left in the third quarter, Tigers running back Caleb Wheeler was tackled in the end zone by Central's Geormari Washington for a safety.
Coweta quarterback Hayden Holmes was 10-of-14 passing for 100 yards and two scores.
Johnson rushed 16 times for 101 yards. He also rushed for a touchdown and caught a touchdown pass.
Central quarterback Gerald Hardridge finished with 19 carries for 103 rushing yards and was 4-of-15 with 22 passing yards. He also threw an interception late in the third quarter.
Tigers linebacker Hunter Raspberry intercepted Hardridge's pass in the end zone after the Braves (3-7, 3-4) had tried to score on a 28-yard drive and were looking to score from the Tigers 13-yard line.
The Tigers open the playoffs against Bishop Kelley next week.
COWETA 21, CENTRAL 2
| Coweta |
14 |
0 |
7 |
0 |
- |
21 |
| Central |
0 |
0 |
2 |
0 |
- |
2 |
COW: Johnson 6 pass from Holmes (Thomas kick)
COW: Butcher 30 fumble recovery (Thomas kick)
COW: Johnson 6 run (Thomas kick)
CENT: Safety by Washington
|
| COW | CENT |
|
First Downs | 12 | 11 |
|
Rushes-Yards | 37-156 | 31-141 |
|
Passing Yards | 100 | 46 |
|
Comp-Att-Int | 10-14-0 | 4-15-1 |
|
Punts-Avg | 3-35 | 7-30 |
|
Fumbles-Lost | 3-2 | 2-2 |
|
Penalties-Yards | 11-90 | 12-40 |
