THOMASVILLE -- The dream is alive and well. A week after knocking off the defending state champs from Tucker to advance to the third round of the state playoffs for the first time in team history, the Sandy Creek football Patriots drove five hours south to Thomasville and dominated the last 18 minutes of Friday’s AAAA quarterfinal, beating the Thomas County Central Yellow Jackets 31-17.
“This means the world to this program,” exclaimed Creek head coach Chip Walker after the game. “We may not be Thomas County Central with all the tradition, but we've built a pretty good tradition ourselves the last 11 years. For us to come down here and beat Thomas County Central is good for us. It speaks volumes about our kids.”
Neither Thomas County Central’s overflowing capacity crowd nor the huge endzone sign touting the Yellow Jackets’ five state championships intimidated the determined Patriots.
Creek struck first, built a 10-7 halftime lead and then responded to a 10-0 third quarter Yellow Jacket run with three unanswered touchdowns to close out the game.
By the time fullback Mike Spaulding crossed the goal line midway through the fourth quarter for Creek’s final score of the night, the five charter bus loads of Patriot fans had completely drowned out the sizable but now quiet Thomas County Central crowd.
“When they came out and hit us with 10 quick points to open the second half, our guys could have easily given up,” Walker explained.
“But our kids fought through it. They’ve showed that kind of heart all year. The whole group responded.”
A 53 yard kick return by Rajion Neal sparked Creek’s opening touchdown drive and a Zach Lopez field goal late in the second gave the Patriots a 10-7 halftime lead.
But Thomas County Central opened the third quarter with 10 quick points before Creek even snapped one second half offensive play.
The Yellow Jackets fumbled the kickoff to start the third but recovered the ball at their own 23 yard line. Three plays later, halfback Curtis Brooks broke a 41 yard run that put the home team in range for the game-tying 42 yard field goal.
On the ensuing kickoff, Creek committed a rare turnover. Neal fielded the kick at his own five, hit the first seam in the coverage and lost the handle.
The Yellow Jackets recovered the ball at the Creek 43 and reeled off seven straight running plays to get into the endzone.
Just like that a 10-7 Creek lead had turned into a 17-10 third quarter deficit.
“We got down, but everyone stepped up,” Walker said.
“Rajion in particular felt bad about that fumble. He wanted to redeem himself and he definitely did.”
Neal returned the next kickoff to the Creek 30. It then took the Patriots only seven plays to tie the game. All of those except for a 27 yard pass from Ronnie Bell to Devon Hughes near midfield, were rushes by Neal -- including the seven yarder to score.
It was the senior’s 31st touchdown of the year, but he wasn’t done yet.
Creek’s defense followed the scoring drive with an impressive three and out stand. After the punt, the Patriots offense took over again at their own 32. Neal broke a 13 yard run up the middle on first down. Two plays later, Bell found Hughes again on the skinny post for a 30 yard reception deep into Yellow Jacket territory.
Neal took care of the rest. On the first play of the fourth quarter, the big Creek tailback capped the drive with a 23 yard touchdown scamper.
Up 24-17, Creek kicked off to the suddenly reeling Yellow Jackets. On second down, Thomas County Central turned the ball over on a fumble.
The Patriots recovered the ball on the right side of the 50. Four straight Neal rushes moved the line of scrimmage all the way down to the Yellow Jacket four yard line.
On first and goal, Spaulding pounded it up the middle to make it 31-17.
Creek’s defense forced another punt, pushing Thomas County Central to the brink. The Yellow Jackets got the ball back with 3:35 left -- needing a pair of touchdowns. Creek cornerback Sean Rowe then dashed the home team’s last glimmer of hope with a huge interception -- not unlike the one he plucked out of the air in week one of the playoffs to ruin Loganville’s late comeback attempt.
Soon the Creek faithful were celebrating as the home team’s fans filed out of the gates, talking of next year.
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