By Becky Holland
COCHRAN — The Bleckley County Royals wasted little time making their presence known Friday night, Nov. 13, scoring 37 first-quarter points on their way to a commanding 59–14 victory over the Jefferson County Warriors in the opening round of the Georgia High School Association state football playoffs.
The victory improved Bleckley County’s record to 10–1 and secured the Royals a spot in the second round.
The Royals struck early when Landry Nobles connected with Jason McNulty Jr. on a 21-yard touchdown pass. Dylan Lamb added the extra point, giving Bleckley County a 7–0 advantage.
The offense continued to roll as quarterback Brody Fleming found Octavius Tate for a 54-yard touchdown. Fleming later connected with Zyion Love on another 21-yard scoring pass, while Love also contributed a 10-yard rushing touchdown.
The Royals’ defense joined the scoring when Kelvin Sneed Jr. intercepted a pass and returned it 45 yards for a touchdown.
By the end of the first quarter, Bleckley County held a 37–7 lead.
The second quarter brought more excitement for the hometown crowd. A Jefferson County punting mistake resulted in a safety, adding two points to the Royals’ total.
CJ Taylor then electrified the crowd with a 61-yard punt return for a touchdown. Before halftime, Fleming connected with Gage Harris on a 42-yard touchdown pass, extending Bleckley County’s lead to 52–7.
The defense continued to make its presence felt throughout the first half. Kmarion McClinton, Willy Walters and Cadrian Rumph were among those recording sacks or tackles for loss, while Brayden Foskey contributed a fumble recovery.
With the Royals holding a substantial advantage, both coaches agreed to a running clock for the remainder of the game. A running clock allows the game clock to continue during most stoppages, moving the game along more quickly.
Bleckley County added another touchdown in the third quarter after Stachon Owens intercepted a Jefferson County pass, giving the Royals excellent field position.
Caleb Kilpatrick connected with Brayden Hill on a 4-yard touchdown pass, and Lamb added the extra point to make it 59–7.
Jefferson County added a fourth-quarter touchdown on a 6-yard run by quarterback Ricky Jackson and converted the extra point, bringing the final score to 59–14.
The Royals’ performance featured contributions from multiple quarterbacks, receivers, running backs and defensive players, demonstrating the team’s depth as it moves further into postseason play.
With the victory, Bleckley County advances to the second round of the GHSA playoffs, carrying a 10–1 record and plenty of momentum into its next matchup.
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