Statesboro scored 21 second quarter points and backup quarterback Aaron Cone led the Blue Devils (6-1, 5-1 Region 3-AAAA) to a 42-6 romp over the Academy of Richmond County Friday at Womack Field on homecoming.

            After SHS starter Luke Connell – who said after the game he was seeing double, even triple – took a big hit halfway through the first quarter, Cone came in and led the Devils down the field to open the scoring at 1:56 of the first period.

            Nic Lanier scored his sixth rushing touchdown on the season as he slipped through the left side to put SHS up 7-0. The drive was set uo by Bryant Roberts first interception of the year.

            Statesboro then forced a three-and-out and Cone led SHS 50 yards to the 3, where Lanier took in his second of the night at the 9:28 mark to make it 14-0.

            "I don't practice a whole lot with the offense but I still know how to play this stuff," said Cone. The junior split time behind center last season before moving to defensive back, where he starts this year. "I just got in there and tried to help the team out."

            Statesboro's Willie Shelton got his first interception of the year with 5:43 remaining in the half. Richmond Academy quarterback Dan Porter was bumped by his own blocker, adjusting the flight of his deep ball which landed in Shelton's arms.

            The Devils took over at their own 40 and took just four plays to score. Jacob Lockett raced in from 43 yards out after nearly falling down at the 35. The senior held himself up with his left hand and then exploded the rest of the way down the right sideline to make it 21-0.

            "I felt like I just had to take it in," said Lockett. "It felt great. Just to come out and tote the rock and be a part of the team."

            Connell would return with just under three minutes left in the half. On a 3rd-and-six, he found Diego Prince on a quick slant for 17 yards to make it a 28-0 halftime advantage over the Musketeers (0-7, 0-6 Region 3-AAAA).

            "The good thing about the offense is that everything was in a positive direction," said SHS coach Steve Pennington. "We didn't have any negative yardage. That's the positive we have to take from this game. Right now we're at a point where we have to be consistent in picking up three or four yards every time."

            Connell would start the second half back at QB for SHS. On a 3rd-and-four from the ARC 27, he dumped a throwback screen to tight end Anson Anderson. Anderson caught the pass in the open field, then bowled down the left side of the field, flattening a Musketeer defender at the 5 to go in standing and make it 35-0.

            With a running clock in the fourth quarter, each teamsscored a touchdown. Dee Howard, ARC's third quarterback of the night, scored on an option keeper from 65 yards out.

            Freshman Aaron Lester put the final TD on the board for SHS from one yard out.

            The Blue Devils lost senior linebacker Reggie Perkins early in the second quarter with a broken arm. The severity of the injury wasn't immediately known.

            Statesboro will now begin a brutal three game stretch, starting with a trip to Effingham County next Friday. With Evans' loss to Brunswick on Thursday, the Region 3-AAAA title is up for grabs.

            "The region has as much parity in it that I've seen since I've been here," said Pennington. "We got a tough stretch and it starts with Effingham. It's just going to be a matter of will next week."

            Chelsea Prince was crowned 2007 Homecoming Queen at halftime.