The Bulloch Academy Gators broke open a 7-7 tie and scored 37-straight points as they knocked off Brookstone 44-14 in the GIAA State Class 4-A playoffs and punched their ticket to the state championship game next Saturday night at Paulson Stadium.

“It’s exciting for our fans, coaches and players to get back to the state championship,” said coach Aaron Phillips. “We wanted to come out and play a tough, physical game and I think we did that tonight. To be able to get such a lead to have a running clock in a semifinal game says a lot about how well our kids played tonight and I’m proud of their effort.”

The Gators and Cougars traded touchdowns on their opening drives, but then the Gators pulled away thanks in part to Connor Perry who scored the next four touchdowns of the game. Perry ended up with over 200 yards rushing and got some help from fellow running back B.J. Smart and quarterback Sam Hubbard along the way.

“When you have guys like Connor Perry and B.J. and Sam all running hard we are tough to stop,” Phillips said. “Our offensive and defensive lines helped set the tone and we got a couple interceptions and a fumble from our defense as well.”

Nick Eason started the scoring for the Gators on a 52-yard run. Brookstone answered and then it was the Connor Perry show. Perry gave the Gators the lead on a six-yard touchdown in the first quarter and they never looked back. He would add a six-yard score for a 21-7 lead and then after a Brookstone fumble Case Woodrum connected on a 33-yard field goal to extend the lead to 24-7.

Perry came right back a few minutes later and scored on an 80-yar run to make it 31-7. B.J. Smart extended the lead to 38-7 and Perry capped things off with a 68-yard touchdown. Brookstone scored with a running clock late in the fourth for the final points of the game.