Box Score
SHS MPHS
First Downs 10 17
Rush Yards 32-131 41-198
Pass Yards 24 115
Total Yards 155 313
Passing 4-10-1 9-14-0
Turnovers 2 2
Penalties 6-55 2-14
Individual Leaders
Rushing: SHS: Daniels, 17-76, TD. MPHS: Davis, 27-164.
Passing: SHS: Chance, 4-10-24. MPHS: Banks, 9-14-115.
Receiving: SHS: Daniels, 1-12. MPHS: Zellner, 3-37.
SHS 6 0 0 8 14
MPHS 7 10 7 16 40
Scoring
1st Quarter
8:11 — Rawls (SHS) 11 run (Kick failed)
3:53 — Banks (MPHS) 1 run (Miller kick)
2nd Quarter
9:38 — Dewberry (MPHS) 2 run (Miller kick)
0:00 — Miller 23 field goal
3rd Quarter
5:22 – Rawls (MPHS) 35 fumble return (Miller kick)
4th Quarter
11:30 — Daniels (SHS) 1 run (Daniels run)
7:02 — Dewberry (MPHS) 2 run (Miller kick)
2:47 — Miller (MPHS) 22 field goal
0:40 — Webb (MPHS) 12 run (kick failed)
FORSYTH — A pair of field goals ended the last two Statesboro High postseasons, but this time around, Mary Persons running back Nick Davis ran away with the show — and the Blue Devils’ playoff hopes.
Mary persons eliminated the Devils with a 40-15 win Friday night at Dan Pitts Stadium.
Davis racked up 164 yards on 27 carries and while he didn’t score on the night, he kept the Statesboro defense on its heels while Mary Persons racked up the points.
The loss ends Statesboro’s season and marks the second consecutive year that the Blue Devils have been bounced in the opening round of the state playoffs.
“All of the teams in the playoffs are good ones and Mary Persons is no exception,” said SHS coach Steve Pennington. “This was the first playoff game they’ve hosted in a while and you could tell that they were fueled by the atmosphere.”
The Devils trailed for most of the night, but briefly took the lead in the first quarter following a turnover.
On the Bulldogs’ second offensive play, Akebren Ralls fumbled and Statesboro recovered deep in Bulldog territory. The Devils ground out a tough drive and Sherrodric Rawls raced in from 11 yards out for a 6-0 lead after a missed extra point.
Davis went to work on Mary Persons’ next drive with three carries of 15 or more yards.
Quarterback Jordan Banks snuck in from a yard out to tie the game and Kenny Miller’s extra point put the Bulldogs in front 7-6.
More of Davis’ running and a pair of costly penalties spurred on Mary Persons on a second quarter touchdown drive that gave the Bulldogs a 14-6 lead. A pass interference and a facemask got Mary Persons in the SHS red zone and Terri Dewberry scored from 2 yards out.
The Bulldogs pushed their lead to 17-6 at halftime thanks to four conversions on third down. Mary Persons began its final drive of the half with 6:26 to play and backed up at its own 14 yard line, but came through in multiple big situations to keep the ball away from SHS.
Statesboro finally got a stand on 3rd-and-goal from its own 6, but Miller split the uprights from 23 yards out as time expired in the first half.
“Those third downs have been an issue for us all season,” said Pennington. “We just weren’t quite able to execute. On the other side of the ball, the offense couldn’t sustain drives. Those things will mount up and hurt you.”
Midway through the third quarter, the Devils saw a comeback opportunity literally ripped right out of their hands.
On third-and-short from the SHS 38, Colin Chance fumbled a shotgun snap. Offensive tackle Quasi Murphy emerged from the pile with the football and seemed as though he was heading for a first down, but Ralls – making up for his earlier fumble – stole the ball from Murphy and raced 35 yards to the end zone for a 24-6 Bulldogs lead.
“So many games are swung on momentum,” said Pennington. “In the playoffs, that is magnified even more. That was certainly a big turning point in this game.”
Statesboro regrouped and took its next possession 61 yards for a touchdown — capped off by Quan Daniels’ 1 yard scoring run on the second play of the fourth quarter — but there was just no stopping the relentless push of the Mary Persons offense.
An interception by Ralls set up a Dewberry 2 yard run to make it 31-14 midway through the quarter and another Miller field goal and a 12 yard touchdown run from Demario Webb capped the scoring.
Mike Anthony may be reached at (912) 489-9404.