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Turnovers bite Gators in AA final

gil pound, the union-recorder, milledgeville, ga.
·4 min read

Dec. 1—MACON — Despite committing five turnovers, the Gatewood Gators were able to stay close to the Edmund Burke Academy Spartans in the GIAA Class AA state championship Friday.

But two of those holiday season gifts came at times that were too crucial to the outcome — one an interception at the EBA 5-yard line with 4:25 to play, and the other a botched quarterback-to-fullback option exchange at the Spartan 28 almost exactly two minutes later. Seeking the program's first football state championship in 53 years, Edmund Burke under second-year head coach Andy Woodard was happy to receive those early Christmas presents and hang on for the 16-10 victory.

Friday was the second knock-down, drag-out meeting between the two non-region foes this season. Edmund Burke (12-1) took that first matchup in Eatonton 20-14. Gatewood (10-3) was hurt by turnovers in that one too.

After a quick defensive stop, the Spartans of Waynesboro struck first on their initial drive of the night Friday. Senior quarterback Grant Mobley did most of the damage on designed QB runs. No reading, no option, just sweeps and power. He carried 45 yards down to the Gator 4 then cashed in a couple plays later to put his top-ranked team up 7-0 early.

Gatewood on its ensuing possession got down as far as the EBA 3, but a delay of game followed by a sack forced head coach Jeff Ratliff to settle for a field goal. Senior Jayden Daniel's right foot provided the points on a 32-yard knock-through, making it 7-3 Spartans at 2:26 in the first.

The Gators' first turnover reared its head after a defensive stop with Edmund Burke punting near midfield. Spartan senior Parker Oliver's boot traveled just over 30 yards, but the distance wasn't the problem, it was the height. The football was muffed by the Gatewood return man, setting EBA up at the Gator 23 with the first half dwindling. That drive resulted in a Spartan field goal as time expired to re-establish their seven-point lead, 10-3.

Things got a little sideways as the two title contenders came out of the break. Following a Gatewood punt on the first drive, possession changed hands three times in quick succession due to turnovers. No harm was done on the scoreboard though.

The next points came later in the third period. Starting on its own 28, the Gators marched 72 yards over 11 plays thanks in part to a third-and-19 pass from junior QB Ames Johnson to senior receiver Lawson Wooten. Lining up at the EBA 11, Johnson kept on an option and weaved his way down to the 1. He would get across the goal line two plays later to knot the championship game up at 10-10 with 2:09 remaining in the third.

Field position played a big part in the go-ahead touchdown. Edmund Burke punted its next possession away, but the kick was a 44-yard effort that rolled dead and forced the Gators to scrimmage from their own 3 as the third quarter ended. They wouldn't get out of that hole, and their own punt stopped dead at the 33 going in for the Spartans. A targeting call (no automatic ejection) moved them to within half the distance of the goal. From there it was Mobley slithering away from would-be Gatewood tacklers on a 14-yard touchdown run that will forever hold a hallowed place in Edmund Burke football history. The ensuing extra point did ding off the left upright, leaving the door open for the Gators to sneak out of Macon with a win as there were still over nine minutes to play.

Ratliff's team was not without chances. The ensuing drive got all the way down to the EBA 4 before Gatewood was faced with fourth-and-goal. Johnson faced pressure quickly and tried to give his receiver a chance, but the QB couldn't get the ball away cleanly and it was picked off by Edmund Burke's Owen Redd with 4:25 left.

The Spartans went three-and-out, but forced Ratliff to spend two timeouts in the process.

Gatewood got the football back with 2:39 remaining. The first play at the EBA 47 was a huge success, a slant pass from Johnson to senior Blake Callaway that he took 19 yards to the 28. Hopes of a storybook ending were extinguished the next play though when the quarterback-to-fullback option exchange was bungled. Edmund Burke recovered the loose ball, and the celebration began on the home sideline of Mercer's Five Star Stadium.

The result may not have been what Ratliff and the Gators desired, but the season was a return to form for the program that had back-to-back 5-7 seasons preceded by three consecutive state championships from 2018 to 2020. Perhaps the state runner-up finish can be used as momentum and motivation for the future.