Harlem traveled to Madison, Ga., to put the finishing touches on a 9-1 regular season and an undefeated run through region play with a 34-17 win over Morgan County, clinching region four’s top seed in the class 3A state playoffs that will begin next Friday.
After giving up a touchdown on a halfback pass on Morgan County’s first play from scrimmage, Harlem settled in and played nearly flawless football in every phase of the game. The Bulldogs outscored their host 34-3 during the next 40 minutes of play before Morgan County, which entered the game with a 4-0 region record, scored the game’s final touchdown.
Seniors Jason Williams, Ryan Newman and Johnathan Howard all posted impressive numbers. Williams rushed 30 times for 130 yards and two touchdowns.
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Newman completed 8 of 11 passes for 177 yards and 2 touchdowns. And Howard caught 4 passes for 100 yards and 2 touchdowns.
Backup quarterback Ethan Evangelista accounted for another 97 yards by rushing seven times for 62 yards, and completing three of five pass attempts for 35 yards and a touchdown to Jackson Rockefeller.
Harlem’s defense was as good as its offense. After giving up the 65-yard touchdown pass on the first play of the game, Harlem only surrendered 65 yards during the rest of the first half. Middle linebacker Jordan Bowers continued his stellar play with three tackles for loss and a fumble recovery that set up a touchdown by Howard with 8 seconds left in the second quarter.
And after Morgan County chewed up 70 yards and six minutes of game clock on the first series of the third quarter, Matt Williams shed a blocker and stuffed the rusher on fourth-and-one to turn Morgan County over on downs at the Harlem 10-yard line.
Soon after Harlem resumed possession, Newman hit Keundris Williams for a 62-yard bomb on third-and-ten to set up Williams’ second touchdown of the game.
Howard put the finishing touches on the rout with a sizzling move on the cornerback and a touchdown reception from Howard in the corner of the end zone early in the third quarter to put the Bulldogs ahead 34-10.
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The region championship is the first since 1974 for the Bulldogs. Matt Williams (74) put the perfect exclamation point on the team’s biggest win in almost a half century when he mowed down a Morgan County defender on Jason Williams’ third quarter touchdown, shown here:
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