The North Augusta Yellow Jackets used a dominant ground game and a blistering start to knock off the Midland Valley Mustangs 42–29 Friday night at Poe-Windham Stadium in a Region 4-AAAA showdown in Graniteville, S.C.
Running back Michael Doe turned in a sensational performance, rushing for 301 yards and three touchdowns to power the Yellow Jackets (9-1, 6-1 Region 4-AAAA) to their ninth win of the season.
It was senior night at Midland Valley, and the home crowd packed Poe-Windham Stadium to celebrate the Mustangs’ Class of 2025 before kickoff. The seniors were determined to finish strong, battling back from an early deficit to make it a competitive contest into the fourth quarter.
North Augusta wasted no time taking control. Quarterback Collin Tillman connected on a 42-yard touchdown pass just four minutes into the game, giving the Yellow Jackets a 7–0 lead. Moments later, Doe punched in a short touchdown run to make it 14–0 with 7:21 left in the first quarter.
The visitors capped a perfect opening period when Jenkins hit A.J. Warren on a 15-yard touchdown pass with 11 seconds left, stretching the lead to 21–0.
Midland Valley (7-3, 4-3) finally found its rhythm in the second quarter. Quarterback Xavier Geter converted on fourth down with a 15-yard touchdown pass to trim the deficit to 21–7. But Doe answered with a 36-yard scoring run, his second of the night, to restore North Augusta’s cushion.
Geter hit Cameron Gleaton for a 38-yard touchdown late in the first half, cutting the margin to 28–14 at the break.
Doe, who had 181 yards by halftime, added another touchdown in the third quarter to make it 35–14.
Midland Valley continued to battle, with Geter scoring on a 1-yard keeper early in the fourth quarter. But North Augusta sealed the game when Isaiah Smith scored on a 13-yard touchdown pass—Smith’s sixth touchdown reception of the season – with 1:16 left to play, pushing the lead to 42–21.
The Mustangs refused to quit, as Preston Smith hauled in a 50-yard pass to the 1-yard line in the final minute, setting up Geter’s second rushing touchdown of the game to close the scoring at 42–29.
North Augusta will look to carry its momentum into the postseason, while Midland Valley finishes the regular season with a 7–3 mark and awaits playoff seeding.
