Thomson High School stayed undefeated in the last regular season game of the year, routing Hephzibah 42-6 on Friday, Nov. 5 at Brickyard Stadium.
The Thomson Bulldogs won the coin toss and chose to kick, giving the Hephzibah Rebels the ball first. Hephzibah returned the kickoff inside the Bulldogs 40-yard line for a huge return to start the game.
Thomson’s defense pushed Hepzibah back out of field goal range and the drive would end in a punt for the Rebels.
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Neither team was able to get in the end zone after one quarter with the score tied at 0-0.
Midway through the second quarter, quarterback Taymarion Martin scrambled for a 12-yard rushing touchdown. Kicker Connor Askew added the extra point, putting Thomson ahead 7-0 with 7:14 remaining in the second quarter.
The Rebels next offensive play ended in a fumble with the Bulldogs recovering the ball at the Hephzibah 24-yard line. Hephzibah’s strong defense led to Thomson attempting a short field goal, but the Bulldogs missed, keeping their lead at seven.
With 36 seconds left in the half, Martin threw a 48-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Jalik Johnson. Askew added the extra point to make the score 14-0 at the half.
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Martin threw his first interception of the game with 8:04 left in third quarter, but the Bulldogs got the ball right back with an interception of their own by linebacker Quinshawn Hearst.
A few plays later, Martin added his third touchdown of the game with a pass to Johnson, who caught his second touchdown of the game. Askew made his third extra point of the game, putting the Bulldogs ahead 21-0.
Hephzibah quarterback Jalen Patrick put the Rebels in scoring position late in the third quarter with a 46-yard pass, but on the very next play, linebacker Kindarius Green for Thomson scored on a 93-yard fumble return for a touchdown.
Martin scored his fourth and final touchdown with 14 seconds remaining in the third quarter on 16-yard pass.
The Rebels finally broke the endzone late in the fourth quarter on a 33-yard touchdown run by running back Nevin Dent.
Thomson ended the regular season with a 9-0 record and moves on to playoffs. Its opponent is to be announced. Hephzibah (5-5) will face Crisp County (7-3) Nov. 12.
Chris Rickerson is a Sports Contributor for The Augusta Press. Reach him at CRICKERSON@augusta.edu.
