MACON — The Tiftarea Academy Panthers traveled to Macon Friday night to face the Windsor Academy Knights in a Region 3-AA contest, and emerged with a 42-8 victory. The win helped the Panthers clinch a state playoff spot.
Starting quarterback Wes Carter was injured earlier in the week, so junior Sumner McWhorter was the starter.
McWhorter led Tiftarea on its first scoring drive.
Set up by a Justin Brooks interception, the Panthers drove and got the touchdown on a 7-yard run by Chandler Hammond.
After Windsor missed a field goal, the Panthers again drove down the field and got a 32-yard scoring run by Brooks. Chad Bowen added the point after to make the score, 14-0, in favor of the Panthers.
The Panthers then held the Knights to a 3-and-out, and took the ball back over.
Tiftarea was stopped, and a 44-yard punt by Clay Tapp, gave the Knights back on their own 10-yard line. The long punt helped the Panthers get a safety as Brooks made his second big defensive play of the night breaking through the line to take the Knight runner in the endzone.
Due to the safety, the Knights were forced to kick to Tiftarea, and McWhorter returned the crowd from Chula with a 60-yard kickoff return for a touchdown.
The first half scoring ended with the return, but the Panthers’ Stuart Sumner did have an impressive 23-yard punt return.
As the second half began, the Knights tried an unsuccessful onside kick. After successful runs by Bowen for 15 yards and Sumner for nine yards, Hammond finished the drive with a 32-yard touchdown run. The extra point by junior Garrett Rippy was good, bringing the Panther lead to 29-0.
Tiftarea’s defense continued to stop the Windsor offense, with key plays by Bowen, Chandler Williams, Don Leeburn, Bobby Mouat, Rippy, Sumner and Brooks.
Later in the game, Hammond and Brett Nelson runs took the Panthers down the field for their next scoring drive. The drive ended with a five-yard touchdown run by Hammond. Rippy’s point after made the score, 36-0, at the end of the third quarter.
After Windsor’s one touchdown, the Panthers ended the scoring with a 46-yard touchdown run by Brooks.
Hammond led the Panthers with 103 yards rushing, while Bowen and Brooks each gained over 60 yards apiece. Nelson added 80 yards on five carries.
Tiftarea will be at home Friday to face the Valwood Knights in another Region 3-AA contest.
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