Spartans make final four; state championship one game away
By Diana Royal Staff Writer

Matt McDaniel is tackled by a Piedmont defender.

After their first game of the season, the Spartans had one goal in mind - they wanted to make the state playoffs and practice football on Thanksgiving Day. Now, with their regular season behind them, the Spartans have accomplished that goal, and one team stands in their way of the state championship game.

This Friday, the Edmund Burke Academy Spartans travel to Valdosta to face Valwood School in the GISA AA Final Four round of state playoffs.

The Valiants, region 3-AA champs, are no strangers to Edmund Burke. They nearly won against the Spartans in game five of the season, but in the last minutes of the game, EBA pulled through for a 42-41 victory.

"Valwood will be a very tough opponent," head coach Beau Johnson said, adding that a team from their region has made it to the Class AA State Championship game more than 23 times during the last 30 years. "They are very explosive on offense and have a very athletic defense," he continued. "I think our kids will be up to the challenge ... the winner has a chance to be a state champion."

A Spartan ball carrier fights for yardage.

Johnson said Burke County has not had a football state championship since the 1950s, and EBA's only opportunity came in 2000 with a 14-6 loss to Westwood, a former member of Region 3-AA.

"It is tough any time you cross the Macon line into South Georgia come playoff time," he said. "We will be prepared ... every team left is good, but to win, you have to be more than good. I hope we can be great."

Last Friday, the Spartans came out on top against Piedmont Academy, 6-0, to clinch their final four position.

"It was an awesome night to be a Spartan," Johnson said, noting the team fought through injuries and fatigue to mount a game winning drive in the fourth quarter. Starting center Stephen Wilson suffered injury early in the game, and Boyd Lively and Jayme Elliot stepped in.

"We were without one of our soldiers and it showed, but the rest of the team stepped up to the task," Johnson said. "Lively had to play tackle as a true freshman in the playoffs, and Elliot snapped for the first time all season - how much pressure is that?"

EBA moved the ball well most of the evening, according to Johnson, but something always stopped their drives.

With just 30 seconds left in the scoreless game, Austin Matthews hit Hamp Wade with a reverse pass at the one yard line, setting up Chad Smith to bring in the gamewinning, and only, touchdown of the night.

"We pretty much held them in check," Johnson said, adding that defensive coordinator Jeremy Blackstock did a great job in helping the Spartans achieve their first shutout of the season and holding the Valiants to just 43 yards in the second half.

"They played like the region 4-AA champions, but our kids had already played in some close, tough games and it paid off," Johnson said. "The catch Wade made was unbelievable ... most all of our kids will remember this one as long as they live."

For the night, EBA had a total of 201 yards rushing and 37 passing.

Jeremy Hayes led with 70 yards on 11 carries. He also had two interceptions on the defense.

Other leading rushers included Rett Daniel, 9 carries for 51 yards; Smith, 10 for 29; and Wade, 14 for 48. Smith and Wade each had 1 reception, for 7 yards and 30 yards, respectively.

Piedmont had 141 yards on the ground 15 yards passing.