By MICHAEL BOYLAN
Sports Editor

For the first time in the history of both Starr's Mill and Sandy Creek high schools, their football teams are playoff bound.

Starr's Mill finished with a record of 8-2, while Sandy Creek finished the season at 7-3. The two 4-AAA teams are the third and fourth seeds respectively and will play their first games in the AAA state playoffs on the road this Friday.

Starr's Mill faced Forest Park Saturday night and won 31-15, clinching the third spot in the region. Their offense was clicking on all cylinders in the first half, as they racked up 21 points. Their first touchdown came off a 14-yard Drew Cofty run and the extra point was missed. The second touchdown came from a nine-yard run from Craig Maddock, followed by a two-point conversion. Their third touchdown of the first half came from a 20-yard pass from Brad McClaren to LaDon Cooper. The Panthers led 21-7 at the half.

Opening the second half, Starr's Mill wore the clock down. They burned over eight minutes of clock as they scored their final touchdown of the game. Starr's Mill rushed for 316 yards Saturday, looking like the dangerous team that it is. The Panthers also kicked a field goal in the fourth quarter to make the final score 31-15. Starr's Mill, in its second year of varsity play, travels to Peach County (8-2) Friday night to play in its first ever playoff game.

Sandy Creek had a big night Friday as the Patriots faced Jonesboro in Jonesboro. The first half did not go as planned for the Patriots; a touchdown run by J.R. Lemon was called back and they found themselves down 3-0 at the half. They came alive in a hurry in the second half, though. Sandy Creek scored 14 points in the opening 41 seconds of the third quarter. J.R. Lemon ran 50 yards for a touchdown on the first play of the third quarter to give Sandy Creek a 7-3 lead. Thomas Suitt intercepted a pass on Jonesboro's next drive, running it down to the one-yard line. J.R. Lemon poked it in on the next play to make it 14-3.

The Patriots' next touchdown came off a 70-yard pass from Andre Green to Adam Worsham. Backup quarterback Riley Swanson came into the game soon after and ran 42 yards for the Patriots' final touchdown of the game. The ground attack of the Patriots, consisting of Lemon, Tokoya Criner and Jack O'Neill, wore down Jonesboro, allowing for the big play touchdowns. J.R. Lemon ran for over 1,000 yards this season, as the Patriots head to the playoffs for the first time in school history.

Sandy Creek will travel to Shaw (10-0) Friday night.

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