The Sandy Creek Patriots are playoff-bound.

Creek pounded Region 6-AAA rival Cedartown 41-7 Friday night at the Battlefield in Tyrone to secure third place in the region and, subsequently, a spot in the state playoffs.

The Patriots (6-4, 5-2 in the region) will travel to Hartwell Friday to play the Hart County Bulldogs (8-1-1, 5-1), the No. 2 seed from Region 8-AAA, in the first round of the state playoffs.

Creek is on a two-game winning streak, and it has won four out of its last five games and six out of its last eight.

The Patriots took a 7-0 lead on a 1-yard touchdown by Josh Williams on their first possession of the game.

Cedartown tied the game later in the first half on a 12-yard run.

Two touchdowns by Creek later in the second quarter — a 9-yard pass from Rio Johnson to Patrick Alexander and a 1-yard run by Williams — made it 20-7 at halftime.

Creek’s defense completely shut down Cedartown’s offense in the second half and came up with huge turnovers on three consecutive series that led to touchdowns in the third quarter to blow the game wide open.

Creek cornerback Josh Holt scooped up a fumble and returned it 22 yards for a touchdown.

Cedartown’s next possession ended with another fumble, which Creek safety Russell Bonner recovered. Bonner’s fumble recovery set up a Johnson-to-Braxton Lane 35-yard touchdown pass.

Holt’s second interception of the game set up Creek’s third and final touchdown of the half, a 1-yard run by Jonathan Smith that completed a 21-point third quarter.

Patriots coach Chip Walker praised the play of his team's defense and the effective game plan his defensive coaching staff created.

"As has been the case all year, our defense played really well," Walker said. "Besides one long drive, Cedartown didn't really move the ball against us [it finished with 186 yards of total offense]. Cedartown runs the option, and most people don't see a lot of the option. Our defensive staff put together a great game plan and the kids executed it."

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